Exosomal miRNAs in patients with chronic heart failure and hyperuricemia and the underlying mechanisms.

Chronic heart failure (CHF) combined with hyperuricemia (HUA) is a comorbidity that is hard to diagnose by a single biomarker. Exosomal miRNAs are differentially expressed in cardiovascular diseases and are closely associated with regulating most biological functions. This study aimed to provide evidence for miRNA as a new molecular marker for precise diagnosis of the comorbidity of CHF with HUA and further analyze the potential targets of differentially expressed miRNA. This controlled study included 30 CHF patients combined with HUA (Group T) and 30 healthy volunteers (Group C). 6 peripheral blood samples from Group T and Group C were analyzed for exosomal miRNAs by high-throughput sequencing and then validated in the remaining 24 peripheral blood samples from Group T and Group C by applying real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed using R software to predict the differential miRNAs' action targets. 42 differentially expressed miRNAs were detected (18 upregulated and 24 downregulated), in which miR-27a-5p was significantly upregulated (P<0.01), and miR-139-3p was significantly downregulated (P<0.01) in Group T. The combination of miR-27a-5p and miR-139-3p predicted the development of CHF combined with HUA with a maximum area under the curve (AUC) of 0.899 (95 % CI: 0.812-0.987, SEN=79.2 %, SPE=91.7 %, J value = 0.709). GO and KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the differentially expressed miRNAs had a role in activating the AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway to activate the autophagic response. Collectively, our findings suggest that upregulated exosomal miR-27a-5p combined with downregulated exosomal miR-139-3p can be used as a novel molecular marker for precise diagnosis of CHF combined with HUA and enhanced autophagy by AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway may be one pathogenesis of the differentially expressed miRNAs.

Significance of longitudinal Epstein-Barr virus DNA combined with multipoint tumor response for dynamic risk stratification and treatment adaptation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Dynamic therapy response is strongly associated with cancer outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the significance of longitudinal Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA and radiological tumor regression in risk stratification and response-adaptive treatment in locally-advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC). In total, 1312 patients from two centers were assigned to the training and validation cohorts. Based on the multipoint examination of EBV-DNA and tumor response, four post-induction chemotherapy, four mid-radiotherapy, and four post-radiotherapy subgroups were established. Then seven phenotypes were further generated according to different permutations and combinations. These phenotypes were subsequently congregated into four response clusters, which reflect distinct biological treatment responses. The four response clusters correlated with an evident 5-year progression-free survival in both the training and external validation cohorts (5-year: training cohort 91.1 %, 82.8 %, 30.6 %, and 10.0 %; external validation 94.4 %, 55.6 %, 40.0 %, and 12.7 %) had superior prognostic performance compared to TNM staging and nomogram model (concordance index: training cohort-0.825 vs. 0.603 vs. 0.756 and external validation-0.834 vs. 0.606 vs. 0.789). Importantly, the response clusters exhibited an excellent capability in selecting candidates who can benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. In conclusion, risk stratification based on the dynamic assessment of both radiological and biological responses can significantly enhance prognostic insights and shed light on individualized treatment modifications in LA-NPCs.

Cascade Cyclization of N-Cyanamide Alkenes for the Divergent Synthesis of Azido-, Nitro-, and Alkenyl-Containing Pyrroloquinazolinones.

Radical cascade cyclizations of N-cyanamide alkenes have been developed for the divergent synthesis of pyrroloquinazolinones bearing azido, alkenyl, and nitro groups by controlling the reaction conditions. The reaction temperature and the loading of the base play important roles in the different reaction pathways. These reactions are characterized by wide functional group compatibility and mild conditions.

Evidence of being cured for nasopharyngeal carcinoma: results of a multicenter patient-based study in China.

