Shrimp hemocyanin elicits a potent humoral response in mammals and is favorable to hapten conjugation.

Conjugation to a carrier protein is essential to give rise to the antigenicity of hapten. Three carrier proteins e.g. KLH (Keyhole Limpet hemocyanin), BSA (bovine serum albumin), and OVA (Ovalbumin) were used mostly. KLH is advantageous to the others, majorly owing to its strong immunogenicity and limited usage in other biological assays. However, the cost of obtaining Keyhole Limpet is high and the solubility of KLH is not as well as the other carriers, especially after hapten conjugation. Here, we extracted the shrimp hemocyanin (SHC) from Litopenaeus vannamei (L. vannamei), which is a commonly sea product worldwide. The high pure SHC could be acquired by two-step purification, with a production yield of > 1 g proteins (98% pure) per 1 kg shrimp. Compared to KLH, the peptide-SHC conjugates exhibit higher solubility after hapten conjugation. Meanwhile, compared with KLH, SHC induces comparable antibody production efficiency in mammals, with or without conjugation. Furthermore, rabbit polyclonal antibodies or mouse monoclonal antibodies were generated by immunizing SHC-peptide conjugates, and the subsequent antibodies were confirmed to be used in western blot, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. Therefore, we demonstrated that SHC may be used as a substitute for KLH in future antibody and vaccine development.

In Silico Screening of Bioactive Peptides in Stout Beer and Analysis of ACE Inhibitory Activity.

Stout beer was selected as the research object to screen angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides. The peptide sequences of stout beer were identified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometry with de novo, and 41 peptides were identified with high confidence. Peptide Ranker was used to score the biological activity and six peptides with a score ≥ 0.5 were screened to predict their potential ACE inhibitory (ACEI) activity. The toxicity, hydrophilicity, absorption, and excretion of these peptides were predicted. In addition, molecular docking between the peptides and ACE revealed a significant property of the peptide DLGGFFGFQR. Furthermore, molecular docking conformation and molecular dynamics simulation revealed that DLGGFFGFQR could be tightly bound to ACE through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction. Lastly, the ACEI activity of DLGGFFGFQR was confirmed using in vitro evaluation and the IC50 value was determined to be 24.45 µM.

Stress-Corrosion-Cracking Sensitivity of the Sub-Zones in X80 Steel Welded Joints at Different Potentials.

X80 steel plays a pivotal role in the development of oil and gas pipelines; however, its welded joints, particularly the heat-affected zone (HAZ), are susceptible to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) due to their complex microstructures. This study investigates the SCC initiation mechanisms of X80 steel welded joints under practical pipeline conditions with varying levels of cathodic protection. The SCC behaviors were analyzed through electrochemical measurements, hydrogen permeation tests, and interrupted slow strain rate tensile tests (SSRTs) conducted in a near-neutral pH environment under different potential conditions (OCP, -1.1 VSCE, -1.2 VSCE). These behaviors were influenced by microstructure type, grain size, martensite/austenite (M/A) constituents, and dislocation density. The sub-zones of the weld exhibited differing SCC resistance, with the fine-grain (FG) HAZ, base metal (zone), welded metal (WM) zone, and coarse-grain (CG) HAZ in descending order. In particular, the presence of coarse grains, low dislocation density, and extensive M/A islands collectively increased corrosion susceptibility and SCC sensitivity in the CGHAZ compared to other sub-zones. The SCC initiation mechanisms of the sub-zones within the X80-steel welded joint were primarily anodic dissolution (AD) under open-circuit potential (OCP) condition, shifting to either hydrogen-enhanced local plasticity (HELP) or hydrogen embrittlement (HE) mechanisms at -1.1 VSCE or -1.2 VSCE, respectively.

How does digitalization affect the green transformation of enterprises registered in China's resource-based cities? Further analysis on the mechanism and heterogeneity.

