Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of nigella sativa supplementation for allergic rhinitis treatment.

Background: Demonstrating the positive effects of Nigella sativa supplementation (Nigella spp) on Allergic Rhinitis (AR) treatment is challenging. To investigate the role of Nigella spp in managing AR, a comprehensive review through systematic reviews and meta-analyses was conducted. Purpose: To carry out a meta-analysis of clinical trials that used Nigella spp in treating AR based on current data. Study Design: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed. Methods: Various databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Science Direct, Springer Link and the Cochrane Library, were searched until October 2023 to obtain RCTs assessing impact of Nigella spp in the control of AR. The current meta-analysis was carried out with a random-effects model. Results: There were 8 studies enrolled, and our meta-analysis findings revealed that, relative to the control group, observation group exhibited the markedly increased total effective rate for allergic rhinitis treatment (odds ratio [OR] = 4.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] (2.57, 7.27), and p < 0.00001); three studies showed that the effect of Nigella spp for nasal symptoms treatment among patients with allergic rhinitis was superior in observation group to control group [mean difference = -2.60, 95% CI (-2.82, -2.38), p < 0.00001]; adverse effects occurred in five studies, all of which were transient, did not require medical intervention, and were not statistically significant between the two groups [OR = 1.01, 95% CI (0.59, 1.73), p = 0.98]. Conclusion: The observation group demonstrated relative safety and had an enhanced effect on allergic rhinitis treatment and total nasal symptom improvement than the control group. The inclusion of fewer studies and the lower quality of trial design might affect the stability of the results. However, the evidence-based findings that Nigella spp for allergic rhinitis treatment is more accurate should be validated in future large-scale, multicenter, and well-designed RCTs.

Deep bone oncology Diagnostics: Computed tomography based Machine learning for detection of bone tumors from breast cancer metastasis.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to develop a novel diagnostic tool using deep learning and radiomics to distinguish bone tumors on CT images as metastases from breast cancer. By providing a more accurate and reliable method for identifying metastatic bone tumors, this approach aims to significantly improve clinical decision-making and patient management in the context of breast cancer. Methods: This study utilized CT images of bone tumors from 178 patients, including 78 cases of breast cancer bone metastases and 100 cases of non-breast cancer bone metastases. The dataset was processed using the Medical Image Segmentation via Self-distilling TransUNet (MISSU) model for automated segmentation. Radiomics features were extracted from the segmented tumor regions using the Pyradiomics library, capturing various aspects of tumor phenotype. Feature selection was conducted using LASSO regression to identify the most predictive features. The model's performance was evaluated using ten-fold cross-validation, with metrics including accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and the Dice similarity coefficient. Results: The developed radiomics model using the SVM algorithm achieved high discriminatory power, with an AUC of 0.936 on the training set and 0.953 on the test set. The model's performance metrics demonstrated strong accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. Specifically, the accuracy was 0.864 for the training set and 0.853 for the test set. Sensitivity values were 0.838 and 0.789 for the training and test sets, respectively, while specificity values were 0.896 and 0.933 for the training and test sets, respectively. These results indicate that the SVM model effectively distinguishes between bone metastases originating from breast cancer and other origins. Additionally, the average Dice similarity coefficient for the automated segmentation was 0.915, demonstrating a high level of agreement with manual segmentations. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the potential of combining CT-based radiomics and deep learning for the accurate detection of bone metastases from breast cancer. The high-performance metrics indicate that this approach can significantly enhance diagnostic accuracy, aiding in early detection and improving patient outcomes. Future research should focus on validating these findings on larger datasets, integrating the model into clinical workflows, and exploring its use in personalized treatment planning.

Interpregnancy interval, air pollution, and the risk of low birth weight: a retrospective study in China.

