ABSTRACT
Coagulation disorders are common in Kawasaki disease (KD). The main objectives of the present study were to probe the associations of coagulation profiles with clinical classification, IVIG responsiveness, coronary artery abnormalities (CAAs) in the acute episode of KD. A total of 313 KD children were recruited and divided into six subgroups, including complete KD (n = 217), incomplete KD (n = 96), IVIG-responsive KD (n = 293), IVIG-nonresponsive KD (n = 20), coronary artery noninvolvement KD (n = 284) and coronary artery involvement KD (n = 29). Blood samples were collected within 24-h pre-IVIG therapy and 48-h post-IVIG therapy. Coagulation profiles, conventional inflammatory mediators and blood cell counts were detected. Echocardiography was performed during the period from 2- to 14-day post-IVIG infusion. In addition, 315 sex- and age-matched healthy children were enrolled as the controls. (1) Before IVIG therapy, coagulation disorders were more prone to appear in KD patients than in healthy controls, and could be overcome by IVIG therapy. FIB and DD significantly increased in the acute phase of KD, whereas reduced to normal levels after IVIG therapy. (2) PT and APTT were significantly longer in patients with complete KD when compared with their incomplete counterparts after IVIG therapy. (3) The larger δDD, δFDP and the smaller δPT, δINR predicted IVIG nonresponsiveness. (4) The higher δDD and δFDP correlated with a higher risk for CAAs (DD: r = -0.72, FDP: r = -0.54). Coagulation disorders are correlated with complete phenotype, IVIG nonresponsiveness and CAA occurrence in the acute episode of KD, and can be rectified by synergistic effects of IVIG and aspirin.
Subject(s)
Immunoglobulins, Intravenous , Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome , Humans , Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome/drug therapy , Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome/blood , Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome/complications , Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/therapeutic use , Male , Female , Child, Preschool , Infant , Child , Coronary Vessels/pathology , Coronary Vessels/diagnostic imaging , Echocardiography , Blood Coagulation/drug effects , Treatment Outcome , Blood Coagulation Disorders/drug therapy , Blood Coagulation Disorders/etiology , Coronary Artery Disease/blood , Coronary Artery Disease/drug therapyABSTRACT
Realizating of a low work function (WF) and room-temperature stability in electrides is highly desired for various applications, such as electron emitters, catalysts, and ion batteries. Herein, a criterion based on the electron localization function (ELF) and projected density of states (PDOS) in the vacancy of the oxide electride [Ca24Al28O64]4+(4e-) (C12A7) was adopted to screen out 13 electrides in single-metal oxides. By creating oxygen vacancies in nonelectride oxides, we find out 9 of them showed vacancy-induced anionic electrons. Considering the thermodynamic stability, two electrides with ordered vacancies, Nb3O3 and Ce4O3, stand out and show vacancy-induced zero-dimensional anionic electrons. Both exhibit low WFs, namely 3.1 and 2.3 eV for Nb3O3 and Ce4O3, respectively. In the case of Nb3O3, the ELF at oxygen vacancies decreases first and then increases during the decrease in the total number of electrons in self-consistent calculations due to Nb's multivalent state. Meanwhile, Ce4O3 displays promise for ammonia synthesis due to its low hydrogen diffusion barrier and low activation energy. Further calculations revealed that CeO with disordered vacancies at low concentrations also exhibits electride-like properties, suggesting its potential as a substitute for Ce4O3.
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Nonvolatile multistate manipulation of two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials holds promise for low dissipation, highly integrated, and versatile spintronic devices. Here, utilizing density functional theory calculations and Monte Carlo simulations, we report the realization of nonvolatile and multistate control of topological magnetism in monolayer CrI3 by constructing multiferroic heterojunctions with quadruple-well ferroelectric (FE) materials. The Pt2Sn2Te6/CrI3 heterojunction exhibits multiple magnetic phases upon modulating FE polarization states of FE layers and interlayer sliding. These magnetic phases include Bloch-type skyrmions and ferromagnetism, as well as a newly discovered topological magnetic structure. We reveal that the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) induced by interfacial coupling plays a crucial role in magnetic skyrmion manipulation, which aligns with the Fert-Levy mechanism. Moreover, a regular magnetic skyrmion lattice survives when removing a magnetic field, demonstrating its robustness. The work sheds light on an effective approach to nonvolatile and multistate control of 2D magnetic materials.