Digitalization, as a crucial engine for promoting sustainable development, has created new prospects for enterprise green transformation. Utilizing panel data from enterprises registered in China's resource-based cities from 2010 to 2021, this study innovatively examines the role of digitalization in promoting green transformation across two key performance dimensions. The findings indicate that enterprise digitalization significantly enhances the green innovation performance, while its impact on environmental performance, although positive, is not statistically significant. Overall, enterprise digitalization greatly facilitates green transformation. Moreover, mechanism analysis reveals that enterprise digitalization promotes green transformation through the alleviation of financial mismatch and the increase of external market attention. In addition, heterogeneity analysis shows that the effectiveness of enterprise digitalization in promoting green transformation is significantly different in different opportunist risk scenarios, proving more effective in areas with low-marketization, high-competition industries, and high environmental regulation intensity. In terms of the policy level, the National Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Zone (NBDCPZ) and the Carbon Emission Trading Policy (CETP) played a positive stimulating role in the process of enterprise digitalization affecting green transformation. This paper broadens the scope of research on green transformation, offers new development philosophy for enterprises in resource-based cities, and provides new directions for the synergistic development of digitalization and greenization.

Fostering inclusive green growth in China: Identifying the impact of the regional integration strategy of Yangtze River Economic Belt.

Inclusive green growth has garnered significant attention from governments and international organizations worldwide. Utilizing data from 282 cities in China spanning from 2010 to 2020, this study employs the dual machine learning model and the chain mediated effect model to delve into the effects and internal mechanisms of the regional integration of Yangtze River Economic Belt on inclusive green growth. Our findings indicate that the regional integration of Yangtze River Economic Belt has a substantial influence on inclusive green growth, particularly in cities with a higher degree of marketization, non-industrial cities, and cities lacking natural resource advantages. Mechanistic analysis reveals that the regional integration of Yangtze River Economic Belt exerts its influence on inclusive green growth through three parallel development paths including enhancing urban innovation levels, fostering mass entrepreneurship, and promoting the advancement of digital financial inclusion. Furthermore, the chain mediated effect is supported. Additionally, the spatial spillover effect of target policy is observed. These findings offer empirical evidence regarding the impact of the regional integration of Yangtze River Economic Belt on inclusive green growth, and provide valuable insights for optimizing and enhancing inclusive green growth strategies in China and other emerging economies.

The Efficacy of Chaihu-Guizhi-Ganjiang Decoction on Chronic Non-Atrophic Gastritis with Gallbladder Heat and Spleen Cold Syndrome and Its Metabolomic Analysis: An Observational Controlled Before-After Clinical Trial.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to verify the effectiveness and explore the mechanism of Chaihu-Guizhi-Ganjiang decoction (CGGD) in the treatment of chronic non-atrophic gastritis (CNAG) with gallbladder heat and spleen cold syndrome (GHSC) by metabolomics based on UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS. Patients and Methods: An observational controlled before-after study was conducted to verify the effectiveness of CGGD in the treatment of CNAG with GHSC from January to June 2023, enrolling 27 patients, who took CGGD for 28 days. 30 healthy volunteers were enrolled as the controls. The efficacy was evaluated by comparing the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome and CNAG scores, and clinical parameters before and after treatment. The plasma levels of hormones related to gastrointestinal function were collected by ELISA. The mechanisms of CGGD in the treatment of CNAG with GHSC were explored using a metabolomic approach based on UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS. Results: Patients treated with CGGD experienced a statistically significant improvement in TCM syndrome and CNAG scores (p < 0.01). CGGD treatment evoked the concentration alteration of 15 biomarkers, which were enriched in the glycerophospholipid metabolism, and branched-chain amino acids biosynthesis pathways. Moreover, CGGD treatment attenuated the abnormalities of the gastrointestinal hormone levels and significantly increased the pepsinogen level. Conclusion: It was the first time that this clinical trial presented detailed data on the clinical parameters that demonstrated the effectiveness of CGGD in the treatment of CNAG with GHSC patients. This study also provided supportive evidence that CNAG with GHSC patients were associated with disturbed branched-chain amino acid metabolism and glycerophospholipid levels, suggesting that CNAG treatment based on TCM syndrome scores was reasonable and also provided a potential pharmacological mechanism of action of CGGD.

Dialysis bag-microalgae photobioreactor: Novel strategy for enhanced bioresource production and wastewater purification.

