Transcriptome analysis of the effects of high temperature on zygotic genome activation in porcine embryos.

Damage to the development of porcine gametes and embryos caused by high temperatures (HT) is one of the main reasons for the decline in the economic benefits of the livestock industry. Zygotic genome activation (ZGA) marks the beginning of gene expression programs in mammalian pre-implantation embryos. In pigs, ZGA occurs at the 4-cell (4 C) stage, indicating that correct gene expression at this stage plays an important regulatory role in embryonic development. However, the effect of the HT environment on early porcine embryonic development and the RNA expression profile of ZGA remain unclear. In this study, we compared the RNA transcription patterns of porcine 4 C embryos under normal and HT conditions using RNA-seq and identified 326 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). These changes were mainly related to DNA polymerase activity, DNA replication, and nucleotidyltransferase activity. In addition, entries for reverse transcription and endonuclease activity were enriched, indicating that ZGA interfered under HT conditions. Further comparison of the experimental results with the porcine ZGA gene revealed 39 ZGA genes among the DEGs. KEGG and GSEA analysis showed that the oxidative phosphorylation pathway was significantly enriched and signaling pathways related to energy metabolism were significantly downregulated. We also found that NDUFA6 and CDKN1A were located at the center of the protein-protein interaction network diagram of the DEGs. In summary, HT conditions affect mitochondrial function and oxidative phosphorylation levels, and lead to changes in the expression pattern of ZGA in early porcine embryos, with its hub genes NDUFA6 and CDKN1A.

Study on the efficacy of 3D printing technology combined with customized plates for the treatment of complex tibial plateau fractures.

BACKGROUND: Anatomical reduction and stable fixation of complex tibial plateau fractures remain challenging in clinical practice. This study examines the efficacy of using 3D printing technology combined with customized plates for treating these fractures. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 22 patients treated with 3D printing and customized plates at the Orthopedic Department of the Central Hospital affiliated with Shenyang Medical College from September 2020 to January 2023. These patients were matched with 22 patients treated with traditional plates with similar baseline characteristics. Patients were divided into an experimental group (3D-printed models and customized plates) and a control group (traditional plates). The control group underwent traditional surgical methods, while the experimental group had a preoperative 3D model and customized plates for surgical planning. We compared baseline characteristics and recorded various indicators, including preoperative preparation time, surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, number of intraoperative fluoroscopies, hospital stay duration, fracture healing time, complications, knee joint range of motion (ROM), Rasmussen anatomical and functional scores, and HSS scores. RESULTS: All surgeries were successful with effective follow-up. The experimental group had shorter surgical time, less intraoperative blood loss, and fewer intraoperative fluoroscopies (P < 0.05). At 6 months and 1 year postoperatively, the experimental group had better knee joint HSS scores than the control group. Preoperative preparation time and total hospital stay were shorter in the control group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in fracture healing time and follow-up duration between groups. The experimental group showed better knee joint flexion angles (P < 0.05). Rasmussen scores showed no statistical difference between groups (P > 0.05). The incidence of complications was slightly lower in the experimental group but not significantly different. CONCLUSION: 3D printing technology combined with customized plates for complex tibial plateau fractures enables precise articular surface reduction, significantly shortens surgical time, and reduces intraoperative blood loss. This method improves knee joint function, offering a more effective treatment option.

Low pinocytic brain endothelial cells primarily utilize membrane fusion to internalize extracellular vesicles.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are an emerging class of drug carriers and are primarily reported to be internalized into recipient cells via a combination of endocytic routes such as clathrin-mediated, caveolae-mediated and macropinocytosis pathways. In this work, (1) we investigated potential effects of homotypic vs. heterotypic interactions by studying the cellular uptake of homologous EVs (EV donor cells and recipient cells of the same type) vs. heterologous EVs (EV donor cells and recipient cells of different types) and (2) determined the route of EV internalization into low pinocytic/hard-to-deliver cell models such as brain endothelial cells (BECs) and phagocytic cell model as macrophages. Homotypic interactions led to a greater extent of uptake into the recipient BECs compared to heterotypic interactions. However, we did not see a complete reduction in EV uptake into recipient BECs when endocytic pathways were blocked using pharmacological inhibitors and our findings from a R18-based fusion assay suggest that EVs primarily use membrane fusion to enter low-pinocytic recipient BECs instead of relying on endocytosis. Lipophilic PKH67 dye-labeled EVs but not intravesicular esterase-activated calcein ester-labeled EVs severely reduced particle uptake into BECs while phagocytic macrophages internalized both types of EV-labeled particles to comparable extents. Our results also highlight the importance of carefully choosing labeling dye chemistry to study EV uptake, especially in the case of low pinocytic cells such as BECs.

