Spraying calcium chloride helps to enhance the resistance of kidney bean plants to western flower thrips.

BACKGROUND: The western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a significant pest in horticulture and ornamental agriculture. While exogenous calcium (Ca) has been shown to confer plant immune responses against thrips, the detailed mechanisms of this interaction remain to be elucidated for improved thrips management strategies. This study aimed to assess the impact of exogenous Ca on WFT feeding behavior and to explore its role in enhancing the defense mechanisms of kidney bean plants against WFT attacks. We compared WFT feeding preferences and efficiency on kidney bean plants treated with H2O or Ca, and examined whether exogenous Ca improves plant defense responses to thrips attack. RESULTS: WFT exhibited less preference for feeding on Ca-treated plants over H2O-treated ones. The total duration of WFT's long-ingestion probes was significantly reduced on Ca-treated plants, indicating impaired feeding efficiency. Furthermore, WFT infestation activated both jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) signaling pathways in kidney bean plants, and exogenous Ca application led to elevated levels of endogenous Ca2+ and CaM, up-regulation of genes associated with JA and SA pathways (LOX, AOS, PAL, and ß-1,3-glucanase), and increased accumulation of JA, SA, flavonoids, and alkaloids. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that the application of exogenous Ca enhances endogenous Ca2+, JA, and SA signaling pathways in kidney bean plants. This enhancement results in an up-regulation of the biosynthesis of flavonoid and alkaloid, thereby equipping the plants with an enhanced defense against WFT infestation. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Regulation of warming on the mixed decomposition of Artemisia ordosica and Leymus secalinus litter in Mu Us Desert, China is time-dependent.

Warming drives material cycling in terrestrial ecosystems by affecting litter decomposition, as it can alter litter yield, quality and decomposer composition and activity. The effect of warming on the decomposition of mixed litter in arid and semi-arid zones remains unknown. We investigated the mass loss and nutrient release dynamics during 450 days of decomposition of Artemisia ordosica, Leymus secalinus, and their mixture in Mu Us Desert by open-top chambers and litter bags. The results showed interspecific differences in the responses to warming, in that warming promoted mass loss and N and P release from L. secalinus and inhibited mass loss and P but promoting N release from A. ordosica. Mixing of A. ordosica and L. secalinus litter inhibited decomposition. Warming enhanced the antagonistic effects of mixed decomposition. The total mass loss of mixed litter was decreased by 9%, and the release of N and P was decreased by 4.9% and 12.6%, respectively. The antagonistic effects of mixed litter mass loss and P release under the warming treatment gradually strengthened with time, with N release changing from a synergistic to an antagonistic effect at 150 d. The non-additive effects produced by the mixed decomposition of A. ordosica and L. secalinus litter were jointly regulated by temperature and time. Future research on mixed litter decomposition should consider the interaction between temperature and time.

A surrogate model-based approach for adaptive selection of the optimal traffic conflict prediction model.

For identifying the optimal model for real-time conflict prediction, there is a necessity for proposing a quantitative analysis approach that adaptively selects the optimal prediction model from a large pool of task-suited models, while simultaneously considering the computational efficiency and prediction precision. Based on this line, this study developed an innovative approach termed surrogate model-based optimal prediction model selection (SM-OPMS). This approach aims to accelerate the optimal model selection while incorporating prediction precision considerations, under the precondition of comprehensively evaluating task-suited models. An analytical framework was proposed, further illustrated through a detailed case study. In the case study, real vehicle trajectory data from HighD were processed and applied, which can be aggregated to extract both traffic state variables and corresponding conflict data during a specific time interval. As for the conflict detection, Time-to-Collision (TTC) and Deceleration Rate to Avoid a Crash (DRAC) indicators were utilized to identify risky conditions. Based on the proposed approach, the selection for the optimal prediction model was conducted, and the variable importance in conflict prediction within the optimal models derived from the SM-OPMS was also investigated. Finally, a comparative analysis with the enumeration-based optimal prediction model selection (E-OPMS) approach was conducted to validate the superiority of the proposed approach. Results indicate that SM-OPMS outperforms E-OPMS in optimal model selection, notably enhancing computational efficiency by up to 94.03%, while maintaining prediction precision within a maximum reduction of only 7.91%. The significance of the SM-OPMS approach is revealed by its comprehensive selection of the optimal prediction models for specific traffic scenarios, taking into account both prediction efficiency and precision simultaneously. The proposed approach is expected to contribute to the development of real-time conflict prediction in the future.

