The relationship between plasma prolactin levels and clinical manifestations with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

INTRODUCTION: Systemic prolactin levels have been found to increase in 19 patients diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD). However, the relationship between plasma prolactin levels and clinical manifestations in NMOSD patients remains unclear. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted as part of a Registered Cohort Study of Inflammatory Demyelination Disease (NCT04386018). A total of 95 patients diagnosed with central nervous system demyelinating diseases and 43 healthy controls were recruited between May 2020 and February 2022 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University. Plasma samples were collected from all participants and analyzed for prolactin levels using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The study aimed to investigate the correlation between plasma prolactin levels and clinical features in patients with central nervous system demyelinating diseases. RESULTS: Plasma prolactin levels in NMOSD patients were significantly higher than those in multiple sclerosis/myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated diseases patients and controls (p<0.05, respectively), and were found to be correlated with disease activity, sensory abnormalities, thoracic spinal cord lesions, and MR lesion enhancement (p<0.05). A total of 16.28% of NMOSD patients exhibited macroprolactinemia. However, there was no correlation found between macroprolactin levels and disease activity (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Prolactin may play a role in the pro-inflammatory regulation mechanism of NMOSD.

Comparison of embryo quality and pregnancy outcomes for patients with low ovarian reserve in natural cycles and mildly stimulated cycles: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: As women with low ovarian reserve embark on the challenging journey of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment, the choice between natural and mildly stimulated cycles becomes a pivotal consideration. It is unclear which of these two regimens is superior for women with low ovarian reserve. Our study aims to assess the impact of natural cycles on embryo quality and pregnancy outcomes in women with low ovarian reserve undergoing IVF treatment compared to mildly stimulated cycles. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled consecutive patients with low ovarian reserve who underwent IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) at Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital between January 2017 and April 2021. The primary outcome for pregnancy rate of 478 natural cycles and 448 mild stimulated cycles was compared. Secondary outcomes included embryo quality and oocyte retrieval time of natural cycles. RESULTS: The pregnancy rate in the natural cycle group was significantly higher than that in the mildly stimulated cycle group (51.8% vs. 40.1%, p = 0.046). Moreover, natural cycles exhibited higher rates of available embryos (84.1% vs. 78.6%, p = 0.040), high-quality embryos (61.8% vs. 53.2%, p = 0.008), and utilisation of oocytes (73% vs. 65%, p = 0.001) compared to mildly stimulated cycles. Oocyte retrievals in natural cycles were predominantly performed between 7:00 and 19:00, with 94.9% occurring during this time frame. In natural cycles with high-quality embryos, 96.4% of oocyte retrievals were also conducted between 7:00 and 19:00. CONCLUSION: Natural cycles with appropriately timed oocyte retrieval may present a valuable option for patients with low ovarian reserve.

In the realm of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment, women with low ovarian reserve often face the crucial decision of opting for natural or mildly stimulated cycles. This retrospective study, conducted between January 2017 and April 2021 at Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, delves into the impact of these cycles on pregnancy outcomes. Examining 478 natural cycles and 448 mildly stimulated cycles, the study reveals a notably higher pregnancy rate in the natural cycle group (51.8% vs. 40.1%). Additionally, natural cycles demonstrated higher rates of available embryos, high-quality embryos, and oocyte utilisation compared to their mildly stimulated counterparts. The findings suggest that natural cycles, with proper oocyte retrieval timing, could be a favourable choice for those with low ovarian reserve seeking IVF treatment.

A Dual Anion Chemistry-Based Superionic Glass Enabling Long-Cycling All-Solid-State Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Glassy Na-ion solid-state electrolytes (GNSSEs) are an important group of amorphous SSEs. However, the insufficient ionic conductivity of state-of-the-art GNSSEs at room temperature lessens their promise in the development of all-solid-state Na-ion batteries (ASSNIBs) with high energy density and improved safety. Here we report the discovery of a new sodium superionic glass, 0.5Na2 O2 -TaCl5 (NTOC), based on dual-anion sublattice of oxychlorides. The unique local structures with abundant bridging and non-bridging oxygen atoms contributes to a highly disordered Na-ion distribution as well as low Na+ migration barrier within NTOC, enabling an ultrahigh ionic conductivity of 4.62 mS cm-1 at 25 °C (more than 20 times higher than those of previously reported GNSSEs). Moreover, the excellent formability of glassy NTOC electrolyte and its high electrochemical oxidative stability ensure a favourable electrolyte-electrode interface, contributing to superior cycling stability of ASSNIBs for over 500 cycles at room temperature. The discovery of glassy NTOC electrolyte would reignite research enthusiasm in superionic glassy SSEs based on multi-anion chemistry.