Cultivating microalgae in wastewater offers various advantages, but it still faces limitations such as bacteria and other impurities in wastewater affecting the growth and purity of microalgae, difficulty in microalgae harvesting, and extracellular products of microalgae affecting effluent quality. In this study, a novel dialysis bag-microalgae photobioreactor (Db-PBR) was developed to achieve wastewater purification and purer bioresource recovery by culturing microalgae in a dialysis bag. The dialysis bag in the Db-PBR effectively captured the microalgae cells and promoted their lipid accumulation, leading to higher biomass (1.53 times of the control) and lipid production (2.50 times of the control). During the stable operation stage of Db-PBR, the average soluble microbial products (SMP) content outside the dialysis bag was 25.83 mg L-1, which was significantly lower than that inside the dialysis bag (185.63 mg L-1), indicating that the dialysis bag effectively intercepted the SMP secreted by microalgae. As a result, the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in Db-PBR effluent was significantly lower than that of traditional photobioreactor. Furthermore, benefiting from the dialysis bag in the reactor effectively intercepted the microorganisms in wastewater, significantly improving the purity of the cultured microalgae biomass, which is beneficial for the development of high-value microalgae products.

Impact of traditional Chinese Baduanjin exercise on menstrual health among international female students studying in China: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Menstrual symptoms were the common complaints of international female students during the acculturation period, and the symptoms negatively affected the daily life and school performance of those women. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the traditional Chinese Baduanjin exercise on reducing menstrual symptoms for international female students studying in China during the acculturation period. Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial among 62 international female students who suffered menstrual symptoms during the first 6 months after arriving in China. The study was carried out at three campuses of the two largest universities in the capital of a province in south-central China from March to October 2021. After screening, participants were randomly assigned to a control or intervention group. The intervention group engaged in 24 weeks of Baduanjin exercise for at least 30 min per day. The menstrual symptoms, sociocultural adaptation, perceived stress, and sleep quality were evaluated at baseline, the 12th week, and the 24th week. The chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, paired sample t-test, and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA)were adopted to analyze the data using SPSS 25.0. Results: Totally, 62 participants were enrolled in this study from 30 countries. Their mean age was 27.87 ± 5.58 years. None of the participants reported an adverse event. The results of the MANOVA test showed that the traditional Chinese Baduanjin exercise reduced the total score of MSQ among international female students (intervention: 47.83 ± 8.71 vs. control: 65.12 ± 16.86; F = 19.49, P < 0.01). In addition, the results of the MANOVA indicated statistically significant decreases in scores for the two subscales of MSQ: premenstrual symptoms (intervention: 17.07 ± 3.33 vs. control: 28.42 ± 7.56; F = 44.70, P < 0.01)and menstrual pain (16.03 ± 4.53 vs. 19.58 ± 5.14; F = 6.50, P < 0.05). Moreover, the results showed that traditional Chinese Baduanjin exercise reduced the scores of the sociocultural adaptation level, the perceived stress level, and sleep quality and improved the blood progesterone hormone and blood estrogen hormone. Conclusion: Regular Baduanjin exercise is a safe, acceptable, and effective form of exercise to promote international female students' menstrual health, reduce stress levels, and improve sleep quality. Trial registration: www.chictr.org.cn, Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2300072376.

Transmission risk of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Global evidence on the transmission of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection needs to be synthesized. Methods: A search of 4 electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases) as of January 24, 2021 was performed. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Studies which reported the transmission rate among close contacts with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 cases were included, and transmission activities occurred were considered. The transmission rates were pooled by zero-inflated beta distribution. The risk ratios (RRs) were calculated using random-effects models. Results: Of 4923 records retrieved and reviewed, 15 studies including 3917 close contacts with asymptomatic indexes were eligible. The pooled transmission rates were 1.79 per 100 person-days (or 1.79%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.41%-3.16%) by asymptomatic index, which is significantly lower than by presymptomatic (5.02%, 95% CI 2.37%-7.66%; p<0.001), and by symptomatic (5.27%, 95% CI 2.40%-8.15%; p<0.001). Subgroup analyses showed that the household transmission rate of asymptomatic index was (4.22%, 95% CI 0.91%-7.52%), four times significantly higher than non-household transmission (1.03%, 95% CI 0.73%-1.33%; p=0.03), and the asymptomatic transmission rate in China (1.82%, 95% CI 0.11%-3.53%) was lower than in other countries (2.22%, 95% CI 0.67%-3.77%; p=0.01). Conclusions: People with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection are at risk of transmitting the virus to their close contacts, particularly in household settings. The transmission potential of asymptomatic infection is lower than symptomatic and presymptomatic infections. This meta-analysis provides evidence for predicting the epidemic trend and promulgating vaccination and other control measures. Registered with PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews, CRD42021269446; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=269446.

