Cu/TiO2 adsorbents modified by air plasma for adsorption-oxidation of H2S.

In this study, non-thermal plasma (NTP) was employed to modify the Cu/TiO2 adsorbent to efficiently purify H2S in low-temperature and micro-oxygen environments. The effects of Cu loading amounts and atmospheres of NTP treatment on the adsorption-oxidation performance of the adsorbents were investigated. The NTP modification successfully boosted the H2S removal capacity to varying degrees, and the optimized adsorbent treated by air plasma (Cu/TiO2-Air) attained the best H2S breakthrough capacity of 113.29 mg H2S/gadsorbent, which was almost 5 times higher than that of the adsorbent without NTP modification. Further studies demonstrated that the superior performance of Cu/TiO2-Air was attributed to increased mesoporous volume, more exposure of active sites (CuO) and functional groups (amino groups and hydroxyl groups), enhanced Ti-O-Cu interaction, and the favorable ratio of active oxygen species. Additionally, the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results indicated the main reason for the deactivation was the consumption of the active components (CuO) and the agglomeration of reaction products (CuS and SO42-) occupying the active sites on the surface and the inner pores of the adsorbents.

Catalyst-free regeneration of plasma-activated water via ultrasonic cavitation: Removing aggregation concealment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria with enhanced wastewater sustainability.

Aggregation is a crucial factor in bacterial biofilm formation, and comprehending its properties is vital for managing waterborne antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In this study, we examined Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) cell aggregation under varying conditions and assessed the inactivation efficiency of a novel disinfection method, micro-nano bubbles plasma-activated water via ultrasonic stirring cavitation (MPAW-US), on aggregated MRSA cells. Aggregation efficiency increased over time and at low salt concentrations but diminished at higher concentrations. Elevated MRSA cell aggregation in actual water samples represented significant real-life biohazard risks. Unlike conventional disinfection, MPAW-US treatment exhibited minimal change in the inactivation rate constant despite protective outer layers. Enhanced inactivation efficiency results from the synergistic effects of increased intracellular oxidative stress damage and extracellular substance disruption, triggered by ultrasound-activated micro-nano bubbles that improve PAW reactivity and applicability. This approach neither induced MRSA cross-resistance to unfavorable conditions nor increased toxicity or regrowth potential of aggregative MRSA, utilizing ATP levels as potential regrowth capability indicators. Ultimately, this energy-efficient disinfection technology functions effectively across diverse temperature ranges, showcasing exceptional sterilization and nutritional bean sprout production after cyclic filtering, thereby promoting wastewater sustainability amidst carbon emission concerns.

Trace rare earth elements analysis in atmospheric particulates and cigar smoke by ICP-MS after pretreatment with magnetic polymers.

BACKGROUND: Some heavy metals could be ingested into human body through breathing besides diet and drinking. Atmospheric particulates and smoke are main sources of this kind for the metals' exposure to human. Compared with environmental water, the methodologies for trace metals in particulates and smoke samples with more complex matrix are much less. Magnetic functional sorbents can be designed to remove complex matrix and enrich target analytes. The combination of magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) with highly sensitive inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) detection is a good alternative for the analytical purpose. (92). RESULTS: Magnetic polymers were synthesized through free radical polymerization with Fe3O4 nanoparticles as the core and 2-methyl-2-hydroxyethyl 2-acrylate-2-hydroxyethyl ester phosphate as external modifier. The sorbent showed a high phosphorus content (2.7 wt%) and good selectivity to target REEs, along with good reusability (at least 45 times) and chemical stability. With the consumption of 150 mL aqueous solution, an enrichment factor of 300 was obtained by the proposed method, leading to low detection limits (0.001-0.2 ng L-1) for 15 REEs. The application potential of the method was further evaluated by analyzing local atmospheric particulate and cigar smoke samples. Recovery of 86.3-107 % in digested total suspended particulate (TSP) was obtained for 15 REEs, demonstrating a good anti-interference ability of the method. Target REEs in TSP, PM2.5 and PM10 samples were found to be 0.01-2.81, 0.006-1.09 and 0.009-2.46 ng m-3, respectively, and none of them were detected in the collected cigar smoke. (148) SIGNIFICANCE: The method of MSPE-ICP-MS was demonstrated with good potential for trace analysis in complex sample matrix, probably due to the good selectivity of the functionalized polymers. With the design and fabrication of specific functionalized magnetic sorbents, other heavy metals can be monitored in those samples which would be intake by human breathing. It provided an efficient strategy for the evaluation of metals' health risk in particulates and smoke samples. (69).