Reviving Cost-Effective Organic Cathodes in Halide-Based All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries.

The evolution of inorganic solid electrolytes has revolutionized the field of sustainable organic cathode materials, particularly by addressing the dissolution problems in traditional liquid electrolytes. However, current sulfide-based all-solid-state lithium-organic batteries still face challenges such as high working temperatures, high costs, and low voltages. Here, we design an all-solid-state lithium battery based on a cost-effective organic cathode material phenanthrenequinone (PQ) and a halide solid electrolyte Li2ZrCl6. Thanks to the good compatibility between PQ and Li2ZrCl6, the PQ cathode achieved a high specific capacity of 248 mAh g-1 (96 % of the theoretical capacity), a high average discharge voltage of 2.74 V (vs. Li+/Li), and a good capacity retention of 95 % after 100 cycles at room temperature (25 °C). Furthermore, the interactions between the high-voltage carbonyl PQ cathode and both sulfide and halide solid electrolytes, as well as the redox mechanism of the PQ cathode in all-solid-state batteries, were carefully studied by a variety of advanced characterizations. We believe such a design and the corresponding investigations into the underlying chemistry give insights for the further development of practical all-solid-state lithium-organic batteries.

lncRNA ITGB8-AS1 functions as a ceRNA to promote colorectal cancer growth and migration through integrin-mediated focal adhesion signaling.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in tumorigenesis and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, functions of most lncRNAs in CRC and their molecular mechanisms remain uncharacterized. Here we found that lncRNA ITGB8-AS1 was highly expressed in CRC. Knockdown of ITGB8-AS1 suppressed cell proliferation, colony formation, and tumor growth in CRC, suggesting oncogenic roles of ITGB8-AS1. Transcriptomic analysis followed by KEGG analysis revealed that focal adhesion signaling was the most significantly enriched pathway for genes positively regulated by ITGB8-AS1. Consistently, knockdown of ITGB8-AS1 attenuated the phosphorylation of SRC, ERK, and p38 MAPK. Mechanistically, ITGB8-AS1 could sponge miR-33b-5p and let-7c-5p/let-7d-5p to regulate the expression of integrin family genes ITGA3 and ITGB3, respectively, in the cytosol of cells. Targeting ITGB8-AS1 using antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) markedly reduced cell proliferation and tumor growth in CRC, indicating the therapeutic potential of ITGB8-AS1 in CRC. Furthermore, ITGB8-AS1 was easily detected in plasma of CRC patients, which was positively correlated with differentiation and TNM stage, as well as plasma levels of ITGA3 and ITGB3. In conclusion, ITGB8-AS1 functions as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to regulate cell proliferation and tumor growth of CRC via regulating focal adhesion signaling. Targeting ITGB8-AS1 is effective in suppressing CRC cell growth and tumor growth. Elevated plasma levels of ITGB8-AS1 were detected in advanced-stage CRC. Thus, ITGB8-AS1 could serve as a potential therapeutic target and circulating biomarker in CRC.

The identification of pregnant women with renal colic who may need surgical intervention.

BACKGROUND: Renal colic is a surgical emergency in pregnancy that is caused by a range of non-obstetric factors and known to occur more frequently during the second and third trimesters. Several studies have reported that up to 70-80% of stones pass spontaneously during pregnancy. There are some patients will not pass their stones and will ultimately require surgical intervention. Through retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 212 pregnant women with renal colic, the predictive factors of pregnant women with renal colic in need of surgical intervention were determined. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 212 pregnant women presenting with renal colic between 1st January 2009 and 31st December 2020. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified a range of predictive variables for surgical intervention. In addition, we used receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to evaluate the predictive power of our model and created a nomogram for clinical application. RESULTS: Of the 212 patients presenting with acute renal colic in pregnancy, 100 patients (47.2%) underwent surgical intervention and 112 patients (52.8%) were treated conservatively. Univariate analysis identified significant differences between the two groups with regards to fever, the duration of pain, white blood cells, C-reactive protein, ureteral stone size, hydronephrosis, and stone location. Multivariate analysis further identified a number of independent predictors for surgical intervention, including fever, a duration of pain ≥ 4 days, a ureteral stone size ≥ 8 mm, and moderate or severe hydronephrosis. CONCLUSIONS: We identified several independent predictors for surgical intervention for renal colic in pregnancy. Fever, a duration of pain ≥ 4 days, a ureteral stone size ≥ 8 mm, and moderate/severe hydronephrosis, play significant roles in predicting surgical intervention. Our nomogram can help to calculate the probability of surgical intervention in a simple and efficient manner. Prospective studies are now required to validate our model.