BACKGROUND: Both interpregnancy intervals (IPI) and environmental factors might contribute to low birth weight (LBW). However, the extent to which air pollution influences the effect of IPIs on LBW remains unclear. We aimed to investigate whether IPI and air pollution jointly affect LBW. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was designed in this study. The data of birth records was collected from the Jiangsu Maternal Child Information System, covering January 2020 to June 2021 in Nantong city, China. IPI was defined as the duration between the delivery date for last live birth and date of LMP for the subsequent birth. The maternal exposure to ambient air pollutants during pregnancy-including particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5), PM10, ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and carbon monoxide (CO)-was estimated using a hybrid kriging-LUR-RF model. A novel air pollution score was proposed, assessing combined exposure to five pollutants (excluding CO) by summing their concentrations, weighted by LBW regression coefficients. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the effects of IPI, air pollution and their interactions on LBW. Relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), attributable proportion of interaction (AP) and synergy index (S) were utilized to assess the additive interaction. RESULTS: Among 10, 512 singleton live births, the LBW rate was 3.7%. The IPI-LBW risk curve exhibited an L-shaped pattern. The odds ratios (ORs) for LBW for each interquartile range increase in PM2.5, PM10, O3 and the air pollution score were 1.16 (95% CI: 1.01-1.32), 1.30 (1.06-1.59), 1.22 (1.06-1.41), and 1.32 (1.10-1.60) during the entire pregnancy, respectively. An additive interaction between IPI and PM2.5 was noted during the first trimester. Compared to records with normal IPI and low PM2.5 exposure, those with short IPI and high PM2.5 exposure had the highest risk of LBW (relative risk = 3.53, 95% CI: 1.85-6.49, first trimester). CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates a synergistic effect of interpregnancy interval and air pollution on LBW, indicating that rational birth spacing and air pollution control can jointly improve LBW outcomes.

Laryngeal non-Hodgkin lymphoma: Report of four cases and review of the literature.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) limited to the larynx is very rare. The authors present the clinical diagnosis and treatment of four patients with laryngeal NHL. Case 1 was diagnosed with glottic, subglottic, and tracheal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, and was treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy after surgery. Case 2 was diagnosed with laryngeal MALT lymphoma and underwent radiotherapy. Case 3 was diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, and was treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Case 4 had MALT lymphoma in the glottic area with a malignant thyroid tumor, and was treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy after surgery. More reports and research on this disease are needed.

Gut microbiota, allergic rhinitis, vasomotor rhinitis, Mendelian randomization, causal association.

OBJECTIVE: Continuous research on the structure and function of intestinal microecology has confirmed the association between gut microbiota and the occurrence, development, and outcome of allergic diseases. Here, we explored the genetic causality between gut microbiota and rhinitis. METHODS: We conducted a two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) study to investigate the genetic causal relationship between gut microbiota and allergic rhinitis and vasomotor rhinitis. Genetic variations in the human gut microbiota were obtained from the summary statistics of the MiBioGen study. Genome-wide summary statistics of rhinitis were obtained from the FinnGen consortium. The causal effect between gut microbiota and rhinitis was assessed using the inverse variance weighted, MR-Egger regression, and weighted median methods. In addition, sensitivity analyses were conducted using different methods, including maximum likelihood, simple mode, and weighted model methods. RESULTS: The IVW approach revealed a causal association of the genus Ruminococcus gauvreauii group with an increased risk of allergic rhinitis (IVW Odds Ratio [OR = 1.26] [1.04, 1.53], p-value = 0.01645). In addition, the genus Fusicatenibacter (IVW OR = 1.20 [1.02, 1.41], p-value = 0.02868) was causally associated with an increased risk of vasomotor rhinitis. CONCLUSION: Gut microbiota belonging to different genera exert different effects on allergic rhinitis and vasomotor rhinitis, including reducing the risk of rhinitis, and increasing the risk of rhinitis. New insights into the mechanisms of underlying gut microbiota-associated rhinitis are provided. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 5.

Nomogram for Predicting the Risk of Short Sleep Duration in Myocardial Infarction Survivors.

