Two-step evolution of HIV-1 budding system leading to pandemic in the human population.

The pandemic HIV-1, HIV-1 group M, emerged from a single spillover event of its ancestral lentivirus from a chimpanzee. During human-to-human spread worldwide, HIV-1 diversified into multiple subtypes. Here, our interdisciplinary investigation mainly sheds light on the evolutionary scenario of the viral budding system of HIV-1 subtype C (HIV-1C), a most successfully spread subtype. Of the two amino acid motifs for HIV-1 budding, the P(T/S)AP and YPxL motifs, HIV-1C loses the YPxL motif. Our data imply that HIV-1C might lose this motif to evade immune pressure. Additionally, the P(T/S)AP motif is duplicated dependently of the level of HIV-1 spread in the human population, and >20% of HIV-1C harbored the duplicated P(T/S)AP motif. We further show that the duplication of the P(T/S)AP motif is caused by the expansion of the CTG triplet repeat. Altogether, our results suggest that HIV-1 has experienced a two-step evolution of the viral budding process during human-to-human spread worldwide.

L-carnitine modified nanoparticles target the OCTN2 transporter to improve the oral absorption of jujuboside B.

As a bioactive saponin derived from the seeds of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H. F. Chow, jujuboside B (JuB) shows great potential in anti-anxiety, anti-depression and improving learning and memory function. However, its oral bioavailability is very poor. In this study, a novel drug-loading nanoparticles system was prepared with polyethylene glycol and polylactic-co-glycolic acid copolymer (PEG-PLGA), and further modified with L-carnitine (LC) to target intestinal organic cation/carnitine transporter 2 (OCTN2) to improve the oral absorption of JuB. Under the optimized preparation conditions, the particle sizes of obtained JuB-PEG-PLGA nanoparticles (B-NPs) and LC modified B-NPs (LC-B-NPs) were 110.67 ± 11.37 nm and 134.00 ± 2.00 nm with the entrapment efficiency (EE%) 73.46 ± 1.26 % and 76.01 ± 2.10 %, respectively. The pharmacokinetics in SD rats showed that B-NPs and LC-B-NPs increased the bioavailability of JuB to 134.33 % and 159.04 % respectively. In Caco-2 cell model, the prepared nanoparticles significantly increased cell uptake of JuB, which verified the pharmacokinetic results. The absorption of LC-B-NPs mainly depended on OCTN2 transporter, and Na+ played an important role. Caveolin and clathrin were involved in the endocytosis of the two nanoparticles. In conclusion, both B-NPs and LC-B-NPs can improve the oral absorption of JuB, and the modification of LC can effectively target the OCTN2 transporter.

Elucidating the anti-inflammatory activity of platycodins in lung inflammation through pulmonary distribution dynamics and grey relational analysis of cytokines.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Platycodonis Radix (PR) is a traditional herbal remedy used to prevent and treat lung inflammation, and platycodins are speculated to be the major active constituents. However, concrete experimental verification for this assertion remains absent thus far. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aims to compare the pulmonary distribution dynamics of five platycodins and analyze their effects on cytokines. Through the grey relational analysis (GRA) between pulmonary active components and cytokines, the study ascertains platycodins as the potential effective component against lung inflammation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A rat lung inflammation model was created using lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Pulmonary distribution dynamics were analyzed via LC-MS/MS. Cytokine changes and distribution patterns in lung tissues were studied by multi-factor reagent kit. GRA was applied to determine correlations between pulmonary components and cytokines. Finally, the anti-inflammatory properties of platycodins were further studied using LPS-induced BEAS-2B cells in vitro. RESULTS: The results showed that five platycodins (Platycodin D, Platycodin D3, Deapio Platycodin D, 3-O-ß-D-Glucopyranosyl Platycodigenin, and Platycodigenin) featured fast absorption rate, short time to peak, and slow metabolism rate. The pulmonary distribution dynamics were significantly affected within 2 h after LPS modeling. At the same time, PR altered the relationships among different cytokines induced by LPS stimulation, particularly inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IFN-γ. The GRA results indicated good correlation between the pulmonary distribution dynamics of the five platycodins components and the changing patterns of cytokine levels, with Platycodin D3 contributing the most. Additionally, Platycodin D3 exhibited a protective role against LPS-induced inflammation by reducing the production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as IL-1ß, IL-8, and ROS, as well as increasing the expression of the anti-inflammatory mediator IL-10. CONCLUSIONS: Platycodins are the main anti-inflammatory agents in PR and there is a good correlation with cytokines. This contributes to the anti-pneumonia effect of PR.

