Risk Factors of Tuberculosis Destroyed Lung in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Structural Lung Diseases: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Background: Tuberculosis destroyed lung constitutes a significant worldwide public health challenge, little is known about its associated risk factors and prognosis. Our study aimed to identify the risk factors of tuberculosis destroyed lung among pulmonary tuberculosis and structural lung diseases. Methods: Between January 2019 and December 2021, a case-control study was conducted at the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen in China. We collected the clinical data among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and structural lung diseases. Cases were defined as patients with tuberculosis destroyed lung. Controls were not diagnosed with the tuberculosis destroyed lung. A binary logistic regression was performed. Results: In our study, a total of 341 patients met the inclusion criteria, including 182 cases and 159 controls. We found that age ranges of 46-60 years (aOR: 4.879; 95% CI: 2.338-10.180), >60 years (aOR: 3.384; 95% CI: 1.481-7.735); history of TB treatment (aOR: 2.729; 95% CI: 1.606-4.638); malnutrition (aOR: 5.126; 95% CI: 1.359-19.335); respiratory failure (aOR: 5.080; 95% CI: 1.491-17.306); and bronchiarctia (aOR: 3.499; 95% CI: 1.330-9.209) were the independent risk factors for tuberculosis destroyed lung. Conversely, having a normal (aOR: 0.207; 95% CI: 0.116-0.371) or overweight BMI (aOR: 0.259; 95% CI: 0.090-0.747) emerged as a protective factor against tuberculosis destroyed lung. Conclusion: This study indicated that tuberculosis destroyed lung is a common condition among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and structural lung diseases. The independent risk factors for tuberculosis destroyed lung were identified as being within the age groups of 46-60 and over 60 years, having a previous history of TB treatment, malnutrition, respiratory failure, and bronchiarctia. It is essential to closely monitor patients possessing these risk factors to prevent the progression towards tuberculosis destroyed lung.

A natural small molecule aspidosperma-type alkaloid, hecubine, as a new TREM2 activator for alleviating lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation in vitro and in vivo.

Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. The triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2), highly expressed by microglia in the central nervous system (CNS), can modulate neuroinflammatory responses. Currently, there are no approved drugs specifically targeting TREM2 for CNS diseases. Aspidosperma alkaloids have shown potential as anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective agents. This study aimed to elucidate the potential therapeutic effect of Hecubine, a natural aspidosperma-type alkaloid, as a TREM2 activator in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated neuroinflammation in in vitro and in vivo models. In this study, molecular docking and cellular thermal shift assay (CTSA) were employed to investigate the interaction between Hecubine and TREM2. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), quantitative PCR, immunofluorescence, Western blotting, and shRNA gene knockdown were used to assess the anti-neuroinflammatory and antioxidant effects of Hecubine in microglial cells and zebrafish. Our results revealed that Hecubine directly interacted with TREM2, leading to its activation. Knockdown of TREM2 mRNA expression significantly abolished the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Hecubine on LPS-stimulated proinflammatory mediators (NO, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß) and oxidative stress in microglia cells. Furthermore, Hecubine upregulated Nrf2 expression levels while downregulating TLR4 signaling expression levels both in vivo and in vitro. Silencing TREM2 upregulated TLR4 and downregulated Nrf2 signaling pathways, mimicking the effect of Hecubine, further supporting TREM2 as the drug target by which Hecubine inhibits neuroinflammation. In conclusion, this is the first study to identify a small molecule, namely Hecubine directly targeting TREM2 to mediate anti-neuroinflammation and anti-oxidative effects, which serves as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of neural inflammation-associated CNS diseases.