Severe Microbial Corrosion of L245 Transportation Pipeline Triggered by Wild Sulfate Reducing Bacteria in Shale Gas Produced Water.

The development of pitting corrosion on L245 carbon steel in a culture medium solution containing sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) was investigated. The results showed that the occurrence of corrosion in L245 carbon steel is closely linked to the evolution of biofilm and product film. As the test duration extended, overall corrosion was inhibited. Simultaneously, bacteria beneath the film layer promoted the generation and development of pitting corrosion, and the aggregation of bacteria (colonies) led to the aggregation of pitting corrosion.

Root-knot nematodes exploit the catalase-like effector to manipulate plant reactive oxygen species levels by directly degrading H2O2.

Plants produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon infection, which typically trigger defence mechanisms and impede pathogen proliferation. Root-knot nematodes (RKNs, Meloidogyne spp.) represent highly detrimental pathogens capable of parasitizing a broad spectrum of crops, resulting in substantial annual agricultural losses. The involvement of ROS in RKN parasitism is well acknowledged. In this study, we identified a novel effector from Meloidogyne incognita, named CATLe, that contains a conserved catalase domain, exhibiting potential functions in regulating host ROS levels. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that CATLe is conserved across RKNs. Temporal and spatial expression assays showed that the CATLe gene was specifically up-regulated at the early infection stages and accumulated in the subventral oesophageal gland cells of M. incognita. Immunolocalization demonstrated that CATLe was secreted into the giant cells of the host plant during M. incognita parasitism. Transient expression of CATLe significantly dampened the flg22-induced ROS production in Nicotiana benthamiana. In planta assays confirmed that M. incognita can exploit CATLe to manipulate host ROS levels by directly degrading H2O2. Additionally, interfering with expression of the CATLe gene through double-stranded RNA soaking and host-induced gene silencing significantly attenuated M. incognita parasitism, highlighting the important role of CATLe. Taken together, our results suggest that RKNs can directly degrade ROS products using a functional catalase, thereby manipulating host ROS levels and facilitating parasitism.

Prophylactic application of dexmedetomidine reduces the incidence of Emergence delirium in children: A systematic review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Emergence delirium (ED) is a common postoperative cognitive dysfunction in children. ED may cause distress to patients and their families in the early post-anesthesia period and have long-term adverse effects on children. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE: was to verify whether dexmedetomidine can reduce the occurrence of ED in children. RESEARCH TYPE: Systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs. DATA ACQUISITION: A search was conducted on Web of Science, WHO Trials, Cochrane Library, Clinical Trials.gov, and PubMed for all published studies from inception to 23 Oct.2022. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Randomized clinical trials that met the following criteria: patients aged 1-18 years, study site in the PACU (Post-anesthesia care unit), incidence of ED as the primary outcome, and prophylactic use of dexmedetomidine defined as injected before admission to the PACU. RESULTS: A total of 7 randomized trials were included (6 studies during eye and neck surgery, 1 during hernia surgery), involving 512 patients (257 (50.1%) with dexmedetomidine, and 250 (49.9%) with control. ED was observed in 17.51% of the patients treated with dexmedetomidine and in 43.14% of those receiving control (risk ratio (RR) = 0.40, 95 % confidence interval [CI] [0.30 - 0.55], P < 0.00001). Additionally, the prophylactic application of dexmedetomidine also reduced the occurrence of Post-Operating Nausea and Vomiting (RR = 0.24, 95%CI [0.12 - 0.49], P = 0.0001) and PACU stay time after extubation (mean difference (MD) = -1.57, 95%CI [-3.07 to -0.07], P = 0.04). However, sensitivity analysis of RCTs showed that our effect estimates were not stable (MD = -1.78, 95%CI [-4.18 - 0.62], P = 0.15). CONCLUSION: The prophylactic use of dexmedetomidine was associated with a reduction of ED. However, our findings only apply to eye and neck surgery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO: CRD42022371840.

