Differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules by DCE-MRI based on compressed sensing volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination: A feasibility study.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the potential and performance of quantitative and semi-quantitative parameters derived from dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) based on compressed sensing volumetric interpolated breath-hold (CS-VIBE) examination in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 208 patients with 259 thyroid nodules scheduled for surgery operation were prospectively recruited. All participants underwent routine and DCE-MRI. DCE-MRI quantitative parameters [Ktrans, Kep, Ve], semi-quantitative parameters [wash-in, wash-out, time to peak (TTP), arrival time (AT), peak enhancement intensity (PEI), and initial area under curve in 60 s (iAUC)] and time-intensity curve (TIC) types were analyzed. Differential diagnostic performances were assessed using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and compared with the Delong test. RESULTS: Ktrans, Kep, Ve, wash-in, wash-out, PEI and iAUC were statistically significantly different between malignant and benign nodules (P < 0.001). Among these parameters, ROC analysis revealed that Ktrans showed the highest diagnostic performance in the differentiation of benign and malignant nodules, followed by wash-in. ROC analysis also revealed that Ktrans achieved the best diagnostic performance for distinguishing papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) from non-PTC, follicular adenoma (FA) from non-FA, nodular goiter (NG) from non-NG, with AUC values of 0.854, 0.895 and 0.609, respectively. Type III curve is frequently observed in benign thyroid nodules, accounting for 77.4% (82/106). While malignant nodules are more common in type II, accounting for 57.5% (88/153). CONCLUSION: Thyroid examination using CS-VIBE based DCE-MRI is a feasible, non-invasive method to identify benign and malignant thyroid nodules and pathological types.

Clinical Situation, Species Distribution, and Antibiotic Resistance of Pathogenic Bacteria and Fungi in 626 Cases of Vulvovaginitis in Hangzhou, China.

BACKGROUND: Female vulvovaginitis was one of the most common gynecological diseases. It had a great negative impact on their work and quality of life. This retrospective study evaluated the clinical and laboratory data of patients with vulvovaginitis in Hangzhou, China. To analyze the clinical situation, species distribution and antibiotic resistance of pathogenic fungi and bacteria in 626 cases of vulvovaginitis in Hangzhou. Microorganism culture, identification, and antibiotic susceptibility testing were conducted. The study aimed to provide a theoretical value for an effective treatment of vulvovaginitis. METHODS: In total, 626 outpatients and inpatients diagnosed with vulvovaginitis were selected from January 2018 to January 2023. Data of all the patients were collected from the hospital's electronic medical records. Vaginal secretion was collected for testing and SPSS 25.0 software was used to perform statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 626 strains of fungi, Gram-positive, and -negative bacteria were detected. Clinical situations of patients infected with the top five pathogenic fungi and bacteria were analyzed. Pathogenic fungi and bacteria were slightly different in each age group and in each onset time group. The results of antibiotic susceptibility testing showed that the resistance rates of itraconazole and fluconazole were high and Gram- negative and -positive bacteria were multidrug resistant. Gram-negative bacteria were more sensitive to carbenicillins and compound antibiotics, while Gram-positive bacteria were sensitive to rifampicin and daptomycin. MRSA and non vancomycin-resistant strains were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Fungi and bacteria were usually detected as pathogenes in patients with vulvovaginitis in Hangzhou. Some factors, such as age and onset time, often affected the incidence. Pathogenic fungi and bacteria were resistant to some common antibiotics, and clinical treatments should be carried out in a timely and reasonable manner according to the results of antibiotic susceptibility testing.

Association of serum total IgE and allergen-specific IgE with insulin resistance in adolescents: an analysis of the NHANES database.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have found that total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and allergen-specific IgE were associated with some metabolic diseases. However, the role of IgE in metabolism among adolescents is still unclear. Herein, this study aims to investigate the associations of serum total IgE and allergen-specific IgE with insulin resistance (IR) in adolescents, in order to provide some reference for the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases in a young age. METHODS: Data of 870 adolescents were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database in 2005-2006 in this cross-sectional study. Weighted univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were utilized to screen covariates and explore the relationships of serum total IgE and allergen-specific IgE with IR. The evaluation indexes were odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). In addition, these relationships were also assessed in subgroups of allergy history, asthma history, and number of allergens. RESULTS: Among eligible adolescents, 168 had IR. No significant association between serum total IgE level and IR was found. However, adolescents with higher level of allergen-specific IgE to rye grass [OR = 0.47, 95%CI: (0.25-0.91)], white oak [OR = 0.57, 95%CI: (0.37-0.88)], or peanut [OR = 0.38, 95%CI: (0.15-0.97)] seemed to have lower odds of IR, whereas those had higher level of shrimp-specific IgE [OR = 2.65, 95%CI: (1.21-5.84)] have increased odds of IR. In addition, these associations between allergen-specific IgE and IR were also discovered in adolescents who had allergy history or asthma history, or had different numbers of allergens. CONCLUSION: Paying attention to different allergens in adolescents may be important in the early identification of IR among this high-risk population. The study results relatively provided some reference for further exploration on IR prevention.