Background: Research on post-infarction insomnia, particularly short sleep duration following myocardial infarction (MI), remains limited. Currently, there are no existing guidelines or risk prediction models to assist physicians in managing or preventing short sleep duration or insomnia following MI. This study aims to develop a nomogram for predicting the risk of short sleep duration after MI. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on 1434 MI survivors aged 20 and above, utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database spanning from 2007 to 2018. Among them, 710 patients were assigned to the training group, while 707 patients were allocated to the testing group. We utilized logistic regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, and the elastic network for variable selection. The stability and accuracy of the prediction model were assessed using receiver operator characteristics (ROCs) and calibration curves. Results: We included five variables in the nomogram: age, poverty income ratio (PIR), body mass index (BMI), race, and depression. The ROC curves yielded values of 0.636 for the training group and 0.657 for the testing group, demonstrating the model's good prediction accuracy and robustness through a calibration curve test. Conclusions: Our nomogram can effectively predict the likelihood of short sleep duration in MI survivors, providing valuable support for clinicians in preventing and managing post-MI short sleep duration.

Bibliometric analysis of T cells in allergic rhinitis.

By reviewing the relevant literature in the field of T cell and allergic rhinitis, we determined the development status, study hotspots, and research frontiers viewpoints of this field to provide a reference for researchers and clinical workers. METHODS: Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) was applied to obtain the studies related to T cells and allergic rhinitis (AR) from 2003 to 2023, and the information extracted from these studies was analyzed using CiteSpace 6.1. R6 and VOSviewer 1.6.18. RESULTS: In total, 1585 articles were collected from WoSCC, with the time set between 2003 and 2023. Overall, a growing number of articles are being published annually. The countries and institutions with the maximum publications volume are China (370, 23.34 %) and Sun Yat-sen University (34, 2.15 %). The biggest contributor to the field was Durham, Stephen R. from the UK (22, 1.39 %). The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology published the most related papers in the field (88, 5.54 %). Immunotherapy, Th cells, and inflammation were found to be the research hotspots in this area of T cells and allergic rhinitis in recent years. Pathway, model, Regulatory T cells (Treg cells), regulatory B cells, immunoglobulin E,and innate lymphoid cells were the current research hotspots in this field. CONCLUSION: The field of T cell and allergic rhinitis is developing rapidly, and many countries significantly contributed to this field. Most researchers in this field mainly focused on immunotherapy, Th cell, and inflammation. Pathway, model, Treg cell, regulatory B cell, immunoglobulin E,and innate lymphoid cells were the main subject of current research, and future development is expected to occur in this field.

Integration of molecular breeding and multi-resistance screening for developing a promising restorer line Guihui5501 with heavy grain, good grain quality, and endurance to biotic and abiotic stresses.

Rice, a critical staple on a global scale, faces escalating challenges in yield preservation due to the rising prevalence of abiotic and biotic stressors, exacerbated by frequent climatic fluctuations in recent years. Moreover, the scorching climate prevalent in the rice-growing regions of South China poses obstacles to the cultivation of good-quality, heavy-grain varieties. Addressing this dilemma requires the development of resilient varieties capable of withstanding multiple stress factors. To achieve this objective, our study employed the broad-spectrum blast-resistant line Digu, the brown planthopper (BPH)-resistant line ASD7, and the heavy-grain backbone restorer lines Fuhui838 (FH838) and Shuhui527 (SH527) as parental materials for hybridization and multiple crossings. The incorporation of molecular markers facilitated the rapid pyramiding of six target genes (Pi5, Pita, Pid2, Pid3, Bph2, and Wxb ). Through a comprehensive evaluation encompassing blast resistance, BPH resistance, cold tolerance, grain appearance, and quality, alongside agronomic trait selection, a promising restorer line, Guihui5501 (GH5501), was successfully developed. It demonstrated broad-spectrum resistance to blast, exhibiting a resistance frequency of 77.33% against 75 artificially inoculated isolates, moderate resistance to BPH (3.78 grade), strong cold tolerance during the seedling stage (1.80 grade), and characteristics of heavy grains (1,000-grain weight reaching 35.64 g) with good grain quality. The primary rice quality parameters for GH5501, with the exception of alkali spreading value, either met or exceeded the second-grade national standard for premium edible rice varieties, signifying a significant advancement in the production of good-quality heavy-grain varieties in the southern rice-growing regions. Utilizing GH5501, a hybrid combination named Nayou5501, characterized by high yield, good quality, and resistance to multiple stresses, was bred and received approval as a rice variety in Guangxi in 2021. Furthermore, genomic analysis with gene chips revealed that GH5501 possessed an additional 20 exceptional alleles, such as NRT1.1B for efficient nitrogen utilization, SKC1 for salt tolerance, and STV11 for resistance to rice stripe virus. Consequently, the restorer line GH5501 could serve as a valuable resource for the subsequent breeding of high-yielding, good-quality, and stress-tolerant hybrid rice varieties.

