A retrospective analysis of simultaneous bilateral uniportal thoracoscopic surgeries for multiple primary bilateral pulmonary nodules.

BACKGROUND: There are no standard treatment options for bilateral multiple pulmonary nodules requiring resection. This study aimed to summarize the experience of simultaneous bilateral uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for the treatment of bilateral multiple primary pulmonary nodules. METHODS: The clinical data of 65 cases of simultaneous bilateral uniportal thoracoscopic surgery for bilateral multiple primary pulmonary nodules treated were retrospectively analyzed. These cases were treated within The Ninth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital between January 2018 and November 2020. Parameters related to the surgery, perioperative aspects, surgical techniques, pathology results, and postoperative complications were examined. RESULTS: All surgeries were conducted through uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, with no instances of intraoperative conversion to thoracotomy. Fifty-three patients further underwent CT-guided Hookwire localization for the localization of pulmonary nodules. A total of 189 nodules were resected using multiple surgical procedures, with a malignancy rate of 86.2%. The average operation time was 226 ± 77.4 min, the average thoracic drainage duration was 3.1 ± 1.5 days, the average 24 h pleural drainage was 385.9 ± 157.4 mL, the average postoperative hospital stay was 8.6 ± 2.4 days, and the average blood loss was 77.2 ± 33.8 mL. Post-surgery, all patients were transferred to the ward safely within 12 h. 15.38% of patients have prolonged drainage time, and 12.31% of patients experience complications such as lung infection, arrhythmia, and venous thrombosis. CONCLUSION: The selected cases undergoing simultaneous bilateral uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for the management of bilateral multiple primary pulmonary nodules demonstrated favorable outcomes. Our observations indicate the safety and feasibility of this procedure, providing an individualized and precise treatment approach for affected patients.

Integrating clinical and biochemical markers: a novel nomogram for predicting lacunes in cerebral small vessel disease.

Background: Lacunes, a characteristic feature of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), are critical public health concerns, especially in the aging population. Traditional neuroimaging techniques often fall short in early lacune detection, prompting the need for more precise predictive models. Methods: In this retrospective study, 587 patients from the Neurology Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University who underwent cranial MRI were assessed. A nomogram for predicting lacune incidence was developed using LASSO regression and binary logistic regression analysis for variable selection. The nomogram's performance was quantitatively assessed using AUC-ROC, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis (DCA) in both training (n = 412) and testing (n = 175) cohorts. Results: Independent predictors identified included age, gender, history of stroke, carotid atherosclerosis, hypertension, creatinine, and homocysteine levels. The nomogram showed an AUC-ROC of 0.814 (95% CI: 0.791-0.870) for the training set and 0.805 (95% CI: 0.782-0.843) for the testing set. Calibration and DCA corroborated the model's clinical value. Conclusion: This study introduces a clinically useful nomogram, derived from binary logistic regression, that significantly enhances the prediction of lacunes in patients undergoing brain MRI for various indications, potentially advancing early diagnosis and intervention. While promising, its retrospective design and single-center context are limitations that warrant further research, including multi-center validation.

Association between low-calorie sweetener consumption during pregnancy and child health: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

We examined the association between low-calorie sweeteners (LCS) consumption during preconception, pregnancy, and breastfeeding and child health outcomes. A systematic search of electronic databases in PubMed, Embase, Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, ProQuest Health and Medical, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Google Scholar was conducted up to 21 September 2023. A random effects model with restricted maximum likelihood estimation was used for the meta-analysis. Seventeen eligible studies were included. The standardised mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) in birth weight between those who frequently consumed LCS (≥1 serve/day) during pregnancy and those who did not consume LCS was 0.04 (0.00, 0.08) (four cohort studies). Any LCS consumption during pregnancy compared with no consumption was not associated with birth weight [SMD (95% CI) = 0.03 (-0.03, 0.08)] (four cohort studies). Any LCS consumption during pregnancy was not associated with body mass index z-scores. The weighted mean difference (95% CI) was 0.00 (-0.05, 0.06) at birth, 0.06 (-0.29, 0.40) at 6 months, -0.04 (-0.19, 0.10) at 1 year, 0.00 (-0.16, 0.17) at 3 years, and 0.10 (-0.15, 0.34) at 7 years of the child age, compared with no intake (five cohort studies). The odds of being overweight at 1 year among children exposed to LCS during pregnancy was 1.19 (OR [95% CI]: 1.19 [0.81, 1.58]) compared with unexposed children (two cohort studies). The effect sizes were not precise for all the outcomes as the 95% CI indicated the effect estimates could range from small protective to a higher risk. The effect of LCS consumption on child behaviour and cognition was inconsistent. There is not enough evidence to confirm LCS consumption during pregnancy affects birth weight and risk of overweight in children. However, frequent consumption increased birth weight and the risk of overweight at different ages, though the effects were imprecise. More robust research evidence is required as the quality of evidence is low.

