The Investigation of Neuromimetic Dynamics in Ferroelectrics via In Situ TEM.

The core task of neuromorphic devices is to effectively simulate the behavior of neurons and synapses. Based on the functionality of ferroelectric domains with the advantages of low power consumption and high-speed response, great progress has been made in realizing neuromimetic behaviors such as ferroelectric synaptic devices. However, the correlation between the ferroelectric domain dynamics and neuromimetic behavior remains unclear. Here, we reveal the correlation between domain/domain wall dynamics and neuromimetic behaviors from a microscopic perspective in real-time by using high temporal and spatial resolution in situ transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, we propose utilizing ferroelectric microstructures for the simultaneous simulation of neuronal and synaptic plasticity, which is expected to improve the integration and performance of ferroelectric neuromorphic devices. We believe that this work to study neuromimetic behavior from the perspective of domain dynamics is instructive for the development of ferroelectric neuromorphic devices.

LncRNA CCAT1 knockdown suppresses tongue squamous cell carcinoma progression by inhibiting the ubiquitination of PHLPP2.

Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is prevailing malignancy in the oral and maxillofacial region, characterized by its high frequency. LncRNA CCAT1 can promote tumorigenesis and progression in many cancers. Here, we investigated the regulatory mechanism by which CCAT1 influences growth and metastasis of TSCC. Levels of CCAT1, WTAP, TRIM46, PHLPP2, AKT, p-AKT, and Ki67 in TSCC tissues and cells were assessed utilizing qRT-PCR, Western blot and IHC. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were evaluated utilizing CCK8, colony formation, wound healing and transwell assays. Subcellular localization of CCAT1 was detected utilizing FISH assay. m6A level of CCAT1 was assessed using MeRIP. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and RNA pull down elucidated binding relationship between molecules. Nude mouse tumorigenesis experiments were used to verify the TSCC regulatory function of CCAT1 in vivo. Metastatic pulmonary nodules were observed utilizing hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. CCAT1 silencing repressed TSCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Expression of CCAT1 was enhanced through N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of its RNA, facilitated by WTAP. Moreover, IGF2BP1 up-regulated CCAT1 expression by stabilizing its RNA transcript. CCAT1 bond to PHLPP2, inducing its ubiquitination and activating AKT signaling. CCAT1 mediated the ubiquitination and degradation of PHLPP2 by TRIM46, thereby promoting TSCC growth and metastasis. CCAT1/TRIM46/PHLPP2 axis regulated proliferation and invasion of TSCC cells, implying that CCAT1 would be a novel therapeutic target for TSCC patients.

Three-Year Follow-Up Study Investigating Changes in Retinal Vascular Morphology and the Relationship with Diabetic Retinopathy in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate changes in retinal microvascular morphology and associated factors, and their relationship with diabetic retinopathy (DR) in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). METHODS: Thirty-eight children enrolled in this 3-year follow-up study underwent complete ophthalmic examinations including fundus photography. Retinal vascular parameters were measured automatically and compared between baseline and follow-up. Multiple linear regression was used to investigate factors affecting changes in vascular parameters. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between retinal microvascular morphology and DR. RESULTS: The caliber of all retinal vessels (within 1-1.5 papillary diameter [PD] from the center of the optic disc, p = 0.030; 1.5-2 PD, p = 0.003), arterioles, and venules (1.5-2 PD, p = 0.001) was narrower in nearly all regions in the follow-up group compared with the baseline group. Vascular tortuosity increased in the central part of the retina and decreased in the periphery. The density (1-1.5 PD, p = 0.030) and fractal dimension (p = 0.037) of retinal vessels were increased at the end of the follow-up compared with baseline. Retinal vascular caliber was independently correlated with DR (odds ratio 0.793 [95% confidence interval 0.633-0.993]; p = 0.044). CONCLUSION: Retinal microvascular morphology in children with T1DM varied with the disease course. Narrower retinal vessels may be an independent risk factor for DR. Results of this study emphasized the importance of regular follow-up of fundus vascular morphology for the detection of early DR in children with T1DM.

