[Development and validation of a nomogram for predicting 3-month mortality risk in patients with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury].

OBJECTIVE: To develop and evaluate a nomogram prediction model for the 3-month mortality risk of patients with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (S-AKI). METHODS: Based on the American Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care- IV (MIMIC- IV), clinical data of S-AKI patients from 2008 to 2021 were collected. Initially, 58 relevant predictive factors were included, with all-cause mortality within 3 months as the outcome event. The data were divided into training and testing sets at a 7 : 3 ratio. In the training set, univariate Logistic regression analysis was used for preliminary variable screening. Multicollinearity analysis, Lasso regression, and random forest algorithm were employed for variable selection, combined with the clinical application value of variables, to establish a multivariable Logistic regression model, visualized using a nomogram. In the testing set, the predictive value of the model was evaluated through internal validation. The receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was drawn, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the discrimination of nomogram model and Oxford acute severity of illness score (OASIS), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), and systemic inflammatory response syndrome score (SIRS). The calibration curve was used to evaluate the calibration, and decision curve analysis (DCA) was performed to assess the net benefit at different probability thresholds. RESULTS: Based on the survival status at 3 months after diagnosis, patients were divided into 7 768 (68.54%) survivors and 3 566 (31.46%) death. In the training set, after multiple screenings, 7 variables were finally included in the nomogram model: Logistic organ dysfunction system (LODS), Charlson comorbidity index, urine output, international normalized ratio (INR), respiratory support mode, blood urea nitrogen, and age. Internal validation in the testing set showed that the AUC of nomogram model was 0.81 [95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 0.80-0.82], higher than the OASIS score's 0.70 (95%CI was 0.69-0.71) and significantly higher than the SOFA score's 0.57 (95%CI was 0.56-0.58) and SIRS score's 0.56 (95%CI was 0.55-0.57), indicating good discrimination. The calibration curve demonstrated that the nomogram model's calibration was better than the OASIS, SOFA, and SIRS scores. The DCA curve suggested that the nomogram model's clinical net benefit was better than the OASIS, SOFA, and SIRS scores at different probability thresholds. CONCLUSIONS: A nomogram prediction model for the 3-month mortality risk of S-AKI patients, based on clinical big data from MIMIC- IV and including seven variables, demonstrates good discriminative ability and calibration, providing an effective new tool for assessing the prognosis of S-AKI patients.

Prevalence and trends of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in female sex workers and men who have sex with men in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Chlamydia trachomatis infection can cause a significant disease burden in high-risk populations. This study aimed to assess the overall prevalence of C. trachomatis infection, and determine the long-term trends and geographic distribution of this infection among female sex workers (FSWs) and men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. METHODS: The PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Data and VIP databases were searched from 1 January 1990 through 30 April 2023. Publications in which C. trachomatis infection was detected using nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) were included. The Q test and I2 statistics were used to assess the heterogeneity between studies. A random-effect model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of C. trachomatis infection. Subgroup, meta-regression, and sensitivity analyses were performed to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias was evaluated using Egger's test. Trend analysis of the prevalence was performed using the Jonckheere-Terpstra trend test method. RESULTS: Sixty-one studies were eligible for inclusion (including 38 for FSWs and 23 for MSM). The pooled prevalence of C. trachomatis infection was 19.5% (95% CI: 16.4, 23.0) among FSWs and 12.7% (95% CI: 9.2, 17.7) in the rectum, 6.4% (95% CI: 5.3, 7.8) in the urethra and 1.3% (95% CI: 0.8, 2.1) in the oropharynx from MSM in China. The subgroup analyses showed that the sample size, study period, study region, specimen collection type, molecular diagnosis method, and recruitment site could explain some heterogeneity among studies of FSWs, and the publication language, study period, study region, molecular diagnosis method, and specimen collection anatomical site could explain some heterogeneity among studies of MSM. From 1998 to 2004, 2005 to 2009, 2010 to 2015, and 2016 to 2021, the pooled prevalence of C. trachomatis infection among FSWs were 30.3%, 19.9%, 21.4%, and 11.3%, respectively. For MSM, the pooled prevalence from 2003 to 2009, 2010 to 2015, and 2016 to 2022 were 7.8%, 4.7%, and 6.5%, respectively. However, no overall decline in the prevalence of C. trachomatis infection was observed among FSWs (z = -1.51, P = 0.13) or MSM (z = -0.71, P = 0.48) in China. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of C. trachomatis infection was high in these two high-risk populations in China. The findings of this study provide evidence for the formulation of effective surveillance and screening strategies for the prevention and control of C. trachomatis infection among these two specific populations.

