H3N2 canine influenza virus-like particle vaccine with great protection in beagle dogs.

In 2016, a distinct branch of H3N2 canine influenza virus (CIV) emerged, which has mutations related to mammalian adaptation and has replaced previously prevalent strains. This branch poses a risk of zoonotic infection. To prevent and control H3N2 CIV, an H3N2 virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine based on the insect cell baculovirus expression system has been developed in the study. The H3N2 VLP vaccine induced high titers of hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibodies in nasal and muscular immunized beagle dogs. Meanwhile, the VLP vaccine provided effective protection against homologous virus challenge comparable to inactivated H3N2 canine influenza virus. In addition, the intranasal H3N2 VLP vaccine induced significantly higher Th1, Th2, and Th17 immune responses, respectively (p,0.05). Importantly, intramuscular injection of VLP and inactivated H3N2 virus has complete protective effects against homologous H3N2 virus attacks. Nasal immunization with H3N2 VLP can partially protect beagles from H3N2 influenza. IMPORTANCE: A new antigenically and genetically distinct canine influenza virus (CIV) H3N2 clade possessing mutations associated with mammalian adaptation emerged in 2016 and substituted previously circulating strains. This clade poses a risk for zoonotic infection. In our study, intramuscular injection of the H3N2 virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine and inactivated H3N2 CIV confer completely sterilizing protection against homologous H3N2 canine influenza virus challenge. Our results provide further support for the possibility of developing VLP vaccines that can reliably induce immunity in animal species.

A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing the Impact of Preoperative Combined with Postoperative Progressive Resistance Training on Muscle Strength, Gait, Balance and Function in Patients Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a preoperative combined with postoperative moderate-intensity progressive resistance training (PRT) of the operative side in patients with hip osteoarthritis (HOA) who are undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). The study seeks to evaluate the impact of this combined intervention on muscle strength, gait, balance, and hip joint function in a controlled, measurable, and objective manner. Additionally, the study aims to compare the outcomes of this combined intervention with those of preoperative or postoperative muscle strength training conducted in isolation. Methods: A total of 90 patients with HOA scheduled for unilateral primary THA were randomly assigned to three groups: Pre group (preoperative PRT), Post group (postoperative PRT), and Pre& Post group (preoperative combined with postoperative PRT) focusing on hip flexion, extension, adduction, and abduction of operated side. Muscle strength, gait parameters, balance, and hip function were assessed at specific time points during a 12-month follow-up period. Results: All three groups showed significant improvements in muscle strength, with the Pre& Post group demonstrating the most pronounced and sustained gains. Gait velocity and cadence were significantly improved in the Pre& Post group at 1-month and 3-month postoperative follow-ups compared to the other groups. Similarly, the Pre& Post group exhibited superior balance performance at 3-month and 12-month postoperative follow-ups. The Harris Hip Score also showed better outcomes in the Pre& Post group at all follow-up intervals. Conclusion: Preoperative combined with postoperative moderate-intensity PRT in HOA patients undergoing THA led to superior improvements in muscle strength, gait, balance, and hip joint function compared to preoperative or postoperative PRT alone. This intervention shows significant promise in optimizing postoperative rehabilitation and enhancing patient outcomes following THA.

Genetic Diversity and Natural Selection of Plasmodium vivax Merozoite Surface Protein 8 in Global Populations.