Observation on the efficacy of different methylprednisolone regimens in the treatment of myasthenia gravis.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of different methylprednisolone regimens in the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG). Methods: A total of 98 patients with MG admitted to Shijiazhuang People's Hospital from December 2018 to November 2019 were randomly divided into two groups, with 49 cases in each group. Patients in the control group received high-dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy, while those in the experimental group received medium-dose periodic therapy of methylprednisolone. Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies (AChRab), clinical absolute scores, complement levels (C3, C4), T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD4+CD25+), cytokines [interferon-γ (INF-γ), transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1), interleukin-6 (IL- 6), interleukin-18 (IL-18)], and changes in quality of life [15-item Myasthenia Gravis Quality of Life Scale (MGQOL-15) score] were compared between the two groups before treatment and one and three months after treatment. Moreover, the incidence of adverse drug reactions in the two groups during 3 months of treatment was compared. Results: After three months of treatment, ACHRAB, clinical absolute score, CD3+, CD4+, INF-γ, IL-6, IL-18 and MGQOL-15 scores in both groups were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment (p<0.05), and the scores of C3, C4, CD4+CD25+ and TGF-ß1 in both groups were significantly higher than those before treatment (p<0.05), and the experimental group had more significant changes than the control group (p<0.05). During three months of treatment, the total incidence of adverse drug reactions in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The medium-dose periodic therapy of methylprednisolone is more prominent in the long-term efficacy performance. It can improve the immunity and quality of life of patients, and it is safer and has high clinical application value.

Metagenome-wide association study of gut microbiome revealed potential microbial marker set for diagnosis of pediatric myasthenia gravis.

BACKGROUND: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an acquired immune-mediated disorder of the neuromuscular junction that causes fluctuating skeletal muscle weakness and fatigue. Pediatric MG and adult MG have many different characteristics, and current MG diagnostic methods for children are not quite fit. Previous studies indicate that alterations in the gut microbiota may be associated with adult MG. However, it has not been determined whether the gut microbiota are altered in pediatric MG patients. METHODS: Our study recruited 53 pediatric MG patients and 46 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HC). We sequenced the fecal samples of recruited individuals using whole-genome shotgun sequencing and analyzed the data with in-house bioinformatics pipeline. RESULTS: We built an MG disease classifier based on the abundance of five species, Fusobacterium mortiferum, Prevotella stercorea, Prevotella copri, Megamonas funiformis, and Megamonas hypermegale. The classifier obtained 94% area under the curve (AUC) in cross-validation and 84% AUC in the independent validation cohort. Gut microbiome analysis revealed the presence of human adenovirus F/D in 10 MG patients. Significantly different pathways and gene families between MG patients and HC belonged to P. copri, Clostridium bartlettii, and Bacteroides massiliensis. Based on functional annotation, we found that the gut microbiome affects the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and we confirmed the decrease in SCFA levels in pediatric MG patients via serum tests. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicated that altered fecal microbiota might play vital roles in pediatric MG's pathogenesis by reducing SCFAs. The microbial markers might serve as novel diagnostic methods for pediatric MG.

New Insight of Pyrrole-Like Nitrogen for Boosting Hydrogen Evolution Activity and Stability of Pt Single Atoms.

Single atomic Pt catalysts exhibit particularly high hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity compared to conventional nanomaterial-based catalysts. However, the enhanced mechanisms between Pt and their coordination environment are not understood in detail. Hence, a systematic study examining the different types of N in the support is essential to clearly demonstrate the relationship between Pt single atoms and N-doped support. Herein, three types of carbon nanotubes with varying types of N (pyridine-like N, pyrrole-like N, and quaternary N) are used as carbon support for Pt single atom atomic layer deposition. The detailed coordination environment of the Pt single atom catalyst is carefully studied by electron microscope and X-ray absorption spectra (XAS). Interestingly, with the increase of pyrrole-like N in the CNT support, the HER activity of the Pt catalyst also improves. First principle calculations results indicate that the interaction between the dyz and s orbitals of H and sp3 hybrid orbital of N should be the origin of the superior HER performance of these Pt single atom catalysts (SACs).