The relationship between social support and depression among HIV-positive men who have sex with men in China: the chain mediating role of psychological flexibility and hope.

Introduction: HIV and mental health problems are a global syndemic. One key issue is that the significant mental health problems among people vulnerable to acquiring or living with HIV have not been fully addressed. Access to social support has been one of the biggest challenges for HIV-positive men who have sex with men (HIV+ MSM). Lower social support has been linked to more severe depression symptoms. However, the mechanisms underlying the association between social support and depression in HIV+ MSM are unclear. Two possible mediators include hope and psychological flexibility. This study aimed to examine the relationship between social support and depression in HIV+ MSM and to explore the single mediating effects of hope and psychological flexibility and the chain mediating effect of these two variables on this relationship. Methods: A convenience sample was used to recruit participants from the designated HIV/AIDS hospital in Changsha city, Hunan Province of China. A total of 290 HIV+ MSM completed questionnaires. Results: Our findings showed that hope mediated the relationship between social support and depression in HIV+ MSM. Furthermore, the chain mediation model confirmed a direct negative association between social support and depression, but this relationship was largely mediated by the chain effects of hope and psychological flexibility. Conclusions: Integrating hope and psychological flexibility into interventions may provide better mental health support for HIV+ MSM and improve their wellbeing and quality of life.

Effect of different catheter pathways on wounds after minimally invasive radical prostatectomy: A meta-analysis.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide and the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in men. With the rapidly increasing surgical rate of minimally invasive radical prostatectomy, there is still controversy about how to use a urinary catheter post-operatively. Thus, we attempted to compare the post-operative wound-related outcomes through a meta-analysis of urethral catheterisation (UC) versus suprapubic catheterisation (SPC) after minimally invasive radical prostatectomy. As of August 2023, the authors conducted systematic searches in databases such as PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library. The authors reviewed the relevant literature separately to determine comparisons between SPC and UC treatment after radical prostatectomy. A total of 395 subjects were enrolled in the five trials, met the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Data collection and analysis revealed significant differences in catheter bother to patients for surgical trauma (MD, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.48, 1.48 p = 0.0001), with SPC causing less catheter bother to patients post-operatively; post-operative catheter-related problems (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 0.03, 326.1 p = 0.61), the POD1 of the post-operative period (MD, - 0.09; 95% CI, -0.75, 0.94 p = 0.83) and the POD3 of the post-operative period (MD, -0.49; 95% CI, -0.99, 0.01 p = 0.06); there was no statistically significant difference in wound pain. Compared with UC, SPC patients had less post-operative catheter distress. Thus, SPC is more beneficial in reducing post-operative wound discomfort in patients. The validity of the results remains to be tested in more and better studies.

Prevalence of delayed antiretroviral therapy initiation among people living with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: HIV continues to be a global challenge. Key recommendations for HIV prevention and treatment are presented on rapid antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation. However, several studies showed a high prevalence of delayed ART initiation. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the prevalence of delayed ART initiation among HIV-infected patients globally. METHODS: This review summarised eligible studies conducted between January 2015 and August 2022 on the prevalence of delayed ART initiation in HIV-infected adults (age ≥ 15). Relevant studies were systematic searched through PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and Chongqing VIP databases. Random-effects models were used to calculate pooled prevalence estimates. The heterogeneity was evaluated using Cochran's Q test and I2 statistics. Moreover, potential sources of heterogeneity were explored using univariate subgroup analysis. RESULTS: Data on the prevalence of delayed ART initiation was pooled across 29 studies involving 34,937 participants from 15 countries. The overall pooled prevalence of delayed ART initiation was 36.1% [95% confidence interval (CI), 29.7-42.5%]. In subgroup analysis, the estimated pooled prevalence decreased with age. By sex, the prevalence was higher among male patients (39.3%, 95% CI: 32.2-46.4%) than female (36.5%, 95% CI: 26.9-50.7%). Patients with high CD4 cell count were more likely to delay ART initiation than those with low CD4 cell count (>500cells/mm3: 40.3%; 201-500cells/mm3: 33.4%; and ≤200cells/mm3: 25.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Our systematic review and meta-analysis identified a high prevalence of delayed ART initiation. The prolonged time interval between diagnosis and treatment is a prevalent and unaddressed problem that should spur initiatives from countries globally. Further research is urgently needed to identify effective strategies for promoting the early ART initiation.