Plasmodium vivax Merozoite Surface Protein 8 (PvMSP8) is a promising candidate target for the development of multi-component vaccines. Therefore, determining the genetic variation pattern of Pvmsp8 is essential in providing a reference for the rational design of the P. vivax malaria vaccines. This study delves into the genetic characteristics of the Pvmsp8 gene, specifically focusing on samples from the China-Myanmar border (CMB) region, and contrasts these findings with broader global patterns. The study uncovers that Pvmsp8 exhibits a notable level of conservation across different populations, with limited polymorphisms and relatively low nucleotide diversity (0.00023-0.00120). This conservation contrasts starkly with the high polymorphisms found in other P. vivax antigens such as Pvmsp1. A total of 25 haplotypes and 14 amino acid mutation sites were identified in the global populations, and all mutation sites were confined to non-functional regions. The study also notes that most CMB Pvmsp8 haplotypes are shared among Burmese, Cambodian, Thai, and Vietnamese populations, indicating less geographical variance, but differ notably from those found in Pacific island regions or the Panama. The findings underscore the importance of considering regional genetic diversity in P. vivax when developing targeted malaria vaccines. Non departure from neutral evolution were found by Tajima's D test, however, statistically significant differences were observed between the kn/ks rates. The study's findings are crucial in understanding the evolution and population structure of the Pvmsp8 gene, particularly during regional malaria elimination efforts. The highly conserved nature of Pvmsp8, combined with the lack of mutations in its functional domain, presents it as a promising candidate for developing a broad and effective P. vivax vaccine. This research thus lays a foundation for the rational development of multivalent malaria vaccines targeting this genetically stable antigen.

Efficient Inhibition of Deep Conversion of Partial Oxidation Products in C-H Bonds' Functionalization Utilizing O2 via Relay Catalysis of Dual Metalloporphyrins on Surface of Hybrid Silica Possessing Capacity for Product Exclusion.

To inhibit the deep conversion of partial oxidation products (POX-products) in C-H bonds' functionalization utilizing O2, 5-(4-(chloromethyl)phenyl)-10,15,20-tris(perfluorophenyl)porphyrin cobalt(II) and 5-(4-(chloromethyl)phenyl)-10,15,20-tris(perfluorophenyl)porphyrin copper(II) were immobilized on the surface of hybrid silica to conduct relay catalysis on the surface. Fluorocarbons with low polarity and heterogeneous catalysis were devised to decrease the convenient accessibility of polar POX-products to catalytic centers on the lower polar surface. Relay catalysis between Co and Cu was designed to utilize the oxidation intermediates alkyl hydroperoxides to transform more C-H bonds. Systematic characterizations were conducted to investigate the structure of catalytic materials and confirm their successful syntheses. Applied to C-H bond oxidation, not only deep conversion of POX-products was inhibited but also substrate conversion and POX-product selectivity were improved simultaneously. For cyclohexane oxidation, conversion was improved from 3.87% to 5.27% with selectivity from 84.8% to 92.3%, which was mainly attributed to the relay catalysis on the surface excluding products. The effects of the catalytic materials, product exclusion, relay catalysis, kinetic study, substrate scope, and reaction mechanism were also investigated. To our knowledge, a practical and novel strategy was presented to inhibit the deep conversion of POX-products and to achieve efficient and accurate oxidative functionalization of hydrocarbons. Also, a valuable protocol was provided to avoid over-reaction in other chemical transformations requiring high selectivity.

A prospective and consecutive study assessing short-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of Chinese domestically manufactured 3D printing trabecular titanium acetabular cup for primary total hip arthroplasty: evaluation of 236 cases.

Purpose: We prospectively evaluate the short-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of the only Chinese domestically produced trabecular titanium acetabular cup(3D ACT™ cup) in primary total hip arthroplasty (THA), aiming to provide evidence-based support for its clinical application. Methods: A total of 236 patients, who underwent primary THA using 3D ACT™ cup in the Department of Joint Surgery at our hospital between January 2017 and June 2019, were included in this study. General patient data, imaging information, functional scores, and complications were collected to evaluate the early clinical efficacy. Results: All patients were followed up for 33-52 months, with an average of (42.2 ± 9.2) months. At the last follow-up, the preoperative HHS score increased significantly from 43.7 ± 6.8 to 85.6 ± 9.3 points (P < 0.01). Similarly, the preoperative WOMAC scores showed significant improvement from 59.2 ± 5.8 to 13.1 ± 3.5 points (P < 0.01). 92.3% of the patients expressed satisfaction or high satisfaction with the clinical outcome. Furthermore, 87.7% of the acetabular cups were positioned within the Lewinnek safe zone, achieving successful reconstruction of the acetabular rotation center. The cup survival rate at the last follow-up was 100%. Conclusions: The utilization of the only Chinese domestically manufactured 3D printing trabecular titanium acetabular cup in primary THA demonstrated favorable short-term clinical and radiographic outcomes. The acetabular cup exhibits excellent initial stability, high survival rate, and favorable osseointegration, leading to a significant enhancement in pain relief and functional improvement. In the future, larger sample sizes and multicenter prospective randomized controlled trials will be required to validate the long-term safety and effectiveness of this 3D ACT™ cup.

