Association between short-term blood pressure variability and target organ damage in non-dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether short-term blood pressure variability (BPV) is associated with target organ damage in patients with non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: A cross-sectional, single-center study was conducted among 3442 non-dialysis CKD patients hospitalized in the department of Nephrology of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from November 2017 to July 2022 and collected the demographic, laboratory, clinic blood pressure, ambulatory blood pressure data, and short-term BPV assessed by the weighted standard deviation (wSD) derived from ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Multivariate logistic analyses were used to evaluate the independent effects between short-term BPV and subclinical target organ damage, including left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), abnormal carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and albuminuria. RESULTS: The average age of the participants was 47.53 ± 14.06 years and 56% of participants were male. The baseline eGFR was 69 mL/min/1.73 m2. Based on the tertile distribution of wSD according to equal numbers, patients were divided into three categories with T1(< 9.66 mmHg), T2(9.66-12.23 mmHg), and T3(> 12.23 mmHg) of SBPV; T1(< 8.17 mmHg), T2(8.17-9.93 mmHg), and T3(> 9.93 mmHg) of DBPV. The participants with the higher wSD group had a higher prevalence of target organ damage than their counterparts (P-trend < 0.05). An increasing trend in short-term variability was present with advancing CKD stages (P-trend < 0.001). Multivariate logistic analyses results showed that the odds ratio (OR) of SBP wSD was (1.07 [1.03,1.11], P < 0.001) for LVH, (1.04 [1.01,1.07, P = 0.029) for abnormal CIMT, (1.05 [1.02,1.08], P = 0.002) for low eGFR, and (1.06 [1.02,1.09], P = 0.002) for albuminuria; The OR of DBP wSD was (1.07 [1.02,1.12], P = 0.005) for LVH, (1.05 [1.01,1.09], P = 0.028) for abnormal CIMT, (1.05 [1.01,1.09], P = 0.022) for low eGFR, and (1.05 [1.01,1.10], P = 0.025) for albuminuria when adjusted for confounding factors and mean BP. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, short-term BPV is associated with target organ damage, and irresponsible of average blood pressure levels, in Chinese non-dialysis CKD participants.

Electronic, mechanical and gas sensing properties of two-dimensional γ-SnSe.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials are excellent candidates for advanced flexible electronics and gas sensors. Herein, we systematically investigate the layer-dependent electronic structures, mechanical properties and gas sensing characteristics of the newly synthesized γ-SnSe based on first-principles calculations. Bulk γ-SnSe is a typical van der Waals layered material with an indirect narrow band gap, while monolayer and multilayer γ-SnSe can be obtained through mechanical exfoliation due to its low cleavage energy. The band gap of γ-SnSe gradually increases with decreasing layers, reaching a value of 2.25 eV for the monolayer due to weakened interlayer coupling. Mechanical analysis reveals strong anisotropy in multilayer γ-SnSe, whereas the monolayer exhibits a negative Poisson's ratio (-0.023/-0.025). Additionally, based on the analysis of electronic structures, adsorption energies and charge transfer of the host materials after adsorption of various gases, it is found that the γ-SnSe monolayer demonstrates enhanced sensitivity and selectivity towards NO, NO2, and SO2 compared to CO, CO2, H2S and NH3. These findings highlight the potential of γ-SnSe as an excellent gas-sensitive material for the detection of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.

Microcystin-LR-Induced Interaction between M2 Tumor-Associated Macrophage and Colorectal Cancer Cell Promotes Colorectal Cancer Cell Migration through Regulating the Expression of TGF-ß1 and CST3.