Pretreatment with long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists improved pregnancy outcomes after hysteroscopic multiple polypectomies: A retrospective study of 660 frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the reproductive pregnancy outcomes of pretreatment with long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) plus hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with HRT-only cycles, and investigate differences between single polypectomy and multiple polypectomies, and between one or two doses of GnRH-a. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study on patients undergoing polypectomy who underwent frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) from March 2018 to May 2019. They were divided into GnRH-a pretreatment and HRT-only groups. Each group was divided into single polypectomy or multiple polypectomies (in a single hysteroscopic session) subgroups. Clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate (LBR) were the main outcomes. The effect of GnRH-a dosage was further analysed. RESULTS: There were 212 GnRH-a pretreatment cases (45 single and 167 multiple polyps) and 448 HRT-only cases (228 single and 220 multiple polyps). The LBR of the GnRH-a pretreatment group (53.3%) was significantly higher than the HRT group (43.3%; P = 0.016). Logistic regression analysis showed that GnRH-a pretreatment significantly affected the LBR (odds ratio, OR 1.470, 95% confidence interval, Cl 1.046-2.065; P = 0.026). In the multiple polypectomy subgroup, the LBR with GnRH-a pretreatment was higher than with HRT-only (54.5% vs 43.6%; P = 0.034). However, the LBR was not different between the respective single polypectomy subgroups (48.9% vs 43.0%; P = 0.466). For patients with multiple polyps, two GnRH-a pretreatments produced a higher LBR than a single GnRH-a pretreatment (62.7% vs 47.8%), but without significant difference (P = 0.055). CONCLUSION: GnRH-a pretreatment improved the LBR for FET cycles after hysteroscopic multiple polypectomies, independent of dose.

Causal effects of rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis on membranous nephropathy: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the leading cause of adult-onset nephrotic syndrome, with primary MN of unclear cause accounting for 80% of cases. Retrospective clinical research reported that MN occurring in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients was triggered by nephrotoxic drugs or of unknown cause. However, whether RA or AS itself increases the risk of developing MN is unknown. Methods: We conducted mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to evaluate the causal effects of RA or AS on MN using genome-wide association study (GWAS) statistics. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was the primary analysis, and several supplementary analyses and sensitivity analyses were performed to test the causal estimates. Results: We obtained 30 valid instrumental variables (IVs) of RA and 16 valid IVs of AS from large-scale open-access GWASs. The genetically predicted RA significantly increased the risk of MN [IVW odds ratios (OR) = 1.327, 95% confidence interval (CI) = (1.124, 1.565), P = 8.051 × 10-4]. Three supplementary MR analyses provided the consistent positive causal effect of RA on MN (all P < 0.05). No horizontal pleiotropy was detected by MR Egger intercept analysis (P = 0.411). However, the genetically predicted AS had no causal effect on MN by IVW and supplementary analysis (all P > 0.05). Conclusions: Genetically predicted RA could increase the risk of MN, but genetically predicted AS was not associated with MN. Screening for kidney involvement in RA patients should be noted, and active treatment of RA will reduce the public health burden of MN.

Predictive value of risk factors for bladder dysfunction in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze risk factors associated with bladder dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to construct a prediction model for early prediction of diabetic bladder dysfunction (DBD). METHODS: We included hospitalized patients with T2DM from the endocrinology department of Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China, from January 2019 to 2022. Factors associated with DBD in bivariate analysis with a p < 0.05 were included in a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent risk factors and to construct a prediction model. The prediction model was presented as the model formula. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of the above risk factors and the prediction model for DBD. The model was internally verified by Boostrap resampling 1000 times. RESULTS: Two hundred and eleven patients were included in this study, and they were divided into the DBD group (n = 101) and the non-DBD group (n = 110). Eight variables showed significant significance in the bivariate analysis, including age, diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), urinary microalbumin (mALB), red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC), absolute neutrophil count (ANC), percentage of monocyte (Mono%). Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age (OR [95% CI]: 1.077 [1.042-1.112]), p < 0.001; DPN (OR [95% CI]: 2.373 [1.013-5.561]), p = 0.047; HbA1c (OR [95% CI]: 1.170 [1.029-1.330]), p = 0.017 and ANC (OR [95% CI]: 1.234 [1.059-1.438]), p = 0.007 were independent risk factors for the DBD. The prediction model formula was Logit (p) = -6.611 + 0.074 age + 0.864 DPN + 0.157 HbA 1 c + 0.078 ANC. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for the four risk factors were 0.676, 0.582, 0.618, and 0.674, respectively. The prediction model predicted DBD with higher accuracy than the individual risk factors, AUC = 0.817 (95% CI: 0.757-0.877), and the sensitivity and specificity were 88.1% and 50.0%, respectively. The model internal validation results showed that the AUC = 0.804 (95% CI: 0.707-0.901), and the calibration curve is close to the ideal diagonal line. CONCLUSIONS: Age, DPN, HbA1c, and ANC were risk factors for DBD. The prediction model constructed based on the four risk factors had a good predictive value for predicting the occurrence of DBD.

