Trends in human papillomavirus infection and genotype distribution among males in Chongqing, China (2017-2022): an observational study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and genotyping in men from Chongqing and analyze age-related trends to provide insights for HPV prevention and vaccination plans tailored for men in Chongqing, China. METHODS: This study is an observational study. We investigated male patients who underwent HPV screening at two hospitals in Chongqing from 2017 to 2022, totaling 4,381 cases, aged 18 to 85. HPV genotyping was conducted using the Hybribio Rapid GenoArray kit. RESULTS: Among the 4,381 men, the overall HPV prevalence was 14.9%, peaking at 19.3% in 2022. Single HPV infection was 11.5%, and multiple infection was 3.4%. The most prevalent genotypes were HPV-52, HPV-16, and HPV-58. Single high-risk HPV infection peaked in the 36-45 age group, while multiple high-risk HPV infection decreased with age (P-trend < 0.01). Prevalence in the ≤ 25 age group was 3.7%. Single low-risk HPV infection also decreased with age (P-trend = 0.03). Genotypes covered by the nonavalent vaccine had the highest prevalence, increasing with age. Co-infection of HPV-16 with HPV-52 and HPV-58 was common. Single HPV infections were prevalent in cases of urethritis (30.8%), anogenital warts (36.4%), and genital warts (26.3%), while multiple HPV infections were significant in anogenital warts (18.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Single HPV infection was predominant in Chongqing, with HPV-52, HPV-16, HPV-58, HPV-53, and HPV-39 being the most prevalent genotypes. The prevalence of genotypes covered by the nonavalent vaccine increased with age. This study offers valuable insights for developing male-specific HPV prevention strategies in Chongqing.

Enhanced O/W emulsifying properties of pea proteins via deamidation: Insights into interfacial behavior.

This study examines the effects of protein glutaminase modification on the interfacial properties and emulsion stability of pea protein isolates (PPI). Emulsions were prepared using native (NPPI) and deamidated PPI (DPPI) at concentrations from 0.5 wt% to 3.6 wt%. The stability of these emulsions was evaluated by examining droplet size distribution, flocculation index, ζ-potential, and CLSM. DPPI demonstrated superior emulsifying ability and stability, requiring only 2.0 wt% to prevent flocculation compared to NPPI's 3.6 wt%. Interfacial properties, such as protein coverage, composition, thickness, tension, and rheology, were characterized. Large Amplitude Oscillatory Dilatation analysis showed minimal differences between NPPI and DPPI-stabilized interfaces at 1 wt%. However, at 3.6 wt%, NPPI interfaces demonstrated abrupt intra-cycle yielding and viscous behavior, whereas DPPI interfaces exhibited gradual softening and a higher maximum linear strain. Additionally, DPPI showed higher interfacial protein coverage and lower interfacial tension. NPPI formed dense, brittle films prone to rupture under dynamic deformation, leading to poor stability. Deamidation of PPI unfolded the protein structure, exposing hydrophobic groups and increasing carboxyl groups, which reduced aggregation. This resulted in a uniform, extensible, and elastic interfacial film resistant to large deformations. Thus, DPPI-stabilized emulsions demonstrated superior stability, showcasing their potential for industrial applications.

Association of ambient air pollutant mixtures with IVF/ICSI-ET clinical pregnancy rates during critical exposure periods.

