Exploring near-infrared autofluorescence properties in parathyroid tissue: an analysis of fresh and paraffin-embedded thyroidectomy specimens.

Significance: Near-infrared autofluorescence (NIRAF) utilizes the natural autofluorescence of parathyroid glands (PGs) to improve their identification during thyroid surgeries, reducing the risk of inadvertent removal and subsequent complications such as hypoparathyroidism. This study evaluates NIRAF's effectiveness in real-world surgical settings, highlighting its potential to enhance surgical outcomes and patient safety. Aim: We evaluate the effectiveness of NIRAF in detecting PGs during thyroidectomy and central neck dissection and investigate autofluorescence characteristics in both fresh and paraffin-embedded tissues. Approach: We included 101 patients diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer who underwent surgeries in 2022 and 2023. We assessed NIRAF's ability to locate PGs, confirmed via parathyroid hormone assays, and involved both junior and senior surgeons. We measured the accuracy, speed, and agreement levels of each method and analyzed autofluorescence persistence and variation over 10 years, alongside the expression of calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) and vitamin D. Results: NIRAF demonstrated a sensitivity of 89.5% and a negative predictive value of 89.1%. However, its specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) were 61.2% and 62.3%, respectively, which are considered lower. The kappa statistic indicated moderate to substantial agreement (kappa = 0.478; P < 0.001 ). Senior surgeons achieved high specificity (86.2%) and PPV (85.3%), with substantial agreement (kappa = 0.847; P < 0.001 ). In contrast, junior surgeons displayed the lowest kappa statistic among the groups, indicating minimal agreement (kappa = 0.381; P < 0.001 ). Common errors in NIRAF included interference from brown fat and eschar. In addition, paraffin-embedded samples retained stable autofluorescence over 10 years, showing no significant correlation with CaSR and vitamin D levels. Conclusions: NIRAF is useful for PG identification in thyroid and neck surgeries, enhancing efficiency and reducing inadvertent PG removals. The stability of autofluorescence in paraffin samples suggests its long-term viability, with false positives providing insights for further improvements in NIRAF technology.

Giant strong coupling in a Q-BICs' tetramer metasurface.

Due to their ultrahigh Q-factor and small mode volume, bound states in the continuum (BICs) are intriguing for the fundamental study of the strong coupling regime. However, the strong coupling generated by BICs in one metasurface is not always strong enough, which highly limits its efficiency in applications. In this work, we realize a giant strong coupling of at most 60 meV in a quasi-BICs' (Q-BICs) tetramer metasurface composed of four Si cylinders with two different sets of diagonal lengths. The Q-BICs are induced from two types of electric quadrupole (EQ), for which detuning can be flexibly controlled by manipulating the C4v symmetry breaking Δd. The giant Rabi splitting in our proposed metasurface performs more than 15 times of the previous works, which provides more possibilities for important nonlinear and quantum applications, such as nanolaser and quantum optics.

THBS2 promotes gastric cancer progression and stemness via the Notch signaling pathway.

Thrombospondin-2 (THBS2), a secreted extracellular matrix protein, plays a crucial role in various biological processes including angiogenesis, tissue remodeling, and inflammation. Our study focuses on its function in human gastric cancer (GC). Through bioinformatics and tumor tissue analysis, we compared THBS2 expression in GC tissues and adjacent tissues, and predicted regulatory upstream and downstream molecules. The direct regulatory effect of miR-29b-3p on THBS2 was evaluated through dual-luciferase reporter assays, showing that miR-29b-3p targets the 3'-UTR of THBS2 mRNA, reducing its expression in GC cells. The influence of THBS2 on tumorigenesis and stemness was examined on protein expression levels via Western blot. In vivo, THBS2's role was investigated through xenograft and metastasis assays in nude mice, demonstrating that downregulation of THBS2 impairs GC tumorigenesis and liver metastasis. Our study identified THBS2 as a highly expressed prognostic factor in GC patients. Functionally, THBS2 promotes GC progression through the Notch signaling pathway by regulating Notch3, NEY1, and HES1 proteins, and sustains cancer stem cell-like characteristics by Notch3, including the expression of CD44, Nanog, OCT4, and SOX2. In sum, our study reveals that THBS2 promotes GC progression and stemness, modulated negatively by miR-29b-3p. This suggests potential therapeutic targets within the THBS2/Notch signaling axis for combating gastric cancer.

