Leaching characteristics and environmental impact of heavy metals in tailings under rainfall conditions: A case study of an ion-adsorption rare earth mining area.

Following ion-adsorption rare earth mining, the residual tailings experience considerable heavy metal contamination and gradually evolve into a pollution source. Therefore, the leaching characteristics and environmental impact of heavy metals in ion-adsorption rare earth tailings require immediate and thorough investigation. This study adopted batch and column experiments to investigate the leaching behaviour of heavy metals in tailings and assess the impact of tailings on paddy soil, thereby providing a scientific basis for environmental protection in mining areas. The results showed that Mn, Zn, and Pb contents were 431.67, 155.05, and 264.33 mg·kg-1, respectively, which were several times higher than their respective background values, thereby indicating significant heavy metal contamination in the tailings. The batch leaching experiment indicated that Mn and Pb were priority control heavy metals. Heavy metals were divided into fast and slow leaching stages. The Mn and Pb leaching concentrations far exceeded environmental limits. The DoseResp model perfectly fitted the leaching of all heavy metals from the tailings (R2 > 0.99). In conjunction with the findings of the column experiment and correlation analysis, the chemical form, rainfall pH, ammonia nitrogen, and mineral properties were identified as the primary factors controlling heavy metal release from tailings. Rainfall primarily caused heavy metal migration in the acid-extraction form from the tailings. The tailing leachate not only introduced heavy metals into the paddy soil but also caused the transformation of the chemical form of heavy metals in the paddy soil, further exacerbating the environmental risk posed by heavy metals. The study findings are significant for environmental conservation in mining areas and implementing environmentally friendly practices in rare earth mining.

Design, synthesis and anti-tumor evaluation of plinabulin derivatives as potential agents targeting ß-tubulin.

Plinabulin is a promising microtubule destabilizing agent in phase 3 clinical stage for treating non-small cell lung cancer. However, the high toxicity and the poor water solubility of plinabulin limited its use and more plinabulin derivatives need to be explored. Here, two series of 29 plinabulin derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their anti-tumor effect against three types of cancer cell lines. Most of derivatives exerted obvious inhibition to the proliferation of the cell lines tested. Among them, compound 11c exerted stronger efficiency than plinabulin, and the reason might be the additional hydrogen bond between the nitrogen atom of the indole ring in compound 11c and Gln134 of ß-tubulin. Immunofluorescence assay showed that compound 11c at 10 nM significantly disrupted tubulin structure. Compound 11c also significantly induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in dose dependent manner. These results suggest that compound 11c might be a potential candidate for cancer treatment as antimicrotubule agent.

Identification of Three Cuproptosis-specific Expressed Genes as Diagnostic Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets for Atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic, inflammatory disease characterized by a lipid-driven infiltration of inflammatory cells in large and medium arteries and is considered to be a major underlying cause of cardiovascular diseases. Cuproptosis, a novel form of cell death, is highly linked to mitochondrial metabolism and mediated by protein lipoylation. However, the clinical implication of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) in atherosclerosis remains unclear. In this study, genes collected from the GEO database intersected with CRGs were identified in atherosclerosis. GSEA, GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed for functional annotation. Through the random forest algorithm and the construction of a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, eight selected genes (LOXL2, SLC31A1, ATP7A, SLC31A2, COA6, UBE2D1, CP and SOD1) and a vital cuproptosis-related gene FDX1 were then further validated. Two independent datasets (GSE28829 (N = 29), GSE100927 (N = 104)) were collected to construct the signature of CRGs for validation in atherosclerosis. Consistently, the atherosclerosis plaques showed significantly higher expression of SLC31A1, SLC31A2 and lower expression of SOD1 than the normal intimae. The area under the curve (AUC) of SLC31A1, SLC31A2 and SOD1 performed well for the diagnostic validation in the two datasets. In conclusion, the cuproptosis-related gene signature could serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker for atherosclerosis and may offer novel insights into the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Based on the hub genes, a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network of lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA and a transcription factor regulation network were ultimately constructed to explore the possible regulatory mechanism in atherosclerosis.

