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1.
BMJ Open ; 14(7): e083753, 2024 Jul 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39038868

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Mental health concerns globally impact millions of people, resulting in significant financial impact and adverse health outcomes. People living with mental health concerns are at higher risk of developing physical health issues, which can lead to a shortened life expectancy. Barriers to physical healthcare, such as limited service capacity, low help seeking and stigma, contribute to health disadvantage. Quality improvement (QI) interventions can address these challenges by addressing staff-level and service-level factors to improve the focus on physical healthcare in mental health settings. The aim of this scoping review is to describe studies of QI interventions to improve physical healthcare in mental health settings. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The proposed scoping review will be conducted in accordance with guidance for scoping reviews from the Joanna Briggs Institute Manual and in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. A systematic review search for peer-reviewed and published articles will be conducted across eight databases: PubMed, MEDLINE (Ovid), Web of Science, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), ProQuest Central, PsycINFO (Ovid), Scopus and Embase (Elsevier). Two independent reviewers will screen the titles, abstracts and full text using Covidence. Any disagreement will be resolved through discussion or with a third reviewer. Data collection will be facilitated using Microsoft Excel. The details of included studies will be extracted by two authors independently. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: No ethical approval is required for the scoping review. The results of this review will be presented at conferences and published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. This review will also inform the development of a QI strategy to influence mental health staff practices in the provision of physical healthcare in Australian mental health settings.


Subject(s)
Mental Health Services , Quality Improvement , Humans , Mental Health Services/standards , Mental Health Services/organization & administration , Research Design , Mental Disorders/therapy , Mental Health , Systematic Reviews as Topic
2.
Bioresour Technol ; : 131142, 2024 Jul 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39043277

ABSTRACT

In this study, a sustainable and environmentally friendly method was developed for the enrichment and purification of phycocyanin from Spirulina platensis. This was achieved by utilizing a temperature-sensitive polymer, Pluronic F68, in an aqueous two-phase solvent system. The phase behavior of the temperature-sensitive polymer-based biphasic system was evaluated. The extraction conditions were optimized by both sing-factor experiments and response surface methodology. Under the optimal conditions, the upper polymer-rich phase was recycled for sustainable phycocyanin extraction, resulting in a grade of 3.23 during the third extraction cycle. Pluronic F68 could be efficiently recovered and reused during the extraction process. The interaction mechanism between Pluronic F68 and phycocyanin was systematically studied using FT-IR and fluorescence analysis. This was further complemented by static and dynamic calculation of molecular motion through molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation, indicating that hydrophobic segment of Pluronic F68 played a key role in the binding process with phycocyanin.

3.
Gland Surg ; 13(6): 871-884, 2024 Jun 30.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39015720

ABSTRACT

Background: Although the research reports on locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) are increasing year by year, there are few reports on T1 LABC axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM). By establishing a prediction model for T1 LABC ALNM, this study provides a reference value for the probability of ALNM of related patients, which helps clinicians to develop a more effective and individualized treatment plan for LABC. Methods: Cases with pathologically confirmed T1 breast cancer (BC) between 2010 and 2015 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were identified. Logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between LABC lymph node metastasis and every factor, and the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to identify any influencing factors. A nomogram was drawn after incorporating meaningful factors identified in multivariate logistic regression into the model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the model was drawn, and the area under the curve (AUC) and its 95% CI were calculated. Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test and clinical decision curve analysis (DCA) were performed. The results were validated in the validation group. Results: A total of 200,933 female T1 BC patients were included in this study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis of T1 BC showed that progesterone receptor (PR)-negative, race, age, lobular carcinoma, micropapillary ductal carcinoma, axillary tail tumor, poor differentiation, and larger tumor diameter increased the probability of ALNM in T1 LABC. A predictive nomogram was established using the above predictors, the AUC of the modeling group was 0.739 (95% CI: 0.732-0.747), and when the AUC cut-off value was 0.026, the specificity and sensitivity of the model were 65.78% and 69.99%, respectively. Validation of the model showed that the AUC of the validation group (n=60,280) was 0.741. When all the risk factors were met, the predicted probability of N2-N3 was 50.40%. Conclusions: In this study, it was found that PR-negative, Black race, age, lobular carcinoma, micropapillary ductal carcinoma, axillary tail tumor, poor differentiation, and tumor diameter increased the probability of large lymph node metastasis in T1 LABC small tumors.