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by cyanobacteria that has been demonstrated to promote colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the mechanism by which MC-LR enhances CRC in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is poorly understood. To elucidate its role in TME, a co-culture system was established using CRC cells and M2 macrophages in a Transwell chamber. The study found that MC-LR promotes CRC cell migration by upregulating TGF-ß1 expression and secretion in M2 macrophages and downregulating CST3 in CRC cells. Neutralizing TGF-ß1 increased CST3 expression in CRC cells, while overexpressing CST3 in CRC cells suppressed TGF-ß1 expression in M2 macrophages, both of which weakened MC-LR-induced cellular motility in the co-culture system. In vivo, the mice in the MC-LR/AOM/DSS group had more tumor nodules, deeper tumor invasion, and higher M2 macrophage infiltration compared to the AOM/DSS group, and the expression of TGF-ß1 and CST3 in tumors was consistent with the cellular level. Overall, this study provides insights into the regulatory mechanism of MC-LR on TME, revealing that MC-LR upregulates the expression and secretion of TGF-ß1 in M2 macrophages, which in turn inhibits the expression of CST3 in CRC cells to promote migration.

A single center study that evaluates the preclinical use of a newly developed software and moving bed system to facilitate the spontaneous excretion of residual fragments after primary stone treatment (RIRS or PCNL).

PURPOSE: We developed a Postural Drainage Lithotripsy System (PDLS) that uses the patient's computed tomography urography (CTU) data to reconstruct the three-dimensional figure of the renal pelvis, provides an individualized inversion and overturning angle and uses gravity to remove residual fragments (RFs). The purpose of this study was to investigate PDLS in the treatment of renal RFs. METHODS: A stone with a diameter of 4.0 mm was placed in the upper, middle, and lower calyx of the renal model. A total of 60 trials were applied to 20 renal models. The movement trajectory, passage rate, and postural drainage angle of calculi during the treatment of PDLS were observed. RESULTS: All of the stones in 60 trials were observed to move during treatment, and 53/60 (88%) were relocated successfully to the renal pelvis. The passage rate of the upper calyx was 14/20 (70%), that of the middle calyx was 20/20 (100%), and that of the lower calyx was 19/20 (95%). CONCLUSIONS: PDLS can provide individualized inversion and reversal angles and remove stones from the renal model. More clinical trials are needed to verify the above view and evaluate its efficacy.

Trust in government buffers the negative effect of rumor exposure on people's emotions.

Although we are surrounded by various kinds of rumors during the coronavirus disease pandemic, little is known about their primary content, what effect they might have on our emotions, and the potential factors that may buffer their effect. Combining qualitative (study 1 extracted 1907 rumors from top rumor-refuting websites using the Python Web Crawler and conducted content analysis) and quantitative (study 2 conducted an online survey adopting a three-wave design, N = 444) research methods, the current study revealed that government-related rumors accounted for the largest proportion of rumors during the outbreak stage of the pandemic and were positively associated with the public's negative emotions. We also found that trust in government negatively moderated the relationship between government-related rumors and negative emotions. Specifically, when people had low trust in government, exposure to government-related rumors was positively associated with negative emotions. However, when people had high trust in government, the association was non-significant. For positive emotions, we found no significant effects of government-related rumors. The findings highlight the importance of rumor control during public emergencies and cultivating public trust in government in the long run. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-022-03508-x.

The miR-302s/367 Cluster Inhibits the Proliferation and Apoptosis in Sheep Fetal Fibroblasts via the Cell Cycle and PI3K-Akt Pathways.

The miR-302s/367 family has the ability to induce mouse and human somatic cell reprogramming into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), inhibit the proliferation of several types of cancer cells, and even cause cancer cell apoptosis. However, the functions of the miR-302s/367 family in other mammals have not been explored. In the present study, the effects of miR-302s/367 on reprogramming, proliferation, and apoptosis in sheep fetal fibroblasts (SFFs) were evaluated by the delivery of a plasmid vector containing synthetic precursor miRNAs into cells, followed by the induction of mature miR-302s/367 expression. The results showed that miR-302s/367 could not reprogram SFFs into iPSCs; however, they could inhibit both the proliferation and apoptosis of SFFs by targeting CDK2, E2F1, E2F2, and PTEN in the cell cycle and PI3K-Akt pathways. Based on our findings, a novel mechanism was proposed in which the miR-302s/367 family functions in both the proliferation and apoptosis of somatic cells in mammals, suggesting that caution is needed when using miR-302s/367 as therapeutic agent.

