Prediction Modelling for Gastroesophageal Variceal Bleeding in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B Using Four-dimensional Flow MRI.

Background/Aims: In this study, we aim to develop a model for predicting gastroesophageal varices (GEV) bleeding in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) by utilizing hemodynamic parameters obtained through four-dimensional flow MRI (4D flow MRI). Methods: This study conducted a prospective enrollment of CHB patients suspected of GEV from October 2021 to May 2022. The severity of varices and bleeding risk were evaluated using clinical findings and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and patients were classified into high-risk and non-high-risk groups. The study utilized serological examination, ultrasonographic examination, and 4D flow MRI. Relevant parameters were selected through univariate and multivariate analyses, and a prediction model was established using binary logistic regression analysis. The model was combined with the Baveno Ⅵ/Ⅶ and Expanded Baveno Ⅵ/Ⅶ criteria to evaluate diagnostic efficacy and the risk of avoiding endoscopic examination. Results: A total of 40 CHB patients were enrolled and categorized into the high-risk group (n = 15) and the non-high-risk group (n = 25). The spleen diameter and regurgitant fraction (R%) were independent predictors of variceal bleeding and a predictive model was established. The combination of this prediction model and the Baveno Ⅵ/Ⅶ criteria achieved high diagnostic efficiency, enabling 45.00% (18/40) of patients to be exempted from the unnecessary endoscopic procedure and the high-risk misclassification rate (0%) was less than 5%. Conclusion: The prediction model generated by 4D flow MRI has the potential to assess the likelihood of varices and can be supplemented by the Baveno VI/VII criteria to improve diagnostic accuracy in CHB patients.

Influence of distribution parameters on acoustic radiation from bubble clusters.

Cavitation noise is the major noise in underwater, and the study of acoustic radiation from bubble clusters is the primary means to reveal the mechanism of cavitation noise. In this study, direct numerical simulation (DNS) of bubble clusters with volume fractions of 20-40 % with different bubble sizes and bubble position distributions are performed, and the far-field sound pressure is calculated using the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings (FW-H) method. Then, we compare the collapse and acoustic radiation of bubble clusters with equivalent bubble. The results show that the collapse times of bubble clusters at the same volume fraction are identical and close to equivalent bubble, despite the different bubble sizes and positions in the bubble cluster. Further, in terms of acoustic radiation, the layered arrangement of bubble positions results in bubble clusters exhibiting layer-by-layer collapse and emitting multiple sound pressure pulses. In contrast, a random arrangement of bubble positions lacks this feature, resulting in the collapse of the bubble cluster without a layered phenomenon and radiating only a single primary sound pulse, which is consistent with the equivalent bubble. Additionally, the distribution of bubble sizes in the bubble cluster has almost no effect on the acoustic radiation of the bubble cluster. Notably, when the volumetric fraction exceeds 25 %, the sound pressure levels of bubble clusters with different distributions in the frequency domain are nearly identical, with differences from the equivalent bubble within 5 dB.

Starch in Emulsion-Type Sausage Reduced the Gastric Digestibility of Meat Protein by Reducing the Stability and Increasing the Viscoelasticity of Gastric Digests.

The effect of the addition of native starch (S) and modified starches (distarch phosphate (SP), acetylated distarch phosphate (AP), and starch acetate (SA)) in emulsion-type sausage on the digestion process of meat protein was studied in this work. The addition of native and modified starches reduced the release of -NH2 during the simulated gastric digestion stage, whereas the addition of SA increased the total release of -NH2 after the whole digestion. Peptidomic analysis revealed that the presence of starch decreased the release of peptides in the gastric digestion. The presence of starch reduced the stability of the digests but increased the viscosity of the gastric digestive fluid, which should largely be responsible for the decreased gastric digestibility of meat protein. These results highlighted the physical properties of digests as a key factor affecting the gastric digestion process of meat protein and provided guidance for the application of starches in meat products.

Effect of sperm DNA fragmentation on the cumulative live birth rate in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment.