4.
Appl Microbiol Biotechnol ; 108(1): 376, 2024 Jun 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38884656

ABSTRACT

Mushroom poisoning contributes significantly to global foodborne diseases and related fatalities. Amanita mushrooms frequently cause such poisonings; however, identifying these toxic species is challenging due to the unavailability of fresh and intact samples. It is often necessary to analyze residues, vomitus, or stomach extracts to obtain DNA sequences for the identification of species responsible for causing food poisoning. This usually proves challenging to obtain usable DNA sequences that can be analyzed using conventional molecular biology techniques. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a DNA mini-barcoding method for the identification of Amanita species. Following the evaluation and optimization of universal primers for DNA mini-barcoding in Amanita mushrooms, we found that the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene sequence primer ITS-a was the most suitable DNA barcode primer for identifying Amanita species. Forty-three Amanita samples were subsequently amplified and sequenced. The sequences obtained were analyzed for intra- and inter-species genetic distances, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed. The findings indicated that the designed primers had strong universality among the Amanita samples and could accurately identify the target gene fragment with a length of 290 bp. Notably, the DNA mini-barcode accurately identified the 43 Amanita samples, demonstrating high consistency with the conventional DNA barcode. Furthermore, it effectively identified DNA from digested samples. In summary, this DNA mini-barcode is a promising tool for detecting accidental ingestion of toxic Amanita mushrooms. It may be used as an optimal barcode for species identification and traceability in events of Amanita-induced mushroom poisoning. KEY POINTS: • Development of a DNA mini-barcoding method for Amanita species identification without fresh samples. • The ITS-a primer set was optimized for robust universality in Amanita samples. • The mini-barcode is suitable for screening toxic mushroom species in mushroom poisoning cases.


Subject(s)
Amanita , DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic , DNA, Fungal , Mushroom Poisoning , Phylogeny , Mushroom Poisoning/diagnosis , Amanita/genetics , DNA, Fungal/genetics , DNA Primers/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Humans
5.
Mol Pharm ; 21(7): 3407-3415, 2024 Jul 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38822792

ABSTRACT

Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) is a highly effective localized radionuclide therapy that has been successfully used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Extensive research has been conducted on the use of radioactive microspheres (MSs) in TARE, and the development of ideal radioactive MSs is crucial for clinical trials and patient treatment. This study presents the development of a radioactive MS for TARE of HCC. These MSs, referred to as 177Lu-MS@PLGA, consist of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) copolymer and radioactive silica MSs, labeled with 177Lu and then coated with PLGA. It has an extremely high level of radiostability. Cellular experiments have shown that it can cause DNA double-strand breaks, leading to cell death. In vivo radiostability of 177Lu-MS@PLGA is demonstrated by microSPECT/CT imaging. In addition, the antitumor study has shown that TARE of 177Lu-MS@PLGA can effectively restrain tumor growth without harmful side effects. Thus, 177Lu-MS@PLGA exhibits significant potential as a radioactive MS for the treatment of HCC.


Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular , Embolization, Therapeutic , Liver Neoplasms , Lutetium , Microspheres , Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer , Radioisotopes , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/therapy , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/radiotherapy , Liver Neoplasms/therapy , Liver Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer/chemistry , Animals , Humans , Mice , Lutetium/chemistry , Radioisotopes/chemistry , Radioisotopes/administration & dosage , Embolization, Therapeutic/methods , Cell Line, Tumor , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Mice, Nude , Radiopharmaceuticals/chemistry , Radiopharmaceuticals/administration & dosage , Radiopharmaceuticals/therapeutic use , Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
6.
Dev Cell ; 2024 Jun 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38843837

ABSTRACT

The anterior visceral endoderm (AVE) differs from the surrounding visceral endoderm (VE) in its migratory behavior and ability to restrict primitive streak formation to the opposite side of the mouse embryo. To characterize the molecular bases for the unique properties of the AVE, we combined single-cell RNA sequencing of the VE prior to and during AVE migration with phosphoproteomics, high-resolution live-imaging, and short-term lineage labeling and intervention. This identified the transient nature of the AVE with attenuation of "anteriorizing" gene expression as cells migrate and the emergence of heterogeneities in transcriptional states relative to the AVE's position. Using cell communication analysis, we identified the requirement of semaphorin signaling for normal AVE migration. Lattice light-sheet microscopy showed that Sema6D mutants have abnormalities in basal projections and migration speed. These findings point to a tight coupling between transcriptional state and position of the AVE and identify molecular controllers of AVE migration.

7.
Neurosci Bull ; 2024 Jun 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38850386

ABSTRACT

Nicotine addiction is a concern worldwide. Most mechanistic investigations are on nicotine substance dependence properties based on its pharmacological effects. However, no effective therapeutic treatment has been established. Nicotine addiction is reinforced by environments or habits. We demonstrate the neurobiological basis of the behavioural aspect of nicotine addiction. We utilized the conditioned place preference to establish nicotine-associated behavioural preferences (NABP) in rats. Brain-wide neuroimaging analysis revealed that the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) was activated and contributed to NABP. Chemogenetic manipulation of µ-opioid receptor positive (MOR+) neurons in the mPFC or the excitatory outflow to the nucleus accumbens shell (NAcShell) modulated the NABP. Electrophysiological recording confirmed that the MOR+ neurons directly regulate the mPFC-NAcShell circuit via GABAA receptors. Thus, the MOR+ neurons in the mPFC modulate the formation of behavioural aspects of nicotine addiction via direct excitatory innervation to the NAcShell, which may provide new insight for the development of effective therapeutic strategies.

8.
J Med Chem ; 67(11): 9431-9446, 2024 Jun 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38818879

ABSTRACT

Synthetic lethality has recently emerged as a new approach for the treatment of mutated genes that were previously considered undruggable. Targeting methionine adenosyltransferase 2A (MAT2A) in cancers with deletion of the methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) gene leads to synthetic lethality and thus has attracted significant interest in the field of precise anticancer drug development. Herein, we report the discovery of a series of novel MAT2A inhibitors featuring a pyrazolo[3,4-c]quinolin-4-one skeleton based on structure-based drug design. Further optimization led to compound 39, which has a high potency for inhibiting MAT2A and a remarkable selectivity for MTAP-deleted cancer cell lines. Compound 39 has a favorable pharmacokinetic profile with high plasma exposure and oral bioavailability, and it exhibits significant efficacy in xenograft MTAP-depleted models. Moreover, 39 demonstrates excellent brain exposure with a Kpuu of 0.64 in rats.


Subject(s)
Brain , Drug Design , Enzyme Inhibitors , Methionine Adenosyltransferase , Methionine Adenosyltransferase/antagonists & inhibitors , Methionine Adenosyltransferase/metabolism , Humans , Animals , Structure-Activity Relationship , Rats , Brain/metabolism , Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology , Enzyme Inhibitors/chemistry , Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacokinetics , Enzyme Inhibitors/chemical synthesis , Cell Line, Tumor , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacokinetics , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Antineoplastic Agents/chemical synthesis , Mice , Male , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
9.
Environ Sci Technol ; 58(20): 8846-8856, 2024 May 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38728579