The Utility of Ultrasound Guidance to Improve the Safety of Closure of Antegrade Common Femoral Artery Access after Lower Limb Revascularization.

This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of ultrasound (US)-guidance in reducing adverse event (AE) rates when using Angioseal device during antegrade lower limb angioplasty via common femoral artery access. From December 2016 to November 2022, 1,322 patients were identified, including 1,131 (85.6%) patients who underwent US-guided closure and 191 (14.4%) who underwent non-US-guided closure. Moderate AEs were encountered in 10 (5.2%) patients in the non-US-guided closure group compared to 38 (3.4%) patients in the US-guided closure group (P = .208). Severe AEs were encountered in 4 (2.1%) patients in the non-US-guided closure group compared to 3 (0.3%) patients in the US-guided closure group (P = .010). Overall AEs occurred in 14 (7.3%) patients in the non-US-guided closure group compared to 41 (3.6%) patients in the US-guided closure group (P = .029). Binary logistic regression showed that only non-US guidance was an independent risk factor for the occurrence of severe AEs (P = .008).

Proximal trigeminal nerve atrophy is associated with favourable outcomes and persistent facial numbness following percutaneous balloon compression for primary trigeminal neuralgia.

OBJECTIVE: Whether nerve atrophy can affect the prognosis of primary trigeminal neuralgia (PTN) patients undergoing percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the association between nerve characteristics observed on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and PBC outcomes. METHODS: Between January 2019 and December 2022, a cohort of 58 patients with unilateral PTN treated with PBC were analysed retrospectively and included in this study. The relationship between MRI findings, including the proximal and distal nerve cross-sectional areas (CSAs), and favourable pain outcomes (BNI Grades I-III) was analysed through Kaplan‒Meier analysis. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up period of 23.8 ± 13.0 months (range, 6-50 months), 48 (82.8%) patients with PTN were pain free with or without medication. A smaller proximal CSA ratio (proximal CSA of the affected nerve/proximal CSA of the unaffected nerve) was significantly associated with favourable outcomes. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients with proximal nerve atrophy (proximal CSA ratio ≤ 87% after receiver operating characteristic curve analysis) had a higher estimated 4-year probability of maintaining a favourable outcome than those without nerve atrophy (94.4% vs. 30.8%, p = 0.005). In addition, patients with proximal nerve atrophy were more likely to suffer from postoperative persistent facial numbness. CONCLUSIONS: Proximal nerve atrophy is correlated with both favourable outcomes and persistent facial numbness following PBC. Prospective studies are required to determine the optimal duration and pressure of balloon compression in relation to the proximal CSA ratio to achieve better pain outcomes and less facial numbness.

Waste toner-derived micro-materials as low-cost magnetic solid-phase extraction adsorbent for the analysis of trace Pb in environmental and biological samples.

Lead (Pb) is a toxic heavy metal and is commonly used in industrial applications. Thus, Pb poisoning is a concerning public health issue worldwide. The amounts of lead in natural water, urine, and blood can serve as significant indicators for monitoring the exposure of Pb poisoning. Waste toner has the characteristics of both "waste" and "resource," as it is a "resource in the wrong place." Here, a low-cost carboxylate-functionalized magnetic adsorbent was first synthesized from waste toner by a simple thermal treatment and served as a novel adsorbent with a flexible multidentate O-donor for pre-concentration of trace Pb. The characterization, adsorption behavior, and various factors of adsorption and desorption were adequately optimized, and prior to graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) detection, a new magnetic solid-phase extraction method was proposed for the analysis of Pb in real environmental water and biological samples. The developed method exhibited a low detection limit (0.003 µg L-1), high enrichment factor (88.6-fold), good linearity (0.01-0.3 µg L-1), satisfactory precision with relative standard deviations of 7.9% (n = 7, CPb = 0.02 µg L-1), fast adsorption kinetics (5 min), and strong ability to overcome matrix interference. Validation was also performed by analyzing a certified standard reference material, and the method was successfully applied to real tap water, lake water, human urine, and human blood serum with satisfactory recoveries of 92.6-109%.