BACKGROUND: Sperm DNA fragmentation testing is a valuable tool for predicting male infertility independent of routine semen analysis. However, it remains unclear whether sperm DNA fragmentation affects in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes, especially their live birth rates. This study aimed to investigate the effects of sperm DNA fragmentation on the cumulative live birth rates over 1 year of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment. METHODS: This retrospective study included 5050 couples who had undergone in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment from 2016 to 2022. These patients were divided into four groups according to their sperm DNA fragmentation percentages (group 1: sperm DNA fragmentation ≤10%, group 2: > 10% to ≤20%, group3: > 20% to ≤30%, and group 4: > 30%) determined using the sperm chromatin dispersion assay. Both conservative and optimistic methods were used for estimating cumulative live birth rates, the primary outcome, was defined as an ongoing pregnancy leading to live birth that had arisen from all embryo transfers performed within 1 year following the first ovum pick-up. RESULTS: The conservative and optimistic cumulative live birth rates showed no significant differences between sperm DNA fragmentation groups when total patients or in vitro fertilization patients were analyzed while adjusting for the confounders. However, compared with those in the group with low sperm DNA fragmentation values (≤10%), the conservative cumulative live birth rate was significantly decreased in intracytoplasmic sperm injection patients in the group with sperm DNA fragmentation > 30%, and the optimistic cumulative live birth rates were significantly decreased in intracytoplasmic sperm injection patients in the three groups with high sperm DNA fragmentation values (> 10% to ≤20%, > 20% to ≤30%, > 30%). These results were further confirmed by the analyses of smooth curves generated by generalized additive models. In intracytoplasmic sperm injection patients, the cumulative live birth rates decreased significantly as the sperm DNA fragmentation increased (p = 0.034), and these effects were stronger with the increase in female age. A similar pattern of correlation between sperm DNA fragmentation and cumulative live birth rate was found in in vitro fertilization patients, but the correlation was not significant (p = 0.232). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Sperm DNA fragmentation has a significant effect on the cumulative probability of achieving a live birth during 1 year of treatment involving intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

A questionnaire on the current situation of resignation intention of nurses in intensive care units in China - A descriptive quantitative study.

AIM: This study analysed and summarized the correlation between various indicators of ICU nurses' personal lives, hospital work situation, social opinion, psychological assessment, and their intention to resign. DESIGN: A descriptive quantitative study. METHODS: This study was a multicentre questionnaire on factors influencing intensive care unit (ICU) nurses' intention to resign. This study was completed through the Critical Care E Institute (CCEI) and China Calm Therapy Research Group Academic Organization (CNCSG) by contacting ICU nurses in three hospitals in 34 provinces in China. The questionnaire was in the form of a cell phone WeChat scan code. The survey included 22 indicators, including basic information about nurses (marital and child status, personal income, etc.), hospital work (weekly working hours, night shift, hospital environment, etc.), and psychological symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 1904 nurses were included in this study. Among them, 1060 (55.67%) had the intention to resign. In this study, among the 22 indicators involved, 16 factors, including hospital work hours, job title, satisfaction with current income, having children, and evaluation of the hospital, significantly impact nurses' intentions to resign (all p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that six indicators influenced nurses' choice of resignation intention (all p < 0.05), including hospital work time, professional title, income satisfaction, hospital work pride, satisfaction of nurses with the compassion and care given to them by their hospitals, and career vision score. The ROC curve showed that all six indicators were <0.70, but the model receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve constructed for the indicators was 0.756. In China, increasing the income of ICU nurses, fostering pride in hospital work, reducing working hours, ensuring smooth promotion processes, and enhancing career prospects can all decrease their likelihood of choosing to resign. Absorbing practical nursing management and work experience from other countries will help decrease the intention to resign within this group. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

Correlation analysis and predictive model construction of metabolic syndrome, complete blood count-derived inflammatory markers, and overall burden of cerebral small vessel disease.

