Effective method for low-light image enhancement based on the JND and OCTM models.

Low-light images always suffer from dim overall brightness, low contrast, and low dynamic ranges, thus result in image degradation. In this paper, we propose an effective method for low-light image enhancement based on the just-noticeable-difference (JND) and the optimal contrast-tone mapping (OCTM) models. First, the guided filter decomposes the original images into base and detail images. After this filtering, detail images are processed based on the visual masking model to enhance details effectively. At the same time, the brightness of base images is adjusted based on the JND and OCTM models. Finally, we propose a new method to generate a sequence of artificial images to adjust the brightness of the output, which has a better performance in image detail preservation compared with other single-input algorithms. Experiments have demonstrated that the proposed method not only achieves low-light image enhancement, but also outperforms state-of-the-art methods qualitatively and quantitatively.

Effective enhancement method of low-light-level images based on the guided filter and multi-scale fusion.

Aiming to solve the problem of low-light-level (LLL) images with dim overall brightness, uneven gray distribution, and low contrast, in this paper, we propose an effective LLL image enhancement method based on the guided filter and multi-scale fusion for contrast enhancement and detail preservation. First, a base image and detail image(s) are obtained by using the guided filter. After this procedure, the base image is processed by a maximum entropy-based Gamma correction to stretch the gray level distribution. Unlike the existing methods, we enhance the detail image(s) based on the guided filter kernel, which reflects the image area information. Finally, a new method is proposed to generate a sequence of artificial images to adjust the brightness of the output, which has a better performance in image detail preservation compared with other single-input algorithms. Experiments show that the proposed method can provide a more significant performance in enhancing contrast, preserving details, and maintaining the natural feeling of the image than the state of the art.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Sinensetin on Macrophage and Cyclophosphamide-induced Immunosuppression in Mice.

In this study, we investigated the immunomodulatory effects of sinensetin (SI) on RAW 264.7 macrophages and cyclophosphamide (CY)-induced immunosuppressed mice. The results showed that SI enhanced macrophage activity and promoted the secretion of NO, IL-1ß, and TNF-α in vitro. Compared with the CY-induced immunosuppressed mice, in mice treated with SI, the body weights, organ indices, and total lymphocytes increased. Furthermore, SI promoted the secretion and mRNA expression of IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-6 and reduced the damage caused by CY to the organs of the immune system. Moreover, it increased the activities of GSH-Px, CAT, SOD, and T-AOC and decreased the level of MDA. This study suggests that SI has the potential to be used as an immunity enhancer in the functional food and healthcare industries.

Relationship between cigarette smoking and hyperuricemia in middle-aged and elderly population: a cross-sectional study.

The aim of the study was to estimate the cross-sectional association between cigarette smoking and the prevalence of hyperuricemia (HU) in the middle-aged and elderly males and females. A total of 3415 males and 2932 females were included in this study. HU was defined as SUA≥ 416 mmol/L for males and ≥360 mmol/L for females. The smoking status was classified into four categories based on daily smoking habit: (1) 0/day; (2) 1-10/day; (3) 11-20/day; and (4) >20/day. Multivariable logistic regressions were conducted to examine the aforementioned association. The prevalence of HU in the male and female sample was 25.0 and 10.0 %, respectively. In male subjects, the prevalence of HU in smokers (22.8 %) was significantly lower than that in non-smokers (26.5 %) (p = 0.016). Meanwhile, with adjustment for potential confounding factors, the prevalence of HU in smokers was still lower (OR = 0.83, 95 % CI 0.70-0.98, P = 0.033). Furthermore, a significantly inverse association between smoking status and HU was observed in the multivariable model. The multivariable-adjusted OR (95 % CI) for HU in the second, third and fourth category of smoking status was 0.84 (95 % CI 0.66-1.06), 0.90 (95 % CI 0.69-1.18) and 0.76 (95 % CI 0.58-0.99), respectively, compared with that in the first category. A clear trend (P for trend was 0.036) was observed. However, there was no significant association between cigarette smoking and HU in female subjects (P for trend was 0.739). This study indicated an inverse association between cigarette smoking and the prevalence of HU in the middle-aged and elderly male population, independent of some major confounding factors. The findings of this study expect further prospective studies to confirm the causal relationship.