STUDY QUESTION: Does exposure to a mixture of ambient air pollutants during specific exposure periods influence clinical pregnancy rates in women undergoing IVF/ICSI-embryo transfer (ET) cycles? SUMMARY ANSWER: The specific exposure period from ET to the serum hCG test was identified as a critical exposure window as exposure to sulfur dioxide (SO2) or a combination of air pollutants was associated with a decreased likelihood of clinical pregnancy. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Exposure to a single pollutant may impact pregnancy outcomes in women undergoing ART. However, in daily life, individuals often encounter mixed pollution, and limited research exists on the effects of mixed air pollutants and the specific exposure periods. STUDY DESIGN SIZE DURATION: This retrospective cohort study involved infertile patients who underwent their initial IVF/ICSI-ET cycle at an assisted reproduction center between January 2020 and January 2023. Exclusions were applied for patients meeting specific criteria, such as no fresh ET, incomplete clinical and address information, residency outside the 17 cities in the Sichuan Basin, age over 45 years, use of donor semen, thin endometrium (<8 mm) and infertility factors unrelated to tubal or ovulation issues. In total, 5208 individuals were included in the study. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING METHODS: Daily average levels of six air pollutants (fine particulate matter (PM2.5), inhalable particulate matter (PM10), SO2, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O3)) were acquired from air quality monitoring stations. The cumulative average levels of various pollutants were determined using the inverse distance weighting (IDW) method across four distinct exposure periods (Period 1: 90 days before oocyte retrieval; Period 2: oocyte retrieval to ET; Period 3: ET to serum hCG test; Period 4: 90 days before oocyte retrieval to serum hCG test). Single-pollutant logistic regression, two-pollutant logistic regression, Quantile g-computation (QG-C) regression, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were employed to evaluate the influence of pollutants on clinical pregnancy rates. Stratified analyses were executed to discern potentially vulnerable populations. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: The clinical pregnancy rate for participants during the study period was 54.53%. Single-pollutant logistic models indicated that for PM2.5 during specific exposure Period 1 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.70-0.99) and specific exposure Period 4 (aOR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.69-0.98), and SO2 in specific exposure Period 3 (aOR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.86-0.99), each interquartile range (IQR) increment exhibited an association with a decreased probability of clinical pregnancy. Consistent results were observed with dual air pollution models. In the multi-pollution analysis, QG-C indicated a 12% reduction in clinical pregnancy rates per IQR increment of mixed pollutants during specific exposure Period 3 (aOR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.79-0.99). Among these pollutants, SO2 (33.40%) and NO2 (33.40%) contributed the most to the negative effects. The results from BKMR and QG-C were consistent. Stratified analysis revealed increased susceptibility to ambient air pollution among individuals who underwent transfer of two embryos, those with BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 and those under 35 years old. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION: Caution was advised in interpreting the results due to the retrospective nature of the study, which was prone to selection bias from non-random sampling. Smoking and alcohol, known confounding factors in IVF/ICSI-ET, were not accounted for. Only successful cycles that reached the hCG test were included, excluding a few patients who did not reach the ET stage. While IDW was used to estimate pollutant concentrations at residential addresses, data on participants' work locations and activity patterns were not collected, potentially affecting the accuracy of exposure prediction. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Exposure to a mixture of pollutants, spanning from ET to the serum hCG test (Period 3), appeared to be correlated with a diminished probability of achieving clinical pregnancy. This association suggested a potential impact of mixed pollutants on the interaction between embryos and the endometrium, as well as embryo implantation during this critical stage, potentially contributing to clinical pregnancy failure. This underscored the importance of providing women undergoing ART with comprehensive information to comprehend the potential environmental influences and motivating them to adopt suitable protective measures when feasible, thereby mitigating potential adverse effects of contaminants on reproductive health. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: This work received support from the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2023YFC2705900), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 82171664, 81971391, 82171668), the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing Municipality of China (Nos. CSTB2022NSCQ-LZX0062, CSTB2023TIAD-KPX0052) and the Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering (No. 2021KFKT013). The authors report no conflicts of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Distraction Osteotomy Combined With Orthodontics: An Effective Way to Decrease Short-term Recurrence in Treating Child Craniofacial Microsomia.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate strategies for reducing early relapse following mandibular distraction osteotomy (MDO) in craniofacial microsomia (CFM) patients. METHODS: Forty CFM patients were divided into 2 groups: 20 underwent MDO alone, while 20 received MDO combined with orthodontic treatment (MDO-O). Preoperative, prefixation, and postfixation CT data in DICOM format were collected and reconstructed using Proplan software. Spatial geometric analysis was conducted to assess the inclination angle of the occlusal plane (OP), and OP deviation was directly measured using the software. RESULTS: Patients in the MDO-O group demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in OP inclination at the end of the fixation period compared with those who underwent MDO alone (P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Combining MDO with a bite plate and bite glue sticks in CFM patients during the mixed dentition period enhances OP outcomes, effectively reducing short-term recurrence.