Postoperative delirium prediction after cardiac surgery using machine learning models.

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common postoperative complication in elderly patients, especially those undergoing cardiac surgery, which seriously affects the short- and long-term prognosis of patients. Early identification of risk factors for the development of POD can help improve the perioperative management of surgical patients. In the present study, five machine learning models were developed to predict patients at high risk of delirium after cardiac surgery and their performance was compared. METHODS: A total of 367 patients who underwent cardiac surgery were retrospectively included in this study. Using single-factor analysis, 21 risk factors for POD were selected for inclusion in machine learning. The dataset was divided using 10-fold cross-validation for model training and testing. Five machine learning models (random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), radial based kernel neural network (RBFNN), K-nearest neighbour (KNN), and Kernel ridge regression (KRR)) were compared using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC), accuracy (ACC), sensitivity (SN), specificity (SPE), and Matthews coefficient (MCC). RESULTS: Among 367 patients, 105 patients developed POD, the incidence of delirium was 28.6 %. Among the five ML models, RF had the best performance in ACC (87.99 %), SN (69.27 %), SPE (95.38 %), MCC (70.00 %) and AUC (0.9202), which was far superior to the other four models. CONCLUSION: Delirium is common in patients after cardiac surgery. This analysis confirms the importance of the computational ML models in predicting the occurrence of delirium after cardiac surgery, especially the outstanding performance of the RF model, which has practical clinical applications for early identification of patients at risk of developing POD.

Pharmacokinetics and Tissue Distribution of Isovitexin-2''-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (IVG) in Sprague-Dawley Rats.

BACKGROUND: Isovitexin-2"-O-D-glucopyranoside (IVG) has been known to exhibit sedative and hypnotic effects. However, there is little understanding of the in vivo pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of IVG. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of IVG. METHODS: The study employed an HPLC-ESI-MS/MS method to analyze the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of IVG. RESULTS: Under mass spectrometry, IVG and internal standard (IS) showed strong negative ionization signals. MRM analysis chose ion transitions m/z 593.3 → 293.0 (IVG) and m/z 579.8 → 271.4 (IS). Method validation indicated high precision, accuracy, and reliability with a quantitation limit under 20 ng/mL. After intravenously administering 5.0 mg/kg of IVG, rapid clearance from rat plasma was observed, with a half-life (t1/2) of 3.49 ± 0.99 h and a clearance rate of 54.53 ± 11.90 mL/kg/h. The area under the curve (AUC0-12h) of 37.79 ± 7.65 µg·h/mL indicated a brisk metabolic rate. Evaluating the tissue distribution, the highest accumulation was seen in the liver (30.32 ± 3.06 µg/g), followed by the kidney (20.58 ± 2.12 µg/g) and intestine (6.69 ± 0.93 µg/g), suggesting a propensity for IVG to concentrate in these tissues. Importantly, the presence of IVG in the brain underlines its potential to traverse the blood-brain barrier. These findings revealed that following intravenous administration, IVG was swiftly and broadly distributed throughout various rat tissues. CONCLUSION: This study provides valuable information on the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of IVG, implicating its potential as a novel and effective drug candidate for sedative and anxiolytic treatment.

Optimization of ultrasonic-assisted extraction of Platycodon grandiflorum polysaccharides and evaluation of its structural, antioxidant and hypoglycemic activity.