IRX5 prompts genomic instability in colorectal cancer cells.

The Iroquois homeobox gene 5 (IRX5), one of the members of the Iroquois homeobox family, has been identified to correlate with worse prognosis in many cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, upregulation of IRX5 revealed a great reduction in the proliferation of CRC colorectal cancer cell line SW480 and DLD-1, which was accompanied by G1/S arrest, increased expression in cyclin E1, P21, and P53 and a decrease in cyclin A2, B1, and D1. Furthermore, IRX5-mediated an increase expression of RH2A protein, the biomarker of DNA damage. Consequently, the SA-ß-gal level is higher in IRX5-overexpression cells compared to control ones, which showed elevated DNA damage triggered cellular senescence. Recapitulating the above findings, IRX5 exhibited higher levels of genomic instability. IRX5 may be a perspective target for cancer therapy and it deserves further investigation.

IRX5 promotes colorectal cancer metastasis by negatively regulating the core components of the RHOA pathway.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. As tumor metastasis is the leading cause of death in patients with CRC, it is important to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that drive CRC metastasis. Studies have shown a close relationship between Iroquois homeobox (IRX) family genes and multiple cancers, while the mechanism by which IRX5 promotes CRC metastasis is unclear. Therefore, we focused on the involvement of IRX5 in CRC metastasis. In this study, analyses of clinical data indicated that the expression of IRX5 was coincided with metastatic colorectal tumors tissues and was negatively correlated with the overall survival of patients with CRC. Functional analysis showed that IRX5 promoted the migration and invasion of CRC cells, accompanied by a large number of cellular protrusions. IRX5-overexpressing cells were more likely to form metastatic tumors in nude mice. Further analysis demonstrated that the core components of the RHOA/ROCK1/LIMK1 pathway were significantly inhibited in IRX5-overexpressing cells. Overexpression of LIMK1 effectively reversed the enhanced cellular motility caused by IRX5 overexpression. Moreover, we found that high levels of IRX5 in intestinal tissues were correlated with the inflammatory response. IRX5 was significantly increased in azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate intestinal tissue of mice and IRX5-overexpressing may also enhance chemokines CXCL1 and CXCL8. In summary, our findings suggested that IRX5 promoted CRC metastasis by inhibiting the RHOA-ROCK1-LIMK1 axis, which correlates with a poor prognosis.

Use of bio-information and communication technology shortens time to peak at a lower height of the epidemic curve: An alternative to flattening for countries with early COVID-19 outbreaks.

INTRODUCTION: The traditional approach to epidemic control has been to slow down the rate of infection while building up healthcare capacity, resulting in a flattened epidemic curve. Advancements in bio-information-communication technology (BICT) have enabled the preemptive isolation of infected cases through efficient testing and contact tracing. This study aimed to conceptualize the BICT-enabled epidemic control (BICTEC) and to document its relationships with epidemic curve shaping and epidemic mitigation performance. METHODS: Daily COVID-19 incidences were collected from outbreak to Aug. 12, 2020, for nine countries reporting the first outbreak on or before Feb. 1, 2020. Key epidemic curve determinants-peak height (PH), time to peak (TTP), and area under the curve (AUC)-were estimated for each country, and their relationships were analyzed to test if epidemic curves peak quickly at a shorter height. CFR (Case Fatality Rate) and CI (Cumulative Incidence) were compared across the countries to identify relationships between epidemic curve shapes and epidemic mitigation performance. RESULTS: China and South Korea had the quickest TTPs (40.70 and 45.37 days since outbreak, respectively) and the shortest PHs (2.95 and 4.65 cases per day, respectively). Sweden, known for its laissez-faire approach, had the longest TTP (120.36) and the highest PH (279.74). Quicker TTPs were correlated with shorter PHs (ρ = 0·896, p = 0·0026) and lower AUCs (0.790, p = 0.0028), indicating that epidemic curves do not follow a flattened trajectory. During the study period, countries with quicker TTPs tended to have lower CIs (ρ = .855, P = .006) and CFRs (ρ = 0.684, P = .061). For example, South Korea, with the second-quickest TTP, reported the second lowest CI and the lowest CFR. CONCLUSIONS: Countries that experienced early COVID-19 outbreaks demonstrated the epidemic curves that quickly peak at a shorter height, indicating a departure from the traditional flattened trajectory. South Korea's BICTEC was found to be at least as effective as most lockdowns in reducing CI and CFR.