The application of proximal tibial anterior closing wedge osteotomy in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Introduction: Posterior tibial slope (PTS) plays a vital role in knee stability. PTS of more than 12° may be considered with increased strain on the native anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) fibers. To handle the instability caused by changes in PTS degree, Proximal Tibial Anterior Closing Wedge Osteotomy (PT-ACWO) is adopted by surgeons. Methods: Between October 2015 and October 2019, our department conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who experienced anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) graft failures, with a particular focus on pathological PTS. The time from initial ACLR to revision ranged from 1 to 10 years, with a mean of 2.5 years. Radiological assessments of PTS were conducted, and outcomes were quantified using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Lysholm score, and Tegner activity scale. The surgical technique and the use of 3D Patient-Specific Instrumentation (PSI) were outlined. Preoperative imaging included the use of Kirschner wires to establish tibial plateau reference points, and 3D-PSI was employed to guide the location and depth of the tibial osteotomy, which was performed obliquely. In a notable instance, a novel tibial tunnel was mapped out, and ortho-bridge system (OBS) fixation was utilized to ensure adequate space for the new tunnel. Results: In a cohort of seven patients with a mean follow-up of 28.1 months, a significant reduction in PTS was noted postoperatively (median [interquartile range, IQR], from 15.27° [13.46°, 16.60°] to 6.25° [5.89°, 6.78°]; P = 0.002). IKDC score improved to 85.10 (80.25, 88.10), P < 0.001; the Lysholm score to 88.00 (73.00, 90.50), P < 0.001; and the Tegner score to 8.00 (7.20, 8.05), P = 0.025 at final follow-up. Skin incision healing delays occurred in two instances, yet achieved closure by six weeks. Radiographs at three months demonstrated faster bone healing in oblique osteotomies than transverse ones. Knee joint stability was maintained, with no additional complications or evidence of instability noted. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed graft integrity in all patients, without signs of enlargement or mispositioning at last observation. Conclusion: An augmented PTS angle exceeding 12 may constitute a potential etiology for the failure of ACLR grafts. In such patients, the implementation of ACLR combined with PT-ACWO could mitigate the risk of surgical failure during initial ACLR or subsequent revision procedures.

The correlation between mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs) and Ca2+ transport in the pathogenesis of diseases.

Mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are vital organelles that influence various cellular physiological and pathological processes. Recent evidence shows that about 5%-20% of the mitochondrial outer membrane is capable of forming a highly dynamic physical connection with the ER, maintained at a distance of 10-30 nm. These interconnections, known as MAMs, represent a relatively conserved structure in eukaryotic cells, acting as a critical platform for material exchange between mitochondria and the ER to maintain various aspects of cellular homeostasis. Particularly, ER-mediated Ca2+ release and recycling are intricately associated with the structure and functionality of MAMs. Thus, MAMs are integral in intracellular Ca2+ transport and the maintenance of Ca2+ homeostasis, playing an essential role in various cellular activities including metabolic regulation, signal transduction, autophagy, and apoptosis. The disruption of MAMs observed in certain pathologies such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases as well as cancers leads to a disturbance in Ca2+ homeostasis. This imbalance potentially aggravates pathological alterations and disease progression. Consequently, a thorough understanding of the link between MAM-mediated Ca2+ transport and these diseases could unveil new perspectives and therapeutic strategies. This review focuses on the changes in MAMs function during disease progression and their implications in relation to MAM-associated Ca2+ transport.

Traceable Optical Physical Unclonable Functions Based on Germanium Vacancy in Diamonds.