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BACKGROUND: Few studies highlight the stratification of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness on MIS-C according to vaccine status, types and SARS-COV-2 variants. METHODS: A web-based analysis was conducted through searches of PubMed, Web of Science and Medline databases from January 1, 2020, to May 16, 2023. The search terms used were (multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children OR MIS-C OR PIMS OR PIMS-TS) AND (COVID-19 OR SARS-CoV-2) AND (vaccine OR vaccination) AND (children OR adolescents OR pediatric). RESULTS: 6701 children from 13 studies met the MIS-C definition. 92.1 % (1332/1446) of MIS-C cases were unvaccinated, whereas partial vaccination and full vaccination were 3.7 % (54/1446) and 4.2 % (60/1446)respectively. In the two studies encompassing 41 vaccinated MIS-C cases, 34 (82.9 %) received BNT162b2, 2 (4.9 %) received mRNA-1273, 4 (9.8 %) received Sinovac vaccine, and only one received a heterologous primary-boost regimen. Among 838 vaccinated MIS-C cases with different SARS-COV-2 variants, 23ï¼2.8 %ï¼ were infected by the Wild-type, 80ï¼9.5 %ï¼ by the Alpha variant, 521ï¼62.2 %ï¼ by the Delta variant, and 214ï¼25.5 %ï¼ by the Omicron variant. A significant difference was observed in vaccination rates among MIS-C cases across different variant pandemics (χ2 = 37.79, P < 0.001). The highest vaccination rate (26.3 %) occurred in the Alpha predominant period, thereafter dropped to 5.0 % in the Delta predominant period, and then increased to 12.6 % in the Omicron predominant period. CONCLUSIONS: Heterologous vaccination might provide a slightly more protective effect than homologous manner for MIS-C. As the virus mutates over time, its pathogenicity to MIS-C degrades among vaccinated individuals.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Connective Tissue Diseases , Adolescent , Humans , Child , COVID-19 Vaccines , BNT162 Vaccine , Vaccination , COVID-19/prevention & controlABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors are standard therapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR mutation; however, resistance is common. Combinatorial strategies have been explored to improve survival. This meta-analysis assesses the efficacy and safety of combination therapy versus monotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC who failed first-line EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment. METHODS: We searched randomized controlled trials from PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrial.gov. The efficacy and toxicity of combination treatment groups were assessed in terms of progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: This meta-analysis included 6 randomized controlled trials covering 785 participants. The results showed that the combined regimen arm had no significant improvement of PFS (log hazard ratio = -0.228, 95% CI: -0.543 to 0.087, P = 0.157), ORR (odds ratio = 1.147 [95% CI: 0.577, 2.281], P = 0.695), DCR (odds ratio = 1.578 [95% CI: 0.428, 5.821], P = 0.493), and AEs, including fatigue and diarrhea (odds ratio = 0.833 [95% CI: 0.297, 2.333], P = 0.728 for fatigue and odds ratio = 2.268 [95% CI: 0.544, 9.448], P = 0.261 for diarrhea). CONCLUSIONS: Combination therapy may not provide a significant improvement in PFS, ORR, DCR, and incidence of AEs compared with monotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC with EGFR mutations. Further research is needed to investigate the optimal sequencing of combination therapy in patients with NSCLC with different molecular targets to determine the most effective treatment strategy that can improve outcomes and quality of life for these patients.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung , Lung Neoplasms , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Humans , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/genetics , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Lung Neoplasms/genetics , ErbB Receptors/genetics , Drug Therapy, CombinationABSTRACT
Bimetallic Janus nanoparticles (BJNPs) have gained more attention due to their unique catalytic and optical properties. The self-assembly of BJNPs is expected as an effective way to fabricate metamaterials suitable for different potential applications. However, the self-assembly dynamic process of BJNPs, which is key to achieving a controllable synthesis, is limited in both experimental and theoretical investigations. Herein, all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were employed to investigate the self-assembly process of 1-dodecanethiol (DDT)-decorated Au-Ag BJNPs at an oil-water interface. We demonstrate that DDT's van der Waals (vdW) interaction dominates the self-assembly process. BJNPs form close-packed structures at both fast and slow evaporation rates. Au-Ag BJNPs exhibit relatively larger rotations at a low evaporation rate than those at a high evaporation rate, suggesting that the evaporation rate influences the orientation of the Au-Ag BJNPs. BJNPs tend to orient their electric dipole moments toward the external electric field, according to the ab initio MD simulation results. Based on the energy comparison and model analysis, it is found that the parallel array is more stable than the antiparallel one for the Au-Ag BJNP arrays. The dipole-dipole interaction difference between the parallel and antiparallel BJNP arrays obtained according to dipole moment obtained from ab initio calculation is qualitatively consistent with that obtained from MD simulations, indicating that the dipole plays a decisive role in determining the orientation of the BJNP array. This work uncovers the self-assembly dynamic process of BJNPs, paving the way for future applications.