Background: The high burden of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) on neuroimaging is a significant risk factor for stroke, cognitive dysfunction, and emotional disorders. Currently, there is a lack of studies investigating the correlation between metabolic syndrome (MetS), complete blood count-derived inflammatory markers, and total CSVD burden. This study aims to evaluate the total CSVD imaging load using machine learning (ML) algorithms and to explore further the relationship between MetS, complete blood count-derived inflammatory markers, and CSVD load. Methods: We included CSVD patients from Xijing Hospital (2012-2022). Univariate and lasso regression analyses identified variables linked to CSVD neuroimaging burden. Six ML models predicted CSVD burden based on MetS and inflammatory markers. Model performance was evaluated using ROCauc, PRauc, DCA, and calibration curves. The SHAP method validated model interpretability. The best-performing model was selected to develop a web-based calculator using the Shiny package. Results: The Logistic regression model outperformed others in predicting CSVD burden. The model incorporated MetS, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), homocysteine (Hcy), age, smoking status, cystatin C (CysC), uric acid (UA), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI). Conclusion: MetS, NLR, Hcy and CSVD high load were positively correlated, and the Logistic regression model could accurately predict the total CSVD load degree.

Fund holdings and real earnings management: An empirical analysis of the Chinese A-share market.

Drawing on data from Chinese A-share listed companies spanning 2016 to 2023, this study investigates how fund holdings influence real earnings management (REM) practices. The results indicate that: (1) There is a significant negative correlation between fund holdings and REM, suggesting strong external oversight; (2) The governance effect of fund holdings is more pronounced in non-state-owned firms and those with a balanced equity structure, underscoring the critical roles of ownership nature and equity distribution; (3) High-quality internal controls also exhibit a significant negative correlation with REM, serving as a mediating factor between fund holdings and earnings management. These findings deepen our understanding of how institutional investors contribute to corporate governance and enhance internal control systems.

Dual-purposing disulfiram for enhanced chemotherapy and afterglow imaging using chlorin e6 and semiconducting polymer combined strategy.

Rationale: One of the main challenges in chemotherapy is achieving high treatment efficacy while minimizing adverse events. Fully exploiting the therapeutic potential of an old drug and monitoring its effects in vivo is highly valuable, but often difficult to achieve. Methods: In this study, by encapsulating disulfiram (DSF) approved by US Food and Drug Administration, semiconducting polymer nanocomplex (MEHPPV), and Chlorin e6 into a polymeric matrix F127 via nanoprecipitation method, a nanosystem (FCMC) was developed for afterglow imaging guided cancer treatment. The characteristics, stability as well as the ability of singlet oxygen (1O2) production of FCMC were first carefully examined. Then, we studied the mechanism for enhanced anti-cancer efficiency and afterglow luminescence in vitro. For experiments in vivo, 4T1 subcutaneous xenograft tumor mice were injected with FCMC via the tail vein every three days and the antitumor effect of FCMC was evaluated by monitoring tumor volume and body weight every three day. Results: The nanosystem, which combines DSF with Ce6, can generates abundant 1O2 that enhances the antitumor activity of DSF. The in vivo results show that FCMC-treated group exhibits an obviously higher tumor-growth inhibition rate of 67.89% after 15 days of treatment, compared to the control group of F127@MEHPPV-CuET. Moreover, Ce6 also greatly enhances the afterglow luminescence intensity of MEHPPV and promotes the redshift of the afterglow emission towards the ideal near-infrared imaging window, thereby enabling efficient afterglow tumor imaging in vivo. Conclusions: This multifunctional nanoplatform not only improves the anticancer efficacy of DSF, but also enables monitoring tumor via robust afterglow imaging, thus exhibiting great potential for cancer therapy and early therapeutic outcome prediction.

Replacement of backfat with vegetable oils or their oleogels in emulsion-type sausage significantly change the digestibility of meat protein.

