Efficacy and safety of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonists are recognised as a promising treatment for primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). However, the effects and safety of these agonists on PBC remain unexplored. Our study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of PPAR agonists in treating PBC. Methods: We searched Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, PubMed, and Embase databases from inception to 15 March 2024 for randomised controlled studies (RCTs) that enrolled individuals with PBC treated with PPAR agonists compared with placebo. The primary outcomes were biochemical response and normalization of the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level. Results: Eight RCTs involving 869 participants in total were included. The meta-analysis revealed that compared to placebo, PPAR agonists increased the rate of biochemical response (RR: 5.53; 95% CI: 3.79, 8.06) and normalization of the ALP level (RR: 17.18; 95% CI: 5.61, 52.61). In addition, PPAR agonists can also reduce alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (MD: -12.69 U/L; 95% CI: -18.03, -7.35), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (MD: -4.18 U/L; 95% CI: -7.28, -1.08), ALP (MD: -142.95 U/L; 95% CI: -167.29, -118.60), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) (MD: -63.03 U/L; 95% CI: -92.08, -33.98), and total cholesterol (TC) levels (SMD: -0.71; 95% CI: -1.38, -0.04), and there was no significant difference in overall adverse reactions (RR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.92, 1.05), serious adverse reactions (RR: 1.10; 95% CI: 0.70, 1.72) between the two groups. Conclusion: PPAR agonists are safe and well-tolerated in patients with PBC and are effective in improving the rate of biochemical response and related biomarkers.

Designing antiperovskite derivatives via atomic-position splitting for photovoltaic applications.

Due to the success of halide perovskites in the photovoltaic field, halide perovskite-derived semiconductors have also been widely studied for optoelectronic applications. However, the photovoltaic performance of these perovskite derivatives still lags significantly behind their perovskite counterparts, mainly due to deficiencies at the B-site or X-site of the derivatives, which disrupt the connectivity of the key [BX6] octahedra units. Herein, we developed a class of antiperovskite-derived materials with the formula , achieved by splitting the A anion, originally at the corner site of the cubic antiperovskite structure, into three edge-centered sites. This structural transformation maintains the three-dimensional octahedral framework. The thermodynamic stability, dynamical stability, and band gaps of 80 compounds were calculated using first-principles calculations. Based on criteria including stability and electronic properties, we identified 9 promising antiperovskite derivatives for further evaluation of their photovoltaic performance. Notably, the calculated theoretical maximum efficiencies of Ba3BiI3, Ba3SbI3, and Ba3BiBr3 all exceed 24.5%, which is comparable to that of CH3NH3PbI3 solar cells. Interpretable machine learning analysis was further carried out to identify critical physical descriptors influencing thermodynamic stability and band gap. Our work provides a novel approach for designing high performance perovskite-type structure-inspired semiconductors with potential for optoelectronic applications.

Daytime versus nighttime appendectomy in term of complications and clinical outcomes: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Appendicitis is one of the most common acute surgical conditions globally. However, the association between nighttime appendectomy and patients' morbidity and mortality is unclear. This study aims to compare outcomes following nighttime versus daytime appendectomy. METHODS: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases up to March 26, 2024 (updated on July 1, 2024) were searched. The primary outcomes were postoperative complications and mortality. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative complications, reoperation, readmission, conversion to laparotomy, hospital stay and operation time. Mean difference (MD) or odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: Fifteen studies totaling 33,596 patients were included. There were no differences between nighttime and daytime appendectomy for rates of overall postoperative complications (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.87, 1.00, 14 studies), mortality (OR 1.70, 95% CI 0.37, 7.88, 7 studies), intraoperative complications (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.08, 9.86; 2 studies), reoperation (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.06, 2.55; 3 studies) and readmission (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.65, 1.13; I2 = 0%, 5 studies). However, the conversion to laparotomy risks (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.12, 3.29; 6 studies) among patients who underwent appendectomy during nighttime was significantly elevated compared to daytime. CONCLUSIONS: There was no increased risk or difference in postoperative mortality and complication rates associated with nighttime compared with daytime appendectomy. However, future studies should assess the reasons for higher conversion rates during the night.