Physical unclonable functions (PUFs) have emerged as an unprecedented solution for modern information security and anticounterfeiting by virtue of their inherent unclonable nature derived from distinctive, randomly generated physical patterns that defy replication. However, the creation of traceable optical PUF tags remains a formidable challenge. Here, we demonstrate a traceable PUF system whose unclonability arises from the random distribution of diamonds and the random intensity of the narrow emission from germanium vacancies (GeV) within the diamonds. Tamper-resistant PUF labels can be manufactured on diverse and intricate structural surfaces by blending diamond particles into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and strategically depositing them onto the surface of objects. The resulting PUF codes exhibit essentially perfect uniformity, uniqueness, reproducibility, and substantial encoding capacity, making them applicable as a private key to fulfill the customization demands of circulating commodities. Through integration of a digitized "challenge-response" protocol, a traceable and highly secure PUF system can be established, which is seamlessly compatible with contemporary digital information technology. Thus, the GeV-PUF system holds significant promise for applications in data security and blockchain anticounterfeiting, providing robust and adaptive solutions to address the dynamic demands of these domains.

Aggregation-Induced Emission-Active Photosensitizer-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy for Anti-Psoriasis.

Hyperproliferative keratinocytes and subcutaneous inflammation contribute to the characteristic symptoms of psoriasis, including erythema, scales, or scaly plaques on the skin. These symptoms significantly affect patients' quality of life and cause severe physical and psychological distress. However, current treatment strategies have limited therapeutic effect and may lead to adverse side effects. In this study, we present the novel organic photosensitizer TBTDC [5-(((5-(7-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazol-4-yl)thiophen-2-yl)methylene)amino)-3-methylthiophene-2,4-dicarbonitrile] nanoparticles (NPs) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics to mediate photodynamic therapy (TBTDC NP-PDT) for psoriasis treatment. We demonstrate that TBTDC NPs effectively generate reactive oxygen species upon light irradiation and lead to significant apoptosis of psoriatic keratinocytes. Furthermore, TBTDC NPs exhibit high cellular uptake in diseased keratinocytes and induce endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-mediated autophagy, which can also enhance apoptosis. Importantly, TBTDC NPs show no cytotoxicity toward keratinocytes. These unique properties of TBTDC NPs enable remarkable therapeutic effects against psoriasis-like skin lesions and related inflammation in vivo. Overall, our AIE-active TBTDC NP-PDT represents a promising strategy for treating psoriasis in clinical settings.

Binary-Cooperative Ultrathin Porous Membrane for Gas Separation.

The construction of ultrathin porous membranes with stable structures is critical for achieving efficient gas separation. Inspired by the binary-cooperative structural features of bones and teeth-composed of rigid hydroxyapatite and flexible collagen, which confer excellent mechanical strength-a binary-cooperative porous membrane constructed with gel-state zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (g-ZIFs), synthesized using a metal-gel-induced strategy, is proposed. The enlarged cavity size and flexible frameworks of the g-ZIF nanoparticles significantly improve gas adsorption and diffusion, respectively. After thermal treatment, the coordination structures forming rigid segments in the g-ZIF membranes appear at the stacked g-ZIF boundaries, exhibiting a higher Young's modulus than the g-ZIF nanoparticles, denoted as the flexible segments. The g-ZIF membranes demonstrate excellent tensile and compression resistances, attributed to the effective translation of binary-cooperative effects of rigidity and flexibility into the membranes. The resulting dual-aperture structure, composed of g-ZIF nanoparticles surrounded by nanoscale apertures at the boundaries, yields a membrane with a stable CO2 permeance of 4834 GPU and CO2/CH4 selectivity of 90 within 3.0 MPa.

Clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of parameningeal rhabdomyosarcoma in children and adolescents: results of two consecutive protocols.