Deoxypodophyllotoxin Mediates Autophagy Death through Inhibition of GRP78 in Human Osteosarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), as a chaperone protein, can protect the endoplasmic reticulum of cells and is expressed to influence chemoresistance and prognosis in cancer. Deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT) is a compound with antitumor effects on cancers. DPT inhibits the proliferation of osteosarcoma by inducing apoptosis, necrosis, or cell cycle arrest. OBJECT: This study was performed to demonstrate the molecular mechanism by which DPT attenuates osteosarcoma progression through GRP78. METHODS: Natural compound libraries and western blot (WB) were used to screen the inhibitors of osteosarcoma GRP78. The expression of mitochondria-related genes in cancer cells of the treatment group was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and WB. 3-(4,5)- Dimethylthiahiazo (-z-y1)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT) and 5-ethynyl-2'- deoxyuridine (EDU) were used to discover the activity and proliferation of osteosarcoma cells treated with DPT. We constructed an in vivo mouse model of DPT drug therapy and carried out immunohistochemical detection of xenografts. The treated osteosarcoma cells were analyzed using bioinformatics and electron microscopy. The data were analyzed finally. RESULTS: DPT inhibited osteosarcoma cell survival and the growth of tumor xenografts. It promoted up-regulation of BCL2-associated X protein (Bax) and B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), which serves to mediate and attenuate, respectively, the killing activities of DPT through mitochondria dysfunction. The effect of DPT against cancer cells could be attenuated by the overexpression of GRP78, characterized by the inactivation of the caspase cascade. The loss of GRP78 in osteosarcoma cells negatively mediated the basal level of autophagyassociated genes. DPT stimulated autophagy via the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog (AKT), a mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) axis. The autophagy caused by DPT played an active role in the osteosarcoma of humans and blocked the apoptotic cascade. CONCLUSION: Combination treatment with the GRP78 inhibitor DPT and pharmacological autophagy inhibitors will be a meaningful method of obviating osteosarcoma cells.

Effect of health lifestyle on the risk of stroke: A prospective cohort study from Chongqing, China.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively investigate the associations of healthy lifestyle factors on the risk of stroke and stroke subtypes, as studies exploring this relationship are limited in China. METHODS: The 22,661 participants in the prospective cohort study in Chongqing, China, aged 30-79 years and stroke-free at baseline completed follow-up from 2018 to 2022. We included seven healthy lifestyle factors, including non-smoking, non-excessive drinking, sufficient physical activity, healthy diet, sleep duration of 7-9 h/d, and standard range of body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio. The healthy lifestyle score was calculated based on the number of healthy lifestyle factors. RESULTS: Compared with participants who had scores ≤2, participants with scores ≥6 had an HRs (95 % CIs) of 0.56 (0.34, 0.92) for total stroke and 0.53 (0.30, 0.93) for ischemic stroke. For every 1-point increase in healthy lifestyle scores, the HRs (95 % CIs) for total stroke and ischemic stroke was 0.86 (0.78, 0.95) and 0.86 (0.77, 0.96), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Maintaining multiple healthy lifestyle factors can significantly reduce the risk of stroke. As the number of healthy lifestyle factors increased, the stroke risk gradually decreased. Our findings emphasize the significance of comprehensive lifestyle interventions.

Texture characterization of 3D printed fibrous whey protein-starch composite emulsion gels as dysphagia food: A comparative study on starch type.

Texture-modified, multi-nutrient composite foods are essential in clinical treatment for dysphagia individuals. Herein, fibrous whey protein-stabilized emulsion and different crystalline starches (wheat, corn, rice, potato, sweet potato, cassava, mung bean and pea) were used to structure composite emulsion gels (CEGs). These CEGs then underwent 3D printing to explore the feasibility of developing a dysphagia diet. The network of molded CEGs was mainly maintained by hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds. Rice and cassava starches were better suited for structuring soft-textured CEGs. Compared with molded CEGs, 3D printing decreased hydrogen bonds and the compactness of the nano-aggregate structure within the gel system, forming a looser gel network and softening the CEGs. Interestingly, these effects were more pronounced for the CEGs with high initial hardness. This study provided new strategy to fabricate CEGs as dysphagia diet using fibrous whey protein and starch, and to design texture-modified foods for patients using 3D printing.

The role of cells and their derivatives in otorhinolaryngologic diseases treatment.

Otolaryngology is an important specialty in the field of surgery that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of the ear, nose, throat, trachea, as well as related anatomical structures. Various otolaryngological disorders are difficult to treat using established pharmacological and surgical approaches. The advent of molecular and cellular therapies led to further progress in this respect. This article reviews the therapeutic strategies of using stem cells, immune cells, and chondrocytes in otorhinolaryngology. As the most widely recognized cell derivatives, exosomes were also systematically reviewed for their therapeutic potential in head and neck cancer, otitis media, and allergic rhinitis. Finally, we summarize the limitations of stem cells, chondrocytes, and exosomes, as well as possible solutions, and provide an outlook on the future direction of cell- and derivative-based therapies in otorhinolaryngology, to offer a theoretical foundation for the clinical translation of this therapeutic modality.