Background: The survival rates of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) have improved significantly, but there is no consensus on whether they can be considered cured. We aimed to determine whether a statistical cure could be achieved for patients with NPC in the contemporary therapeutic landscape. Methods: This retrospective multicenter study enrolled 6315 patients with nonmetastatic NPC from nonendemic and endemic regions of China from 2007 to 2020. We applied mixture and nonmixture cure models to estimate the cure probabilities and cure times by incorporating background mortality for the general population, matching by gender, age, and diagnosed year. Findings: With death as the uncured event, the probability of patients with NPC achieving a life expectancy at par with the general population was 78.1%. Considering progression as the uncured event, the likelihood of patients attaining a life expectancy without progression equivalent to that of the general population was 72.4%. For individuals, the probabilities of achieving cure were conditional and time-dependent, requiring approximately 7.1 and 4.7 years with 95% certainty, respectively. The corresponding cure times for uncured patients were 8.9 and 6.8 years, respectively. The cure probability was correlated with age, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score, TNM staging, Epstein-Barr virus DNA copies, and lactate dehydrogenase. The correlation was excellent between 5-year overall survival/progression-free survival and cure fractions. Interpretation: Statistical cure is potentially achievable among patients with NPC undergoing contemporary treatment modalities. The results hold significant potential implications for both clinical practice and patient perspectives. Funding: National High Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding; Beijing Xisike Clinical Oncology Research Foundation; Beijing hope run fund.

Development and validation of a predictive model assessing the risk of sarcopenia in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Background: Sarcopenia is linked to an unfavorable prognosis in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Early identification and treatment of sarcopenia are clinically significant. This study aimed to create and validate a nomogram for predicting sarcopenia risk in RA patients, providing clinicians with a reliable tool for the early identification of high-risk patients. Methods: Patients with RA diagnosed between August 2022 and January 2024 were included and randomized into training and validation sets in a 7:3 ratio. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression analysis and multifactorial logistic regression analysis were used to screen the risk variables for RA-associated muscle loss and to create an RA sarcopenia risk score. The predictive performance and clinical utility of the risk model were evaluated by plotting the receiver operating characteristic curve and calculating the area under the curve (AUC), along with the calibration curve and clinical decision curve (DCA). Results: A total of 480 patients with RA were included in the study (90% female, with the largest number in the 45-59 age group, about 50%). In this study, four variables (body mass index, disease duration, hemoglobin, and grip strength) were included to construct a nomogram for predicting RA sarcopenia. The training and validation set AUCs were 0.915 (95% CI: 0.8795-0.9498) and 0.907 (95% CI: 0.8552-0.9597), respectively, proving that the predictive model was well discriminated. The calibration curve showed that the predicted values of the model were basically in line with the actual values, demonstrating good calibration. The DCA indicated that almost the entire range of patients with RA can benefit from this novel prediction model, suggesting good clinical utility. Conclusion: This study developed and validated a nomogram prediction model to predict the risk of sarcopenia in RA patients. The model can assist clinicians in enhancing their ability to screen for RA sarcopenia, assess patient prognosis, make early decisions, and improve the quality of life for RA patients.

Altered regional neural activity and functional connectivity in patients with non-communicating hydrocephalus: a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Introduction: Cognitive impairment is a frequent clinical symptom of non-communicating hydrocephalus (NCH) involving multiple domains, including executive function, working memory, visual-spatial function, language, and attention. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can be used to obtain information on functional activity in local brain areas and functional connectivity (FC) across multiple brain regions. However, studies on the associated cognitive impairment are limited; further, the pathophysiological mechanisms of NCH with cognitive impairment remain unclear. Here, we aimed to explore alterations in regional neural activity and FC, as well as the mechanisms of cognitive impairment, in patients with NCH. Methods: Overall, 16 patients with NCH and 25 demographically matched healthy controls (HCs) were assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and fMRI. Changes in regional homogeneity (ReHo), degree centrality (DC), and region of interest-based FC were analyzed in both groups. The relationship between fMRI metrics (ReHo, DC, and FC) and MMSE scores in patients with NCH was also investigated. Results and discussion: Compared with the HC group, the NCH group exhibited significantly lower ReHo values in the left precentral and postcentral gyri, and significantly higher ReHo values in the left medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC). The NCH group also showed significantly higher DC values in the bilateral MPFC compared with the HC group. Regarding seed-based FC, the MPFC showed reduced FC values in the right superior parietal and postcentral gyrus in the NCH group compared with those in the HC group. Moreover, within the NCH group, MMSE scores were significantly negatively correlated with the ReHo value in the left MPFC and the DC value in the bilateral MPFC, whereas MMSE scores were significantly positively correlated with FC values. To conclude, regional neural activity and FC are altered in patients with NCH and are correlated with cognitive impairment. These results advance our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the association between NCH and cognitive impairment.