Transition of the Reaction from Three-Phase to Two-Phase by Using a Hybrid Conductor for High-Energy-Density High-Rate Solid-State Li-O2 Batteries.

Solid-state Li-O2 batteries possess the ability to deliver high energy density with enhanced safety. However, designing a highly functional solid-state air electrode is the main bottleneck for its further development. Herein, we adopt a hybrid electronic and ionic conductor to build solid-state air electrode that makes the transition of Li-O2 battery electrochemical mechanism from a three-phase process to a two-phase process. The solid-state Li-O2 battery with this hybrid conductor solid-state air electrode shows decreased interfacial resistance and enhanced reaction kinetics. The Coulombic efficiency of Li-O2 battery is also significantly improved, benefiting from the good contact between discharge products and electrode materials. In situ environmental transmission electron microscopy under oxygen was used to illustrate the reversible deposition and decomposition of discharge products on the surface of this hybrid conductor, visually verifying the two-phase reaction.

The Clinical Significance of Nasal Nitric Oxide Concentrations in Preschool Children with Nasal Inflammatory Disease.

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis is an allergic inflammation of the nasal airways, and chronic rhinosinusitis is an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. It can be induced by infection, allergy, or autoimmune problems. Diagnosis of these two diseases is made primarily based on clinical symptoms, allergen test, and imaging. The allergen test is invasive and expensive. The imaging test is harmful to children. Measurement of nasal nitric oxide (NNO) was noninvasive, without radiation, and inexpensive. This study was to evaluate the clinical significance of NNO in preschool children with nasal inflammatory diseases. METHODS: A total of 55 cases of allergic rhinitis, including 35 mild cases and 20 moderate to severe cases, and 33 cases of chronic rhinosinusitis, including 18 mild cases and 15 moderate to severe cases were selected as the experimental group. Fifty healthy preschool children were chosen as the control group. The levels of NNO in all children were measured. The differences in the levels of NNO among allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, and the control group were compared. The levels of NNO in the control group were also analyzed. RESULTS: The levels of NNO were significantly higher in preschool children with allergic rhinitis than in the control group, and the differences were significant. However, the levels of NNO in preschool children with chronic rhinosinusitis were lower than in the control group. In the control group, the levels of NNO were not significantly different between genders, and no significant correlation between NNO levels and the children's height was found. CONCLUSION: As a noninvasive method for detecting nasal inflammatory diseases, measuring the levels of NNO had a high clinical significance in preschool children.

Enzyme-free fluorometric assay for chloramphenicol based on double stirring bar-assisted dual signal amplification.

An enzyme-free fluorometric assay is described that accomplishes dual signal amplification by making use of a two stirring bars. Two Y-shaped DNA probes were designed and placed on the bars. When the target (with chloramphenicol as model analyte) is added, it triggers target recycling and simultaneously catalyzes hairpin assembly (CHA). A large fraction of DNA primers is released by the analyte from the bar to the supernatant and open hairpins with G-quadruplex DNA sequence. The G-quadruplex can specifically bind thioflavin T (ThT) to emit fluorescence (with excitation/emission maxima at 445 and 485 nm) for quantification of chloramphenicol. An enzyme is not needed. ThT is added to the system as a fluorescent DNA probe. All this strongly reduces the cost for sensor construction and usage. The dual signal amplification steps occur simultaneously which reduces the detection time. The assay was successfully employed to the determination of CAP in spiked milk and fish samples within 60 min and with a 16 pM limit of detection (at S/N = 3). Graphical abstract Schematic representation of a new method for the detection of chloramphenicol by using  two stirring bars. It is based on target recycling and catalyzed hairpin assembly amplification. CAP: chloramphenicol, ThT: thioflavin T, CHA: catalyzed hairpin assembly.

Ultrahigh-Capacity and Long-Life Lithium-Metal Batteries Enabled by Engineering Carbon Nanofiber-Stabilized Graphene Aerogel Film Host.