Real-world evidence of a novel tetravalent immunoglobulin Y effectiveness and safety in patients with the refractory Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND: Refractory Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection inevitably increase the difficulty of drug selection. Here, we described our experience with the use of a novel tetravalent IgY against H. pylori for the treatment of patients with refractory H. pylori infection. METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive the standard quadruple therapy (amoxicillin, clarithromycin, omeprazole and bismuth potassium citrate ) for 2 weeks or 250 mg of avian polyclonal IgY orally twice a day for 4 weeks. The binding efficacy of IgY to H. pylori antigens was detected by western blotting13. C-urea breath test was performed to evaluate the eradication therap's efficacy. The side effects of IgY were evaluated via various routine tests. The questionnaire was used to gather clinical symptoms and adverse reactions. RESULTS: Western blot analysis showed that tetravalent IgY simultaneously bind to VacA, HpaA, CagA and UreB of H. pylori. Tetravalent IgY had an eradication rate of 50.74% in patients with refractory H. pylori and an inhibition rate of 50.04% against DOB (delta over baseline) of 13C-urea. The symptom relief rate was 61.76% in thirty-four patients with clinical symptoms, and no adverse reactions were observed during tetravalent IgY treatment period. CONCLUSIONS: Polyclonal avian tetravalent IgY reduced H. pylori infection, and showed good efficacy and safety in the treatment of refractory H. pylori infection patients, which represented an effective therapeutic option of choice for patients with refractory H. pylori infection.

Dietary Patterns and New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus in Southwest China: A Prospective Cohort Study in the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC).

(1) Background: There is little known about the relationship between Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) pattern and diabetes in cohort studies, and the dietary patterns in the Chongqing natural population are unknown. (2) Methods: 14,176 Chinese adults, aged 30-79 years old, participated in this prospective study, from September 2018 to October 2023. A dietary assessment was conducted using a food frequency questionnaire, and three main dietary patterns were extracted from the principal component analysis. DASH patterns were calculated by standards. (3) Results: During the 4.64 y follow-up, 875 developed diabetes (11.3/1000 person-years). Each posteriori diet pattern is named after its main dietary characteristics (meat pattern, dairy products-eggs pattern, and alcohol-wheat products pattern). The high consumption of DASH pattern diet reduced the risk of diabetes (Q5 vs. Q1 HR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.40-0.56) while high consumption of alcohol-wheat product pattern diet was associated with a high risk of diabetes (Q5 vs. Q1 HR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.66). The other two dietary patterns were not associated with diabetes. In subgroup analysis, there was an interaction between DASH pattern and sex (P for interaction < 0.006), with a strong association in females. (4) Conclusions: DASH pattern may be associated with a reduced new-onset diabetes risk and Alcohol-wheat products pattern may be positively associated with new-onset diabetes. These findings may provide evidence for making dietary guidelines in southwest China to prevent diabetes.

Effects of wall materials on the physicochemical properties of spray-dried bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) powders.

Bitter gourd has numerous health-promoting effects on the human body. However, its use has been greatly limited due to its poor acceptance by consumers, resulting from its strong bitterness. This study investigated the effects of five wall materials, namely, soybean protein isolate, gum arabic, maltodextrin, resistant starch, and a soybean lecithin calcium caseinate mixture, on the physicochemical properties of spray-dried bitter gourd powders. The results showed that all five wall materials reduced the moisture content, water activity, browning degree, agglomeration, and bitterness of the spray-dried bitter gourd powder. Maltodextrin was found to be the most effective at reducing water activity, while soybean protein isolate was best at protecting the colour, and the soybean lecithin calcium caseinate mixture was best at reducing hygroscopicity and masking bitterness. Additionally, all five wall materials improved the preservation of flavonoids, saponins, and vitamin C, with soybean protein isolate being the most effective in improving the total flavonoid retention ratio and the soybean lecithin calcium caseinate mixture being the best in improving the retention ratios of total saponins and vitamin C. The spray-dried bitter gourd powder prepared with soybean protein isolate had the highest antioxidant activity and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. These results are significant for understanding the relationship between wall materials and the physicochemical properties of spray-dried powder. Additionally, these materials provide bitter gourd product manufacturers with useful guidance for producing high-quality products. Furthermore, the results could provide useful insights for processing fruits with similar product characteristics, thus contributing to the enrichment of food processing knowledge.

