Unobtrusive Sensors for Synchronous Monitoring of Different Breathing Parameters in Care Environments.

Respiratory problems are common amongst older people. The rapid increase in the ageing population has led to a need for developing technologies that can monitor such conditions unobtrusively. This paper presents a novel study that investigates Wi-Fi and ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna sensors to simultaneously monitor two different breathing parameters: respiratory rate, and exhaled breath. Experiments were carried out with two subjects undergoing three breathing cases in breaths per minute (BPM): (1) slow breathing (12 BPM), (2) moderate breathing (20 BPM), and (3) fast breathing (28 BPM). Respiratory rates were captured by Wi-Fi sensors, and the data were processed to extract the respiration rates and compared with a metronome that controlled the subjects' breathing. On the other hand, exhaled breath data were captured by a UWB antenna using a vector network analyser (VNA). Corresponding reflection coefficient data (S11) were obtained from the subjects at the time of exhalation and compared with S11 in free space. The exhaled breath data from the UWB antenna were compared with relative humidity, which was measured with a digital psychrometer during the breathing exercises to determine whether a correlation existed between the exhaled breath's water vapour content and recorded S11 data. Finally, captured respiratory rate and exhaled breath data from the antenna sensors were compared to determine whether a correlation existed between the two parameters. The results showed that the antenna sensors were capable of capturing both parameters simultaneously. However, it was found that the two parameters were uncorrelated and independent of one another.

The impact of crystal phase transition on the hardness and structure of kidney stones.

Calcium oxalate kidney stones, the most prevalent type of kidney stones, undergo a multi-step process of crystal nucleation, growth, aggregation, and secondary transition. The secondary transition has been rather overlooked, and thus, the effects on the disease and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. Here, we show, by periodic micro-CT images of human kidney stones in an ex vivo incubation experiment, that the growth of porous aggregates of calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD) crystals triggers the hardening of the kidney stones that causes difficulty in lithotripsy of kidney stone disease in the secondary transition. This hardening was caused by the internal nucleation and growth of precise calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystals from isolated urine in which the calcium oxalate concentrations decreased by the growth of COD in closed grain boundaries of COD aggregate kidney stones. Reducing the calcium oxalate concentrations in urine is regarded as a typical approach for avoiding the recurrence. However, our results revealed that the decrease of the concentrations in closed microenvironments conversely promotes the transition of the COD aggregates into hard COM aggregates. We anticipate that the suppression of the secondary transition has the potential to manage the deterioration of kidney stone disease.

Awareness of standard precautions, circumstances of occurrence and management of occupational exposures to body fluids among healthcare workers in a regional level referral hospital (Bertoua, Cameroon).

BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers (HCW) are exposed to infectious agents within biological materials including blood, tissues, other body fluids and on medical supplies, contaminated surfaces within the care delivery environment. Trends in occupational injuries are influenced by the level of awareness and observance of standard precautions (SP) among HCWs. This study aimed to assess the level of awareness of SP, exposure to body fluids, reporting pattern and management among HCWs in a Referral Hospital. METHODS: The present hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out from 1st November 2020 to 31st May 2021. The exhaustive sampling method was used and a total of 120 consenting HCWs were invited to participate. A self-administered questionnaire addressed questions related to knowledge, experience, circumstances of exposure, reporting, management of occupational exposure to body fluids, hepatitis B vaccination status. Data were analyzed using R Statistic version 4.3.1. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Out of the 120 participating HCWs, 104 (86.7%) reported at least one accidental exposure to body fluids over the last year. Men (aOR = 4.19; p = 0.277) and HCWs aged 35 and over (aOR = 4.11; p = 0.114) were more at risk for AEB even though the difference was not statistically significant. Nurses/midwives (aOR = 65.9; p-value = 0.0005) and cleaners (aOR = 14.7; p-value = 0.0438) faced the highest risk of exposure. Lack of knowledge (79%) and patient agitation (49%) were the most reported reasons for exposure. Half of the participants (53%) reported that they used a personal protective equipment during care. Face mask (59.2%) and gowns (30.8%) were the most commonly used PPE. Most HCWs (62%) did not report AEB. Half of the affected HCWs (50.8%) received a course of post-exposure antiretroviral therapy. Few HCWs (4.2%) were fully immunized against Hepatitis B. CONCLUSIONS: Most HCWs reported an accidental exposure to body fluids over the last year. Midwives and nurses were disproportionally affected socio-professional groups. Two-thirds of the AEB were undeclared. Only half of the participants reported using PPE systematically. Hepatitis B vaccination coverage was low. There is need to strengthen the observance of standard precautions, including preventive vaccination and the systematic reporting and management of AEB.