Identification and functional analysis of terpene synthases revealing the secrets of aroma formation in Chrysanthemum aromaticum.

C. aromaticum is widely cultivated for its aromatic, medicinal, and tea-applicable properties, earning the nickname 'lavender in composite'. Terpenoids are the major compounds of C. aromaticum fragrance. To reveal the molecular mechanisms of terpenoid biosynthesis in C. aromaticum, NGS and SMRT sequencing were employed to identify the key terpene synthase genes. A total of 59,903 non-redundant transcripts were obtained by the transcriptome analysis. Twenty-nine terpene synthase genes (TPSs) were identified, and phylogenetic analysis showed that they belong to four subfamilies of terpene synthases. Five CaTPSs were successfully cloned. Subcellular localization showed they were present in the nucleus and cytosol. Structure models of five terpene synthases were predicted, and molecular docking results showed good binding affinities with FPP/GPP. In vitro enzymatic tests showed that CaTPS7, CaTPS8, CaTPS10 and CaTPS20 could catalyze substrates to produce terpenoids. CaTPS7 and CaTPS20 were both able to effectively convert the precursor FPP into caryophyllene. CaTPS8 could convert FPP to trans-nerolidol and nerolidyl acetate, while CaTPS10 could convert FPP to elemene and aristolochene. This study lays the groundwork for further research to depict the metabolism network of terpenoid in C. aromaticum. These identical terpene synthase genes could be introduced into the cultivated chrysanthemums to enhance their fragrance.

Health economic evaluation of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based rapid nutritional diagnostic system for hospitalised patients: A multicentre, randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Malnutrition is prevalent among hospitalised patients, and increases the morbidity, mortality, and medical costs; yet nutritional assessments on admission are not routine. This study assessed the clinical and economic benefits of using an artificial intelligence (AI)-based rapid nutritional diagnostic system for routine nutritional screening of hospitalised patients. METHODS: A nationwide multicentre randomised controlled trial was conducted at 11 centres in 10 provinces. Hospitalised patients were randomised to either receive an assessment using an AI-based rapid nutritional diagnostic system as part of routine care (experimental group), or not (control group). The overall medical resource costs were calculated for each participant and a decision-tree was generated based on an intention-to-treat analysis to analyse the cost-effectiveness of various treatment modalities. Subgroup analyses were performed according to clinical characteristics and a probabilistic sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the influence of parameter variations on the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). RESULTS: In total, 5763 patients participated in the study, 2830 in the experimental arm and 2933 in the control arm. The experimental arm had a significantly higher cure rate than the control arm (23.24% versus 20.18%; p = 0.005). The experimental arm incurred an incremental cost of 276.52 CNY, leading to an additional 3.06 cures, yielding an ICER of 90.37 CNY. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the decision-tree model was relatively stable. CONCLUSION: The integration of the AI-based rapid nutritional diagnostic system into routine inpatient care substantially enhanced the cure rate among hospitalised patients and was cost-effective. REGISTRATION: NCT04776070 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04776070).

Body mass index and risk of over 100 cancer forms and subtypes in 4.1 million individuals in Sweden: the Obesity and Disease Development Sweden (ODDS) pooled cohort study.