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BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest that sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) may be a potential risk factor of retinal vein occlusion (RVO). We conducted a meta-analysis to systematically explore the relationship between RVO and SDB. METHODS: Observational studies assessing the relationship between SDB and RVO were retrieved by searches of electronic databases including the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wan Fang databases from database inception to August 9, 2023. In consideration of intra-study heterogeneity, a random-effects model was adopted to combine the results. RESULTS: Seven studies (1 retrospective cohort and 6 case-control studies) were included in this meta-analysis, and among 36,628 adults included in those studies, 6452 (17.6%) had SDB. The combined results indicated that SDB was associated with RVO [risk ratio (RR): 1.92, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.60-2.30, Pâ <â .001] with no significant heterogeneity (I2â =â 0%). Subgroup analyses showed consistent relationships between SDB and any RVO (RR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.13-2.28, Pâ <â .001), central RVO (RR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.57-3.08, Pâ <â .001), and branch RVO (RR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.15-2.99, Pâ =â .01). Moreover, the relationship was consistent among patients with mild (RR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.32-2.53, Pâ <â .001), moderate (RR: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.65-2.85, Pâ <â .001), and severe SDB (RR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.96-3.62, Pâ <â .001). The association was consistent in studies that adjusted for age and sex (RR: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.50-3.13, Pâ <â .001), and in studies with additional adjustment for comorbidities (RR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.42-2.25, Pâ <â .001). CONCLUSION: SDB is associated with RVO in adults.
Subject(s)
Retinal Vein Occlusion , Sleep Apnea Syndromes , Adult , Humans , Retinal Vein Occlusion/complications , Retrospective Studies , Sleep Apnea Syndromes/complications , Sleep Apnea Syndromes/epidemiology , Risk Factors , Case-Control Studies , Observational Studies as TopicABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: BK virus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis (BKV-HC) is a serious complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). It can cause morbidity and may increase treatment-related mortality. Previous studies showed that the occurrence of BKV-HC was related to various factors. However, there are still many controversial factors. It is not clear whether BKV-HC will affect the long-term prognosis of patients. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify risk factors for BKV-HC after allo-HSCT and evaluate the effect of BKV-HC on overall survival (OS) and progression- free survival (PFS) of patients. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 93 patients who underwent allo-HSCT. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to identify risk factors for BKV-HC. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate OS and PFS. A difference was considered statistically significant if P < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 24 patients developed BKV-HC. The median occurrence time of BKV-HC was 30 (range:8-89) days after transplantation, and the median duration was 25.5 (range:6-50) days. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that peripheral blood lymphocyte count <1 × 109/L before conditioning (OR = 4.705, P = 0.007) and haploidentical transplantation (OR = 13.161, P = 0.018) were independent risk factors for BKV-HC. The 3-year OS rate was 85.9% (95%CI:62.1%-95.2%) in the BKV-HC group and 73.1% (95%CI: 58.2%-88.0%) in the non-BKV-HC group. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.516). The 3-year PFS rate was 76.3% (95%CI: 57.9%-94.7%) in the BKV-HC group and 58.1% (95%CI: 39.5%-76.7%) in the non-BKV-HC group. There was no significant difference in the two groups (P = 0.459). The severity of BKV-HC was not related to the OS and PFS of the patients (P value was 0.816 and 0.501, respectively). CONCLUSION: Haploidentical transplantation and decreased peripheral blood lymphocyte count before conditioning increased the risk of BKV-HC after allo-HSCT. The occurrence of BKV-HC after allo-HSCT and the severity of which did not affect OS and PFS of the patients.