Realveolarization with inhalable mucus-penetrating lipid nanoparticles for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis in mice.

The stemness loss-associated dysregeneration of impaired alveolar type 2 epithelial (AT2) cells abolishes the reversible therapy of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We here report an inhalable mucus-penetrating lipid nanoparticle (LNP) for codelivering dual mRNAs, promoting realveolarization via restoring AT2 stemness for IPF treatment. Inhalable LNPs were first formulated with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and our in-house-made ionizable lipids for high-efficiency pulmonary mucus penetration and codelivery of dual messenger RNAs (mRNAs), encoding cytochrome b5 reductase 3 and bone morphogenetic protein 4, respectively. After being inhaled in a bleomycin model, LNPs reverses the mitochondrial dysfunction through ameliorating nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide biosynthesis, which inhibits the accelerated senescence of AT2 cells. Concurrently, pathological epithelial remodeling and fibroblast activation induced by impaired AT2 cells are terminated, ultimately prompting alveolar regeneration. Our data demonstrated that the mRNA-LNP system exhibited high protein expression in lung epithelial cells, which markedly extricated the alveolar collapse and prolonged the survival of fibrosis mice, providing a clinically viable strategy against IPF.

The truncated AXIN1 isoform promotes hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis through SRSF9-mediated exon 9 skipping.

Axis inhibitor protein 1 (AXIN1) is a protein recognized for inhibiting tumor growth and is commonly involved in cancer development. In this study, we explored the potential molecular mechanisms that connect alternative splicing of AXIN1 to the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Transcriptome sequencing, RT‒PCR, qPCR and Western blotting were utilized to determine the expression levels of AXIN1 in human HCC tissues and HCC cells. The effects of the AXIN1 exon 9 alternative splice isoform and SRSF9 on the migration and invasion of HCC cells were assessed through wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively. The interaction between SRSF9 and AXIN1 was investigated using UV crosslink RNA immunoprecipitation, RNA pulldown, and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. Furthermore, the involvement of the AXIN1 isoform and SRSF9 in HCC metastasis was validated in a nude mouse model. AXIN1-L (exon 9 including) expression was downregulated, while AXIN1-S (exon 9 skipping) was upregulated in HCC. SRSF9 promotes the production of AXIN1-S by interacting with the sequence of exons 8 and 10 of AXIN1. AXIN1-S significantly promoted HCC cells migration and invasion by activating the Wnt pathway, while the opposite effects were observed for AXIN1-L. In vivo experiments demonstrated that AXIN1-L inhibited HCC metastasis, whereas SRSF9 promoted HCC metastasis in part by regulating the level of AXIN1-S. AXIN1, a tumor suppressor protein that targets the AXIN1/Wnt/ß-catenin signaling axis, may be a promising prognostic factor and a valuable therapeutic target for HCC.

Isolation and characterization of pure cultures for metabolizing 1,4-dioxane in oligotrophic environments.