Selective degradation of PL2L60 by metabolic stresses­induced autophagy suppresses multi­cancer growth.

It has been reported that PL2L60 proteins, a product of PIWIL2 gene which might be activated by an intragenic promoter, could mediate a common pathway specifically for tumorigenesis. In the present study, it was further identified by using western blot assay that the PL2L60 proteins could be degraded in cancer cells through a mechanism of selective autophagy in response to oxidative stress. The PL2L60 was downregulated in various types of cancer cells under the hypoxic condition independently of HIF­1α, resulting in apoptosis of cancer cells. Inhibition of autophagy by small interfering RNA targeting of either Beclin­1 (BECN1) or Atg5 resulted in restoration of PL2L60 expression in hypoxic cancer cell. The hypoxic degradation of PL2L60 was also blocked by the attenuation of the autophagosome membrane protein Atg8/microtubule­associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) or autophagy cargo protein p62 expression. Surprisingly, Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that LC3 could be directly bound to PL2L60 and was required for the transport of PL2L60 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm for lysosomal flux under basal or activated autophagy in cancer cells. Moreover, flow cytometric analysis displayed that knocking down of PL2L60 mRNA but not PIWIL2 mRNA effectively inhibited cancer cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis of cancer cells. The similar results were obtained from in vivo tumorigenic experiment, in which PL2L60 downregulation in necroptosis areas was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. These results suggested that various cancer could be suppressed by promoting autophagy. The present study revealed a key role of autophagic degradation of PL2L60 in hypoxia­induced cancer cell death, which could be used as a novel therapeutic target of cancer.

Distribution and Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Antibiotics, Illegal Drugs, and Toxic Elements in Gastropods from Southeast China.

We investigated fourteen antibiotics, three illegal drugs, and two toxic elements in commercially available gastropods from southeast China. The data revealed high detection frequencies (DFs) for florfenicol (61.32%), florfenicol amine (47.33%), and thiamphenicol (39.88%), with maximum concentrations of 1110, 2222, and 136 µg/kg wet weight (ww), respectively. The DFs of illegal drugs were 3.54% for leucomalachite green and 0.3% for chloramphenicol. The average levels of Cd and As were 1.17 and 6.12 mg/kg ww, respectively. All chemicals presented diverse DFs in different sampling months. The highest DFs of florfenicol, florfenicol amine, and thiamphenicol were in July. The health risk assessment showed that targeted hazard quotients (THQs) of antibiotics, Cd, and As for children, teens, and adults were all less than one. Notably, the toxic elements (Cd and As) were identified as the primary health risk in gastropods, contributing to over 90% of the total THQs.

Natural compound library screening to identify berberine as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) play a critical role on the exacerbation and deterioration of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Aberrant activation of FLS pyroptosis signaling is responsible for the hyperplasia of synovium and destruction of cartilage of RA. This study investigated the screened traditional Chinese medicine berberine (BBR), an active alkaloid extracted from the Coptis chinensis plant, that regulates the pyroptosis of FLS and secretion of inflammatory factors in rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: First, BBR was screened using a high-throughput drug screening strategy, and its inhibitory effect on RA-FLS was verified by in vivo and in vitro experiments. Second, BBR was intraperitoneally administrated into the collagen-induced arthritis rat model, and the clinical scores, arthritis index, and joint HE staining were evaluated. Third, synovial tissues of CIA mice were collected, and the expression of NLRP3, cleaved-caspase-1, GSDMD-N, Mst1, and YAP was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: The administration of BBR dramatically alleviated the severity of collagen-induced arthritis rat model with a decreased clinical score and inflammation reduction. In addition, BBR intervention significantly attenuates several pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1ß, interleukin-6, interleukin-17, and interleukin-18). Moreover, BBR can reduce the pyroptosis response (caspase-1, NLR family pyrin domain containing 3, and gasdermin D) of the RA-FLS in vitro, activating the Hippo signaling pathway (Mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1, yes-associated protein, and transcriptional enhanced associate domains) so as to inhibit the pro-inflammatory effect of RA-FLS. CONCLUSION: These results support the role of BBR in RA and may have therapeutic implications by directly repressing the activation, migration of RA-FLS, which contributing to the attenuation of the progress of CIA. Therefore, targeting PU.1 might be a potential therapeutic approach for RA. Besides, BBR inhibited RA-FLS pyroptosis by downregulating of NLRP3 inflammasomes (NLRP3, caspase-1) and eased the pro-inflammatory activities via activating the Hippo signaling pathway, thereby improving the symptom of CIA.