A quantitative method for aquaporin-1 protein using magnetic preconcentration and probe-based immunoassay coupling to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in urine analysis.

BACKGROUND: Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) protein plays a crucial role in intracellular and extracellular water homeostasis and fluid transport in organs and tissues associated with diverse life activities and is extremely abundant in the kidney. Accurate detection of AQP1 in urine can be applied as screening of early-stage disease. Application of magnetic preconcentration and probe-based signal amplification strategy coupling to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a more accurate, sensitive and specific detection method for AQP1 in complex biological samples compared to conventional methods. RESULTS: We described an element-labelling strategy based on magnetic preconcentration and probe-based immunoassay coupling to ICP-MS detection. The magnetic beads (MBs) modified with epoxy groups were capable of enriching AQP1 proteins and separating them from complex matrices. The probe constructed by conjugating anti-AQP1 antibody molecules on the surface of gold nanoparticles could specifically recognize AQP1 proteins attached on MBs and be analyzed by ICP-MS. The concentration of AQP1 protein could be precisely quantified and amplified by 14,000 times through the corresponding signal of Au atoms. This assay for AQP1 protein quantification achieved a detection limit down to 0.023 ng mL-1, a broad linear calibration curve between 0.3 ng mL-1 and 30 ng mL-1, as well as outstanding specificity. SIGNIFICANCE: The proposed method was successfully applied to detect AQP1 protein in human urine samples, showing the potential for its applications concerning accurate AQP1 quantification. It can also screen a wide range of proteins provided the antibodies specific to these target proteins are available.

Early Experience With a Novel Super-Hydrophilic Laparoscopic Scope Cleaning Device and Narrative Review of Available Cleaning Strategies.

BACKGROUND: Impaired visibility is a challenge in laparoscopic surgery. Frequent scope removal increases operative time, reduces efficiency, and potentially compromises patient safety. We examine our initial experience with a novel cleaning device that applies cold plasma to the scope lens and review current available laparoscope cleaning methods. METHODS: The novel device was used in a variety of laparoscopic general surgery cases from April to November 2023. Primary outcome was number of scope removals per case. Secondary outcomes were time spent cleaning and number of times the scope became smudged or dirty with blood/tissue debris (debris events). An existing device that utilizes heated anti-fogging solution was used for comparison. RESULTS: 97 cases were included (31 with novel device and 66 with existing device). Scope removal rate for the novel device was lower compared to the existing device (0.87 ± 1.02 vs 0.97 ± 1.20 removals/case, P = 0.69), but not statistically significant. Average number of debris events was also lower for the novel device, but not statistically significant (0.90 ± 0.94 vs 1.0 ± 1.18 debris events/case, P = 0.69). Average total time spent cleaning per case was similar between devices (16.9 ± 24.0 vs 15.9 ± 18.7 seconds, P = 0.82). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that a hydrophilic scope cleaning device has comparable performance to heated anti-fogging solution and may reduce scope removals and debris events. Direct comparisons between cleaning products are lacking. Surgeons are most likely to be successful with the cleaning strategy that best suits one's surgical practice.

ZmCRK1 negatively regulates maize's response to drought stress by phosphorylating plasma membrane H+-ATPase ZmMHA2.

Drought severely affects crop growth and yields. Stomatal regulation plays an important role in plant response to drought stress. Light-activated plasma membrane-localized proton ATPase (PM H+-ATPase) mainly promoted the stomatal opening. Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a dominant role in the stomatal closure during drought stress. It is not clear how PM H+-ATPase is involved in the regulation of ABA-induced stomatal closure. We found that a CALCIUM-DEPENDENT PROTEIN KINASE RELATED KINASE 1 (ZmCRK1), and its mutant zmcrk1 exhibited slow water loss in detached leaves, high-survival rate after drought stress, and sensitivity to stomatal closure induced by ABA. The ZmCRK1 overexpression lines are opposite. ZmCRK1 interacted with the maize PM H+-ATPase ZmMHA2. ZmCRK1 phosphorylated ZmMHA2 at the Ser-901 and inhibited its proton pump activity. ZmCRK1 overexpression lines and zmmha2 mutants had low H+-ATPase activity, resulting in impaired ABA-induced H+ efflux. Taken together, our study indicates that ZmCRK1 negatively regulates maize drought stress response by inhibiting the activity of ZmMHA2. Reducing the expression level of ZmCRK1 has the potential to reduce yield losses under water deficiency.