Quality and spatial intensity distribution characteristics of short-exposure spot images of a supercontinuum laser in a turbulent atmosphere.

In this study, considering the combined effects of atmospheric attenuation and turbulence, we examine the spot quality and spatial intensity distribution characteristics of a supercontinuum (SC) laser propagating in a turbulent atmosphere using the multi-layer phase-screen method. An increase in turbulence strength or a decrease in the initial beam radius resulted in a greater impact of the atmospheric turbulence on the SC laser. A decrease in source coherence results in the deterioration of the image quality of the far-field spot. Under moderate to strong turbulence, the scintillation index decreased as the source coherence decreased; however, the opposite trend was observed under weak turbulence. These results are significant for the advancement and optimization of SC laser systems.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Urinary Tract Infection in Patients with Diabetic Neuropathy: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Diabetic neurogenic bladder is one of the common complications in patients with diabetic neuropathy. However, studies reporting the prevalence and associated factors of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in patients with diabetic neuropathy are rare. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the prevalence and influencing factors of UTI in patients with diabetic neuropathy. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study that recruited patients with diabetic neuropathy was conducted from January 2019 to December 2021. Collected data included patient demographic information (age, sex, education level, body mass index), clinical data (duration of diabetes, method of administration), and laboratory tests. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify the factors associated with UTI risk. The strength of association was expressed as the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: A total of 579 patients were recruited (male, 68.2%; overall average age, 57.89 years). Using multivariate analysis with adjustment for confounding factors, female sex (odds ratio [OR]: 4.12; 95% CI: 2.24-7.60; P < 0.001), hypodermic insulin injection (OR: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.02-4.35; P = 0.045), chronic kidney disease (OR: 3.12; 95% CI: 1.11-8.80; P = 0.032), history of UTI (OR = 45.92; 95% CI: 8.62-244.76; P < 0.001), positive urinary nitrite (OR: 32.87; 95% CI: 7.37-146.70; P < 0.001), and high residual urine volume (OR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.17-4.10; P = 0.014) were independent risk factors for UTI in patients with diabetic neuropathy. Compared with the patients aged <45 years, UTI prevalence increased 2.91-fold in patients aged 45-54 years (OR: 3.91; 95% CI: 1.02-15.03; P = 0.047) and 3.87-fold in those aged ≥65 years (OR: 4.87; 95% CI: 1.23-19.25; P = 0.024). Conclusion: The main findings of this study showed that older age, female sex, hypodermic insulin injection, CKD, history of UTI, and positive urinary nitrite were independent risk factors for UTI in patients with diabetic neuropathy. To minimize the occurrence and resulting disease burden of UTI, knowledge regarding UTI risk factors in patients with diabetic neuropathy is critical to designate interventions.

An attempt to simultaneously quantify the polysaccharide, total lipid, protein and pigment in single Cyclotella cryptica cell by Raman spectroscopy.

BACKGROUND: At present, the conventional methods for determining photosynthetic products of microalgae are usually based on a large number of cell mass to reach the measurement baseline, and the result can only reveal the average state at the population level, which is not feasible for large-scale and rapid screening of specific phenotypes from a large number of potential microalgae mutants. In recent years, single-cell Raman spectra (SCRS) has been proved to be able to rapidly and simultaneously quantify the biochemical components of microalgae. However, this method has not been reported to analyze the biochemical components of Cyclotella cryptica (C. cryptica). Thus, SCRS was first attempt to determine these four biochemical components in this diatom. RESULTS: The method based on SCRS was established to simultaneously quantify the contents of polysaccharide, total lipids, protein and Chl-a in C. cryptica, with thirteen Raman bands were found to be the main marker bands for the diatom components. Moreover, Partial Least Square Regression (PLSR) models based on full spectrum can reliably predict these four cellular components, with Pearson correlation coefficient for these components reached 0.949, 0.904, 0.801 and 0.917, respectively. Finally, based on SCRS data of one isogenic sample, the pairwise correlation and dynamic transformation process of these components can be analyzed by Intra-ramanome Correlation Analysis (IRCA), and the results showed silicon starvation could promote the carbon in C. cryptica cells to flow from protein and pigment metabolism to polysaccharide and lipid metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: First, method for the simultaneous quantification of the polysaccharide, total lipid, protein and pigment in single C. cryptica cell are established. Second, the instant interconversion of intracellular components was constructed through IRCA, which is based on data set of one isogenic population and more precision and timeliness. Finally, total results indicated that silicon deficiency could promote the carbon in C. cryptica cells to flow from protein and pigment metabolism to polysaccharide and lipid metabolism.