Nitrogen-Rich Conjugated Microporous Polymers with Improved Cobalt(II) Density for Highly Efficient Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution.

Developing efficient oxygen evolution catalysts (OECs) made from earth-abundant elements is extremely important since the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with sluggish kinetics hinders the development of many energy-related electrochemical devices. Herein, an efficient strategy is developed to prepare conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) with abundant and uniform coordination sites by coupling the N-rich organic monomer 2,4,6-tris(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)-1,3,5-triazine (TBPT) with Co(II) porphyrin. The resulting CMP-Py(Co) is further metallized with Co2+ ions to obtain CMP-Py(Co)@Co. Structural characterization results reveal that CMP-Py(Co)@Co has higher Co2+ content (12.20 wt %) and affinity toward water compared with CMP-Py(Co). Moreover, CMP-Py(Co)@Co exhibits an excellent OER activity with a low overpotential of 285 mV vs RHE at 10 mA cm-2 and a Tafel slope of 80.1 mV dec-1, which are significantly lower than those of CMP-Py(Co) (335 mV vs RHE and 96.8 mV dec-1). More interestingly, CMP-Py(Co)@Co outperforms most reported porous organic polymer-based OECs and the benchmark RuO2 catalyst (320 mV vs RHE and 87.6 mV dec-1). Additionally, Co2+-free CMP-Py(2H) has negligible OER activity. Thereby, the enhanced OER activity of CMP-Py(Co)@Co is attributed to the incorporation of Co2+ ions leading to rich active sites and enlarged electrochemical surface areas. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that Co2+-TBPT sites have higher activity than Co2+-porphyrin sites for the OER. These results indicate that the introduction of rich active metal sites in stable and conductive CMPs could provide novel guidance for designing efficient OECs.

Graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) induce behavioral disorders via the disturbance of kynurenine pathway in zebrafish larvae.

The emergence of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) expands the use of graphene derivatives in nanomedicine for its direct therapeutic applications in treating neurodegeneration, inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and among others. Nevertheless, the biosafety assessment of GQDs remains deficient mostly because of the diverse surface characteristics of the nanoparticles. Our prior work demonstrated that GQDs can induce strong thigmotactic effects in zebrafish larvae over a wide range of concentrations, yet the underlying metabolic mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we conducted a further exploration about graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) for its potential neurotoxic effect on the behaviors of zebrafish larvae by combining neurotransmitter-targeted metabolomics with locomotion analysis. After continuous exposure to a concentration gradient of GOQDs (12.5 - 25 - 50 - 100 - 200 µg/mL) for 7 days, the thigmotactic activities of zebrafish larvae were observed across all exposure concentrations relative to the control group, while the basal locomotor activities, including distance moved and average velocity, were significantly changed by low concentrations of GOQDs. Targeted metabolomics was performed using zebrafish larvae at 7 days post-fertilization (dpf) that were exposed to 12.5 and 200 µg/mL, both of which were found to perturb the kynurenine pathway by regulating the levels of kynurenine, 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3-HAA), and quinolinic acid (QA). Furthermore, the thigmotaxis of larval fish induced by GOQDs during exposure could be counteracted by supplementing Ro-61-8048, an agonist acting on kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO). In conclusion, our study establishes the involvement of the kynurenine pathway in GOQDs-induced thigmotaxis, which is independent of the transcriptional modulation of glutamate receptor families.