Preoperative in-hospital delay increases postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients with acute appendicitis: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Complicated appendicitis is associated with high morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. However, the relationship of preoperative in-hospital delay >24 hours with complicated appendicitis and postoperative morbidity remains unclear. This meta-analysis investigated the effects of preoperative in-hospital delay on complicated appendicitis and postoperative morbidity in patients with acute appendicitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study adheres to the PRISMA 2020 and AMSTAR 2 guidelines. The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases up to October 14, 2023 (updated on March 16, 2024) were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies that evaluated the effect of preoperative in-hospital delays of >24 hours on acute appendicitis. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals were also determined. RESULTS: We yielded 18,130 records, of which 28 studies (512,881 patients) were included in the meta-analysis. The risk of bias was considered serious, moderate, and low for 24, 3, and 1 study, respectively. Although preoperative in-hospital delays of >24 hours were not associated with a higher risk of surgical site infection (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.97, 1.12, P=0.25), in-hospital delays of >24 hours was a risk factor for complicated appendicitis (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.25, 2.05, P=0.0002), and postoperative complications (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.30, 1.75, P<0.00001). In addition, an in-hospital delay of >24 hours before surgery increased the OR of postoperative mortality (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.33, 2.45, P=0.0001). The sensitivity analyses also confirmed the robustness of our results. CONCLUSIONS: An in-hospital delay of >24 hours is a risk factor for complicated appendicitis, postoperative complications, and mortality. Given the subsequent adverse outcomes of in-hospital delays, appendectomy should not be delayed for >24 hours.

Fabrication of ionic liquid self-assemblies based on dicamba with improved herbicidal activity and reduced environmental risks.

The off-target loss of pesticide formulations caused by volatilization and leaching has reduced effective utilization and increased risks to the ecological environment and human health. Self-assembly of pesticides has been widely concerned due to the improved bioactivity and environmental compatibility. Herbicidal ionic liquids (HILs) could effectively decrease off-target loss and increase efficacy and environmental safety by improving the physicochemical properties of herbicides. Herein, HILs were prepared by pairing dicamba with quaternary ammonium salts containing different alkyl chain lengths and aromatic groups and subsequently self-assembled into spherical nanoparticles (HIL NPs) via electrostatic interaction and hydrophobic effect. Compared with dicamba, the obtained HIL NPs with an average particle size of 6-55 nm exhibited improved physicochemical properties, including high zeta potential values (+20.3 to +27.8 mV), low volatilization rate (2.4-3.9 %) and surface tension (22.83-33.07 mN m-1), decreased contact angle (32.25-41.55°) and leaching potential (76.2-86.5 %), and high soil adsorption (12.1-23.8 %), suggesting low risks to the environment. The control efficacy against Amaranthus retroflexus of HIL3 NPs pairing dicamba with octadecyl-trimethyl ammonium chloride was better than that of dicamba sodium salt at different concentrations. Therefore, the ionic liquid self-assembly developed by a facile and green preparation approach to reduce the volatility and leaching of pesticides would have enormous potential in sustainable agriculture.

High-precision all-in-one dual robotic arm strategy in oral implant surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Dental implantation has emerged as an efficient substitute for missing teeth, which is essential for restoring oral function and aesthetics. Compared to traditional denture repair approaches, dental implants offer better stability and sustainability. The position, angle, and depth of dental implants are crucial factors for their long-term success and necessitate high-precision operation and technical support. METHOD: We propose an integrated dual-arm high-precision oral implant surgery navigation positioning system and a corresponding control strategy. Compared with traditional implant robots, the integrated dual-arm design greatly shortens the preparation time before surgery and simplifies the operation process. We propose a novel control flow and module for the proposed structure, including an Occluded Target Tracking Module (OTTM) for occlusion tracking, a Planting Plan Development Module (PPDM) for generating implant plans, and a Path Formulation Module (PFM) for controlling the movement path of the two robot arms. RESULT: Under the coordinated control of the aforementioned modules, the robot achieved excellent accuracy in clinical trials. The average angular error and entry point error for five patients who underwent implant surgery using the proposed robot were 2.1° and 0.39 mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: In essence, our study introduces an integrated dual-arm high-precision navigation system for oral implant surgery, resolving issues like lengthy preoperative preparation and static surgical planning. Clinical results confirm its efficacy, emphasizing its accuracy and precision in guiding oral implant procedures.

Carrier-free self-assembled nanoparticles based on prochloraz and fenhexamid for reducing toxicity to aquatic organism.