A Novel Nano-Laminated GdB2C2 with Excellent Electromagnetic Wave Absorption Performance and Ultra-High-Temperature Thermostability.

A novel nano-laminated GdB2C2 material was successfully synthesized using GdH2, B4C, and C via an in situ solid-state reaction approach for the first time. The formation process of GdB2C2 was revealed based on the microstructure and phase evolution investigation. Purity of 96.4 wt.% GdB2C2 was obtained at a low temperature of 1500 °C, while a nearly fully pure GdB2C2 could be obtained at a temperature over 1700 °C. The as-obtained GdB2C2 presented excellent thermal stability at a high temperature of 2100 °C in Ar atmosphere due to the stable framework formed by the high-covalence four-member and eight-member B-C rings in GdB2C2. The GdB2C2 material synthesized at 1500 °C demonstrated a remarkably low minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of -47.01 dB (3.44 mm) and a broad effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 1.76 GHz. The possible electromagnetic wave absorption (EMWA) mechanism could be ascribed to the nano-laminated structure and appropriate electrical conductivity, which facilitated good impedance matching, remarkable conduction loss, and interfacial polarization, along with the reflection and scattering of electromagnetic waves at multiple interfaces. The GdB2C2, with excellent EMWA performance as well as remarkable ultra-high-temperature thermal stability, could be a promising candidate for the application of EMWA materials in extreme ultra-high temperatures.

Quantitative assessment and correlational analysis of subjective and objective indicators in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Background: The diagnosis of allergic rhinitis is mainly based on the typical medical history, clinical manifestations, and corresponding allergen test results of the patients. However, there are often clinical inconsistencies among the 3. Objective: To study the clinical characteristics of patients with allergic rhinitis from both subjective and objective aspects to determine the correlations between the quantitative assessment outcomes of subjective and objective indicators. Methods: A total of 111 patients with allergic rhinitis who visited our outpatient clinic from June 2022 to December 2022 were selected. The 22-item sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT-22) and the visual analog scale (VAS) for the severity of the disease were used to score the subjective indicators of allergic rhinitis. The objective indicators of allergic rhinitis were evaluated by serum inhalant allergens immunoglobulin E test, nasal endoscopy modified Lund-Kennedy (MLK) scoring method, and acoustic rhinometry. Results: SNOT-22 score, total VAS score for symptoms, and the VAS score for nasal itching were positively correlated with the number of positive allergens (r = 0.266, P = 0.005, r = 0.576, P < 0.001, and r = 0.271, P = 0.004, respectively). No differences were found in all subjective indicators scores between the total immunoglobulin E positive and negative groups (P > 0.05). SNOT-22 score, total VAS score for symptoms, and the VAS score for nasal congestion were positively correlated with MLK total score of nasal endoscopy (r = 0.343, P < 0.001, r = 0.438, P < 0.001, and r = 0.225, P = 0.018, respectively). Parameters of acoustic rhinometry were not correlated with the subjective indicators scores of allergic rhinitis (P > 0.05). Conclusion: A multifaceted quantitative assessment of allergic rhinitis using a combination of subjective and objective methods can help physicians make an accurate diagnosis and create reasonable treatment plans.

Extreme condition-tolerant stretchable flexible supercapacitor and triboelectric nanogenerator based on carrageenan-enhanced gel for energy storage, energy collection and self-powered sensing.