JAK/STAT Signaling Pathway Mediates Anti-Tumor Immunity of CD8+ T Cells in Renal Cancer.

Background: CD8+ T cells play a crucial role in immune responses, and have significant potential in tumor immunotherapy. The JAK/STAT pathway is essential for cytokine signal transduction and is linked to immune escape. However, its role in mediating CD8+ T cell anti-tumor immunity in renal cancer is not fully understood. Objective: To study the mechanisms underlying CD8+ T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity and propose new possibilities for immunotherapy in patients with renal cancer. Methods: CD8+ T cells from mouse spleens were sorted using immunomagnetic beads, and their purity was confirmed by flow cytometry. Proliferation was analyzed using CCK-8 and CFSE assays. Activation of CD8+ T cells was assessed through ELISA and Western blotting. The malignant properties of Renca cells were evaluated through flow cytometry, Calcein-AM/PI staining, wound healing, Transwell, Western blot, and immunofluorescence. A subcutaneous tumor model in nude mice was used to examine the role of JAK1/STAT1 pathway in vivo. Results: Inhibitors of JAK1 and STAT1 significantly reduced the proliferation and activation of CD8+ T cell. Co-culture with CD8+ T cells increased apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of Renca cells. The effects were diminished by JAK1 and STAT1 inhibitors, confirming that CD8+ T cells exert antitumor effects through the JAK1/STAT1 pathway. In vivo, inhibition of this pathway reduced the anti-tumor effects of CD8+ T cells. Conclusion: Inhibitors of JAK1 and STAT1 weakened the antitumor effects of CD8+ T cells, suggesting that targeting this pathway could enhance CD8+ T cell-mediated immunity in renal cancer.

The Inhibitory Effects of Anti-GPC3 Antibody on Wnt/ß-Catenin Signaling Pathway as a Biological Therapy in Liver Cancer.

To investigate the effects of anti-GPC3 antibody on the Wnt/catenin pathway in liver cancer biology, thus providing a new target for the biological treatment of the disease. A total of 12 BALB/C experimental nude mice were selected as experimental objects. The mice were all male, weighed 15-20 g and aged 4-5 weeks. First, mouse liver cancer models were constructed. Then, the HepG2 liver cancer cells in logarithmic growth period were inoculated into the caudal veins of mouse models. On the 3rd day after inoculation, the tumor formations of nude mice were observed. Second, the anti-GPC3 antibody was designed and constructed, and the activity of anti-GPC3 antibody was detected. The mouse models were divided into the experimental group (EG) and the control group (CG), with 6 mice in each group. In the EG, mice were injected with 3 mg/kg of anti-GPC3 antibody in the caudal veins once a day for three consecutive days, while in the CG mice were injected with the same amount of saline as the control. Mice in both groups received 3 injections in total. After the last administration, all mice were euthanized using the decapitation method following anesthesia with ethyl ether. The liver cancer cells of nude mice were extracted and cultured in DMEM medium. The effects of anti-GPC3 antibody on Wnt/ß-catenin in liver cancer nude mice and the effects of anti-GPC3 antibody on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in mouse liver cancer cells were observed. The bodyweight, liver weight and index of mice in the EG increased significantly (P < 0.05). The serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels of mice in the EG were reduced than those in the CG (P < 0.05). Compared with the CG, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentration increased, while the malonaldehyde (MDA) concentration decreased in the liver tissues of mice in the EG (P < 0.05). There was binding activity between GPC3 recombinant protein and the antibody; the affinity constant was KD = 1.4 × 10-6 M, compared with the commercial anti-GPC3 antibody, the affinity constant was lower. The interference effects of siRNA on anti-GPC3 antibody were detected by Western Blot. After the injection of anti-GPC3 antibody, the expression of ß-catenin siRNA in liver cancer cells decreased significantly. The optical microscope images of mouse liver cancer cells in groups were compared. Through down-regulating the Wnt/ß-catenin by anti-GPC3 antibody, the morphology of epithelial cells was maintained, the cells were arranged orderly, the cubic structure was kept stable, and the occurrence of EMT was reduced. However, in the CG, the structure of mouse liver cancer cells was disordered, the obvious EMT occurred (P < 0.05). Through down-regulating the expression of Wnt/ß-catenin by anti-GPC3 antibody, the invasiveness, and metastasis of liver cancer cells could be effectively inhibited. Compared with the CG, the number of cells passing through the chamber was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). The anti-GPC3 antibody had inhibitory effect on Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. The occurrence of EMT and the invasiveness of liver cancer cells were inhibited effectively. Therefore, the anti-GPC3 antibody could be used as a reference for clinical molecular targeted therapy of liver cancer.