1,4-Dioxane concentration in most contaminated water is much less than 1 mg/L, which cannot sustain the growth of most reported 1,4-dioxane-metabolizing pure cultures. These pure cultures were isolated following enrichment of mixed cultures at high concentrations (20 to 1,000 mg/L). This study is based on a different strategy: 1,4-dioxane-metabolizing mixed cultures were enriched by periodically spiking 1,4-dioxane at low concentrations (≤1 mg/L). Five 1,4-dioxane-metabolizing pure strains LCD6B, LCD6D, WC10G, WCD6H, and WD4H were isolated and characterized. The partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the five bacterial strains were related to Dokdonella sp. (98.3%), Acinetobacter sp. (99.0%), Afipia sp. (99.2%), Nitrobacter sp. (97.9%), and Pseudonocardia sp. (99.4%), respectively. Nitrobacter sp. WCD6H is the first reported 1,4-dioxane-metabolizing bacterium in the genus of Nitrobacter. The net specific growth rates of these five cultures are consistently higher than those reported in the literature at 1,4-dioxane concentrations <0.5 mg/L. Compared to the literature, our newly discovered strains have lower half-maximum-rate concentrations (1.8 to 8.2 mg-dioxane/L), lower maximum specific 1,4-dioxane utilization rates (0.24 to 0.47 mg-dioxane/(mg-protein ⋅ d)), higher biomass yields (0.29 to 0.38 mg-protein/mg-dioxane), and lower decay coefficients (0.01 to 0.02 d-1). These are characteristics of microorganisms living in oligotrophic environments.

Meta-Analysis of Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma Combined with Minoxidil for Androgenetic Alopecia.

BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a prevalent type of hair loss that impacts individuals of both genders. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and minoxidil have been employed as therapeutic interventions for AGA, yet the efficacy of their concurrent use remains ambiguous. OBJECTIVE: To perform a comprehensive review and meta-analysis aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in combination with minoxidil for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA). METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search of the databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, encompassing their complete records up until December 2023. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials that compared the combination of PRP and minoxidil with minoxidil or PRP alone in patients with AGA. The primary outcome measure was the change in hair growth as assessed by the hair density or hair thickness. Secondary outcome measures included patient satisfaction, and global photographic assessment. RESULTS: A total of 6 studies involving 343 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that PRP combined with minoxidil significantly improved hair growth compared to minoxidil or PRP alone. The pooled analysis demonstrated a significant increase in hair density (weighted mean difference [WMD] = 9.14; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.57-11.70) and hair diameter (WMD = 4.72; 95% CI 3.21-6.23) in the PRP combined with minoxidil group. Moreover, patients receiving PRP combined with minoxidil reported higher satisfaction rates compared to those using minoxidil or PRP alone. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggests that PRP combined with minoxidil is an effective treatment for AGA, providing significant improvement in hair growth and patient satisfaction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Aerobic Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria in the Marine Environments Revealed by Raman/Fluorescence-Guided Single-Cell Sorting and Targeted Metagenomics.

Aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria (AAPB) contribute profoundly to the global carbon cycle. However, most AAPB in marine environments are uncultured and at low abundance, hampering the recognition of their functions and molecular mechanisms. In this study, we developed a new culture-independent method to identify and sort AAPB using single-cell Raman/fluorescence spectroscopy. Characteristic Raman and fluorescent bands specific to bacteriochlorophyll a (Bchl a) in AAPB were determined by comparing multiple known AAPB with non-AAPB isolates. Using these spectroscopic biomarkers, AAPB in coastal seawater, pelagic seawater, and hydrothermal sediment samples were screened, sorted, and sequenced. 16S rRNA gene analysis and functional gene annotations of sorted cells revealed novel AAPB members and functional genes, including one species belonging to the genus Sphingomonas, two genera affiliated to classes Betaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria, and function genes bchCDIX, pucC2, and pufL related to Bchl a biosynthesis and photosynthetic reaction center assembly. Metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of sorted cells from pelagic seawater and deep-sea hydrothermal sediment belonged to Erythrobacter sanguineus that was considered as an AAPB and genus Sphingomonas, respectively. Moreover, multiple photosynthesis-related genes were annotated in both MAGs, and comparative genomic analysis revealed several exclusive genes involved in amino acid and inorganic ion metabolism and transport. This study employed a new single-cell spectroscopy method to detect AAPB, not only broadening the taxonomic and genetic contents of AAPB in marine environments but also revealing their genetic mechanisms at the single-genomic level.