Diagnosis of malignant body fluids via cancer-universal methylation in cell-free DNA.

BACKGROUNDDifferentiating malignant from nonmalignant body fluids remains a clinical challenge because of the unsatisfying performance of conventional cytology. We aimed to improve the sensitivity and ubiquity of cancer cell detection by assaying universal cancer-only methylation (UCOM) markers in supernatant cell-free DNA (cfDNA).METHODSAn observational prospective cohort including 1,321 nonmalignant and malignant body fluids of multiple cancers was used to develop and validate a cfDNA UCOM methylation diagnostic assay. All samples were divided into 2 portions for cytology and supernatant cfDNA methylation analysis.RESULTSThe significant hypermethylation of a potentially novel UCOM marker, TAGMe, together with the formerly reported PCDHGB7, was identified in the cfDNA of malignant body fluid samples. The combined model, cell-free cancer-universal methylation (CUE), was developed and validated in a prospective multicancer cohort with markedly elevated sensitivity and specificity, and was further verified in a set containing additional types of malignant body fluids and metastases. In addition, it remained hypersensitive in detecting cancer cells in cytologically negative malignant samples.CONCLUSIONcfDNA methylation markers are robust in detecting tumor cells and are applicable to diverse body fluids and tumor types, providing a feasible complement to current cytology-based diagnostic analyses.TRIAL REGISTRATIONThis study was registered at Chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2200060532).FUNDINGNational Natural Science Foundation of China (32270645, 31872814, 32000505, 82170088), the National Key R&D Program of Ningxia Hui Autonomous region (2022BEG01003), Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty (shslczdzk02201), Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (20DZ2261200, 20DZ2254400), and Major Special Projects of Basic Research of Shanghai Science and Technology Commission (18JC1411101).

Gaps in kidney stone disease management: From clinical theory to patient reality.

With nephrolithiasis projected to affect 25% of the global population in the next three decades, there is an urgent call for innovative management strategies to prevent and reduce stone recurrence. This study aims to explore the evolving management needs in nephrolithiasis from both patient and healthcare provider perspectives. An expert-collaborative online survey comprising 10 targeted questions on kidney stone management was developed and disseminated. This survey was designed to gather comprehensive insights from patients, physicians and dietician and other person in the field of nephrolithiasis. Analysis of responses from 120 participants, including 45 nephrologists, 38 dieticians, 11 urologists, and 14 kidney stones patients followed in our hospital, revealed critical insights. A significant 97.5% emphasized the necessity of optimizing daily water intake, and 94.1% recognized the need for practical dietary modifications. Additionally, 88.3% of respondents found timely hydration reminders beneficial. Notably, monitoring urine color and pH was valued by 85% and 84.3% of the participants, respectively. A striking disparity emerged in the perception of fatigue and wellness monitoring, with 65% of patients prioritizing fatigue monitoring, a view less shared by healthcare professionals. Similarly, 71% of patients deemed wellness monitoring essential, highlighting a gap in understanding between patients and their caregivers. This study underscores the critical need for more tailored guidance on hydration strategies and the promise of remote urine parameters monitoring in nephrolithiasis management. The findings strongly advocate for a patient-centered approach, aligning medical recommendations with patient lifestyles and experiences, to enhance the effectiveness of nephrolithiasis management.