ABSTRACT

Advanced oxidation process (AOP) wet scrubber is a powerful and clean technology for organic pollutant treatment but still presents great challenges in removing the highly toxic and hydrophobic volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Herein, we elaborately designed a bifunctional cobalt sulfide (CoS2)/activated carbon (AC) catalyst to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for efficient toxic VOC removal in an AOP wet scrubber. By combining the excellent VOC adsorption capacity of AC with the highly efficient PMS activation activity of CoS2, CoS2/AC can rapidly capture VOCs from the gas phase to proceed with the SO4•- and HO• radical-induced oxidation reaction. More than 90% of aromatic VOCs were removed over a wide pH range (3-11) with low Co ion leaching (0.19 mg/L). The electron-rich sulfur vacancies and low-valence Co species were the main active sites for PMS activation. SO4•- was mainly responsible for the initial oxidation of VOCs, while HO• and O2 acted in the subsequent ring-opening and mineralization processes of intermediates. No gaseous intermediates from VOC oxidation were detected, and the highly toxic liquid intermediates like benzene were also greatly decreased, thus effectively reducing the health toxicity associated with byproduct emissions. This work provided a comprehensive understanding of the deep oxidation of VOCs via AOP wet scrubber, significantly accelerating its application in environmental remediation.


Subject(s)
Oxidation-Reduction , Volatile Organic Compounds , Volatile Organic Compounds/chemistry , Catalysis , Charcoal/chemistry , Cobalt/chemistry , Adsorption , Carbon/chemistry
10.
ACS Appl Mater Interfaces ; 16(15): 19691-19698, 2024 Apr 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38563689

ABSTRACT

A switching-type power converter providing an accurate and stable switching output voltage against line/load variations and power supply ripple is mostly complicated in system-on-chip power management integrated circuits (PMICs) within a limited occupation area. Here we fabricated domain wall (DW) nanodevices using an X-cut LiNbO3 thin film on silicon. The domain switching event occurs after a delay time predicted by Merz's law under the applied voltage. But the output current is irrespective of the applied voltage and can be adjusted by conducting wall width as well as input resistance in the circuit. The regulating currents appear repetitively across the volatile interfacial domains between the nanodevice and electrode under intermittently applied voltages. A wall-current-limited domain switching model is developed to explain the phenomenon. The multifunctional DW nanodevices with smaller occupation areas can serve as compact low-dropout regulators in PMICs, time-domain delayers in energy-efficient neural network systems, and on-chip electrostatic discharge protection besides nonvolatile memories and selectors.

11.
J Proteome Res ; 23(5): 1559-1570, 2024 May 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38603467

ABSTRACT

The ongoing evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to the emergence of different variants of concerns with immune evasion that have been prevalent over the past three years. Nanobodies, the functional variable regions of camelid heavy-chain-only antibodies, have garnered interest in developing neutralizing antibodies due to their smaller size, structural stability, ease of production, high affinity, and low immunogenicity, among other characteristics. In this work, we describe an integrated proteomics platform for the high-throughput screening of nanobodies against different SARS-CoV-2 spike variants. To demonstrate this platform, we immunized a camel with subunit 1 (S1) of the wild-type spike protein and constructed a nanobody phage library. The binding and neutralizing activities of the nanobodies against 72 spike variants were then measured, resulting in the identification of two nanobodies (C-282 and C-39) with broad neutralizing activity against six non-Omicron variants (D614G, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Kappa) and five Omicron variants (BA.1-5). Their neutralizing capability was validated using in vitro pseudovirus-based neutralization assays. All these results demonstrate the utility of our proteomics platform to identify new nanobodies with broad neutralizing capability and to develop a treatment for patients with SARS-CoV-2 variant infection in the future.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Neutralizing , Antibodies, Viral , COVID-19 , Camelus , Proteomics , SARS-CoV-2 , Single-Domain Antibodies , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology , Single-Domain Antibodies/chemistry , Proteomics/methods , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics , Animals , Humans , COVID-19/immunology , COVID-19/virology , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Neutralization Tests
12.
J Cell Mol Med ; 28(9): e18357, 2024 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38683127