A safe, high-capacity, and long-life Li metal anode is highly desired due to recent developments in high-energy-density Li-metal batteries. However, there are still rigorous challenges associated with the undesirable formation of Li dendrites, lack of suitable host materials, and unstable chemical interfaces. Herein, a carbon nanofiber-stabilized graphene aerogel film (G-CNF film), inspired by constructional engineering, is constructed. As the host material for Li deposition, the G-CNF film features a large surface area, porous structure, and a robust skeleton that can render low local current density. This allows for dendrite-free Li deposition and mitigation of problems associated with large volume change. Importantly, the G-CNF film can keep high Li plating/stripping efficiency at nearly 99% for over 700 h with an areal capacity of 10 mA h cm-2 (the specific capacity up to 2588 mA h g-1 based on the total mass of carbon host and Li metal). The symmetric cells can stably run for more than 1000 h with low voltage hysteresis. The full cell with the LiFePO4 cathode also delivers enhanced capacity and lowered overpotential. As two-in-one host materials for both cathodes and anodes in Li-O2 batteries, the battery exhibits a capacity of 1.2 mA h cm-2 .

Gimatecan exerts potent antitumor activity against gastric cancer in vitro and in vivo via AKT and MAPK signaling pathways.

BACKGROUND: We investigated antitumor activity and underlying mechanisms of DNA topoisomerase I (TopI) inhibitor gimatecan and irinotecan in gastric cancer (GC) in vitro cell lines and in vivo patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. METHODS: GC cell lines SNU-1, HGC27, MGC803 and NCI-N87 were used to evaluate cell viability and apoptosis after gimatecan or irinotecan treatment, using a cell proliferation assay and flow cytometry, respectively. DNA TopI expression and critical molecules of PI3K/AKT, MAPK and apoptosis signaling pathways were analyzed with western blot. For in vivo studies, five PDXs models were treated with gimatecan or irinotecan to assess its antitumor activity. Immunohistochemistry staining of Ki-67 was performed after mice were sacrificed. RESULTS: Gimatecan inhibited the proliferation of GC cells in vitro in a dose- and time-dependent manner by inducing apoptosis, and gimatecan had greater inhibitory effects than irinotecan. In addition, both gimatecan and irinotecan demonstrated significant tumor growth inhibition in in vivo PDX models. Gimatecan treatment significantly inhibited the expression of DNA TopI, phosphorylated AKT (pAKT), phosphorylated MEK (pMEK) and phosphorylated ERK (pERK). Meanwhile, gimatecan could also activate the JNK2 and p38 MAPK pathway as indicated by upregulation of phosphorylated p38 MAPK (p-p38) and phosphorylated JNK2 (pJNK2). CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, we have shown that the antitumor activity of gimatecan in GC via suppressing AKT and ERK pathway and activating JNK2 and p38 MAPK pathway, which indicated that gimatecan might be an alternative to irinotecan in the treatment of GC.

Single-Cell Resolution of Uncultured Magnetotactic Bacteria via Fluorescence-Coupled Electron Microscopy.

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) form intracellular chain-assembled nanocrystals of magnetite or greigite termed magnetosomes. The characterization of magnetosome crystals requires electron microscopy due to their nanoscopic sizes. However, electron microscopy does not provide phylogenetic information for MTB. We have developed a strategy for the simultaneous and rapid phylogenetic and biomineralogical characterization of uncultured MTB at the single-cell level. It consists of four steps: (i) enrichment of MTB cells from an environmental sample, (ii) 16S rRNA gene sequencing of MTB, and (iii) fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses coordinated with (iv) transmission or scanning electron microscopy of the probe-hybridized cells. The application of this strategy identified a magnetotactic Gammaproteobacteria strain, SHHR-1, from brackish sediments collected from the Shihe River estuary in Qinhuangdao City, China. SHHR-1 magnetosomes are elongated prismatic magnetites which can be idealized as hexagonal prisms. Taxonomic groups of uncultured MTB were also identified in freshwater sediments from Lake Miyun in northern Beijing via this novel coordinated fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy method based on four group-specific rRNA-targeted probes. Our analyses revealed that major magnetotactic taxonomic groups can be accurately determined only with coordinated scanning electron microscopy observations on fluorescently labeled single cells due to limited group coverage and specificity for existing group-specific MTB fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes. Our reported strategy is simple and efficient, offers great promise toward investigating the diversity and biomineralization of MTB, and may also be applied to other functional groups of microorganisms.IMPORTANCE Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are phylogenetically diverse and biomineralize morphologically diverse magnetic nanocrystals of magnetite or greigite in intracellular structures termed magnetosomes. However, many uncultured MTB strains have not been phylogenetically identified or structurally investigated at the single-cell level, which limits our comprehensive understanding of the diversity of MTB and their role in biomineralization. We developed a fluorescence-coupled electron microscopy method for the rapid phylogenetic and biomineralogical characterization of uncultured MTB at the single-cell level. Using this novel method, we successfully identified taxonomic groups of several uncultured MTB and one novel magnetotactic Gammaproteobacteria strain, SHHR-1, from natural environments. Our analyses further indicate that strain SHHR-1 forms elongated prismatic magnetites. Our findings provide a promising strategy for the rapid characterization of phylogenetic and biomineralogical properties of uncultured MTB at the single-cell level. Furthermore, due to its simplicity and generalized methodology, this strategy can also be useful in the study of the diversity and biomineralization properties of microbial taxa involved in other mineralization processes.