A Comprehensive Analysis of the Validity and Reliability of the Perception Neuron Studio for Upper-Body Motion Capture.

The Perception Neuron Studio (PNS) is a cost-effective and widely used inertial motion capture system. However, a comprehensive analysis of its upper-body motion capture accuracy is still lacking, before it is being applied to biomechanical research. Therefore, this study first evaluated the validity and reliability of this system in upper-body capturing and then quantified the system's accuracy for different task complexities and movement speeds. Seven participants performed simple (eight single-DOF upper-body movements) and complex tasks (lifting a 2.5 kg box over the shoulder) at fast and slow speeds with the PNS and OptiTrack (gold-standard optical system) collecting kinematics data simultaneously. Statistical metrics such as CMC, RMSE, Pearson's r, R2, and Bland-Altman analysis were utilized to assess the similarity between the two systems. Test-retest reliability included intra- and intersession relations, which were assessed by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) as well as CMC. All upper-body kinematics were highly consistent between the two systems, with CMC values 0.73-0.99, RMSE 1.9-12.5°, Pearson's r 0.84-0.99, R2 0.75-0.99, and Bland-Altman analysis demonstrating a bias of 0.2-27.8° as well as all the points within 95% limits of agreement (LOA). The relative reliability of intra- and intersessions was good to excellent (i.e., ICC and CMC were 0.77-0.99 and 0.75-0.98, respectively). The paired t-test revealed that faster speeds resulted in greater bias, while more complex tasks led to lower consistencies. Our results showed that the PNS could provide accurate enough upper-body kinematics for further biomechanical performance analysis.

Efficacy and safety of 188Re-HEDP in lung cancer patients with bone metastases: a randomized, multicenter, multiple-dose phase IIa study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the pain-relieving effect and safety of three different doses of 188Re-hydroxyethylidine diphosphonate (HEDP) in patients with lung cancer and bone metastases. METHODS: For this randomised, phase 2 and multicenter trial, we enrolled patients with lung carcinoma and multifocal bone metastases and excluded patients who had received bisphosphonates or external-beam radiotherapy within the previous 4 weeks. Fifty-four patients were randomized to receive a single injection of 188Re-HEDP, at doses of 30, 40 or 50 MBq/kg (interval, 12 weeks). Patients were followed-up by assessment of numerical rating scale (NRS) score, global quality of life (QOL) score and adverse events (AEs). ANOVA analysis, Chi-Squared test and LSD-t test were used in this study. RESULTS: Significantly decreased NRS scores relative to baseline were observed in 40 MBq/kg group (Week 0 vs. Week 12: 6.0 ± 1.4 vs. 4.8 ± 2.5, P = 0.033) and 50 MBq/kg group (Week 0 vs. Week 12: 5.5 ± 1.5 vs. 4.5 ± 2.9, P = 0.046). Significant change of global QOL score from baseline was observed in 40 MBq/kg group at week 8 (global QOL score: P = 0.024, pain score: P = 0.041) and 50 MBq/kg group (pain score: P = 0.021) at week 12. No patients withdrew trial because of AEs in three groups. CONCLUSIONS: 188Re-HEDP at dose of 40 and 50 MBq/kg was generally effective to alleviate pain and improve QOL in lung cancer patients with painful bone metastases. 188Re-HEDP was safe and well-tolerated.

