Hematological and plasma profiles and ticks and tick-borne pathogens in wild Formosan black bears (Ursus thibetanus formosanus).

BACKGROUND: The endangered Formosan black bear (Ursus thibetanus formosanus) is the largest native carnivorous mammal in Taiwan. Diseases, poor management, illegal hunting, and habitat destruction are serious threats to the survival of bear populations. However, studies on the impact of diseases on bear populations are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to establish a database of the hematological and plasma profiles of free-ranging Formosan black bears and investigate the occurrence of ectoparasites, blood parasites, and vector-borne pathogens. METHODS: Formosan black bears were captured in Yushan National Park (YNP) and Daxueshan Forest Recreation Area (DSY) in Taiwan. Blood samples were collected from each bear for hematological analysis and plasma biochemistry using a hematology analyzer. Parasites and pathogens were detected using a thin blood smear with Wright-Giemsa staining and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Additionally, macroscopic ectoparasites were collected from bears to detect blood parasites and other pathogens. Moreover, the relationships between the bear variables (sex, age, and occurrence of parasites or pathogens), ectoparasites, and infectious agents were also analyzed. RESULTS: In all, 21 wild bears (14 in YNP and 7 in DSY) were captured and released during the satellite tracking studies. Hematological analysis and plasma biochemistry indicated significant differences in white blood cells (WBC), segments, creatine kinase (CK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels between foot snare and culvert-captured bears. Additionally, there were significant differences in total plasma protein (TPP), creatinine, Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+ levels between male and female bears. Moreover, pathogen-infected bears had significantly higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR; 30 min and 1 h) and globulin levels than uninfected bears. In total, 240 ticks were collected from 13 bears, among which eight adult tick species were identified, including Haemaphysalis flava, Haemaphysalis hystricis, Amblyomma testudinarium, Ixodes ovatus, Dermacentor taiwanensis, Haemaphysalis longicornis, Ixodes acutitarsus, Amblyomma javanense, and nymphs belonging to Haemaphysalis spp. PCR revealed that 13 (61.90%) and 8 (38.10%) bears harbored Hepatozoon ursi and Babesia DNA, respectively. Among the ticks examined, 157 (65.41%) and 128 (53.33%) samples were positive for H. ursi and Babesia, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to establish a database of the hematological and plasma profiles of wild Formosan black bears and investigate ectoparasite infestation and Hepatozoon and Babesia spp. INFECTION: In conclusion, these findings may serve as a reference for monitoring the health and population of locally endangered bears.

Acute effects of muscle mechanical properties after 2000-m rowing in young male rowers.

Background: The mechanical properties of muscles, such as changes in muscle tone and stiffness, are related to sports performance and injuries. Rowers are at increased risk of muscle fatigue and injury during high-repetition and heavy-load cyclic muscle actions. In view of this, the aim of the present study was to investigate the acute effect on muscle tone and stiffness, as well as bilateral muscle asymmetry, in high school rowers after a 2000-meter rowing ergometer test. Methods: Twelve young male rowers (age = 17.1 ± 0.9 years, body weight = 73.5 ± 9.7 kg) were included in the study. The data of muscle tone (frequency) and stiffness of the posterior deltoids (PD), latissimus dorsi (LD), and rectus femoris (RF) (dominant and non-dominant side) before and after a 2000-m rowing ergometer test were collected using a handheld MyotonPRO device. Results: After the rowing ergometer test, the muscle tone of dominant side PD, LD, and RF were significantly increased (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the muscle stiffness of the non-dominant side LD and RF, as well as the dominant side PD, LD, and RF were significantly increased after the rowing ergometer test (p < 0.05). The muscle tone and stiffness results showed that the dominant side PD, LD, and RF were all significantly higher than the non-dominant side after the rowing ergometer test (p < 0.05), where bilateral PD and RF exhibits moderate asymmetry (5% < symmetry index < 10%). Conclusions: After a high-intensity and high-load 2000-m rowing ergometer test, PD, LD, and RF showed increases in muscle tone and stiffness, as well as changes in the symmetry of bilateral muscle mechanical properties.