Deep learning model for measuring the sagittal Cobb angle on cervical spine computed tomography.

PURPOSES: To develop a deep learning (DL) model to measure the sagittal Cobb angle of the cervical spine on computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two VB-Net-based DL models for cervical vertebra segmentation and key-point detection were developed. Four-points and line-fitting methods were used to calculate the sagittal Cobb angle automatically. The average value of the sagittal Cobb angle was manually measured by two doctors as the reference standard. The percentage of correct key points (PCK), matched samples t test, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Pearson correlation coefficient, mean absolute error (MAE), and Bland‒Altman plots were used to evaluate the performance of the DL model and the robustness and generalization of the model on the external test set. RESULTS: A total of 991 patients were included in the internal data set, and 112 patients were included in the external data set. The PCK of the DL model ranged from 78 to 100% in the test set. The four-points method, line-fitting method, and reference standard measured sagittal Cobb angles were - 1.10 ± 18.29°, 0.30 ± 13.36°, and 0.50 ± 12.83° in the internal test set and 4.55 ± 20.01°, 3.66 ± 18.55°, and 1.83 ± 12.02° in the external test set, respectively. The sagittal Cobb angle calculated by the four-points method and the line-fitting method maintained high consistency with the reference standard (internal test set: ICC = 0.75 and 0.97; r = 0.64 and 0.94; MAE = 5.42° and 3.23°, respectively; external test set: ICC = 0.74 and 0.80, r = 0.66 and 0.974, MAE = 5.25° and 4.68°, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The DL model can accurately measure the sagittal Cobb angle of the cervical spine on CT. The line-fitting method shows a higher consistency with the doctors and a minor average absolute error.

Effect of Substrates Performance on the Microstructure and Properties of Phosphate Chemical Conversion Coatings on Metal Surfaces.

Phosphate chemical conversion (PCC) technology has attracted extensive attention for its ability to regulate the surface properties of biomedical metals. However, titanium (Ti)-based alloys exhibit inertia because of the native passive layer, whereas zinc (Zn)-based alloys show high activity in acidic PCC solutions. The substrate performance affects the chemical reaction in the phosphating solution, which further leads to diversity in coating properties. In this work, the zinc-phosphate (ZnP) coatings are prepared on Ti alloy (TA) and Zn alloy (ZA) substrates using the PCC method, respectively. The coatings prepared herein are detected by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM), universal testing machine, contact angle goniometer, and electrochemical workstation system. The results show that the substrate performance has little effect on the phase composition but can significantly affect the crystal microstructure, thickness, and bonding strength of the coatings. In addition, the ZnP coatings improve the surface roughness of the substrates and show good hydrophilicity and electrochemical corrosion resistance. The formation mechanism of the ZnP coating is revealed using potential-time curves, indicating that the metal-solution interfacial reaction plays a dominant role in the deposition process.

Characterization of a major quantitative trait locus on the short arm of chromosome 4B for spike number per unit area in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

KEY MESSAGE: An InDel marker closely linked with a major and stable quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 4BS, QSnpa.cau-4B, controlling spike number per unit area will benefit wheat yield improvement. Spike number per unit area (SNPA) is an essential yield-related trait, and analyzing its genetic basis is important for cultivar improvement in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In this study, we used the F2 population derived from a cross between two wheat accessions displaying significant differences in SNPA to perform quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis. Through bulked segregant analysis, a major and stable QTL that explained 18.11-82.11% of the phenotypic variation was identified on chromosome 4BS. The QTL interval was validated using F4:5 and F6:7 families and narrowed it to a 24.91-38.36 Mb region of chromosome 4BS according to the 'Chinese Spring' reference genome sequence. In this region, variations in 16 genes caused amino acid changes and three genes were present in only one parent. Among these, we annotated a gene orthologous to TB1 in maize (Zea mays), namely TraesCS4B01G042700, which carried a 44-bp deletion in its promoter in the higher-SNPA parent. An InDel marker based on the insertion/deletion polymorphism was designed and used to diagnose the allelic distribution within a natural population. The frequency of the 44-bp deletion allele associated with higher SNPA was relatively low (13.24%), implying that this favorable allele has not been widely utilized and could be valuable for wheat yield improvement. In summary, we identified a major and stable QTL for SNPA and developed a diagnostic marker for the more-spiked trait, which will be beneficial for molecular-assisted breeding in wheat.