Differential renal proteomics analysis in a novel rat model of iodinated contrast-induced acute kidney injury.

Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI), which occurs after the use of iodinated contrast media, has become the third leading cause of hospital-acquired acute kidney injury (AKI). It is associated with prolonged hospitalization and increased risks of end-stage renal disease and mortality. The pathogenesis of CI-AKI is unclear and effective treatments are lacking. By comparing different post-nephrectomy times and dehydration times, we constructed a new, short-course CI-AKI model using dehydration for 24 h two weeks after unilateral nephrectomy. We found that the low-osmolality contrast media iohexol caused more severe renal function decline, renal morphological damage, and mitochondrial ultrastructural alterations compared to the iso-osmolality contrast media iodixanol. The shotgun proteomics based on Tandem Mass Tag (TMT) was used to conduct proteomics research on renal tissue in the new CI-AKI model, and 604 distinct proteins were identified, mainly involving complement and coagulation cascade, COVID-19, PPAR signalling pathway, mineral absorption, cholesterol metabolism, ferroptosis, staphylococcus aureus infection, systemic lupus erythematosus, folate biosynthesis, and proximal tubule bicarbonate reclamation. Then, using parallel reaction monitoring (PRM), we validate 16 candidate proteins, of which five were novel candidates (Serpina1, Apoa1, F2, Plg, Hrg) previously unrelated to AKI and associated with an acute response as well as fibrinolysis. The pathway analysis and 16 candidate proteins may help to discover new mechanisms in the pathogenesis of CI-AKI, allowing for early diagnosis and outcome prediction.

Factors Associated with Nutritional Risk in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Structural Lung Disease: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: Patients with tuberculosis have a high nutritional risk, and patients with tuberculosis and structural lung disease have a poor quality of life. However, few studies have investigated the nutritional risk of patients with tuberculosis and structural lung disease. This study aimed to evaluate nutritional risk in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and structural lung disease and to identify factors associated with nutritional risk in this population. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis and structural lung disease admitted to The Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, China between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021. We assessed participants' nutritional risk using the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 tool, and analyzed the relationship between nutritional risk and sociodemographic factors, disease status, and laboratory test results. Results: Of the 415 participants, 53.5% were at nutritional risk on admission to the hospital. Nutritional risk was significantly associated with being unmarried, destroyed lung, and red blood cell (RBC) and lymphocyte counts. Conclusion: Patients with tuberculosis and structural lung disease had a high prevalence of nutritional risk. The main factors associated with nutritional risk were being unmarried, lung cavitation, and low RBC and lymphocyte counts. Patients hospitalized with pulmonary TB should be evaluated for nutritional risk. Moreover, unmarried patients and patients with lung cavitation or low RBC or lymphocyte counts should be closely monitored.

Guideline for the treatment of no light perception eyes induced by mechanical ocular trauma.

Severe mechanical ocular trauma with no light perception (NLP) predicts a poor prognosis of visual acuity and enucleation of the eyeball. Since the innovative treatment concept of exploratory vitreoretinal surgery has developed and treatment technology has advanced, the outcomes of severe ocular trauma treatment in NLP patients have greatly improved. However, there remains a lack of unified standards for the determination, surgical indication, and timing of vitrectomy in NLP eye treatment. To address these problems, we aimed to create evidence-based medical guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of mechanical ocular trauma with NLP. Sixteen relevant recommendations for mechanical ocular trauma with NLP were obtained, and a consensus was reached. Each recommendation was explained in detail to guide the treatment of mechanical ocular trauma associated with NLP.