Artesunate alleviates Sjögren's Syndrome by inhibiting the interferon-α signaling in plasmacytoid dendritic cells via TLR-MyD88-IRF7.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease in which the salivary glands (SGs) and the lacrimal glands (LGs) are affected by lymphocytic infiltration and inflammation. It has been reported that interferon-α (IFN-α) released by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) contribute to the pathology of SS, and ART has been shown to effectively ameliorates SS. Despite the current research endeavors, the mechanism of how ART works in the treatment of SS remains to be fully elucidated. Whether ART can treat SS by inhibiting IFN-α remains unclear. This hypothesis was tested both in vivo and in vitro settings during the study. The SS model mice, which were treated with ART, showed amelioration in symptoms related to dryness. RNA-seq analysis revealed strong anti-IFN-α signaling response upon ART treatment. Additional in vitro studies provided further confirmation that the application of ART inhibits the MyD88 protein expression and the nuclear translocation of IRF7. This suggests that the intervention of ART in the TLR-MyD88-IRF7 pathway plays a role in the therapeutic approach for SS. In summary, this study highlighted the therapeutic potential of ART in SS and ART inhibited the IFN-α signaling in pDCs via the TLR-MyD88-IRF7 pathway.

Calcium polypeptide mitigates Cd toxicity in rice via reducing oxidative stress and regulating pectin modification.

KEY MESSAGE: Calcium polypeptide plays a key role during cadmium stress responses in rice, which is involved in increasing peroxidase activity, modulating pectin methylesterase activity, and regulating cell wall by reducing malondialdehyde content. Cadmium (Cd) contamination threatens agriculture and human health globally, emphasizing the need for sustainable methods to reduce cadmium toxicity in crops. Calcium polypeptide (CaP) is a highly water-soluble small molecular peptide acknowledged for its potential as an organic fertilizer in promoting plant growth. However, it is still unknown whether CaP has effects on mitigating Cd toxicity. Here, we investigated the effect of CaP application on the ability to tolerate toxic Cd in rice. We evaluated the impact of CaP on rice seedlings under varying Cd stress conditions and investigated the effect mechanism of CaP mitigating Cd toxicity by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), fluorescent probe dye, immunofluorescent labeling, and biochemical analysis. We found a notable alleviation of Cd toxicity by reduced malondialdehyde content and increased peroxidase activity. In addition, our findings reveal that CaP induces structural alterations in the root cell wall by modulating pectin methylesterase activity. Altogether, our results confirm that CaP not only promoted biomass accumulation but also reduced Cd concentration in rice. This study contributes valuable insights to sustainable strategies for addressing Cd contamination in agricultural ecosystems.

Combined Genioplasty and External Oblique Line Grafting: An Innovative Method to Improve Lower Facial Contour.

BACKGROUND: Microgenia and the accompanying plump cheeks or hamster-like facial contour are all unattractive appearances among the Asian. Genioplasty with autogenous bone grafting is one of the effective ways to improve microgenia, in which a suitable donor area with less additional damage, lower infection rate, and more excellent effect is crucial. METHODS: Patients who had undergone genioplasty and autogenous external oblique line grafting (G-EOL) were followed up. The operation-related complications, preoperative, and long-term follow-up 3-dimensional spiral computed tomography (3D-CT) were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Eight female patients who had received G-EOL and received 1 to 3 years of follow-up were included in this study. There were no short-term or long-term complications. CT data of bone of 8 patients and CT data of soft tissue of 6 patients at the preoperative and long term were compared. Through comparing CT data, the width at the level of the intersection of EOL and mandibular body, and the protrusion of the bony chin had improved significantly; the P values were all <0.001. Through measuring the soft tissue and analyzing the data, the ratio of lower and middle facial width, and the distance from the lower lip to Ricketts' line were all improved, with the P values 0.042 and 0.001, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with microgenia and hamster-like facial contour, the combination of genioplasty and autogenous external oblique line grafting is innovative and effective in improving both the front and side contour of the lower face simultaneously, with excellent stability, bone healing, and low complication rates.