Plasma-Induced Oxygen Defect Engineering in Perovskite Oxide for Boosting Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Perovskite oxides are considered highly promising candidates for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts due to their low cost and adaptable electronic structure. However, modulating the electronic structure of catalysts without altering their nanomorphology is crucial for understanding the structure-property relationship. In this study, a simple plasma bombardment strategy is developed to optimize the catalytic activity of perovskite oxides. Experimental characterization of plasma-treated LaCo0.9Fe0.1O3 (P-LCFO) reveals abundant oxygen vacancies, which expose numerous active sites. Additionally, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure analyses indicate a low Co valence state in P-LCFO, likely due to the presence of these oxygen vacancies, which contributes to an optimized electronic structure that enhances OER performance. Consequently, P-LCFO exhibits significantly improved OER catalytic activity, with a low overpotential of 294 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm-2, outperforming commercial RuO2. This work underscores the benefits of plasma engineering for studying structure-property relationships and developing highly active perovskite oxide catalysts for water splitting.

Enhanced Corrosion Protection of Printed Circuit Board Electronics using Cold Atmospheric Plasma-Assisted SiOx Coatings.

The miniaturization and widespread deployment of electronic devices across diverse environments have heightened their vulnerability to corrosion, particularly affecting copper traces within printed circuit boards (PCBs). Conventional protective methods, such as conformal coatings, face challenges including the necessity for a critical thickness to ensure effective barrier properties and the requirement for multiple steps of drying and curing to eliminate solvent entrapment within polymer coatings. This study investigates cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) as an innovative technique for directly depositing ultrathin silicon oxide (SiOx) coatings onto copper surfaces to enhance corrosion protection in PCBs. A systematic investigation was undertaken to examine how the scanning speed of the CAP deposition head impacts the film quality and corrosion resistance. The research aims to determine the optimal scanning speed of the CAP deposition head that achieves complete surface coverage while promoting effective cross-linking and minimizing unreacted precursor entrapment, resulting in superior electrical barrier and mechanical properties. The CAP coating process demonstrated the capability of depositing SiOx onto copper surfaces at various thicknesses ranging from 70 to 1110 nm through a single deposition process by simply adjusting the scanning speed of the plasma head (5-75 mm/s). Evaluation of material corrosion barrier characteristics revealed that scanning speeds of 45 mm/s of the plasma deposition head provided an effective coating thickness of 140 nm, exhibiting superior corrosion resistance (30-fold) compared to that of uncoated copper. As a proof of concept, the efficacy of CAP-deposited SiOx coatings was demonstrated by protecting an LED circuit in saltwater and by coating printed circuits for potential agricultural sensor applications. These CAP-deposited coatings offer performance comparable to or superior to traditional conformal polymeric coatings. This research presents CAP-deposited SiOx coatings as a promising approach for effective and scalable corrosion protection in miniaturized electronics.

Association between initial diquat plasma concentration, severity index and in-hospital mortality in patients with acute diquat poisoning: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Since 2016, diquat has replaced paraquat in China, resulting in increased diquat poisoning cases. However, understanding of diquat poisoning is still limited. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between initial diquat plasma concentration, severity index, and in-hospital mortality in acute diquat poisoning cases. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study, conducted from January 2016 to July 2023 in a tertiary care hospital, used univariate logistic regression to examine the link between the initial diquat plasma concentration, severity index, and in-hospital mortality in acute diquat poisoned patients. A receiver operating characteristic curve assessed the predictive value of these parameters for prognosis. RESULTS: Among the 87 participants, the median age was 32 years, 35 (40.2%) were female. The overall mortality rate was 37.9%. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the initial diquat plasma concentration and severity index were associated with increased in-hospital mortality. These factors also effectively predicted the prognosis of acute diquat poisoning, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.851 and an optimal diquat concentration threshold of 2.25 mg/L (sensitivity 90.9%, specificity 74.1%, P < 0.05) and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.845 with an optimal cut-off value for the sevity index of 9.1 mg/L*min (sensitivity 97%, specificity 74.1%, P < 0.05). DISCUSSION: Our results are limited by the retrospective design of this study. However, if validated, these results could impact management strategies, especially in East Asia. Further research is needed due to potential confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that a higher initial plasma concentration and severity index in patients with acute diquat poisoning were correlated with higher in-hospital mortality. Prospective validation will confirm the predicative value of these findings.