ABSTRACT

In our previous study, intranuclear cardiac troponin I (cTnI) may function as a co-factor of Yin Yang 1(YY1). Here, we aimed to explore the role of intranuclear cTnI in ageing hearts. Nuclear translocation of cTnI was demonstrated using Western blot and immunofluorescence. The potential nuclear localization sequences (NLSs) of cTnI were predicted by a web server and then verified in 293T cells by putative NLS-eGFP-GST and NLS-mutant transfection. The ratio of Nuclear cTnI/ Total cTnI (Nu/T) decreased significantly in ageing hearts, accompanied with ATG5-decline-related impaired cardiac autophagy. RNA sequencing was performed in cTnI knockout hearts. The differential expressed genes (DEGs) were analysed by overlapping with YY1 ChIP-sequencing data. cTnI gain and loss experiments in vitro determined those filtered DEGs' expression levels. A strong correlation was found between expression patterns cTnI and FOS. Using ChIP-q-PCR, we demonstrated that specific binding DNA sequences of cTnI were enriched in the FOS promoter -299 to -157 region. It was further verified that pcDNA3.1 (-)-cTnI could increase the promoter activity of FOS by using luciferase report assay. At last, we found that FOS can regulate the ATG5 (autophagy-related gene 5) gene by using a luciferase report assay. Taken together, our results indicate that decreased intranuclear cTnI in ageing hearts may cause impaired cardiac autophagy through the FOS/ATG5 pathway.


Subject(s)
Aging , Autophagy-Related Protein 5 , Autophagy , Cell Nucleus , Myocardium , Troponin I , Troponin I/metabolism , Troponin I/genetics , Autophagy/genetics , Autophagy-Related Protein 5/metabolism , Autophagy-Related Protein 5/genetics , Aging/metabolism , Aging/genetics , Animals , Myocardium/metabolism , Humans , Cell Nucleus/metabolism , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos/metabolism , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos/genetics , Mice , HEK293 Cells , Male , Promoter Regions, Genetic , Gene Expression Regulation , Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism , Mice, Knockout
13.
Ann Surg Treat Res ; 106(4): 225-230, 2024 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38586557

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Whether a dilated intrahepatic bile duct (IHBD) has any effect on the prognosis of choledochal cyst (CC) remains controversial. We aimed to summarize the clinical characteristics and prognosis of CC with IHBD dilatation. Methods: One hundred ninety-two children diagnosed with CC were identified, including 127 without IHBD dilatation (group A) and 65 with IHBD dilatation (group B). A retrospective analysis was performed to explore the clinical characteristics and prognosis of CC with IHBD dilatation based on clinical indices, symptoms, and complications. Results: Compared with group A, incidences of jaundice and fever were higher in group B (P = 0.010 and P = 0.033). Preoperative total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, and indirect bilirubin were increased in group B compared to group A (P = 0.005, P < 0.001, and P = 0.014), as were preoperative ALT, AST, γ-GT, and total bile acid (P = 0.006, P = 0.025, P < 0.001, and P = 0.024). The risk of liver fibrosis or cirrhosis was significantly increased for group B compared with group A (P = 0.012) and also occurred earlier in group B (P = 0.006). In the dilated IHBDs, 95.4% (62 of 65) recovered to normal, and more than half of dilated IHBDs (37 of 65) recovered to normal in 1 week. Conclusion: Most IHBDs can recover to normal postoperatively in a short time, and proactive treatment is recommended for CC patients with IHBD dilatation for significant abnormal liver functions.