Treatment of Type II Collagen-Induced Rat Rheumatoid Arthritis Model by Interleukin 10 (IL10)-Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BMSCs).

BACKGROUND Rheumatoid arthritis model (CIA) rats were treated by tail vein injection of IL-10-modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) to investigate its feasibility and intrinsic molecular mechanism. MATERIAL AND METHODS The CIA rat model was established by induction type II collagen, and IL-10-modified BMSCs was established by transfecting BMSCs with adenovirus. IL-10-modified BMSCs were used to treat the CIA rats. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by measuring the changes in body weight, ankle swelling, and forced swimming time, as well as observation of synovial hyperplasia and cartilage tissue repair by HE staining. Western blot analysis and ELISA were used to detect gene expression. RESULTS After 4 weeks and 8 weeks of treatment with IL10-BMSCs, the body weight, swelling value, resting time, and forced swimming struggle time of CIA rats were significantly higher than those of BMSCs-treated and -untreated CIA rats (P<0.05). Compared to BMSCs-treated CIA model rats, after treatment with IL10-BMSCs, the repair rate of osteoarticular cartilage was higher and the inhibition of synovial proliferation was better, and serum IL-17, IL-1ß, and TNF-alpha levels were lower. We found that the protein level of SIRT1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was lower, the protein level in spleen was higher, and phosphorylation of p65 protein in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was reduced. CONCLUSIONS The efficacy of tail vein injection of IL-10-modified BMSCs in treatment of CIA rats was superior to that of BMSCs alone, which may be related to the more pronounced suppression of IL-10-modified BMSCs in peripheral blood inflammation and spleen immune response.

Enhancement of biological oxygen demand detection with a microbial fuel cell using potassium permanganate as cathodic electron acceptor.

When dual-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) is used to detect biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved oxygen is traditionally used as cathodic electron acceptor. The detection limit of this MFC-based BOD biosensor is usually lower than 200 mg/L. In this paper, the startup of MFC-based BOD biosensor was researched and the external resistor of MFC was optimized. Results showed that the MFC started up with the dissolved oxygen as cathodic electron acceptor within 10 d, and the external resistor was optimized as 500â€¯Ω to ensure the maximum output power of MFC. Dissolved oxygen and potassium permanganate (KMnO4) were used as cathodic electron acceptor to run MFC for detection of wastewater BOD, and the performances of two kinds of BOD biosensors were compared. The MFC-based BOD biosensor using KMnO4 (10 mmol/L) as cathodic electron acceptor exhibited an excellent performance, compared with that using dissolved oxygen. The upper limit of BOD detection was greatly broadened to 500 mg/L, the response time was shortened by 50% for artificial wastewater with a BOD of 100 mg/L, and the relative error of BOD detection was reduced to less than 10%. The MFC-based BOD biosensor using KMnO4 as cathodic electron acceptor showed a better linear relationship (R2 > 0.992) between the electric charge and BOD concentration within a BOD range of 25-500 mg/L. The MFC-based BOD biosensor using the KMnO4 as cathodic electron acceptor is promising with a better application prospect.

Utilizing d-pπ Bonds for Ultralong Organic Phosphorescence.

Developing pure organic materials with ultralong lifetimes is attractive but challenging. Here we report a concise chemical approach to regulate the electronic configuration for phosphorescence enhancement. After the introduction of d-pπ bonds into a phenothiazine model system, a phosphorescence lifetime enhancement of up to 19 times was observed for DOPPMO, compared to the reference PPMO. A record phosphorescence lifetime of up to 876 ms was obtained in phosphorescent phenothiazine. Theoretical calculations and single-crystal analysis reveal that the d-pπ bond not only reduces the (n, π*) proportion of the T1 state, but also endows the rigid molecular environment with multiple intermolecular interactions, thus enabling long-lived phosphorescence. This finding makes a valuable contribution to the prolongation of phosphorescence lifetimes and the extension of the scope of phosphorescent materials.