Corticosteroid injections for knee osteoarthritis offer clinical benefits similar to hyaluronic acid and lower than platelet-rich plasma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Intra-articular corticosteroid (CS) injections for knee osteoarthritis (OA) management are endorsed by several scientific societies, while the use of hyaluronic acid (HA) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is more controversial. Aim of the study was to quantify and compare the clinical effectiveness of CS injections with respect to HA and PRP in patients with knee OA. Methods: The search was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science following the PRISMA guidelines. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the comparison of CS injections and HA or PRP injections for the treatment of knee OA were included. The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) was used to interpret the clinical relevance of the improvements at different follow-ups up to 12 months. The study quality was assessed using the Cochrane RoB-2 tool and the GRADE guidelines. Results: Thirty-five RCTs were included (3348 patients). The meta-analysis comparing CS and HA revealed no difference in terms of WOMAC improvement, while HA showed superior VAS pain improvement at long-term follow-up (P = 0.011), without reaching the MCID. PRP offered a superior WOMAC improvement compared to CS at short- (P = 0.002), mid- (P < 0.001, exceeding the MCID), and long-term (P < 0.001, exceeding the MCID) follow-ups. PRP offered a superior VAS improvement at mid- (P < 0.001, exceeding the MCID) and long-term (P = 0.023) follow-ups. Conclusion: CS injections for knee OA offer similar results to HA and PRP only at short term, while there is an overall superiority of PRP at longer follow-ups. This difference is not only statistically significant but also clinically relevant in favour of PRP.

Judicious Transfusion of Platelets Among Neonates: A Systematic Review.

In newborns, especially premature babies, there is a high association between thrombocytopenia and bleeding, particularly intraventricular hemorrhage, which may be due to immaturity. It was usual clinical practice that neonates should be transfused with higher platelet counts than older children or adults to reduce their risk of bleeding. However, after keen observations, we noticed that bleeding and mortality were more common in newborns who received more platelet transfusions. The mechanisms underlying the adverse effects of platelet transfusions in neonates may be due to higher antigenicity and immunological factors. We know that neonatal platelets are hyporeactive; this hyporeactivity is balanced by factors in the neonatal blood that promote coagulation, such as increased hematocrit, von Willebrand factor, and fibrinogen, which, on balance, leads to normal primary neonatal hemostasis. Platelets are very similar to adults in number, but functional capabilities were less, and for the reasons mentioned above, particularly bleeding time was short. Theologically, neonatal platelet lifespan was high to compensate for less production. We started this review because we observed that many babies were not having bleeding symptoms in some instances of severe thrombocytopenia. Many well-active babies are receiving unnecessary transfusions, as human blood is precious, and many young neonatologists are going on protocol-based excessive transfusions. This stimulated us to write a review.

Immunoactive signatures of circulating tRNA- and rRNA-derived RNAs in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the most prevalent lung disease, and macrophages play a central role in the inflammatory response in COPD. We here report a comprehensive characterization of circulating short non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) in plasma from patients with COPD. While circulating sncRNAs are increasingly recognized for their regulatory roles and biomarker potential in various diseases, the conventional RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) method cannot fully capture these circulating sncRNAs due to their heterogeneous terminal structures. By pre-treating the plasma RNAs with T4 polynucleotide kinase, which converts all RNAs to those with RNA-seq susceptible ends (5'-phosphate and 3'-hydroxyl), we comprehensively sequenced a wide variety of non-microRNA sncRNAs, such as 5'-tRNA halves containing a 2',3'-cyclic phosphate. We discovered a remarkable accumulation of the 5'-half derived from tRNAValCAC in plasma from COPD patients, whereas the 5'-tRNAGlyGCC half is predominant in healthy donors. Further, the 5'-tRNAValCAC half activates human macrophages via Toll-like receptor 7 and induces cytokine production. Additionally, we identified circulating rRNA-derived fragments that were upregulated in COPD patients and demonstrated their ability to induce cytokine production in macrophages. Our findings provide evidence of circulating, immune-active sncRNAs in patients with COPD, suggesting that they serve as inflammatory mediators in the pathogenesis of COPD.