Being pressed for time leads to treating others as things: Exploring the relationships among time scarcity, agentic and communal orientation and objectification.

Time scarcity has become one of the most ubiquitous phenomena in daily life worldwide. Five studies (total valid N = 1332) examined whether time scarcity elicits people's agentic orientation and dampens their communal orientation, thus increasing the likelihood of objectification towards others. Results suggested that people who perceived time scarcity were more likely to exhibit objectification towards others regardless of whether time scarcity was measured (Studies 1 and 3) or manipulated using either a scenario (Study 2a) or a recall task (Studies 2b and 4). Furthermore, agentic and communal orientations mediated the link between time scarcity and objectification (Studies 3 and 4). Additionally, the current research provided a nuanced understanding of these effects by differentiating the people being objectified into acquaintances and close friends (Study 2b) and by taking into consideration the trait-level prosociality of participants (Study 4). Results suggested that the effect persisted when people interacted with others who were close to them, and it was also applicable to people who were highly prosocial by nature. Overall, our findings highlighted the serious interpersonal consequence of time scarcity and highlighted the crucial role of value orientation in understanding this effect.

Prognostic effect of masked morning hypertension in Chinese inpatients with non-dialysis chronic kidney disease: A multi-center retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to elucidate the prognostic role of Masked Morning Hypertension (MMH) in non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (NDD-CKD). METHODS: 2,130 NDD-CKD patients of inpatient department were categorized into four blood pressure groups: clinical normotension (CH-), clinical hypertension (CH+) with morning hypertension (MH+), and without MH+ (MH-) respectively. The correlation between these four blood pressure types and the primary (all-cause mortality) and secondary endpoints (cardio-cerebrovascular disease [CVD] and end-stage kidney disease [ESKD]) was analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalences of morning hypertension and masked morning hypertension were 47.4% and 14.98%, respectively. Morning hypertension independently increased the risk of all-cause mortality (P=0.004) and CVD (P<0.001) but not ESKD (P=0.092). Masked morning hypertension was associated with heightened all-cause mortality (HR = 4.22, 95% CI = 1.31-13.59; P=0.02) and CVD events (HR = 5.14, 95% CI = 1.37-19.23; P=0.02), with no significant association with ESKD (HR = 1.18, 95% CI = 0.65-2.15; P=0.60). When considering non-CVD deaths as a competing risk factor, a high cumulative incidence of CVD events was observed in the masked morning hypertension group (HR = 5.16, 95% CI = 1.39-19.08). CONCLUSIONS: MMH is an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality and combined cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in NDD-CKD patients, underscoring its prognostic significance. This highlights the need for comprehensive management of morning hypertension in this population.