Radiomics strategy for glioma grading using texture features from multiparametric MRI.

BACKGROUND: Accurate glioma grading plays an important role in the clinical management of patients and is also the basis of molecular stratification nowadays. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: To verify the superiority of radiomics features extracted from multiparametric MRI to glioma grading and evaluate the grading potential of different MRI sequences or parametric maps. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective; radiomics. POPULATION: A total of 153 patients including 42, 33, and 78 patients with Grades II, III, and IV gliomas, respectively. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3.0T MRI/T1 -weighted images before and after contrast-enhanced, T2 -weighted, multi-b-value diffusion-weighted and 3D arterial spin labeling images. ASSESSMENT: After multiparametric MRI preprocessing, high-throughput features were derived from patients' volumes of interests (VOIs). The support vector machine-based recursive feature elimination was adopted to find the optimal features for low-grade glioma (LGG) vs. high-grade glioma (HGG), and Grade III vs. IV glioma classification tasks. Then support vector machine (SVM) classifiers were established using the optimal features. The accuracy and area under the curve (AUC) was used to assess the grading efficiency. STATISTICAL TESTS: Student's t-test or a chi-square test were applied on different clinical characteristics to confirm whether intergroup significant differences exist. RESULTS: Patients' ages between LGG and HGG groups were significantly different (P < 0.01). For each patient, 420 texture and 90 histogram parameters were derived from 10 VOIs of multiparametric MRI. SVM models were established using 30 and 28 optimal features for classifying LGGs from HGGs and grades III from IV, respectively. The accuracies/AUCs were 96.8%/0.987 for classifying LGGs from HGGs, and 98.1%/0.992 for classifying grades III from IV, which were more promising than using histogram parameters or using the single sequence MRI. DATA CONCLUSION: Texture features were more effective for noninvasively grading gliomas than histogram parameters. The combined application of multiparametric MRI provided a higher grading efficiency. The proposed radiomic strategy could facilitate clinical decision-making for patients with varied glioma grades. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;48:1518-1528.

Mapping of genetic locus for leaf trichome in Brassica oleracea.

KEY MESSAGE: The genetic locus for leaf trichome was identified via marker-based mapping and SNP microarray assay, and a functional marker was developed to facilitate the breeding for hairiness in Brassica oleracea. Plant trichomes are involved in various functions particularly in protecting plants against some biotic and abiotic damages. In the present study, an F2 segregating population was developed from the cross between a glabrous cultivated B. oleracea (CC, 2n = 18) and a hairy wild relative, B. incana (CC, 2n = 18). A 1:3 segregation pattern between glabrous and hairy plants was detected among 1063 F2 genotypes, and the locus for hairiness was mapped in a 4.3-cM genetic region using 267 SSR markers among 149 F2 genotypes, corresponding to a 17.6-Mb genomic region on chromosome C01. To narrow the genetic region for hairiness, the Brassica 60 K SNP Bead Chip Arrays were applied to genotype 64 glabrous and 30 hairy F2 plants, resulting in a 1.04-Mb single peak region located in the 17.6-Mb interval. A candidate gene, BoTRY, was identified by qRT-PCR which revealed significant higher expression in glabrous F2 genotypes as compared with that in hairy plants. A cleaved amplified polymorphic site marker was successfully developed to distinguish the sequence variations of BoTRY between hairy and glabrous plants. Our study will be helpful for molecular breeding for hairiness in B. oleracea.

Bioactive Pentacyclic Triterpenoids from the Leaves of Cleistocalyx operculatus.