Novel therapeutic targets for primary open-angle glaucoma identified through multicenter proteome-wide mendelian randomization.

Background: This study aimed to identify novel therapeutic targets for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods: The summary-data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) method was used to evaluate the genetic association between plasma proteins and POAG. Two sets of plasma protein quantitative trait loci (pQTLs) data considered exposures were obtained from the Icelandic Decoding Genetics Study and UK Biobank Pharma Proteomics Project. The summary-level genome-wide association studies data for POAG were extracted from the latest Round 10 release of the FinnGen consortium (8,530 cases and 391,275 controls) and the UK Biobank (4,737 cases and 458,196 controls). Colocalization analysis was used to screen out pQTLs that share the same variant with POAG as drug targets identified. The two-sample Mendelian randomization, reverse causality testing and phenotype scanning were performed to further validate the main findings. Protein-protein interaction, pathway enrichment analysis and druggability assessment were conducted to determine whether the identified plasma proteins have potential as drug targets. Results: After systematic analysis, this study identified eight circulating proteins as potential therapeutic targets for POAG. Three causal proteins with strong evidence of colocalization, ROBO1 (OR = 1.38, p = 1.48 × 10-4, PPH4 = 0.865), FOXO3 (OR = 0.35, p = 4.34 × 10-3, PPH4 = 0.796), ITIH3 (OR = 0.89, p = 2.76 × 10-4, PPH4 = 0.767), were considered tier one targets. Five proteins with medium support evidence of colocalization, NCR1 (OR = 1.25, p = 4.18 × 10-4, PPH4 = 0.682), NID1 (OR = 1.38, p = 1.54 × 10-3, PPH4 = 0.664), TIMP3 (OR = 0.91, p = 4.01 × 10-5, PPH4 = 0.659), SERPINF1 (OR = 0.81, p = 2.77 × 10-4, PPH4 = 0.59), OXT (OR = 1.17, p = 9.51 × 10-4, PPH4 = 0.526), were classified as tier two targets. Additional sensitivity analyses further validated the robustness and directionality of these findings. According to druggability assessment, Pimagedine, Resveratrol, Syringaresinol and Clozapine may potentially be important in the development of new anti-glaucoma agents. Conclusion: Our integrated study identified eight potential associated proteins for POAG. These proteins play important roles in neuroprotection, extracellular matrix regulation and oxidative stress. Therefore, they have promising potential as therapeutic targets to combat POAG.

Auranofin is lethal against feline Tritrichomonas foetus in vitro but ineffective in cats with naturally occurring infection.

Protozoal diarrhea caused by Tritrichomonas foetus (blagburni) is a prevalent, lifelong, and globally distributed burden in domestic cats. Treatment is limited to the use of 5-nitroimidazoles and treatment failure is common. The repurposed gold salt compound auranofin has killing activity against diverse protozoa in vitro but evidence of efficacy in naturally occurring protozoal infections is lacking. This exploratory study investigated the efficacy and safety of auranofin for treatment of cats with naturally occurring, 5-nitroimidazole-resistant, T. foetus infection. The minimum lethal concentration (MLC) of auranofin against 5 isolates of feline T. foetus was determined under aerobic conditions in vitro. Healthy cats and cats with T. foetus infection were treated with immediate release auranofin (range, 0.5-3 mg/cat for 7 days) or guar gum-coated auranofin capsules (0.5 or 3 mg/cat for 7 days). Adverse effects were monitored by clinical signs and clinicopathologic testing. Efficacy was determined by fecal consistency score, bowel movement frequency, and single-tube nested PCR of feces for T. foetus rDNA. Fecal samples were assayed for concentrations of auranofin, known and predicted metabolites of auranofin, gold containing molecules, and total gold content using HPLC, LC-MS, ion mobility-MS, and ICP-MS, respectively. Auranofin was effective at killing isolates of feline T. foetus at MLC ≥ 1 µg/ml. Treatment of cats with T. foetus infection with either immediate release auranofin or a colon-targeted guar gum-coated tablet of auranofin did not eradicate infection. Treatment failure occurred despite fecal concentrations of gold that met or exceeded the equivalent MLC of auranofin. Neither auranofin, known or predicted metabolites of auranofin, nor any gold-containing molecules >100 Da could be detected in fecal samples of treated cats. Adverse effects associated with auranofin treatment were common but minor. These studies identify that in vitro susceptibility test results of auranofin may not translate to treatment effectiveness in vivo even when achieving gold concentrations equivalent to the MLC of auranofin in the target environment. These studies further establish the absence of any predicted or unpredicted gold containing metabolites in feces after oral administration of auranofin.