Maze-solving in a plasma system based on functional analogies to reinforcement-learning model.

Maze-solving is a classical mathematical task, and is recently analogously achieved using various eccentric media and devices, such as living tissues, chemotaxis, and memristors. Plasma generated in a labyrinth of narrow channels can also play a role as a route finder to the exit. In this study, we experimentally observe the function of maze-route findings in a plasma system based on a mixed discharge scheme of direct-current (DC) volume mode and alternative-current (AC) surface dielectric-barrier discharge, and computationally generalize this function in a reinforcement-learning model. In our plasma system, we install two electrodes at the entry and the exit in a square lattice configuration of narrow channels whose cross section is 1×1 mm2 with the total length around ten centimeters. Visible emissions in low-pressure Ar gas are observed after plasma ignition, and the plasma starting from a given entry location reaches the exit as the discharge voltage increases, whose route converging level is quantified by Shannon entropy. A similar short-path route is reproduced in a reinforcement-learning model in which electric potentials through the discharge voltage is replaced by rewards with positive and negative sign or polarity. The model is not rigorous numerical representation of plasma simulation, but it shares common points with the experiments along with a rough sketch of underlying processes (charges in experiments and rewards in modelling). This finding indicates that a plasma-channel network works in an analog computing function similar to a reinforcement-learning algorithm slightly modified in this study.

Research advances of tissue-derived extracellular vesicles in cancers.

BACKGROUND: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) can mediate cell-to-cell communication and affect various physiological and pathological processes in both parent and recipient cells. Currently, extensive research has focused on the EVs derived from cell cultures and various body fluids. However, insufficient attention has been paid to the EVs derived from tissues. Tissue EVs can reflect the microenvironment of the specific tissue and the cross-talk of communication among different cells, which can provide more accurate and comprehensive information for understanding the development and progression of diseases. METHODS: We review the state-of-the-art technologies involved in the isolation and purification of tissue EVs. Then, the latest research progress of tissue EVs in the mechanism of tumor occurrence and development is presented. And finally, the application of tissue EVs in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of cancer is anticipated. RESULTS: We evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of various tissue processing and EVs isolation methods, and subsequently analyze the significance of protein characterization in determining the purity of tissue EVs. Furthermore, we focus on outlining the importance of EVs derived from tumor and adipose tissues in tumorigenesis and development, as well as their potential applications in early tumor diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. CONCLUSION: When isolating and characterizing tissue EVs, the most appropriate protocol needs to be specified based on the characteristics of different tissues. Tissue EVs are valuable in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of tumors, and the potential risks associated with tissue EVs need to be considered as therapeutic agents.

Neonatal enteroids absorb extracellular vesicles from human milk-fed infant digestive fluid.

Human milk contains extracellular vesicles (HMEVs). Pre-clinical models suggest that HMEVs may enhance intestinal function and limit inflammation; however, it is unknown if HMEVs or their cargo survive neonatal human digestion. This limits the ability to leverage HMEV cargo as additives to infant nutrition or as therapeutics. This study aimed to develop an EV isolation pipeline from small volumes of human milk and neonatal intestinal contents after milk feeding (digesta) to address the hypothesis that HMEVs survive in vivo neonatal digestion to be taken up intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). Digesta was collected from nasoduodenal sampling tubes or ostomies. EVs were isolated from raw and pasteurized human milk and digesta by density-gradient ultracentrifugation following two-step skimming, acid precipitation of caseins, and multi-step filtration. EVs were validated by electron microscopy, western blotting, nanoparticle tracking analysis, resistive pulse sensing, and super-resolution microscopy. EV uptake was tested in human neonatal enteroids. HMEVs and digesta EVs (dEVs) show typical EV morphology and are enriched in CD81 and CD9, but depleted of ß-casein and lactalbumin. HMEV and some dEV fractions contain mammary gland-derived protein BTN1A1. Neonatal human enteroids rapidly take up dEVs in part via clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Our data suggest that EVs can be isolated from digestive fluid and that these dEVs can be absorbed by IECs.