Thirteen new pentacyclic triterpenoids, cleistocalyxic acids A-K (1, 2, 4, 5, and 7-13) and cleistocalyxolides A (3) and B (6), and 15 known analogues (14-28), based on taraxastane, oleanane, ursane, multiflorane, and lupane skeletons, were isolated from the leaves of Cleistocalyx operculatus. The structures of 1-13 were elucidated by analysis of their spectroscopic data and ECD/TDDFT computations. Cleistocalyxolide A (3), presumed to be derived from the known taraxastane-type compound 14, has a rare rearranged triterpenoid backbone. Cleistocalyxic acid B (2) displayed cytotoxicity against HepG2, NCI-N87, and MCF-7 cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 3.2 to 6.5 µM, and cleistocalyxic acid D (5) was active against HepG2 and NCI-N87 cells with values around 5.0 µM. The noncytotoxic cleistocalyxic acid E (7) inhibited production of IL-6 by 68.1% and TNF-α by 53.7% in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages at a concentration of 2 µM.

[Research progress of the drug delivery system of antitumor platinum drugs with macrocyclic compounds].

Platinum-based anticancer drugs have been becoming one of the most effective drugs for clinical treatment of malignant tumors for its unique mechanism of action and broad range of anticancer spectrum. But, there are still several problems such as side effects, drug resistance/cross resistance and no-specific targeting, becoming obstacles to restrict its expanding of clinical application. In recent years, supramolecular chemistry drug delivery systems have been gradually concerned for their favorable safety and low toxicity. Supramolecular macrocycles-platinum complexes increased the water solubility, stability and safety of traditional platinum drugs, and have become hot focus of developing novel platinum-based anticancer drugs because of its potential targeting of tumor tissues/organs. This article concentrates in the research progress of the new drug delivery system between platinum-based anticancer drugs with three generations of macrocycles: crown ether, cyclodextrin, cucurbituril and calixarene.

Enhanced external counterpulsation improves sleep quality in chronic insomnia: A pilot randomized controlled study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the short-term efficacy of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) on chronic insomnia. METHODS: This is a pilot randomized, participant-blind, and sham-controlled study. Forty-six participants with chronic insomnia were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive EECP or sham EECP intervention (total of 35 sessions with 45 min each). The primary outcome was Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The secondary outcomes included sleep diary, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Short-Form Health Survey (SF12), flow mediated dilation (FMD), serum biomarkers of melatonin, cortisol, interleukin-6, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein. Outcomes were assessed after treatment and at 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: The PSQI was significantly decreased in both EECP and sham groups after 35-session intervention (13.74 to 6.96 in EECP and 13.04 to 9.48 in sham), and EECP decreased PSQI more than sham EECP (p = 0.009). PSQI in two groups kept improved at 3-month follow-up. After treatment, the total sleep time, sleep efficiency, FMD value and SF12 mental component of EECP group were significantly improved, and group differences were found for these outcomes. At follow-up, total sleep time, sleep efficiency and SF12 mental component of EECP group remained improved, and group difference for SF12 mental component was found. Post-treatment and follow-up HADS-A significantly decreased in both groups, with no differences between groups. Post-treatment serum biomarkers showed no differences within and between groups. LIMITATION: Lack of objective sleep measurement. CONCLUSION: EECP could improve sleep quality and mental quality of life in chronic insomnia and the therapeutic effect maintained for 3 months.

New solution for predicting the removal efficiency of organic contaminants by UV/ H2O2: From a case study of 1H-benzotriazole.

Rapid prediction of the removal efficiency and energy consumption of organic contaminants under various operating conditions is crucial for advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in industrial application. In this study, 1H-Benzotriazole (BTZ, CAS: 95-14-7) is selected as a model micropollutant, a validated incorporated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model is employed to comprehensively investigate the impacts of initial concentrations of H2O2, BTZ and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) (i.e., [DOC]0, [BTZ]0 and [DOC]0), as well as the effective UV lamp power P and volumetric flow rate Qv. Generally, the operation performance depends on [DOC]0 and [BTZ]0 in similar trends, but with quantitatively different ways. The increase in [H2O2]0 and P/Qv can promote •OH generation, leading to the elimination of BTZ. It is worth noting that P/Qv is found to be linearly correlated with the removal order of BTZ (ROBTZ) under specific conditions. Based on this finding, the degradation of other potential organic contaminants with a wide range of rate constants by UV/H2O2 is further investigated. A model for predicting energy consumption for target removal rates of organic pollutants is established from massive simulation data for the first time. Additionally, a handy Matlab app is first developed for convenient application in water treatment. This work proposes a new operable solution for fast predicting operation performance and energy consumption for the removal of organic contaminants in industrial applications of advanced oxidation processes.