Sexually transmitted infections and bacterial vaginosis among adolescent girls and young women in the early postpartum period: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Universal antiretroviral treatment (ART) for pregnant women has reduced mother-to-child transmission risk significantly. However, not all women on ART are virally suppressed during pregnancy and lactation. In addition to poor adherence to ART, co-infections particularly other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are known to increase the risk of HIV acquisition and HIV transmission. While the prevalence of STIs during pregnancy has been well studied, the prevalence of STIs in the postpartum period and its association with HIV viral suppression are underreported. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we determined the prevalence of STIs among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) living with HIV (WLHIV) and without HIV (WNLHIV) at their 6-14 week postnatal clinic visit in a high HIV prevalence district in South Africa. All women were examined for STI-related symptoms and had vaginal swabs collected and stored for later STI testing. Vaginal swabs were tested for Trichomonas vaginalis (T.vaginalis), Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoea) and herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) using PCR. All women were tested for bacterial vaginosis (BV) using the Nugent scoring criteria. WLHIV had a blood sample collected for HIV viral load, Hepatitis B and syphilis. RESULTS: Included in this analysis were 82 WLHIV and 102 WNLHIV. Between 6 and 14 weeks postpartum, 40 (21.7%) AGYW tested positive for any STI and among these 15 (37.5%) were symptomatic and received empirical treatment. C. trachomatis was most commonly detected (10.9%), followed by HSV-2 (7.7%), T. vaginalis (3.8%) and N. gonorrhoea (1.6%). WLHIV were more likely to test positive for an STI (OR 2.0; 0.96-3.96) and BV (OR 4.2; 95%CI 2.1-8.1) compared to WNLHIV. Among WLHIV on ART, 70.5% had an undetectable plasma viral load (PVL) and 20.5% had a PVL > 1000 copies/ml. Testing positive for any STI or BV at the postpartum visit was not associated with PVL > 1000 copies/ml (OR 1.33; 95%CI 0.38-4.64). CONCLUSION: We report a high prevalence of largely asymptomatic STIs and BV in the early postpartum period and STIs in WLHIV were not associated with unsuppressed PVL.The high STI positivity rate among WNLHIV has implications for HIV risk during the postpartum period, and subsequently breastfeeding transmission.

Circulating nucleosomes as a potential cancer biomarker in dogs with splenic nodular lesions.

Splenic nodular lesions in dogs can be either benign or malignant. They might be discovered incidentally or, in case of rupture, they may lead to hemoabdomen. Nevertheless, splenectomy followed by histopathology is essential for diagnosis and to prevent rupture. Yet, this invasive procedure might be postponed for dogs with benign splenic nodular lesions. Conversely, owners may opt for euthanasia over surgery for malignancies with poor prognosis like hemangiosarcoma. Thus, anticipating diagnosis with non-invasive biomarkers is crucial for proper patient management. In this prospective study, plasma samples were collected from 66 dogs with histologically confirmed splenic nodular lesions. A canine-specific ELISA kit was applied to assess nucleosome concentration, with histopathology of the spleen serving as the gold standard. Nucleosome concentration was found to be significantly higher in dogs with malignant splenic nodular lesions, particularly in those with hemangiosarcoma and other malignancies. The presence of hemoabdomen, more prevalent in dogs with splenic malignancy, also resulted in increased plasmatic nucleosome concentrations. Plasma nucleosomes could serve as a biomarker for detecting malignant splenic nodular lesions in dogs. More research is needed to understand how nucleosome concentration relate to disease stage and prognosis in dogs with hemangiosarcoma.

Effectiveness of cold plasma application in oral wound healing process: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has shown an ability to promote wound healing by modulating biological processes without causing thermal damage. This scoping review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of CAP application in the oral wound healing process. DESIGN: An electronic literature search was conducted using PubMed/Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and grey literature (Google Scholar). The search included all articles published up to October 11, 2023. Only studies focusing on the different CAP types' effects on oral cavity wounds or cells were included in the review. RESULTS: This review analyzed 13 studies including seven cell culture studies, one animal study, and five human studies (three in vivo and two ex vivo). The findings from the reviewed articles suggest that CAP may have therapeutic potential. It can maintain cell viability and influence gene expression, accelerate wound healing, and modulate inflammation-related cytokines. DBD plasma exhibited time-sensitive effects on cellular behavior and microplasma irradiation positively impacted cell count, biochemical profiles, and cellular migration. CONCLUSION: The application of CAP has been shown to have a positive impact on the healing of oral wounds in cell culture, animal, and human studies.