Association between metabolic syndrome and knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent chronic joint disease in China. The aim of this study was to examine the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and knee OA in a population-based Chinese study. METHODS: Data included in this analysis is from a cross-sectional study, i.e., the Xiangya Hospital Health Management Center Study. MetS was diagnosed according to the criteria defined by the Chinese Diabetes Society. Radiographic knee OA was defined as changes equivalent to Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grade 2 or above at least one side. Associations between MetS and its components with OA were evaluated by conducting multivariable adjusted logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 5764 participants were included in the present study. The unadjusted OR (1.27, 95%CI: 1.10-1.47, P = 0.001), age-sex adjusted OR (1.17, 95%CI: 1.01-1.36, P = 0.041) and multivariable adjusted OR (1.17, 95%CI: 1.01-1.36, P = 0.043) all suggested a positive association between MetS and knee OA. Besides, its components (e.g., overweight, hypertension and dyslipidemia) were also associated with the prevalence of radiographic knee OA respectively, after adjusting for some confounding factors. In addition, with the accumulation of MetS components, the prevalence of knee OA increased. Furthermore, MetS as a whole was associated with the prevalence of knee osteophyte (OSP) (OR = 1.72, 95%CI: 1.42-2.09, P < 0.001), but not joint space narrowing (JSN) (OR = 1.06, 95%CI: 0.91-1.23, P = 0.449). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study indicated that there was a positive association between the prevalence of MetS and knee OA. However, MetS as a whole was associated with the higher prevalence of knee OSP, but not JSN, which should shed light on our understanding the association between MetS and OA.

Association Between Tibial Plateau Slopes and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the associations of medial tibial plateau slope (MTPS), lateral tibial plateau slope (LTPS), and coronal tibial plateau slope (CTPS) with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury both in the general population and in different gender subgroups. METHODS: PubMed, Ovid, Embase, and Scopus databases were searched through from inception to August 31, 2016. Observational studies reporting associations of MTPS/LTPS/CTPS with ACL injury were retrieved for analysis. Either a fixed- or random-effects model was used to calculate the overall standardized mean difference (SMD). Reviews, meeting abstracts, cadaver or animal studies, and other studies without disclosing full text were excluded in this study. RESULTS: A total of 29 studies were included. Subjects with ACL injury exhibited a significant increase in MTPS (SMD: 0.34 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18, 0.49]; P < .0001) and LTPS (SMD: 0.49 [95% CI: 0.30, 0.68]; P < .00001), but not in the CTPS (SMD: 0.09 [95% CI: -0.10, 0.27]; P = .36), compared with controls. Meanwhile, significant differences in MTPS and LTPS were observed in the male subgroup (SMD: 0.41 [95% CI: 0.20, 0.62]; P = .0001 and SMD: 0.55 [95% CI: 0.26, 0.85]; P = .0002, respectively) but not in the female (SMD: 0.31 [95% CI: -0.02, 0.64]; P = .06 and SMD: 0.26 [95% CI: -0.04, 0.56]; P = .09, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The present meta-analysis showed that the increases in MTPS and LTPS were overall risk factors of ACL injury. However, these slopes would only be considered as "at risk" for males, but not for females. In addition, it was also proved that CTPS was not a risk factor of ACL injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, meta-analysis of Level II and III studies.

Association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and hyperuricemia.

The aim of the study was to examine the cross-sectional association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and hyperuricemia (HU). The hsCRP was measured by latex turbidity method. Uric acid was detected on Beckman Coulter AU 5800. HU was defined as uric acid ≥416 µmol/L for the male population and ≥360 µmol/L for the female population. A multivariable logistic analysis model was applied to test the association after adjusting for a number of potential confounding factors. A total of 1935 subjects were included in this study. According to the multivariable regression model, the relative odds of the prevalence of HU were increased by 0.56 times in the third quintile (OR 1.56, 95 % CI 1.03-2.38, P = 0.04), 0.55 times in the fourth quintile (OR 1.55, 95 % CI 1.01-2.36, P = 0.04) and 0.96 times in the fifth quintile (OR 1.96, 95 % CI 1.29-2.98, P < 0.01) of hsCRP comparing with the lowest quintile, and P for trend was smaller than 0.01. In the male population, a positive association existed in the highest quintile of hsCRP (OR 1.66, 95 % CI 1.04-2.66, P = 0.04), and P for trend was 0.07. In the female population, the multivariable-adjusted ORs (95 % CI) of HU in the fourth and fifth quintile of hsCRP were 3.02 (95 % CI 1.09-8.35, P = 0.03) and 3.66 (95 % CI 1.36-9.89, P = 0.01), respectively, and P for trend was smaller than 0.01. The findings of this cross-sectional study suggest that the hsCRP level is positively associated with the prevalence of HU. Level of evidence Cross-sectional study, Level III.