Association of lifestyle with sleep health in general population in China: a cross-sectional study.

The concept of a healthy lifestyle is receiving increasing attention. This study sought to identify an optimal healthy lifestyle profile associated with sleep health in general population of China. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted from June to July 2022. Six healthy lifestyle factors were assessed: healthy diet, regular physical exercise, never smoking, never drinking alcohol, low sedentary behavior, and normal weight. Participants were categorized into the healthy lifestyle (5-6 factors), average (3-4 factors), and unhealthy lifestyle groups (0-2 factors). The study's primary outcome was sleep health, which included sleep quality, duration, pattern, and the presence of any sleep disorder or disturbance, including insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, obstructive apnea syndrome, and narcolepsy. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was applied to explore lifestyles associated with the selected sleep health outcomes. 41,061 individuals were included, forming 18.8% healthy, 63.8% average, and 17.4% unhealthy lifestyle groups. After adjusting for covariates, participants with healthy lifestyle were associated with a higher likelihood of good sleep quality (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.46-1.68), normal sleep duration (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.49-1.72), healthy sleep pattern (OR = 2.15, 95% CI = 2.00-2.31), and lower risks of insomnia (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.61-0.71), excessive daytime sleepiness (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.60-0.73), and obstructive apnea syndrome (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.37-0.43), but not narcolepsy (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.83-1.03), compared to those with unhealthy lifestyle. This large cross-sectional study is the first to our knowledge to quantify the associations of a healthy lifestyle with specific aspects of sleep health. The findings offer support for efforts to improve sleep health by modulating lifestyle.

Dispersal patterns of Reeves's pheasant based on genetic and behavioral evidence.

Dispersal is an important life history trait that plays a crucial role in avoiding inbreeding. Uncovering the dispersal pattern of a threatened species facilitates conservation efforts. Most species of Galliformes are forest-dwelling terrestrial birds with a weak dispersal ability and high conservation priorities. However, little is known about the dispersal behavior and dispersal pattern of Galliformes species such as Reeves's pheasant Syrmaticus reevesii, a globally vulnerable species endemic to China. Here, we integrated behavioral and genetic analyses to investigate the dispersal pattern of Reeves's pheasant. Our results revealed that both females and males would disperse, although the overall dispersal pattern was more likely to be male-biased. Reeves's pheasant population had a low level of genetic diversity and a mild level of inbreeding. Speculation low genetic diversity was resulted from fragmented habitat, and male-biased dispersal may reduce the opportunity of inbreeding. Our research indicated that sex-biased dispersal patterns may be a behavioral mechanism adopted by wildlife to avoid inbreeding in a fragmented habitat.

Inverse Isotope Kinetic Effect of the Charge Transfer Reactions of Ar+ with H2O and D2O.

Hydrogen isotopic effect, as the key to revealing the origin of Earth's water, arises from the H/D mass difference and quantum dynamics at the transition state of reaction. The ion-molecule charge-exchange reaction between water (H2O/D2O) and argon ion (Ar+) proceeds spontaneously and promptly, where there is no transition-state or intermediate complex. In this energetically resonant process, we find an inverse kinetic isotope effect (KIE) leading to the higher charge transfer rate for D2O, by the velocity map imaging measurements of H2O+/D2O+ products. Using the average dipole orientation capture model, we estimate the orientation angles of C2v axis of H2O/D2O relative to the Ar+ approaching direction and attribute to the difference of stereodynamics. According to the long-distance Landau-Zener charge transfer model, this inverse KIE could be also attributed to the density-of-state difference of molecular bending motion between H2O+ and D2O+ around the resonant charge transfer.