The study aimed to improve the extraction rate of Platycodon grandiflorum roots polysaccharides (PGPs) using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). A comparative analysis was undertaken to evaluate polysaccharides content, molecular weight distribution, monosaccharide composition, preliminary structure, antioxidant, and hypoglycemic activity of UAE in comparison with heating water extraction (HWE). The optimum extraction conditions included a liquid-to-material ratio of 20 mL/g, ultrasonic power of 150 W, extraction temperature of 70 ℃, and extraction time of 20 min, resulting in a significantly greater polysaccharides (12.011 ± 0.91 %) compared to HWE (7.62 ± 0.18 %). Through Sephacryl S-100 column elution, two homogenous fraction (PGP-U extracted with UAE and PGP-H extracted with HAE) were obtained. The molecular weight of PGP-U and PGP-H was 3.14 kDa and 3.44 kDa, respectively, mainly composed of different proportions of fourteen monosaccharides. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra experiment results showed that the two polysaccharides were pyranose ring with α- and ß-glycoside bond. PGP-U and PGP-H exhibited specific antioxidant activities, encompassing total reducing force, scavenging of DPPH radicals, ABTs radicals and hydroxyl radicals in vitro, along with mitigation of H2O2-induced damage in HepG2 cells. Moreover, PGP-U exerted significantly stronger inhibitory activities against α-amylase and α-glucosidase and could significantly enhances the glucose uptake capacity and intracellular glycogen content of insulin-resistant HepG2 (IR-HepG2) cells.

Effects of infliximab on oxidative stress and inflammation of H9c2 cells induced by H2O2.

This study investigated the effects of infliximab (INF) on oxidative stress and inflammation in H9c2 cardiomyocytes, aiming to address the damage caused by myocardial infarction (MI). H9c2 cells were divided into three groups: control, H2O2 treatment, and H2O2+INF. Cell viability was assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Protein expression of SOD1, SOD2, TNF-α, and IL-1ß was examined through Western blot, while mRNA expression was analyzed via polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured, and IL-1ß immunofluorescence was utilized to observe inflammation. The expression of IκB-α and IκKα was evaluated to investigate the mechanism of action. INF significantly improved H9c2 cell viability and reduced LDH and MDA levels in the supernatant. Moreover, INF enhanced the expression of SOD1 and SOD2, reducing ROS production. In comparison to the H2O2 group, TNF-α and IL-1ß expression markedly decreased in the H2O2+INF group. Additionally, the fluorescence intensity of IL-1ß immunofluorescence was higher in the H2O2+INF group. INF treatment decreased TNF-α and IL-1ß expression and reduced IL-1ß fluorescence intensity. Furthermore, INF increased IκB-α expression and decreased IκKα expression, suggesting inhibition of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway. In summary, INF effectively suppressed H2O2-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in H9c2 cells by targeting the NF-κB pathway.

Natural Products: A Potential New Hope to Defeat Post-acute Sequelae of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic was the most significant public healthcare crisis worldwide. It was estimated that 80% of infected patients with COVID-19 have not fully recovered and developed one or more long-term symptoms, referred to as post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). Seeking a treatment strategy for PASC has become a concerning topic since the sequelae can cause irreversible multiple organ damage and can severely compromise quality of life. It is indicated that PASC may be closely related to lung injury-induced hypoxia, excessive immune response, cytokine storm, gut bacteria imbalance, and endothelial dysfunction. Also, more and more research has indicated that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 and vanillin 1 (TRPA1/V1), and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) can be considered as the targets to treat PASC. There is currently still no proven medication for PASC due to its complexity. Many clinical practices and studies have shown that natural products have great potential in preventing and treating PASC. Therefore, we intended to provide a comprehensive review of the current literature on PASC and the role of natural ingredients in PASC management. Meanwhile, this review provided meaningful insight for further study of natural ingredients to improve PASC and its clinical application.

Nexus between information and communication technology, social capital, and sustainable development: the leading role of terrorism and financial development.

Even though the existing studies have extensively investigated the impacts of information and communication technology and social capital on sustainable development, the literature overlooks the role of their interaction effect in the level of emissions. To fill this gap in the existing body of ICT-environment literature, this article analyzes the impact of ICT, social capital, terrorism, and income on sustainable development using panel data model for Asian and Middle East countries from 2005 to 2022. The findings show that ICT and education significantly reduce CO2 emissions, while income increases the CO2 emissions. Moreover, innovation, trade, and financial development reduce the CO2 emission from increased ICT. The findings suggest that ICT is an important factor in increasing income and social capital and improving investment in sustainable development. The region's economies have far more serious consequences for internet users than those of Asian countries. Nonetheless, according to the policy recommendations of this study, governments in Asia and the Middle East should invest more in technology and other systems to take advantage of technology and achieve sustainable development.