Perinatal prevalence of birth defects in the Mainland of China, 2000-2021: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although birth defects are of great concern globally, the latest national prevalence has not yet been quantified in China. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the perinatal prevalence of birth defects in the Mainland of China between 2000 and 2021. METHODS: We performed a systematic literature search of six databases for relevant articles published between January 1, 2000, and March 1, 2023. We included published studies that reported data on the perinatal prevalence of birth defects in the Mainland of China. The DerSimonian and Laird random-effects models were used to estimate the pooled prevalence and its 95% confidence interval (CI). We also conducted subgroup analyses and univariable meta-regressions to explore differences in prevalence by time period, geographic region, and other characteristics. RESULTS: We included 254 studies reporting the perinatal prevalence of birth defects and 86 studies reporting only the prevalence of specific types of birth defects. Based on 254 studies covering 74,307,037 perinatal births and 985,115 cases with birth defects, the pooled perinatal prevalence of birth defects was 122.54 (95% CI 116.20-128.89) per 10,000 perinatal births in the Mainland of China during 2000-2021. Overall, the perinatal prevalence of birth defects increased from 95.60 (86.51-104.69) per 10,000 in 2000-2004 to 208.94 (175.67-242.22) per 10,000 in 2020-2021. There were also significant disparities among different geographical regions. Congenital heart defects (33.35 per 10,000), clefts of the lip and/or palate (13.52 per 10,000), polydactyly (12.82 per 10,000), neural tube defects (12.82 per 10,000), and inborn errors of metabolism (11.41 per 10,000) were the five most common types of birth defects. The perinatal prevalence among males was significantly higher than that among females (ß = 2.44 × 10-3, P = 0.003); a higher perinatal prevalence of birth defects was observed among perinatal births whose mothers were ≥ 35 years (ß = 4.34 × 10-3, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Comprehensive and sustained efforts are needed to strengthen surveillance and detection of birth defects, improve prenatal and postnatal healthcare, and promote rehabilitation, especially in underdeveloped areas.

Identification of End-Binding 1 Protein as Novel α-4 Giardin-Binding Partners in Giardia lamblia Trophozoites.

BACKGROUND: Giardia lamblia (syn. G. intestinalis, G. duodenalis) is a primitive opportunistic protozoon, and one of the earliest differentiated eukaryotes. Despite its primitive nature, G. lamblia has a sophisticated cytoskeleton system, which is closely related to its proliferation and pathogenicity. Meanwhile, α giardin is a G. lamblia-specific cytoskeleton protein, which belongs to the annexin superfamily. Interestingly, G. lamblia has 21 annexin-like α giardins, i.e., more than higher eukaryotes. The functional differences among α giardin members are not fully understood. METHODS: We took α-4 giardin, a member of α giardin family, as a research object. A morpholino-mediated knockdown experiment was performed to identify the effect of α-4 giardin on G. lamblia trophozoites biological traits. A yeast two-hybrid cDNA library of G. lamblia strain C2 trophozoites was screened for interaction partners of α-4 giardin. Co-immunoprecipitation and fluorescent colocalization confirmed the relationship between G. lamblia EB1 (gEB1) and α-4 giardin. RESULTS: α-4 Giardin could inhibit the proliferation and adhesion of G. lamblia trophozoites. In addition, it interacted with G. lamblia EB1 (gEB1). CONCLUSIONS: α-4 Giardin was involved in proliferation and adhesion in G. lamblia trophozoites, and EB1, a crucial roles in mitosis, was an interacting partner of α-4 giardin.

Changes in Diversity and Composition of Rhizosphere Bacterial and Fungal Community between Resistant and Susceptible Pakchoi under Plasmodiophora brassicae.