TRPV1 Modulator Ameliorates Alzheimer-Like Amyloid-ß Neuropathology via Akt/Gsk3ß-Mediated Nrf2 Activation in the Neuro-2a/APP Cell Model.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder for which there is no effective therapeutic strategy. PcActx peptide from the transcriptome of zoantharian Palythoa caribaeorum has recently been identified and verified as a novel antagonist of transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1). In the present study, we further investigated the neuroprotective potential of PcActx peptide and its underlying mechanism of action, in an N2a/APP cell model of AD. Both Western blot and RT-PCR analysis revealed that PcActx peptide markedly inhibited the production of amyloid-related proteins and the expression of BACE1, PSEN1, and PSEN2. Moreover, PcActx peptide notably attenuated the capsaicin-stimulated calcium response and prevented the phosphorylation of CaMKII and CaMKIV (calcium-mediated proteins) in N2a/APP cells. Further investigation indicated that PcActx peptide significantly suppressed ROS generation through Nrf2 activation, followed by enhanced NQO1 and HO-1 levels. In addition, PcActx peptide remarkably improved Akt phosphorylation at Ser 473 (active) and Gsk3ß phosphorylation at Ser 9 (inactive), while pharmacological inhibition of the Akt/Gsk3ß pathway significantly attenuated PcActx-induced Nrf2 activation and amyloid downregulation. In conclusion, PcActx peptide functions as a TRPV1 modulator of intercellular calcium homeostasis, prevents AD-like amyloid neuropathology via Akt/Gsk3ß-mediated Nrf2 activation, and shows promise as an alternative therapeutic agent for AD.

Prediction of Mortality Risk After Ischemic Acute Kidney Injury With a Novel Prognostic Model: A Multivariable Prediction Model Development and Validation Study.

Background and Objectives: Acute kidney injury (AKI) that results from ischemia is a common clinical syndrome and correlates with high morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients. However, a clinical tool to predict mortality risk of ischemic AKI is not available. In this study, we aimed to develop and validate models to predict the 30-day and 1-year mortality risk of hospitalized patients with ischemic AKI. Methods: A total of 1,836 admissions with ischemic AKI were recruited from 277,898 inpatients admitted to three affiliated tertiary general hospitals of Central South University in China between January 2015 and December 2015. Patients in the final analysis were followed up for 1 year. Study patients were randomly divided in a 7:3 ratio to form the training cohort and validation cohort. Multivariable regression analyses were used for developing mortality prediction models. Results: Hepatorenal syndrome, shock, central nervous system failure, Charlson comorbidity index (≥2 points), mechanical ventilation, renal function at discharge were independent risk factors for 30-day mortality after ischemic AKI, while malignancy, sepsis, heart failure, liver failure, Charlson comorbidity index (≥2 points), mechanical ventilation, and renal function at discharge were predictors for 1-year mortality. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) of 30-day prediction model were 0.878 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.849-0.908) in the training cohort and 0.867 (95% CI: 0.820-0.913) in the validation cohort. The AUROCs of the 1-year mortality prediction in the training and validation cohort were 0.803 (95% CI: 0.772-0.834) and 0.788 (95% CI: 0.741-0.835), respectively. Conclusion: Our easily applied prediction models can effectively identify individuals at high mortality risk within 30 days or 1 year in hospitalized patients with ischemic AKI. It can guide the optimal clinical management to minimize mortality after an episode of ischemic AKI.

A Neuropeptide Y/F-like Polypeptide Derived from the Transcriptome of Turbinaria peltata Suppresses LPS-Induced Astrocytic Inflammation.