Core-shell cisplatin/SiO2 nanocapsules combined with PTC-209 overcome chemotherapy-Acquired and intrinsic resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The primary cause of cisplatin resistance in liver cancer is reduced intracellular drug accumulation and altered DNA repair/apoptosis signaling. Existing strategies to reverse cisplatin resistance have limited efficacy, as they target individual factors. This study proposes a drug delivery system consisting of a cisplatin core, a silica shell with a tetra-sulfide bond, and a PEG-coated surface (Core/shell-PGCN). The system is designed to consume glutathione (GSH) and reduce cisplatin excretion from cells, thereby overcoming acquired cisplatin resistance. In addition, Core/shell-PGCN incorporates PTC-209 (Core/shell-PGCN@PTC-209), a Bmi1 inhibitor that suppresses liver cancer stem cells (CSC), to mitigate DNA repair/apoptosis signaling and reverse intrinsic cisplatin resistance. In vivo and in vitro results demonstrate that Core/shell-PGCN@PTC-209 can comprehensively regulate GSH and CSC, reverse intrinsic and acquired cisplatin resistance, and enhance the efficacy of cisplatin in treating liver cancer. This "inner cultivation, outer action" approach may offer a new strategy for reversing cisplatin resistance in liver cancer. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Cisplatin resistance is widely observed in liver cancer (HCC) chemotherapy, with two mechanisms identified: acquired and intrinsic. Most strategies aimed at overcoming cisplatin resistance focus on a single perspective. This study introduces a core-shell drug delivery system (DDS) combined with HCC stem cell inhibitors, which can effectively address cisplatin resistance in HCC by targeting both acquisition and internality. Specifically, the core-shell drug delivery system can impede cisplatin efflux by neutralizing the acquired resistance factor (GSH), thus overcoming acquired resistance. Additionally, HCC stem cell inhibitors can reverse intrinsic resistance by inhibiting HCC stem cells. Therefore, this study contributes to the application of DDS in combating drug resistance in HCC and enhances its potential for clinical implementation.

Platycodonis Radix Alleviates LPS-Induced Lung Inflammation through Modulation of TRPA1 Channels.

Platycodonis Radix (PR), a widely consumed herbal food, and its bioactive constituents, platycodins, have therapeutic potential for lung inflammation. Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), which is essential for the control of inflammation, may be involved in the development of inflammation in the lungs. The aim of this study was to determine the TRPA1-targeted effects of PR against pulmonary inflammation and to investigate the affinity of PR constituents for TRPA1 and their potential mechanisms of action. Using a C57BL/6J mouse lipopolysaccharides (LPS) intratracheal instillation pneumonia model and advanced analytical techniques (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, molecular docking, immuno-fluorescence), five platycodins were isolated from PR, and the interaction between these platycodins and hTRPA1 was verified. Additionally, we analyzed the impact of platycodins on LPS-induced TRPA1 expression and calcium influx in BEAS-2B cells. The results indicated that PR treatment significantly reduced the severity of LPS-triggered inflammation in the mouse model. Interestingly, there was a mild increase in the expression of TRPA1 caused by PR in healthy mice. Among five isolated platycodins identified in the PR extract, Platycodin D3 (PD3) showed the highest affinity for hTRPA1. The interaction between platycodins and TRPA1 was verified through molecular docking methods, highlighting the significance of the S5-S6 pore-forming loop in TRPA1 and the unique structural attributes of platycodins. Furthermore, PD3 significantly reduced LPS-induced TRPA1 expression and calcium ion influx in BEAS-2B cells, substantiating its own role as an effective TRPA1 modulator. In conclusion, PR and platycodins, especially PD3, show promise as potential lung inflammation therapeutics. Further research should explore the precise mechanisms by which platycodins modulate TRPA1 and their broader therapeutic potential.

Ion irradiation of monolayer graphene-Nd:YAG hybrid waveguides: fabrication and laser.

Hybrid waveguides consisting of two-dimensional layered materials pad on the surface of optical waveguides suffer from a nonuniform and loose contact between the two-dimensional material and the waveguide, which can reduce the efficiency of the pulsed laser. Here, we present high-performance passively Q-switched pulsed lasers in three distinct structures of monolayer graphene-Nd:YAG hybrid waveguides irradiated by energetic ions. The ion irradiation enables the monolayer graphene a tight contact and strong coupling with the waveguide. As a result, Q-switched pulsed lasers with narrow pulse width and high repetition rate are obtained in three designed hybrid waveguides. The narrowest pulse width is 43.6 ns, provided by the ion-irradiated Y-branch hybrid waveguide. This study paves the way toward developing on-chip laser sources based on hybrid waveguides by using ion irradiation.