Ventricular arrhythmias originating from different portions of the communicating vein of the left ventricular summit: electrocardiographic characteristics and catheter ablation.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias (IVAs) arising from different portions of the communicating vein of the left ventricular summit (summit-CV) are not a rare phenomenon. Whereas its electrocardiographic (ECG) and electrophysiological characteristics are not fully investigated. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify distinct ECG and electrophysiological features of IVAs originating from different portions of summit-CV. METHODS: Nineteen patients confirmed arising from summit-CV were included in this study. RESULTS: The 19 patients were divided into proximal and distal portion groups based on their target sites in summit-CV. In the proximal portion group, 100% (11/11) VAs showed dominant negative (rs or QS) waves in lead I, while in the distal portion group, 87.5% (7/8) showed dominant positive waves (R, Rs or r) (p < 0.000). In lead V1, 100% (11/11) of the proximal portion group showed dominant positive waves (R or Rs), while 62.50% (5/8) of the distal portion group showed positive and negative bidirectional or negative waves (RS or rS) (p < 0.005). RI>4mV, SI<3.5mV, RV1<13mV, SV1>3.5mV, RI/SI>0.83, and RV1/SV1< 2.6 indicated a distal portion of summit-CV with the predictive value of 0.909, 1.000, 0.653, 0.972, 0.903, 0.966, respectively. A more positive wave in lead I and a more negative wave in lead V1 indicated more distal origin in summit-CV. Target sites in proximal and distal summit-CV groups showed similar electrophysiological characteristics during mapping. CONCLUSIONS: There were significant differences in ECG characteristics of VAs at different portions of summit-CV, which could aid pre-procedure planning and facilitate radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) procedures.

Purification and immobilization of ß-glucosidase using surface modified mesoporous silica Santa Barbara Amorphous 15 for eco-friendly preparation of sagittatoside A.

Functionalized mesoporous materials have become a promising carrier for enzyme immobilization. In this study, Santa Barbara Amorphous 15 (SBA-15) was modified by N-aminoethyl-γ-aminopropyl trimethoxy (R). R-SBA-15 was employed to purify and immobilize recombinant ß-glucosidase from Terrabacter ginsenosidimutans (BgpA) in one step for the first time. Optimum pH of the constructed R-SBA-15@BgpA were 7.0, and it has 20 â„ƒ higher optimal temperature than free enzyme. Relative activity of R-SBA-15@BgpA still retained > 70% at 42 â„ƒ after 8-h incubation. The investigation on organic reagent resistance revealed that the immobilized enzyme can maintain strong stability in 15% DMSO. In leaching test and evaluation of storage stability, only trace amount of protein was detected in buffer of the immobilized enzyme after storage at 4 â„ƒ for 33 days, and the immobilized BgpA still maintained > 50% relative activity. It also demonstrated good reusability, with 76.1% relative activity remaining after fourteen successive enzymatic hydrolyses of epimedin A to sagittatoside A. The newly proposed strategy is an effective approach for the purification and immobilization of BgpA concurrently. In addition, R-SBA-15@BgpA was demonstrated to have high efficiency and stability in this application, suggesting its great feasibility and potential to produce bioactive compounds such as secondary glycosides or aglycones from natural products.

Emotional differences based on comments on doctor-patient disputes with varying levels of severity.