As flexible electronics devices for energy storage, mechanical energy collection and self-powered sensing, stretchable flexible supercapacitor and triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) have attracted extensive attention. However, it is difficult to satisfy the requirements of high safety and resistance to extreme conditions. Dual roles of mechanical and electrical enhancement of inorganic salt are put forward, and a carrageenan (CG) enhanced poly (N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide)/CG/lithium chloride/glycerol (PCLG) conductive gel is prepared by designing hydrogen bonding self-crosslinking and chain entanglement. A high concentration and rapid deposition strategy is proposed to prepare a PCLG gel-based stretchable flexible all-in-one supercapacitor for energy storage, and a single electrode PCLG gel-based TENG is designed for mechanical energy collection, self-powered strain and tactile sensing. The supercapacitor has high capacitance, excellent cycling stability. The TENG possesses efficient energy harvesting with high and stable output voltage and power density, and sensitive and stable self-powered strain and tactile sensing without external power supply. Even under extreme conditions such as low temperatures, self-healing after damage, prolonged placement, deformation, post-deformation, multiple continuous work, pinprick and burning, the supercapacitor and TENG still have excellent properties. Therefore, we provide novel ideas to design flexible supercapacitor and TENG used under extreme conditions for future wearable electronics.

Survival and disease burden analyses of occupational pneumoconiosis during 1958-2021 in Huangshi city, China: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Pneumoconiosis, a chronic disease stemming from prolonged inhalation of dust particles, stands as a significant global burden of occupational diseases. This study aims to investigate the survival outcomes of pneumoconiosis patients in Huangshi city, China, while also evaluating the disease burden on afflicted patients. METHODS: Data for this study were sourced from the Huangshi Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Survival analyses of pneumoconiosis patients were conducted employing life tables and the Kaplan-Meier method. The Cox proportional hazards models were deployed to identify factors influencing pneumoconiosis patients' survival duration. Competing risks models were employed to confirm the validity of the model outcomes. Additionally, in the disease burden assessment, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were computed for various demographic groups and time frames. RESULTS: A total of 5,641 pneumoconiosis cases, diagnosed in Huangshi City, Hubei Province between 1958 and 2021, were incorporated into the cohort analysis. The probability of mortality and the risk ratio increased with advancing age. Notably, the median survival time of stage III pneumoconiosis patients was significantly shorter compared with those in stages I and II. The Cox proportional hazards model and competing risks analyses underscored several significant factors influencing survival time, including dust exposure duration (HR = 1.197, 95% CI: 1.104-1.298), age at first diagnosis (HR = 3.149, 95% CI: 2.961-3.349), presence of silicosis (HR = 1.378, 95% CI: 1.254-1.515), and stage II-III pneumoconiosis (HR = 1.456, 95% CI: 1.148-1.848). Cumulatively, DALYs amounted to 7,974.35 person-years, with an average of 1.41 person-years. The period between 2000 and 2019 witnessed the highest disease burden. CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the urgent need for improved prevention, earlier detection, and more effective management strategies for the occupational pneumoconiosis population. This study not only underscores the persistent issue of pneumoconiosis in industrial environments but also serves as a crucial call to action for policymakers and healthcare providers.

Immunomodulation in allergic rhinitis: Insights from Th2 cells and NLRP3/IL-18 pathway.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is characterized by nasal symptoms such as rubbing and sneezing, often triggered by allergen exposure. The purpose of this study is to dissect the roles of NLRP3-mediated immune modulation and macrophage pyroptosis in modulating T cell differentiation within the context of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AR in mice. OVA-induced AR was established in mice, evaluating nasal symptoms, macrophage infiltration, cytokine levels, and T cell differentiation. Manipulations using NLRP3-/-, ASC-/- mice, clodronate liposome treatment, and NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 were performed to assess their impact on AR symptoms and immune responses. Following OVA stimulation, increased nasal symptoms were observed in the OVA group along with augmented GATA3 expression and elevated IL-4 and IL-1b levels, indicative of Th2 polarization and cellular pyroptosis involvement. NLRP3-/- and ASC-/- mice exhibited reduced CD3+ T cells post OVA induction, implicating cellular pyroptosis in AR. Macrophage depletion led to decreased IgE levels, highlighting their involvement in allergic responses. Further investigations revealed enhanced macrophage pyroptosis, influencing Th1/Th2 differentiation in AR models. IL-18 released through NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis induced Th2 differentiation, distinct from IL-1b. Additionally, MCC950 effectively mitigated AR symptoms by modulating Th2 responses and reducing macrophage infiltration. This comprehensive study unravels the pivotal role of NLRP3-mediated immune modulation and macrophage pyroptosis in Th1/Th2 balance regulation in OVA-induced AR. Targeting NLRP3 pathways with MCC950 emerged as a promising strategy to alleviate AR symptoms, providing insights for potential therapeutic interventions in AR management.