Background: Parameningeal rhabdomyosarcoma (PM-RMS) accounts for about 20% of all rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cases. At present, most research on PM-RMS has been conducted in Europe and the United States of America, and research in China has been very limited. This study sought to analyze the clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of PM-RMS in children and adolescents from two consecutive protocols at Beijing Children's Hospital (BCH). Methods: A total of 80 patients aged up to 18 years with previously untreated PM-RMS who had received treatment under two consecutive protocols [i.e., either the BCH-RMS-2006 protocol or the Chinese Children Cancer Group (CCCG)-RMS-2016 protocol] were included in the statistical analysis. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for the survival analysis, and Cox regression was used for the univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Of the 80 patients enrolled in the study, 69 (86.2%) had meningeal invasion (MI). Of these 69 MI patients, 18 (22.5%) had cranial nerve palsy (CNP), 64 (80.0%) had cranial base bone erosion (CBBE), 25 (31.3%) had intracranial extension (ICE), and 2 (2.5%) had positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tumor cells. The median follow-up time was 20.5 months (range, 5-100 months). The 5-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates for the entire cohort were 51.7% and 45.6%, respectively. The 5-year OS rates of the patients who received the BCH-RMS-2006 protocol (18/80, 22.5%) and the CCCG-RMS-2016 protocol (62/80, 77.5%) were 33.3% and 57.0%, respectively (P<0.05), while the PFS rates of these patients were 22.2% and 53.6%, respectively (P<0.05). In relation to the PM-RMS patients with MI, the 5-year OS rates were 21.4% and 52.7%, and the 5-year PFS rates were 14.3% and 51.1% for the patients who received the old and new regimens, respectively (P<0.05). The extent of surgical resection had no significant effect on survival. The multivariate analysis showed that the coexistence of CBBE and ICE, no radiotherapy, a poor response to induction chemotherapy, and the BCH-RMS-2006 protocol were risk factors affecting PFS and OS. Conclusions: Of the patients examined in this study, those with PM-RMS with CBBE accompanied by ICE had the worst prognosis. The patients with MI benefited from intensive chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy, but the effect of surgery was very limited.

A comprehensive review on DCN1 protein, inhibitors and their therapeutic applications.

DCN1, a critical co-E3 ligase in the neddylation process, mediates the activation of Cullin-RING Ligases (CRLs) by selectively catalyzing cullin neddylation, further regulating the activity of substrate proteins. It has been identified as an important target for human diseases, including cancers, fibrotic diseases, and cardiovascular disorders. This work aims to provide a perspective for the discovery of novel DCN1 inhibitors by the analysis of biological roles, protein structures, structure-activity relationships and design strategy disclosed in recent years. Additionally, we will discuss the current status, challenges and opportunities in hope of offering insights into the development of DCN1 inhibitors for human diseases.

C3-Alkylation of Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines via Three-Component Aza-Friedel-Crafts Reaction Catalyzed by Y(OTf)3.

As an important class of nitrogen-containing fused heterocyclic compounds, imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines often exhibit significant biological activities, such as analgesic, anticancer, antiosteoporosis, anxiolytic, etc. Using Y(OTf)3 as a Lewis acid catalyst, a simple and efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of C3-alkylated imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines through the three-component aza-Friedel-Crafts reaction of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, aldehydes, and amines in the normal air atmosphere without the protection of inert gas and special requirements for anhydrous and anaerobic conditions. A series of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives were obtained with moderate to good yields, and their structures were confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS. Furthermore, this conversion has the advantages of simple operation, excellent functional group tolerance, high atomic economy, broad substrate scope, and can achieve gram-level reactions. Notably, this methodology may be conveniently applied to the further design and rapid synthesis of potential biologically active imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with multifunctional groups.

Predictive role and molecular biological function of proline-rich small repeat protein SPRR3 in the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.

