Development of an environmentally foamed concrete incorporating red mud.

In this work, an efficient utilization method for red mud (RM) is provided through recycling RM as a mineral admixture for the preparation of foamed concrete (FC). Specifically, FC with different RM contents was prepared and investigated in terms of workability, mechanical properties, and hydration products. Results show that adding RM can significantly shorten the setting time, while it inevitably weakens the mechanical properties and fluidity of FC. However, the compressive strength of FC can still meet the strength predicted by the specification requirements when the RM replaces cement with 60% content (3d > 1.6 MPa). Most importantly, the heavy metals leaching from RM-based FC under the action of rain is still unclear, so a device for simulating stormwater runoff was designed to test the heavy metal leaching risk of RM-based FC. The findings indicate that the solidification of cement and the high basicity of the matrix can effectively reduce the leaching risk of heavy metals from RM in FC. Although the pore structure analysis demonstrates that the porosity and connected pores of FC will be deteriorated as RM concentration increases. The results are of great significance for the recycling of waste and the sustainable development of building materials.

Influence of waste polyethylene/WCO composite on physical and chemical properties of asphalt.

The use of waste polyethylene (WPE) in modified asphalt is frequently employed to reduce environmental pollution and improve asphalt properties. However, research has shown that using WPE alone as a modifier does not effectively enhance the low-temperature flexibility of asphalt. This study aims to investigate the potential of utilizing WPE and waste cooking oil (WCO) as composite modifiers to enhance the properties of virgin asphalt under both high and low-temperature conditions. The contents of WPE and WCO were used, and the preparation process for the modified asphalt was optimized through an orthogonal experiment. The experimental results indicate that the optimal formulation for the WPE/WCO composite modified asphalt (WPE/WCO-A) is obtained with an additive dosage of 8% and 1% by mass of virgin asphalt for WPE and WCO, respectively, as well as the maintenance process at a temperature of 140 °C and a duration of 2 h. Dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) results reveal that WPE/WCO composite modifier can greatly improve the high-temperature deformation resistance of asphalt. Bending beam rheometer (BBR) tests confirm that WPE adversely affects the low-temperature flexibility of asphalt, while the addition of WCO can improve it. WPE/WCO-A has even better low-temperature properties than virgin asphalt (VA). The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) results suggest that the composite modification of asphalt by WPE/WCO modifiers is dominated by physical action. Furthermore, the fluorescence microscopy test results demonstrate that WCO can promote WPE swelling in asphalt. This study offers a novel approach to improve the comprehensive properties of asphalt through composite modification using WPE and WCO.

Assessing the effects of climate and human activity on vegetation change in Northern China.

Fractional vegetation cover (FVC) has changed significantly under various disturbances over northern China in recent decades. This research examines the dynamics of FVC and how it is affected by climate and human activity during the period of 1990-2018 in northern China. The effects of climate change (i.e., temperature, precipitation, solar radiation, and soil moisture) and human activity (socioeconomic data and land use) on vegetation coverage change in northern China from 1990 to 2018 were quantified using the Sen + Mann-Kendall test, partial correlation analysis, and structural equation modelling (SEM) methods. The findings of this research indicate the following: (1) From 1990 to 2018, the overall trend in FVC in northern China was increased. The areas with obvious increases were mainly situated on the northern slope of Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, the Loess Plateau, the Northeast China Plain, and the Sanjiang Plain, while the areas with distinct degradation were located in the Inner Mongolia Plateau, the Changbai Mountain and the eastern part of north China. (2) In the past 29 years, the FVC in northern China has been mainly affected by precipitation and soil moisture. (3) Based on structural equation modelling, we discovered that certain variables impacted the main factors influencing the amount of FVC in northern China. Human activity has had a larger impact on FVC than climate change. Our findings can accelerate the comprehension of vegetation dynamics and their underlying mechanisms and provide a theoretical basis for regional ecological environmental protection.

SSFVEP as a potential electrophysiological examination for evaluating visual function of fundus diseases with vitreous hemorrhages: a clinical study.