Replacing animal fat with vegetable oil occurred extensively in the meat products, but whether these replacements will affect the nutrition of meat protein was seldom revealed. Effect of substitution of back fat (BF) by vegetable oils or their oleogels in emulsion-type sausage on the digestion process of meat protein was investigated. Replacement of BF with vegetable oils and their oleogels decreased the G'/G" values of meat paste, and oleogels largely weakened the structure of sausages. The substitution significantly reduced the liberation of -NH2 during the initial gastric and intestinal digestion, and resulted in bigger digests in CLSM images. The reduced gastric digestibility induced by substitution was shown to be related to the reduced stability of gastric digests, which can be attributed to the larger particle size and reduced viscosity of digests. These results highlighted stability of digests as a key point changing the digestion process of meat protein.

Regulation of mechanical properties of microcapsules and their applications.

Microcapsules encapsulating payloads are one of the most promising delivery methods. The mechanical properties of microcapsules often determine their application scenarios. For example, microcapsules with low mechanical strength are more widely used in biomedical applications due to their superior biocompatibility, softness, and deformability. In contrast, microcapsules with high mechanical strength are often mixed into the matrix to enhance the material. Therefore, characterizing and regulating the mechanical properties of microcapsules is essential for their design optimization. This paper first outlines four methods for the mechanical characterization of microcapsules: nanoindentation technology, parallel plate compression technology, microcapillary technology, and deformation in flow. Subsequently, the mechanisms of regulating the mechanical properties of microcapsules and the progress of applying microcapsules with different degrees of softness and hardness in food, textile, and pharmaceutical formulations are discussed. These regulation mechanisms primarily include altering size and morphology, introducing sacrificial bonds, and construction of hybrid shells. Finally, we envision the future applications and research directions for microcapsules with tunable mechanical properties.

Menopausal stage transitions and their associations with overall and individual sleep quality in middle-aged Korean women.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the association between the menopausal transition and declining sleep quality can guide optimal timing for preventive interventions in transitioning women. However, studies lack representation of Asian women and sufficient data on the progression of menopausal stages and sleep quality changes over time in this population. METHODS: This study included 3305 women in the pre-menopause stage at baseline. The sleep quality and its components were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Menopausal stages were classified as pre-menopause, early transition, late transition, and post-menopause according to the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop+10 (STRAW+10) criteria. We estimated the longitudinal association between menopausal stage changes over time and the PSQI score, and examined the effect of being overweight. RESULTS: The trends in the PSQI scores and its components according to the menopausal stage changes over time showed that with the exception of sleep duration and habitual sleep efficiency, an overall decline was noted in sleep health during late transition and post-menopause compared to pre-menopause. These associations were independent of time-variant annual chronological aging, which was not significantly associated with sleep deterioration. Additionally, although the associations between menopausal stages and sleep quality did not significantly differ by adiposity level, the overweight group exhibited worse PSQI scores and components than did the non-overweight group. LIMITATION: Sleep quality and menopausal stage were assessed using self-reported questionnaires without objective measures. CONCLUSION: Our study underscores the importance of screening for sleep quality deterioration and implementing appropriate measures for women experiencing menopausal transition.

Arsenic Bioaccessibility in Rice and Its Application to Derive Health-Based Limits in China.

Arsenic (As) contamination in rice is a global public health concern, particularly in Asian countries where rice is the staple food. Current health-based limits for As in rice are typically derived from total As concentrations, resulting in overly stringent values. This study aimed to determine As bioaccessibility in rice, estimate dietary intakes of inorganic As (iAs) at different consumption rates, evaluate the cancer and non-cancer risks associated with iAs exposure through rice consumption, and assess the feasibility of deriving more accurate health-based limits for As in rice after incorporating rice As bioaccessibility. Bioaccessibility of As ranged from 60.7% to 104.5% in rice samples. Estimated iAs intake varied from 0.04 to 1.40 µg/kg BW/day at rice consumption rates of 100-300 g/day. Incorporating rice As bioaccessibility resulted in lower iAs intake estimates of 0.03-1.18 µg/kg BW/day. The non-cancer and cancer risks associated with iAs exposure are concerning for populations with higher rice consumption rates and elevated rice iAs concentrations. Health-based limits for iAs in rice for different regions across China are discussed after incorporating rice As bioaccessibility. This study contributes to the development of regional or national safety limits for As in rice, based on As bioaccessibility in rice.