Bioinformatic analysis of hub markers and immune cell infiltration characteristics of gastric cancer.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Due to the lack of specific markers, the early diagnosis of gastric cancer is very low, and most patients with gastric cancer are diagnosed at advanced stages. The aim of this study was to identify key biomarkers of GC and to elucidate GC-associated immune cell infiltration and related pathways. Methods: Gene microarray data associated with GC were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed using Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Gene and Genome Encyclopedia, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) networks. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm were used to identify pivotal genes for GC and to assess the diagnostic accuracy of GC hub markers using the subjects' working characteristic curves. In addition, the infiltration levels of 28 immune cells in GC and their interrelationship with hub markers were analyzed using ssGSEA. And further validated by RT-qPCR. Results: A total of 133 DEGs were identified. The biological functions and signaling pathways closely associated with GC were inflammatory and immune processes. Nine expression modules were obtained by WGCNA, with the pink module having the highest correlation with GC; 13 crossover genes were obtained by combining DEGs. Subsequently, the LASSO algorithm and validation set verification analysis were used to finally identify three hub genes as potential biomarkers of GC. In the immune cell infiltration analysis, infiltration of activated CD4 T cell, macrophages, regulatory T cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cells was more significant in GC. The validation part demonstrated that three hub genes were expressed at lower levels in the gastric cancer cells. Conclusion: The use of WGCNA combined with the LASSO algorithm to identify hub biomarkers closely related to GC can help to elucidate the molecular mechanism of GC development and is important for finding new immunotherapeutic targets and disease prevention.

Three acidic polysaccharides derived from sour jujube seeds protect intestinal epithelial barrier function in LPS induced Caco-2 cell inflammation model.

Normal intestinal epithelial barrier function plays a key role in the prevention of many diseases such as infectious enteritis, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, etc. In this study, three novel acidic polysaccharides ZY-2, ZY-3 and ZY-4 were isolated from sour jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. Spinosa) seeds and purified by DEAE Sephrose Fast Flow gel. The molecular weight of ZY-2, ZY-3 and ZY-4 was 7.76 kDa, 10.71 kDa and 8.31 kDa respectively, mainly composed of different proportions of mannose, rhamnose, glucose, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, galactose, xylose and arabinose. 1H NMR and Congo red experiment results showed that the three polysaccharides mainly contained both α-type and ß-type glycosidic bonds with obvious triple helix structural traits. The polysaccharides could up-regulate the expression levels of occludin and ZO-1 in LPS-induced inflammation Caco-2 cells, and reduce IL-6, IL-8, IL-1ß and TNF-α significantly. In conclusion, the acidic polysaccharides from sour jujube seeds exhibited great potential in protection intestinal epithelial barrier function through anti-inflammatory effects.

A phycoerythrin isolated from Rhodomonas salina induces apoptosis via ERK/Bak and JNK/Caspase-3 pathway in A549 cells.

Rhodomonas salina, Cryptophyta, Rhodomonas genus, is a valuable source for live feed in aquaculture and for the production of phycoerythrin (PE). In this study, PE was extracted from Rhodomonas salina and characterized as having a molecular weight of approximately 24 kDa, an absorbance at 545 nm, and a purity of up to 6.61 (which meets reagent grade requirements with an OD545/OD280 ratio >4). The effects of PE on anticancer activity and its underlying mechanisms were evaluated to assess the immunomodulatory potential on the human lung cancer A549 cell line. Biochemical assays and western blot analysis were applied to confirm the immune mechanisms. The results showed that after 24 h of exposure to PE, the proliferation of A549 cells was significantly and dose-dependently decreased. PE also caused the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). The further results showed that PE can remarkably enhance the protein levels of cleaved caspase-3 and p53. Simultaneously, the BCL-2 family was also affected and had some changes, such as the dramatically enhance of Bim and Bak and the decrease of Bcl-2 level. However, it is interesting to note that there was no apparent alteration in Bax expression during the experiment. Furthermore, the biological mechanism for the potential of PE to induce apoptosis showed that the ERK/Bak and the JNK/caspase-3 signaling pathway were activated. This study provides evidence that the anticancer activity of PE in Rhodomonas salina may have potential for preventing cancer and serving as a novel immunostimulant in the pharmaceutical industry.