Simultaneous Determination of Four Triterpenoid Saponins in Aralia elata Leaves by HPLC-ELSD Combined with Hierarchical Clustering Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Aralia elata leaves are known to have several biological activities, including anti-arrythmia, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-fatigue, antimicrobial and antiviral effects. Our previous study found that triterpenoid saponins from the leaves of A. elata had antitumor effects. Quantification of the triterpenoids is important for the quality control of A. elata leaves. OBJECTIVE: To establish high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with evaporative light scattering detection (HPLC-ELSD) for the simultaneous determination of four major triterpenoid saponins, including Aralia-saponin IV, Aralia-saponin VI, 3-O-ß-d- glucopyranosyl-(1 â†’ 3)-ß-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 â†’ 3)-ß-d-glucopyranosyl oleanolic acid 28-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside (Aralia-saponin TTP)and Aralia-saponin V. METHODOLOGY: The separation was carried out on a Dikma Diamonsil C18 column (4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 µm) efficiently with gradient elution consisting of acetonitrile and water. RESULTS: All calibration curves showed good linear regression (R2  > 0.9996) within the ranges of tested concentrations. This validated method was applied to determine the contents of the four major triterpenoid saponins in 53 samples from different regions of northeast China. Hierarchical clustering analysis was first used to classify and differentiate Aralia elata leaves. CONCLUSION: The method developed was successfully applied to analyse four major triterpenoid saponins in Aralia elata leaves which is helpful for quality control of the herb. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Simultaneous quantification of triterpenoid saponins in rat plasma by UHPLC-MS/MS and its application to a pharmacokinetic study after oral total saponin of Aralia elata leaves.

A rapid, sensitive, and reliable analytical ultra performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for the simultaneous determination of Aralia-saponin IV, 3-O-ß-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-ß-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-ß-d-glucopyranosyl oleanolic acid 28-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside, Aralia-saponin A and Aralia-saponin B after the oral administration of total saponin of Aralia elata leaves in rat plasma. Plasma samples were pretreated by protein precipitation with methanol. The analysis was performed on an ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 column. The detection was performed on a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer in multiple reaction monitoring mode using an electrospray ionization source with negative ionization mode. Under the experimental conditions, the calibration curves of four analytes had good linearity values (r > 0.991). The intra- and inter-day precision values of the four analytes were ≤ 11.6%, and the accuracy was between -6.2 and 4.2%.The extraction recoveries of four triterpenoid saponins were in the range of 84.06-91.66% (RSD < 10.5%), and all values of the matrix effect were more than 90.30%. The developed analytical method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study on simultaneous determination of the four triterpenoid saponins in rat plasma after oral administration of total saponin of Aralia elata leaves, which helps guiding clinical usage of Aralia elata leaves.