Neuropeptides are a group of neuronal signaling molecules that regulate physiological and behavioral processes in animals. Here, we used in silico mining to predict the polypeptide composition of available transcriptomic data of Turbinaria peltata. In total, 118 transcripts encoding putative peptide precursors were discovered. One neuropeptide Y/F-like peptide, named TpNPY, was identified and selected for in silico structural, in silico binding, and pharmacological studies. In our study, the anti-inflammation effect of TpNPY was evaluated using an LPS-stimulated C8-D1A astrocyte cell model. Our results demonstrated that TpNPY, at 0.75-3 µM, inhibited LPS-induced NO production and reduced the expression of iNOS in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, TpNPY reduced the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. Additionally, treatment with TpNPY reduced LPS-mediated elevation of ROS production and the intracellular calcium concentration. Further investigation revealed that TpNPY downregulated the IKK/IκB/NF-κB signaling pathway and inhibited expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Through molecular docking and using an NPY receptor antagonist, TpNPY was shown to have the ability to interact with the NPY Y1 receptor. On the basis of these findings, we concluded that TpNPY might prevent LPS-induced injury in astrocytes through activation of the NPY-Y1R.

Acute Kidney Disease in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients With Acute Kidney Injury in China.

Objective: The epidemiology and outcomes of acute kidney disease (AKD) after acute kidney injury (AKI) in hospitalized children are poorly described. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence, predictive factors, and clinical outcomes of AKD in hospitalized children with AKI. Methods: Children (1 month-18 years) with AKI during hospitalization in the Second Xiangya Hospital from January 2015 to December 2020 were identified. AKD was defined based on the consensus report of the Acute Disease Quality Initiative 16 workgroup. The endpoints include adverse outcomes in 30 and 90 days. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the odds ratio of 30- and 90-day adverse outcomes associated with AKD and identify the risk factors of AKD. Results: AKD was developed in 42.3% (419/990) of the study patients, with 186 in AKD stage 1, 107 in AKD stage 2, and 126 in AKD stage 3. Pediatric patients with AKD stages 2-3 had significantly higher rates of developing 30- and 90-day adverse outcomes than those with AKD stage 0 and 1. The adjusted odds ratio of AKD stage 2-3 was 12.18 (95% confidence interval (CI), 7.38 - 20.09) for 30-day adverse outcomes and decreased to 2.49 (95% CI, 1.26 - 4.91) for 90-day adverse outcomes. AKI stages 2 and 3, as well as glomerulonephritis, were the only predictive factors for AKD stage 2-3. Conclusion: AKD is frequent among hospitalized pediatric AKI patients. AKD stage 2-3 represents a high-risk subpopulation among pediatric AKI survivors and is independently associated with 30- and 90-day adverse outcomes. Awareness of the potential risks associated with AKD stage 2-3 and its risk factors may help improve outcomes through careful monitoring and timely intervention.

Amelioration of Coastal Salt-Affected Soils with Biochar, Acid Modified Biochar and Wood Vinegar: Enhanced Nutrient Availability and Bacterial Community Modulation.

As an important part of the ecological environment, degraded coastal soils urgently require efficient and eco-friendly soil amendment. Biochar and wood vinegar have been proved to be effective soil amendments, and acid-modified biochar has great potential in ameliorating the degraded coastal saline-alkali soil. However, the effects of individual or combined application of biochar (BC), acid-modified biochar (ABC), and wood vinegar (WV) on coastal saline-alkali soil are unknown. Hence, biochar, wood vinegar, and acid-modified biochar were prepared by pyrolysis of poplar wood. The properties of biochar were characterized, and soil incubation experiments were conducted. The results showed that ABC decreased the soil alkalinity by acid-base neutralization and improved the soil fertility by increasing the nutrients (C, N, P). ABC provided a more suitable environment and changed the abundance and diversity of soil microorganisms. ABC increased the relative contents of specific families (e.g., Pseudomonadaceae and Sphingomonadaceae), which had strong ecological linkages in the C, N, and P cycles and organic matter degradation. The results indicated that WV had little effect on coastal saline-alkali soil, whereas individual and combined application of biochar (especially ABC) showed an efficient remediation effect. Our preliminary study demonstrated that the ABC could be a suitable solution for ameliorating degraded coastal saline-alkali soils.

Study on the intervention effect and mechanism of bacillus Calmette-Guerin polysaccharide and nucleic acid injection on atopic dermatitis by targeting the transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 pathway.