Relationship between cigarette smoking and radiographic knee osteoarthritis in Chinese population: a cross-sectional study.

The purpose of this paper was to estimate the cross-sectional association between cigarette smoking and radiographic knee Osteoarthritis (OA) in Chinese population. A total of 3,789 subjects (1,796 females and 1,993 males) participated in this study. A subject was diagnosed with radiographic knee OA if Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grade ≥2 in at least one leg. The smoking status was classified into four levels based on the daily smoking habit: (1) 0/day; (2) 1-10/day; (3) 11-20/day; and (4) >20/day. Linear trend and multivariable logistic regression were conducted for statistical analysis. The prevalence of radiographic knee OA was 28.4 % among the subjects of this study. An inverse association was observed between cigarette smoking and radiographic knee OA in the linear trend test. Such association remained valid after adjusting the factors of age, gender, body mass index, betel quilt chewing status, physical activity, alcohol drinking status, mean total energy intake and educational level in the multivariable logistic regression. This study suggested a negative association between cigarette smoking and radiographic knee OA in the Chinese population. The findings of this study need to be confirmed by further prospective research.

Immunoenhancement effect of cinobufagin on macrophages and the cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression mouse model.

Cinobufagin (CBG) is a natural active substance. Although its various pharmacological activities have been explored, the immunomodulatory activity of CBG remains unexplored. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities of CBG ex vivo and in vivo. The immunomodulatory activity of CBG was investigated in RAW 264.7 cells. CBG showed no significant toxicity to cells. Additionally, 0.5-8 µg/mL CBG significantly increased the phagocytosis ability of macrophages and the secretion levels of IL-1ß and TNF-α. Thus, it exerted immunomodulatory effects. We established the immunosuppressive model induced by cyclophosphamide (CTX) in mice and studied the immunomodulatory activity of CBG in vivo. The experimental results showed that the intervention of CBG alleviated the CTX-induced weight loss, restored the lymphocyte nuclear cell number, and promoted the secretion and mRNA expression of cytokines IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-12. Moreover, CBG increased the immune organ index, protected the growth of the spleen and thymus, and improved the pathological changes in immunosuppressed mice. Western blot results showed that different concentrations of CBG upregulated the phosphorylation level of PI3K/Akt/mTOR in the spleen of CTX-induced immunosuppressed mice. This suggests that the immunomodulatory effect of CBG may be related to the regulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. This study provides a theoretical basis for developing CBG immune enhancers and opens up new ideas for the comprehensive utilization and development of CBG in factories.

Biomechanical comparisons of F.E.R.I. techniques with different type of intramedullary screws fixation for Jones fractures.

Introduction: Jones fractures frequently fail to unite, and adequate fixation stability is crucial. This study aimed to elucidate the biomechanical stability of various intramedullary screw fixation constructs. Methods: Jones fracture model over the proximal 5th metatarsal of artificial bone was created in all specimens. Six groups were divided based on varied screw constructs with different screw lengths, either 30 or 40 mm, including cannulated screws-C30 and C40 groups, one high-resistance suture combined with intramedullary cannulated screws (F.E.R.I. technique)-CF30 and CF40 groups, and second-generation headless compression screws (SG-HCS) -HL30 and HL40 groups. Mechanical testing was conducted sequentially, and the maximal force (N) and stiffness (N/mm) of all constructs were recorded. Results: The maximal force (N) at 1.0 mm downward displacement in C30, C40, CF30, CF40, HL30, and HL40 groups were 0.56 ± 0.02, 0.49 ± 0.02, 0.65 ± 0.02, 0.49 ± 0.01, 0.68 ± 0.02, and 0.73 ± 0.02, respectively, and the stiffness (N/mm) in subgroups were 0.49 ± 0.01, 0.43 ± 0.01, 0.67 ± 0.01, 0.42 ± 0.01, 0.61 ± 0.01, and 0.58 ± 0.02, respectively. SG-HCS subgroups exhibited greater maximal force and stiffness than conventional cannulated screws. Screws of 30 mm in length demonstrated better stability than all 40 mm-length screws in each subgroup. In C30 fixation, the stiffness and maximum force endured increased by 1.16 and 1.12 times, respectively, compared with the C40 fixation method. There were no significant differences between CF30 and SG-HCS groups. Only the F.E.R.I technique combined with the 4.5 mm cannulated screw of 30 mm in length increased the biomechanical stability for Jones fractures. Discussion: These biomechanical findings help clinicians decide on better screw fixation options for greater stability in Jones fractures, especially when large-diameter screws are limited in use. However, this biomechanical testing of intramedullary screw fixation on Jones fracture model lacks clinical validation and no comparisons to extramedullary plate fixations. Moving forward, additional clinical and biomechanical research is necessary to validate our findings.