Plasmodiophora brassicae (P. brassicae) is a soil-born pathogen worldwide and can infect most cruciferous plants, which causes great yield decline and economic losses. It is not well known how microbial diversity and community composition change during P. brassicae infecting plant roots. Here, we employed a resistant and a susceptible pakchoi cultivar with and without inoculation with P. brassicae to analyze bacterial and fungal diversity using 16S rRNA V3-V4 and ITS_V1 regions, respectively. 16S rRNA V3-V4 and ITS_V1 regions were amplified and sequenced separately. Results revealed that both fungal and bacterial diversity increased, and composition was changed in the rhizosphere soil of the susceptible pakchoi compared with the resistant cultivar. In the four groups of R_mock, S_mock, R_10d, and S_10d, the most relatively abundant bacterium and fungus was Proteobacteria, accounting for 61.92%, 58.17%, 48.64%, and 50.00%, respectively, and Ascomycota, accounting for 75.11%, 63.69%, 72.10%, and 90.31%, respectively. A total of 9488 and 11,914 bacteria were observed uniquely in the rhizosphere soil of resistant and susceptible pakchoi, respectively, while only 80 and 103 fungi were observed uniquely in the correlated soil. LefSe analysis showed that 107 and 49 differentially abundant taxa were observed in bacteria and fungi. Overall, we concluded that different pakchoi cultivars affect microbial diversity and community composition, and microorganisms prefer to gather around the rhizosphere of susceptible pakchoi. These findings provide a new insight into plant-microorganism interactions.

An acupuncture manipulation classification system based on three-axis attitude sensor and computer vision. / ä¸€ç§åŸºäºŽä¸‰è½´å§¿æ€ä¼ æ„Ÿå™¨å’Œè®¡ç®—æœºè§†è§‰çš„é’ˆåˆºæ‰‹æ³•åˆ†ç±»ç³»ç»Ÿ.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the action characteristics of acupuncture manipulations by combining visual and sensor technique, so as to improve the identification and classification accuracy of acupuncture manipulations and to quantificate the classifiations. METHODS: In this paper, the time domain features of acupuncture physical parameters and dynamic gesture features in the video of acupuncture manipulations are combined together to identify and classify acupuncture techniques. The acupuncture needle manipulation processes of 2 acupuncture experts and 3 young acupuncturists were selected as the study objects. The collected data included 4 basic manipulation techniques：lifting-thrusting reinforcing, lifting- thrusting reducing, twisting reinforcing and twisting reducing methods, all of which were performed by right-handed doctors. During acupuncture manipulation, a three-axis attitude sensor was used to acquire finger moving acceleration velocity and needle-rotating angle velocity, followed by analyzing the parameters of hand-moving velocity, amplitude, strength and angle. The mapping relationship among physical parameters and different manipulating methods was formed in time domain. The computer vision technology was employed to extract the spatio-temporal features of the acupuncture manipulation video images, and a hybrid model of three-dimensional convolutional neural network (3D CNN) and long- and short-term memory (LSTM) neural network were used for the recognition and classification of dynamic gestures of hand in acupuncture manipulation videos. Then the time-domain features of physical parameters were combined with the dynamic gestures in the classification process, with the manipulation classification realized. RESULTS: In performing the lift-thrusting reinforcing method, the needle insertion speed was faster and the force was larger, while the needle lifting speed was slower and the force was smaller. And in performing the lift-thrusting reducing method, the needle lifting speed was faster, the force was stronger, and the needle insertion speed was slower and the force was smaller. In the performance of twisting reinforcing, the leftward twisting force was bigger and the rotation amplitude was larger, while in performing the reducing method, the rightward twisting force was larger and the rotation amplitude was larger. When using the mean value of time of acceleration, speed, and amplitude as the basis of discrimination, the accuracy rates of lifting-thrusting reinforcing and reducing were 95.56% and 93.33%, while those of the two twisting manipulations were 95.56% and 91.11%, respectively. Compared with the classification method that only uses the sensor to obtain the manipulation information, the recognition accuracy was significantly improved. CONCLUSIONS: The acupuncture manipulation classification system can achieve quantitative analysis of physical parameters and dynamic recognition of acupuncture techniques, providing a certain foundation for the quantification and inheritance of acupuncture techniques.

Rapid Synthesis of Robust Antibacterial and Biodegradable Hydrogels via Frontal Polymerization.