Background: Obesity, assessed by body mass index (BMI), is an established risk factor for 13 cancers. We aimed to identify further potential obesity-related cancers and to quantify their association with BMI relative to that of established obesity-related cancers. Methods: Using Cox regression models on 4,142,349 individuals in Sweden (mean age 27.1 years at weight measurement), we calculated hazard ratios (HRs) for the association between BMI and the risk of 122 cancers and cancer subtypes, grouped by topography and morphology. Cancers with a positive association (i.e., HR >1) at an α-level of 0.05 for obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) vs. normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2) or per 5 kg/m2 higher BMI, for which obesity is not an established risk factor, were considered potentially obesity related. Findings: After 100.2 million person-years of follow-up, 332,501 incident cancer cases were recorded. We identified 15 cancers in men and 16 in women as potentially obesity related. These were cancers of the head and neck, gastrointestinal tract, malignant melanoma, genital organs, endocrine organs, connective tissue, and haematological malignancies. Among these, there was evidence of differential associations with BMI between subtypes of gastric cancer, small intestine cancer, cervical cancer, and lymphoid neoplasms (P values for heterogeneity in HRs <0.05). The HR (95% confidence interval) per 5 kg/m2 higher BMI was 1.17 (1.15-1.20) in men and 1.13 (1.11-1.15) in women for potential obesity-related cancers (51,690 cases), and 1.24 (1.22-1.26) in men and 1.12 (1.11-1.13) in women for established obesity-related cancers (84,384 cases). Interpretation: This study suggests a large number of potential obesity-related cancers could be added to already established ones. Importantly, the magnitudes of the associations were largely comparable to those of the already established obesity-related cancers. We also provide evidence of specific cancer subtypes driving some associations with BMI. Studies accounting for cancer-specific confounders are needed to confirm these findings. Funding: Swedish Research Council, Swedish Cancer Society, Mrs. Berta Kamprad's Cancer Foundation, Crafoord Foundation, Cancer Research Foundation at the Department of Oncology, Malmö University Hospital, and China Scholarship Council.

Disappearance of femoral head shortly after femoral neck fracture: a case report and literature review.

This case report describes a woman in her 70s who presented with a 3-month history of hip pain and inability to walk. Upon admission, she was diagnosed with the extremely rare condition of complete femoral head disappearance. A comprehensive examination was conducted to determine the cause and devise an effective treatment strategy, taking the patient's medical history into account. Through interdisciplinary discussions, occult infection and other potential causes were ruled out. The femoral head disappearance was ultimately determined to be due to wear, ischemia, and absorption following a fracture. After informing the patient of the diagnosis and treatment plan, total hip arthroplasty was proposed. This case highlights the rarity and severity of femoral head disappearance in patients with femoral neck fractures, emphasizing the effectiveness of total hip arthroplasty and appropriate joint prostheses in managing such cases. This case has significant implications for clinical diagnosis, treatment, and complication prevention. The report also discusses the causes of acquired femoral head disappearance, relevant diagnostic assessments, and alternative treatment options.

The combined application of pulsed electromagnetic fields and platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of early-stage knee osteoarthritis: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of combined treatment with pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in improving pain and functional mobility among patients with early-stage knee osteoarthritis (KOA). We hypothesize that this combined therapy can yield superior treatment outcomes. METHODS: Based on the different treatment regimens, we divided 48 patients diagnosed with Kellgren-Lawrence grades I-III KOA into 3 groups: the PRP group, the PEMFs group, and the PRP + PEMFs group. Each subtype of KOA patients was randomly assigned to different treatment groups. In the PRP group, patients received intra-articular injections of leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma once a month for 3 consecutive months. In the PEMFs group, patients receive low-frequency PEMFs irradiation therapy with a frequency of 30 Hz and intensity of 1.5 mT, once daily, 5 times a week, for a consecutive treatment period of 12 weeks. In the PRP + PEMFs group, patients receive both of the aforementioned treatment protocol. The treatment effects on patients are evaluated at baseline and at weeks 4, 8, and 12 post-treatment. Assessment parameters include visual analog scale for pain, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, Lequesne Index score, and knee joint range of motion. RESULTS: From the 4th to the 12th week of treatment, the visual analog scale scores, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores, and Lequesne index scores of patients in all 3 groups gradually decreased, while knee joint mobility gradually increased (P < .05). At weeks 4, 8, and 12 after treatment, the PRP combined with PEMFs group showed significantly better scores compared to the PRP group and the PEMFs group, with statistically significant differences (P < .05). A total of 7 patients experienced adverse reactions such as knee joint swelling, low-grade fever, and worsening knee joint pain after treatment, all of which disappeared within 1 week after treatment. The incidence of complications did not differ significantly among the 3 groups (P = .67). CONCLUSION: PRP, PEMFs, and the combination of PRP and PEMFs therapy all effectively alleviate knee joint pain and improve joint function. However, compared to single treatment modalities, the combined therapy of PRP and PEMFs demonstrates more pronounced efficacy.