Vitiligo and Alopecia Areata After Donor Lymphocyte Infusions in a Child With Relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Rarely do patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) experience vitiligo and alopecia areata. Nevertheless, the exact cause of vitiligo and alopecia areata is still not fully understood. The patient experienced a relapse of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) following a second complete remission after undergoing HLA-6/8 mismatched unrelated donor hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Achieving full donor chimerism was successful during the initial stages of the transplant. Nevertheless, the molecular evidence of measurable residual disease remained, prompting the administration of donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) following a dose-escalation protocol. After three cycles of DLI given at two-month intervals, the circulating blasts eventually vanished. After the third DLI dose, vitiligo developed despite achieving molecular remission. The dermatologist confirmed the presence of vitiligo and alopecia areata, along with cutaneous cGVHD. The outcome was the complete elimination of the molecular presence, and the patient experienced both clinical and molecular remission for a period of five years following DLI. Based on our observations, it was found that DLI could effectively eradicate molecular leukemia in cases of AML relapse after HCT. The development of vitiligo and alopecia areata was influenced by the destruction of melanocytes due to autoimmune reactions caused by cGVHD.

Early Allogeneic Transplantation Favorably Influences the Outcome of Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia-A Retrospective Study in a Single Center Over 2 Decades.

BACKGROUND: Transplantation advancements offer the potential for improving the prognosis of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Controversies surrounding indications and timing persist. We focused on identifying prognostic factors and exploring the advantages of early transplantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 102 pediatric patients with AML (February 1999-August 2022), using Cox regression to analyze survival and hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) outcomes and Kaplan-Meier curves to assess HCT timing's impact on prognosis. RESULTS: "Treatment in First Complete Remission [CR1]: Chemotherapy" showed increased risk in multivariate and univariate Cox regression analyses, whereas "HCT during the study period" displayed divergent outcomes. Focusing on transplanted patients, "Treatment in CR1: Chemotherapy" still correlated with higher mortality risk. These findings emphasize the pivotal role of the treatment strategy adopted in CR1 on overall survival rather than HCT alone. Donor cytomegalovirus (CMV) positivity is also related to reduced mortality risk. Kaplan-Meier analysis supported superior 5-year survival rates with "HCT" compared with "chemotherapy" in CR1. In the 3-arm analysis, "HCT in CR1" demonstrated better 5-year overall survival (OS) and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) compared with "Never HCT," whereas "HCT in CR2" had the least favorable prognosis (5-year OS: 79.2% vs 57.1% vs 50%, P = .056; 5-year DFS: 73.6% vs 55.2% vs 0%, P = .000). CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the benefits of transplantation during CR1 on prognosis. However, when contemplating CR1 transplantation recommendations, evaluation of various factors, such as the patient's clinical state, relapse risk, transplant-related mortality, CMV status, and other pertinent considerations, is vital. Comprehensive case discussions with patients and families are demanded in optimizing treatment.

Blinatumomab in Children with MRD-Positive B-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Report of 11 Cases.