Surface protein profiling and subtyping of extracellular vesicles in body fluids reveals non-CSF biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease.

Noninvasive and effortless diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains challenging. Here we report the multiplexed profiling of extracellular vesicle (EV) surface proteins at the single EV level in five types of easily accessible body fluids using a proximity barcoding assay (PBA). A total of 183 surface proteins were detected on the EVs from body fluids collected from APP/PS1 transgenic mice and patients with AD. The AD-associated differentially expressed EV proteins could discriminate between the control and AD/AD model samples with high accuracy. Based on machine learning predictive models, urinary EV proteins exhibited the highest diagnostic potential compared to those on other biofluid EVs, both in mice and humans. Single EV analysis further revealed AD-associated EV subpopulations in the tested body fluids, and a urinary EV subpopulation with the signature proteins PLAU, ITGAX and ANXA1 could diagnose patients with AD in blinded datasets with 88% accuracy. Our results suggest that EVs and their subpopulations from noninvasive body fluids, particularly urine, are potential diagnostic biomarkers for AD.

An Alternative Application of Magnetic-Activated Cell Sorting: CD45 and CD235a Based Purification of Semen and Testicular Tissue Samples.

Magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) is a well-known sperm selection technique, which is able to remove apoptotic spermatozoa from semen samples using the classic annexinV based method. Leukocytes and erythrocytes in semen samples or in testicular tissue processed for in vitro fertilization (IVF) could exert detrimental effects on sperm. In the current study, we rethought the aforementioned technique and used magnetic microbeads conjugated with anti-CD45/CD235a antibodies to eliminate contaminating leukocytes and erythrocytes from leukocytospermic semen samples and testicular tissue samples gained via testicular sperm extraction (TESE). With this technique, a 15.7- and a 30.8-fold reduction could be achieved in the ratio of leukocytes in semen and in the number of erythrocytes in TESE samples, respectively. Our results show that MACS is a method worth to reconsider, with more potential alternative applications. Investigations to find molecules labeling high-quality sperm population and the development of positive selection procedures based on these might be a direction of future research.

Label-Free SERS of Urine Components: A Powerful Tool for Discriminating Renal Cell Carcinoma through Multivariate Analysis and Machine Learning Techniques.

The advent of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) has enabled the exploration and detection of small molecules, particularly in biological fluids such as serum, blood plasma, urine, saliva, and tears. SERS has been proposed as a simple diagnostic technique for various diseases, including cancer. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) ranks as the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and is often asymptomatic, with detection occurring incidentally. The onset of symptoms typically aligns with advanced disease, aggressive histology, and unfavorable prognosis, and therefore new methods for an early diagnosis are needed. In this study, we investigated the utility of label-free SERS in urine, coupled with two multivariate analysis approaches: Principal Component Analysis combined with Linear Discriminant Analysis (PCA-LDA) and Support Vector Machine (SVM), to discriminate between 50 RCC patients and 44 healthy donors. Employing LDA-PCA, we achieved a discrimination accuracy of 100% using 13 principal components, and an 88% accuracy in discriminating between different RCC stages. The SVM approach yielded a training accuracy of 100%, a validation accuracy of 99% for discriminating between RCC and controls, and an 80% accuracy for discriminating between stages. The comparative analysis of raw and normalized SERS spectral data shows that while raw data disclose relative concentration variations in urine metabolites between the two classes, the normalization of spectral data significantly improves the accuracy of discrimination. Moreover, the selection of principal components with markedly distinct scores between the two classes serves to alleviate overfitting risks and reduces the number of components employed for discrimination. We obtained the accuracy of the discrimination between the RCC patients cases and healthy donors of 90% for three PCs and a linear discrimination function, and a 88% accuracy of discrimination between stages using six PCs, mitigating practically the risk of overfitting and increasing the robustness of our analysis. Our findings underscore the potential of label-free SERS of urine in conjunction with chemometrics for non-invasive and early RCC detection.