[Environmental regulation of water use efficiency in Artemisia ordosica in Mu Us Sandy Land: From leaf to ecosystem]. / æ¯›ä¹Œç´ æ²™åœ°é»‘æ²™è’¿æ°´åˆ†åˆ©ç”¨æ•ˆçŽ‡çŽ¯å¢ƒè°ƒæŽ§:从叶片到生态系统.

Water use efficiency (WUE) is a key indicator for predicting the impacts of climate change on ecosystem carbon and water cycles. Most studies have explored the changes in the response environment of WUE at a particular scale. Few studies have examined how WUE responds to environments at multiple scales, thus limiting our in-depth understanding of the cross-scale carbon and water cycles. In this study, we measured photosynthesis and transpiration in situ periodically and continuously from June to October 2022 in a community dominated by Artemisia ordosica in Mu Us Sandy Land, and analyzed the seasonal variations in WUE at leaf, canopy, and ecosystem scales. The results showed there were significant seasonal variations in leaf water use efficiency (WUEL), canopy water use efficiency (WUET), and ecosystem water use efficiency (WUEE). WUEL was large in June and small in both August and September, ranging from 0.73-2.98 µmol·mmol-1. Both WUET and WUEE were lowest in June and highest in July and August, ranging from 0.10-7.00 and 0.06-6.25 µmol·mmol-1. WUEL was significantly negatively correlated with stomatal conductance. WUET was significantly positively correlated with canopy conduc-tance and soil water content, and negatively correlated with vapor pressure deficit (VPD). There was a significant positive correlation between WUEE and soil water content (SWC10) in 10 cm soil depth. The structural equation model showed that SWC10 and air temperature affected net photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate by modifying stomatal conductance, and thus affecting WUEL. VPD and SWC10 affected WUET by altering transpiration. SWC10, air temperature, and VPD affected WUEE by regulating ecosystem gross primary productivity. The modelling of carbon and water cycles should thoroughly consider the path and intensity of the effect of environmental factors on WUE at multiple scales.

Association between household size and risk of incident dementia in the UK Biobank study.

Currently, the relationship between household size and incident dementia, along with the underlying neurobiological mechanisms, remains unclear. This prospective cohort study was based on UK Biobank participants aged ≥ 50 years without a history of dementia. The linear and non-linear longitudinal association was assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression and restricted cubic spline models. Additionally, the potential mechanisms driven by brain structures were investigated by linear regression models. We included 275,629 participants (mean age at baseline 60.45 years [SD 5.39]). Over a mean follow-up of 9.5 years, 6031 individuals developed all-cause dementia. Multivariable analyses revealed that smaller household size was associated with an increased risk of all-cause dementia (HR, 1.06; 95% CI 1.02-1.09), vascular dementia (HR, 1.08; 95% CI 1.01-1.15), and non-Alzheimer's disease non-vascular dementia (HR, 1.09; 95% CI 1.03-1.14). No significant association was observed for Alzheimer's disease. Restricted cubic splines demonstrated a reversed J-shaped relationship between household size and all-cause and cause-specific dementia. Additionally, substantial associations existed between household size and brain structures. Our findings suggest that small household size is a risk factor for dementia. Additionally, brain structural differences related to household size support these associations. Household size may thus be a potential modifiable risk factor for dementia.

A new method based on melatonin-mediated seed germination to quickly remove pesticide residues and improve the nutritional quality of contaminated grains.