Nanoformulations of pesticides are an effective way to increase utilization efficiency and alleviate the adverse impacts on the environments caused by conventional pesticide formulations. However, the complex preparation process, high cost, and potential environmental risk of nanocarriers severely restricted practical applications of carrier-based pesticide nanoformulations in agriculture. Herein, carrier-free self-assembled nanoparticles (FHA-PRO NPs) based on fenhexamid (FHA) and prochloraz (PRO) were developed by a facile co-assembly strategy to improve utilization efficiency and reduce toxicity to aquatic organism of pesticides. The results showed that noncovalent interactions between negatively charged FHA and positively charged PRO led to core-shell structured nanoparticles arranged in an orderly manner dispersing in aqueous solution with a diameter of 256 nm. The prepared FHA-PRO NPs showed a typical pH-responsive release profile and exhibited excellent physicochemical properties including low surface tension and high max retention. The photostability of FHA-PRO NPs was improved 2.4 times compared with free PRO. The FHA-PRO NPs displayed superior fungicidal activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea and longer duration against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on potted rapeseed plants. Additionally, the FHA-PRO NPs reduced the acute toxicity of PRO to zebrafish significantly. Therefore, this work provided a promising strategy to develop nanoformulations of pesticides with stimuli-responsive controlled release characteristics for precise pesticide delivery.

Comparison of short-term outcomes of robotic versus open Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Meta-Analysis of randomized controlled trials and Propensity-Score-Matched studies.

BACKGROUND: Robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD) is used more commonly, but this surge is mostly based on observational data. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the short-term outcomes between RPD and open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD) using data collected from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and propensity score-matched (PSM) studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science databases for RCTs and PSM studies comparing RPD and OPD. Risk ratios (RRs) and mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: Twenty-four studies, encompassing two RCTs and 22 PSM studies, were included, with a total of 9393 patients (RPD group: 3919 patients; OPD group: 5474 patients). Although RPD was associated with a longer operative time (MD, 61.61 min), patients may benefit from reduced blood loss (MD, -154.05 mL), shorter length of stay (MD, -1.60 d), lower blood transfusion rate (RR, 0.85), and wound infection rate (RR, 0.61). There were no significant differences observed in 30-day readmission (RR, 0.99), 90-day mortality (RR, 0.97), overall morbidity (RR, 0.88), major complications (RR, 1.01), reoperation (RR, 1.08), bile leak (RR, 1.01), chylous leak (RR, 0.98), postoperative pancreatic fistula (RR, 0.97), postpancreatectomy hemorrhage (RR, 1.15), delayed gastric emptying (RR, 0.88), number of harvested lymph nodes (MD, -0.12), and R0 resection (RR, 1.01) between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although some short-term outcomes were similar between RPD and OPD, RPD exhibited reduced intraoperative blood loss, shorter hospital stays, lower wound infection, and blood transfusion rates. In the future, RPD may become a safe and effective alternative to OPD.

Robotic vs laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer: A propensity score matching cohort study and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Robotic surgery (RS) is gaining popularity; however, evidence for abdominoperineal resection (APR) of rectal cancer (RC) is scarce. AIM: To compare the efficacy of RS and laparoscopic surgery (LS) in APR for RC. METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients with RC who underwent APR by RS or LS from April 2016 to June 2022. Data regarding short-term surgical outcomes were compared between the two groups. To reduce the effect of potential confounding factors, propensity score matching was used, with a 1:1 ratio between the RS and LS groups. A meta-analysis of seven trials was performed to compare the efficacy of robotic and laparoscopic APR for RC surgery. RESULTS: Of 133 patients, after propensity score matching, there were 42 patients in each group. The postoperative complication rate was significantly lower in the RS group (17/42, 40.5%) than in the LS group (27/42, 64.3%) (P = 0.029). There was no significant difference in operative time (P = 0.564), intraoperative transfusion (P = 0.314), reoperation rate (P = 0.314), lymph nodes harvested (P = 0.309), or circumferential resection margin (CRM) positive rate (P = 0.314) between the two groups. The meta-analysis showed patients in the RS group had fewer positive CRMs (P = 0.04), lesser estimated blood loss (P < 0.00001), shorter postoperative hospital stays (P = 0.02), and fewer postoperative complications (P = 0.002) than patients in the LS group. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that RS is a safe and effective approach for APR in RC and offers better short-term outcomes than LS.

Determining toxicity of europium oxide nanoparticles in immune cell components and hematopoiesis in dominant organs in mice: Role of lysosomal fluid interaction.