Electrostatic-Field-Induced Collapse of Nanobubbles in Nanochannels.

The adsorbed nanobubbles inside the nanochannels can cause fluid transport blockages, which will obviously degrade the nanodevice performance and reduce the lifetime. However, due to small-scale effects, the removal of nanobubbles is a huge challenge at the nanoscale. Herein, molecular dynamics simulations are carried out to study the effect of the electrostatic field on underwater nitrogen nanobubbles confined in nanochannels. It is found that the nanobubbles will collapse under an appropriate electrostatic field, thereby unblocking the transport of water in the nanochannels. The formation of ordered water structures induced by electrostatic fields plays an important role in the removal of nanobubbles from the nanochannels. Our findings provide a convenient, controllable, and remote way to address the blockage problem of nanobubbles in nanochannels, which may have potential applications in improving the performance of fuel cells.

Reliability of Metformin's protective effects against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity: a meta-analysis of animal studies.

Background: The protective effects of metformin (Met) against doxorubicin (Dox)-induced cardiotoxicity via potential hypotheses of mechanisms of action with unknown reliability and credibility. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Met against Dox-induced cardiotoxicity and the underlying mechanisms of action, as well as examine their reliability and credibility. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted within the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus, and CNKI databases from inception to 31 December 2023. Animal experiments evaluating the efficacy of Met against Dox-induced cardiotoxicity were included in this study. The primary efficacy outcomes were markers of myocardial injury. Effect size was measured using the standardized mean difference for continuous variables. Data were pooled using a random-effects model in the Stata 18 statistical software package. Results: Twenty-one studies involving 203-208 animals treated with Dox and 271-276 animals treated with Dox and Met were included in this analysis. Quality assessment revealed high-quality scores. Pooled results favored Met treatment based on the serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and aspartate aminotransferase levels. Sensitivity analysis using the leave-one-out method demonstrated stable results. Funnel plots, Egger's test, and Begg's test confirmed potential publication bias. The oxidative stress hypothesis has been investigated extensively based on abundant evidence. Conclusion: Met is effective and safe for protecting against Dox-induced cardiotoxicity, thus making it an appropriate drug for clinical investigation. The oxidative stress hypothesis of mechanism of action is well established with highest reliability and credibility.

Ultrastrong, flexible thermogalvanic armor with a Carnot-relative efficiency over 8.

Body heat, a clean and ubiquitous energy source, is promising as a renewable resource to supply wearable electronics. Emerging tough thermogalvanic device could be a sustainable platform to convert body heat energy into electricity for powering wearable electronics if its Carnot-relative efficiency (ηr) reaches ~5%. However, maximizing both the ηr and mechanical strength of the device are mutually exclusive. Here, we develop a rational strategy to construct a flexible thermogalvanic armor (FTGA) with a ηr over 8% near room temperature, yet preserving mechanical robustness. The key to our design lies in simultaneously realizing the thermosensitive-crystallization and salting-out effect in the elaborately designed ion-transport highway to boost ηr and improve mechanical strength. The FTGA achieves an ultrahigh ηr of 8.53%, coupling with impressive mechanical toughness of 70.65 MJ m-3 and substantial elongation (~900%) together. Our strategy holds sustainable potential for harvesting body heat and powering wearable electronics without recharging.