Neutrophil extracellular traps: Potential targets for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with traditional Chinese medicine and natural products.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease. Abnormal formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) at the synovial membrane leads to the release of many inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α. Elastase, histone H3, and myeloperoxidase, which are carried by NETs, damage the soft tissues of the joints and aggravate the progression of RA. The balance of NET formation coordinates the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects and plays a key role in the development of RA. Therefore, when NETs are used as effector targets, highly targeted drugs with fewer side effects can be developed to treat RA without damaging the host immune system. Currently, an increasing number of studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicines and natural products can regulate the formation of NETs through multiple pathways to counteract RA, which shows great potential for the treatment of RA and has a promising future for clinical application. In this article, we review the latest biological progress in understanding NET formation, the mechanism of NETs in RA, and the potential targets or pathways related to the modulation of NET formation by Chinese medicines and natural products. This review provides a relevant basis for the use of Chinese medicines and natural products as natural adjuvants in the treatment of RA.

Application of combined anesthesia with spontaneous breathing in the surgery of intertrochanteric fracture of femur in elderly patients.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the feasibility and safety of combined anesthesia with spontaneous breathing in the operation of intertrochanteric fracture of femur in the elderly. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2020 and January 2023, a total of 141 elderly patients (45 males, 96 females; mean age: 72.5±6.8 years; range, 65 to 87 years) who underwent proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) surgery for intertrochanteric fracture of femur were included in this single-blind, prospective, randomized-controlled study. The patients were randomly divided into three groups. Group A (experimental group) was a general anesthesia with laryngeal mask airway (LMA) group preserving spontaneous breathing, Group B (control group 1) was a general anesthesia with LMA group for mechanical ventilation, and Group C (control group 2) was a tracheal intubation anesthesia group for mechanical ventilation. The differences of related indexes among the three groups were compared. RESULTS: The mean onset time of anesthesia (6.23±1.45 vs. 12.78±2.78 vs. 13.73±2.43 min), postoperative recovery time of consciousness (8.13±0.83 vs. 11.34±0.89 vs. 12.45±0.86 min), and postoperative complete awakening time (10.45±2.34 vs. 18.87±2.56 vs. 19.62±2.93 min) were significantly shorter in Group A than in Groups B and C (p<0.05). The duration of analgesic effect was longer in Group A than in Groups B and C (p<0.05). After anesthesia, the Ramsay Sedation Scale and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores were significantly lower in Group A than the other groups (p<0.05). The mean Mini-Mental State Examination (MMS) scores were significantly higher in Group A than in Groups B and C (p<0.05). Hemodynamic parameters showed that blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, and cardiac index (CI) levels were significantly higher in Group A than the other groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study results indicate that combined anesthesia preserving spontaneous breathing is safe and feasible in the operation of intertrochanteric fracture of femur in the elderly, with faster anesthesia recovery than the mechanical ventilation group.

Reducing transient severe motion artifacts of gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI by oxygen inhalation: effective for pleural effusion but not ascites.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of low-flow oxygen inhalation in mitigating transient severe motion (TSM) artifacts associated with gadoxetate disodium-enhanced hepatic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Patients undergoing gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI were included. During the examination, the experimental group received oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula, while the control group did not. Images and TSM scores were evaluated and compared across precontrast, arterial, venous, and hepatobiliary phases. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on the presence of pleural effusion or ascites. RESULTS: A total of 325 patients were included. The motion scores were highest in the arterial phase and lowest in the hepatobiliary phase in both groups, but were significantly lower in the experimental group (p < 0.05). The incidence of TSM was significantly lower in the experimental group (3.29%) compared to the control group (13.29%, p = 0.01). While pleural effusion was associated with reduced image quality in both groups (p < 0.05), the image quality in the pleural effusion category was higher in the experimental group than in the control group. Oxygen inhalation showed limited efficacy in mitigating TSM related to ascites. CONCLUSIONS: Low-flow oxygen inhalation can effectively reduce the occurrence of gadoxetate disodium-related TSM. Pleural effusion may impair respiratory function and contribute to TSM, which can be alleviated by oxygen supplementation. However, Oxygen inhalation is less effective under the condition of ascites.

Integrated multi-omics investigation revealed the importance of phenylpropanoid metabolism in the defense response of Lilium regale Wilson to fusarium wilt.