Toxicity Mechanisms of Gadolinium and Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents-A Review.

Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) have been used for more than 30 years to improve magnetic resonance imaging, a crucial tool for medical diagnosis and treatment monitoring across multiple clinical settings. Studies have shown that exposure to GBCAs is associated with gadolinium release and tissue deposition that may cause short- and long-term toxicity in several organs, including the kidney, the main excretion organ of most GBCAs. Considering the increasing prevalence of chronic kidney disease worldwide and that most of the complications following GBCA exposure are associated with renal dysfunction, the mechanisms underlying GBCA toxicity, especially renal toxicity, are particularly important. A better understanding of the gadolinium mechanisms of toxicity may contribute to clarify the safety and/or potential risks associated with the use of GBCAs. In this work, a review of the recent literature concerning gadolinium and GBCA mechanisms of toxicity was performed.

Wide-Targeted Semi-Quantitative Analysis of Acidic Glycosphingolipids in Cell Lines and Urine to Develop Potential Screening Biomarkers for Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs), mainly located in the cell membrane, play various roles in cancer cell function. GSLs have potential as renal cell carcinoma (RCC) biomarkers; however, their analysis in body fluids is challenging because of the complexity of numerous glycans and ceramides. Therefore, we applied wide-targeted lipidomics using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with selected reaction monitoring (SRM) based on theoretical mass to perform a comprehensive measurement of GSLs and evaluate their potency as urinary biomarkers. In semi-quantitative lipidomics, 240 SRM transitions were set based on the reported/speculated structures. We verified the feasibility of measuring GSLs in cells and medium and found that disialosyl globopentaosylceramide (DSGb5 (d18:1/16:0)) increased GSL in the ACHN medium. LC-MS/MS analysis of urine samples from clear cell RCC (ccRCC) patients and healthy controls showed a significant increase in the peak intensity of urinary DSGb5 (d18:1/16:0) in the ccRCC group compared with that in the control group. Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that urinary DSGb5 could serve as a sensitive and specific marker for RCC screening, with an AUC of 0.89. This study demonstrated the possibility of urinary screening using DSGb5 (d18:1/16:0). In conclusion, urinary DSGb5 (d18:1/16:0) was a potential biomarker for cancer screening, which could contribute to the treatment of RCC patients.

Apneic response to fentanyl in adult rats: Role of laryngeal afferents.

Intravenous (systemic) bolus injection of fentanyl (FNT) reportedly induces an immediate vagal-mediated apnea; however, the precise origin of vagal afferents responsible for this apnea remains unknown. We tested whether intralaryngeal (local) application of FNT would also trigger an apnea and whether the apneic response to both local and systemic administration of FNT was laryngeal afferent-mediated. Cardiorespiratory responses to FNT were recorded in anesthetized male adult rats with and without bilateral sectioning of the superior laryngeal nerve (SLNx) or peri-SLN capsaicin treatment (SLNcap) to block local C-fiber signal conduction. Opioid mu-receptor (MOR)-immunoreactivity was detected in laryngeal C- and myelinated neurons. We found that local and systemic administration of FNT elicited an immediate apnea. SLNx, rather than SLNcap, abolished the apneic response to local FNT application though MORs were abundantly expressed in both laryngeal C- and myelinated neurons. Importantly, SLNx failed to affect the apneic response to systemic FNT administration. These results lead to the conclusion that laryngeal afferents' MORs are responsible for the apneic response to local, but not systemic, administration of FNT.

Evaluation of a commercial proAKAP4 kit for the assessment of fresh and frozen-thawed feline spermatozoa.