[Preparation of Chitosan-modified Biochar and Its Adsorption Mechanism for Cd2+ in Aqueous Solution].

Chitosan-modified biochar （CBC） was prepared as a low-cost and highly efficient adsorbent for Cd2+ in aqueous solutions. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to evaluate the adsorption performance. Characterization experiments with SEM-EDS， FTIR， and XPS were used to analyze the surface microstructure and chemical composition of the adsorbent. The results showed that the adsorption performance of CBC was remarkably improved by the introduction of surface functional groups （-OH， -C=O， and -NH2）. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir model were better for describing the kinetics and isotherms for Cd2+ adsorption onto CBC， indicating that the adsorption rate was determined by the active sites and controlled by monolayer chemisorption. The adsorption process was endothermic spontaneous， and the key mechanisms involved complexation， precipitation， cation exchange， and cation-π bonds. After five instances of adsorption-desorption cycles， the adsorption capacity of CBC for Cd2+ still remained above 80% of the initial adsorption capacity， indicating that CBC had a favorable recyclability. The current work embodies the concept of green chemistry， and the prepared chitosan-modified biochar was a promising adsorbent for the removal of Cd2+ in wastewater and soil.

Constructing polynomial libraries for reservoir computing in nonlinear dynamical system forecasting.

Reservoir computing is an effective model for learning and predicting nonlinear and chaotic dynamical systems; however, there remains a challenge in achieving a more dependable evolution for such systems. Based on the foundation of Koopman operator theory, considering the effectiveness of the sparse identification of nonlinear dynamics algorithm to construct candidate nonlinear libraries in the application of nonlinear data, an alternative reservoir computing method is proposed, which creates the linear Hilbert space of the nonlinear system by including nonlinear terms in the optimization process of reservoir computing, allowing for the application of linear optimization. We introduce an implementation that incorporates a polynomial transformation of arbitrary order when fitting the readout matrix. Constructing polynomial libraries with reservoir-state vectors as elements enhances the nonlinear representation of reservoir states and more easily captures the complexity of nonlinear systems. The Lorenz-63 system, the Lorenz-96 system, and the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation are used to validate the effectiveness of constructing polynomial libraries for reservoir states in the field of state-evolution prediction of nonlinear and chaotic dynamical systems. This study not only promotes the theoretical study of reservoir computing, but also provides a theoretical and practical method for the prediction of nonlinear and chaotic dynamical system evolution.

Safety and efficacy of enhanced recovery after surgery among patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) method has been widely used in surgery and anesthesia worldwide and has been applied to a wide range of surgical specialties, including colorectal surgery, gynecology, liver surgery, breast surgery, urology, and spinal surgery. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated its safety and efficacy in various fields. The safety and effectiveness of ERAS for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) remain controversial. This study aimed to review the safety and effectiveness of ERAS for PCNL. METHODS: The Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan Fang, Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System (SinoMed), Chinese Science and Technology Journal Full Text Database (VIP), Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched for eligible studies published until 19 September 2022. Outcome measures included postoperative hospital stay, total hospital stay, incidence of postoperative complications, stone-free rate (SFR), operative time, postoperative indwelling nephrostomy tube time, catheter encumbrance time, and nursing satisfaction. All analyses were performed using random-effects or fixed-effects models. Clinical heterogeneity was treated with subgroup, sensitivity, or descriptive analyses only when clinical heterogeneity was not excluded. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots. Twenty-five studies (1545 observational patients and 1562 controls) were included. RESULTS: The ERAS group had a shorter postoperative hospital stay [WMD=-2.59, 95% CI=(-3.04, -2.14), P <0.001], total hospital stay [WMD=-2.59, 95% CI=(-3.04, -2.14), P <0.001], and lower complication rate [RR=0.36, 95% CI=(0.29-0.43), P <0.001] than the control group. The ERAS group had a shorter surgery time [WMD=-3.57, 95% CI=(-5.88, -1.26), P =0.003], postoperative indwelling nephrostomy tube time [WMD=-1.94, 95% CI=(-2.69, -1.19), P <0.001], catheter encumbrance time [WMD=-2.65, 95% CI=(-4.83, -0.46), P =0.02], and higher satisfaction [RR=1.15, 95% CI=(1.05-1.25), P =0.001] than the control group. The difference in the stone-free rate between the two groups was not statistically significant [RR=1.03, 95% CI=(0.97-1.09), P =0.38], but the stone-free rate of the observation group (ERAS group) in each study was higher than that of the control group. CONCLUSION: ERAS not only ensures the safety of PCNL but also promotes postoperative rehabilitation of patients (shorter surgery time, postoperative indwelling nephrostomy tube time, postoperative hospital time, and lower complication rate). At the same time, differences in the stone-free rate were not statistically significant, but the stone-free rate of ERAS in each study was higher than that of the usual care for PCNL patients.