Discovery of sesquiterpenoids from the roots of Chloranthus henryi Hemsl. var. hupehensis (Pamp.) K. F. Wu and their anti-inflammatory activity by IKBα/NF-κB p65 signaling pathway suppression.

Phytochemical analysis of Chloranthus henryi var. hupehensis roots led to the identification of a new eudesmane sesquiterpenoid dimer, 18 new sesquiterpenoids, and three known sesquiterpenoids. Among the isolates, 1 was a rare sesquiterpenoid dimer that is assembled by a unique oxygen bridge (C11-O-C8') of two highly rearranged eudesmane-type sesquiterpenes with the undescribed C16 carbon framework. (+)-2 and (-)-2 were a pair of new skeleton dinorsesquiterpenoids with a remarkable 6/6/5 tricyclic ring framework including one γ-lactone ring and the bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane core. Their structures were elucidated using spectroscopic data, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and quantum chemical computations. In the LPS-induced BV-2 microglial cell model, 17 suppressed IL-1ß and TNF-α expression with EC50 values of 6.81 and 2.76 µM, respectively, indicating its excellent efficacy in inhibiting inflammatory factors production in a dose dependent manner and without cytotoxicity. In subsequent mechanism studies, compounds 3, 16, and 17 could reduce IL-1ß and TNF-α production by inhibiting IKBα/p65 pathway activation.

Vacancy-assisted exposed Sn atoms enhancing NO2 room temperature sensing of SnSe2 nanoflowers.

NO2 is a hazardous gas extremely harmful to the ecosystem and human health, so effective detection of NO2 is critical. SnSe2 is a promising candidate for gas sensors owing to its unique layered configuration that facilitates the diffusion of gas molecules. Here, ultrathin self-assembled nanoflowers F-SnSe2 rich in defects were synthesized by a simple solvothermal method. It exhibits excellent gas sensing performances for NO2 at room temperature (25 °C), with a high gas sensing response of 8.6 for 1 ppm NO2 and a lower detection limit as low as 200 ppb, capable of sensitively detecting ppb-level NO2. DFT calculations revealed that the presence of Se vacancies assists the central Sn atoms to break through the shielding effect of the surface Se atoms and become exposed active sites. The higher reactivity leads to more charge transfer and higher adsorption energy, which strongly promoted the adsorption of NO2. This work verifies the important role of vacancies for the exposed active sites and provides new guidance for defect engineering to modulate the gas sensing performances of SnSe2.

Unveiling the Mechanistic Role of Chiral Palladacycles in Pd(II)-Catalyzed Enantioselective C(sp3)-H Functionalization.

Palladium-catalyzed enantioselective C(sp3)-H functionalization reactions has attracted considerable attention due to its ability for the synthesis of enantiomerically enriched molecules and stimulation of novel retrosynthetic disconnections. Understanding the reaction mechanism, especially the stereochemical process of the reaction, is crucial for the rational design of more efficient catalytic systems. Previously, we developed a Pd(II)/sulfoxide-2-hydroxypridine (SOHP) catalytic system for asymmetric C(sp3)-H functionalization reactions. In this study, we focused on unraveling the chemistry of chiral palladacycles involved in the Pd(II)-catalyzed enantioselective C(sp3)-H functionalization. We have isolated key palladacycle intermediates involved in the enantioselective ß-C(sp3)-H arylation of carboxylic acids catalyzed by the Pd(II)/SOHP system. These palladacycles, exhibiting ligand-induced chirality, provided a significant opportunity to investigate the stereochemical process and the ligand effect in this asymmetric C-H functionalization. Our investigation provided direct evidence for the C-H palladation step as the enantioselectivity-determining step, which forms diastereomeric palladacycles that exhibited preservation of chirality in the functionalization step. DFT calculations provided insights into the chiral induction in palladacycle formation. This work highlights the value of chiral palladacycle chemistry in offering mechanistic insights into the Pd(II)-catalyzed asymmetric C(sp3)-H functionalization reactions.