Transporter modulation of molnupiravir and its metabolite ß-D-N4-hydroxycytidine across the blood-brain barrier in a rat.

BACKGROUND: The antiviral drug molnupiravir is an orally bioavailable prodrug of the nucleoside analog ß-D-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC), which is used to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, there is very little information on the barrier distribution of molnupiravir. Our hypothesis is that molnupiravir and NHC can penetrate the blood‒brain barrier (BBB) into brain tissue and that nucleoside transporters (equilibrative nucleoside transporters; ENT and concentrative nucleoside transporters; CNT) can modulate this process. METHODS: To investigate the mechanism of molnupiravir transport through the BBB, multiple microdialyses coupled to a validated ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC‒MS/MS) was developed to monitor dialysates, and nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR; an inhibitor of ENT) was administered concomitantly with molnupiravir (100 mg/kg, i.v.) in the male rat. RESULTS: Here, we show that molnupiravir is rapidly metabolized to NHC in the blood and crossed the BBB in 20 min. Furthermore, when NBMPR is concomitantly administered to inhibit efflux, the concentrations of molnupiravir and NHC in the brain increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, molnupiravir rapidly transforms into NHC and crosses the BBB and reaches the brain at approximately 0.3-0.8% of the blood‒brain ratio. The maximum concentration of NHC in the blood and brain is above the average half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the drug required to treat severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, suggesting a therapeutic effect. The penetration of NHC is modulated by NBMPR. These findings provide constructive information on brain disorders in clinical patients with COVID-19.

Due to the global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2), molnupiravir is used orally to treat COVID-19 with emergency use authorization. However, it is not well understood whether molnupiravir and its active component can cross the blood­brain barrier. The aim of the study was to develop an experimental mouse model to monitor the journey of molnupiravir and its active component through the bloodstream and eventually into the brain. Our experimental data suggest that a therapeutically useful amount of molnupiravir crosses from the bloodstream into the brain.

Transfer and biotransformation of the COVID-19 prodrug molnupiravir and its metabolite ß-D-N4-hydroxycytidine across the blood-placenta barrier.

BACKGROUND: Molnupiravir is an orally bioavailable prodrug of the nucleoside analogue ß-D-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC) and is used to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the pharmacokinetics and transplacental transfer of molnupiravir in pregnant women are still not well understood. In the present study, we investigated the hypothesis that molnupiravir and NHC cross the blood-placenta barrier into the fetus. METHODS: A multisite microdialysis coupled with a validated ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC‒MS/MS) system was developed to monitor the dialysate levels of molnupiravir and NHC in maternal rat blood and conceptus (the collective term for the fetus, placenta, and amniotic fluid). Molnupiravir was administered intravenously (100 mg/kg, i.v.) on gestational day 16. To investigate the mechanism of transport of molnupiravir across the blood-placenta barrier, we coadministered nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR, 10 mg/kg, i.v.) to inhibit equilibrative nucleoside transporter (ENT). FINDINGS: We report that molnupiravir is rapidly metabolized to NHC and then rapidly transformed in the fetus, placenta, amniotic fluid, and maternal blood. Our pharmacokinetics analysis revealed that the area under the concentration curve (AUC) for the mother-to-fetus ratio (AUCfetus/AUCblood) of NHC was 0.29 ± 0.11. Further, we demonstrated that the transport of NHC in the placenta may not be subject to modulation by the ENT. INTERPRETATION: Our results show that NHC is the predominant bioactive metabolite of molnupiravir and rapidly crosses the blood-placenta barrier in pregnant rats. The NHC concentration in maternal blood and conceptus was above the average median inhibitory concentration (IC50) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), suggesting a therapeutic effect. These findings support the use of molnupiravir in pregnant patients infected with COVID. FUNDING: This study was supported in part by research grants from the National Science and Technology Council of Taiwan (NSTC 111-2113-M-A49-018 and NSTC 112-2321-B-A49-005).