Prognostic Value of Nighttime Double Product in Nondialysis Chronic Kidney Disease With Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Both nighttime systolic blood pressure and pulse rate are associated with adverse outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, nighttime double product (DP), which is the product of nighttime systolic blood pressure and pulse rate, has not yet been investigated in this context. The present study aimed to explore the prognostic value of nighttime DP for adverse outcomes in patients with CKD and hypertension. METHODS AND RESULTS: This retrospective cohort study included a total of 1434 patients with nondialysis CKD complicated by hypertension. The patients were enrolled in Zhuhai and Guangzhou, China, with a median follow-up of 23.8 months. Patient enrollment for the high or low nighttime DP group was performed on the basis of the cutoff value determined by time-dependent receiver operator characteristic curve analysis. The primary end point was a composite of major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, and the secondary end point was all-cause death and composite renal end point. The 24-hour circadian DP rhythm was established via multiple-component cosinor analysis. Cox regression was used to explore the association between nighttime DP and adverse outcomes. The DP of nondialysis patients with CKD and hypertension showed a diurnal rhythm, which varied with renal function. After adjustment, high nighttime DP was associated with a higher risk for major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (hazard ratio [HR], 5.823 [95% CI, 2.382-14.233]), all-cause death (HR, 4.978 [95% CI, 2.205-11.240]), and composite renal event (HR, 1.661 [95% CI, 1.128-2.447]), compared with low nighttime DP. These associations were independent of nighttime systolic blood pressure and PR. CONCLUSIONS: The present cohort study demonstrated that DP had diurnal fluctuations and nighttime DP was an important prognostic factor in nondialysis patients with CKD and hypertension, outperforming traditional risk factors, including systolic blood pressure and pulse rate.

Enhancing antidepressant safety surveillance: comparative analysis of adverse drug reaction signals in spontaneous reporting and healthcare claims databases.

Background/Objective: Spontaneous reporting systems (SRS) such as the Korea Adverse Event Reporting System (KAERS) are limited in their ability to detect adverse drug reaction (ADR) signals due to their limited data on drug use. Conversely, the national health insurance claim (NHIC) data include drug use information for all qualifying residents. This study aimed to compare ADR signal profiles for antidepressants between KAERS and NHIC, evaluating the extent to which detected signals belong to common ADRs and labeling information. Materials and Methods: ADR signal detection in KAERS and NHIC databases, spanning January to December 2017, employed disproportionality analysis. Signal classes were determined based on System Organ Class (SOC) of the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA). Also, Common ADR Coverage (CAC), the proportion of detected signals deemed common ADRs, and labeling information coverage (LIC) represented by mean average precision (mAP) were calculated. Additionally, protopathic bias and relative risk (RR) evaluation were performed to check for signal robustness. Results: Signal detection revealed 51 and 62 signals in KAERS and NHIC databases, respectively. Both systems predominantly captured signals related to nervous system disorders, comprising 33.3% (N = 17) in KAERS and 50.8% (N = 31) in NHIC. Regarding the type of antidepressants, KAERS predominantly reported signals associated with tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) (N = 21, 41.2%), while NHIC produced most signals linked to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (N = 22, 35.5%). KAERS exhibited higher CAC (68.63% vs. 29.03%) than NHIC. LIC was also higher in KAERS than in NHIC (mAP for EB05: 1.00 vs. 0.983); i.e., NHIC identified 5 signals not documented in drug labeling information, while KAERS found none. Among the unlabeled signals, one (Duloxetine-Myelopathy) was from protopathic bias, and two (duloxetine-myelopathy and tianeptine-osteomalacia) were statistically significant in RR. Conclusion: NHIC exhibited greater capability in detecting ADR signals associated with antidepressant use, encompassing unlabeled ADR signals, compared to KAERS. NHIC also demonstrated greater potential for identifying less common ADRs. Further investigation is needed for signals detected exclusively in NHIC but not covered by labeling information. This study underscores the value of integrating different sources of data, offering substantial regulatory insights and enriching the scope of pharmacovigilance.

An investigation on pickering nano-emulsions stabilized by dihydromyricetin/high-amylose corn starch composite particles: Preparation conditions and carrier properties.

With dihydromyricetin (DMY)/high-amylose corn starch (HCS) composite particles as the emulsifier, Pickering nano-emulsions were fabricated by combining high-speed shearing and high-pressure homogenization. The effect of particle properties and processing conditions on the formation and physicochemical properties of the Pickering nano-emulsions was then investigated systematically. The results showed that the DMY content of the composite particles, the oil phase volume fraction of the emulsion, and the homogenization conditions had obvious effects on the droplet size of the emulsion, where appropriate DMY content in the composite particles (5-20%) contributed to the formation of stable Pickering nano-emulsions. The oil phase of the obtained emulsions exhibited good stability during high-temperature storage, and their ß-carotene protecting performance against UV irradiation was superior to the emulsion stabilized by Tween 20. The in vitro simulated digestion analysis indicated that the nano-emulsions developed by the composite particles could enhance the bioaccessibility of ß-carotene and inhibit starch hydrolysis.