Optimizing ultrafast dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI scan duration in the differentiation of benign and malignant breast lesions.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the optimal scan duration for ultrafast DCE-MRI in effectively differentiating benign from malignant breast lesions. METHODS: The study prospectively recruited participants who underwent breast ultrafast DCE-MRI from September 2021 to March 2023. A 30-phase breast ultrafast DCE-MRI on a 3.0-T MRI system was conducted with a 4.5-s temporal resolution. Scan durations ranged from 40.5 s to 135.0 s, during which the analysis is performed at three-phase intervals, forming eight dynamic sets (scan duration [SD]40.5s: 40.5 s, SD54s: 54.0 s, SD67.5s: 67.5 s, SD81s: 81.0 s, SD94.5s: 94.5 s, SD108s: 108.0 s, SD121.5s: 121.5 s, and SD135s: 135.0 s). Two ultrafast DCE-MRI parameters, maximum slope (MS) and initial area under the curve in 60 s (iAUC), were calculated for each dynamic set and compared between benign and malignant lesions. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) were used to assess their diagnostic performance. RESULTS: A total of 140 women (mean age, 47 ± 11 years) with 151 lesions were included. MS and iAUC from eight dynamic sets exhibited significant differences between benign and malignant lesions (all p < 0.05), except iAUC at SD40.5s. The AUC of MS (AUC = 0.804) and iAUC (AUC = 0.659) at SD67.5s were significantly higher than their values at SD40.5s (AUC = 0.606 and 0.516; corrected p < 0.05). No significant differences in AUCs for MS and iAUC were observed from SD67.5s to SD135s (all corrected p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrafast DCE-MRI with a 67.5-s scan duration appears optimal for effectively differentiating malignant from benign breast lesions. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: By evaluating scan durations (40.5-135 s) and analyzing two ultrafast DCE-MRI parameters, we found a scan duration of 67.5 s optimal for discriminating between these lesions and offering a balance between acquisition time and diagnostic efficacy. KEY POINTS: Ultrafast DCE-MRI can effectively differentiate malignant from benign breast lesions. A minimum of 67.5-sec ultrafast DCE-MRI scan duration is required to differentiate benign and malignant lesions. Extending the scan duration beyond 67.5 s did not significantly improve diagnostic accuracy.

Medullary sponge kidney with IgA nephropathy: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Medullary sponge kidney (MSK)is rare in association with glomerulonephritis. We report a patient with medullary sponge kidney, and the kidney biopsy revealed a diagnosis of IgA nephropathy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 27-year-old female presented with hematuria and proteinuria, and imaging studies indicated the presence of medullary spongy kidney. With appropriate preparation, a kidney biopsy was performed. Considering the patient's clinical and pathological characteristics, the final diagnosis was determined to be medullary sponge kidney associated by IgA nephropathy. The combination of corticosteroids and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) proved to be significantly effective in reducing proteinuria in the current case. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case that demonstrates the coexistence of MSK and IgA nephropathy. CONCLUSIONS: Administering precise therapy based on renal pathology can potentially enhance outcomes for patients with renal conditions, necessitating the need for clinicians to be vigilant about differential diagnosis in order to reduce the rates of missed diagnoses and misdiagnosis.

Corrigendum: Genomic evolution of BA.5.2 and BF.7.14 derived lineages causing SARS-CoV-2 outbreak at the end of 2022 in China.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1273745.].

Time course of cardiac rupture after acute myocardial infarction and comparison of clinical features of different rupture types.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the time course of cardiac rupture (CR) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the differences among different rupture types. Method: We retrospectively analyzed 145 patients with CR after AMI at Shanxi Cardiovascular Hospital from June 2016 to September 2022. Firstly, according to the time from onset of chest pain to CR, the patients were divided into early CR (≤24 h) (n = 61 patients) and late CR (>24 h) (n = 75 patients) to explore the difference between early CR and late CR. Secondly, according to the type of CR, the patients were divided into free wall rupture (FWR) (n = 55) and ventricular septal rupture (VSR) (n = 90) to explore the difference between FWR and VSR. Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that high white blood cell count (OR = 1.134, 95% CI: 1.019-1.260, P = 0.021), low creatinine (OR = 0.991, 95% CI: 0.982-0.999, P = 0.026) were independently associated with early CR. In addition, rapid heart rate (OR = 1.035, 95% CI: 1.009-1.061, P = 0.009), low systolic blood pressure (OR = 0.981, 95% CI: 0.962-1.000, P = 0.048), and anterior myocardial infarction (OR = 5.989, 95% CI: 1.978-18.136, P = 0.002) were independently associated with VSR. Conclusion: In patients with CR, high white blood cell count and low creatinine were independently associated with early CR, rapid heart rate, low systolic blood pressure, and anterior myocardial infarction were independently associated with VSR.