Strategic engineering of cationic systems for spatial & temporal anti-counterfeiting applications in zero-dimensional Mn(II) halides.

While spatial and time-resolved anti-counterfeiting technologies have gained increasing attention owing to their excellent tunable photoluminescence, achieving high-security-level anti-counterfeiting remains a challenge. Herein, we developed a spatial-time-dual-resolved anti-counterfeiting system using zero-dimensional (0D) organic-inorganic Mn(II) metal halides: (EMMZ)2MnBr4 (named M-1, EMMZ=1-Ethyl-3-Methylimidazolium Bromide) and (EDMMZ)2MnBr4 (named M-2, EDMMZ=1-Ethyl-2,3-Dimethylimidazolium Bromide). M-1 shows a bright green emission with a quantum yield of 78 %. It undergoes a phase transformation from the crystalline to molten state with phosphorescence quenching at 350 K. Reversible phase and luminescent conversion was observed after cooling down for 15 s. Notably, M-2 exhibits green light emission similar to M-1 but undergoes phase conversion and phosphorescence quenching at 390 K, with reversible conversion observed after cooling down for 5 s. The photoluminescence switching mode of on(green)-off-on(green) can be achieved by temperature control, demonstrating excellent performance with short response times and ultra-high cyclic reversibility. By leveraging the different quenching temperatures and reversible PL conversion times of M-1 and M-2, we propose a spatial-time-dual-resolved photoluminescence (PL) switching system that combines M-1 and M-2. This system enables multi-fold tuning of the PL switch for encryption and decryption through cationic engineering strategies by modulating temperature and cooling time. This work presents a novel and feasible design strategy for advanced-level anti-counterfeiting technology based on a spatial-time-dual-resolved system.

Boric Acid Functionalized Hypercrosslinked Polymers for Selective Extraction of Trace Catecholamines and Their Metabolites in Rat Serum.

Abnormal levels of catecholamine (CA) neurotransmitters and their metabolites in biological fluids can lead to various neurological disorders. Herein, a boric acid-functionalized hypercrosslinked polymer was prepared and utilized as a sorbent for the dispersive solid-phase extraction of CAs and their metabolites in rat serum. By combination with a high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detector, the extraction parameters for the seven target analytes were optimized. Under the optimal extraction condition, the methodology for the quantitative analysis of CAs and their metabolites in rat serum samples was established. The limits of detection and limits of quantification were found to be in the ranges of 0.010-0.015 and 0.033-0.050 ng/mL, respectively. The results demonstrated satisfactory recoveries, with values ranging from 88.02% to 113.27%, accompanied by relative standard deviations within the range of 2.69%-9.59%. In addition, the method showed good anti-interference ability (matrix effect ranged from 2.64% to 18.07%). The developed method was validated for the determination of CAs and their metabolites in normal and Alzheimer's disease model rats' serum, which proved the promising application of the method for CAs neurotransmitter analysis in biological samples.

To explore the postoperative nutritional status and factors influencing prognosis in patients with chronic constipation complicated by malnutrition.