Background/Objectives: Relapsed B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) remains an unresolved matter of concern regarding adverse outcomes. This case study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of blinatumomab, with or without door lymphocyte infusion (DLI), in treating measurable residual disease (MRD)-positive B-ALL. Methods: All patients who received blinatumomab salvage therapy were included in this study. Eleven patients were included in the study. All patients were evaluated for MRD-negativity. Results: Before starting blinatumomab therapy, seven patients tested positive for MRD, three tested negative, and one had refractory disease. Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) was reserved for five patients with persistent MRD. Six patients became MRD-negative and subsequent HCT was not performed. Only two patients relapsed; one patient died of relapse, and the other one received carfilzomib-based therapy and was MRD-negative thereafter. Nine patients were MRD-negative at a median follow-up of 28 months (15-52 months). Two of three MRD-positive post-transplant patients remained in complete molecular remission after preemptive DLI at the last follow-up date. In the first salvage, blinatumomab may achieve complete remission and bridging to HCT in pediatric patients with end-of-induction MRD-positive B-cell precursor ALL. Conclusions: The decision on how to treat post-transplant relapse continues to affect survival outcomes. Blinatumomab combined with DLI may extend the armamentarium of release options for high-risk pediatric patients. This approach is encouraging for high-risk ALL patients who are MRD-positive post-transplantation.

Outcome of Tocilizumab Treatment in Febrile Neutropenic Children with Severe Sepsis/Septic Shock in a Single-Center Retrospective Case Series.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of an IL-6 blockade with tocilizumab on treatment outcome of severe sepsis/septic shock in children with febrile neutropenia. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of febrile neutropenic patients younger than 18 years old who developed severe sepsis/septic shock at a single medical center between November 2022 and October 2023. RESULTS: Seven patients with febrile neutropenia complicated with severe sepsis/septic shock were identified. Four of seven patients received tocilizumab in addition to standard of care. The median IL-6 level before administration of tocilizumab was 14,147 pg/mL (range: 672-30,509 pg/mL). All four patients successfully recovered from severe sepsis/septic shock. Three of seven patients received standard of care without tocilizumab. IL-6 levels were checked intwo2 patients, with a median of 1514.5 (range: 838-2191). Only one of three (33%) patients without tocilizumab therapy made a full recovery from severe sepsis/septic shock. The mortality rate was higher in patients without tocilizumab therapy compared to patients with tocilizumab therapy (67% vs. 0%). CONCLUSIONS: Administration of tocilizumab reduced mortality of severe sepsis/septic shock in children with febrile neutropenia. However, it warrants confirmation with a larger number of patients and a longer follow-up.

Increased absolute lymphocyte count, increased absolute neutrophil count and low platelet to lymphocyte ratio as predicting factors in the superior disease control of refractory/relapsing gynecologic malignancies with anti PD-1 therapy: 10 years of experience in a single institution.

OBJECTIVE: Immune checkpoint inhibitors are rapidly being used in solid and hematologic malignancies, including gynecologic cancers. The high mortality and relapsing rates of advanced gynecologic malignancies remain a challenging issue. This study aimed to identify the predicting factors associated with survival prognosis and disease control in patients with refractory/relapsing (R/R) gynecologic malignancies receiving anti PD-1 therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 49 patients diagnosed with R/R gynecologic malignancies between July 2012 and June 2019 in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan. Among the 49 patients, 6 were excluded due to incomplete medical records or not receiving anti PD-1 therapy. The remaining 43 patients were further divided into responsive and non-responsive groups according to disease control for predicting prognostic factor analysis. RESULTS: For the 43 cases, the median age at diagnosis and disease follow-up length were 54 years and 29 months, respectively. Among them, 23 (53%) were categorized into the responsive group, and the remaining 20 (47%) were categorized into the non-responsive group. The mortality rates were 17% and 25% in the responsive and non-responsive groups, respectively. The responsive group had significantly higher absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), higher absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and low platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) than the non-responsive group. A superior long-term survival trend was also observed in the responsive group, but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: This study reinforced the hypothesis that high ALC, high ANC and low PLR are associated with superior disease control in patients with R/R gynecologic malignancies receiving anti PD-1 therapy.

Association of CD34+ Cell Dose with Progression-free Survival after Allogeneic Peripheral Blood Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Children with Hematologic Malignancies.

BACKGROUND: A higher CD34+ cell dose is associated with improved engraftment but may also be associated with an increased risk of complications after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). METHODS: We retrospectively analyze the impact of CD34+ cell dose on OS, PFS, neutrophil engraftment, platelet engraftment, treatment-related mortality, and GVHD grading. RESULTS: For analyses, CD34+ cell dose was stratified into low (< 8.5 × 106/kg) and high (> 8.5 × 106/kg). A subgroup analysis of higher CD34+ cell dose leads to prolonged OS and PFS, but statistical significance was achieved only for PFS (OR 0.36; 95%CI 0.14-0.95; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: This study reinforced that CD34+ cell dose at the time of allo-HSCT retained a positive impact on PFS.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation without preconditioning in a child with therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome: A case report.