A numerical study on the siphonic effect of enhanced external counterpulsation at lower extremities with a coupled 0D-1D closed-loop personalized hemodynamics model.

Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a treatment and rehabilitation approach for ischemic diseases, including coronary artery disease. Its therapeutic benefits are primarily attributed to the improved blood circulation achieved through sequential mechanical compression of the lower extremities. However, despite the crucial role that hemodynamic effects in the lower extremity arteries play in determining the effectiveness of EECP treatment, most studies have focused on the diastole phase and ignored the systolic phase. In the present study, a novel siphon model (SM) was developed to investigate the interdependence of several hemodynamic parameters, including pulse wave velocity, femoral flow rate, the operation pressure of cuffs, and the mean blood flow changes in the femoral artery throughout EECP therapy. To verify the accuracy of the SM, we coupled the predicted afterload in the lower extremity arteries during deflation using SM with the 0D-1D patient-specific model. Finally, the simulation results were compared with clinical measurements obtained during EECP therapy to verify the applicability and accuracy of the SM, as well as the coupling method. The precision and reliability of the previously developed personalized approach were further affirmed in this study. The average waveform similarity coefficient between the simulation results and the clinical measurements during the rest state exceeded 90%. This work has the potential to enhance our understanding of the hemodynamic mechanisms involved in EECP treatment and provide valuable insights for clinical decision-making.

Hemodynamics of ventricular-arterial coupling under enhanced external counterpulsation: An optimized dual-source lumped parameter model.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a mechanically assisted circulation technique widely used in the rehabilitation and management of ischemic cardiovascular diseases. It contributes to cardiovascular functions by regulating the afterload of ventricle to improve hemodynamic effects, including increased diastolic blood pressure at aortic root, increased cardiac output and enhanced blood perfusion to multiple organs including coronary circulation. However, the effects of EECP on the coupling of the ventricle and the arterial system, termed ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC), remain elusive. We aimed to investigate the acute effect of EECP on the dynamic interaction between the left ventricle and its afterload of the arterial system from the perspective of ventricular output work. METHODS: A neural network assisted optimization algorithm was proposed to identify the ordinary differential equation (ODE) relation between aortic root blood pressure and flow rate. Based on the optimized order of ODE, a lumped parameter model (LPM) under EECP was developed taking into consideration of the simultaneous action of cardiac and EECP pressure sources. The ventricular output work, in terms of aortic pressure and flow rate cooperated with the LPM, was used to characterize the VAC of ventricle and its afterload. The VAC subjected to the principle of minimal ventricular output work was validated by solving the Euler-Poisson equation of cost function, ultimately determining the waveforms of aortic pressure and flow rate. RESULTS: A third-order ODE can precisely describe the hemodynamic relationship between aortic pressure and flow rate. An optimized dual-source LPM with three energy-storage elements has been constructed, showing the potential in probing VAC under EECP. The LPM simulation results demonstrated that the VAC in terms of aortic pressure and flow rate yielded to the minimal ventricular output work under different EECP pressures. CONCLUSIONS: The ventricular-arterial coupling under EECP is subjected to the minimal ventricular output work, which can serve as a criterion for determining aortic pressure and flow rate. This study provides insight for the understanding of VAC and has the potential in characterizing the performance of the ventricular and arterial system under EECP.

Dynamic Peripheral Hemoperfusion Distribution Monitoring Based on Janus Flexible Sensor System.