ProAKAP4 is gaining increasing attention as a potential marker of semen quality in many species, but while there is a commercial kit for assessing proAKAP4 in the domestic cat, there are no publications about its use. The aim of this study was to evaluate the commercial proAKAP4 kit - Cat 4MID® Kit (SPQI - 4BioDx, Lille, France) for the assessment of feline semen. Semen was collected from 54 male cats by urethral catheterization. After a basic semen evaluation (subjective motility, CASA, viability, morphology), proAKAP4 levels in each sample were assessed using the Cat 4MID® Kit according to the manufacturer's protocol or with some modifications related to incubation time, sample storage conditions and number of spermatozoa used. Finally, the Spearman correlation of proAKAP4 concentration and sperm motility parameters was calculated. The most reliable results (acceptable intraassay coefficient of variation) were obtained with an optimized protocol of overnight incubation and isolation of proAKAP4 protein from 1 × 106 spermatozoa stored at -80°C. For fresh semen, there were no significant correlations between proAKAP4 concentration and sperm motility parameters, despite a strong correlation between motility parameters and sperm viability and morphology. A predominant effect of other sperm parameters and highly variable performance of lysis buffer question the usefulness of Cat 4MID® Kit for the assessment of feline semen. For frozen-thawed semen, there was a moderate, negative correlation between proAKAP4 concentration and two CASA parameters, VAP and VSL. As there were no correlations between proAKAP4 concentration in fresh semen and motility parameters in cryopreserved samples, proAKAP4 cannot be used as freezability marker in cats. More studies are needed to establish potential correlation with long-lasting motility.

Infectious hepatitis E virus excreted into the vagina.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) persists in the male genital tract that associates with infertility. However, the presence of HEV in the female genital tract is unreported. Vaginal secretions, cervical smears, and cervix uteri were collected to explore the presence of HEV in the female genital tract. HEV RNA and/or antigens were detected in the vaginal secretions, cervical smears, and the cervix uteri of women. The infectivity of HEV excreted into vaginal secretions was further validated in vitro. In addition, HEV replicates in the female genital tract were identified in HEV-infected animal models by vaginal injection or vaginal mucosal infection to imitate sexual transmission. Serious genital tract damage and inflammatory responses with significantly elevated mucosal innate immunity were observed in women or animals with HEV vaginal infection. Results demonstrated HEV replicates in the female genital tract and causes serious histopathological damage and inflammatory responses.

TR4 worsen urosepsis by regulating GSDMD.

BACKGROUND: Urosepsis is a life-threatening organ disease in which pathogenic microorganisms in the urine enter the blood through the vessels, causing an imbalance in the immune response to infection. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of testicular orphan receptor 4 (TR4) in urosepsis. METHODS: The role of TR4 in the progression and prognosis of urosepsis was confirmed by analyzing data from online databases and clinical human samples. To mimic urosepsis, we injected E. coli bacteria into the renal pelvis of mice to create a urosepsis model. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe histopathological changes in urosepsis. The effects of the upregulation or downregulation of TR4 on macrophage pyroptosis were verified in vitro. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay was used to verify the effect of TR4 on Gasdermin D (GSDMD) transcription. RESULTS: TR4 was more highly expressed in the nonsurviving group than in the surviving group. Furthermore, overexpressing TR4 promoted inflammatory cytokine expression, and knocking down TR4 attenuated inflammatory cytokine expression. Mechanistically, TR4 promoted pyroptosis by regulating the expression of GSDMD in urosepsis. Furthermore, we also found that TR4 knockdown protected mice from urosepsis induced by the E. coli. CONCLUSIONS: TR4 functions as a key regulator of urosepsis by mediating pyroptosis, which regulates GSDMD expression. Targeting TR4 may be a potential strategy for urosepsis treatment.

Biostimulatory effects of boar seminal gel, saliva and semen on sexual behavior of young boars, gilts and sows.