Extensive application of rare earth element oxide nanoparticles (REE NPs) has raised a concern over the possible toxic health effects after human exposure. Once entering the body, REE NPs are primarily processed by phagocytes in particular macrophages and undergo biotic phosphate complexation in lysosomal compartment. Such biotransformation affects the target organs and in vivo fate of REE NPs after escaping the lysosomes. However, the immunomodulatory effects of intraphagolysosomal dissolved REE NPs remains insufficient. Here, europium oxide (Eu2O3) NPs were pre-incubated with phagolysosomal simulant fluid (PSF) to mimic the biotransformation of europium oxide (p-Eu2O3) NPs under acid phagolysosome conditions. We investigated the alteration in immune cell components and the hematopoiesis disturbance on adult mice after intravenous administration of Eu2O3 NPs and p-Eu2O3 NPs. Our results indicated that the liver and spleen were the main target organs for Eu2O3 NPs and p-Eu2O3 NPs. Eu2O3 NPs had a much higher accumulative potential in organs than p-Eu2O3 NPs. Eu2O3 NPs induced more alterations in immune cells in the spleen, while p-Eu2O3 NPs caused stronger response in the liver. Regarding hematopoietic disruption, Eu2O3 NPs reduced platelets (PLTs) in peripheral blood, which might be related to the inhibited erythrocyte differentiation in the spleen. By contrast, p-Eu2O3 NPs did not cause significant disturbance in peripheral PLTs. Our study demonstrated that the preincubation with PSF led to a distinct response in the immune system compared to the pristine REE NPs, suggesting that the potentially toxic effects induced by the release of NPs after phagocytosis should not be neglected, especially when evaluating the safety of NPs application in vivo.

Exploring the promoting effect of nitrilotriacetic acid on hydroxyl radical and humification during magnetite-amended composting of sewage sludge.

The OH production by adding magnetite (MGT) alone has been reported in composting. However, the potential of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) addition for magnetite-amended sludge composting remained unclear. Three treatments with different addition [control check (CK); T1: 5 % MGT; T2: 5 % MGT + 5 % NTA] were investigated to characterize hydroxyl radical, humification and bacterial community response. The NTA addition manifested the best performance, with the peak OH content increase by 52 % through facilitating the cycle of Fe(Ⅱ)/Fe(Ⅲ). It led to the highest organic matters degradation (22.3 %) and humic acids content (36.1 g/kg). Furthermore, NTA addition altered bacterial community response, promoting relative abundances of iron-redox related genera, and amino acid metabolism but decreasing carbohydrate metabolism. Structural equation model indicated that temperature and Streptomyces were the primary factors affecting OH content. The study suggests that utilizing chelators is a promising strategy to strengthen humification in sewage sludge composting with adding iron-containing minerals.

Meta-analysis: loop ileostomy versus colostomy to prevent complications of anterior resection for rectal cancer.

PURPOSE: Anastomotic leakage is a serious complication of colorectal cancer surgery, prolonging hospital stays and impacting patient prognosis. Preventive colostomy is required in patients at risk of anastomotic fistulas. However, it remains unclear whether the commonly used loop colostomy(LC) or loop ileostomy(LI) can reduce the complications of colorectal surgery. This study aims to compare perioperative morbidities associated with LC and LI following anterior rectal cancer resection, including LC and LI reversal. METHODS: In this meta-analysis, the Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for prospective cohort studies, retrospective cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on perioperative morbidity during stoma development and reversal up to July 2023, The meta-analysis included 10 trials with 2036 individuals (2 RCTs and 8 cohorts). RESULTS: No significant differences in morbidity, mortality, or stoma-related issues were found between the LI and LC groups after anterior resection surgery. However, patients in the LC group exhibited higher rates of stoma prolapse (RR: 0.39; 95%CI: 0.19-0.82; P = 0.01), retraction (RR: 0.45; 95%CI: 0.29-0.71; P < 0.01), surgical site infection (RR: 0.52; 95%CI: 0.27-1.00; P = 0.05) and incisional hernias (RR: 0.53; 95%CI: 0.32-0.89; P = 0.02) after stoma closure compared to those in the LI group. Conversely, the LI group showed higher rates of dehydration or electrolyte imbalances(RR: 2.98; 95%CI: 1.51-5.89; P < 0.01), high-output(RR: 6.17; 95%CI: 1.24-30.64; P = 0.03), and renal insufficiency post-surgery(RR: 2.51; 95%CI: 1.01-6.27; P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study strongly recommends a preventive LI for anterior resection due to rectal cancer. However, ileostomy is more likely to result in dehydration, renal insufficiency, and intestinal obstruction. More multicenter RCTs are needed to corroborate this.

Characteristics of humification, functional enzymes and bacterial community metabolism during manganese dioxide-added composting of municipal sludge.