Chitosan (CS) is widely used in biomedical hydrogels due to their similarity to extracellular matrix. However, the preparation method of CS-based hydrogel suffers the drawbacks of tedious operation, time-consuming and energy consumption. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop a rapid synthesis pathway towards hydrogels. In this work, we used a modified CS as a cross-linking agent and acrylic acid (AA) as monomer to prepare a hydrogel through frontal polymerization (FP), which facilitates a facile and rapid method achieved in several minutes. The occurrence of pure FP was confirmed via the frontal velocity and temperature profile measurement. In addition, the as-prepared hydrogel shows excellent mechanical strength up to 1.76 MPa, and the Young's modulus (ranging from 0.16 to 0.56 MPa) is comparable to human skin. The degradation mechanism is revealed by the micro-IR images through the distribution of the functional groups, which is attributed to the breakage of the ether bond. Moreover, the hydrogel exhibits excellent degradability, biocompatibility and antibacterial properties, offering great potentials in tissue engineering. We believe this work not only offers a facile and rapid FP method to fabricate a robust degradable hydrogel, but also provides an effective pathway for the investigation of the degradation mechanism at the chemical bond analysis level.

Clinical application of upper limb fracture fixator in emergency treatment of upper limb fracture.

Objective: To compare and analyze the curative effect of fracture upper limb fixator and traditional splint in emergency treatment of upper limb fracture. Methods: This is a prospective study. A total of 80 patients with upper limb fractures admitted to the Emergency Department of Sichuan Province Orthopedic Hospital from December 2021 to August 2022 were prospectively selected as subjects. They were divided into two groups according to the random number table method: Patients in the control group were treated with traditional splint, while those in the observation group were treated with medical adjustable upper limb fixator. The clinical efficacy, treatment time, pain, fitness, probability of secondary injury and complications were compared between the two groups. Results: After treatment, the excellent and good rate in the observation group (75.00%) was higher than that in the control group(52.50%). There was no statistically significant difference in the treatment time between the two groups. There was no significant difference in the probability of secondary injury between the two group. Statistically significant difference was observed in the comparison of pain conditions between the two groups. The total fitness rate of the observation group (97.50%) was higher than that of the control group (75.00%). The total incidence of complications in the observation group (2.50%) was lower than that in the control group (20.00%), with a statistically significant difference. Conclusion: Fracture upper limb fixator shows various benefits in first aid of upper limb fractures, such as improving the clinical efficacy of patients with upper limb fractures, ameliorating pain, improving fitness effect, and reducing the probability of complications.

Polymorphism of Drug Resistance Genes dhfr and dhps in Plasmodium falciparum Isolates among Chinese Migrant Workers Who Returned from Ghana in 2013.

In 2013, an epidemic of falciparum malaria involving over 820 persons unexpectedly broke out in Shanglin County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, after a large number of migrant workers returned from Ghana, where they worked as gold miners. Herein, we selected 146 isolates randomly collected from these patients to investigate the resistance characteristics of the parasite to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) by screening mutations in the dhfr and dhps genes. All 146 isolates were successfully genotyped for dhps, and only 137 samples were successfully genotyped for dhfr. In the dhfr gene, point mutations occurred at three codons: 51 (83.2%, 114/137), 59 (94.9%, 130/137), and 108 (96.4%, 132/137). In the dhps gene, mutations occurred at four codons: 436 (36.3%, 53/146 for S436A, 0.7%, 1/146 for S436Y), 437 (95.2%, 139/146), 540 (3.4%, 5/146), and 613 (2.7%, 4/146). All 146 isolates had mutations in at least one codon, either within dhfr or dhps. Quadruple mutation I51R59N108/G437 (41.1%, 60/146) of partial or low resistance level was the most prevalent haplotype combination. Quintuple I51R59N108/G437E540 accounted for 2.1% (3/146). Sextuple I51R59N108/A436G437S613 was also found and accounted for 1.4% (2/146). A chronological assay incorporating two sets of resistance data from the studies of Duah and Amenga-Etego provided an overview of the resistance trend from 2003 to 2018. During this period, the results we obtained generally coincided with the total development tendency of SP resistance. It can be concluded that Plasmodium falciparum samples collected from Chinese migrant workers from Ghana presented prevalent but relatively partial or low resistance to SP. A chronological assay incorporating two sets of data around 2013 indicates that our results possibly reflect the SP resistance level of Ghana in 2013 and that the possibility of increased resistance exists. Therefore, reasonable drug use and management should be strengthened while also maintaining a continuous screening of resistance to SP. These findings also underscore the need to strengthen the prevention of malaria importation from overseas and focus on preventing its reintroduction and transmission in China.