Type 2 myocardial infarction among critically ill elderly patients in the Intensive Care Unit: the clinical features and in-hospital prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 myocardial infarction (T2MI) refers to myocardial ischemic necrosis as a result of myocardial oxygen supply/demand mismatch, which are common comorbidities of critically ill patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence rate and risks of T2MI in critically ill elderly patients and further elucidate in-hospital prognostic factors. METHODS: A total of 223 critically ill elderly patients admitted to our hospital from October 2016 to September 2018 were recruited. The clinical data and the in-hospital mortality rate were compared between the T2MI and non-T2MI groups. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to identify independent factors related to T2MI. The clinical data and incidence of T2MI were also compared between patients who survived and those who died; multivariate regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for in-hospital death and survival analysis was conducted. RESULTS: In this study, the incidence of T2MI was 24.2% (54/223), and the mortality rate of critically ill elderly patients was 39.0% (87/223). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that severe hypoxemia, arrhythmia, shock, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) were independent risk factors of T2MI. Compared to the survival patients, the use of mechanical ventilation, the incidence of T2MI, APACHE II score, troponin T, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin levels were significantly higher in patients who died, while the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was significantly decreased (all P < 0.05). In-hospital mortality was significantly increased in patients with T2MI (59.3% vs. 32.5%, P < 0.001). After adjustment for relevant factors, the incidence of T2MI, mechanical ventilation required, and eGFR reduction were independent and significant predictors of in-hospital death. CONCLUSIONS: Critically, ill elderly patients have a high incidence of T2MI. In addition to severe hypoxia, shock, and arrhythmia, MODS is also associated with T2MI. At the same time, the risk of in-hospital death is increased in patients with type 2 MI.

Preparation and Characterization of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Macrocyclic Compounds: Cyclic Ladder-like Polyphenylsilsesquioxanes.

Organic-inorganic hybrid macrocyclic compounds, cyclic polyphenylsilsesquioxanes (cyc-PSQs), have been synthesized through hydrolysis and condensation reactions of phenyltrichlorosilane. Structural characterization has revealed that cyc-PSQs consist of a closed-ring double-chain siloxane inorganic backbone bearing organic phenyl groups. The cyc-PSQ molecules have been simulated and structurally optimized using the Forcite tool as implemented in Materials Studio. Structurally optimized cyc-PSQs are highly symmetrical and regular with high stereoregularity, consistent with the dimensions of their experimentally derived structures. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that these macrocyclic compounds have excellent thermal stability. In addition to these perfectly structured compounds, macrocyclic compounds with the same ring ladder structure but bearing an additional Si-OH group, cyc-PSQs-OH, have also been synthesized. A possible mechanism for the formation of the closed-ring molecular structures of cyc-PSQs and cyc-PSQs-OH is proposed.

Non-invasive glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor imaging in pancreas with (18)F-Al labeled Cys(39)-exendin-4.

PURPOSE: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) is abundantly expressed on beta cells and may be an ideal target for the pancreas imaging. Monitoring the GLP-1R of pancreas could be benefit for understanding the pathophysiology of diabetes. In the present study, (18)F-Al labeled exendin-4 analog, (18)F-Al-NOTA-MAL-Cys(39)-exendin-4, was evaluated for PET imaging GLP-1R in the pancreas. METHODS: The targeting of (18)F-Al labeled exendin-4 analog was examined in healthy and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Rats were injected with (18)F-Al-NOTA-MAL-Cys(39)-exendin-4 and microPET imaging was performed at 1 h postinjection, followed by ex vivo biodistribution. GLP-1R expression in pancreas was determined through post mortern examinations. RESULTS: The pancreas of healthy rats was readily visualized after administration of (18)F-Al-NOTA-MAL-Cys(39)-exendin-4, whereas the pancreas of diabetic rats, as well as those from rats co-injected with excess of unlabeled peptides, was barely visible by microPET. At 60 min postinjection, the pancreatic uptakes were 1.02 ± 0.15%ID/g and 0.23 ± 0.05%ID/g in healthy and diabetic rats respectively. Under block, the pancreatic uptakes of non-diabetic rats reduced to 0.21 ± 0.07%ID/g at the same time point. Biodistribution data and IHC staining confirmed the findings of the microPET imaging. CONCLUSION: The favorable preclinical data indicated that (18)F-Al-NOTA-MAL-Cys(39)-exendin-4may be suitable for non-invasive monitoring functional pancreatic beta cells.

High π-Facial and exo-Selectivity for the Intramolecular Diels-Alder Cycloaddition of Dodeca-3,9,11-trien-5-one Precursors to 2-epi-Symbioimine and Related Compounds.

An unconstrained exocyclic stereogenic center and a removable trimethylsilyl group are combined to induce high π-facial selectivity and near-exclusive exo-selectivity in the intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition of dodeca-3,9,11-trien-5-ones. This strategy provides direct access to polysubstituted trans-1-decalones related to the symbioimines in good yield and acceptable diastereoselectivity.

Transition-metal-free formal decarboxylative coupling of α-oxocarboxylates with α-bromoketones under neutral conditions: a simple access to 1,3-diketones.

A transition-metal-free formal decarboxylative coupling reaction between α-oxocarboxylates and α-bromoketones to synthesize 1,3-diketone derivatives is presented. In this reaction, a broad scope of substrates can be employed, and neither a metal-based reagent nor an additional base is required. DFT calculations reveal that this reaction proceeds through a coupling followed by decarboxylation mechanism and the α-bromoketone unprecedentedly serves as a nucleophile under neutral conditions. The rate-determining step is an unusual hydrogen-bond-assisted enolate formation by thermolysis.

Cyclic [2]Catenane Dimers, Trimers, and Tetramers.

Dimeric, trimeric, and tetrameric cyclic [2]catenanes have been prepared directly through one-pot sodium-ion-templated dynamic imine formation from a diamine and a tetraaldehyde. NaBH4 mediated reduction of the labile imino bonds of these cyclic [2]catenane oligomers, followed by methylation of the resulting secondary amino groups enabled the isolation and characterization of oligomeric cyclic [2]catenanes as stable, covalently linked compounds.

Speciation of inorganic selenium in environmental water samples by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry after preconcentration by using a mesoporous zirconia coating on coal cinder.

A simple, novel, and selective flow-injection solid-phase extraction with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry method was developed for the speciation of inorganic selenium in environmental water samples. A mesoporous zirconia film was simply introduced to coat coal cinder by means of the sol-gel technique, and the adsorptive performance of the coated material for Se(IV)/Se(VI) was investigated in different media. Both Se(IV) and Se(VI) can be retained quantitatively by the material in HCl/NaOH (pH 1.0-9.0) media, while only Se(IV) was adsorbed quantitatively in sodium acetate buffer (pH 3.5-6.0). Thus, the assay of Se(VI) is based on subtracting Se(IV) from total selenium by controlling different adsorptive media without employing any redox procedure. Under the optimum conditions, the detection limit of Se(IV) is 9.0 ng/L with an enrichment factor of 100, and the relative standard deviation is 3.6% (n = 9, C = 5.0 ng/mL). The developed method was successfully applied to the speciation of inorganic selenium in environmental water samples with satisfactory results. In order to further verify the accuracy of the developed method, it was applied to analysis of total selenium in GSBZ 50031-94 certified reference environmental water, and the determined values coincided with the certified values very well.

Assessment of tumor response to chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer using (18)F-FLT: a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To determine the diagnostic performance of 3'-deoxy-3'-(18)F-fluorothymidine positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FLT PET/CT) and FLT PET for evaluating response to chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer. METHODS: Databases such as PubMed (MEDLINE included) and excerpta medica database (EMBASE), were searched for relevant original articles. The included studies were assessed for methodological quality with quality assessment of diagnosis accuracy studies (QUADAS) score tool. Histopathological analysis and/or clinical and/or radiological follow-up for at least 6 months were used as the reference standard. The data were extracted by two reviewers independently to analyze the sensitivity, specificity, summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve, area under the curve (AUC), and heterogeneity. RESULTS: The present study analyzed a total of 4 selected articles. The pool sensitivity was 0.773 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.594-0.900]. The pooled specificity was 0.685 (95% CI: 0.479-0.849) on basis of FEM. The pooled LR+, LR-, and DOR were 2.874 (1.492-5.538), 0.293 (0.146-0.589), and 14.891 (3.238-68.475), respectively. The AUC was 0.8636 (±0.0655), and the Q* index was 0.7942 (±0.0636). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that (18)F-FLT PET/CT or PET is useful to predict chemotherapy response in breast cancer with reasonable sensitivity, specificity and DOR. However, future larger scale clinical trials will be needed to assess the regimen of (18)F-FLT PET/CT or PET in monitoring the response to chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.