BACKGROUND: The risks associated with negative doctor-patient relationships have seriously hindered the healthy development of medical and healthcare and aroused widespread concern in society. The number of public comments on doctor-patient relationship risk events reflects the degree to which the public pays attention to such events. AIM: To explore public emotional differences, the intensity of comments, and the positions represented at different levels of doctor-patient disputes. METHODS: Thirty incidents of doctor-patient disputes were collected from Weibo and TikTok, and 3655 related comments were extracted. The number of comment sentiment words was extracted, and the comment sentiment value was calculated. The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to compare differences between each variable group at different levels of incidence. Spearman's correlation analysis was used to examine associations between variables. Regression analysis was used to explore factors influencing scores of comments on incidents. RESULTS: The study results showed that public comments on media reports of doctor-patient disputes at all levels are mainly dominated by "good" and "disgust" emotional states. There was a significant difference in the comment scores and the number of partial emotion words between comments on varying levels of severity of doctor-patient disputes. The comment score was positively correlated with the number of emotion words related to positive, good, and happy) and negatively correlated with the number of emotion words related to negative, anger, disgust, fear, and sadness. CONCLUSION: The number of emotion words related to negative, anger, disgust, fear, and sadness directly influences comment scores, and the severity of the incident level indirectly influences comment scores.

Angelicin improves osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats by reducing ROS production in osteoclasts through regulation of the KAT6A/Nrf2 signalling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Angelicin, which is found in Psoralea, can help prevent osteoporosis by stopping osteoclast formation, although the precise mechanism remains unclear. METHODS: We evaluated the effect of angelicin on the oxidative stress level of osteoclasts using ovariectomized osteoporosis model rats and RAW264.7 cells. Changes in the bone mass of the femur were investigated using H&E staining and micro-CT. ROS content was investigated by DHE fluorescence labelling. Osteoclast-related genes and proteins were examined for expression using Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining, and real-time quantitative PCR. The influence of angelicin on osteoclast development was also evaluated using the MTT assay, double luciferin assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation, immunoprecipitation and KAT6A siRNA transfection. RESULTS: Rats treated with angelicin had considerably higher bone mineral density and fewer osteoclasts. Angelicin prevented RAW264.7 cells from differentiating into osteoclasts in vitro when stimulated by RANKL. Experiments revealed reduced ROS levels and significantly upregulated intracellular KAT6A, HO-1, and Nrf2 following angelicin treatment. The expression of genes unique to osteoclasts, such as MMP9 and NFATc1, was also downregulated. Finally, KAT6A siRNA transfection increased intracellular ROS levels while decreasing KAT6A, Nrf2, and HO-1 protein expression in osteoclasts. However, in the absence of KAT6A siRNA transfection, angelicin greatly counteracted this effect in osteoclasts. CONCLUSIONS: Angelicin increased the expression of KAT6A. This enhanced KAT6A expression helps to activate the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant stress system and decrease ROS levels in osteoclasts, thus inhibiting oxidative stress levels and osteoclast formation.

Effect of perinatal consumption of low-calorie sweetener on maternal health: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Evidence regarding perinatal low-calorie (or artificial) sweetener (LCS) consumption and its effect on maternal health outcomes is limited and inconclusive. The primary outcomes of our systematic review and meta-analysis were the effect of preconception and pregnancy LCS exposure on reproductive and pregnancy outcomes. Secondary outcomes included long-term maternal health. METHODS: A systematic search of electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, ProQuest Health and Medical, ClinicalTrials.gov and Google Scholar, was conducted up to 20 November 2023. Primary studies, including clinical trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, which reported any LCS consumption during perinatal period and pregnancy and maternal health outcomes were eligible. A random effects model with restricted maximum likelihood estimation was used for the meta-analysis. We appraised the quality of the included studies using the National Institute of Health study quality appraisal tool and the overall quality of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation tool. RESULTS: A total of 19 eligible studies with 203,706 participants were included. LCS consumption during pregnancy was associated with 11% increased risk of preterm birth (RR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.07-1.16, I2 = 0.01%) and 42% increased risk of gestational diabetes (RR = 1.42, 95% CI: 0.98-2.04, I2 = 67.60%) compared with no consumption, however, the effect size for gestational diabetes was not precise as the 95% CI indicated that the effect estimate could range from 2% lower risk to 204% (or 2.04 times) higher risk. We found no association between LCS consumption during pregnancy and gestational weight gain (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.04; 95% CI: -0.17 - 0.24, I2 = 41.31%) or gestational age at birth (SMD = 0.00; 95% CI: -0.13 - 0.14, I2 = 80.13%). The effect of LCS consumption on reproductive treatment outcomes were inconsistent. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the evidence available, LCS consumption in pregnancy was associated with increased risk of preterm birth and gestational diabetes. Robust research, such as well-designed randomized trials and large prospective cohort studies, is required to confirm the causal effect of LCS consumption during perinatal period on adverse maternal health outcomes.