In the present study, we attempted to use melatonin combined with germination treatment to remove pesticide residues from contaminated grains. High levels of pesticide residues were detected in soybean seeds after soaking with chlorothalonil (10 mM) and malathion (1 mM) for 2 hours. Treatment with 50 µM melatonin for 5 days completely removed the pesticide residues, while in the control group, only 61-71% of pesticide residues were removed from soybean sprouts. Compared with the control, melatonin treatment for 7 days further increased the content of ascorbic acid (by 48-66%), total phenolics (by 52-68%), isoflavones (by 22-34%), the total antioxidant capacity (by 37-40%), and the accumulated levels of unsaturated fatty acids (C18:1, C18:2, and C18:3) (by 17-30%) in soybean sprouts. Moreover, melatonin treatment further increased the accumulation of ten components of phenols and isoflavones in soybean sprouts relative to those in the control. The ability of melatonin to accelerate the degradation of pesticide residues and promote the accumulation of antioxidant metabolites might be related to its ability to trigger the glutathione detoxification system in soybean sprouts. Melatonin promoted glutathione synthesis (by 49-139%) and elevated the activities of glutathione-S-transferase (by 24-78%) and glutathione reductase (by 38-61%). In summary, we report a new method in which combined treatment by melatonin and germination rapidly degrades pesticide residues in contaminated grains and improves the nutritional quality of food.

Ion Velocity Map Imaging Study of the Reactive Collisions between Carbon Dioxide and Helium Ion.

The reactive collision between He+ and CO2 plays an important role in substance evolutions of the planetary CO2-rich atmosphere. Using a three-dimensional ion velocity map imaging technique, we investigate the low-energy ion-molecule reactions He+ + CO2 → He + CO2+/He + CO+ + O/He + CO + O+. The velocity images of the products CO+ and O+ of dissociative charge-exchange reactions are distinctly different from those of charge-exchange product CO2+. The remarkable features of stereodynamics are observed in the dissociative charge-exchange reaction and are attributed to the spatial alignment of the initially random target CO2 during the He+ approach. Branching ratios of different channels of dissociative charge exchange are further obtained with the Doppler kinematics model, indicating a high preference for the energy-resonant channel.

Direct Observation of Anionic Yields from the Liquid-Vapor Interface by Electron Irradiation.

Dissociative electron attachment (DEA) is widely believed to play a high-profile role in ionizing radiation damages of bioorganic molecules, and its fundamentals are mainly learned from the gas-phase studies. However, the DEA process in aqueous solution is still in debate. Here we provide experimental evidence about the DEA processes of liquid methanol by using electron-impact-time-delayed mass spectrometry. In contrast to the gas- and solid-phase DEAs, methoxide ion CH3O- is the predominant product from the liquid interface. Furthermore, this anion can be produced with both the primary low-energy electrons and the inelastically scattered and secondary low-energy electrons. On the contrary, the primary low-energy electrons in the liquid bulk are more likely to be solvated, rather than directly participating in the DEA process. Our study provides new insights into radiation chemistry, particularly of bioorganic relevance.

Effect of fasting plasma glucose level in severe fever and thrombocytopenia syndrome patients without diabetes.

Hyperglycemia is correlated with worse in-hospital outcomes in acute infectious diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). This study assessed the relationship between fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels and in-hospital mortality, disease type, and secondary infections among individuals with SFTS without preexisting diabetes. The clinical data and laboratory results upon admission of 560 patients with SFTS without preexisting diabetes meeting the inclusion criteria at Wuhan Union Hospital were collected. FPG levels in surviving patients with SFTS subjects were significantly lower than those in patients with SFTS who had died (P<0.0001). In multivariate Cox regression, high FPG level (≥11.1 mmol/L) was a risk factor independently associated with the in-hospital death of patients with SFTS without preexisting diabetes. Similarly, the FPG levels in general patients with SFTS were significantly lower than those in patients with severe SFTS (P<0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression identified high FPG level (7.0-11.1 mmol/L) as a risk factor independently associated with SFTS severity. While FPG levels were comparable between patients with SFTS with and without secondary infection (P = 0.5521), logistic regression analysis revealed that high FPG levels were not a risk factor for secondary infection in patients with SFTS without preexisting diabetes. High FPG level on admission was an independent predictor of in-hospital death and severe disease in individuals with SFTS without preexisting diabetes. FPG screening upon admission and glycemic control are effective methods for improving the prognosis of patients with SFTS.