The fascinating role of SPRR3 in various malignant tumors has prompted extensive research to unravel its expression patterns and prognostic significance. To comprehensively investigate SPRR3, we leveraged multiple datasets containing invaluable biomedical information, specifically focusing on the comparative analysis of SPRR3 gene expression levels across different cancer types. Meticulous examination of lung adenocarcinoma allowed us to delve deeper into the correlation between SPRR3 expression and its molecular biological functions. Our comprehensive analysis encompassed 33 malignant tumors, and the results unveiled significant differential expression of SPRR3 across a range of malignancies. Moreover, this aberrant expression of SPRR3 was observed to be closely associated with poorer prognosis in these malignant tumors. Notably, our investigation also unearthed a compelling link between SPRR3 and immune infiltrating cells in lung adenocarcinoma. The utilization of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and survival curves in our study illustrated the immense potential of SPRR3 as a highly accurate predictor of cancer. These findings further emphasize the possibility of SPRR3 serving as a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for a diverse array of cancers.

A proposed rapid upper limb assessment for pianists (RULA-p)1.

BACKGROUND: Pianists often suffered from postural related problems due to prolonged sitting and awkward postures. Despite that postural related problems are common among pianists, there is only one study found by the authors, which applied RULA to assess pianists' postures, without any modification to the original RULA worksheet. None of the other existing literature has applied this postural assessment tool to assess the pianists' overall posture. There is no existing Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) checklist that exactly fits into the context of piano playing, at least not without some modifications. OBJECTIVE: To propose a Rapid Upper Limb Assessment for Pianists (RULA-p) for postural assessment, which will allow pianists to identify awkward postures (if any) during piano playing, thus, achieving healthful playing for injury prevention. METHOD: This study modified (i) the muscle use score; and (ii) the force/load score, from the existing RULA as a rapid assessment for pianists' posture. RESULTS: Proposed the modified RULA for pianists (RULA-p) in the worksheet format. CONCLUSION: Overall, this study is intended to further expand the existing literature on the early prevention of pianists' PRMDs.

Rh(I)/Sulfoxide-Imine-Olefin Complex Catalyzed Enantioselective Allylic Alkylation of 2-Fluoromalonate: Synthesis of Chiral α-Fluorolactone Bearing Vicinal Stereogenic Centers.

Highly enantioselective Rh-catalyzed allylic substitution of the racemic branched allylic substrates with 2-fluoromalonate was realized enabled by a novel chiral sulfoxide-imine-olefin ligand under mild reaction conditions. The utilization of CuSO4 is beneficial for improving the enantioselectivity. Notably, the chiral fluoro-containing allyl products can be employed in a selective cyclic esterification to form chiral α-fluorolactone bearing vicinal stereogenic centers.

Mecapegfilgrastim for prophylaxis of febrile neutropenia in children and adolescents with rhabdomyosarcoma or Ewing sarcoma: a prospective, single-arm, pilot study.

BACKGROUND: The chemotherapy regimens recommended for both rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and Ewing sarcoma (ES) patients are myelosuppressive and can reduce the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and subsequently increase the risk of febrile neutropenia (FN). However, only a few studies have focused on the efficacy and safety of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) drugs in pediatric and adolescent patients with RMS and ES. Our objective was to investigate the efficacy and safety of mecapegfilgrastim, a biosimilar of pegfilgrastim, in prophylaxis of FN for pediatric and adolescent patients with RMS or ES. METHODS: In this single-arm, single-center, prospective study, pediatric and adolescent patients with RMS or ES were enrolled to receive either VAC (vincristine, cyclophosphamide, dactinomycin) regimen or VDC (vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin) regimen in a 3-week cycle, followed by treatment with mecapegfilgrastim (100 µg/kg, maximum 6 mg) given at 24 h after completing chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was the incidence rate of FN. Secondary endpoints included the incidence rate of grade 4 neutropenia, duration of ANC ≤ 0.5 × 109/L, incidence rate of chemotherapy delay or reduction, use of antibiotics, and safety profile. RESULTS: In total, 2 of the 30 (6.7%, 95% CI: 0.82-22.07) patients experienced FN after the first cycle of chemotherapy. Eight (26.7%, 95% CI: 12.28-45.89) patients experienced grade 4 neutropenia after receiving prophylactic mecapegfilgrastim. Eight patients experienced ANC ≤ 0.5 × 109/L with a median duration of 4.5 days; among them, 6 patients reached the lowest point of their ANC level on day 7, and 5 of them recovered by day 10. No dose reductions, delays, or discontinuation of chemotherapy was reported. Twenty-one (70.0%) patients received antibiotics during the treatment period. No patient experienced FN in the 0-5 years and the 13-18 years groups, and 2 patients experienced FN in the 6-12 years group. Two patients, 6 patients, and no patient experienced grade 4 neutropenia in the 0-5 years, 6-12 years, and 13-18 years groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: Mecapegfilgrastim showed acceptable efficacy and safety profile in pediatric and adolescent patients with RMS or ES. Further randomized studies with large sample size are warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This clinical trial was registered at Chictr.org.cn (No.ChiCTR1900022249). Registered on March 31, 2019.