To investigate the sensitivity and potential application of steady-state flash visual evoked potentials (SSFVEP) in assessing the visual function of fundus diseases with vitreous hemorrhage. 18 patients diagnosed with monocular vitreous hemorrhages in the fundus were examined the flash visual evoked potentials (FVEP) and SSFVEP in both eyes. The difference in the P2-wave amplitude of FVEP and the average amplitude of SSFVEP waveform between the diseased eyes and those without vitreous hemorrhage were statistically compared. There was no significant difference in the waveform of FVEP between both eyes. The amplitude of P2-wave from FVEP of the diseased eye was slightly lower than that without vitreous hemorrhage. However, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.111). The waveform of SSFVEP in the eye without vitreous hemorrhage showed a towering shape, while that of the diseased eye was flat. The average amplitude of SSFVEP in the diseased eye was statistically lower than that without vitreous hemorrhage (P = 0.036). The difference ratio of SSFVEP amplitude between both eyes was significantly greater than that of FVEP amplitude (P = 0.028). In some fundus diseases with vitreous hemorrhage, SSFVEP had a higher sensitivity than FVEP, providing a novel potential application for visual function assessment.

Research on the Moisture Stability of Asphalt Mixtures with Three Solid Waste Fillers.

Widespread interest has been drawn to the use of solid waste fillers as a partial replacement for natural fillers in high-performance asphalt mixtures in recent years. However, variations in the material properties of solid waste fillers remain a problem for the recycling method. To address this issue, the limestone powder in asphalt mixtures was replaced with three solid waste fillers, including steel slag powder, tailings powder and calcium carbide slag powder in this study. The chemical composition of the fillers was first characterized to assess the homogeneity of the material. Then, a dense-graded asphalt mixture (AC) and a stone matrix asphalt (SMA) mixture were designed, produced and characterized for wet stability. The results show that the asphalt mixtures with solid waste fillers were superior to limestone powder (LP) asphalt mixtures in terms of resistance to water damage, and the steel slag powder showed the best improvement in moisture stability of the asphalt mixtures. The optimum substitution of solid waste filler for limestone filler was 25%. With the addition of anti-stripping agents, the moisture stability of the asphalt mixture with limestone filler was also greatly enhanced. On the contrary, a marginal enhancement was observed in the moisture stability of asphalt mixtures using solid waste fillers. Solid waste fillers can be used in asphalt mixtures and have a similar function as that of anti-stripping agents. In summary, the use of solid waste fillers to replace mineral fillers in asphalt mixtures is a reliable, value-added recycling option.

Clinical characteristics of hospitalized patients with Nocardia genus detection by metagenomic next generation sequencing in a tertiary hospital from southern China.

OBJECTIVE: As an opportunistic pathogen, Nocardia often occurring in the immunocompromised hosts. As the unspecifc clinical presentation and low identification rate of the culture dependent methods, Nocardia infection may be under-diagnosis. Recent study have reported physicians could benefit from metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in Nocardia diagnosis. Herein, we present patients with a positive detection of nocardiosis in mNGS, aiming to provide useful information for an differential diagnosis and patients management. METHODS: A total of 3756 samples detected for mNGS from March 2019 to April 2022 at the Fifth Affifiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, were screened. Clinical records, laboratory finding, CT images and mNGS results were reviewed for 19 patients who were positive for Nocardia genus. RESULTS: Samples from low respiratory tract obtained by bronchoscope took the major part of the positive (15/19). 12 of 19 cases were diagnosis as Nocardiosis Disease (ND) and over half of the ND individuals (7/12) were geriatric. Nearly all of them (10/12) were immunocompetent and 2 patients in ND group were impressively asymptomatic. Cough was the most common symptom. Nocardia cyriacigeorgica (4/12) was more frequently occurring in ND, followed by Nocardia abscessus (3/12). There are 3 individuals detected more than one kind of Nocardia species (Supplementary table 1). Except one with renal failure and one allergic to sulfamethoxazole, all of them received co-sulfonamide treatment and relieved eventually. CONCLUSION: Our study deciphered the clinical features of patients with positive nocardiosis detected by mNGS. Greater attention should be paid to the ND that occurred in the immunocompetent host and the geriatric. Due to the difficulties in establishing diagnosis of Nocardiosis disease, mNGS should play a much more essential role for a better assessment in those intractable cases. Co-sulfonamide treatment should still be the first choice of Nocardiosis disease.