Bioinformatics Analysis of Hub Genes in Craniofacial Microsomia Combined With Congenital Heart Disease.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to investigate potential mechanisms and explore hub genes of craniofacial microsomia (CFM) patients associated with congenital heart defects (CHD). METHODS: Initially, the authors acquired target gene data related to CFM and congenital cardiac anomalies. Subsequently, the authors established a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses and molecular complex detection were conducted using Metascape. Finally, the authors hub genes were screened by the cytoHubba plugin. RESULTS: A total of 43 CFM genes and 120 optimal CHD candidate genes were selected. The PPI networks for pathogenic genes contained 163 nodes and 1179 edges. Functional enrichment analysis largely focused on tissue formation and development. Five modules were identified from the PPI network, and 7 hub genes were screened out. The genes most relevant to CFM associated with congenital cardiac anomalies pathogenesis included fibroblast growth factor 3, GATA binding protein 3, nuclear factor of activated T cells 1, histone cell cycle regulator, EPAS1, mitogen-activated protein kinase 1, and CRK like proto-oncogene, adaptor protein. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified some significant hub genes, pathways, and modules of CFM associated with CHD by bioinformatics analyses. Our findings indicate that gene subfamilies fibroblast growth factor 3, GATA binding protein 3, nuclear factor of activated T cells 1, histone cell cycle regulator, EPAS1, mitogen-activated protein kinase 1, and CRK like proto-oncogene, adaptor protein may have had significant involvement in both CFM and CHD.

Arthroscopic Modified Subacromial Viewing Portal Repair of Upper Third of Subscapularis Tendon Partial-Thickness Tears.

At present, the repair pattern of upper third of subscapularis tendon partial-thickness tears (upper-third tendon tears) is performed in the glenohumeral joint and conventional subacromial viewing portal, but the visualization of subscapularis tendon and footprint is poor when using a 30° scope. The modified subacromial viewing portal presented in this Technical Note is a modified surgical technique for the repair of upper-third tendon tears. Since the scope forms an angle of 70° with the subscapularis tendon and footprint of lesser tuberosity, satisfactory visualization can be obtained when using 30° scope; the predesigned surgical portal and working space without bony barrier can offer a smooth surgical procedure. Our surgical technique is described in pearls, pitfalls, advantages, and disadvantages.

Investigating the thermal stability and calcium resistance of O/W emulsions prepared with glycosylated whey protein hydrolysates modified by different saccharides.

The poor thermal stability and ion tolerance of whey protein hydrolysates (WPH) restrict its application in emulsions, while glycosylation shows potential benefits in improving WPH stability. However, the relationship between saccharides with different Mw and the glycosylation behavior of WPH rich in short peptides is unclear. In response, the effect of different saccharides on glycosylated WPH rich in short peptides and its emulsion stability were investigated. Grafted small Mw saccharides were more beneficial to the emulsion stability of WPH. Specifically, grafting xylose effectively inhibited 121 °C sterilization and 5 mM CaCl2-induced coalescence of WPH emulsion (687.50 nm) by comprehensively enhancing steric hindrance, conformational flexibility and electrostatic repulsion, and dissociating large aggregates into small aggregates. Conversely, grafting maltodextrin (30,590 Da) reduced thermal stability of WPH emulsion (4791.80 nm) by steric shielding and bridging flocculation. These findings provide new sights into glycosylation mechanism for WPH and achieving its application in nutritional emulsions.

Risk factors for initial and recurrent severe infections in first hospitalized patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A retrospective study of a Chinese cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence and associated factors of initial and recurrent severe infections in hospitalized patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: SLE patients that first hospitalized between 2010 and 2021 were studied retrospectively and divided into SLE with and without baseline severe infection groups. The primary outcome was the occurrence of severe infection during follow-up. Cox regression models were used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for initial and recurrent severe infections. RESULTS: Among 1051 first hospitalized SLE patients, 164 (15.6%) had severe infection on admission. During a median follow-up of 4.1 years, 113 (10.8%) patients reached severe infection outcomes, including 27 with reinfection and 86 with initial severe infection (16.5% vs. 9.7%, p = .010). Patients with baseline severe infection had a higher cumulative incidence of reinfection (p = .007). After adjusting for confounding factors, renal involvement, elevated serum creatinine, hypoalbuminemia, cyclophosphamide, and mycophenolate mofetil treatment were associated with an increased risk of severe infection, especially initial severe infection. Low immunoglobulin, anti-dsDNA antibody positivity, and cyclophosphamide use significantly increased the risk of recurrent severe infection, with adjusted HR (95% CI) of 3.15 (1.22, 8.14), 3.60 (1.56, 8.28), and 2.14 (1.01, 5.76), respectively. Moreover, baseline severe infection and low immunoglobulin had a multiplicative interaction on reinfection, with adjusted RHR (95% CI) of 3.91 (1.27, 12.09). CONCLUSION: In this cohort of SLE, patients with severe infection had a higher risk of reinfection, and low immunoglobulin, anti-dsDNA antibody positivity, and cyclophosphamide use were independent risk factors for recurrent severe infection.