Relationships of person-related, problem-related, and environment-related factors to self-care behaviours and the mediating role of self-confidence among patients with heart failure: Cross-sectional analysis of structural equation modelling.

BACKGROUND: Promoting self-care behaviours in heart failure management is an important goal and challenge for healthcare systems worldwide. Using the situation-specific theory of heart failure self-care, this study examined the relationships of person-related, problem-related, and environment-related factors to self-care behaviours and the mediating role of self-care confidence in these relationships. METHOD: We analysed the baseline data from a previous randomised controlled trial study involving 213 patients with heart failure. Structural equation modelling was used to test our hypothesised model that included age, income, education, depression, anxiety, number of comorbidities, social support, self-care confidence, and self-care behaviours. Depression and anxiety were measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Social support was measured by the Short Form of the Social Support Questionnaire satisfaction subscale. The Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (version 6.2) was used to assess self-care confidence and self-care behaviours (i.e., self-care maintenance and self-care management). RESULT: The final model included age, depression, social support, and self-care confidence as independent variables. Age had a direct relationship with self-care maintenance (ß = 0.235, p < 0.001) but not self-care management (ß = 0.067, p = 0.179); better social support was directly associated with higher levels of self-care confidence (ß = 0.267, p < 0.001); and higher levels of self-care confidence were associated with better self-care maintenance (ß = 0.573, p < 0.001) and self-care management (ß = 0.683, p < 0.001). The result showed an indirect relationship between social support and self-care maintenance through the mediator of self-care confidence (ß = 0.153, p < 0.001), as well as an indirect relationship between social support and self-care management through self-care confidence (ß = 0.182, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Satisfactory social support can increase self-care confidence, thereby increasing self-care maintenance and management. The findings of this study also implied that self-care maintenance can increase with increasing age. Future interventions directly targeting assessment and management of self-care confidence, available social support, and the age of patients may help enhance their heart failure self-care behaviours.

Mannose antagonizes GSDME-mediated pyroptosis through AMPK activated by metabolite GlcNAc-6P.

Pyroptosis is a type of regulated cell death executed by gasdermin family members. However, how gasdermin-mediated pyroptosis is negatively regulated remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that mannose, a hexose, inhibits GSDME-mediated pyroptosis by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Mechanistically, mannose metabolism in the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway increases levels of the metabolite N-acetylglucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcNAc-6P), which binds AMPK to facilitate AMPK phosphorylation by LKB1. Activated AMPK then phosphorylates GSDME at Thr6, which leads to blockade of caspase-3-induced GSDME cleavage, thereby repressing pyroptosis. The regulatory role of AMPK-mediated GSDME phosphorylation was further confirmed in AMPK knockout and GSDMET6E or GSDMET6A knock-in mice. In mouse primary cancer models, mannose administration suppressed pyroptosis in small intestine and kidney to alleviate cisplatin- or oxaliplatin-induced tissue toxicity without impairing antitumor effects. The protective effect of mannose was also verified in a small group of patients with gastrointestinal cancer who received normal chemotherapy. Our study reveals a novel mechanism whereby mannose antagonizes GSDME-mediated pyroptosis through GlcNAc-6P-mediated activation of AMPK, and suggests the utility of mannose supplementation in alleviating chemotherapy-induced side effects in clinic applications.

Condom-Related Stigma Scale among Men Who Have Sex with Men in China: Development and Psychometric Tests.

Condom-related stigma is a frequently mentioned barrier to consistent condom use among men who have sex with men (MSM). Based on the concept and operational definition of condom-related stigma recently defined by our team, we developed the 20-item condom-related stigma scale (CRSS) and examined its psychometric properties among 433 MSM in China, following DeVellis's scale development guidelines. The content validity, convergent validity, empirical validity, factorial validity, scale score reliability, split-half reliability, and test-retest reliability for the CRSS were all assessed. The scale consists of four domains: perceived distrust, perceived potential HIV/STI risk, perceived embarrassment, and perceived violation of the traditional understanding of sexual intercourse. The CRSS has good validity (the scale-level content validity index was 0.99; the empirical validity was greater than 0.70) and high reliability (the Cronbach's alpha coefficient overall was 0.926; the split-half reliability overall was 0.795; the test-retest reliability overall was 0.950). This scale is recommended for assessing the level of condom-related stigma among Chinese MSM, which can serve as an evaluating indicator for safer-sex interventions to prevent HIV infection among the MSM population in a Chinese cultural context.