The clinical research on the effect of hydrogen-rich water on primary retinitis pigmentosa.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of hydrogen in the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients through the drinking of hydrogen-rich water (HRW). Methods: RP patients clinically diagnosed in our hospital were selected and given HRW for drinking at 400-500 ml twice a day for four consecutive weeks. Changes in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, the retinal thickness, and choroidal thickness, as well as the amplitude and peak time of visual electrophysiological examinations before and after HRW drinking were observed. Data were statistically analyzed. Results: In total, 24 eyes of 13 patients with RP (3 males and 10 females aged-27-65 years old, were enrolled in the study. The BCVA after HRW drinking was 0.34 ± 0.25, which was statistically improved compared with that before (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in intraocular pressure, retinal lhickness, or choroidal thickness before and after HRW drinking (all P > 0.05). The amplitudes of the b-wave in Dark-adaptation 0.01 response, a and b waves in Dark-adaptation 3.0 response, the Dark-adaptation Ops total wave, a and b waves in Light-adaptation 3.0 response, and the Light-adaptation Flicker response of electroretinogram (ERG) were significantly higher than those before HRW drinking (all P < 0.05). The corresponding peak times iwere mproved to some extent compared to those before HRW consumption (all P < 0.05). Six patients with RP (11 eyes) had a BCVAm ore than 20/200. The amplitude and peak time of the P100 -ave from the 1°p attern visual evoked potentials (PVEP) were not significantly different from those before HRW drinking (P > 0.05), while the data from the 15' PVEP were statistically different (P < 0.05). Seven patients with RP (13 eyes) had a BCVA less than. 20/200 No significant differences were found in the amplitude and peak time of the P2 wave from the 1.0 Hz flash visual evoked potentials (FVEP) and the amplitude from the 12 Hz FVEP compared with those before HRW drinking (all P > 0.05). Conclusion: Short-term HRW drinking slightly improved visual function in patients with primary RP, whereas no significant improvement was found in the thickness of the retina and choroid.

The association of the serum levels of aldehydes with diabetes-related eye diseases: a cross-sectional population-based study.

Diabetes could impact many ocular tissues. However, the association of the serum aldehydes with diabetes-related eye diseases (DED) remains unclear. Thus, we aimed to examine the above relationship from the general US population of 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The multivariable logistic regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were used to analyze the effect of serum aldehydes on the risk of DED. Pearson's correlation analysis, the restricted cubic spline (RCS) model, and the linear regression were performed to explore the association between the serum aldehydes and other parameters. The multivariable linear regression was conducted to further underlie the relationship between the serum aldehydes and the glycohemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in DED participants. Although no significant association was observed between the serum aldehydes and the risk of DED by the multivariable logistic regression and BKMR, the Pearson correlation revealed a positive association between the HbA1c level and the serum level of heptanaldehyde and isopentanaldehyde in DED participants. The RCS model confirmed the above linear correlation. After adjusting for the cofounding factor of smoking, the multivariable linear regression revealed a significant association between the serum level of heptanaldehyde and the HbA1c level in DED participants. Our results suggest that aldehyde exposure did not significantly increase the risk of DED, while heptanaldehyde was the risk factor for increased HbA1c in DED population.

The impacts of resveratrol on the retinal degeneration in a rat model of retinitis pigmentosa induced by alkylation: an in-vivo study.