EGFR and ERBB2 Exon 20 Insertion Mutations in Chinese Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients: Pathological and Molecular Characterization, and First-Line Systemic Treatment Evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Data from studies looking at both EGFR and ERBB2 exon 20 insertion mutations (-20ins) in the same cohort of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are limited. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze EGFR/ERBB2-20ins in all-stage NSCLC patients to reveal their histological and molecular features, and to retrospectively evaluate the results of first-line real-world systemic treatments in patients with advanced-stage disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We collected 13,920 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded NSCLC specimens. Clinicopathological features were recorded and DNA-based next-generation sequencing was performed. First-line systemic treatment data were obtained via chart review. RESULTS: In total, 414 (2.97%) EGFR-20ins cases and 666 (4.78%) ERBB2-20ins cases were identified. Both were more common in women, non-smokers, and patients with adenocarcinoma. The incidence of EGFR/ERBB2-20ins in adenocarcinoma is inversely proportional to the degree of invasion; 77 and 26 variants were detected in EGFR-20ins and ERBB2-20ins cases, respectively. The most common concurrently mutated genes were TP53 and RB1. In invasive adenocarcinoma, lepidic components were more common in EGFR/ERBB2-20ins-alone cases than in those with other concurrent mutated genes. In EGFR-/ERBB2-20ins patients, there was no significant difference in progression-free survival (PFS) or treatment response to first-line systemic treatments in this study. There was no significant difference in PFS or treatment response among patients with different EGFR/ERBB2-20ins variants and those with or without concurrent mutated genes. CONCLUSIONS: EGFR/ERBB2-20ins is more common in early lung adenocarcinoma. EGFR-20ins had more variants. In both cohorts, the results for first-line systemic treatments showed no significant difference.

Analysis of swallowing and voice-related quality of life in patients after supracricoid partial laryngectomy.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the swallowing and voice function of laryngeal cancer patients after Supracricoid Partial Laryngectomy(SCPL), and its influence on quality of life to provide a reference for the selection of surgical methods for laryngeal cancer patients. METHODS: Twenty-one patients who received SCPL between April 2015 and November 2021 were included. Each patient's swallowing function and quality of life were assessed through fiberoptic endoscopic examination of swallowing (FEES) and the M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI). Fundamental, jitter, shimmer, maximum phonation time (MPT), and voice handicap index-10 (VHI-10) were performed to assess voice function and voice-related quality of life. RESULTS: The results of the FEES of the 21 patients were as follows: the rates of pharyngeal residue after swallowing solid, semiliquid, and liquid food were 0%, 28.57%, and 38.09%, respectively; the rates of laryngeal infiltration after swallowing solid, semiliquid, and liquid food were 0%, 28.57%, and 4.76%, respectively; and aspiration did not occur in any of the patients. In the evaluation of swallowing quality of life, the mean total MDADI score was 92.6 ± 6.32. The voice function evaluation showed that the mean F0, jitter, shimmer, and MPT values were 156.01 ± 120.87 (HZ), 11.57 ± 6.21 (%), 35.37 ± 14.16 (%) and 7.85 ± 6.08 (s), respectively. The mean total VHI-10 score was 7.14 ± 4.84. CONCLUSION: SCPL provides patients with satisfactory swallowing and voice function. The patients in this study were satisfied with their quality of life in terms of swallowing and voice. SCPL can be used as a surgical method to preserve laryngeal function in patients with laryngeal cancer.