Research on escalators used as evacuation stairs under fire scenarios.

Shopping malls are crowded areas which makes the evacuation routes unable to meet personnel evacuation needs. Therefore, this paper proposes the idea of using escalators evacuation to increasing evacuation routes. In addition, the effects of escalator fire shutters on the use of escalator evacuation paths, and the efficiency of mall personnel evacuation under different conditions were simulated. The results show that the different states of fire shutters have different effects on the emergency evacuation. When the fire shutter is not lowered, it will result in 1 person not being evacuated to complete. However, when the fire shutter is lowered to 1.8 m from the ground or sprinklers are set, escalators can be used for evacuation routes are verified. And compared to the normal descent of the fire shutter (only the staircase evacuation, 2 people not evacuate completed), the evacuation of people is completed and the efficiency of evacuation is improved. This result can improve the new evacuation model for emergency evacuation plans of shopping malls with escalators.

Response of needle photosynthetic and anatomical characteristics of naturally regenerated Pinus koraiensis seedlings to different canopy densities.

We took 5-year-old Pinus koraiensis seedlings under natural secondary forests with canopy densities of 0.2-0.3, 0.4-0.6, and 0.7-0.9 at Laoshan Plantation Experimental Station in Maoershan Experimental Forest Farm of Northeast Forestry University as monitor object, and P. koraiensis seedlings under full-light environment as control (CK), to investigate the photosynthetic characteristics and the anatomical structure of P. koraiensis needles in response to the changes of canopy densities. The results showed that the height and diameter of P. koraiensis seedlings tended to decrease while specific leaf area increased with the increases of canopy densities. The total biomass of P. koraiensis seedlings under different canopy densities ranked in an order of 0.4-0.6＞CK＞0.7-0.9＞0.2-0.3. Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was significantly and positively correlated with leaf biomass, stem biomass, and root biomass. The net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and intercellular CO2 concentration of P. koraiensis seedlings showed a decreasing trend with the increases of canopy densities, while the stomatal conductance showed an increasing trend. Net photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll a/b showed a significant positive correlation with PAR. Stomatal density showed a gradual decreasing trend with the increases of canopy densities, and the needle cross-sectional area, mesophyll tissue area, xylem area, and phloem area of P. koraiensis seedlings under canopy density 0.4-0.6 were significantly higher than those in other treatments. P. koraiensis seedlings with stronger photosynthetic abilities and higher needle anatomy parameters under canopy density 0.4-0.6, and were able to maintain strong competitiveness in this habitat. Those results indicated that 5-year-old P. koraiensis seedlings need certain shading environment.

Typical Zollinger-Ellison syndrome-atypical location of gastrinoma and absence of hypergastrinemia: A case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) results from hypersecretion of gastrin from pancreatic or duodenal neuroendocrine tumors, commonly referred to as gastrinomas. The high levels of gastrin lead to a typical presentation involving watery diarrhea and multiple ulcers in the duodenum. Here, we have presented the rare case of a patient with ZES and absence of hypergastrinemia as well as an atypical location of gastrinoma. CASE SUMMARY: A 72-year-old woman presented with the typical clinical manifestations of ZES, including upper abdominal pain, significant watery diarrhea, and acidic liquid vomitus. Surprisingly, however, she did not have an increased level of serum gastrin. In addition, there was no evidence of gastrinoma or any other ulcerogenic tumor. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was conducted to examine the upper digestive tract. Revised diagnoses were considered, and an individualized treatment plan was developed. The patient responded to antacid medication while experiencing intermittent, recurring bouts of ZES. 18F-AlF-NOTA-octreotide positron emission tomography (18F-OC PET)/computed tomography (CT) helped locate the tumor. Postoperative pathology and immunohistochemistry results suggested that the tumor was a gastrinoma located at an unconventional site. CONCLUSION: This present case study demonstrates the possibility of ZES-like manifestation in patients with absence of hypergastrinemia. 18F-OC PET/CT is a relatively new imaging technique that can be applied for diagnosing even tiny gastrinomas that are atypical in terms of location.