Lilies (genus Lilium) play a significant role in the global cut-flower industry, but they are highly susceptible to fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum. However, Lilium regale, a wild lily species, exhibits remarkable resistance to F. oxysporum. To investigate the quantitative resistance of L. regale to fusarium wilt, a comprehensive multi-omics analysis was conducted. Upon inoculation with F. oxysporum, L. regale roots showed a significant accumulation of phenylpropane metabolites, including lignin precursors, flavonoids, and hydroxycinnamic acids. These findings were consistent with the upregulated expression of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis-related genes encoding various enzymes, as revealed by transcriptomics and proteomics analyses. Furthermore, metabolomics and proteomics data demonstrated differential activation of monoterpenoid and isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis. Colorimetry and high-performance liquid chromatography analyses revealed significantly higher levels of total flavonoids, lignin, ferulic acid, phlorizin, and quercetin contents in L. regale scales compared with susceptible lily 'Siberia' scales during F. oxysporum infection. These phenylpropanes exhibited inhibitory effects on F. oxysporum growth and suppressed the expression of pathogenicity-related genes. Transcriptional regulatory network analysis suggested that ethylene-responsive transcription factors (ERFs) may positively regulate phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Therefore, LrERF4 was cloned and transiently overexpressed in the fusarium wilt-susceptible Oriental hybrid lily 'Siberia'. The overexpression of LrERF4 resulted in increased levels of total flavonoids, lignin, ferulic acid, phlorizin, and quercetin, while the silencing of LrERF4 in L. regale through RNAi had the opposite effect. In conclusion, phenylpropanoid metabolism plays a crucial role in the defense response of L. regale against fusarium wilt, with LrERF4 acting as a positive regulator of phenylpropane biosynthesis.

Effects of fasudil on glial cell activation induced by tooth movement.

BACKGROUND: Orthodontic pain affects the physical and mental health of patients. The spinal trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (SPVC) contributes to the transmission of pain information and serves as a relay station for integrating orofacial damage information. Recently, glial cells have been found to be crucial for both acute and maintenance phases of pain. It has also been demonstrated that rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitors can manage different pain models by inhibiting glial cell activation. Here, we hypothesized that orthodontic pain is related to glial cells in the SPVC, and Fasudil, a representative rho/rock kinase inhibitor, can relieve orthodontic pain by regulating the function of glial cells and the related inflammatory factors. In this study, we constructed a rat model of tooth movement pain and used immunofluorescence staining to evaluate the activation of microglia and astrocytes. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect the release of related cytokines and the expression of pain-related genes in the SPVC. Simultaneously, we investigated the effect of Fasudil on the aforementioned indicators. RESULTS: In the SPVC, the expression of c-Fos peaked on day 1 along with the expression of OX42 (related to microglial activation), CD16 (a pro-inflammatory factor), and CD206 (an anti-inflammatory factor) on day 3 after tooth movement, followed by a gradual decrease. GFAP-staining showed that the number of activated astrocytes was the highest on day 5 and that cell morphology became complex. After Fasudil treatment, the expression of these proteins showed a downward trend. The mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1ß and TNF-α) peaked on day 3, and the mRNA expression of the anti-inflammatory factor TGF-ß was the lowest 3 days after tooth movement. Fasudil inhibited the mRNA expression of pain-related genes encoding CSF-1, t-PA, CTSS, and BDNF. CONCLUSION: This study shows that tooth movement can cause the activation of glial cells in SPVC, and ROCK inhibitor Fasudil can inhibit the activation of glial cells and reduce the expression of the related inflammatory factors. This study presents for the first time the potential application of Fasudil in othodontic pain.

Isoliquiritigenin alleviates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by modulating inflammatory and neuroprotective reactive astrocytes.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune-mediated chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that poses significant treatment challenges. Currently, it is believed that inflammatory and neuroprotective reactive astrocytes, along with other resident CNS cells and immune cells, contribute to the pathophysiology of MS. In our study, we found that isoliquiritigenin (ILG), a bioactive chalcone compound, significantly reduces the clinical scores of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) by 44 % (P < 0.05). Additionally, ILG significantly decreases the pathological scores of spinal cord inflammation and demyelination by 61 % and 65 %, respectively (both P < 0.0001). Furthermore, ILG affects the populations of CD4, Th1, Th17, and Treg cells in vivo. More importantly, ILG significantly promotes the activation of astrocytes in EAE (P < 0.0001). Additionally, ILG treatment indirectly inhibits inflammatory reactive astrocytes and promotes neuroprotective reactive astrocytes. It reduces spleen levels of TNFα, IL1α, C1qa, IL1ß, and IL17A by 95 % (P < 0.001), 98 % (P < 0.01), 46 % (P < 0.05), 97 % (P < 0.001), and 60 % (P < 0.001), respectively. It also decreases CNS levels of TNFα, IL1α, C1qa, IL1ß, and IL17A by 53 % (P < 0.05), 88 % (P < 0.05), 64 % (P < 0.01), 57 % (P < 0.05), and 60 % (P < 0.001), respectively. These results indicate that ILG exerts an immunoregulatory effect by inhibiting the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Consequently, ILG inhibits inflammatory reactive astrocytes, promotes neuroprotective reactive astrocytes, alleviates inflammation and improves EAE. These findings provide a theoretical basis and support for the application of ILG in the prevention and treatment of MS.