14.
Antioxidants (Basel) ; 13(3)2024 Mar 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38539846

ABSTRACT

Molecular hydrogen, the smallest and lightest molecule, serves as an intense reducing agent. Its distinct characteristics, including minimal size and neutral charge, enhance bioavailability and facilitate significant biological effects. Previously considered physiologically inert, hydrogen has gained recognition as a powerful therapeutic agent, known for its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Electrolyzed hydrogen water (EHW), enriched with molecular hydrogen, demonstrates remarkable antioxidative capabilities, indicating potential benefits for various diseases. Inflammation-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) amplify inflammation, leading to secondary oxidative stress and creating a crosstalk between ROS and inflammatory responses. This crosstalk contributes to the pathogenesis and progression of chronic diseases. EHW interrupts this crosstalk, reducing inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress across various disease models, suggesting therapeutic potential. EHW is also known for its anti-inflammatory effects, extending to pain management, as evidenced in models like sciatic nerve ligation and inflammatory pain. In an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) model, EHW effectively alleviates abdominal pain, mitigating 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced inflammation and oxidative stress, offering insights for clinical applications. Additionally, hydrogen selectively targets harmful radicals, and EHW intake helps balance stress-induced hormonal dysregulation, potentially easing disorders associated with chronic stress.

15.
Front Genet ; 15: 1372644, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38510275

ABSTRACT

"Heteromorphic self-incompatibility" (HetSI) in plants is a mechanism of defense to avoid self-pollination and promote outcrossing. However, the molecular mechanism underlying HetSI remains largely unknown. In this study, RNA-seq was conducted to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying self-compatible (SC, "T × P" and "P × T") and self-incompatible (SI, "T × T" and "P × P") pollination in the two types of flowers of Plumbago auriculata Lam. which is a representative HetSI plant. By comparing "T × P" vs. "T × T", 3773 (1407 upregulated and 2366 downregulated) differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, 1261 DEGs between "P × T" and "P × P" (502 upregulated and 759 downregulated). The processes in which these DEGs were significantly enriched were "MAPK (Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases-plant) signaling pathway", "plant-pathogen interaction","plant hormone signal transduction", and "pentose and glucuronate interconversion" pathways. Surprisingly, we discovered that under various pollination conditions, multiple notable genes that may be involved in HetSI exhibited distinct regulation. We can infer that the HetSI strategy might be unique in P. auriculata. It was similar to "sporophytic self-incompatibility" (SSI) but the HetSI mechanisms in pin and thrum flowers are diverse. In this study, new hypotheses and inferences were proposed, which can provide a reference for crop production and breeding.

16.
J Hand Surg Am ; 2024 Mar 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38506783

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Resection of the radial or ulnar slip of the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) tendon is a known treatment option for persistent trigger finger. Risk factors for undergoing FDS slip excision are unclear. We hypothesized that patients who underwent A1 pulley release with FDS slip excision secondary to persistent triggering would have a higher comorbidity burden compared to those receiving A1 pulley release alone. METHODS: We identified all adult patients who underwent A1 pulley release with FDS slip excision because of persistent triggering either intraoperatively or postoperatively from 2018 to 2023. We selected a 3:1 age- and sex-matched control group who underwent isolated A1 pulley release. Charts were retrospectively reviewed for demographics, selected comorbidities, trigger finger history, and postoperative course. We performed multivariable logistic regression to assess the probability of FDS slip excision after adjusting for several variables that were significant in bivariate comparisons. RESULTS: We identified 48 patients who underwent A1 pulley release with FDS slip excision and 144 controls. Our multivariable model showed that patients with additional trigger fingers and a preoperative proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint contracture were significantly more likely to undergo FDS slip excision. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who underwent A1 pulley release with FDS slip excision were significantly more likely to have multiple trigger fingers or a preoperative PIP joint contracture. Clinicians should counsel patients with these risk factors regarding the potential for FDS slip excision in addition to A1 pulley release to alleviate triggering of the affected digit. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic III.

