Between Sacredness and Public Health: Global Religious Sacred Places and the Fight Against COVID-19.

This paper aims to explore the diverse impacts of religious sacred places on specific spheres of contemporary international relations, particularly in the context of public health governance as well as the fight against COVID-19. The spread of disease or germs and viruses within the context of pilgrimage, the healing purposes associated with such practices, as well as historical conquests of sacred places have attracted the attention of ancient physicians and modern scientists. In the nineteenth century, many Abrahamic religions sought to strengthen their influence in the Holy Land, particularly in the sacred city of Jerusalem. As part of their efforts, they focused on constructing modern hospitals, which became a means of religious competition over the region. From the perspective of the specific relationship between the sacred places and the public health governance system in the modern age, sacred places continue to succeed in animal management (native animals and sacrifice animals), water source management (sacred water and holy rivers), and management of sanitary quarantine (the extension of homeland health security defense), which have present positive effects. Based on the literature review, case analysis and interdisciplinary research methods, several findings have emerged regarding the global fight against COVID-19 since early 2020. Mecca-Medina, Jerusalem-Bethlehem, Rome-Vatican, Santiago de Compostela, Qom, and other religious sacred cities have faced huge pandemic pressures. These cities have played unique roles in protecting the health of pilgrims and have implemented measures to reduce the number and scale of pilgrimages in response to the global mobility challenges posed by the pandemic.

Orelabrutinib-bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor-based regimens in the treatment of central nervous system lymphoma: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Central nervous system lymphoma (CNSL) is an aggressive lymphoma. Orelabrutinib, an oral Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is a new treatment strategy for CNSL. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of orelabrutinib-based regimens in the treatment of patients with CNSL. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with CNSL were included in this retrospective study. All patients received the orelabrutinib-based regimen. Efficacy was evaluated based on investigators' assessment of overall response rate (ORR), complete response/unconfirmed complete response (CR/CRu), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), progressive disease (PD), duration of response (DOR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The safety of orelabrutinib-based regimens has also been evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 17.39% of patients received orelabrutinib-based regimens for consolidation therapy, and 82.61% of patients for induction therapy (4 newly diagnosed CNSL, 15 relapsed/refractory CNSL). In the newly diagnosed CNSL group, the ORR was 100% (1 CR, 1 CRu, 2 PR). The 6-month DOR rate, 6-month PFS rate, and 6-month OS rate were 100%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. Of the 15 relapsed/refractory CNSL patients, five therapy regimens were applied (orelabrutinib, n = 3; orelabrutinib/immunotherapy, n = 3; orelabrutinib/chemotherapy, n = 2; orelabrutinib/immunochemotherapy, n = 6; orelabrutinib/radiotherapy, n = 1). The ORR was 60.00% (4 CR, 5 PR). The 6-month DOR rate, 6-month PFS rate, and 6-month OS rate were 92.30%, 67.70%, and 70.00%, respectively. Twenty-one patients reported adverse events (AEs), and 6 patients experienced grade ≥ 3 AEs. CONCLUSION: Orelabrutinib-based regimens were efficacious and well-tolerated in patients with CNSL. These combined therapies offer a new potential therapeutic strategy for patients with CNSL.

Impact of Hajj on Global Health Security.

With the human society transfers from scattered pieces to a society as a whole and the advent of the aviation era, the occurrence of infectious diseases and their diffusion have led to international health security issues. As the world's largest and irrevocable annual transnational religious movement, the Hajj and its connection with health security concerns have caught attention since the ancient times, because a huge population from all over the world gathers in the holy city of Mecca, which has tropical arid climate. Currently, the international community and international organizations are implementing multilevel governance with respect to the health security issues of the Hajj. Relevant agencies include the World Health Organization and its regional branches, International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRC), the Ministry of Hajj as well as the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia, and the public health sectors/agencies in various countries that are involved with Hajj activities. The international community has successfully held the Hajj events, even when facing the challenges brought by some viral respiratory diseases such as SARS and MERS. The Hajj has become a rare opportunity for all stakeholders to improve their capabilities in international health security governance.