Rumour type matters: The effect of different types of rumours on coping, subjective well-being, and interpersonal trust during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rumours circulated quickly online and offline during the COVID-19 pandemic, but empirical research on the subject is limited. Combining qualitative (Study 1, content analysis was conducted on 2344 actual rumours extracted from a rumour-refuting website) and quantitative methods (Study 2, a three-wave study with 10-day intervals), the current study suggests that (1) rumours during the pandemic can be categorised into three types, that is, wish, dread, and aggression rumours, and (2) exposure to different types of rumours is associated with coping consequences, subjective well-being (comprising positive affect, negative affect, and life satisfaction), and interpersonal trust in different ways. Generally, wish rumours seem benign, while dread and aggression rumours are malicious. Specifically, wish rumours are believed to assist coping and to be positively associated with positive affect and interpersonal trust. In contrast, dread rumours are believed not to assist coping and to be marginally significantly and positively associated with negative affect and negatively associated with interpersonal trust. Meanwhile, aggression rumours are believed not to assist coping and are marginally significantly and positively associated with negative affect. All other relationships are nonsignificant. The results of the current study will help national governments and international agencies design and evaluate rumour control strategies and policies.

Understanding Rumor Sharing Behavior During COVID-19: The Dominant Motivation and the Potential Consequences for Life Satisfaction.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, rumors were shared widely and quickly, leading to unfortunate consequences. To explore the dominant motivation underlying such rumor sharing behavior and the potential consequences for sharers' life satisfaction, two studies were conducted. Study 1 was based on representative popular rumors that circulated throughout Chinese society during the pandemic to examine the dominant motivation underlying rumor sharing behavior. Study 2 employed a longitudinal design to further test the dominant motivation underlying rumor sharing behavior and its effects on life satisfaction. The results of these two studies generally supported our hypotheses that people chose to share rumors during the pandemic mainly for the purpose of fact-finding. Regarding the effects of rumor sharing behavior on life satisfaction, although sharing wish rumors (i.e., rumors expressing hopes) had no effect on sharers' life satisfaction, sharing dread rumors (i.e., rumors reflecting fears) and aggression rumors (i.e., rumors implying aggression and hatred) reduced sharers' life satisfaction. This research lends support to the integrative model of rumor and provides practical implications for mitigating the spread of rumors.

A "selective secondary tissue attachment" method for isolation and purification of mammary epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Mammary epithelial cells (MECs) are specific target cells to study the underlying mechanism for mammary gland development and lactation, mammary gland bioreactor and breast cancer pathogenesis. However, the conventional isolation and purification methods of MECs have restricted the research and application of its related fields, because the isolated MECs population was always mixed with other cell types. OBJECTIVE: In order to solve the problem of incomplete purification of MECs isolated in vitro, it is very necessary to establish the optimal culture method for its isolation and purification. METHOD: In this study, a method were called the "selective secondary tissue attachment method", which were proved to be effective and accurate by the purity, cellular viability, biological characteristic, and transgenic efficiency of the purified MECs. KEY RESULTS: The results showed that compared with traditional methods, this method could obtain 100% MECs population with high purity and high cell viability in vitro, and these purified cells showed high transgenic efficiency and a high number of positive clones. In addition, the early embryo development rate could significantly improve when the purified mammary epithelial cells were used as donor cells for nuclear transfer. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, this study provides a versatile and effective method for the isolation of MECs with high purity, which can be used further for mammary-related research. IMPLICATIONS: It is most effective approach to isolate mammary epithelial cells by "selective secondary tissue attachment method".