Plant-based diet indices and their interaction with ambient air pollution on the ovarian cancer survival: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Ambient air pollution might serve as a prognostic factor for ovarian cancer (OC) survival, yet the relationships between plant-based diet indices (PDIs) and OC survival remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the associations of comprehensive air pollution and PDIs with OC survival and explored the effects of air pollution-diet interactions. METHODS: The present study encompassed 658 patients diagnosed with OC. The overall plant-based diet index (PDI), the healthful PDI (hPDI), and the unhealthful PDI (uPDI) were evaluated by a self-reported validated food frequency questionnaire. In addition, an air pollution score (APS) was formulated by summing the concentrations of particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide. Cox proportional hazard models were applied to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). The potential interactions of APS with PDIs in relation to overall survival (OS) were assessed on both multiplicative and additive scales. RESULTS: Throughout a median follow-up of 37.60 (interquartile: 24.77-50.70) months, 123 deaths were confirmed. Comparing to the lowest tertiles, highest uPDI was associated with lower OS of OC (HR = 2.06, 95 % CI = 1.30, 3.28; P-trend < 0.01), whereas no significant associations were found between either overall PDI or hPDI and OC survival. Higher APS (HR for per interquartile range = 1.27, 95 % CI = 1.01, 1.60) was significantly associated with worse OC survival, and the association was exacerbated by adherence to uPDI. Notably, an additive interaction was identified between combined air pollution and uPDI (P < 0.005 for high APS and high uPDI). We also found that adherence to overall PDI aggravated associations of air pollution with OC survival (P-interaction = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Joint exposure to various ambient air pollutants was significantly associated with lower survival among patients with OC, particularly for those who predominantly consumed unhealthy plant-based foods.

Targeting SWI/SNF ATPases reduces neuroblastoma cell plasticity.

Tumor cell heterogeneity defines therapy responsiveness in neuroblastoma (NB), a cancer derived from neural crest cells. NB consists of two primary subtypes: adrenergic and mesenchymal. Adrenergic traits predominate in NB tumors, while mesenchymal features becomes enriched post-chemotherapy or after relapse. The interconversion between these subtypes contributes to NB lineage plasticity, but the underlying mechanisms driving this phenotypic switching remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex ATPases are essential in establishing an mesenchymal gene-permissive chromatin state in adrenergic-type NB, facilitating lineage plasticity. Targeting SWI/SNF ATPases with SMARCA2/4 dual degraders effectively inhibits NB cell proliferation, invasion, and notably, cellular plasticity, thereby preventing chemotherapy resistance. Mechanistically, depletion of SWI/SNF ATPases compacts cis-regulatory elements, diminishes enhancer activity, and displaces core transcription factors (MYCN, HAND2, PHOX2B, and GATA3) from DNA, thereby suppressing transcriptional programs associated with plasticity. These findings underscore the pivotal role of SWI/SNF ATPases in driving intrinsic plasticity and therapy resistance in neuroblastoma, highlighting an epigenetic target for combinational treatments in this cancer.

GLIM-defined malnutrition in patients with acute abdomen associated with poor prognosis and increased economic burden: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria have rapidly developed into a principal methodological framework for nutrition diagnosis. However, the applicability of the GLIM criteria in patients with acute abdomen has not been validated. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on patients diagnosed with acute abdomen and admitted to a tertiary hospital in southwest China. Nutrition risk screening was conducted using the Nutrition Risk Screening 2002, and patients identified with nutrition risk were assessed for malnutrition based on the GLIM criteria. RESULTS: We enrolled a total of 440 patients with acute abdomen. The top three diagnoses of acute abdomen were intestinal obstruction (47.2%), acute appendicitis (23.1%), and digestive system perforation (8.8%). The prevalence of nutrition risk was 46.5%, with a malnutrition rate of 32.5% based on the GLIM. Patients with malnutrition according to the GLIM showed significantly higher rates of intensive care unit (ICU) admission (13.28% vs 7.07%; P = 0.003), increased hospitalization costs (median: 3315USD [interquartile range (IQR): 978-7852] vs 1641 [IQR: 816-3523] USD; P < 0.001), and longer length of hospital stay (LOS) (median: 8 [IQR: 5-13] vs 6 [IQR: 4-8] days; P < 0.001) compared with patients without malnutrition. Multivariate analysis indicated that GLIM-defined malnutrition was an independent predictor of hospitalization costs, and severe malnutrition was an independent predictor of ICU admission. CONCLUSION: GLIM criteria are applicable for diagnosing malnutrition in patients with acute abdomen. The prevalence of malnutrition was high in patients with acute abdomen. Malnutrition was associated with increased ICU admission and LOS, along with higher economic burden.