The present study aimed to identify novel biostimulatory compounds in boar seminal gel (SG), saliva and semen using Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The bio-stimulatory effect of SG, SG + saliva and SG + semen on young boar for semen collection as well were employed to study bio-stimulatory effects on gilts and sows. Distilled water (DW) exposure was kept as control. SG, saliva and semen were screened for total 105, 96 and 89 compounds. The highest concentration was of alkanes followed by sugar alcohols, then hydrocarbons, amino acids and fatty acids. Elaidic acid was the novel compound identified in pigs. Significantly higher (p < 0.05) number of males got trained in exposure to SG (80%), SG + saliva (75%) and SG + semen (75%) than control (0%). The time (hrs) taken by young boars to get trained on exposure to combination of SG + saliva (244 ± 22.19) and SG + semen (216 ± 13.14) was lesser (p < 0.05) than SG (356 ± 61.85) alone. Interval (hrs) from initiation of exposure for exhibition of different sexual behaviour by males on exposure to SG, saliva and semen was lesser (p < 0.05) than control. Significantly (p < 0.05) higher number of females showed estrus response to exposure of SG (72.72%), SG + saliva (69.23%) and SG + semen (76.92%) than control (0). Interval (hrs) taken to exhibit estrus was shorter (p < 0.05) in females exposed to SG + saliva (201.88 ± 12.66), SG + semen (198.20 ± 9.42) than SG (262.14 ± 20.06) alone. Interval (hrs) for exhibition of different sexual behaviour by females on exposure to SG + saliva and SG + semen was lesser (p < 0.05) than control. In conclusion, novel compounds were identified in boar seminal gel, saliva and semen with biostimulatory properties have been identified in boar SG, saliva and semen. The combined exposure of SG with saliva and semen has more intense biostimulation effect than SG alone for training of young boars and estrus induction in gilts and sows. Such compounds biostimulatory effects can be exploited for augmenting reproductive efficiency in pigs.

Establishment and application of a nomogram diagram for predicting calcium oxalate stones in patients with urinary tract stones.

This retrospective study aims to examine the correlation between calcium oxalate (CaOx) stones and common clinical tests, as well as urine ionic composition. Additionally, we aim to develop and implement a personalized model to assess the accuracy and feasibility of using charts to predict calcium oxalate stones in patients with urinary tract stones. A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from 960 patients who underwent surgery for urinary stones at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2022. Among these patients, 447 were selected for further analysis based on screening criteria. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was then performed to identify the best predictive features for calcium oxalate stones from the clinical data of the selected patients. A prediction model was developed using these features and presented in the form of a nomogram graph. The performance of the prediction model was assessed using the C-index, calibration curve, and decision curve, which evaluated its discriminative power, calibration, and clinical utility, respectively. The nomogram diagram prediction model developed in this study is effective in predicting calcium oxalate stones which is helpful in screening and early identification of high-risk patients with calcium oxalate urinary tract stones, and may be a guide for urologists in making clinical treatment decisions.

A novel prediction tool for mortality in patients with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding requiring emergency hospitalization: a large multicenter study.

The study aimed to identify prognostic factors for patients with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding and to develop a high-accuracy prediction tool. The analysis included 8254 cases of acute hematochezia patients who were admitted urgently based on the judgment of emergency physicians or gastroenterology consultants (from the CODE BLUE J-study). Patients were randomly assigned to a derivation cohort and a validation cohort in a 2:1 ratio using a random number table. Assuming that factors present at the time of admission are involved in mortality within 30 days of admission, and adding management factors during hospitalization to the factors at the time of admission for mortality within 1 year, prognostic factors were established. Multivariate analysis was conducted, and scores were assigned to each factor using regression coefficients, summing these to measure the score. The newly created score (CACHEXIA score) became a tool capable of measuring both mortality within 30 days (ROC-AUC 0.93) and within 1 year (C-index, 0.88). The 1-year mortality rates for patients classified as low, medium, and high risk by the CACHEXIA score were 1.0%, 13.4%, and 54.3% respectively (all P < 0.001). After discharge, patients identified as high risk using our unique predictive score require ongoing observation.