Rapid detection of live bacteria in water using nylon filter membrane-integrated centrifugal microfluidics.

Water is one of the most indispensable elements for human beings. People can live without food for a couple of weeks but cannot live without water for a couple of days. Unfortunately, drinking water is not always safe around the world; in many areas, the water for drinking could be contaminated with various microbes. However, the total viable microbe count in water still relies on culture-based methods in laboratories. Therefore, in this work, we report a novel, simple, and highly efficient strategy to detect live bacteria in water via a nylon membrane-integrated centrifugal microfluidic device. A handheld fan and a rechargeable hand warmer were utilized as the centrifugal rotor and the heat resource for reactions, respectively. The bacteria in water can be rapidly concentrated >500-fold by our centrifugation system. After incubation with water-soluble tetrazolium-8 (WST-8), the color change of the nylon membranes can be visually interpreted directly by the naked eye or recorded with a smartphone camera. The whole process can be finished in 3 h, and the detection limit can reach 102 CFU/mL. The detection range ranges from 102 CFU/mL to 105 CFU/mL. The cell counting results of our platform are highly positively correlated with the results of cell counting by the conventional lysogeny broth (LB) agar plate approach or the commercial 3 M Petrifilm™ cell counting plate. Our platform provides a convenient and sensitive strategy for rapid monitoring. We highly anticipate that this platform can improve water quality monitoring in resource-poor countries in the near future.

Biotransformation and brain distribution of the anti-COVID-19 drug molnupiravir and herb-drug pharmacokinetic interactions between the herbal extract Scutellaria formula-NRICM101.

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of herbal drug pharmacokinetic interactions on the biotransformation of molnupiravir and its metabolite ß-D-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC) in the blood and brain. To investigate the biotransformation mechanism, a carboxylesterase inhibitor, bis(4-nitrophenyl)phosphate (BNPP), was administered. Not only molnupiravir but also the herbal medicine Scutellaria formula-NRICM101 is potentially affected by coadministration with molnupiravir. However, the herb-drug interaction between molnupiravir and the Scutellaria formula-NRICM101 has not yet been investigated. We hypothesized that the complex bioactive herbal ingredients in the extract of the Scutellaria formula-NRICM101, the biotransformation and penetration of the bloodbrain barrier of molnupiravir are altered by inhibition of carboxylesterase. To monitor the analytes, ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLCMS/MS) coupled with the microdialysis method was developed. Based on the dose transfer from humans to rats, a dose of molnupiravir (100 mg/kg, i.v.), molnupiravir (100 mg/kg, i.v.) + BNPP (50 mg/kg, i.v.), and molnupiravir (100 mg/kg, i.v.) + the Scutellaria formula-NRICM101 extract (1.27 g/kg, per day, for 5 consecutive days) were administered. The results showed that molnupiravir was rapidly metabolized to NHC and penetrated into the brain striatum. However, when concomitant with BNPP, NHC was suppressed, and molnupiravir was enhanced. The blood-to-brain penetration ratios were 2% and 6%, respectively. In summary, the extract of the Scutellaria formula-NRICM101 provides a pharmacological effect similar to that of the carboxylesterase inhibitor to suppress NHC in the blood, and the brain penetration ratio was increased, but the concentration is also higher than the effective concentration in the blood and brain.

Thermally constructed stable Zn-doped NiCoOx-z alloy structures on stainless steel mesh for efficient hydrogen production via overall hydrazine splitting in alkaline electrolyte.