[Effects of Questionnaire-Based Psychological Survey Methods on the Evaluation Results in a Patient Cohort].

Objective To assess the influences of self-and interviewer-administered methods on the scores of anxiety and depression questionnaires among the patients with sports injuries.Methods A total of 532 participants with sports injuries treated in the Sports Medicine Center of West China Hospital,Sichuan University from November 2022 to May 2023 were included.They were randomly assigned to either the interviewer-administered group (n=270) or the self-administered group (n=262) to complete the generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7) and the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) scales.The total scores and prevalence rates of anxiety and depression were compared between the two groups.Results There was no statistically significant difference in gender,occupation,or surgical site between the two groups (all P>0.05).The self-administered group had higher scores of GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scales than the interviewer-administered group (P<0.001,P<0.001).A greater proportion of participants in the self-administered group than in the interview-administered group met the criteria for mild to moderate anxiety and depression (P<0.001,P=0.002).The prevalence rates of moderate to severe anxiety (GAD-7≥10) and depression (PHQ-9≥10) showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P=0.761,P=0.086).Conclusion This study demonstrates that the participants in the self-administered group are more likely to report mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety and depression than those in the interviewer-administered group.

Effect of electroacupuncture on expression of protein phosphorylation in hippocampus tissues of rats with chronic fatigue syndrome. / ç”µé’ˆå¹²é¢„å¯¹æ ¢æ€§ç–²åŠ³ç»¼åˆå¾å¤§é¼ æµ·é©¬ç»„ç»‡è›‹ç™½è´¨ç£·é ¸åŒ–è¡¨è¾¾çš„å½±å“.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on behavior and hippocampal protein phosphorylation in rats with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of CFS. METHODS: Male SD rats were randomly divided into control, model and EA groups (n=12 rats in each group). The CFS model was established by chronic multifactor combined with stress stimulation (treadmill training + restraint stress + sleep disturbance + crowded environment). For rats of the EA group, EA (1 mA, frequency of 10 Hz) was applied to "Shenting" (GV24) (with an acupuncture needle penetrated from GV24 to "Baihui" ï¼»GV20ï¼½) and "Dazhui" (GV14) for 15 min, once daily for 28 days. After treatment, the body weight, food intake and water intake of rats in each group were observed. The fatigue degree of rats was evaluated by Semi-quantitative score observation table of the general condition of experimental rats.The open field test (OFT) was used to assess the rats'anxiety severity by detecting the total number of grid-crossing and the times of the central area entered in 5 min, and Morris water maze test was employed to assess the rats' learning-memory ability by detecting the escape latency in 1 min, and the times of the original platform quadrant crossing in 1 min. The hippocampaus was taken for phosphorylated Label-free quantitative proteomics analysis by using Maxquant technology based on full scan mode to calculate the integral of each peptide signal of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS). The differentially-expressed proteins (>1.5 folds for up-regulation or <0.67 folds for down-regulation) were evaluated by gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the body weight, food intake, and the times of original-platform quadrant crossing of spatial exploring of Morris water maze test were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05) , and the score of general conditions, times of grid-crossing and center area-entering of OFT, and the escape latency of navigation task were apparently increased (P<0.01) in rats of the model group. After EA intervention, the decreased original-platform quadrant crossing, and the increased score of general conditions, times of grid-crossing and the escape latency of navigation task were all reversed (P<0.01, P<0.05). Outcomes of proteomics analysis indicated that compared with the model group, there were 297 differentially expressed peptide (48 up-regulated and 249 down-regulated) segments in the control group, and there were 245 differentially expressed peptide (185 up-regulated and 60 down-regulated) segments in the EA group, in which, 25 overlapping peptide segments were reversed after EA treatment, corresponding to 24 proteins, mainly involving cytoskeletal structure. GO function annotation analysis showed that the top three differentially expressed phosphorylated proteins involved in the effect of EA intervention were the actin filament polymerization, protein depolymerization and cytoskeletal tissue in the biological process, the actin binding, structural molecular activity and cytoskeletal protein binding in the molecular function, and the cytoskeleton, dendrites and dendritic trees in the cellular component, respectively. The KEGG pathway annotation analysis for differentially expressed phosphorylated proteins showed that theinsulin secretion, axon guidance, phosphatidylinositol signaling system and lysine biosynthesis, etc. were involved in the effect of EA intervention. CONCLUSIONS: EA of GV24-GV20 and GV14 can improve the general state, anxiety and learning-memory ability of CFS model rats, which may be related to its functions in regulating the hippocampal protein phosphorylation level, and repairing the structure and function of synapses in hippocampus.