Aporphine and amide alkaloids from Illigera parviflora.

Three undescribed alkaloids (+)-9-hydroxy-N-acetylnordicentrine (1), illigeparvinine (2), and deca-(2E,4Z)-2,4-dienoic acid 4-hydroxy-2-phenethyl amide (3), along with 19 known analogues (4-22), were isolated from the ethnic medicinal plant Illigera parviflora. Their structures were established using NMR, MS, and other spectroscopic analyses as well as X-ray diffraction. Moderate inhibition of human gastric carcinoma (MGC-803) and breast adenocarcinoma (T-47D) cell lines proliferation was observed for actinodaphnine (4) with IC50 values of 28.74 and 11.65 µM, respectively. These findings contribute new anticancer potential compounds and expand the chemical diversity known from the valuable traditional medicinal plant I. parviflora.

[An analysis of the wall width before and after root canal therapy in mandibular second molars with C-shaped canals].

PURPOSE: To measure the wall width in mandibular second molars with C-shaped canals before and after root canal therapy using cone-beam CT(CBCT). METHODS: A total of 55 mandibular second molars from 38 patients which met the criteria for inclusion at Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Medical School of Nanjing University from January 2020 to July 2021 were analyzed．From this sample, ten teeth had been treated, while another 45 of them not. CT images of the teeth were reestablished by Mimics software 20.0. Then we made a section every 1mm perpendicular to the long axis of the teeth from apex to pulp floor. The first slice from apex to pulp chamber was named the slice 1. Along the slice 1 to crown 1 mm was called slice 1, and so forth. The wall thickness at different locations of all the slices was measured. The data was entered into SPSS 20.0 software package for analysis. RESULTS: Regardless of whether the teeth were treated or not, both the mesial and distal canal walls' average width were thicker than 1mm in all slices. At the same time, the mesial and distal canal walls' width were thicker than the width of buccal and lingual canal walls in all the slices from C-shaped root canal, except slices which were near pulp chamber(P＜0.05). As for the C-shaped root canals without root canal therapy, the width of lingual wall in the slice 1 to 4, as well as apex third root, was thinner than 1 mm. The width of buccal canal wall was thicker than the width of lingual canal wall in all slices except slice 11 and 12. As for the C-shaped root canals with root canal therapy, the width of buccal canal wall in slice 1 to 5, equivalent of apex half root, and the width of lingual wall in the slice 1 to 7, amount to apex two-thirds of root, was thinner than 1 mm. The width of buccal canal wall was thicker than the width of lingual wall in all slices except slice 1 and 9. There was no significant difference between the distal canal walls' width of C-shaped canals with and without root canal therapy(P＞0.05) . There was significant difference between the buccal canal walls' width of C-shaped canals with and without root canal therapy, as same as the mesial canal walls' width and the width of lingual canal wall (P＜0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The lingual canal walls' width in apex third root of C-shaped root canal were thin before canal preparation. The buccal walls' width in apex half root and the lingual canal walls' in apex two-thirds of root of C-shaped root canal were thin after canal preparation.

Clinical observation of Gofried positive buttress reduction in the treatment of young femoral neck fracture: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Femoral neck fractures in young adults(<65 years), have always been a difficult problem, characterized by high rates of nonunion and avascular necrosis (AVN). The clinical efficacy of anatomical reduction and non-anatomical reduction methods needs to be supported by clinical data. Therefore, we conduct a meta-analysis on the clinical efficacy of different reduction methods to better guide clinical practice. METHODS: Relevant studies published using internal fixation to treat femoral neck fracture in several databases were searched. The outcomes sought included Harris score and the rate of AVN, nonunion and femoral neck shortening (<5 mm). Included studies were assessed for methodological bias and estimates of effect were calculated. Potential reasons for heterogeneity were explored. RESULTS: The clinical results showed that compared with the anatomical reduction and positive buttress, there is no significant difference in the rate of AVN (OR = 0.87, 95%CI: 0.55-1.37, P = .55), nonunion (OR = 0.54, 95%CI: 0.21-1.41, P = .21), femoral neck shortening (<5 mm) (OR = 1.03,95%CI: 0.57-1.86, P = .92), the Harris score (MD = -0.28, 95%CI: -1.36-0.80, P = .61) and the excellent and good rate of Harris score (OR = 1.73, 95%CI: 0.84-3.56, P = .61). However, compared with negative buttress, the rate of AVN (OR = 0.62, 95%CI: 0.38-1.01, P = .05), nonunion (OR = 0.34, 95%CI: 0.12-1.00, P = .05) and femoral neck shortening (<5 mm) (OR = 0.27, 95%CI: 0.16-0.45, P < .00001) were significantly lower, and the Harris score (MD = 6.53, 95%CI: 2.55 ~ 10.51, P = .001) was significantly better in positive buttress. CONCLUSIONS: In the case of difficult to achieve anatomical reduction, for young patients (< 65 years) with femoral neck fracture, reduction with positive buttress can be an excellent alternative and negative buttress should be avoided as much as possible.