Hydrogen has a high energy density of approximately 120 to 140 MJ kg-1, which is very high compared to other natural energy sources. However, hydrogen generation through electrocatalytic water splitting is a high electricity consumption process due to the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER). As a result, hydrogen generation through hydrazine-assisted water electrolysis has recently been intensively investigated. The hydrazine electrolysis process requires a low potential compared to the water electrolysis process. Despite this, the utilization of direct hydrazine fuel cells (DHFCs) as portable or vehicle power sources necessitates the development of inexpensive and effective anodic hydrazine oxidation catalysts. Here, we prepared oxygen-deficient zinc-doped nickel cobalt oxide (Zn-NiCoOx-z) alloy nanoarrays on stainless steel mesh (SSM) using a hydrothermal synthesis method followed by thermal treatment. Furthermore, the prepared thin films were used as electrocatalysts, and the OER and hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR) activities were investigated in three- and two-electrode systems. In a three-electrode system, Zn-NiCoOx-z/SSM HzOR requires -0.116 V (vs RHE) potential to achieve a 50 mA cm-2 current density, which is dramatically lower than the OER potential (1.493 V vs RHE). In a two-electrode system (Zn-NiCoOx-z/SSM(-)∥Zn-NiCoOx-z/SSM(+)), the overall hydrazine splitting potential (OHzS) required to reach 50 mA cm-2 is only 0.700 V, which is dramatically less than the required potential for overall water splitting (OWS). These excellent HzOR results are due to the binder-free oxygen-deficient Zn-NiCoOx-z/SSM alloy nanoarray, which provides a large number of active sites and improves the wettability of catalysts after Zn doping.

Effect of the Brief Instructional Video Intervention on the Quality of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

Background: Chest compressions are the basis of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and high-quality chest compressions can improve survival rate in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Although many efforts have been made to improve the quality of CPR in inexperienced adults, the results are still not high, especially during emergencies. The primary purpose of this study is to investigate whether a brief instructional chest compression-only CPR video could improve chest compression quality in inexperienced adults. Methods: One hundred adults with no CPR experience (age: 20.28 ± 2.28 years; women: 50, men: 50) participated in this study. Participants completed body composition and handgrip strength measurements, and performed two CPR quality tests on the Laerdal® Little Anne QCPR Manikin, namely without video-CPR (WV-CPR) and video-CPR (V-CPR). The WV-CPR quality test was performed first. After 2 minutes of continuous chest compression, the participants rested for 10 seconds and repeated 3 cycles (phase 1, phase 2, and phase 3). After resting for more than 72 hours, V-CPR quality test was conducted. During the V-CPR with video intervention, the participants also continued to compress the chest for 2 minutes, and then rested for 10 seconds, repeating 3 cycles. Results: In phase 1, compared with WV-CPR, the V-CPR has a significant increase (p < 0.001) in chest compression fraction (CCF) (56.31 ± 33.22% vs. 41.82 ± 32.30%) and percent of correct compression rate (PCCR) (96.17 ± 8.45% vs. 26.31 ± 37.55%). In addition, the V-CPR has significantly lower (p < 0.001) chest compression rate (CCR) (110.85 ± 2.40 cpm vs. 128.86 ± 24.52 cpm) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) (11.89 ± 2.25 vs. 12.87 ± 2.25). For phases 2 through 3, V-CPR and WV-CPR achieved significant differences in CCF, CCD, CCR, PCCR, and RPE (p < 0.01). There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in CCF, CCD, chest compression rebound rate, and RPE among the different administration stages of both WV-CPR and V-CPR. Conclusions: The results of this study revealed that a brief instructional chest compression-only CPR video could improve chest compression quality for inexperienced adults by reducing fatigue and CCR, and increasing CCF and PCCR.

Hand-Powered Point-of-Care: Centrifugal Microfluidic Platform for Urine Routine Examination (µCUREX).