Background: Many patients with constipation also suffer from varying degrees of malnutrition, and the relationship between the two conditions is a vicious cycle. Surgery is the final step in the treatment of constipation, with a success rate of up to 95%. This study aims to investigate the effects of surgical treatment on the nutritional status of patients with chronic constipation and malnutrition. Methods: A total of 60 patients with chronic constipation and various degrees of malnutrition who underwent surgery in our department from January 2020 to March 2023 were included in this study. Biochemical tests including BMI, albumin, total protein, hemoglobin, cholesterol and lymphocyte count were conducted, as well as measurements of inflammatory markers such as Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-8 (IL-8), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Additionally, multiple nutritional risk screening scales (NRS2002, MUST, NRI, and MNA) and the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) were used to assess the nutritional status of patients before surgery, as well as at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months post-surgery. Finally, we analyzed the factors influencing postoperative recovery outcomes in patients. Results: Compared to pre-operation, the BMI of patients significantly increased at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the operation, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.001). Multiple nutritional risk assessment tools (NRS2002, MUST, NRI, and MNA), as well as the prognostic nutritional index (NPI), indicated a reduction in nutritional risk and improvement in nutritional status at 1, 3, and 6 months post-surgery, compared to pre-surgery levels (p < 0.001). The levels of albumin, total protein, and hemoglobin in patients at 1, 3, and 6 months after the surgery were significantly higher than those before the surgery (p < 0.001). However, there was no significant change in the number of lymphocytes. Inflammatory markers such as IL-6, IL-8, and CRP exhibited a significant decrease after the surgery, reaching normal levels at 6 months post-surgery (p < 0.001). Low BMI, low PNI, and low cholesterol levels are independent risk factors for patient prognosis (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Surgical treatment can enhance the nutritional status of constipation patients with malnutrition, which in turn promotes the restoration of intestinal motility. The patient's nutritional status will impact the postoperative recovery outcomes.

Soluble Tim-3 serves as a tumor prognostic marker and therapeutic target for CD8+ T cell exhaustion and anti-PD-1 resistance.

Resistance to PD-1 blockade in onco-immunotherapy greatly limits its clinical application. T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain containing-3 (Tim-3), a promising immune checkpoint target, is cleaved by ADAM10/17 to produce its soluble form (sTim-3) in humans, potentially becoming involved in anti-PD-1 resistance. Herein, serum sTim-3 upregulation was observed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and various digestive tumors. Notably, serum sTim-3 is further upregulated in non-responding patients undergoing anti-PD-1 therapy for NSCLC and anti-PD-1-resistant cholangiocarcinoma patients. Furthermore, sTim-3 overexpression facilitates tumor progression and confers anti-PD-1 resistance in multiple tumor mouse models. Mechanistically, sTim-3 induces terminal T cell exhaustion and attenuates CD8+ T cell response to PD-1 blockade through carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM-1). Moreover, the ADAM10 inhibitor GI254023X, which blocks sTim-3 production, reduces tumor progression in Tim-3 humanized mice and reverses anti-PD-1 resistance in human tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Overall, human sTim-3 holds great predictive and therapeutic potential in onco-immunotherapy.

Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease and Incident Dementia: The ARIC Study (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities).

BACKGROUND: Studies of the neurovascular contribution to dementia have largely focused on cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), but the role of intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) remains unknown in the general population. The objective of this study was to determine the risk of incident dementia from ICAD after adjusting for CSVD and cardiovascular risk factors in a US community-based cohort. METHODS: We acquired brain magnetic resonance imaging examinations from 2011 through 2013 in 1980 Black and White participants in the ARIC study (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities), a prospective cohort conducted in 4 US communities. Magnetic resonance imaging examinations included high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography to identify ICAD. Of these participants, 1590 without dementia, without missing covariates, and with adequate magnetic resonance image quality were followed through 2019 for incident dementia. Associations between ICAD and incident dementia were assessed using Cox proportional hazard ratios adjusted for CSVD (characterized by white matter hyperintensities, lacunar infarctions, and microhemorrhages), APOE4 genotype (apolipoprotein E gene ε4), and cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS: The mean age (SD) of study participants was 77.4 (5.2) years. ICAD was detected in 34.6% of participants. After a median follow-up of 5.6 years, 286 participants developed dementia. Compared with participants without ICAD, the fully adjusted hazard ratios (95% CIs) for incident dementia in participants with any ICAD, with ICAD only causing stenosis ≤50%, and with ICAD causing stenosis >50% in ≥1 vessel were 1.57 (1.17-2.11), 1.41 (1.02-1.95), and 1.94 (1.32-2.84), respectively. ICAD was associated with dementia even among participants with low white matter hyperintensities burden, a marker of CSVD. CONCLUSIONS: ICAD was associated with an increased risk of incident dementia, independent of CSVD, APOE4 genotype, and cardiovascular risk factors. The increased risk of dementia was evident even among participants with low CSVD burden, a group less likely to be affected by vascular dementia, and in participants with ICAD causing only low-grade stenosis. Our results suggest that ICAD may partially mediate the effect that cardiovascular risk factors have on the brain leading to dementia. Both ICAD and CSVD must be considered to understand the vascular contributions to cognitive decline.