Multi-spectroscopies and molecular docking insights into the interaction mechanism and antioxidant activity of isoquercetin and zein nanoparticles.

The purpose of this study was to compare and characterize the theoretical properties and interaction mechanisms of zein and isoquercetin (ISO) from experimental and theoretical perspectives. Zein nanoparticles with different ISO concentrations (ZINPs) were prepared by the antisolvent precipitation method. The experimental results indicated all particles appeared spherical. When the mass ratio of zein to ISO was 10:1, the encapsulation efficiency of ZINPs reached 88.19 % with an average diameter of 126.67 nm. The multispectral method and molecular docking results confirmed that hydrogen bonding and van der Waals force played a dominant role for the binding of ISO to zein, and the primary fluorescence quenching mechanism for zein by ISO was static quenching. Furthermore, ZINPs had greater solubility and antioxidant activity, as well as inhibited the release of ISO during simulated gastrointestinal digestion processes. This research contributes to the understanding of the non-covalent binding mechanism between zein and ISO, providing a theoretical basis for the construction of ISO active carriers.

EtOS2K as a C1 Source: Solvent- and Temperature-Controlled Selective Synthesis of Quinoline-2-thione and Quinoline-2-one Derivatives.

Herein, we disclosed a highly chemoselective synthesis of quinoline-2-one and quinoline-2-thione derivatives using EtOS2K as the C1 source. Quinoline-2-one derivatives were synthesized selectively with NaCl as a catalyst in the solvent DMSO/H2O, while quinoline-2-thione derivatives were produced without the need for any catalyst in an environmentally friendly solvent EtOH/H2O. The reaction conditions were mild and had good functional group tolerance.

Clinical Impact of Active Inflatable Insulation in Older with Undergoing Knee Arthroplasty.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the safety and effectiveness of active inflatable insulation in older patients who underwent knee arthroplasty. Methods: A total of 210 patients who came to our hospital for knee arthroplasty between November 2020 and December 2021 were selected for the study. They were randomly divided into a control group and two experimental groups, i.e., the intraoperative active warming (IOAW) group and the perioperative active warming (POAW) group, with 70 patients in each group. IOAW measures are taken to reduce heat loss during surgery and help maintain core temperature. POAW measures were taken to reduce the heat loss during surgery and help maintain the core temperature. The core body temperature, incidence of hypothermia, chills, bleeding volume (P = .043), extubation and awakening time, blood routine, and coagulation function of the patients in the three groups were compared. Results: The core body temperature in the POAW group was higher than that in the IOAW and control groups. The awakening and extubation times in the POAW group were shorter than those in the IOAW and control groups. The incidences of hypothermia, chills and intraoperative bleeding in the POAW group were lower than those in the IOAW and control groups. Conclusion: Perioperative active inflatable insulation for older patients undergoing knee arthroplasty can effectively protect the core body temperature, reduce the incidence of perioperative hypothermia, and reduce related complications. This measure is beneficial for the postoperative recovery of patients and provides a reference for active inflatable insulation measures for clinical knee arthroplasty.

Electrochemical water softening technology: From fundamental research to practical application.