Efficacy of endoscopic therapy combined with partial splenic embolization versus Hassab's operation for patients with liver cirrhosis with esophageal variceal bleeding and hypersplenism: a multicenter cohort study based on propensity score matching.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis comparison between endoscopic therapy + partial splenic embolization (PSE) and Hassab's operation is unclear in the treatment of esophageal variceal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis. This study aimed to compare the outcome of endoscopic therapy + PSE (EP) with a combination of splenectomy + pericardial devascularization procedure, known as Hassab's operation (SH) for esophageal variceal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis with hypersplenism. METHODS: We enrolled 328 patients, including 125 and 203 patients who underwent EP and SH, respectively. Each group consisted of 110 patients after propensity score matching (PSM). Subsequently, we recorded and analyzed bleeding episodes and mortality in 6 months and 1, 2, and 5 years after therapies. RESULTS: The median follow-up time in the EP and SH groups was 53 and 64 months, respectively. Bleeding incidence 6 months after therapies in the EP group was lower than that in the SH group (1.8% vs. 10.0%, P = 0.010). Additionally, complications in the perioperative period were not significantly different (0% vs. 3.6%, P = 0.008). However, the bleeding rate between the two groups was not significantly different at 1, 2, and 5 years after therapies (7.3% vs. 12.7%, P = 0.157; 10.9% vs. 16.4%, P = 0.205; 30.6% vs. 31.8%, P = 0.801), as well as mortality rate (4.5% vs 7.3%, P = 0.571). CONCLUSION: Compared with SH therapy, the bleeding rate 6 months after EP therapy was lower, but the long-term bleeding rate was similar.

Performance Limits and Advancements in Single 2D Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Transistor.

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) allow for atomic-scale manipulation, challenging the conventional limitations of semiconductor materials. This capability may overcome the short-channel effect, sparking significant advancements in electronic devices that utilize 2D TMDs. Exploring the dimension and performance limits of transistors based on 2D TMDs has gained substantial importance. This review provides a comprehensive investigation into these limits of the single 2D-TMD transistor. It delves into the impacts of miniaturization, including the reduction of channel length, gate length, source/drain contact length, and dielectric thickness on transistor operation and performance. In addition, this review provides a detailed analysis of performance parameters such as source/drain contact resistance, subthreshold swing, hysteresis loop, carrier mobility, on/off ratio, and the development of p-type and single logic transistors. This review details the two logical expressions of the single 2D-TMD logic transistor, including current and voltage. It also emphasizes the role of 2D TMD-based transistors as memory devices, focusing on enhancing memory operation speed, endurance, data retention, and extinction ratio, as well as reducing energy consumption in memory devices functioning as artificial synapses. This review demonstrates the two calculating methods for dynamic energy consumption of 2D synaptic devices. This review not only summarizes the current state of the art in this field but also highlights potential future research directions and applications. It underscores the anticipated challenges, opportunities, and potential solutions in navigating the dimension and performance boundaries of 2D transistors.

Network pharmacology prediction to discover the potential pharmacological action mechanism of Rhizoma Dioscoreae for liver regeneration.

Improving liver regeneration (LR) remains a medical issue, and there is currently a lack of safe and effective drugs for LR. Rhizoma Dioscoreae (SanYak, SY) is a traditional Chinese medicine. However, the underlying action mechanism of SY treatment for LR is yet to be fully elucidated. To explore the mechanism by which SY affects LR, we have conducted a series of methods for network pharmacological analysis, molecular docking, and in vivo experimental validation in mice. Overall, 9 compounds and 30 predicted target genes of SY were found to be associated with the therapeutic effects of LR. Compared with the model group, hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed that the mice with preoperative drug intervention possessed fewer postoperative hepatocyte bubbles and relatively regular morphology. Furthermore, the serum alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were reduced, immunohistochemistry revealed elevated proliferating cell nuclear antigen positivity rate, and Western blotting demonstrated that the phospho-protein kinase B (AKT)/AKT ratio was downregulated and that vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) expression levels were upregulated. This study explored dioscin, the main active ingredient of SY, and its potential therapeutic effects on LR. It repairs damaged liver following surgery and promotes liver cell proliferation. The action mechanism comprises reducing AKT phosphorylation levels and upregulating VEGFA expression levels. Thus, this study provides a new direction for further research on the mechanism of SY promoting LR.