Characteristics and negative impacts of pleural effusion in hospitalized patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Hospitalized patients on maintenance hemodialysis often develop pleural effusion (PE). The prognosis of these patients is likely to be affected by the PE. This study examined the characteristics of PE, identified risk factors for its development, and explored its negative effects. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we analyzed medical records of 1,077 patients who underwent maintenance hemodialysis between October 2014 and January 2022. According to the chest computed tomography (CT) imaging results, patients were categorized into two groups: PE and non-PE. A definitive diagnosis of PE was made after a nephrologist, a pulmonary physician, and a radiologist reviewed the case. RESULTS: Of the 1,077 patients, 343 (31.85%) were diagnosed with PE. These patients had a mean age of 55.28±15.21 years old and 61.47% of them were men. There were 77.84% patients with PE resulting from heart failure, and 82.02% of these patients had bilateral effusions. The occurrence of PE was associated with cardiovascular disease, clinic-systolic blood pressure (SBP), chest tightness, leg edema, and pro-brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP). PE patients had a poorer survival rate than patients without PE (unadjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 4.17; 95% CI: 3.12-5.57). The survival rates of patients with small PE did not differ from those with moderate to large PE. Similarly, no difference was found in survival between the bilateral PE and unilateral PE groups, as well as between the heart failure and non-heart failure groups. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalized patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis have a high incidence of PE. PE (even a small amount) is an risk factor for increased mortality. These poor prognostic features should be noted by physicians and managed accordingly.

The Analysis of Potential Diagnostic and Therapeutic Targets for the Occurrence and Development of Gastric Cancer Based on Bioinformatics.

Objective: Gastric cancer is among the most common malignant tumors of the digestive system. This study explored the molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets for gastric cancer occurrence and progression using bioinformatics. Methods: The gastric cancer microarray dataset was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The R package was used for data mining and screening differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome (KEGG) pathway analysis were performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID). Based on the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, core targets and core subsets were screened. Then, the relationship between the expression level of the core genes and the prognosis of gastric cancer patients was analyzed using the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) database. Results: Using the GSE19826 and GSE54129 datasets, a total of 550 DEGs were identified, including 248 upregulated and 302 downregulated genes. GO and KEGG analyses showed that the upregulated DEGs were mainly enriched in the extracellular matrix (ECM) organization of the biological process (BP), the collagen-containing ECM of cellular component (CC), and the ECM structural constituent of molecular function (MF). DEGs were also enriched in human papillomavirus infections, the focal adhesion pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and among others. The downregulated DEGs were mainly enriched in digestion, basal part of the cell, and aldo-keto reductase (NADP) activity. And the above pathways were enriched primarily in the metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450, drug metabolism-cytochrome P450, and retinol metabolism. Five core genes, including COL1A2, COL3A1, BGN, FN1, and VCAN, were significantly highly expressed in gastric cancer patients and were associated with poor prognosis. Conclusion: This study identified new potential molecular targets closely related to gastric cancer occurrence and development via mining public data using bioinformatics analysis methods.

Preparation of biomimetic non-iridescent structural color based on polystyrene-polycaffeic acid core-shell nanospheres.

Caffeic acid (CA), as a natural plant-derived polyphenol, has been widely used in surface coating technology in recent years due to its excellent properties. In this work, caffeic acid was introduced into the preparation of photonic band gap materials. By controlling the variables, a reasonable preparation method of polystyrene (PS) @polycaffeic (PCA)-Cu(ii) core-shell microspheres was achieved: 1 mmol L-1 cupric chloride anhydrous (CuCl2), 3 mmol L-1 sodium perborate tetrahydrate (NaBO3·4H2O), 2 mmol L-1 CA and 2 g L-1 polystyrene (PS) were reacted at 50 °C for 10 min to prepare PS@PCA-Cu(ii) core-shell microspheres through rapid oxidative polymerization of CA coated PS of different particle diameters. The amorphous photonic crystal structure was self-assembled through thermal assisted-gravity sedimentation, resulting in structural color nanomaterials with soft and uniform color, no angle dependence, stable mechanical fastness and excellent UV resistance.