Urinalysis is one of the simplest and most common medical tests in modern cities. With the assistance of professional technicians and equipment, people in metropolitan areas can effortlessly acquire information about their physiological conditions from traditional clinical laboratories. However, the threshold, including precise benchtop equipment and well-trained personnel, still remains a considerable dilemma for residents in healthcare-poor areas. Hence, it is a crucial and urgent topic to develop a smart and affordable widget to address this challenge. To improve the healthcare rights of residents, we proposed a disposable centrifugal microfluidic urine routine examination platform (named µCUREX) actuated with a modified hand-powered fan. Two parts of urinalysis (sediment test and chemical strip test) were integrated into the µCUREX disc. The influence on sedimentation by variant hand-powered manipulation was simulated using COMSOL. As a result, more than 70% of the sediment can be collected. Moreover, the color change of chemical strip papers (indicators for glucose, pH, protein, and occult blood) was recorded with a 3D-printed studio and analyzed after reaction with chemical-spiked and pH-adjusted artificial and human urine specimens. The whole process can be completed within 10 min, with only 200 µL of urine needed. In conclusion, we successfully constructed an ultra-low-cost point-of-care platform for urinalysis in extremely resource-poor settings. The handy size, high affordability, and user-friendliness of the µCUREX disc provide strong potential and feasibility in solving problems in resource-poor settings. Furthermore, we highly expect the µCUREX platform to improve the level of healthcare in resource-limited areas.

Three-stage approach for aortoesophageal fistula after Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy.

Surgical management of post-esophagojejunostomy aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) has been scarcely reported, but is universally fatal. This report described a case of AEF after total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy for gastric cardiac cancer. A three-stage hybrid approach was used to successfully manage this complication. First, thoracic endovascular aortic repair curbed bleeding. Second, radical fistula resection eradicated infected areas and adjacent structures. Third, esophageal reconstruction using an ileocolonic conduit restored gastrointestinal continuity. This strategy could be safely feasible for managing post-esophagojejunostomy AEF.

Synthesis of cinnamils and quinoxalines and their biological evaluation as anticancer agents.

We synthesized multiple cinnamils and quinoxalines to evaluate their anticancer activity. Cinnamils were used as precursors for quinoxalines via condensation with 1,2-diaminobenzene. Among the 26 synthesized compounds reported in this article, we found that cinnamil 3l exhibited its inhibitory effect with an IC50 value of 1.45 ± 0.98 µM, significantly higher than doxorubicin (8.5 ± 0.85 µM) against pancreatic cancer cells (PANC-1). Additionally, cinnamil 3l (IC50 10.98 ± 3.63 µM) showed less cytotoxicity than doxorubicin to Hs68 cells (0.92 ± 1.11 µM). The colony formation assay demonstrated that 3l obviously decreased the PANC-1 cell viability, and Western blot assays confirmed that 3l markedly induced apoptosis of PANC-1 cells through Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase 3 signaling cascades. These results demonstrate that cinnamil 3l has great potential to be further developed as a promising chemotherapeutic agent for pancreatic cancer.

The Determination of Step Frequency in 3-min Incremental Step-in-Place Tests for Predicting Maximal Oxygen Uptake from Heart Rate Response in Taiwanese Adults.

The maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) prediction models established by step tests are often used for evaluating cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). However, it is unclear which type of stepping frequency sequence is more suitable for the public to assess the CRF. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of two 3-min incremental step-in-place (3MISP) tests (i.e., 3MISP30s and 3MISP60s) with the same total number of steps but different step-frequency sequences in predicting VO2max. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 200 healthy adults in Taiwan completed 3MISP30s and 3MISP60s tests, as well as cardiopulmonary exercise testing. The 3MISP30s and 3MISP60s models were established through multiple stepwise regression analysis by gender, age, percent body fat, and 3MISP-heart rate. The statistical analysis included Pearson's correlations, the standard errors of estimate, the predicted residual error sum of squares, and the Bland-Altman plot to compare the measured VO2max values and those estimated. The results of the study showed that the exercise intensity of the 3MISP30s test was higher than that of the 3MISP60s test (% heart rate reserve (HRR) during 3MISP30s vs. %HRR during 3MISP60s = 81.00% vs. 76.81%, p < 0.001). Both the 3MISP30s model and the 3MISP60s model explained 64.4% of VO2max, and the standard errors of the estimates were 4.2043 and 4.2090 mL·kg-1·min-1, respectively. The cross-validation results also indicated that the measured VO2max values and those predicted by the 3MISP30s and 3MISP60s models were highly correlated (3MISP30s model: r = 0.804, 3MISP60s model: r = 0.807, both p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the measured VO2max values and those predicted by the 3MISP30s and 3MISP60s models in the testing group (p > 0.05). The results of the study showed that when the 3MISP60s test was used, the exercise intensity was significantly reduced, but the predictive effectiveness of VO2max did not change. We concluded that the 3MISP60s test was physiologically less stressful than the 3MISP30s test, and it could be a better choice for CRF evaluation.