Serum vitamins and homocysteine levels in autoimmune liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Vitamins and homocysteine (Hcy) are involved in liver metabolism and related to the pathogenesis of autoimmune liver disease (AILD), but consensus is lacking. This study aims to systematically summarize relevant evidence to clarify the association of serum vitamins and Hcy levels with AILD. METHODS: The English and Chinese literature was searched until August 29, 2023. Studies were included if they were observational studies of investigating serum vitamins and Hcy levels in patients with AILD and their healthy comparisons. Quality assessment was performed by using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and a meta-analysis was conducted using ReviewManager 5.3. The protocol was registered in the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO), with registration number CRD42023455367. RESULTS: A total of 25 case-control studies comprising 3487 patients (1673 patients and 1814 healthy controls) were included for analysis. There were 548 autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) cases, 1106 primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) cases, and 19 primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) cases. We found that serum A and E were decreased in both AIH and PBC/PSC; but vitamin C was reduced only in patients with PBC, not AIH. In addition, decreased content of 25(OH)D3 was found in both AIH and PBC. However, levels of 25(OH)D did not differ between the patients and controls, and were independent of disease types and the country. Only one study that met the inclusion criteria reported vitamin B6, B9, B12, and Hcy changes, and found that vitamin B6 and B9 were significantly decreased in patients with PBC, while serum vitamin B12 and Hcy levels were significantly elevated in them. One eligible study each confirmed a reduction in plasma vitamin K1 and 1,25(OH)2D3 in patients with PBC. CONCLUSION: Most vitamins are deficient in AILD, so appropriate vitamin supplementation should be necessary. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to validate these findings.

Ascitic microbiota alteration is associated with portal vein tumor thrombosis occurrence and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) frequently leads to malignant ascites (MA) in individuals with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), remaining a bottleneck in the treatment. This study aimed to explore the differences in microbes in paired groups and provide novel insights into PVTT and MA-related treatments. Formalin-fixed paraffin embedding ascite samples were collected from MA secondary to HCC and benign ascites (BA) secondary to liver cirrhosis (LC). Ascitic microbiota profiles were determined in the HCC and LC groups by 16S rRNA sequencing. Prognostic risk factors were screened using survival analysis. The correlation between the significantly different microbial signatures in the groups with PVTT (WVT) and non-PVTT (NVT) and clinical characteristics was explored. The expression of different immune cells was determined by labeling four markers in the MA tissue chips using multiplex immunohistochemistry. A total of 240 patients (196 with HCC with MA and 44 with LC with BA) were included in this study. Microbial profiles differed between the HCC and LC groups. PVTT and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage were shown to be prognostic risk factors. Significant differences in the alpha and beta diversities were observed between the WVT and NVT groups. Gammaproteobacteria and Acinetobacter were the most abundant in the HCC MA. Differences in microbial signatures between the WVT and NVT groups were correlated with the level of C-reactive protein and apolipoprotein A1. This study revealed the microbial differences in the tumor microenvironment of MA secondary to HCC and BA secondary to LC.IMPORTANCEFirst, we explored the alteration of the ascites ecosystem through the microbiota in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver cirrhosis. Second, this is the first clinical study to investigate the differences between patients with HCC with and without portal vein tumor thrombosis via 16S rRNA sequencing. These results revealed a decreased microbial diversity and metabolic dysregulation in individuals with HCC and portal vein tumor thrombosis. Gammaproteobacteria and Acinetobacter were the most abundant in the HCC malignant ascitic fluid. Our study provides a new perspective on treating malignant ascites secondary to HCC.