Self-efficacy mediates the effect of providing HIV self-testing kits on HIV testing frequency among Chinese men who have sex with men: results from a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: HIV self-testing (HIVST) could promote HIV tests; however, knowledge about the mechanisms by which providing HIVST kits impacts the uptake of HIV testing is limited. This study aimed to examine how self-efficacy mediates the association between providing HIVST kits and HIV testing frequency. METHODS: In this randomised controlled trial, HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM) were recruited in China and randomly assigned 1:1 into intervention and control groups. MSM in the control group could access site-based HIV testing services (SBHT). MSM in the intervention group could access SBHTs plus free HIVST kits. HIV testing self-efficacy, number of SBHTs, number of HIVSTs, and the total number of HIV tests were assessed every 3months for 1year. RESULTS: Data from 216 MSM (intervention group: 110; control group: 106) were included in analysis. Results from Pearson's correlations and point-biserial correlations showed that participants with higher self-efficacy scores underwent a higher number of HIV tests (r =0.241, P <0.001), more HIVSTs (r =0.162, P <0.001), and more SBHTs (r =0.138, P <0.001). Bootstrap tests using PROCESS indicated self-efficacy partially mediated the effect of providing HIVST on the number of HIVSTs (indirect effect: 0.018, 95% bias-corrected confidence interval [BC CI]: 0.003-0.035; direct effect: 0.440, 95% BC CI: 0.366-0.513) and on total HIV tests (indirect effect 0.053 (0.030-0.787); direct effect 0.452 (0.365-0.539)), and completely mediated the effect of providing HIVST on the number of SBHTs (indirect effect 0.035 (0.019-0.056); direct effect 0.012 (-0.059 to 0.083)). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicated self-efficacy mediated the effect of HIVST provision on HIV testing frequency, suggesting improving self-efficacy might be an effective way to promote HIV testing among Chinese MSM.

[Factors influencing the efficacy of initial adrenocorticotropic hormone therapy for infantile epileptic spasms syndrome]. / é¦–æ¬¡ä¿ƒè‚¾ä¸Šè ºçš®è´¨æ¿€ç´ æ²»ç–—å©´å„¿ç™«ç—«ç—‰æŒ›ç»¼åˆå¾ç–—æ•ˆçš„å½±å“å› ç´ åˆ†æž.

OBJECTIVES: To study the factors influencing the short-term (28 days) efficacy of initial adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) therapy for infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS), as well as the factors influencing recurrence and prognosis. METHODS: The clinical data were collected from the children with IESS who received ACTH therapy for the first time in the Department of Pediatric Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, from April 2008 to January 2018 and were followed up for ≥2 years. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the factors influencing the short-term efficacy of ACTH therapy, recurrence, and long-term prognosis. RESULTS: ACTH therapy achieved a control rate of seizures of 55.5% (111/200) on day 28 of treatment. Of the 111 children, 75 (67.6%) had no recurrence of seizures within 12 months of follow-up. The possibility of seizure control on day 28 of ACTH therapy in the children without focal seizures was 2.463 times that in those with focal seizures (P<0.05). The possibility of seizure control on day 28 of ACTH therapy in the children without hypsarrhythmia on electroencephalography on day 14 of ACTH therapy was 2.415 times that in those with hypsarrhythmia (P<0.05). The possibility of recurrence within 12 months after treatment was increased by 11.8% for every 1-month increase in the course of the disease (P<0.05). The possibility of moderate or severe developmental retardation or death in the children without seizure control after 28 days of ACTH therapy was 8.314 times that in those with seizure control (P<0.05). The possibility of moderate or severe developmental retardation or death in the children with structural etiology was 14.448 times that in those with unknown etiology (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Presence or absence of focal seizures and whether hypsarrhythmia disappears after 14 days of treatment can be used as predictors for the short-term efficacy of ACTH therapy, while the course of disease before treatment can be used as the predictor for recurrence after seizure control by ACTH therapy. The prognosis of IESS children is associated with etiology, and early control of seizures after ACTH therapy can improve long-term prognosis.