Upregulation of Sirtuin Type 1 (SIRT1), a nicotinamide adeninedinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent deacetylase, has been proved to protect against ample ocular diseases, while its effect on retinitis pigmentosa (RP) has not been illustrated. The study was aimed to explore the impacts of resveratrol (RSV), a SIRT1 activator, on the photoreceptor degeneration in a rat model of RP induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU), an alkylation. The rats were induced RP phenotypes via the intraperitoneal injection of MNU. The electroretinogram was conducted and revealed that RSV could not prevent the decline of retinal function in the RP rats. The optical coherence tomography (OCT) and the retinal histological examination were performed and showed that the reduced thickness of the outer nuclear layer (ONL) was not preserved by RSV intervention. The immunostaining technique was applied. Afther the MNU administration, the number of the apoptotic photoreceptors in the ONL throughout the retinasand the number of microglia cells present among the outer part throughout the retinas were not significantly reduced by RSV. Western blotting was also performed. The data showed that the level of SIRT1 protein was decreased after MNU administration, while RSV was not able to obviously alleviate the downregulation. Our data together indicated that RSV was not able to rescue the photoreceptor degeneration in the MNU-induced RP rats, which might be due to the MNU-induced consumption of the NAD+.

Interleukin-33 increases type 2 innate lymphoid cell count and their activation in eosinophilic asthma.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-33 (IL-33) exacerbates asthma probably through type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s). Nevertheless, the association between eosinophilic asthma (EA) and ILC2s remains obscure, and the mechanisms by which IL-33 affects ILC2s are yet to be clarified. METHODS: ILC2s were evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, induced sputum, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained from patients with EA. Confocal microscopy was performed to locate ILC2s in lung tissue and the mRNA expression of ILC2-related genes was also evaluated in the EA model. The proliferation of ILC2s isolated from humans and mice was assessed following IL-33 or anti-IL-33 stimulation. RESULTS: The counts, activation, and mRNA expression of relevant genes in ILC2s were higher in PBMCs and airways of patients with EA. In addition, ILC2 cell counts correlated with Asthma control test, blood eosinophil count, Fractional exhaled nitric oxide level, and predicted eosinophilic airway inflammation. IL-33 induced stronger proliferation of ILC2s and increased their density around blood vessels in the lungs of mice with EA. Moreover, IL-33 treatment increased the counts and activation of ILC2s and lung inflammatory scores, whereas anti-IL-33 antibody significantly reversed these effects in EA mice. Finally, IL-33 enhanced PI3K and AKT protein expression in ILC2s, whereas inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway decreased IL-5 and IL-13 production by ILC2s in EA. CONCLUSIONS: ILC2s, especially activated ILC2s, might be critical markers of EA. IL-33 can induce and activate ILC2s in the lungs via the PI3K/AKT pathway in EA. Thus, using anti-IL-33 antibody could be a part of an effective treatment strategy for EA.

Quantitative CT Metrics for the Prediction of Therapeutic Effect in Asthma.

Background: Few studies have explored the correlation between asthma medication and features on HRCT images. We aim to analyse the differences and temporal changes of lung function and airway resistance in asthma with diverse HRCT phenotypes in a short period after inhalation of budesonide/formoterol. Method: This observational study recruited 55 adult patients with varying severities of asthma. We performed detailed airway metrics measurements of chest CT scans, such as airway wall thickness (WT), wall area percentage (WA%), wall thickness percentage (T/OR), and airways with an inner perimeter of 10 mm (Pi10). The effect of lung structural features on asthma medication response was explored according to the WA% and T/OR twelve hours post-drug administration. Using multivariable regression models, we then assessed the influence of WA% on lung function. Results: WA% (p < 0.001) and T/OR (p < 0.001) significantly increased in asthma than in healthy control subjects. Compared to mild asthma, airway walls were further thickened (WA%, p = 0.023; T/OR: p = 0.029) and associated with lumen narrowing (Pi10, p = 0.055) in moderate to severe asthma. WA% and T/OR correlated well with lung function (FEV1, FVC, MMEF, and PEF) and airway resistance (R5, R20, Rp, and Fres). Regression analysis showed that MEF25 decreased with increasing age and WA% (R2 = 0.58, p < 0.001). Patients with thickened airway walls experienced a maximal increase in FVC, FEV1, and PEF at 2 h (p < 0.001) and a maximal decrease of R5, Z5, and Rp at 2 h (p < 0.001) in those with a thickened airway pattern. Conclusions: Asthma patients with different bronchial wall thicknesses exhibited variable lung function changes. Specifically, patients with thick airway wall patterns were more sensitive to inhaled budesonide in the short term.