RATIONALE: Infants with mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL)-rearranged leukemia are usually refractory to standard induction therapy and are not immediate candidates for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Chromosome 11q23 translocations, resulting in MLL rearrangement, have been well characterized in infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). While t(4;11) ALL continues to have carry a bleak prognosis, patients with therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome (t-MDS) have a shorter median overall survival than those compared with de novo MDS. PATIENT CONCERNS: We describe a child with t-MDS who evolved from MLL-rearranged ALL and was successfully treated with HSCT without toxic preconditioning. DIAGNOSES: MDS diagnosis was based on morphological characteristics of bone marrow dysplasia in patients with clinical manifestations evidence of hematopoiesis impairments by different combinations of anemia, leukopenia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia. INTERVENTIONS: Although the best donor for allo-HSCT is generally considered an human leukocyte antigen-matched sibling, only ~ 30% of patients have a suitable sibling. HSCT from an unrelated donor is a suitable option for patients with t-MDS who do not have matched sibling donors. OUTCOMES: Allo-HSCT without recipient preconditioning could be a promising treatment option for t-MDS, especially for patients with recurrent or persistent infections. LESSONS: Cytogenetics, prognosis, and treatment of t-MDS are briefly discussed. Preconditioning before allo-HSCT seriously damages immune function. This work reviews our experience with a patient with t-MDS following ALL complicated by recurrent infections, and highlights our choice to omit preconditioning from allo-HSCT.

Current Research Trends in Cytokine Storm: A Scientometric Study.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is currently rampant worldwide, resulting in unpredictable harm to humans. High blood levels of cytokines and chemokines have been marked in patients with COVID-19 infection, leading to cytokine storm syndrome. Cytokine storms are violent inflammatory immune responses that reveal the devastating effect of immune dysregulation and the critical role of an effective host immune response. METHODS: Scientometric analysis summarizes the literature on cytokine storms in recent decades and provides a valuable and timely approach to tracking the development of new trends. This review summarizes the pathogenesis and treatment of diseases associated with cytokine storms comprehensively based on scientometric analysis. RESULTS: Field distribution, knowledge structure, and research topic evolution correlated with cytokine storms are revealed, and the occurrence, development, and treatment of disease relevant to cytokine storms are illustrated. CONCLUSION: Cytokine storms can be induced by pathogens and iatrogenic causes and can also occur in the context of autoimmune diseases and monogenic diseases as well. These reveal the multidisciplinary nature of cytokine storms and remind the complexity of the pathophysiological features, clinical presentation, and management. Overall, this scientometric study provides a macroscopic presentation and further direction for researchers who focus on cytokine storms.

Formation of soybean protein isolate-hawthorn flavonoids non-covalent complexes: Linking the physicochemical properties and emulsifying properties.

In recent years, more and more attention had been paid to the combination of proteins and flavonoids, and several flavonoids had been reported to improve the physicochemical and emulsifying properties of proteins. This study investigated the effects of ultrasonic treatment (450 W for 10 min, 20 min, and 30 min) on the physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, and emulsifying properties of soy protein isolate (SPI) -hawthorn flavonoids (HF) non-covalent complexes. The results showed that the addition of HF to SPI and 20 min of ultrasound could reduce α-helix and random coil, increase ß-sheet and ß-turn, and enhance fluorescence quenching. In addition, it decreased the particle size, zeta potential, surface hydrophobicity, and turbidity to 88.43 or 95.27 nm, -28.80 mV, 1250.42, and 0.23, respectively. The protein solubility, free sulfhydryl group, antioxidant activity, emulsifying activity index, and emulsifying stability index all increased to 73.93%, 15.07 µmol/g, 71.00 or 41.91%, 9.81 m2/g, and 67.71%, respectively. Moreover, high-density small and low-flocculation droplets were formed. Therefore, the combined ultrasound treatment and addition of HF to SPI is a more effective method for protein modification compared to ultrasound treatment alone. It provides a theoretical basis for protein processing and application in the future.