Enhanced adsorption of dye wastewater by low-temperature combined NaOH/urea pretreated hydrochar: Fabrication, performance, and mechanism.

The highly stable biomass structure formed by cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin results in incomplete conversion and carbonization under hydrothermal conditions. In this study, pretreated corn straw hydrochar (PCS-HC) was prepared using a low-temperature alkali/urea combination pretreatment method. The Mass loss rate of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin from pretreated biomass, as well as the effects of the pretreatment method on the physicochemical properties of PCS-HC and the adsorption performance of PCS-HC for alkaline dyes (rhodamine B and methylene blue), were investigated. The results showed that the low-temperature NaOH/urea pretreatment effectively disrupted the stable structure formed by cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. NaOH played a dominant role in solubilizing cellulose and the combination of low temperature and urea enhanced the ability of NaOH to remove cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Compared to the untreated hydrochar, PCS-HC exhibited a rougher surface, a more abundant pore structure, and a larger specific surface area. The unpretreated hydrochar exhibited an adsorption capacity of 64.8% for rhodamine B and 66.32% for methylene blue. However, the removal of rhodamine B and methylene blue by PCS-BC increased to 89.12% and 90.71%, respectively, under the optimal pretreatment conditions. The PCS-HC exhibited a favorable adsorption capacity within the pH range of 6-9. However, the presence of co-existing anions such as Cl-, SO42-, CO32-, and NO3- hindered the adsorption capacity of PCS-HC. Among these anions, CO32- exhibited the highest level of inhibition. Chemisorption, including complexation, electrostatic attraction, and hydrogen bonding, were the primary mechanism for dye adsorption by PCS-HC. This study provides an efficient method for utilizing agricultural waste and treating dye wastewater.

Inadvertently enriched cyanobacteria prompted bacterial phosphorus uptake without aeration in a conventional anaerobic/oxic reactor.

The enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) process requires alternate anaerobic and aerobic conditions, which are regulated respectively by aeration off and on. Recently, in an ordinary EBPR reactor, an abnormal orthophosphate concentration (PO43--P) decline in the anaerobic stage (namely non-aerated phosphorus uptake) aroused attention. It was not occasionally but occurred in each cycle and lasted for 101 d and shared about 16.63 % in the total P uptake amount. After excluding bio-mineralization and surface re-aeration, indoor light conditions (180 to 260 lx) inducing non-aerated P uptake were confirmed. High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that cyanobacteria could produce oxygen via photosynthesis and were inhabited inside wall biofilm. The cyanobacteria (Pantalinema and Leptolyngbya ANT.L52.2) were incubated in a feeding transparent silicone hose, entered the reactor along with influent, and outcompeted Chlorophyta, which existed in the inoculum. Eventually, this work deciphered the reason for non-aerated phosphorus uptake and indicated its potential application in reducing CO2 emissions and energy consumption via the cooperation of microalgal-bacterial and biofilm-sludge.

Differentiation of Type 17 Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells in Circulation Contributes to the Severity of Sepsis.

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are essential in defending against infection. Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response to infection and a leading cause of death. The relationship between the overall competency of the host immune response and disease severity is not fully elucidated. This study identified a higher proportion of circulating MAIT17 with expression of IL-17A and RAR-related orphan receptor γt in patients with sepsis. The proportion of MAIT17 was correlated with the severity of sepsis. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis revealed an enhanced expression of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) in MAIT17 in patients with sepsis. Cell-culture experiments demonstrated that phosphoinositide 3-kinase-LDHA signaling was required for RAR-related orphan receptor γt expression in MAIT17. Finally, the elevated levels of plasma IL-18 promoted the differentiation of circulating MAIT17 cells in sepsis. In summary, this study reveals a new role of circulating MAIT17 in promoting sepsis severity and suggests the phosphoinositide 3-kinase-LDHA signaling as a driving force in MAIT17 responses.