Water-Soluble Blue Fluorescence-Emitting Hyperbranched Polysiloxanes Simultaneously Containing Hydroxyl and Primary Amine Groups.

In this Communication, novel water-soluble hyperbranched polysiloxanes (WHPSs) simultaneously containing hydroxyl and primary amine groups are developed. The polymers are constructed via melt polycondensation, that is, transesterification reaction between ethoxyl groups of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane and hydroxyl groups of dihydric alcohols, using a one-step process under catalyst-free conditions. Surprisingly, the resultant WHPSs can emit bright blue fluorescence in the 100% solid state under the irradiation of UV light, and their photoluminescence intensities in aqueous solutions continuously go up along with increasing concentrations. Interestingly, their hydrolyzates display more intense luminescence compared to the unhydrolyzed. The efficient and easily controllable preparation strategy provides a remarkable and versatile platform for the fabrication of neoteric fluorescent materials for various potential applications.

Novel hyperbranched polysiloxanes containing acetoacetyl groups synthesized through transesterification reaction.

Development of an innovative strategy to prepare hyperbranched polysiloxanes (HBPS) is highly desirable due to the significant shortcomings of conventional fabrication approaches: the precursors need pre-synthesis, the hydrosilylation reaction is conducted using costly catalysts, and hydrolysis of organosiloxanes easily results in gelation. Here, novel HBPS containing acetoacetyl groups (HBPS-Ac) are synthesized through a cost-efficient and easily controllable transesterification reaction. It is shown by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), (1) H NMR, and gas chromatography (GC) measurements that the polymerization process is a straightforward technique to prepare new HBPS. The polymers are capable to remove formaldehyde due to the highly efficient reaction of the active methylene in the acetoacetyl group with formaldehyde at room temperature. Notably, coatings incorporating 4 wt% of the polymers allow for formaldehyde absorption, while integrated performances are kept almost unaffected. Therefore, HBPS-Ac are promising as scavengers for formaldehyde.

Water-soluble red-emitting distyryl-borondipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes for biolabeling.

A series of water-soluble red-emitting distyryl-borondipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes were designed and synthesized by using three complementary approaches aimed at introducing water-solubilizing groups on opposite faces of the fluorescent core to reduce or completely suppress self-aggregation. An additional carboxylic acid functional group was introduced at the pseudo-meso position of the BODIPY scaffold for conjugation to amine-containing biomolecules/biopolymers. The optical properties of these dyes were evaluated under simulated physiological conditions (i.e., phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), pH 7.5) or in pure water. The emission wavelength (λ(max)) of these labels was found in the 640-660 nm range with quantum yields from modest to unprecedentedly high values (4 to 38%). The bioconjugation of these distyryl-BODIPY dyes with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and the monoclonal antibody (mAb) 12A5 was successfully performed under mild aqueous conditions.

Water-solubilisation and bio-conjugation of a red-emitting BODIPY marker.

The synthesis and preliminary bio-conjugation studies of a novel water-soluble red-emitting di-styryl BODIPY dye are disclosed. Aggregation behaviour of this compound under physiological conditions was suppressed by specific introduction of a di-sulfonated peptide-based linker at the meso phenyl substituent, sultonated styryl arms and short polyethyleneglycol chains at the boron center. Thus, a good quantum yield of 22% in PBS for this red-emitting BODIPY was obtained. Introduction of an activated ester function enabled successful bio-conjugation to monoclonal antibodies and proteins.

Benzophenone-containing fatty acids and their related photosensitive fluorescent new probes: design, physico-chemical properties and preliminary functional investigations.