Older age and varus alignment lead to early failure in treating patellofemoral osteoarthritis with Fulkerson osteotomy.

Background: It is unclear the risk factors for the failure of modified Fulkerson osteotomy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 40 patients who underwent the modified Fulkerson osteotomy from 1998 to 2015. There were 4 males and 36 females. The mean age of the study group was 50.2 ± 11.2 years. We used standard anteriorization measuring 10-15 mm and medialization measuring 10 mm while maintaining an intact periosteal sleeve. Results: Both the patellofemoral angle and the congruence angle improved significantly after 5.9 years. Preoperatively, the mean preoperative Lysholm score was 56.12, and the Knee Society score was 60.52. At the final follow-up, these scores improved significantly to 88.75 and 86.49, respectively. However, eight patients (20%) underwent total knee arthroplasty in the follow-up period, five of whom underwent the operation within 5 years. Comparing the survival and non-survival groups, there was a significant difference of an older age in the TKA conversion group (survival: 48.3 ± 11.1; non-survival: 57.8 ± 8.7, p = 0.03). For knee alignment, the non-survival group had a mean valgus femorotibial angle of 1.8° ± 4.9° preoperatively, and the survival group had a mean valgus angle of 6.4° ± 4.5° (p = 0.03). Conclusions: we found that patients with older age and those with varus alignment have an increased risk of deteriorated medial femorotibial cartilage.

Effects of Isolated Soy Protein Supplementation Combined with Aerobic Exercise Training on Improving Body Composition, Anthropometric Characteristics and Cardiopulmonary Endurance in Women: A Pilot Study.

Today, women are concerned with health promotion but also with improvements in body weight and shape. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise training (AET) combined with isolated soy protein (ISP) supplementation on the body composition, anthropometric characteristics, and cardiopulmonary endurance of women. The qualified subjects were randomly assigned to AET or AET + ISP groups. Women in the AET + ISP group were given an ISP-rich supplement (40 g/day) 5 days a week for 8 weeks; those in the AET group were given the same amount of water in an identical manner. All women received 60 min of AET twice a week for 8 weeks at an intensity of 40-65% heart rate reserve (HRR) and their body composition, anthropometric characteristics, and physical fitness were measured one week before and after the 8-week AET class. A total of 16 subjects (age: 36.13 ± 5.76 years) completed the study and were included in the dataset. The results of this study show that the AET + ISP group obtained greater reductions in body weight (effect size = 0.99), body mass index (BMI, effect size = 1.04), percentage body fat (PBF, effect size = 1.18), circumferences (waist and hip, all effect sizes > 0.8), and greater gains in the percentage lean body mass (PLBM, effect size = 0.89), compared with the AET group, without significant differences in 20 m multi-stage shuttle run test (20 m MST). We conclude that there is a trend for the consumption of ISP following AET to improve the body composition and anthropometric characteristics in women, compared with those who received the same AET without ISP supplementation.

Development and Validation of 3 Min Incremental Step-In-Place Test for Predicting Maximal Oxygen Uptake in Home Settings: A Submaximal Exercise Study to Assess Cardiorespiratory Fitness.