Development of automated neural network prediction for echocardiographic left ventricular ejection fraction.

Introduction: The echocardiographic measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is fundamental to the diagnosis and classification of patients with heart failure (HF). Methods: This paper aimed to quantify LVEF automatically and accurately with the proposed pipeline method based on deep neural networks and ensemble learning. Within the pipeline, an Atrous Convolutional Neural Network (ACNN) was first trained to segment the left ventricle (LV), before employing the area-length formulation based on the ellipsoid single-plane model to calculate LVEF values. This formulation required inputs of LV area, derived from segmentation using an improved Jeffrey's method, as well as LV length, derived from a novel ensemble learning model. To further improve the pipeline's accuracy, an automated peak detection algorithm was used to identify end-diastolic and end-systolic frames, avoiding issues with human error. Subsequently, single-beat LVEF values were averaged across all cardiac cycles to obtain the final LVEF. Results: This method was developed and internally validated in an open-source dataset containing 10,030 echocardiograms. The Pearson's correlation coefficient was 0.83 for LVEF prediction compared to expert human analysis (p < 0.001), with a subsequent area under the receiver operator curve (AUROC) of 0.98 (95% confidence interval 0.97 to 0.99) for categorisation of HF with reduced ejection (HFrEF; LVEF<40%). In an external dataset with 200 echocardiograms, this method achieved an AUC of 0.90 (95% confidence interval 0.88 to 0.91) for HFrEF assessment. Conclusion: The automated neural network-based calculation of LVEF is comparable to expert clinicians performing time-consuming, frame-by-frame manual evaluations of cardiac systolic function.

Co-impacts of cation type and humic acid on migration of polystyrene microplastics in saturated porous media.

The aging process of microplastics (MPs) could significantly change their physical and chemical characteristics and impact their migration behavior in soil. However, the complex effects of different cations and humic acids (HA) on the migration of aged MPs through saturated media are not clear. In this research, the migration and retention of pristine/aged PSMPs (polystyrene microplastics) under combined effects of cations (Na+, Ca2+) (ionic strength = 10 mM) and HA (0, 5, 15 mg/L) were investigated and analyzed in conjunction with the two-site kinetic retention model and DLVO theory. The findings showed that the aging process accelerated PSMPs migration under all tested conditions. Aged PSMPs were less susceptible to Ca2+ than pristine PSMPs. Under Ca2+ conditions, pristine/aged PSMPs showed higher retention than under Na+ conditions in the absence of HA. Furthermore, under Na+ conditions, the migration of aged PSMPs significantly increased at higher concentrations of HA. However, under Ca2+ conditions, the migration of aged PSMPs decreased significantly at higher concentrations of HA. In higher HA conditions, HA, Ca2+, and PSMPs interact to cause larger aggregations, resulting in the sedimentation of aged PSMPs. The DLVO calculations and two-site kinetic retention models' results showed the detention of PSMPs was irreversible under higher HA conditions (15 mg/L) with Ca2+, and aged PSMPs were more susceptible to clogging. These findings may help to understand the potential risk of migration behavior of PSMPs in the soil-groundwater environment.

Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveals anthocyanin biosynthesis in leaf coloration of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.).

BACKGROUND: Quinoa leaves demonstrate a diverse array of colors, offering a potential enhancement to landscape aesthetics and the development of leisure-oriented sightseeing agriculture in semi-arid regions. This study utilized integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to investigate the mechanisms underlying anthocyanin synthesis in both emerald green and pink quinoa leaves. RESULTS: Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses indicated that both flavonoid biosynthesis pathway (ko00941) and anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway (ko00942) were significantly associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were analyzed between the two germplasms during different developmental periods. Ten DEGs were verified using qRT-PCR, and the results were consistent with those of the transcriptomic sequencing. The elevated expression of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), chalcone synthase (CHS), 4-coumarate CoA ligase (4CL) and Hydroxycinnamoyltransferase (HCT), as well as the reduced expression of flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) and Flavonol synthase (FLS), likely cause pink leaf formation. In addition, bHLH14, WRKY46, and TGA indirectly affected the activities of CHS and 4CL, collectively regulating the levels of cyanidin 3-O-(3'', 6''-O-dimalonyl) glucoside and naringenin. The diminished expression of PAL, 4CL, and HCT decreased the formation of cyanidin-3-O-(6"-O-malonyl-2"-O-glucuronyl) glucoside, leading to the emergence of emerald green leaves. Moreover, the lowered expression of TGA and WRKY46 indirectly regulated 4CL activity, serving as another important factor in maintaining the emerald green hue in leaves N1, N2, and N3. CONCLUSION: These findings establish a foundation for elucidating the molecular regulatory mechanisms governing anthocyanin biosynthesis in quinoa leaves, and also provide some theoretical basis for the development of leisure and sightseeing agriculture.