Subject(s)
BK Virus , Cystitis , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation , Humans , Retrospective Studies , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects , Hemorrhage , Risk Factors , Transplantation Conditioning/adverse effectsABSTRACT
Databases for charge-neutral two-dimensional (2D) building blocks (BBs), i.e., 2D materials, have been built for years due to their applications in nanoelectronics. Though lots of solids are constructed from charged 2DBBs, a database for them is still missing. Here, we identify 1028 charged 2DBBs from Materials Project database using a topological-scaling algorithm. These BBs host versatile functionalities including superconductivity, magnetism, and topological properties. We construct layered materials by assembling these BBs considering valence state and lattice mismatch and predict 353 stable layered materials by high-throughput density functional theory calculations. These materials can not only inherit their functionalities but also show enhanced/emergent properties compared with their parent materials: CaAlSiF displays superconducting transition temperature higher than NaAlSi; Na2CuIO6 shows bipolar ferromagnetic semiconductivity and anomalous valley Hall effect that are absent in KCuIO6; LaRhGeO possesses nontrivial band topology. This database expands the design space of functional materials for fundamental research and potential applications.
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The self-assembly of nanoparticles (NPs) into ordered superlattices is a powerful strategy to fabricate functional nanomaterials. Subtle variations in the interactions between NPs will influence the self-assembled superlattices. Using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, we explore the self-assembly of 16 gold NPs, 4 nm in diameter, capped with ligands at the oil-water interface, and quantify the interactions between NPs at the atomic scale. We demonstrate that the interaction between capping ligands rather than that between NPs is dominant during the assembly process. For dodecanethiol (DDT)-capped Au NPs, the assembled superlattice is highly ordered in a close-packed configuration at a slow evaporation rate, while it is disordered at a fast evaporation rate. When replacing the capping ligands with stronger polarization than DDT molecules, the NPs form a robust ordered configuration at different evaporation rates due to the stronger electrostatic attraction between capping ligands from different NPs. Moreover, Au-Ag binary clusters exhibit similar assembly behavior with Au NPs. Our work uncovers the nonequilibrium nature of NP assembly at the atomic scale and would be helpful in rationally controlling NPs superlattice by changing passivating ligands, solvent evaporation rate, or both.
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Nicotiana alata Link et Otto, widely used in landscaping, is not only of great ornamental value but also of high commercial and medical value. The global potential habitat of N. alata and the environmental factors affecting its distribution are not that clear at present. To provide a reference for the reasonable and extensive planting of N. alata now and in the future, the MaxEnt model was used to predict its global suitable habitats under current and future climate conditions, respectively, based on global geographic distribution data of N. alata and the current and future world bioclimatic variables. The results showed that mean temperature of the driest quarter (bio9), precipitation of driest month (bio14), precipitation seasonality (bio15) and max temperature of warmest month (bio5), were the key bioclimatic variables governing the distribution of N. alata. The global suitable habitats of N. alata were mainly distributed in Europe, the United States, southeastern South America, and China under current climate conditions. Compared with current climate conditions, the future climate decreased suitable habitats of N. alata under SSP1-2.6, and SSP2-4.5 scenario and increased suitable habitats of N. alata under SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5 climatic scenarios. The results provided valuable information and theoretical reference for the reasonable planting of N. alata.