Energy-efficient dispersion compensation for digital micromirror device.

Due to the wave nature of light, the diffraction pattern generated by an optical device is sensitive to the shift of wavelength. This fact significantly compromises the digital micromirror device (DMD) in applications, such as full-color holographic display and multi-color fluorescence microscopy. The existing dispersion compensation techniques for DMD involve adding diffractive elements, which causes a large amount of waste of optical energy. Here, we propose an energy-efficient dispersion compensation method, based on a dispersive prism, for DMD. This method simulates the diffraction pattern of the optical fields reflected from the DMD with an angular spectrum model. According to the simulation, a prism and a set of optical components are introduced to compensate for the angular dispersion of DMD-modulated optical fields. In the experiment, our method reduced the angular dispersion, between the 532 nm and 660 nm light beams, by a factor of ∼8.5.

Long-term outcomes and prognosis of neuroendocrine neoplasms of the head and neck: a cohort from a single institution.

BACKGROUND: Neuroendocrine neoplasm is a rare cancer of head and neck. This study aimed to evaluate clinical features, treatment outcomes, and prognostic factors of neuroendocrine neoplasm of head and neck treated at a single institution. METHODS: Between Nov 2000 and Nov 2021, ninety-three patients diagnosed with neuroendocrine neoplasms of head and neck treated at our institution were reviewed retrospectively. The initial treatments included chemotherapy (induction, adjuvant, or concurrent) combined with radiotherapy in 40 patients (C + RT group), surgery followed by post-operative RT in 34 (S + RT group), and surgery plus salvage therapy in 19 patients (S + Sa group). RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 64.5 months. 5-year overall survival rate (OS), progression-free survival rate (PFS), loco-regional relapse-free survival free rate (LRRFS) and distant metastasis-free survival rate (DMFS) were 64.5%, 51.6%, 66.6%, and 62.1%, respectively. For stage I-II, the 5-year LRRFS for patients' treatment regimen with or without radiotherapy (C + RT and S + RT groups versus S + Sa group) was 75.0% versus 12.7% (p = 0.015) while for stage III-IV, the 5-year LRRFS was 77.8% versus 50.0% (p = 0.006). The 5-year DMFS values for patients with or without systemic therapy (C + RT group versus S + RT or S + Sa) were 71.2% and 51.5% (p = 0.075). 44 patients (47.3%) experienced treatment failure and distant metastasis was the main failure pattern. CONCLUSIONS: Radiotherapy improved local-regional control and played an important role in the management of HNNENs. The optimal treatment regimen for HNNENs remains the combination of local and systemic treatments.

Comparison of the effects of Amomum tsaoko and its adulterants on functional dyspepsia rats based on metabolomics analysis.