In recent decades, the environmentally benign electrochemical softening process has been gaining widespread interest as an emerging alternative for water softening. But, in spite of decades of research, the fundamental advances in laboratory involving electrolytic cell design and treatment system development have not led to urgently needed improvements in industrially practicable electrochemical softening technique. In this review, we firstly provide the critical insights into the mechanism of the currently widely used cathode precipitation process and its inherent limitations, which seriously impede its wide implementation in industry. To relieve the above limitations, some cutting-edge electrochemically homogeneous crystallization systems have been developed, the effectiveness of which are also comprehensively summarized. In addition, the pros and cons between cathode precipitation and electrochemically homogeneous crystallization systems are systematically outlined in terms of performance and economic evaluation, potential application area, and electrolytic cell and system complexity. Finally, we discourse upon practical challenges impeding the industrial-scale deployment of electrochemical water softening technique and highlight the integration of strong engineering sense with fundamental research to realize industry-scale deployment. This review will inspire the researchers and engineers to break the bottlenecks in electrochemical water softening technology and harness this technology with the broadened industrial application area.

Novel lumbar plexus block versus femoral nerve block for analgesia and motor recovery after total knee arthroplasty.

This study aimed to compare the postoperative analgesic efficacy and motor recovery of a novel lumbar plexus block (LPB) with that of a femoral nerve block (FNB) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Forty patients who underwent TKA were randomised equally into an lumbar plexus and sciatic nerve (LS) group (receiving novel LPB) and an femoral and sciatic nerves (FS) group (receiving FNB). The assessed variables were the onset time of pain, time to the first analgesic request, pain scores, motor block at 6, 12, and 24 h after TKA, and the number of patients receiving successful blockade for each branch of the lumbar plexus. In the LS group, the femoral, lateral femoral cutaneous, genitofemoral, iliohypogastric, ilioinguinal, and obturator nerves were blocked in 18, 20, 16, 18, 15, and 19 patients. Compared to the FS group, the LS group had a significantly shorter onset time of pain and time to the first analgesic request, a significantly larger total postoperative dose of sufentanil, significantly higher numeric rating scale scores for both rest and dynamic pain at 6, 12, and 24 h, and faster motor recovery. Novel ultrasound-guided LPB has a high blocking success rate and provides inferior postoperative analgesia, but faster motor recovery after TKA than FNB.

Non-covalent interaction between hemp seed globulin and two hemp seed phenolic compounds: Mechanism and effects on protein structure, bioactivity, and in vitro simulated digestion.

This study focused on elucidating the non-covalent interactions between hemp seed globulin (GLB) and two hemp seed phenolic compounds, Cannabisin A (CA) and Cannabisin B (CB), and to explore these interactions on the protein's structure, conformation, and functionality. Fluorescence quenching and thermodynamic analysis revealed that static quenching governed non-covalent interaction processes, with hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces functioning as major forces. This was further substantiated by molecular docking studies. The binding affinity order was CA > CB, indicating that the specific phenolic compound had a notable impact on the binding affinity. Furthermore, when complexed with CA, Tyr and Trp residues were exposed to a more hydrophilic environment than when complexed with CB. It was noted that the complexation with either CA or CB consistently affects GLB's secondary structure, particle size, and ζ-potential. GLB treated with the phenolic compounds exhibited enhanced ABTS and DPPH scavenging activities and improved digestibility compared to untreated GLB. Furthermore, the non-covalent interactions significantly increased CA's water solubility, highlighting GLB as a promising natural carrier for hydrophobic bioactive components. These findings hold potential implications for enhancing hemp seed protein applications within the food industry by positively influencing its functional properties and bioactivity.

Hemp seed globulin-alginate nanoparticles for encapsulation of Cannabisin A with enhanced colloidal stability and antioxidant activity.