Genetic modification of acetogens and optimization of fermentation process in C1-gas bioconversion / 生物工程学报

The current linear economy model relies on fossil energy and increases CO2 emissions, which contributes to global warming and environmental pollution. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop and deploy technologies for carbon capture and utilization to establish a circular economy. The use of acetogens for C1-gas (CO and CO2) conversion is a promising technology due to high metabolic flexibility, product selectivity, and diversity of the products including chemicals and fuels. This review focuses on the physiological and metabolic mechanisms, genetic and metabolic engineering modifications, fermentation process optimization, and carbon atom economy in the process of C1-gas conversion by acetogens, with the aim to facilitate the industrial scale-up and carbon negative production through acetogen gas fermentation.

Severe pediatric oral mucositis.

We initially suspected primary herpetic gingivostomatitis. But the patient's lab work, persistent fever, and cough led us in a different direction.

Using a machine learning-based risk prediction model to analyze the coronary artery calcification score and predict coronary heart disease and risk assessment.

OBJECTIVES: To calculate the coronary artery calcification score (CACS) obtained from coronary artery computed tomography angiography (CCTA) examination and combine it with the influencing factors of coronary artery calcification (CAC), which is then analyzed by machine learning (ML) to predict the probability of coronary heart disease(CHD). METHODS: All patients who were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Southwest Medical University from January 2019 to March 2022, suspected of CHD, and underwent CCTA inspection were retrospectively selected. The degree of CAC was quantified based on the Agatston score. To compare the correlation between the CACS and clinical-related factors, we collected 31 variables, including hypertension, diabetes, smoking, hyperlipidemia, among others. ML models containing the random forest (RF), radial basis function neural network (RBFNN),support vector machine (SVM),K-Nearest Neighbor algorithm (KNN) and kernel ridge regression (KRR) were used to assess the risk of CHD based on CACS and clinical-related factors. RESULTS: Among the five ML models, RF achieves the best performance about accuracy (ACC) (78.96%), sensitivity (SN) (93.86%), specificity(Spe) (51.13%), and Matthew's correlation coefficient (MCC) (0.5192).It also has the best area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) (0.8375), which is far superior to the other four ML models. CONCLUSION: Computer ML model analysis confirmed the importance of CACS in predicting the occurrence of CHD, especially the outstanding RF model, making it another advancement of the ML model in the field of medical analysis.

The value of routine blood-borne virus testing in the intensive care unit.

Background: ICU patients may require renal replacement therapy (RRT). Sharing RRT equipment carries a risk of BBV transmission, which mainly relates to Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV. Since 2012, all Glasgow Royal Infirmary ICU patients undergo routine BBV screening, with RRT machines allocated for patients with specific BBV statuses. Routine BBV testing is beneficial to both the individual and society. This study aims to determine if routine BBV testing in the ICU contributes to the discovery of undiagnosed BBV infections. Methods: This single-centre retrospective observational study examined prospectively collected clinical data from 1069 ICU admissions. Proportions were compared using a two-proportion z-test and a logistic regression model was carried out to determine if deprivation quintile was independently associated with the seroprevalence of BBVs. Results: The BBV seroprevalence in the cohort studied: 0.45% (HBV), 11.7% (HCV), and 0.91% (HIV). The seroprevalence of HBV in the cohort studied was similar to that of Scotland (p = 0.11), but the seroprevalence of HCV (p < 0.001) and HIV (p = 0.01) were significantly higher than that of Scotland. The relationship between deprivation and BBV seroprevalence was explored for HCV only. The only independent variable associated with a reactive anti-HCV test result was "current or previous illicit drug use" (adjusted odds ratio of 40.2; 95% confidence interval of 21.1-76.4; p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study shows that routine BBV testing in the ICU is useful in discovering new BBV infections. This is the first observational study focusing on the value of routine BBV testing in an ICU setting to our knowledge.