Evidence of Microplastics in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid among Never-Smokers: A Prospective Case Series.

Microplastics (MPs) are abundant in air, but evidence of their deposition in the respiratory tract is limited. We conducted a prospective case series to investigate the deposition of microplastics in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and determine the internal dose of MPs via inhalation. Eighteen never-smokers aged 32-74 years who underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy with BALF were recruited from Zhuhai, China. Control samples were obtained by performing the same procedure using isotonic saline instead of BALF. Laser direct infrared spectroscopy combined with scanning electron microscopy detected the presence and characteristics of MPs and quantitatively analyzed the microplastic in BALF and control samples. Concentrations of total and specific MPs in BALF and control samples were compared using the Wilcox test. Thirteen types of MPs were observed in 18 BALF samples. Polyethylene (PE, 86.1%) was the most abundant in BALF, followed by poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET, 7.5%) and polypropylene (PP, 1.9%). Compared with the control samples, BALF had significantly higher concentrations of PE (median [IQR] of BALF: 0.38 [8.05] N/g), PET (0.26 [0.54] N/g), polyurethane (0.16 [0.24] N/g), PP (0.16 [0.11] N/g), and total MPs (0.91 [6.58] N/g). The presence of MPs in BALF provides novel evidence that MPs penetrate deep into the respiratory tract.

The prevalence of ocular Demodex folliculorum in 2253 young males.

To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of Demodex folliculorum (DF) in the eyelashes of healthy young males. An epidemiological cross-sectional prevalence study was conducted. We conducted visual acuity, eye-related examination, eyelash microscopic examination and DF count of recruits in Fujian Province in 2019. The presence of DF was analyzed according to age, keratorefractive surgery, annual household income, educational level, long-term residence, sleep time, time of using electronic products, smoking and drinking habit. A total of 2253 healthy young males (aged 17-24 years) were studied for the presence of DF within eyelash follicles. The total prevalence of DF was 20.73% in our study. Subjects with history of keratorefractive surgery had a statistically significant increase in the prevalence of DF (P < 0.001). The prevalence of DF was higher in subjects with ocular symptoms than in those without symptoms (P < 0.05). Factors such as the educational level and so on we analyzed had no significant correlation with the prevalence of DF (all P > 0.05). According to the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the history of keratorefractive surgery was the risk factors of DF infection (P < 0.001), and the risk of infection was 1.437 times higher in the population with the history of keratorefractive surgery than in the population without. There was no correlation between ocular discomfort and DF infection (P > 0.05). The prevalence of DF in eyelash follicles in healthy young males was relatively high. The history of keratorefractive surgery was an important risk factor for the infection.

Tropheryma whipplei detection by metagenomic next-generation sequencing in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid: A cross-sectional study.

Tropheryma whipplei is the bacterium associated with Whipple's disease (WD), a chronic systemic infectious disease primarily involving the gastrointestinal tract. T. whipplei can also be detected in different body site of healthy individuals, including saliva and feces. Traditionally, Tropheryma whipplei has a higher prevalence in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of immunocompromised individuals. Few studies have explored the significance of the detection of T. whipplei in BALF. Herein, we retrospectively reviewed 1725 BALF samples which detected for metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) from March 2019 to April 2022 in Zhuhai, China. Seventy BALs (70/1725, 4.0%) from 70 patients were positive for T. whipplei. Forty-four patients were male with an average age of 50 years. The main symptoms included cough (23/70), expectoration (13/70), weight loss (9/70), and/or dyspnea (8/70), but gastrointestinal symptoms were rare. Chronic liver diseases were the most common comorbidity (n=15, 21.4%), followed by diabetes mellitus (n=13, 18.6%). Only nine patients (12.9%) were immunocompromised. Twenty-four patients (34.3%) were finally diagnosed with reactivation tuberculosis and 15 patients (21.4%) were diagnosed with lung tumors, including 13 primary lung adenocarcinoma and two lung metastases. Fifteen patients (21.4%) had pneumonia. Among the 20 samples, T. whipplei was the sole agent, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex was the most common detected other pathogens. Among the non-tuberculosis patients, 31 (31/46, 67.4%) had ground glass nodules or solid nodules on chest CT. Our study indicates that T. whipplei should be considered as a potential contributing factor in some lung diseases. For non-immunocompromised patients, the detection of T. whipplei also needs attention. The mNGS technology improves the detection and attention of rare pathogens. In the future, the infection, colonization, and prognosis of T. whipplei in lung still need to be studied.