Hydrophobic photoaffinity labeling is a powerful strategy to identify hydrophobic segments within molecules, in particular membrane proteins. Here we report the design and synthesis of a novel family of fluorescent and photosensitive lipid tools, which have a common amino acid scaffold functionalized by three groups: (i) a first fatty acid chain grafted with a photoactivatable benzophenone moiety (Fatty Acid BenzoPhenone, FABP), (ii) a second fatty acid chain to ensure anchoring into a half-bilayer or hydrophobic environment, and (iii) a fluorescent carboxytetramethylrhodamine headgroup (CTMR) to detect the photolabeled compound. We present data of the synthesis and characterization of three lipid tools whose benzophenone ring is situated at various distances from the central scaffold. We could therefore establish structure/properties relationships dependent upon the depth of insertion of benzophenone into the membrane. Our lipid tools were extensively characterized both physico- and bio-chemically, and we assessed their functionality in vitro using bacterioRhodopsin (bR). We thus provide the scientific community with novel and reliable tools for the identification and study of hydrophobic regions in proteins.

[Clinical characteristics and ultra-structural features of skeletal muscle in mitochondrial cytopathies].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the ultrastructural features of mitochondrial cytopathies and its diagnostic value. METHODS: Muscle biopsy specimens from 33 cases of mitochondrial cytopathies were examined by routine pathological and electron microscopic examinations. RESULTS: The main pathologic changes included ragged red fibers in modified Gomori staining, hyper-intense staining myofibers in SDH, COX-negative fibers while dark counterstaining with SDH in COX/SDH double staining technique. Ultrastructural findings included subsarcolemmal and intramyofibrillar proliferation of mitochondria and the appearance of abnormal mitochondria, paracrystalline inclusions, concentric dystrophic cristae and excessive subsarcolemmal glycolipid compounds in subsarcolemmal. CONCLUSION: The presence of proliferation and abnormality of mitochondria, electro-dense granule and paracrystalline inclusions in mitochondria provide key diagnostic evidence for the diagnosis of this disease.

Novel silicone-based polymer containing active methylene designed for the removal of indoor formaldehyde.

Indoor air pollution is caused inevitably due to complicated home decoration, in which formaldehyde is one of the most typical pollutants. It will be a convenient, economical and effective strategy to remove indoor formaldehyde if imparting a feature of formaldehyde removal to decorative coatings. We have successfully explored a novel silicone-based polymer containing active methylene used as a formaldehyde absorbent in coatings via a straightforward transesterification process using inexpensive and easily available chemicals. The polymer has been characterized by (13)C NMR, FTIR, GC and GPC. Formaldehyde removal capacity of the coating films containing different contents of the polymer has been investigated. The results indicated that coatings incorporating 4wt% of the polymer could make the coating films exhibit significant improvement on formaldehyde removal including purificatory performance (>85%) and durability of purificatory effect (>60%), compared to those consisting of absorbents without any silicon, and improve yellowing resistance performance, while other properties, such as gloss, adhesion, pencil hardness, flexibility and impact resistance, were kept almost unaffected. The chemical absorption process of the silicone-based polymer filled in interior decorative coatings is demonstrated as a promising technology to purify indoor formaldehyde and thus can reduce the harm to individuals.