Amomum tsaoko (AT) is commonly used in clinical practice to treat abdominal distension and pain. It is also a seasoning for cooking, with the functions of appetizing, invigorating the spleen, and being digestive-promoting. Amomum tsaoko (AT) has three adulterants, Amomum paratsaoko (AP), Amomum koenigii (AK), and Alpinia katsumadai Hayata, because of the confusion in historical classics regarding recorded sources as well as the near geographic distribution and fruit morphological similarities. In this study, we established a functional dyspepsia (FD) rat model and then treated it with the corresponding medicinal solutions AT, AP, AK, and AKH. The gastric emptying rate, intestinal propulsion rate, serum biochemical indicators, histopathological changes, and fecal metabolism were measured. The efficacy and mechanism of AT, AP, AK, and AKH in the treatment of FD were compared. Fecal metabolomics revealed that 20 potential biomarkers were involved in seven significant metabolic pathways in FD rats. These pathways include ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, purine metabolism, folate biosynthesis, and amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism. AP regulates 6 metabolic pathways, 5 metabolic pathways affected by AT, 4 metabolic pathways affected by AK, and 2 metabolic pathways affected by AKH.The above results suggest that the different effects of AT, AP, AK, and AKH on FD rats may be due to their different regulatory effects on the metabolome.

Quantification of Cervical Elasticity During Pregnancy Based on Transvaginal Ultrasound Imaging and Stress Measurement.

Strain elastography and shear wave elastography are commonly used to quantify cervical elasticity. However, the absence of stress information in strain elastography causes difficulty in inter-session elasticity comparison, and the robustness of shear wave elastography is compromised by cervical tissue's high inhomogeneity. OBJECTIVE: To overcome these limitations, we develop a quantitative cervical elastography system by adding a stress sensor to a clinically used transvaginal ultrasound imaging system. METHODS: We record the cervical deformation in B-mode images and measure the probe-surface stress through the sensor. Then we quantify the strain using a customized algorithm and estimate the cervical Young's modulus through stress-strain linear regression. RESULTS: In phantom experiments, we demonstrate the system's high accuracy (alignment with the quasi-static compression method, p-value = 0.369 > 0.05), robustness (alignment between 60°- and 90°-contact measurements, p-value = 0.638 > 0.05), repeatability (consistency of single sonographers' measurements, coefficient of variation < 0.06), and reproducibility (alignment between two sonographers' measurements, Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.981). Applying it to pregnant participants, we observe significant cervical softening (p-value < 0.001): Young's modulus decreases 3.95% weekly and its geometric mean value during the first (11 to 13 weeks), second, and third trimesters are 13.07 kPa, 7.59 kPa, and 4.40 kPa, respectively. CONCLUSION: The proposed system is accurate, robust, and safe, and enables longitudinal and inter-examiner comparisons. SIGNIFICANCE: The system applies to different ultrasound machines with minor software updates, which allows for studies of cervical softening patterns in pregnancy for larger populations, facilitating insights into conditions such as preterm birth.

Targeting programmed cell death in inflammatory bowel disease through natural products: New insights from molecular mechanisms to targeted therapies.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an autoimmune disorder primarily characterized by intestinal inflammation and recurrent ulceration, leading to a compromised intestinal barrier and inflammatory infiltration. This disorder's pathogenesis is mainly attributed to extensive damage or death of intestinal epithelial cells, along with abnormal activation or impaired death regulation of immune cells and the release of various inflammatory factors, which contribute to the inflammatory environment in the intestines. Thus, maintaining intestinal homeostasis hinges on balancing the survival and functionality of various cell types. Programmed cell death (PCD) pathways, including apoptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, necroptosis, and neutrophil extracellular traps, are integral in the pathogenesis of IBD by mediating the death of intestinal epithelial and immune cells. Natural products derived from plants, fruits, and vegetables have shown potential in regulating PCD, offering preventive and therapeutic avenues for IBD. This article reviews the role of natural products in IBD treatment by focusing on targeting PCD pathways, opening new avenues for clinical IBD management.

The immunoregulatory effects of total glucosides of paeony in autoimmune diseases.

Total glucoside of paeonia (TGP) and its main active ingredient paeoniflorin, extracted from the Chinese herb Paeonia Lactiflora Pallas, exhibit potent immunomodulatory effects. TGP has been shown to inhibit inflammatory responses and disease progression in experimental models of multiple autoimmune diseases (AIDs), including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome, psoriasis, etc. TGP shows broad immunomodulatory effects on many immune cells such as T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells, by regulating their activation, proliferation, differentiation, and production of effector molecules. Mechanistically, TGP modulates intracellular signaling transductions including JAK/STAT, NF-κB, MAPK, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways. Moreover, TGP has been applied in the clinical treatment of various AIDs with satisfactory therapeutic outcomes and minor side effects. Thus, available studies have demonstrated that TGP and its bioactive constituents exhibit anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory functions and may have extensive applications in the treatment of AIDs.