The Temporal Topography of Central Serous Chorioretinopathy in the Chinchilla Rabbits Induced by Intravenous Injection of Adrenaline: An in vivo Study.

Purpose: To explore the temporal topography of the chorioretinopathy in an animal model of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) induced by intravenous injection of adrenalin in the Chinchilla rabbits. Methods: Ten Chinchilla rabbits received a daily intravenous injection of adrenaline at 0.04 mg/kg for 8 weeks. Fluorescence fundus angiography (FFA) and electroretinogram (ERG) were performed every week afterwards to see whether there was fluorescence leakage in the fundus and to evaluate the retinal function. Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were also conducted to detect the change of choroidal vessels. Finally, the eyes of the rabbits were enucleated to make the retinal sections for histological examination with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Results: Within 8 weeks of the adrenalin administration, 7 out of the 10 rabbits showed different degrees of fluorescence leakage on FFA. The leakage was more obvious during 2-3 weeks after the adrenalin administration. With the progress of disease, the leakage subsided gradually and a scar-like lesion formed. ICGA revealed the local choroidal ischemia and the dilated choroidal vessels. An obvious detachment of retina and an increased thickness of the choroid were found on OCT, which was most obvious 2 weeks after the adrenalin administration (P<0.01). ERG revealed no obvious decline of the b-wave amplitude before and after the adrenalin administration (P>0.05). A circumscribed retinal detachment, the depigmentation of retinal pigment epithelium and enlarged choroidal vessels were shown by the histological examination. Conclusion: The temporal topography of the chorioretinopathy in the Chinchilla rabbits by intravenous injection of adrenaline somewhat mimicked that of the human CSC, which could enhance its application in the exploration for the pathogenesis and the therapeutic measures for human CSC.

Differential Oral Microbial Input Determines Two Microbiota Pneumo-Types Associated with Health Status.

The oral and upper respiratory tracts are closely linked anatomically and physiologically with the lower respiratory tract and lungs, and the influence of oral and upper respiratory microbes on the lung microbiota is increasingly being recognized. However, the ecological process and individual heterogeneity of the oral and upper respiratory tract microbes shaping the lung microbiota remain unclear owing to the lack of controlled analyses with sufficient sample sizes. Here, the microbiomes of saliva, nasal cavity, oropharyngeal area, and bronchoalveolar lavage samples are profiled and the shaping process of multisource microbes on the lung microbiota is measured. It is found that oral and nasal microbial inputs jointly shape the lung microbiota by occupying different ecological niches. It is also observed that the spread of oral microbes to the lungs is heterogeneous, with more oral microbes entering the lungs being associated with decreased lung function and increased lung proinflammatory cytokines. These results depict the external shaping process of lung microbiota and indicate the great value of oral samples, such as saliva, in monitoring and assessing lung microbiota status in clinical settings.

Diagnosis of keratoconus in a young male by electrophysiological test findings: A case report.