A whole-course-repair system based on ROS/glucose stimuli-responsive EGCG release and tunable mechanical property for efficient treatment of chronic periodontitis in diabetic rats.

Elevated glucose levels, multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines and the generation of excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) are pivotal characteristics within the microenvironments of chronic periodontitis with diabetes mellitus (CPDM). Control of inflammation and modulation of immune system are required in the initial phase of CPDM treatment, while late severe periodontitis requires a suitable scaffold to promote osteogenesis, rebuild periodontal tissue and reduce alveolar bone resorption. Herein, a whole-course-repair system is introduced by an injectable hydrogel using phenylboronic acid functionalized oxidized sodium alginate (OSA-PBA) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC). Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) was loaded to simultaneously adjust the mechanical property of the OSA-PBA/CMC + EGCG hydrogel (OPCE). This hydrogel has distinctive adaptability, injectability, and ROS/glucose-triggered release of EGCG, making it an ideal drug delivery carrier. As expected, OPCE hydrogel shows favourable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, along with a regulatory influence on the phenotypic transition of macrophages, providing a favourable immune microenvironment. Apart from that, it provides a favourable mechanical support for osteoblast/osteoclast differentiation regulation at the late proliferation stage of periodontal regeneration. The practical therapeutic effects of OPCE hydrogels were also confirmed when applied for treating periodontitis in diabetic rats. In summary, OPCE hydrogel may be a promising whole-course-repair system for the treatment of CPDM.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the sunlight exposure questionnaire.

Objective: This study aimed to translate and validate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Philippines Sunlight Exposure Questionnaire. Methods: A total of 392 Chinese individuals aged at least 18 years, residing in various cities in Sichuan province for at least 1 year, were recruited. The reliability of the Chinese version of the questionnaire was measured through internal consistency, split-half reliability, and retest reliability, while validity was determined using the content validity index and the structure validity index. Results: The Chinese version of the Sunlight Exposure Questionnaire, which includes 19 items covering 5 factors, demonstrated McDonald's omega coefficient of 0.788. The split-half reliability of the questionnaire was 0.823, and the retest reliability was 0.940. The content validity index (S-CVI) was 0.952. The five-factor structure, supported by eigenvalues, explained 66.2% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated favorable model fit. Results: The chi-square value degrees of freedom ratio (χ2/df) = 1.852, the goodness-of-fit index (GFI) = 0.938, the normed fit index (NFI) = 0.922, the incremental fit index (IFI) = 0.962, the comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.962, the Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.952, and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.047. The indicators of the fit of the model were within reasonable bounds. Conclusion: The Chinese version of the Sunlight Exposure Questionnaire shows validity and good reliability for assessing sun exposure among adults in a Chinese cultural context.

The association between variability of risk factors and complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a retrospective study.

The variability in diabetes risk factors, such as uric acid and lipids, may influence the development of complications. This study aimed to investigate the influence of such variability on the occurrence of diabetic complications. A retrospective analysis of electronic medical records was conducted with type 2 diabetic patients who received treatment at a tertiary care hospital in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, between 2013 and 2022. The risk factor variability is presented as the standard deviation (SD). The associations between the variability and complications were examined using a binary logistic regression model. The study included 369 patients with type 2 diabetes. The findings revealed that outpatient special disease management served as a protective factor against the development of complications [OR = 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.29-0.10)], particularly for the prevention of diabetic peripheral neuropathy [OR = 0.51, 95% CI (0.30-0.86)]. Variability in total cholesterol (TC-SD) was found to be a risk factor for the development of complications [OR = 2.42, 95% CI (1.18-4.97)] and acted as a risk factor for diabetic peripheral vasculopathy [OR = 2.50, 95% CI (1.25-5.02)]. TC-SD is a risk factor for the occurrence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and diabetic peripheral vasculopathy, whereas outpatient special disease management functions as a protective factor against complications and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Thus, in addition to glycaemic control, the regulation of lipid levels should be emphasized, particularly among patients without outpatient special disease management, to delay the onset of complications.