The purpose of this research was to develop the 3 min incremental step-in-place (3MISP) test for predicting maximal oxygen uptake (V.O2max). A total of 205 adults (20-64 years) completed the 3MISP and V.O2max tests. Using age, gender, body composition (BC) including percent body fat (PBF) or body mass index (BMI), and with or without heart rate (HR) at the beginning of exercise (HR0) or difference between HR at the third minute during the exercise and the first minute post exercise (ΔHR3 - HR4) in the 3MISP test, six V.O2max prediction models were derived from multiple linear regression. Age (r = -0.239), gender (r = 0.430), BMI (r = -0.191), PBF (r = -0.706), HR0 (r = -0.516), and ΔHR3 - HR4 (r = 0.563) were significantly correlated to V.O2max. Among the six V.O2max prediction models, the PBF model∆HR3 - HR4 has the highest accuracy. The simplest models with age, gender, and PBF/BMI explained 54.5% of the V.O2max in the PBF modelBC and 39.8% of that in the BMI modelBC. The addition of HR0 and ∆HR3 - HR4 increases the variance of V.O2max explained by the PBF and BMI models∆HR3 - HR4 by 17.98% and 45.23%, respectively, while standard errors of estimate decrease by 10.73% and 15.61%. These data demonstrate that the models established using 3MISP-HR data can enhance the accuracy of V.O2max prediction.

Anti-Cancer and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Three New Chromone Derivatives from the Marine-Derived Penicillium citrinum.

Three new and uncommon chromone analogs, epiremisporine F (1), epiremisporine G (2), and epiremisporine H (3), were isolated from marine-origin Penicillium citrinum. Among the isolated compounds, compounds 2-3 remarkably suppressed fMLP-induced superoxide anion generation by human neutrophils, with IC50 values of 31.68 ± 2.53, and 33.52 ± 0.42 µM, respectively. Compound 3 exhibited cytotoxic activities against human colon carcinoma (HT-29) and non-small lung cancer cell (A549) with IC50 values of 21.17 ± 4.89 and 31.43 ± 3.01 µM, respectively, and Western blot assay confirmed that compound 3 obviously induced apoptosis of HT-29 cells, via Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase 3 signaling cascades.

Effect of Ambulance Stretcher Bed Height Adjustment on CPR Quality and Rescuer Fatigue in a Laboratory Environment.

Background: The quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is closely related to the survival rate of a patient, and it is crucial to maintain the quality of CPR during the ambulance journey to the receiving hospital. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different stretcher bed heights on operator CPR quality. Methods: In this randomized crossover trial, 16 male emergency medical technicians-paramedics (EMT-Ps) performed continuous chest compressions on a hemimorphic mannequin for 5 minutes, alternating between the current height of the stretcher bed on the ambulance (38 ± 1 cm) (S-38) and the height of the participant's midpoint of the patella (S-knee), where the stretcher bed surface is. Results: According to the analysis of the quality of CPR exercises with two different stretcher bed heights at 5 minutes of continuous chest compression, the mean chest compression depth (CCD) of the S-38 position (53.81 ± 1.91 cm) was significantly lower than that of the S-knee (55.12 ± 2.03 cm; p < 0.001). The mean chest compression rate (CCR) of the S-38 position (111.44 ± 3.44 beats/min) was significantly higher than that of the S-knee (109.63 ± 4.46 beats/min; p = 0.027). The mean of total chest compressions (TCC) of the S-38 position (557.44 ± 16.81 times) was significantly higher than that of the S-knee (548.24 ± 19.40 times; p = 0.029). The rating of perceived exertion (RPE) of the S-38 position was significantly higher than that of the S-knee (12.75 ± 1.91 %; p = 0.015). Only the chest compression rebound rate (CCRR) (S-38: 97.56 ± 4.63 % vs. S-knee: 98.31 ± 1.89 %, p = 0.401) and the chest compression fraction (CCF) (S-38: 98.44 ± 0.81 % vs. S-knee: 98.44 ± 0.96 %, p = 1.000) did not reach a significant difference. Conclusion: When a resuscitator is performing chest compressions in a standing position in an ambulance, the excessive downward leaning of the resuscitator's upper body affects CPR quality and increases fatigue. This study has verified that setting the stretcher bed of the ambulance at the knee height of the EMTs provides better CPR quality and lower fatigue.

Dibenzofuran, 4-Chromanone, Acetophenone, and Dithiecine Derivatives: Cytotoxic Constituents from Eupatorium fortunei.