Effect of Ilex hainanensis Merr. On HFD-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and rebalance of gut microbiota and bile acids metabolism in mice.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a clinicopathological syndrome characterized by excessive intracellular fat deposition in the hepatocytes, and the development is exacerbated by gut microbiota and bile acids metabolism disorders. Ilex hainanensis Merr. is a traditional medicine of the Zhuang nationality, historically esteemed for its efficacy in lowering blood pressure and lipid levels. This study aimed to investigate the pharmacodynamic effects in NAFLD mice and impacts on gut microbiota and bile acids (BAs) metabolism of I. hainanensis extract (IHA). 16 compounds were identified from IHA by HPLC-DAD-MS analysis. IHA significantly reduced body weight indexs, alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) activities, improved dyslipidemia and insulin resistance (IR), and effectively ameliorated hepatic steatosis in HFD-induced NAFLD mice. IHA also altered gut microbiota composition, particularly enhancing the abundance of bacteria involved in BAs metabolism, as well as augmented BAs synthesis in the liver and increased fecal excretion. In conclusion, our findings suggest that IHA holds promise in improving NAFLD conditions and modulating gut microbiota and BAs metabolism. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying IHA-mediated alleviation of lipid accumulation in NAFLD.

EC number prediction of protein sequences based on combination of hierarchical and global features.

The identification of enzyme functions plays a crucial role in understanding the mechanisms of biological activities and advancing the development of life sciences. However, existing enzyme EC number prediction methods did not fully utilize protein sequence information and still had shortcomings in identification accuracy. To address this issue, we proposed an EC number prediction network using hierarchical features and global features (ECPN-HFGF). This method first utilized residual networks to extract generic features from protein sequences, and then employed hierarchical feature extraction modules and global feature extraction modules to further extract hierarchical and global features of protein sequences. Subsequently, the prediction results of both feature types were combined, and a multitask learning framework was utilized to achieve accurate prediction of enzyme EC numbers. Experimental results indicated that the ECPN-HFGF method performed best in the task of predicting EC numbers for protein sequences, achieving macro F1 and micro F1 scores of 95.5% and 99.0%, respectively. The ECPN-HFGF method effectively combined hierarchical and global features of protein sequences, allowing for rapid and accurate EC number prediction. Compared to current commonly used methods, this method offers significantly higher prediction accuracy, providing an efficient approach for the advancement of enzymology research and enzyme engineering applications.

Study on the Diffusion Law of Heavy Gas Leakage in Complex Scenarios Based on Scaled-Down Experiments.

In order to study the effects of temperature, wind speed, and leakage volume on the diffusion of heavy gas leakage, this paper establishes a scaling model for the experimental study of gas leakage and diffusion by using the similarity theory with a certain factory as the target. And carbon dioxide gas is selected to replace the toxic and harmful heavy gas to carry out experiments under different temperatures (0-40 °C), wind speeds (0-2 m/s), and leakage velocities (2.5-12.5 L/min), respectively. The results showed that the diffusion rate of heavy gas expanded with increasing temperature under the conditions of wind speed of 0.25 m/s and leakage velocity of 1.5 L/min. When the temperature was increased from 0 to 40 °C, the concentration increase at each location was 125-290% at 600 s. Under the condition of temperature of 20 °C and leakage velocity of 5 L/min, the concentration at each location increased linearly with diffusion time when there was wind, while the linear relationship was not obvious when there was no wind. The effect on the concentration was larger when the wind speed was less than 1 m/s and smaller when the wind speed was greater than 1 m/s. At 20 °C and a wind speed of 0.5 m/s, the concentration of carbon dioxide at each location was increasing as the leakage increased. As the leakage velocity increases from 2.5 to 12.5 L/min, the carbon dioxide concentration at 600 s spreads 2-14 times. The research in this paper provides some decision support for the rescue work, which is important for improving the emergency rescue capability of the leakage accident.

Novel Systemic Inflammatory Markers Predict All-Cause Mortality in Patients Undergoing Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair.

Background: Clinically useful predictors for risk stratification of long-term survival may assist in selecting patients for endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (EVAR) procedures. This study aimed to analyze the prognostic significance of peroperative novel systemic inflammatory markers (SIMs), including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), hemoglobin-to-red cell distribution width ratio (HRR), systemic immune-inflammatory index (SIII), and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), for long-term mortality in EVAR. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 147 consecutive patients who underwent their first EVAR procedure at the Department of Vascular Surgery, Beijing Hospital. The patients were divided into the mortality group (n = 37) and the survival group (n = 110). The receiver operating characteristic curves were used to ascertain the threshold value demonstrating the most robust connection with mortality. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed between each SIM and mortality. The relationship between SIMs and survival was investigated using restricted cubic splines and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Results: The study included 147 patients, with an average follow-up duration of 34.28 ± 22.95 months. Deceased patients showed significantly higher NLR (p < 0.001) and reduced HRR (p < 0.001). The Kaplan-Meier estimates of mortality were considerably greater in the higher-NLR group (NLR > 2.77) and lower-HRR group (HRR < 10.64). The hazard ratio (HR) of 0.833 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.71-0.97, p < 0.021) was determined to be statistically significant in predicting death in the multivariable analysis. Conclusions: Preoperative higher-NLR and lower-HRR have been associated with a lower long-term survival rate in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients undergoing elective EVAR. Multivariate Cox regression showed that decreased preoperative HRR is an independent risk factor that increases mortality risk following EVAR. SIMs, such as the NLR and HRR, could be used in future clinical risk prediction methodologies for AAA patients undergoing EVAR. However, additional prospective cohort studies are needed to identify these findings.

Potential of Marine Bacterial Metalloprotease A69 in the Preparation of Peanut Peptides with Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE)-Inhibitory and Antioxidant Properties.

Marine bacterial proteases have rarely been used to produce bioactive peptides, although many have been reported. This study aims to evaluate the potential of the marine bacterial metalloprotease A69 from recombinant Bacillus subtilis in the preparation of peanut peptides (PPs) with antioxidant activity and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory activity. Based on the optimization of the hydrolysis parameters of protease A69, a process for PPs preparation was set up in which the peanut protein was hydrolyzed by A69 at 3000 U g-1 and 60 °C, pH 7.0 for 4 h. The prepared PPs exhibited a high content of peptides with molecular weights lower than 1000 Da (>80%) and 3000 Da (>95%) and contained 17 kinds of amino acids. Moreover, the PPs displayed elevated scavenging of hydroxyl radical and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical, with IC50 values of 1.50 mg mL-1 and 1.66 mg mL-1, respectively, indicating the good antioxidant activity of the PPs. The PPs also showed remarkable ACE-inhibitory activity, with an IC50 value of 0.71 mg mL-1. By liquid chromatography mass spectrometry analysis, the sequences of 19 ACE inhibitory peptides and 15 antioxidant peptides were identified from the PPs. These results indicate that the prepared PPs have a good nutritional value, as well as good antioxidant and antihypertensive effects, and that the marine bacterial metalloprotease A69 has promising potential in relation to the preparation of bioactive peptides from peanut protein.