Association of atherogenic index of plasma and triglyceride glucose-body mass index and sarcopenia in adults from 20 to 59: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The relationship between atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) and sarcopenia has not been studied in the United States (US) population. Methods: This research included 4,835 people from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2011 and 2018. The relationship between sarcopenia and TyG-BMI, as well as the AIP index, was examined through the utilization of restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis, subgroup analysis, and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Diagnostic value of AIP and TyG-BMI for sarcopenia was compared by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: In this research, 428 people with sarcopenia were identified among the 4,835 subjects that were included in the experiment. AIP and sarcopenia were positively associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.58 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of (1.07, 2.34) on fully adjusted multivariate logistic regression analysis. Similarly, TyG-BMI and sarcopenia were positively associated with an OR of 8.83 and a 95% CI of (5.46, 14.26). AIP and sarcopenia had a non-linear positive connection (P-value<0.001, P-Nonlinear=0.010), while TyG-BMI and sarcopenia had a linear positive correlation (P-value<0.001, P-Nonlinear=0.064), according to RCS analysis. Subgroup analyses showed a significant interaction between TyG-BMI and sarcopenia due to gender (P = 0.023). ROC curves showed that TyG-BMI (AUC:0.738, 95% CI: 0.714 - 0.761) was more useful than AIP (AUC:0.648, 95% CI: 0.622 - 0.673) in diagnosing sarcopenia. Conclusion: In US adults aged 20-59 years, our study revealed a correlation between elevated AIP and TyG-BMI levels and heightened sarcopenia risk. Moreover, TyG-BMI has better diagnostic validity than AIP.

Synergistic effects of plasma-activated medium in combination with Baicalin against neuronal damage.

Neurodegenerative disorders are chronic conditions that progressively damage and destroy parts of the nervous system, and are currently considered permanent and incurable. Alternative strategies capable of effectively healing neuronal damage have been actively pursued. Here, we report the neuroprotective effects of baicalin (BA) combined with plasma-activated medium (PAM) against glutamate-induced excitotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. Through in vitro assays, the cell viability, inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress were evaluated. The co-application of BA and PAM significantly enhanced cell viability, reduced pro-inflammatory markers (TNF-α and NF-κB), decreased apoptotic proteins (Bax and Caspase-3) and boosted antioxidative defenses (increased SOD activity and lowered ROS levels). This study confirms the potential of combining BA with PAM as an effective therapeutic strategy for mitigating the effects of excitotoxicity. PAM is a promising adjunct and potential drug delivery method in neuroprotective therapy, providing a new avenue for developing treatments for diseases characterized by neuronal damage.

Association of Sjögren's syndrome with immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: A case report.

Background: A patient with Sjögren's syndrome (SS), immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITTP), and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) was reported, and all published cases with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), PRES, and SS were retrieved and analysed. The patient's clinical data and treatment procedure have been discussed. Case summary: A 45-year-old Chinese female was hospitalized with headache and low platelet count. She had previously presented to a local hospital with a 7-month history of epigastric discomfort and anorexia, and was diagnosed with SS and ITTP. Laboratory investigations after admission showed platelet (PLT) of 13*10^9/L, red blood cell (RBC) fragments of 6 %, ADAMTS13 Activity＜0.2 %, anti-ADAMTS13 IgG of 88.3U/mL. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed gyriform restricted diffusion along with increased T2-FLAIR signal in the left frontal cortex and bilateral parietal temporal cortex. She was diagnosed with SS, ITTP and PRES, and received the treatment of methylprednisolone, cyclosporine, plasma exchange, IVIG, and rituximab. This patient did not experience the recurrence during the 8-month follow-up period. Conclusion: ITTP and PRES are rare manifestations of SS. After a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of ITTP, plasma exchange and immunosuppressive therapy should be immediately administered. We suggest that rituximab could have additional therapeutic value for SS combined with ITTP and PRES.