Astrocytes modulate brain phosphate homeostasis via polarized distribution of phosphate uptake transporter PiT2 and exporter XPR1.

Aberrant inorganic phosphate (Pi) homeostasis causes brain calcification and aggravates neurodegeneration, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we found that primary familial brain calcification (PFBC)-associated Pi transporter genes Pit2 and Xpr1 were highly expressed in astrocytes, with importer PiT2 distributed over the entire astrocyte processes and exporter XPR1 localized to astrocyte end-feet on blood vessels. This polarized PiT2 and XPR1 distribution endowed astrocyte with Pi transport capacity competent for brain Pi homeostasis, which was disrupted in mice with astrocyte-specific knockout (KO) of either Pit2 or Xpr1. Moreover, we found that Pi uptake by PiT2, and its facilitation by PFBC-associated galactosidase MYORG, were required for the high Pi transport capacity of astrocytes. Finally, brain calcification was suppressed by astrocyte-specific PiT2 re-expression in Pit2-KO mice. Thus, astrocyte-mediated Pi transport is pivotal for brain Pi homeostasis, and elevating astrocytic Pi transporter function represents a potential therapeutic strategy for reducing brain calcification.

Clinical features associated with maternal uniparental disomy for chromosome 6.

BACKGROUND: Maternal uniparental disomy for chromosome 6 (upd(Cajaiba MM, Witchel S, Madan-Khetarpal S, Hoover J, Hoffner L, Macpherson T, et al. Prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 6 rescue resulting in paternal UPD6 with novel placental findings. Am J Med Genet Part A. 2011;155 A(8):1996-2002.)mat) has been previously reported to cause intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), but the specific clinical phenotype has not been defined. Based on clinical data from two new cases and patients from the literature, specific phenotypes and mechanisms will be discussed further. CASE PRESENTATION: In case 1, a maternal isodisomy mixed with a heterodisomy was found on chromosome 6, including a regional absence of heterozygosity between 6q23.3 and 6q27. In case 2, a homozygous SCUBE3 mutation and upd(Cajaiba MM, Witchel S, Madan-Khetarpal S, Hoover J, Hoffner L, Macpherson T, et al. Prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 6 rescue resulting in paternal UPD6 with novel placental findings. Am J Med Genet Part A. 2011;155 A(8):1996-2002.)mat, involving the 6p21.1-25.1 region were found. Clinical data related to upd(Cajaiba MM, Witchel S, Madan-Khetarpal S, Hoover J, Hoffner L, Macpherson T, et al. Prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 6 rescue resulting in paternal UPD6 with novel placental findings. Am J Med Genet Part A. 2011;155 A(8):1996-2002.)mat were also reviewed. Of all the 21 reported cases with upd(Cajaiba MM, Witchel S, Madan-Khetarpal S, Hoover J, Hoffner L, Macpherson T, et al. Prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 6 rescue resulting in paternal UPD6 with novel placental findings. Am J Med Genet Part A. 2011;155 A(8):1996-2002.)mat (including our 2 cases), 18 (85.7%) presented IUGR. CONCLUSIONS: The phenotypes of the two newly identified patients with upd(Cajaiba MM, Witchel S, Madan-Khetarpal S, Hoover J, Hoffner L, Macpherson T, et al. Prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 6 rescue resulting in paternal UPD6 with novel placental findings. Am J Med Genet Part A. 2011;155 A(8):1996-2002.)mat further suggest that IUGR is associated with upd(Cajaiba MM, Witchel S, Madan-Khetarpal S, Hoover J, Hoffner L, Macpherson T, et al. Prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 6 rescue resulting in paternal UPD6 with novel placental findings. Am J Med Genet Part A. 2011;155 A(8):1996-2002.)mat and case 2 is the first reported upd(Cajaiba MM, Witchel S, Madan-Khetarpal S, Hoover J, Hoffner L, Macpherson T, et al. Prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 6 rescue resulting in paternal UPD6 with novel placental findings. Am J Med Genet Part A. 2011;155 A(8):1996-2002.)mat patient with a homozygous SCUBE3 gene mutation. However, the specific phenotypes involved in upd(Cajaiba MM, Witchel S, Madan-Khetarpal S, Hoover J, Hoffner L, Macpherson T, et al. Prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 6 rescue resulting in paternal UPD6 with novel placental findings. Am J Med Genet Part A. 2011;155 A(8):1996-2002.)mat and the related mechanisms need to be further studied.