Five new compounds, eupatodibenzofuran A (1), eupatodibenzofuran B (2), 6-acetyl-8-methoxy-2,2-dimethylchroman-4-one (3), eupatofortunone (4), and eupatodithiecine (5), have been isolated from the aerial part of Eupatorium fortunei, together with 11 known compounds (6‒16). Compounds 1 and 2 featured a new carbon skeleton with an unprecedented 1-(9-(4-methylphenyl)-6-methyldibe nzo[b,d]furan-2-yl)ethenone. Among the isolates, compound 1 exhibited potent inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 5.95 ± 0.89 and 5.55 ± 0.23 µM, respectively, against A549 and MCF-7 cells. The colony-formation assay demonstrated that compound 1 (5 µM) obviously decreased A549 and MCF-7 cell proliferation, and Western blot test confirmed that compound 1 markedly induced apoptosis of A549 and MCF-7 cells through mitochondrial- and caspase-3-dependent pathways.

The feasibility of emergency medical technicians performing intermittent high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Background: Whether intermittent chest compressions have an effect on the quality of CPR is worthy of discussion. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in the chest compression quality of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with different rest intervals. Methods: Seventy male firefighters with EMT licenses participated in this study. Participants completed body composition measurements and three CPR quality tests, as follows: (1) CPR-uninterrupted for 10 minutes; (2) after 2 days of rest, CPR 10s-intermittent (CPR-10s), for 2 minutes each time and 5 cycles; (3) after another 2 days of rest, CPR 20s-intermittent (CPR-20s), for 2 minutes each time and 5 cycles. Results: Body composition results showed that body mass (BM), body mass index (BMI), upper limb muscle mass (ULMM), core muscle mass (CMM), and upper limb-core muscle mass (UL+CMM) were positively correlated with chest compression depth (CCD) (p < 0.05). Analysis of the three different modes of CPR quality analysis indicated significant differences in the chest compression fraction (CCF, F = 6.801, p = 0.001), chest compression rebound rate (CCRR, F = 3.919, p = 0.021), and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE, F = 23.815, p < 0.001). Among the different performance cycles of CPR-10s, significant differences were found in CCF, CCD, CCR (chest compression rate), and RPE (p < 0.05). On the other hand, among the different performance cycles of CPR-20s, significant differences were found in CCD, CCR, and RPE (p < 0.05). Moreover, the CCF, CCD, and RPE scores of the two tests reached significant differences in specific phases (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study confirmed that the upper limb muscle mass or the weight of the upper body of EMTs is positively correlated with the quality of CPR. In addition, intermittent chest compressions with safe interruption intervals can reduce fatigue caused by long-term chest compressions and maintain better chest compression quality.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Supplementation with Planox® Lemon Verbena Extract in Improving Oxidative Stress and Muscle Damage: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial.

Excessive exercise load can cause muscle soreness and fatigue, as well as inflammation and oxidative stress. Lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla; Lippia citriodora) is often used as a spice in tea or beverages. Its leaves are rich in polyphenols, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactivities. In the present study, we investigated whether supplementation with Planox® lemon verbena extract (LVE) could improve muscle damage and biochemical indicators after exhaustive exercise challenge. All subjects (30 males and 30 females) underwent a double-blind trial and were randomly divided into a placebo group (0 mg/human/day) and an LVE supplement group (400 mg/human/day), with gender-equal distribution. All subjects started supplementation 10 days before exhaustive exercise and continued it until all tests were completed. Before the intervention, after the exhaustive exercise, and on the following 3 days, the participants underwent 12-minute Cooper running/walking; blood collection; assessments of pain, muscle stiffness, maximum jump heights, and isometric maximum muscle strength. The results showed that supplementation with LVE effectively increased GPx and reduced CK, IL-6, 8-OHdG and muscle pain after the exhaustive exercise, but it had significant effect on strength recovery. In summary, LVE is a safe and edible natural plant extract that can reduce muscle damage and soreness after exercise. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04742244.