Impact of different processing methods of Ligustrum lucidum Ait. on kidney-yin deficiency: a study based on pharmacodynamics and metabolomics research.

This study aimed to explore the pharmacodynamics and mechanisms of different processing methods of Ligustrum lucidum Ait. (LLA) in addressing kidney-yin deficiency (KYD). Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into eight groups based on their weight. The KYD model was established by intragastric administration of levothyroxine sodium. Each group was administered the corresponding treatment for 15 consecutive days. The general condition of the rats during the treatment period was observed. In addition, the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), and the ratio of cAMP to cGMP in the serum of rats from different groups were measured. Serum samples were analyzed using the ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)-Orbitrap Fusion MS technique for metabolomics analysis. Compared with the model group, the general condition of the rats in the wine-steamed L. lucidum group (WL) and salt-steamed L. lucidum group (SSL) groups showed significant improvement. The serum levels of cAMP, cGMP, and the cAMP-to-cGMP ratio tended to return to normal. Metabolic analysis identified 38 relevant biomarkers and revealed 3 major metabolic pathways: phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis; phenylalanine metabolism; and sphingolipid metabolism. The different processing methods of LLA demonstrated therapeutic effects on KYD in rats, likely related to the restoration of disturbed metabolism by adjusting the levels of endogenous metabolites in the kidney. The SSL demonstrated significantly superior effects compared with the other four types of LLA processed products.

Neonatal tachypnea caused by diaphragmatic paralysis: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Diaphragmatic paralysis is typically associated with phrenic nerve injury. Neonatal diaphragmatic paralysis diagnosis is easily missed because its manifestations are variable and usually nonspecific. CASE SUMMARY: We report a 39-week-old newborn delivered via vaginal forceps who presented with tachypnea but without showing other birth-trauma-related manifestations. The infant was initially diagnosed with pneumonia. However, the newborn still exhibited tachypnea despite effective antibiotic treatment. Chest radiography revealed right diaphragmatic elevation. M-mode ultrasonography revealed decreased movement of the right diaphragm. The infant was subsequently diagnosed with diaphragmatic paralysis. After 4 weeks, tachypnea improved. Upon re-examination using M-mode ultrasonography, the difference in bilateral diaphragmatic muscle movement was smaller than before. CONCLUSION: Appropriate use of M-mode ultrasound to quantify diaphragmatic excursions could facilitate timely diagnosis and provide objective evaluation.

Microstructure induction of quaternary ammonium chitosan microcapsules based on magnetic field and study of their aroma release.

Traditional pressure-sensitive microcapsules used in textiles face challenges of insufficient environmental friendliness in the production process and uncontrollable fragrance release. To address this issue, this study utilized quaternary ammonium chitosan and silica as wall materials to develop a magnetic aromatic microcapsule. The microstructure of the microcapsules was controlled by magnetic field induction, and its evolution pattern was investigated. After magnetic field induction, the microcapsules exhibited a trend of evolving from spherical to asymmetrical shapes, accompanied by significant changes in mechanical properties. Asymmetrical microcapsules showed higher adhesion and lower stiffness. When applied to cotton textiles, the cotton textiles treated with asymmetrical microcapsules released 63.40 % of lavender essential oil after 200 friction cycles, representing an 11.3 % improvement in release efficiency compared to regular microcapsules, indicating better mechanical stimulus responsiveness. Additionally, in antibacterial tests, aromatic cotton exhibited a 96.52 % inhibition ratio against Escherichia coli. In summary, this study explores methods to adjust the mechanical properties of microcapsules and the relationship between mechanical properties and microstructure, providing a new approach for functional textiles.