Clinicopathological Features and Long-Term Prognostic Role of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2 Low Expression in Chinese Patients with Early Breast Cancer: A Single-Institution Study.

Objective: This study aimed to comprehensively analyze and compare the clinicopathological features and prognosis of Chinese patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-low early breast cancer (BC) and HER2-IHC0 BC. Methods: Patients diagnosed with HER2-negative BC ( N = 999) at our institution between January 2011 and December 2015 formed our study population. Clinicopathological characteristics, association between estrogen receptor (ER) expression and HER2-low, and evolution of HER2 immunohistochemical (IHC) score were assessed. Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to compare the long-term survival outcomes (5-year follow-up) between the HER2-IHC0 and HER2-low groups. Results: HER2-low BC group tended to demonstrate high expression of ER and more progesterone receptor (PgR) positivity than HER2-IHC0 BC group ( P < 0.001). The rate of HER2-low status increased with increasing ER expression levels (Mantel-Haenszel χ 2 test, P < 0.001, Pearson's R = 0.159, P < 0.001). Survival analysis revealed a significantly longer overall survival (OS) in HER2-low BC group than in HER2-IHC0 group ( P = 0.007) in the whole cohort and the hormone receptor (HR)-negative group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of disease-free survival (DFS). The discordance rate of HER2 IHC scores between primary and metastatic sites was 36.84%. Conclusion: HER2-low BC may not be regarded as a unique BC group in this population-based study due to similar clinicopathological features and prognostic roles.

Unraveling the Predictors of Enlarged Perivascular Spaces: A Comprehensive Logistic Regression Approach in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease.

Background: This study addresses the predictive modeling of Enlarged Perivascular Spaces (EPVS) in neuroradiology and neurology, focusing on their impact on Cerebral Small Vessel Disease (CSVD) and neurodegenerative disorders. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 587 neurology inpatients, utilizing LASSO regression for variable selection and logistic regression for model development. The study included comprehensive demographic, medical history, and laboratory data analyses. Results: The model identified key predictors of EPVS, including Age, Hypertension, Stroke, Lipoprotein a, Platelet Large Cell Ratio, Uric Acid, and Albumin to Globulin Ratio. The predictive nomogram demonstrated strong efficacy in EPVS risk assessment, validated through ROC curve analysis, calibration plots, and Decision Curve Analysis. Conclusion: The study presents a novel, robust EPVS predictive model, providing deeper insights into EPVS mechanisms and risk factors. It underscores the potential for early diagnosis and improved management strategies in neuro-radiology and neurology, highlighting the need for future research in diverse populations and longitudinal settings.

Spray drying the Pickering emulsions stabilized by chitosan/ovalbumin polyelectrolyte complexes for the production of oxidation stable tuna oil microcapsules.

The microencapsulation of polysaturated fatty acids by spray drying remains a challenge due to their susceptibility to oxidation. In this work, antioxidant Pickering emulsions were attempted as feeds to produce oxidation stable tuna oil microcapsules. The results indicated that the association between chitosan (CS) and ovalbumin (OVA) was a feasible way to fabricate antioxidant and wettable complexes and a high CS percentage favored these properties. The particles could yield tuna oil Pickering emulsions with enhanced oxidation stability through high-pressure homogenization, which were successfully spray dried to produce microcapsules with surface oil content of 8.84 % and microencapsulation efficiency of 76.65 %. The microcapsules exhibited significantly improved oxidation stability and their optimum peroxide values after storage at 50 °C, 85 % relative humidity, or natural light for 15 d were 48.67 %, 60.07 %, and 39.69 % respectively lower than the powder derived from the OVA-stabilized emulsion. Hence, Pickering emulsions stabilized by the CS/OVA polyelectrolyte complexes are potential in the production of oxidation stable polyunsaturated fatty acid microcapsules by spray drying.