17.
Anim Reprod Sci ; 263: 107448, 2024 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38428346

ABSTRACT

The egg production of captive African penguins differs considerably between individuals. An understanding of the physiological differences in African penguins with relatively greater and lesser egg production is meaningful for the captive breeding program of this endangered species. The objective of this study was to investigate differential microbial composition and metabolites in captive African penguins with different egg production. Fecal samples were collected from captive female African penguins during the breeding season. The results of 16 S rRNA gene sequencing showed that African penguins with different egg production had similar microbial diversities, whereas a significant difference was observed between their microbial community structure. African penguins with relatively greater egg production exhibited a higher relative abundance of Alphaproteobacteria, Rhizobiales, Bradyrhizobiaceae, Bradyrhizobium and Bosea. Meanwhile, penguins with relatively lesser egg production had an increased proportion of Klebsiella and Plesiomonas. We further identified a total of 1858 metabolites in female African penguins by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Among these metabolites, 13 kinds of metabolites were found to be significantly differential between African penguins with different egg production. In addition, the correlation analysis revealed that the egg production had significant correlations with most of the differential microbial bacteria and metabolites. Our findings might aid in understanding the potential mechanism underlying the phenomenon of abnormal egg production in captive African penguins, and provide novel insights into the relationship between gut microbiota and reproduction in penguins.


Subject(s)
Gastrointestinal Microbiome , Spheniscidae , Humans , Female , Animals , Spheniscidae/physiology , Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics , Seasons
19.
J Hazard Mater ; 469: 133899, 2024 May 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38430595

ABSTRACT

Water-soluble organic nitrogen (WSON) is ubiquitous in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and poses health and environmental risks. However, there is limited knowledge regarding its comprehensive speciation and source-specific contributions. Here, we conducted chemical characterization and source apportionment of WSON in 65 PM2.5 samples collected in Hong Kong during a 1-yr period. Using various mass-spectrometry-based techniques, we quantified 22 nitrogen-containing organic compounds (NOCs), including 17 nitroaromatics (NACs), four amines, and urea. The most abundant amine and NACs were dimethylamine and 4-nitrocatechol, respectively. Two secondary (i.e., secondary formation and secondary nitrate) and five primary sources (i.e., sea salt, fugitive dust, marine vessels, vehicle exhaust, and biomass burning) of WSON and these three categories of NOCs were identified. Throughout the year, secondary sources dominated WSON formation (69.0%), while primary emissions had significant contributions to NACs (77.1%), amines (75.9%), and urea (83.7%). Fugitive dust was the leading source of amines and urea, while biomass burning was the main source of NACs. Our multi-linear regression analysis revealed the significant role of sulfate, NO3, nitrate, liquid water content, and particle pH on WSON formation, highlighting the importance of nighttime NO3 processing and heterogeneous and aqueous-phase formation of NOCs in the Hong Kong atmosphere.

20.
Heliyon ; 10(5): e26884, 2024 Mar 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38449643

ABSTRACT

The Multidimensional Forced Choice (MFC) test is frequently utilized in non-cognitive evaluations because of its effectiveness in reducing response bias commonly associated with the conventional Likert scale. Nonetheless, it is critical to recognize that the MFC test generates ipsative data, a type of measurement that has been criticized due to its limited applicability for comparing individuals. Multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) models have recently sparked renewed interest among academics and professionals. This is largely due to the development of several models that make it easier to collect normative data from forced-choice tests. The paper introduces a modeling framework made up of three key components: response format, measurement model, and decision theory. Under this paradigm, four IRT models were chosen as examples. Following that, a comprehensive study is carried out to compare and characterize the parameter estimation techniques used in MFC-IRT models. This work then examines empirical research on the concept by analyzing three distinct domains: parameter invariance testing, computerized adaptive testing (CAT), and validity investigation. Finally, it is recommended that future research initiatives follow four distinct paths: modeling, parameter invariance testing, forced-choice CAT, and validity studies.

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