Identification and validation of hub genes expressed in ulcerative colitis with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

Objective: Ulcerative colitis (UC) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) are closely intertwined; however, the precise molecular mechanisms governing their coexistence remain unclear. Methods: We obtained UC (GSE75214) and MASLD (GSE151158) datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were acquired by the 'edgeR' and 'limma' packages of R. We then performed functional enrichment analysis of common DEGs. Hub genes were selected using the cytoHubba plugin and validated using GSE87466 for UC and GSE33814 for MASLD. Immunohistochemistry was employed to validate the hub genes' expression in clinical samples. Immune infiltration and gene set enrichment analyses of the hub genes were performed. Finally, we estimated the Spearman's correlation coefficients for the clinical correlation of the core genes. Results: Within a cohort of 26 differentially regulated genes in both UC and MASLD, pathways involving cytokine-mediated signaling, cell chemotaxis, and leukocyte migration were enriched. After further validation, CXCR4, THY1, CCL20, and CD2 were identified as the hub genes. Analysis of immune infiltration patterns highlighted an association between elevated pivotal gene expression and M1 macrophage activation. Immunohistochemical staining revealed widespread expression of pivotal genes in UC- and MASLD-affected tissues. Furthermore, significant correlations were observed between the increased expression of hub genes and biochemical markers, such as albumin and prothrombin time. Conclusion: This bioinformatics analysis highlights CXCR4, THY1, CCL20, and CD2 as crucial genes involved in the co-occurrence of UC and MASLD, providing insights into the underlying mechanisms of these two conditions.

Global burden and risk factors of gastritis and duodenitis: an observational trend study from 1990 to 2019.

In recent years, there has been a global trend of aging, which has resulted in significant changes to the burden of gastritis and duodenitis (GD). Using the global burden of disease (GBD) database spanning 1990 to 2019, we evaluated the temporal trends of age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR), age-standardized death rates (ASDR), and age-standardized disability-adjusted life years (AS-DALYs) for GD using estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC). Additionally, we examined the burden of GD across various strata, including social demographic index (SDI), age, and sex. Finally, the risk factors linked to the incidence and mortality of GD, utilizing Pearson correlation analysis. In 2019, there were 31 million GD patients globally, a notable increase of 12 million from 1990, while the ASIR, ASDR, and AS-DALYs for GD all showed a decrease. Correlation analysis showed a significant negative relationship between ASIR and SDI. Factors like hand hygiene and vitamin A deficiency had significant positive correlations with ASIR and ASDR in 2019. Over the past thirty years, the burden of GD has increased alongside global population aging. Future efforts should focus on exploring prevention for GD, with special attention to the elderly population in low SDI regions.

Joint Exposure to Ambient Air Pollutants, Genetic Risk, and Ischemic Stroke: A Prospective Analysis in UK Biobank.

BACKGROUND: Our primary objective was to assess the association between joint exposure to various air pollutants and the risk of ischemic stroke (IS) and the modification of the genetic susceptibility. METHODS: This observational cohort study included 307 304 British participants from the United Kingdom Biobank, who were stroke-free and possessed comprehensive baseline data on genetics, air pollutant exposure, alcohol consumption, and dietary habits. All participants were initially enrolled between 2006 and 2010 and were followed up until 2022. An air pollution score was calculated to assess joint exposure to 5 ambient air pollutants, namely particulate matter with diameters equal to or <2.5 µm, ranging from 2.5 to 10 µm, equal to or <10 µm, as well as nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide. To evaluate individual genetic risk, a polygenic risk score for IS was calculated for each participant. We adjusted for demographic, social, economic, and health covariates. Cox regression models were utilized to estimate the associations between air pollution exposure, polygenic risk score, and the incidence of IS. RESULTS: Over a median follow-up duration of 13.67 years, a total of 2476 initial IS events were detected. The hazard ratios (95% CI) of IS for per 10 µg/m3 increase in particulate matter with diameters equal to or <2.5 µm, ranging from 2.5 to 10 µm, equal to or <10 µm, nitrogen dioxide, and nitrogen oxide were 1.73 (1.33-2.14), 1.24 (0.88-1.70), 1.13 (0.89-1.33), 1.03 (0.98-1.08), and 1.04 (1.02-1.07), respectively. Furthermore, individuals in the highest quintile of the air pollution score exhibited a 29% to 66% higher risk of IS compared with those in the lowest quintile. Notably, participants with both high polygenic risk score and air pollution score had a 131% (95% CI, 85%-189%) greater risk of IS than participants with low polygenic risk score and air pollution score. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that prolonged joint exposure to air pollutants may contribute to an increased risk of IS, particularly among individuals with elevated genetic susceptibility to IS.

Repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation combined with transcranial magnetic stimulation in rehabilitation of upper extremity hemiparesis following stroke: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of combined repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation on upper extremity function in subacute stroke patients. DESIGN: Pilot study. SUBJECTS: Subacute stroke patients. METHODS: Included patients were randomized into 3 groups: a central-associated peripheral stimulation (CPS) group, a central-stimulation-only (CS) group, and a control (C) group. The CPS group underwent a new paired associative stimulation (combined repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation), the CS group underwent repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, and the C group underwent sham stimulation. All 3 groups received physiotherapy after the stimulation or sham stimulation. The treatment comprised 20 once-daily sessions. Primary outcome was the Fugl-Meyer Assessment Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) score, and secondary outcomes were the Barthel Index and Comprehensive Functional Assessment scores, and neurophysiological assessments were mainly short-interval intracortical inhibition. A 3-group (CPS, CS, C) × 2-time (before, after intervention) repeated measures analysis of variance was conducted to determine whether changes in scores were significantly different between the 3 groups. RESULTS: A total of 45 patients were included in the analysis. Between-group comparisons on the FMA-UE demonstrated a significant improvement (group × time interaction, F2,42 = 4.86; p = 0.013; C vs CS, p = 0.020; C vs CPS, p = 0.016; CS vs CPS, p = 0.955). Correlation analysis did not find any substantial positive correlation between changes in FMA-UE and short-interval intracortical inhibition variables (C, r = -0.196, p = 0.483; CS, r = -0.169, p = 0.546; CPS, r = -0.424, p = 0.115). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the real-stimulus (CS and CPS) groups had better outcomes than the control (C) group. In addition, the CPS group showed a better trend in clinical and neurophysiological assessments compared with the CS group.

High CRP/PNI levels predict an unfavorable prognosis in severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome: A propensity score matching study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to identify a novel inflammatory index and construct a nomogram for predicting in-hospital mortality due to severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). METHODS: This cohort included 610 patients with SFTS hospitalized in Wuhan Union Hospital between March 2017 and November 2022. The ratio of C-reactive protein (CRP) to the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) was calculated and used to reflect patients' inflammatory status. Propensity score matching (PSM) was utilized to balance confounding factors between the low- and high-CRP/PNI groups. SFTS individuals from Jinyinhu Hospital were used as the validation cohort. RESULTS: Patients with SFTS and high CRP/PNI were significantly correlated with a higher percentage of severe and critical SFTS types and higher in-hospital mortality rates than those with low CRP/PNI. CRP/PNI was the potent risk indicator for in-hospital mortality in individuals with SFTS. The CRP/PNI nomogram showed a good predictive value for in-hospital mortality in patients with SFTS. After PSM, the predictive performance of CRP/PNI for 28-day mortality was excellent. Finally, the CRP/PNI could still assess patients with SFTS at different risks based on SFTS data from another medical center. CONCLUSION: The CPR/PNI ratio exhibited a strong positive correlation with the SFTS disease type and could predict in-hospital mortality in the early stages of SFTS. The CPR/PNI ratio could substantially help clinicians facilitate the early identification of patients with high-risk SFTS and the timely initiation of intensive therapy.