M-type pyruvate kinase 2 (PKM2) tetramerization alleviates the progression of right ventricle failure by regulating oxidative stress and mitochondrial dynamics.

BACKGROUND: Right ventricle failure (RVF) is a progressive heart disease that has yet to be fully understood at the molecular level. Elevated M-type pyruvate kinase 2 (PKM2) tetramerization alleviates heart failure, but detailed molecular mechanisms remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: We observed changes in PKM2 tetramerization levels during the progression of right heart failure and in vitro cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and explored the causal relationship between altered PKM2 tetramerization and the imbalance of redox homeostasis in cardiomyocytes, as well as its underlying mechanisms. Ultimately, our goal was to propose rational intervention strategies for the treatment of RVF. METHOD: We established RVF in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats by intraperitoneal injection of monocrotaline (MCT). The pulmonary artery pressure and right heart function of rats were assessed using transthoracic echocardiography combined with right heart catheterization. TEPP-46 was used both in vivo and in vitro to promote PKM2 tetramerization. RESULTS: We observed that oxidative stress and mitochondrial disorganization were associated with increased apoptosis in the right ventricular tissue of RVF rats. Quantitative proteomics revealed that PKM2 was upregulated during RVF and negatively correlated with the cardiac function. Facilitating PKM2 tetramerization promoted mitochondrial network formation and alleviated oxidative stress and apoptosis during cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Moreover, enhancing PKM2 tetramer formation improved cardiac mitochondrial morphology, mitigated oxidative stress and alleviated heart failure. CONCLUSION: Disruption of PKM2 tetramerization contributed to RVF by inducing mitochondrial fragmentation, accumulating ROS, and finally promoted the progression of cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Facilitating PKM2 tetramerization holds potential as a promising therapeutic approach for RVF.

Tough Interfacial Adhesion Enabled Extremely Durable Flexible Supercapacitors.

The interfacial void and delamination between the hydrogel electrolyte and flexible electrode caused by the inconformal contact and weak adhesion lead to serious performance degradation of solid-state-sandwiched supercapacitors (SCs) upon repetitive deformation. Herein, we propose a hydrogel polymer electrolyte (HPE) engineering strategy for enhancing the interfacial adhesion (Γ) to achieve extremely durable SCs via the soft, tough, and self-adhesive HPE. Using a self-cross-linked poly(N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide)/H3PO4 (PHEAA/H3PO4) HPE as the model, the interfacial adhesion between HPE and polyaniline (PANI)-modified carbon cloth (CC) electrode (CC/PANI) reaches up to 556 J/m2, leading to excellent durability of electrochemical performance under long-term repetitive deformations. The as-assembled sandwiched SC retains 94.14 and 93.62% of initial capacitance after 180° bending and twisting for 100,000 cycles, respectively. Furthermore, benefiting from the addition of H3PO4, the flexible sandwiched SC displays excellent tolerance to low temperatures and delivers a capacitance retention of 98.03% after 180° bending for 10,000 cycles at -20 °C. This work highlights the importance of interfacial adhesion engineering for the design of extremely deformation-tolerable SCs.