The aim of this study was to assess effects of MnO2 addition (CK-0%, T1-2% and T2-5%) on humification and bacterial community during municipal sludge (MS) composting. The results suggested that MnO2 addition inhibited the growth of Nitrospira but stimulated Nonomuraea, Actinomadura, Streptomyces and Thermopolyspora, facilitating the lignocellulose degradation and humification with the increase in organic matter degradation by 13.8%-19.2% and humic acid content by 10.9%-20.6%. Compared to CK, the abundances of exoglucanase (EC:3.2.1.91), endo-1,4-beta-xylanase (EC:3.2.1.136) and endomannanase (EC:3.2.1.78) increased by 88-99, 52-66 and 4-15 folds, respectively. However, 5%-MnO2 induced the enrichment of Mizugakiibacter that harms the environment of agricultural production. The addition of 2%-MnO2 was recommended for MS composting. Furthermore, metabolic function analysis indicated that MnO2 addition altered amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism, especially enhancing propanoate metabolism and butanoate metabolism but inhibiting citrate cycle. Structural equation modeling revealed that Nonomuraea and Actinomadura were the main drivers for lignocellulose degradation. This study provided theoretical guidance in regulating humification via MnO2 for MS composting.

Investigating the impact of remnant cholesterol on new-onset stroke across diverse inflammation levels: Insights from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).

BACKGROUND: Prior research underscores the significant impact of remnant cholesterol (RC) on stroke occurrence due to its proatherogenic and proinflammatory traits. This study aims to explore diverse risks of new-onset stroke associated with RC, considering distinct inflammation levels in the middle-aged and senior population in China. METHODS: We analyzed 6509 participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) across four waves (2011-2018). We employed a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model, incorporated restricted cubic spline techniques, and conducted sensitivity analyses to evaluate the association among RC, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and the risk of new-onset stroke. RESULTS: Over 7 years, 540 new-onset strokes occurred. Individuals in the highest quartile of RC levels exhibited a heightened risk of new-onset stroke, with a multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) peaking at 1.50 (95% confidence interval 1.12-2.00, P for trend = 0.021), showing a non-linear correlation (P nonlinearity = 0.049). High hsCRP alone had an adjusted HR of 1.10 (95% CI 0.87-1.39), compared to 1.40 (95% CI 1.00-1.96) for high RC alone. Additionally, concurrent high RC and hsCRP showed an adjusted HR of 1.43 (95% CI 1.05-1.96). Consistency persisted across various hsCRP thresholds, after adjusting for additional parameters, or excluding chronic diseases in the primary model, reinforcing result robustness. CONCLUSION: Our findings reveal a substantial and non-linear association between higher baseline RC levels and an elevated risk of new-onset stroke. Moreover, elevated levels of both RC and hsCRP jointly pose the highest risk for new-onset stroke, surpassing the risk associated with each factor individually.

Advances in Novel Flame-Retardant Technologies for Fire-Safe Polymeric Materials.

This Special Issue, titled "Advances in Novel Flame-Retardant Technologies for Fire-Safe Polymeric Materials", aims to detail the recent advances in the design and preparation of novel flame retardants for use in fire-safe polymeric materials [...].

Hypothermic oxygenated perfusion in liver transplantation: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and matched studies.

BACKGROUND: Hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion (HOPE) is a novel organ-preservation technology designed to optimize organ quality. However, the effects of HOPE on morbidity and mortality after liver transplantation remain unclear. This meta-analysis evaluated the potential benefits of HOPE in liver transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases were searched for articles published up to 15 June 2023 (updated on 12 August 2023). Mean differences (MDs), risk ratios (RRs), and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: Eleven studies encompassing five randomized controlled trials and six matched studies were included, with a total of 1000 patients. HOPE did not reduce the incidence of major postoperative complications (RR 0.80), primary non-function (PNF) (RR 0.54), reperfusion syndrome (RR 0.92), hepatic artery thrombosis (RR 0.92), renal replacement therapy (RR 0.98), length of hospital stay (MD, -1.38 days), 1-year recipient death (RR 0.67), or intensive care unit stay (MD, 0.19 days) after liver transplantation. HOPE reduced the incidence of biliary complications (RR 0.74), non-anastomotic biliary strictures (NAS) (RR 0.34), early allograft dysfunction (EAD) (RR 0.54), and acute rejection (RR 0.54). In addition, HOPE improved the retransplantation (RR 0.42) and 1-year graft loss rates (RR 0.38). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with static cold storage (SCS), HOPE can reduce the incidence of biliary complications, NAS, EAD, and acute rejection and retransplantation rate after liver transplantation and improve the 1-year graft loss rate. These findings suggest that HOPE, when compared to SCS, can contribute to minimizing complications and enhancing graft survival in liver transplantation. Further research is needed to investigate long-term outcomes and confirm the promising advantages of HOPE in liver transplantation settings.