[Typing and prognosis of striatocapsular hemorrhage, study of 181 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of hematoma location and vascular territory on the clinical symptoms and signs, neuroimaging findings, and clinical prognosis of striatocapsular hemorrhage. METHODS: The data of 181 cases of striatocapsular hemorrhage, 124 males and 57 females, aged 28 - 89, including medical history, symptoms, and signs were analyzed. On the basis of hematoma locations and arterial territories, the striatocapsular hemorrhage was divided into six types: anterior type (with the blood supply from Heubner's artery), middle type (with the blood supply from medial lenticulostriate artery), posteromedial type (with the blood supply from anterior choroidal artery), posterolateral type (with the blood supply from posteromedial branches of lateral lenticulostriate artery), lateral type (with the blood supply from the most of lateral branches of lenticulostriate artery), and massive type (with the hematoma occupying the whole or greater part of striatocapsular region). The short-term clinical outcome and prognosis were evaluated by Modified Rankin Scale (MRS). The relationship between the type and outcome was analyzed. RESULTS: There were 22 cases of anterior type, accounting for 12.15%, of which 68.18% showed an excellent outcome (MRS = 0 - 2) and only 1 case died. There were 12 cases of middle type, accounting for 6.63%, of which 6 cases (50%) showed a poor outcome (MRS = 5) but without dead case. There were 19 cases of posteromedial type (10.50%), of which 52.63% had excellent outcome (MRS = 0 - 2) without dead case. There were 19 cases of posterolateral type (18.78%), of which 76.47% were with poor outcome (MRS = 5) and 17.65% died. Accounting for 39.23%, lateral type was the most common condition, of which 38.03% patients had a poor outcome (MRS = 5) and 8.45% cases died. The incidence rate of massive type was also high (12.71%), of which 47.82% showed a poor outcome (MRS = 5) and 47.83% cases died. CONCLUSION: Hematoma location and vascular territory are the determinating factors of prognosis of striatocapsular hemorrhage. The six-type classification system provides a simple and reliable means to predict the clinical outcomes and to guide therapeutic options of striatocapsular hemorrhage.

Vascular involvement in the pathogenesis of mitochondrial encephalomyopathies.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to perform perfusion CT imaging in the acute phase of myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), to assess whether these patients had cerebral perfusion abnormalities. Furthermore, the pathology of muscle vessel was evaluated, to explore the role of vasculopathy and ischemic events in the pathogenesis of mitochondrial encephalomyopathies. METHODS: Computed tomography perfusion (CTP) imaging was applied to the evaluation of brain perfusion during the symptomatic period of mitochondrial encephalomyopathies. Mitochondria structures in the blood vessels wall within muscle fibers were observed by light and electron microscopy analyses. RESULTS: Neuroimaging studies demonstrated uni- and bilateral lesions predominantly in the occipital and temporal-parietal lobes. Compared with the healthy control subjects, significant decreases in cerebral blood flow and cerebral blood volume were noted in affected brain areas of individuals with MELAS. In particular, mean transit time and the time to peak were prolonged both in lesion and non-lesion brain areas. Muscle pathology showed large granular deposits on vessel wall as demonstrated by succinic acid dehydrogenase staining. Electron microscopy of blood vessels revealed swelling of cristae and a striking increase in the number of mitochondria in the smooth muscle and endothelial cells. CONCLUSION: Insufficient cerebral perfusion or vascular reserve and secondary metabolic dysfunction may represent an important feature of the pathogenesis of the stroke-like episodes in MELAS.

Water-soluble BODIPY derivatives.

New, water-soluble BODIPY dyes have been readily obtained from various BODIPY cores by reactions involving the introduction of novel sulfonated peptide chains by either coupling or substitution to give dimethylpropargylamine derivatives subsequently quaternized by reaction with propanesultone.

Circulating endothelial cell injury in on-pump and off-pump coronary-artery bypass grafting / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the difference in circulating endothelial cell (CECs) injuries following on-pump and off-pump coronary-artery bypass surgery.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We randomly assigned 48 patients scheduled for urgent or elective coronary artery bypass grafting into two groups to receive on-pump and off-pump procedures. Blood samples were obtained before anesthesia, at the end of operation, and on days 1 and 3 after the operation, and CECs were isolated and counted using dynabeads coated with the specific antibody of CD146. Single cell gel electrophoresis was used to observe the morphological changes of the CECs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) group, the number of CECs was significantly greater than that in non-CPB group (P<0.05) at the end of surgery and 1 day after the operation. On postoperative day 3, the number CECs was similar between the two groups (P>0.05). The length of the comet tail was longer in CPB group with stronger fluorescence intensity than in the non-CPB group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compared with of-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting results in more serious CEC injury, which is closely related to the prognosis.</p>