This study develops hemp seed globulin (GLB)-alginate (ALG) nanoparticles (GANPs) for Cannabisin A (CA) stabilization under environmental stress and during pepsin digestion. The optimal GLB: ALG mass ratio of 1: 1.5 was determined for GANPs formation at pH 3.5, resulting in a high yield of 95.13 ± 0.91 %, a ζ-potential of -35.73 ± 1.04 mV, a hydrodynamic diameter of 470.67 ± 11.36 nm, and a PDI of 0.298 ± 0.016. GANPs were employed to encapsulate CA, achieving a high loading capacity of 13.48 ± 0.04 µg mg-1. FTIR analysis demonstrated that the formation of CA-GLB-ALG nanoparticles (CGANPs) involves electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic interactions. XRD and DSC analyses revealed that CA is amorphous within the CGANPs. CGANPs demonstrated remarkable dispersion stability as well as resistance to high ionic strength and high-temperature treatments, indicating their potential as efficient hydrophobic drug-delivery vehicles. When compared to free CA, CA coated within CGANPs displayed greater DPPH/ABTS scavenging activity. Furthermore, the ALG-shelled nanoparticles protected GLB from pepsin digestion and slowed the release of CA throughout the release process, extending their stay on the intestinal wall mucosa. These findings imply that CGANPs is an ideal delivery vehicle for CA as they may expand the application of CA in food items.

Effect of galvanic vestibular stimulation on stroke patients with lateropulsion / 中国康复理论与实践

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of galvanic vestibular stimulation on stroke patients with lateropulsion. MethodsFrom February to October, 2023, 30 stroke patients with lateropulsion in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were divided into control group (n = 15) and experimental group (n = 15) randomly. The control group received routine rehabilitation and sham galvanic vestibular stimulation, and the experimental group received routine rehabilitation and true galvanic vestibular stimulation, for two weeks. They were assessed with Scale for Contraversive Pushing (SCP), subjective visual vertical (SVV), Line Cancellation Test (LCT), Star Cancellation Test (SCT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Holden Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) and Barthel Index (BI) before and after treatment. ResultsAll the indexes improved in both groups after intervention (|t| > 2.461, Z > 3.000, P < 0.05), except the SVV orientation, SVV certainty and SCT in the control group; while the SCP, SVV certainty, LCT and FAC were better in the experimental group than in the control group (|t| > 2.189, Z = -2.862, P < 0.05), and the differences before and after intervention were better in the experimental group than in the control group (|t| > 2.382, P < 0.05), except LCT. SCP was correlated with SVV orientation, SVV certainty, SCT, BBS, BI and FAC (|r| > 0.381, P < 0.05). ConclusionGalvanic vestibular stimulation can improve the lateropulsion, balance, walking function and activities of daily living in stroke patients, which may be related to improvement for spatial cognitive function, especially vertical perception.

Effect of hydrochloric acid and citric acid with ultrasound processing on characteristics of superfine-ground pectic polysaccharides from okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) peel.

The structural properties and biological activities of okra pectic polysaccharides (OPs) were impacted by various extraction methods. Based on commonly grinding (40, 100 meshes) and superfine grinding okra powders, two extraction solvents (hydrochloric acid, HA; citric acid, CA) were used firstly. Next, the extraction yield, physical and chemical properties, molecular structure and functional properties of OPs were analyzed by non-ultrasonic treatment and ultrasound-assisted superfine grinding method. The outcomes demonstrated that the extraction yield of OPs rose as the particle size of the powder decreased. HA-OPs had higher molecular weight (Mw), apparent viscosity and emulsification ability than CA-OPs. CA-OPs had higher esterification degree (DE), solubility and total sugar content, and higher amounts of rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I) segments. Compared with OPs without ultrasound-assisted extraction, ultrasound-assisted superfine grinding extraction exhibited higher sugar content, antioxidant capacity, emulsification ability, lower Mw, DE and apparent viscosity. Finally, the correlation between structure and function of OPs was further quantified. The antioxidant capacity was positively correlated with RG-I content, and negatively correlated with DE and Mw. The emulsification ability was mainly positively correlated with the GlcA of OPs. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development of OPs foods with clear structure-function relationship, which would be instructive for the application of OPs in food and cosmetics.