Significance of saline nasalirrigation for COVID-19 infection: observations and reflections from nursing care of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has placed a tremendous burden on the world's healthcare systems, prompting medical professionals worldwide to diligently research and experiment with treatment methods to prevent infection and alleviate symptoms. Previous studies have shown the potential of nasal irrigation in reducing viral clearance time and alleviating local symptoms of COVID-19. However, views differ regarding its efficacy in improving systemic symptoms. Thus, we sought to examine whether saline nasal irrigation might play a role in treatment and self-care after COVID-19 infection, but further validation is still necessary. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 468 patients and 51 healthcare personnel concurrently. The participants were grouped based on whether they received saline nasal irrigation. We used χ2 tests and Fisher's exact tests to assess the differences in the rates of COVID-19 infection and the rates of developing a fever after COVID-19 infection among different groups. Additionally, we used independent samples t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests to evaluate differences in the maximum fever temperature and fever duration among participants with fever in different groups. Results: The rate of developing a fever after COVID-19 infection was lower (37.7%) in the patients who underwent saline nasal irrigation. Among all febrile patients, there was no difference in the highest fever temperature, but patients who underwent saline nasal irrigation had a shorter fever duration (1.72±1.05 days). Additionally, the rate of COVID-19 infection and the rate of developing a fever were higher, and fever symptoms were more severe in the healthcare worker group than in the patient group. Conclusions: Saline nasal irrigation can alleviate symptoms caused by COVID-19 infection.

Halide Heterogeneous Structure Boosting Ionic Diffusion and High-Voltage Stability of Sodium Superionic Conductors.

The development of solid-state sodium-ion batteries (SSSBs) heavily hinges on the development of an superionic Na+ conductor (SSC) that features high conductivity, (electro)chemical stability, and deformability. The construction of heterogeneous structures offers a promising approach to comprehensively enhancing these properties in a way that differs from traditional structural optimization. Here, this work exploits the structural variance between high- and low-coordination halide frameworks to develop a new class of halide heterogeneous structure electrolytes (HSEs). The halide HSEs incorporating a UCl3 -type high-coordination framework and amorphous low-coordination phase achieves the highest Na+ conductivity (2.7 mS cm-1 at room temperature, RT) among halide SSCs so far. By discerning the individual contribution of the crystalline bulk, amorphous region, and interface, this work unravels the synergistic ion conduction within halide HSEs and provides a comprehensive explanation of the amorphization effect. More importantly, the excellent deformability, high-voltage stability, and expandability of HSEs enable effective SSSB integration. Using a cold-pressed cathode electrode composite of uncoated Na0.85 Mn0.5 Ni0.4 Fe0.1 O2 and HSEs, the SSSBs present stable cycle performance with a capacity retention of 91.0% after 100 cycles at 0.2 C.

Significance of chemotherapy for older patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the intensity-modulated radiotherapy era: A propensity score matching analysis.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the survival and prognosis of older patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) who received intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) alone versus IMRT plus chemotherapy using propensity score matching (PSM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 841 older patients with NPC aged 60 years and above without metastasis receiving IMRT alone or chemoradiotherapy from 2012 to 2019. The comorbidity was assessed by adult comorbidity evaluation (ACE-27). PSM (1:3 ratio) was conducted between the two treatment groups based on four clinical factors including age, T-stage, N-stage, and ACE-27. Differences in overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: A total of 841 patients with NPC were included in the study, there were 94 patients in the IMRT alone group and 747 patients in the chemoradiotherapy (CRT) group. After a 1:3 ratio PSM, 89 patients underwent IMRT alone and 223 patients underwent CRT. The baseline analysis showed an insignificant difference after PSM (P > 0.05). In multivariate analysis, we found that ACE-27 (≥2) was associated with worse five-year OS and CSS (HR = 1.994, 95%CI: 1.276-3.116, P = 0.002; HR = 1.849, 95%CI: 1164-2.935, P = 0.009, respectively). Chemotherapy was an independent prognosticator of better five-year OS and CSS (HR = 0.333, 95%CI: 0.213-0.552, P < 0.001; HR = 0.327, 95%CI: 0.204-0.524, P < 0.001, respectively). In terms of subgroup analysis, chemotherapy was a statistically beneficial predictor for stage III-IV patients (P < 0.05), but no significant difference in stage II patients (P > 0.05). About the adverse events, the incidence of hepatotoxicity (P = 0.002), neutropenia (P < 0.001), anemia (P < 0.001), and thrombocytopenia (P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the CRT group. DISCUSSION: Combined modality therapy was associated with improved five-year OS and CSS in older adults with stage III-IV NPC, but was not associated with improved survival over IMRT alone in patients with stage II disease. Risk factors including T3-4 disease, positive lymph nodes, ACE-27 score ≥ 2, and IMRT alone were were associated with worse OS and CSS. There was a significantly higher incidence of hepatotoxicity and blood toxicity in the CRT group.