Background: This study aimed to explore the mechanism of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin polysaccharide and nucleic acid injection (BCG-PSN) targeting the transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1) pathway for atopic dermatitis (AD) in mice. Methods: Experiment 1: a total of 30 Kunming (KM) mice were randomized into blank control, model, BCG-PSN low-dose (25 g/kg), BCG-PSN medium-dose (75 g/kg), BCG-PSN high-dose (225 g/kg), and positive drug (hydrocortisone 25 mg/kg) control groups. The AD model mice were established by induction with 2,4-Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). After treatment in groups, the symptom score and scratching frequency in skin lesions were observed. The levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-31, and IL-13 in serum were detected, as well as the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), TRPV1, and nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65 in skin lesions in each group. Experiment 2: the optimal dose of BCG-PSN in Experiment 1 was adopted. A total of 20 KM mice were randomized into blank control, model, BCG-PSN, and BCG-PSN + PAC (PAC-14028) groups. The symptom score and scratching frequency in skin lesions were observed. The levels of IgE, IL-4, IL-31, and IL-13 in serum were detected, as well as the levels of TNF-α and TRPV1 in skin lesions in each group. Results: In Experiment 1, compared with the blank control group, the ear tissues of mice in model groups developed AD, with increased symptom score, scratching frequency, levels of IgE, IL-4, IL-31, and IL-13 in serum and levels of TNF-α, TRPV1, and NF-κB p65 in skin lesions. Compared with the model group, BCG-PSN low-dose, BCG-PSN medium-dose, BCG-PSN high-dose, and positive drug control groups had reduced AD symptoms, decreased symptom score, and decreased scratching frequency, with declined expression of each inflammatory substance, including the greatest decrease in the medium-dose group. In Experiment 2, after BCG-PSN was combined with PAC, the inflammation indexes decreased compared with those in the model group, and increased compared with those in the BCG-PSN group. Conclusions: Intramuscular BCG-PSN can target the TRPV1 pathway, inhibit inflammation, and improve the symptoms of AD mice.

Correlation Between Matrix Metalloproteinases With Coronary Artery Lesion Caused by Kawasaki Disease.

This study was designed to clarify the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in coronary artery lesions (CAL). Serum samples were acquired from healthy, febrile, and Kawasaki disease (KD) children with or without CAL. Standard blood parameters were examined and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to assess the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy was conducted on the KD patients and the changes of MMPs before and after treatment were compared. The correlations between MMP levels and clinical parameters were also evaluated. Compared to febrile and healthy controls, KD patients demonstrated clinical signs characteristic of abnormal immunoregulation. However, the clinical parameters of KD patients with or without CAL were not significantly different. MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels, however, were significantly higher in KD patients with CAL than those without CAL. IVIG treatment effectively downregulated the levels of MMPs in KD patients, which was more prominent in those with CAL. Significant correlations were found between MMP levels and some clinical parameters of KD, such as fever time, white blood cell count, etc. The upregulation of MMPs significantly correlates with coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) in KD patients, making it important biomarkers of CAL in KD patients.

The development of behavioral sensitization induced by a single morphine exposure in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio).

BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence suggest that behavioral sensitization is involved in the process of drug addiction. Zebrafish are sensitive to a variety of addictive drugs and are thus suitable for the study of behavioral sensitization. However, in contrast to mature rodent models of behavioral sensitization, how this phenomenon manifests in aquatic organisms, especially zebrafish, is largely unknown. In this study, we developed a morphine-induced behavioral sensitization adult zebrafish model and performed a preliminary investigation of the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Behavioral sensitization was established in zebrafish by observing their behavior after treatment and challenge with morphine. The effect of morphine was evaluated by a behavioral locomotor test. Different doses of morphine and withdrawal times were used to evaluate the establishment of the behavioral sensitization model. RESULTS: Hyperlocomotion was induced after administration of morphine in adult zebrafish. After withdrawing the drug for a period, challenge with low-dose morphine evoked behavioral sensitization in zebrafish acutely pre-treated with morphine. Low-dose morphine failed to induce behavioral sensitization in zebrafish if the withdrawal time was less than 5 days or more than 7 days. Morphine induced behavioral sensitization in zebrafish may involve dopaminergic, glutamatergic and opioid systems. CONCLUSION: A single low-dose of morphine could induce behavioral sensitization in zebrafish acutely pre-treated with morphine, and this phenomenon was highly correlated with drug dose and withdrawal time. These findings suggest that zebrafish is a suitable model for the study of behavioral sensitization.