Bilirubin Elevation During Hospitalization Post Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: Variation Trend, Related Factors, and Relevance to 1-Year Recurrence.

Background: The role of total bilirubin (TBIL) in cardiovascular disease has been increasingly recognized in recent decades. Studies have shown a correlation between total bilirubin levels and the prognosis of patients after heart surgery. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of bilirubin elevation in persistent atrial fibrillation (PAF) patients who received radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). Methods and Results: A total of 184 patients with PAF who received RFCA were retrospectively studied. Laboratory examinations and demographic data were analyzed to identify independent predictors of TBIL elevation. The relationship between TBIL and prognosis was further investigated. Our results indicated that TBIL increased significantly after RFCA. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that TBIL elevation owned a negative correlation with the percentile of low voltage areas (LVAs) in left atria (ß=-0.490, P<0.001). In contrast, a positive correlation was observed with the white blood cell (WBC) ratio (ß=0.153, P=0.042) and left atrial diameter (LAD) (ß=0.232, P=0.025). It was found that postoperative TBIL levels increased and then gradually decreased to baseline within 5 days without intervention. The bilirubin ratio <1.211 indicated the possibility of 1-year AF recurrence after ablation with a predictive value of 0.743 (specificity = 75.00%, sensitivity = 66.67%). Conclusion: Bilirubin elevation post PAF RFCA was a common phenomenon and was associated with 1-year recurrence of AF in PAF patients after RFCA.

The effects of acteoside on locomotor recovery after spinal cord injury - The role of autophagy and apoptosis signaling pathway.

In the current study, we investigated the effects of acteoside as a phenylpropanoid glycoside on interaction with neurons to assesses locomotor recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats by focusing on evaluating the factors involved in autophagy, apoptosis, inflammation and oxidative stress processes. 49 Spargue-Dawley rats were prepared and divided into seven healthy and SCI groups receiving different concentrations of acteoside. After 28 days of disease induction and treatment with acteoside, a BBB score test was used to evaluate locomotor activity. Then, by preparing spinal cord cell homogenates, the expression levels of MAP1LC3A, MAP-2, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), Nrf2, Keap-1, Caspase 3 (Casp3), Bax, Bcl-2, TNF-a, IL-1B, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. Improvement of locomotor activity in SCI rats receiving acteoside was observed two weeks after the beginning of the experiment and continued until the fourth week. Both MAP1LC3A and MAP-2 were significantly up-regulated in SCI rats treated with acteoside compared to untreated SCI rats, and GFAP levels were significantly decreased in these animals. Pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Casp3 and anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 were down-regulated and up-regulated, respectively, in SCI rats receiving acteoside. In addition, a significant downregulation of iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-1ß and a decrease in contents of both ROS and MDA as well as increases in Nrf2 and Keap-1 were seen in rats receiving acteoside. Furthermore, acteoside strongly interacted with MAP1LC3A, TNF-α, and Casp3 targets with binding affinities of -8.3 kcal/mol, -8.3 kcal/mol, and -8.5 kcal/mol, respectively, determined by molecular docking studies. In general, it can be concluded that acteoside has protective effects in SCI and can be considered as an adjuvant therapy in the treatment of this disease. However, more studies, especially clinical studies, are needed in this field.

Identification of key sensory and chemical factors determining flavor quality of Xinyu mandarin during ripening and storage.

Xinyu mandarin is popular for its good flavor, but its flavor deteriorates during postharvest storage. To better understand the underlying basis of this change, the dynamics of the sensory profiles were investigated throughout fruit ripening and storage. Sweetness and sourness, determined especially by sucrose and citric acid content, were identified as the key sensory factors in flavor establishment during ripening, but not in flavor deterioration during storage. Postharvest flavor deterioration is mainly attributed to the reduction of retronasal aroma and the development of off-flavor. Furthermore, sugars, acids and volatile compounds were analyzed. Among the 101 detected volatile compounds, 10 changed significantly during the ripening process. The concentrations of 15 volatile components decreased during late postharvest storage, among which α-pinene and d-limonene were likely to play key roles in the reduction of aroma. Three volatile compounds were found to increase during storage, associated with off-flavor development.