RATIONALE: The purpose of this report was to describe the diagnostic process of a case of keratoconus (KCN) after electrophysiological examination. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 23-year-old male army officer presented with decreased visual acuity (VA) in the left eye for 5 months. Best-corrected VA was 20/20 in the right eye and 20/300 in the left eye. The cornea and lens were clear in both eyes with a normal anterior chamber. No specific abnormalities were found on fundus photography, optical coherence tomography, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), or full-field electroretinography (ffERG) of both eyes. Pattern visual-evoked potentials (PVEP) detected a reduced amplitude and delayed peak time of the P100-wave in both eyes, which was more severe in the left eye. The amplitude and peak time of the P2-wave in flash VEP (FVEP) were comparable in both eyes and were within the normal ranges. DIAGNOSIS: Corneal topography was performed, and KCN was diagnosed by the presence of an asymmetrical bowtie pattern in both eyes, which was worse in the left eye. INTERVENTIONS: Transepithelial corneal collagen cross-linking was performed. OUTCOMES: The BCVA of both eyes remained stable after treatment at follow-up. LESSONS: KCN should be suspected in cases of unimproved VA and significant irregular stigmatism, while no obvious lesions exist in other parts of the eyes. The evidence of lesion location by electrophysiological examinations could sometimes be of favor in diagnosing KCN.

Clinical Course and Factors Associated with Viral RNA Shedding and Radiologic Resolution in Patients with COVID-19: a Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 lead to a worldwide pandemic which poses substantial challenges to public health. METHODS: We enrolled 102 consecutive recovered patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Epidemiological and demographic characteristics, temporal dynamic profiles of laboratory tests and findings on chest CT radiography, and clinical outcomes were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Independent risk factors for prolonged fever, viral RNA shedding or radiologic recovery included age of more than 44 years, female gender, having symptoms of cough and fever, a delay from the symptom onset to hospitalization of more than 3 days, a lower CD4 count of less than 500/µL on admission, and severe or critical illness in hospitalization. The estimated median time from symptom onset was 6.4 (5.5 - 7.4) days to peak viral load, 9.1 (7.9 - 10.4) days to afebrile, 8 (6.7 - 9.4) days to worst radiologic finding, 12.7 (11.2 - 14.3) days to viral RNA negativity, and 26.7 (23.8 - 29.9) days to radiologic resolution. This study included the entire cross-section of patients seen in our clinical practice and reflected the real-world situation. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide the rationale for strategies of active symptom monitoring, timing of quarantine and antiviral interventions, and duration of radiologic follow-up in patients with COVID-19.

Helicobacter pylori promotes inflammatory factor secretion and lung injury through VacA exotoxin-mediated activation of NF-κB signaling.

Previous reports have shown that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with respiratory diseases. However, the pathogenesis remains unclear. Vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA) is a major H. pylori exotoxin. In this study, we investigated the signaling pathways involved in the inflammatory response to H. pylori infection and VacA. Mice were treated with H. pylori and VacA, and histopathological analysis of lung tissues was performed using hematoxylin-eosin, Masson's trichrome, and periodic acid Schiff staining. The secretion of inflammatory cytokines was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of VacA, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and p65 NF-κB was analyzed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed using the MTS assay and flow cytometry, respectively. In mice, H. pylori infection and VacA treatment promoted the secretion of the inflammatory factors interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), IL-6, and IL-8, increased p65 NF-κB protein phosphorylation, and induced lung injury. Furthermore, H. pylori infection promoted VacA production. In an in vitro cell model, VacA treatment significantly suppressed the proliferation of WI-38 and BEAS-2B cells, promoted apoptosis, induced TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-8 secretion, and promoted p65 NF-κB protein phosphorylation and NF-κB nuclear transfer. The NF-κB inhibitor BAY11-7082 alleviated VacA-induced inflammation and apoptosis and increased cell viability. In conclusion, VacA promotes the secretion of inflammatory factors and induces lung injury through NF-κB signaling.

Effects of hydration parameters on chemical properties of biocrudes based on machine learning and experiments.

To investigate the effects of temperature and biomass concentration of Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) on chemical properties of biocrudes, machine learning (ML) was used to predict the weight of hydration parameters on the properties of biocrudes. The elemental compositions, molecular weights, functional groups, thermal degradation, molecular structure of biocrudes were studied. The optimum yield of biocrudes was 65% and the highest heat value reached up to 34.28 kJ/g, showing comparable fuel properties. It was found that the hydration temperature significantly affects the elemental components, functional groups and molecular weight and structures of biocrudes. In addition, biomass concentration also affect the functional groups and structures of biocrudes. ML results indicated that Support Vector Machine Linear Kernel method is suitable for heat value prediction.