The standardized training and assessment system for magnetically controlled capsule gastroscopy (with video).

BACKGROUND AND AIM: To explore the feasibility of a standardized training and assessment system for magnetically controlled capsule gastroscopy (MCCG). METHODS: The results of 90 trainees who underwent the standardized training and assessment system of the MCCG at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from May 2020 to November 2023 was retrospectively analyzed. The trainees were divided into three groups according to their medical backgrounds: doctor, nurse, and non-medical groups. The training and assessment system adopted the '7 + 2' mode, seven days of training plus two days of theoretical and operational assessment. The passing rates of theoretical, operational, and total assessment were the primary outcomes. Satisfaction and mastery of the MCCG was checked. RESULTS: Ninety trainees were assessed; theoretical assessment's passing rates in the three groups were 100%. The operational and total assessment passing rates were 100% (25/25), 97.92% (47/48), and 94.12% (16/17), for the doctor, nurse, and non-doctor groups respectively, with no significant difference (χ2 = 1.741, p = 0.419). No bleeding or perforation occurred during the procedure. Approximately, 96.00% (24/25), 95.83% (46/48), and 94.12% (16/17) of the doctor, nurse and non-medical groups anonymously expressed great satisfaction, respectively, without statistically significant difference (χ2 = 0.565, p = 1.000). The average follow-up time was 4-36 months, and 87 trainees (96.67%) had mastered the operation of the MCCG in daily work. CONCLUSIONS: Standardized training and assessment of magnetically controlled capsule endoscopists is effective and feasible. Additionally, a strict assessment system and long-term communication and learning can improve teaching effects.

Hydrogen Peroxide Electrochemical Sensor Based on Ag/Cu Bimetallic Nanoparticles Modified on Polypyrrole.

Due to the strong oxidizing properties of H2O2, excessive discharge of H2O2 will cause great harm to the environment. Moreover, H2O2 is also an energetic material used as fuel, with specific attention given to its safety. Therefore, it is of great importance to explore and prepare good sensitive materials for the detection of H2O2 with a low detection limit and high selectivity. In this work, a kind of hydrogen peroxide electrochemical sensor has been fabricated. That is, polypyrrole (PPy) has been electropolymerized on the glass carbon electrode (GCE), and then Ag and Cu nanoparticles are modified together on the surface of polypyrrole by electrodeposition. SEM analysis shows that Cu and Ag nanoparticles are uniformly deposited on the surface of PPy. Electrochemical characterization results display that the sensor has a good response to H2O2 with two linear intervals. The first linear range is 0.1-1 mM (R2 = 0.9978, S = 265.06 µA/ (mM × cm2)), and the detection limit is 0.027 µM (S/N = 3). The second linear range is 1-35 mM (R2 = 0.9969, 445.78 µA/ (mM × cm2)), corresponding to 0.063 µM of detection limit (S/N = 3). The sensor reveals good reproducibility (σ = 2.104), repeatability (σ = 2.027), anti-interference, and stability. The recoveries of the electrode are 99.84-103.00% (for 0.1-1 mM of linear range) and 98.65-104.80% (for 1-35 mM linear range). Furthermore, the costs of the hydrogen peroxide electrochemical sensor proposed in this work are reduced largely by using non-precious metals without degradation of the sensing performance of H2O2. This study provides a facile way to develop nanocomposite electrochemical sensors.

Intracellular hydroxyproline imprinting following resolution of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal lung disease with few treatment options. The poor success in developing anti-IPF strategies has impelled researchers to reconsider the importance of the choice of animal model and assessment methodologies. Currently, it is still not settled whether the bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis mouse model finally returns to resolution. METHODS: This study aimed to follow the dynamic fibrotic features of bleomycin-treated mouse lungs over extended durations through a combination of the latest technologies (micro-computed tomography imaging and histological detection of degraded collagens) and traditional methods. In addition, we also applied immunohistochemistry to explore the distribution of all hydroxyproline-containing molecules. RESULTS: As determined by classical biochemical methods, total lung hydroxyproline contents reached a peak at 4 weeks after bleomycin injury and maintained a steady high level thereafter until the end of the experiments (16 weeks). This result seemed to partially contradict with the changes of other fibrosis evaluation parameters, which indicated a gradual degradation of collagens and a recovery of lung aeration after the fibrosis peak. This inconsistency was well reconciled by our data from immunostaining against hydroxyproline and fluorescent peptide staining against degraded collagen, together showing large amounts of hydroxyproline-rich degraded collagen fragments detained and enriched within the intracellular regions at 10 or 16 weeks rather than at 4 weeks after bleomycin treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our present data not only offer respiratory researchers a new perspective towards the resolution nature of mouse lung fibrosis, but also remind them to be cautious when using the hydroxyproline content assay to evaluate the severity of fibrosis.

A comprehensive evaluation of pre- and post-processing sperm parameters for predicting successful pregnancy rate following intrauterine insemination with the husband's sperms.

BACKGROUND: To determine the predictive values of sperm parameters pre- and post-processing by density gradient centrifugation for clinical pregnancy rates (CPRs) following artificial insemination by husband (AIH) in infertile Chinese couples. METHODS: A total of 3,522 AIH cycles from 1,918 couples were retrospectively analyzed. The parameters were compared between the pregnant and non-pregnant groups and further between different etiological groups (Male-factor, Both-male-and-female-factor, and Other-factor). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to create models for predicting the CPRs of each etiological group. RESULTS: The overall CPR was 13.3%. There were significant improvements for most sperm parameters after DGC. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that, in overall AIH cases, the top parameters significantly influencing the CPR of AIH were pre-STR (OR = 1.037; P = 0.048) and post-VSL (OR = 1.036; P = 0.011). In the Male-factor Group, the top influencing parameters were pre-VCL (OR = 2.096; P = 0.008), pre-LIN (OR = 1.930; P = 0.002) and post-VSL (OR = 1.316; P = 0.023). In the Both-factor Group, the top influencing parameters were pre-VCL (OR = 1.451; P = 0.008) and post-motility (OR = 1.218; P = 0.049). In the Other-factor Group, the top influencing parameters were pre-VAP (OR = 1.715; P = 0.024), pre-STR (OR = 1.20; P = 0.011) and post-VSL (OR = 1.04; P = 0.017). Moreover, receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the logistic regression models of the Male- and Both-factor Groups had greater powers for prognostic classification than those of other groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that some sperm parameters have a collinearity relationship in predicting the CPR following AIH. Moreover, the predictive capacity of a multivariate logistic regression model is better than those of individual parameters, especially for the Male- and Both-factor Groups. In these cases, pre-VCL is the common top influencing factor.

Translation and validation of the Chinese version of the orthorexia nervosa assessment questionnaires among college students.

PURPOSE: The main objective of the study was to translate, validate, and compare the Chinese ORTO scales (ORTO-15 and ORTO-R). The secondary objective was to assess factors that may be related with risk of orthorexia nervosa (ON). METHODS: Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted on March-to-June 2021 for ORTO-15 and April 2022 for ORTO-R. ORTO questionnaires were translated into Chinese using the forward-backward-forward method. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), discriminant validity and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to examine the construct validity of the questionnaires. The internal consistency was assessed using the Cronbach alpha coefficient and the test-retest reliability. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to explore potential factors related with ON scores. RESULTS: Totally, 1289 and 1084 eligible participants were included for assessment of ORTO-15 and ORTO-R, with the mean age of 20.9 ± 2.0 years and 21.0 ± 2.3 years. The internal consistency of Chinese ORTO-15 scale and ORTO-R scale were both satisfactory (α = 0.79, ICC = 0.79; α = 0.77, ICC = 0.82). However, all ORTO-15 models showed a poor fit using CFA whereas the ORTO-R was characterized by acceptable goodness-of-fit. Multivariate linear regression indicated that physical activities and mental disorders were positively associated with ON risk assessed by both ORTO-R and ORTO-15. CONCLUSION: The Chinese ORTO-R scale was a more reliable tool to screen for ON tendencies than the Chinese version of ORTO-15. Mental disorders and physical activities might be associated with the increased ON risk. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V (descriptive cross-sectional study).

Dispersive and filter loss performance of calcium carbonate nanoparticles in water for drilling fluid applications.

Adding nanoparticles in a drilling fluid can aid in the sealing of the nanopores in the borehole wall rock and the mud cake; in this way, the filtrate loss of the drilling fluid can be reduced and the borehole wall is stabilized. In this work, the spectrophotometric method was used to study the effect of dispersants on calcium carbonate nanoparticles. The best dispersion effect was achieved at cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) concentration of 4 wt%, dispersing time of 45 min, pH value of 8 and stirring speed of 900 rpm. The structure analysis showed that the adsorption layer was formed on the surface of calcium carbonate nanoparticles after CTAB modification, and no new crystalline compounds appeared. Under these optimized dispersing conditions, aggregation was prevented as manifested by the dramatically decreased average particle size of calcium carbonate nanoparticles while the surface hydrophilicity and Zeta potential of calcium carbonate nanoparticles both increased. Furthermore, we showed that a drilling fluid incorporating such well dispersed calcium carbonate nanoparticles exhibit decreased filter loss and thus better performance in sealing compared to the calcium carbonate nanoparticles without dispersants.

The Characteristics of Postprandial Proximal Gastric Acid Pocket in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

BACKGROUND Postprandial proximal gastric acid pocket (PPGAP) plays important roles in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In this study, we analyzed the characteristics of PPGAP in GERD. MATERIAL AND METHODS There were 17 normal participants and 20 GERD patients who completed a gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire (GerdQ) and underwent a gastroscopy, a high-resolution manometry, an esophageal 24-hour pH monitoring, and a station pull-through pH monitoring to assess their symptomatic degree, endoscopic change, acid exposure, and PPGAP. RESULTS PPGAP was present in all participants. Compared with normal participants, the PPGAP in GERD patients was significantly different, thus the disappearing time was significantly later (p<0.001), the lasting time was significantly longer (p<0.001), the length was significantly longer (p<0.001), and the lowest pH and the mean pH were significantly lower (p<0.001). The length of PPGAP in GERD patients was positively correlated with GerdQ score (p<0.05). The disappearing time, the lasting time, and the length of PPGAP in GERD patients was positively correlated with the DeMeester score (p<0.01). The lowest pH and the mean pH of PPGAP in GERD patients was negatively correlated with the DeMeester score (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS PPGAP was generally present. PPGAP in GERD patients had characteristics of long time period, long length, and high acidity. Its length was positively correlated with subjective symptomatic degree. Its period, length, and acidity were positively correlated with the objective acid exposure. PPGAP seems to be the originator of acid reflux events and plays important roles in GERD.

Globular adiponectin inhibits leptin-stimulated esophageal adenocarcinoma cell proliferation via adiponectin receptor 2-mediated suppression of UHRF1.

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is one of the most common malignancies in the world which is associated the increased prevalence of obesity. In the context of obesity, leptin can directly contribute to progression of EAC. Adiponectin inhibits leptin-induced oncogenic signaling in EAC cells. However, the exact molecular mechanisms linking obesity, adipokines, and EAC remain far from completely understood. In the present study, we tested the role of ubiquitin-like with PHD and ring finger domains 1 (UHRF1) in adiponectin-induced protective effects against leptin-induced EAC cell proliferation. We found that globular adiponectin (gAD) significantly inhibited leptin-induced increase of cell proliferation and decrease of apoptosis in OE 19 cells. Moreover, leptin-induced increase of UHRF1 expression was suppressed by gAD. Compared with normal controls, UHRF1 expression was markedly increased in EAC tissues and cell lines. Silence of UHRF1 increased the expression of cleaved caspase 3 and 9 and Bax, reduced the expression of Bcl-2, promoted apoptosis, and inhibited cell proliferation in OE 19 cells. Overexpression of UHRF1 significantly blocked gAD-induced decrease of cell proliferation and increase of apoptosis in leptin-treated cells. Silence of adiponectin receptor 1/2 (AdipoR1/2) could inhibit gAD-induced decrease of cell proliferation and increase of apoptosis in leptin-treated cells. Silence of AdipoR2, but not AdipoR1, suppressed gAD-induced decrease of UHRF1 expression in leptin-treated cells. The results indicated that gAD inhibited the prooncogenic effects of leptin via AdipoR2-mediated suppression of UHRF1. Our study provides novel insights into the role of UHRF1 in the development of EAC and the mechanism of antitumor effect of gAD.

P2Y1, P2Y2, and TRPV1 Receptors Are Increased in Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome and P2Y2 Correlates with Abdominal Pain.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies indicated that P2Y1 and P2Y2 receptors, which are widely distributed in the enteric nervous system, are related to pain, while TRPV1 may contribute to visceral pain and hypersensitivity states in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Other studies showed that ATP activates the capsaicin-sensitive TRPV1 channel via P2Y receptors. AIM: To detect the expression of P2Y1, P2Y2, and TRPV1 receptors in diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D) patients and analyze any correlations with abdominal pain and to investigate interactions between P2Y receptors and the TRPV1 receptor in IBS-D patients. METHODS: Rectosigmoid biopsies were collected from patients with IBS-D (n = 36) and healthy controls (n = 15). Abdominal pain was scored using a 10-cm visual analogue scale. Expression levels of P2Y1, P2Y2, and TRPV1 receptors in rectosigmoid biopsies were determined by real-time PCR and double-labeling immunofluorescence with specific antibodies. RESULTS: Both mRNA and protein expression levels of P2Y1, P2Y2, and TRPV1 receptors were increased in IBS-D compared with controls. Of these receptors, P2Y2 expression correlated with the maximum pain scores (p = 0.02, r = 0.63, Spearman correlation) in IBS-D patients. However, no relationships were detected between P2Y receptors and the TRPV1 receptor. CONCLUSION: In the present study, we identified an increased expression of P2Y1 and P2Y2 receptors in the rectosigmoid mucosa of IBS-D patients, and P2Y2 correlated with abdominal pain. Furthermore, we identified an increase in TRPV1 expression; however, there were no correlations found between P2Y receptors and the TRPV1 receptor.

Modeling induced pluripotent stem cells from fibroblasts of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients.

The generation of disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS cell) lines from patients with incurable diseases is a promising approach for studying disease mechanisms and for drug screening. Such innovation enables us to obtain autologous cell sources for regenerative medicine. Herein, we report the generation and characterization of iPS cells from the fibroblasts of patients with a family history of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD); these fibroblasts were obtained from patients at 22 gestational weeks of age and exhibit exon duplication from exons 16 to 42. The DMD-iPS cells were generated by the ectopic expression of four transcription factors: OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and c-MYC; the DMD-iPS cells expressed several pluripotency markers and could be differentiated into various somatic cell types both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, DMD-iPSCs showed the differentiation potential to neuronal lineage. Thus, DMD-iPS cells are expected to serve as an in vitro disease model system, which will lay a foundation for the production of autologous cell therapies that avoid immune rejection and enable the correction of gene defects prior to tissue reconstitution.

Advances in research on biomarkers associated with acute myocardial infarction: A review.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the most severe cardiovascular event in clinical settings, imposes a significant burden with its annual increase in morbidity and mortality rates. However, it is noteworthy that mortality due to AMI in developed countries has experienced a decline, largely attributable to the advancements in medical interventions such as percutaneous coronary intervention. This trend highlights the importance of accurate diagnosis and effective treatment to preserve the myocardium at risk and improve patient outcomes. Conventional biomarkers such as myoglobin, creatine kinase isoenzymes, and troponin have been instrumental in the diagnosis of AMI. However, recent years have witnessed the emergence of new biomarkers demonstrating the potential to further enhance the accuracy of AMI diagnosis. This literature review focuses on the recent advancements in biomarker research in the context of AMI diagnosis.

Successive stamen movement in Saxifraga candelabrum is responsive to weather and pollinator visits.

BACKGROUND: Successive stamen movement is a complex plant behavior involving successive uplift of stamens and pollen release, which plays a role in reducing sexual interference, increasing pollen deposition and promoting pollen export. Although reported from several taxa, studies on whether the movement can be influenced by abiotic and biotic factors are scarce. METHODS: In this study, we here for the first time described a pattern of successive stamen movement in Saxifraga candelabrum (Saxifragaceae). We then compared the rates of stamen movement in S. candelabrum under different weather and varying pollinator visits. Pollen packaging and presentation schedule of S. candelabrum were also investigated. RESULTS: The results showed that the number of stamens bent per day in sunny days was significantly higher than overcast and rain. Flowers that receive more pollinator visits (control treatment) had significantly higher number of stamen movement than those that received fewer (removal treatment) and none (bagging treatment). Throughout the staminate phase of a flower, there was a progressive increase in both pollen quantity of individual stamens and pollen presentation during each day. CONCLUSION: Our research demonstrates that successive stamen movement in S. candelabrum was accelerated by favorable weather and increased pollinator visits, which may promote pollen export. Moreover, incremental pollen packaging is likely an adaptation to seasonal regularity in variations of sex ratio resulting from protandry.

A nomogram for predicting in-hospital overall survival of hypertriglyceridemia-induced severe acute pancreatitis: A single center, cross-sectional study.

Background: Hypertriglyceridemia-induced severe acute pancreatitis (HTG-SAP) is a type of pancreatitis characterized by an abnormal elevation of plasma triglyceride. HTG-SAP has been associated with various complications and a high mortality rate. In this study, we established a nomogram for predicting the overall survival (OS) of HTG-SAP patients during hospitalization. Methods: 128 HTG-SAP cases hospitalized at the Affiliated Huadu Hospital, Southern Medical University, from 2019 to 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. A nomogram including prognostic factors correlated with OS during hospitalization was established by multivariate Cox regression analysis. We internally validated the nomogram using time-dependent (at 1-, 2-, and 3- months) survival receiver operating characteristic (SROC) and calibration curve with 500 iterations of bootstrap resampling. Time-dependent decision curve analysis (DCA) was employed to validate the clinical value of the nomogram. Results: Multivariate Cox regression indicated that serum triglyceride, red blood cell distribution width (RDW), lactic acid, and interleukin-6 (IL6) were independent prognostic factors for OS of HTG-SAP patients during hospitalization and were used to construct a nomogram. The time-dependent area under the curve (AUC) values at 1-, 2-, and 3- months were 0.946, 0.913, and 0.929, respectively, and the Concordance index (C-index) of the nomogram was 0.916 (95%CI 0.871-0.961). The time-dependent calibration curves indicated good consistency between the observed and predicted outcomes. The time-dependent DCAs also revealed that the nomogram yielded a high clinical net benefit. After stratifying the included cases into two risk groups based on the risk score obtained from the nomogram, the high-risk group exhibited a significantly inferior overall survival (OS) compared to the low-risk group (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Our nomogram exhibited good performance in predicting the overall survival of HTG-SAP patients during hospitalization.

Predictive value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the prognosis and risk of death for adult sepsis patients: a meta-analysis.

Background: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a commonly used biomarker for acute inflammation that often rises during sepsis, making it a valuable diagnostic indicator for clinical practice. However, no consensus has been reached on the prognostic value of NLR for predicting the prognosis and mortality risk in adult sepsis patients. In light of this controversy, we conducted a meta-analysis to clarify the prognostic significance of NLR in adult sepsis patients. The meta-analysis was registered in the PROSPERO database (registration number CRD42023433143). Methods: We performed a comprehensive literature search in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Ovid, and Springer databases, using retrieval terms "sepsis" or "septic shock" and "prognosis" or "mortality" for studies published between January 1, 2000, and May 31, 2023. Children and neonates with sepsis were excluded from our research. Two independent researchers conducted the literature search and data extraction. Consensus was reached when discrepancies occurred, and in case of persistent discrepancies, the final decision was made by the research supervisor. The hazard ratio (HR) and its corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were extracted from each study included in the analysis. A random-effects model was used to synthesize all HRs and their 95% CIs. Sensitivity analysis was performed to investigate heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to identify studies that had a significant impact on the overall results of the meta-analysis. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were performed to explore sources of heterogeneity. Egger's test was also used to investigate publication bias in this meta-analysis. Results: After a comprehensive literature search and screening, we included 12 studies comprising 10,811 patients for the meta-analysis. The pooled results indicated that patients with a higher NLR level were associated with a poor prognosis (Random-effects model, HR: 1.6273, 95% CI: 1.3951-1.8981). Heterogeneity testing showed significant heterogeneity (I2 = 87.2%, 95% CI: 79.5-92, p<0.0001). Sensitivity analysis was performed to investigate the sources of heterogeneity, which revealed that the omission of one highly sensitive study significantly reduced the I2 value. After removing this study, a strong association was found between a higher NLR level and poor prognosis and risk of death in adult sepsis patients (Random-effects model, HR: 1.6884, 95% CI: 1.4338-1.9882). Both subgroup analysis and meta-regression indicated that the study design and testing time of NLR were sources of heterogeneity. Egger's test showed no obvious publication bias in this meta-analysis. Conclusion: NLR is a reliable and valuable biomarker for predicting prognosis and the risk of death in adult sepsis patients. Systematic Review Registration: [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023433143] PROSPERO, identifier [CRD42023433143].

Establishment of a mortality risk nomogram for predicting in-hospital mortality of sepsis: cohort study from a Chinese single center.

Objective: To establish a mortality risk nomogram for predicting in-hospital mortality of sepsis patients in the Chinese population. Methods: Data were obtained from the medical records of sepsis patients enrolled at the Affiliated Huadu Hospital, Southern Medical University, between 2019 and 2021. A total of 696 sepsis patients were initially included in our research, and 582 cases were finally enrolled after screening and divided into the survival group (n = 400) and the non-survival group (n = 182) according to the incidence of mortality during hospitalization. Twenty-eight potential sepsis-related risk factors for mortality were identified. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to optimize variable selection by running cyclic coordinate descent with k-fold (tenfold in this case) cross-validation. We used binary logistic regression to build a model for predicting mortality from the variables based on LASSO regression selection. Binary logistic regression was used to establish a nomogram based on independent mortality risk factors. To validate the prediction accuracy of the nomogram, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, decision curve analysis (DCA) and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis were employed. Eventually, the Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curve were used for nomogram calibration. Results: LASSO regression identified a total of ten factors, namely, chronic heart disease (CHD), lymphocyte count (LYMP), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), red blood cell distribution width (RDW), C reactive protein (CRP), Procalcitonin (PCT), lactic acid, prothrombin time (PT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (Tbil), interleukin-6 (IL6), that were incorporated into the multivariable analysis. Finally, a nomogram including CHD, LYMP, NLR, RDW, lactic acid, PT, CRP, PCT, Tbil, ALT, and IL6 was established by multivariable logistic regression. The ROC curves of the nomogram in the training and validation sets were 0.9836 and 0.9502, respectively. DCA showed that the nomogram could be applied clinically if the risk threshold was between 29.52 and 99.61% in the training set and between 31.32 and 98.49% in the testing set. RCS showed that when the value of independent risk factors from the predicted model exceeded the median, the mortality hazard ratio increased sharply. The results of the Hosmer-Lemeshow test (χ2 = 0.1901, df = 2, p = 0.9091) and the calibration curves of the training and validation sets showed good agreement with the actual results, which indicated good stability of the model. Conclusion: Our nomogram, including CHD, LYMP, NLR, RDW, lactic acid, PT, CRP, PCT, Tbil, ALT, and IL6, exhibits good performance for predicting mortality risk in adult sepsis patients.

Feasible and economic DIY procedures of a hand-held fluorescence detector set-FluorDetector to assist laboratory course development.

Fluorescence-related experimental techniques play an important role in biochemistry, molecular biology, and cell biology. However, fluorescence-related experiments are rarely included in the laboratory courses of most Chinese universities. This is mainly due to the conflict between large class size (50-60 students in one room) and funding/space limitations to purchase and accommodate enough fluorescence detection equipment. Here, we proposed feasible and economical Do It Yourself (DIY) procedures of a hand-held fluorescence detector set-FluorDetector to support the development of laboratory courses. Tested on several samples, clear fluorescence signals could be directly observed by FluorDetector and photographed with a smartphone. In addition, FluorDetector was able to turn a conventional stereomicroscope into a fluorescence stereomicroscope, detecting fluorescence signals with clean background. FluorDetector is easy to make with a 3D printer, with an extremely low cost ($200 each) when compared with a commercial fluorescence microscope or fluorescence stereomicroscope, and almost as sensitive as a microplate reader in measuring fluorescence. Therefore, FluorDetector is a possible strategy to solve the problem and help to integrate fluorescence-related experimental modules in laboratory courses.

[Effect of pioglitazone on arteria carotis remodeling in patients with metabolic syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of pioglitazone on carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque-positive rate in patients with metabolic syndrome, and to find a new way to improve arterial remodeling in patients with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: Patients with metabolic syndrome were randomly divided into a control group (n=60) and a pioglitazone group (n=61). All subjects received basic therapeutic measures, i.e, appropriate medication to control blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. Pioglitazone (15 mg/d) was given to patients in the pioglitazone group, and placebo (vitamin C) in the control group for 24 weeks. Color doppler ultrasound was used to measure carotid artery IMT and plaque-positive rate of patients in the 2 groups after the intervention. Japan's Hitachi 7600-020 automatic biochemical analyzer was used to measure fasting serumal triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, free fatty acids, fasting blood glucose, 2-hour postprandial glucose and liver and kidney function, etc. The differences between groups after the intervention were analyzed and compared in IMT, plaque-positive rate and all blood biochemical indicators. RESULTS: After the intervention, compared with the control group, carotid artery plaque-positive rate and the levels of triglyceride and free fatty acid decreased in the pioglitazone group (P<0.05), but there was no difference in IMT of carotid artery and other blood biochemical indicators between the 2 groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Pioglitazone intervention can significantly improve pathologic artery remodeling, and it can more effectively inhibit the arterial plaque-formation than basic therapeutic measures in patients with metabolic syndrome.