OBJECTIVE: Peripheral vascular disease is a worldwide leading health concern. Real-time peripheral hemoperfusion monitoring during treatment is essential to plan treatment strategies to improve circulatory enhancement effects. METHODS: The present work establishes a Janus flexible perfusion (JFP) sensor system for dynamic peripheral hemoperfusion monitoring. We develop a Janus structure design with different Young's modulus to improve the mechanical properties for motion artifacts suppression. Besides, we propose a peripheral perfusion index (PPI) to assess the peripheral hemoperfusion based on an optical perfusion model that is experimentally verified using an in-vitro model. The effectiveness of the system is assessed in three experimental scenarios, including motion artifact-robust test, induced vascular occlusion in upper limb, and peripheral hemoperfusion monitoring with the treatment of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC), with comparison with Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). RESULTS: The noise level of the traditional rigid sensor is five times that of the JFP sensor within the effective signal frequency domain when there is movement. The PPI can effectively discriminate between different peripheral hemoperfusion states and has a correlation coefficient of 0.92 with the LDF mean values. The kappa statistic between the JFP sensor and LDF is 0.78, indicating substantial agreement between them to estimate the peripheral hemoperfusion improvements during IPC treatment. CONCLUSION: The sensor system we proposed can monitor peripheral hemoperfusion variation in real-time and is insensitive to motion artifacts. SIGNIFICANCE: The proposed sensing system provides a functional module for real-time estimation of peripheral hemoperfusion during clinical interventions.

Nomogram for Predicting Central Nervous System Infection Following Traumatic Brain Injury in the Elderly.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to identify risk factors for central nervous system (CNS) infection in elderly patients hospitalized with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to develop a reliable predictive tool for assessing the likelihood of CNS infection in this population. METHOD: We conducted a retrospective study on 742 elderly TBI patients treated at Tangdu Hospital, China. Clinical data was randomly split into training and validation sets (7:3 ratio). By conducting univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis in the training set, we identified a list of variables to develop a nomogram for predicting the risk of CNS infection. We evaluated the performance of the predictive model in both cohorts respectively, using receiver operating characteristics curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. RESULTS: Results of the logistic analysis in the training set indicated that surgical intervention (P = 0.007), red blood cell count (P = 0.019), C-reactive protein concentration (P < 0.001), and cerebrospinal fluid leakage (P < 0.001) significantly predicted the occurrence of CNS infection in elderly TBI patients. The model constructed based on these variables had high predictive capability (area under the curve-training = 0.832; area under the curve-validation = 0.824) as well as clinical utility. CONCLUSIONS: A nomogram constructed based on several key predictors reasonably predicts the risk of CNS infection in elderly TBI patients upon hospital admission. The model of the nanogram may contribute to timely interventions and improve health outcomes among affected individuals.

Effect of Tan Tui combined with kinesio taping on the posture control of patients with PFPS: protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a chronic disease. Its early symptoms are mild and can be relieved by rest after the pain. If there is no effective rehabilitation, it may develop into patellofemoral arthritis. Physiotherapy and appropriate exercise intervention can improve PFPS and postural control during exercise. Tan Tui (TT) is an effective means to improve postural control. Whether combined kinesio taping (KT) can be used as an effective treatment for PFPS patients' recovery has not yet been confirmed. METHODS/DESIGN: Seventy-two eligible patients with early-stage PFPS will be recruited and randomized into 4 groups: TT + KT group (n = 18), TT + KTp group (n = 18), KT group (n = 18), and CON group (n = 18). The TT + KT group was treated with TT combined with KT intervention; the TT + KTp group was treated with TT and KT placebo technical intervention; the KT group was treated with KT intervention alone; the CON group was treated with routine activities. All 4 groups received 30 min, three times a week, for a total of 6 weeks of intervention training. Measurements will be performed at baseline, mid-intervention (4 weeks), and post-intervention (6 weeks) with visual analog scale/score, (VAS), Knee joint Lysholm function score (Lysholm), UniPedal Stance Test (UST), Star Excursion Balance Test ( SEBT), Relative Peak Torque, (RPT), and Knee joint Position PercePtion (KJPP), to check the maintenance of the effect of any intervention. DISCUSSION: For the first time in this trial, the impact will be evaluated. If the results are the same as expected, they will provide evidence that TT combined with KT sticking intervention can promote the posture control of patients with early PFPS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2100051166. Registered on 15 September 2021.