Subject(s)
Climate Change , Nicotiana , Ecosystem , Temperature , ChinaABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Facilitating the recurrence of spontaneous voiding is considered to be a way to prevent urinary retention after surgery, which is of great importance in cholecystectomy. This study aimed to assess the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on spontaneous voiding recovery after laparoscopic cholecystectom. METHODS: Participants who underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly assigned to either the TEAS group or the sham group. Active TEAS or sham TEAS at specific acupuncture points was conducted intraoperatively and postoperatively. The primary outcome was the recovery speed of spontaneous voiding ability after surgery and secondary outcomes included postoperative urinary retention (POUR), voiding dysfunction, pain, anxiety and depression, and early recovery after surgery. RESULTS: A total of 1,948 participants were recruited and randomized to TEAS (n = 975) or sham (n = 973) between August 2018 and June 2020. TEAS shortens the time delay of the first spontaneous voiding after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (5.6 h [IQR, 3.7-8.1 h] in the TEAS group vs 7.0 h [IQR, 4.7-9.7 h] in the sham group) (p < 0.001). The TEAS group experienced less POUR (p = 0.020), less voiding difficulty (p < 0.001), less anxiety and depression (p < 0.001), reduced pain (p = 0.007), and earlier ambulation (p = 0.01) than the sham group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that TEAS is an effective approach to accelerate the recovery of spontaneous voiding and reduce POUR which facilitates recovery for patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Subject(s)
Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic , Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation , Urinary Retention , Humans , Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic/adverse effects , Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation/methods , Urinary Retention/etiology , Urinary Retention/therapy , Acupuncture Points , Postoperative Complications , PainABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: It is found that there are great differences in the efficacy of quetiapine at the same dose in many patients with bipolar disorders. Therefore, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is a valuable tool for guiding treatment with quetiapine. The aims of this study were to assess the relationship between serum concentration and clinical response of quetiapine in adolescents and adults with bipolar disorders in acute stage. METHODS: The study design was prospective and observational. Within the naturalistic setting of a routine TDM service at the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Psychiatric symptoms were assessed using the HAMD (Hamilton Depression Scale), YRMS (Young manic rating scale) and CUDOS-M (Clinically Useful Depression Outcome Scale-Mixed Subscale). The decline of HAMD and YMRS scores was were used to assess clinical outcome of bipolar disorders respectively. RESULTS: 169 inpatients (23.7 % male, 76.3 % female) were enrolled in the study. We found that there was a strong correlation between quetiapine serum concentrations and clinical outcomes (rs = 0.702, p < 0.001). While, quetiapine daily dose was not correlated with clinical outcome. We found that when the quetiapine serum level is >146.85 ng/ml in depression episodes patients could obtain a satisfactory treatment effect after 2 weeks of hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: We found a significant positive relationship between serum concentration and clinical outcome, and also determined the serum concentration of quetiapine for the treatment of bipolar depression.
Subject(s)
Antipsychotic Agents , Bipolar Disorder , Humans , Male , Adult , Female , Adolescent , Quetiapine Fumarate/therapeutic use , Bipolar Disorder/psychology , Antipsychotic Agents/therapeutic use , Prospective Studies , Dibenzothiazepines/therapeutic use , Treatment Outcome , Double-Blind Method , Psychiatric Status Rating ScalesABSTRACT
The toxicity of mercury (Hg) mainly depends on its form. Whole-cell biosensors respond selectively to toxic Hg(ii), efficiently transformed by environmental microbes into methylmercury, a highly toxic form that builds up in aquatic animals. Metabolically engineered Escherichia coli (E. coli) have successfully produced rainbow colorants. By de novo reconstruction of the carotenoid synthetic pathway, the Hg(ii)-responsive production of lycopene and ß-carotene enabled programmed E. coli to potentially become an optical biosensor for the qualitative and quantitative detection of ecotoxic Hg(ii). The red color of the lycopene-based biosensor cell pellet was visible upon exposure to 49 nM Hg(ii) and above. The orange ß-carotene-based biosensor responded to a simple colorimetric assay as low as 12 nM Hg(ii). A linear response was observed at Hg(ii) concentrations ranging from 12 to 195 nM. Importantly, high specificity and good anti-interference capability suggested that metabolic engineering of the carotenoid biosynthesis was an alternative to developing a visual platform for the rapid analysis of the concentration and toxicity of Hg(ii) in environmentally polluted water.