A Low-Cost Multibeam Switching Antenna Using Reconfigurable Hybrid Metasurface for Beamforming Applications.

In this paper, we proposed a multibeam switching antenna based on a low-cost reconfigurable hybrid metasurface applied for beamforming systems. The antenna consists of two parts: a microstrip feed antenna and a transmission hybrid metasurface. The latter is composed of three types of units with different amplitude and phase responses to electromagnetic waves so as to control the beams of the feed antenna. Sixteen PIN diodes are arranged in the metasurface with a simple bias network. When two different direct-current voltages are applied to the PIN diodes, the antenna can dynamically switch between two beams and four beams. For demonstration, the proposed antenna is fabricated, and the measured results show that the antenna operates at 9.07-9.42 GHz (-10 dB bandwidth) with a total size of 1.80λ0 × 1.52λ0 × 0.22λ0 (λ0 corresponds to the wavelength of 9.28 GHz in free space). With the merits of a compact structure, low cost and good radiation performance, the proposed design is suitable for beamforming applications.

Design of Tunable Broadband Graphene-Based Metasurface with Amplitude-Phase Modulation.

Due to the growing scarcity of spectrum resources in the low-frequency band, the requirement of beam-reconfigurable antennas in the millimeter wave band is urgent. In this paper, a W-band graphene-based metasurface working in a broad bandwidth is proposed with reflective amplitude coding. Here, graphene sheets play a dual role in radiating and regulating electromagnetic waves. By adjusting the Fermi levels of graphene, the reflective amplitude and phase of the metasurface can be modulated simultaneously, enabling multi-beam switching and beam deflection in far-field. The proposed metasurface achieves amplitude-phase modulation within a significantly wide bandwidth which covers 75-91.5 GHz and 99.3-115 GHz. By optimizing the coding patterns, the proposed graphene-based metasurfaces are able to not only realize 2-D beam steering, but also achieve beam switching from single beam to four beams at 87 GHz. The proposed design provides a novel solution for the flexible manipulation of millimeter waves, which can be applied to various fields such as vehicle radar, satellite communication, 6G wireless communication, and beyond.

Competing endogenous RNA network analysis of Turner syndrome patient-specific iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes reveals dysregulation of autosomal heart development genes by altered dosages of X-inactivation escaping non-coding RNAs.

BACKGROUND: A 45,X monosomy (Turner syndrome, TS) is the only chromosome haploinsufficiency compatible with life. Nevertheless, the surviving TS patients still suffer from increased morbidity and mortality, with around one-third of them subjecting to heart abnormalities. How loss of one X chromosome drive these conditions remains largely unknown. METHODS: Here, we have generated cardiomyocytes (CMs) from wild-type and TS patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells and profiled the mRNA, lncRNA and circRNA expression in these cells. RESULTS: We observed lower beating frequencies and higher mitochondrial DNA copies per nucleus in TS-CMs. Moreover, we have identified a global transcriptome dysregulation of both coding and non-coding RNAs in TS-CMs. The differentially expressed mRNAs were enriched of heart development genes. Further competing endogenous RNA network analysis revealed putative regulatory circuit of autosomal genes relevant with mitochondrial respiratory chain and heart development, such as COQ10A, RARB and WNT2, mediated by X-inactivation escaping lnc/circRNAs, such as lnc-KDM5C-4:1, hsa_circ_0090421 and hsa_circ_0090392. The aberrant expressions of these genes in TS-CMs were verified by qPCR. Further knockdown of lnc-KDM5C-4:1 in wild-type CMs exhibited significantly reduced beating frequencies. CONCLUSIONS: Our study has revealed a genomewide ripple effect of X chromosome halpoinsufficiency at post-transcriptional level and provided insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying heart abnormalities in TS patients.