The Impact of Providing Free HIV Self-testing on Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Men who have Sex with Men in Hunan, China: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

HIV self-testing (HIVST) increases testing frequency among men who have sex with men (MSM). However, its impact on sexual risk behaviors is unclear. In a randomized controlled trial conducted in Hunan Province, China, HIV-negative MSM were randomized to receive one of two interventions for one year: (1) facility-based HIV testing, or (2) facility-based HIV testing augmented with free HIVST. From April to June 2018, 230 MSM were enrolled. They self-reported sexual behaviors every 3 months for 12 months. Among 216 MSM with follow-ups (intervention: 110; control: 106), adjusting for potential confounders in Generalized Estimating Equation models, there were no statistically significant differences in consistent condom use with male partners (regular/casual) or female partners, nor on number of male or female sexual partners. Provision of free HIVST kits does not increase risky sex and should be included in comprehensive HIV prevention packages, particularly for sexual minority men in China.

[Mean transit time of water bodies in a typical soil-plant-atmosphere continuum of the subtropical monsoon region]. / äºšçƒ­å¸¦å­£é£ŽåŒºå ¸åž‹åœŸå£¤-植物-大气连续体中水体平均滞留时间.

The mean transit time (MTT) is a good indicator of water cycle processes. We know little about the MTT of different water bodies within the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum (SPAC) in the subtropical monsoon region. We estimated the MTT of stratified soil water at different depths as well as the xylem water and leaf water in typical Cinnamomum camphora woodland located in Changsha City from March 2017 to October 2019. The main methods used in this study included the stable isotope technology, the linear mixed model and the sine wave fitting method. The results showed that the stable isotopes were more depleted in summer and enriched in winter for different water bodies within the SPAC. The δ2H values of soil water gradually decreased as depth increased. The δ2H values of xylem water closely resembled those of soil water, but the δ2H values of leaf water were more positive and exhibited larger variation. Results of the linear mixed model indicated that the lower MTT values of soil water and plant water occurred between June and September, while the higher values were often observed around January and from April to May. The precipitation replenishment exhibited a significant negative correlation with the MTT. The MTT of soil water generally increased with depth, although preferential flow could enhance the replenishment of deeper soil water and subsequently reduce the MTT. The mean MTT values of xylem water and leaf water were similar. Results of the sine wave fitting method showed that the young water fraction (Fyw) of soil water gradually decreased as depth increased, while the MTT of soil water gradually increased as depth increased. The Fyw and MTT of xylem water were lower and higher than those of leaf water, respectively. Both the mean MTT values of soil water based on the linear mixed model or the sine wave fitting method increased from the surface to the deeper soil layers. The former exhibited a smaller variation range and the latter showed a larger variation range. The mean MTT value of xylem water based on the linear mixed model was 2.4 days less than that of leaf water, while the MTT value of xylem water in the sine wave fitting method was 87.4 days higher than that of leaf water. These differences may be due to the parameterization of "new/young water", the uncertainty of results, and the effect of evaporative fractionation. This study contributes to a better understanding of water transport and consumption processes within the SPAC and provides valuable insights for agricultural production and water resources management in the subtropical monsoon region.

Risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This meta-analysis aims to synthesize global evidence on the risk of reinfection among people previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Web of Science as of April 5, 2021. We conducted: (1) meta-analysis of cohort studies containing data sufficient for calculating the incidence rate of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection; (2) systematic review of case reports with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 reinfection cases. The reinfection incidence was pooled by zero-inflated beta distribution. The hazard ratio (HR) between reinfection incidence among previously infected individuals and new infection incidence among infection-naïve individuals was calculated using random-effects models. Of 906 records retrieved and reviewed, 11 studies and 11 case reports were included in the meta-analysis and the systematic review, respectively. The pooled SARS-CoV-2 reinfection incidence rate was 0.70 (standard deviation [SD] 0.33) per 10,000 person-days. The incidence of reinfection was lower than the incidence of new infection (HR = 0.12, 95% confidence interval 0.09-0.17). Our meta-analysis of studies conducted prior to the emergency of the more transmissible Omicron variant showed that people with a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection could be re-infected, and they have a lower risk of infection than those without prior infection. Continuing reviews are needed as the reinfection risk may change due to the rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants.