Associations Between Severe Influenza-Complicated Thromboembolism Events, Intensive Care Unit Stays and Mortality, and Associated Risk Factors: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

The association between influenza infection and thromboembolism (TE) events, including cardiovascular events, cerebrovascular events, pulmonary embolism, and deep vein thrombosis, is supported by compelling evidence. However, there is a disparity in the risk factors that impact the outcomes of severe influenza-complicated TE in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of severe influenza-complicated TE in ICU patients and identify any associated risk factors. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, recruiting consecutive patients with TE events admitted to the ICU between December 2015 through December 2018 at our institution in Taiwan. The study included a group of 108 patients with severe influenza and a control group of 192 patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia. Associations between complicated TE, length of ICU stay, and 90-day mortality were evaluated using logistic regression analysis, and risk factors were identified using univariate and multivariate generalized linear regression analyses. RESULTS: TE event prevalence was significantly higher in ICU patients with severe influenza than in ICU patients with severe CAP (21.3% vs. 5.7%, respectively; p < 0.05). Patients with severe influenza who developed TE experienced a significant increase in the ratio of mechanical ventilation use, length of mechanical ventilation use, ICU stay, and 90-day mortality when compared to patients without TE (all p < 0.05). The comparison of severe CAP patients with and without TE revealed no significant differences (p > 0.05). The development of thromboembolic events in patients with severe influenza or severe noninfluenza CAP is linked to influenza infection and hypertension (p < 0.05). Furthermore, complicated TE and the severity of the APACHE II score are risk factors for 90-day mortality in ICU patients with severe influenza (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with severe influenza and complicated TE are more likely to have an extended ICU stay and 90-day mortality than patients with severe CAP. The risk is significantly higher for patients with a higher APACHE II score. The results of this study may aid in defining better strategies for early recognition and prevention of severe influenza-complicated TE.

Sensorimotor Processing in Elite and Sub-Elite Adolescent Sprinters during Sprint Starts: An Electrophysiological Study.

Most studies on sprint performance have focused on kinematics and kinetics of the musculoskeletal system for adults, with little research on the central sensorimotor transmission and processes, especially for adolescent sprinters. This study aimed to determine whether differences in the integrity of the central auditory system and audiomotor transmissions between the elite and sub-elite adolescent sprinters may affect their performance in the 100 m time. Twenty-nine adolescent junior high school students, including elite national-class and sub-elite regional-class athletes, were assessed. Visual and auditory evoked potentials (VEP and AEP) as well as electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) were recorded and analyzed during a sprint start. The electrophysiological results clearly reveal differences in central auditory transmission between elite and sub-elite groups, and between sexes. There were significant differences between elite and sub-elite groups, and during a sprint start, the EEG activities for elite female and male athletes showed significant time-dependent differences in peak amplitudes following the three auditory cues (ready, set, and gunshot). These findings can provide coaches with a more comprehensive consideration for sports-specific selection based on the athletes' individual conditions, e.g., sensorimotor neuroplastic training for providing precise and efficient training methods to improve young sprinters' performance.

ß-TrCP-Mediated Proteolysis of Mis18ß Prevents Mislocalization of CENP-A and Chromosomal Instability.

Restricting the localization of evolutionarily conserved histone H3 variant CENP-A to the centromere is essential to prevent chromosomal instability (CIN), an important hallmark of cancers. Overexpressed CENP-A mislocalizes to non-centromeric regions and contributes to CIN in yeast, flies, and human cells. Centromeric localization of CENP-A is facilitated by the interaction of Mis18ß with CENP-A specific chaperone HJURP. Cellular levels of Mis18ß are regulated by ß-transducin repeat containing protein (ß-TrCP), an F-box protein of SCF (Skp1, Cullin, F-box) E3-ubiquitin ligase complex. Here, we show that defects in ß-TrCP-mediated proteolysis of Mis18ß contributes to the mislocalization of endogenous CENP-A and CIN in a triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line, MDA-MB-231. CENP-A mislocalization in ß-TrCP depleted cells is dependent on high levels of Mis18ß as depletion of Mis18ß suppresses mislocalization of CENP-A in these cells. Consistent with these results, endogenous CENP-A is mislocalized in cells overexpressing Mis18ß alone. In summary, our results show that ß-TrCP-mediated degradation of Mis18ß prevents mislocalization of CENP-A and CIN. We propose that deregulated expression of Mis18ß may be one of the key mechanisms that contributes to chromosome segregation defects in cancers.

Functional variants of the pentraxin 3 gene are associated with the metastasis and progression of prostate cancer.

Age, ethnic background and genetic components have been identified as the established risks for prostate cancer (PCa). Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), originally identified as a pattern-recognition molecule for defence against infectious agents, has multiple functions in tissue repair and in the regulation of cancer-associated inflammation. In this study, we sought to investigate the impact of PTX3 gene variants on the development of PCa. Genotypes of four common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of PTX3 gene, including rs1840680, rs2305619, rs3816527 and rs2120243, were profiled among 705 PCa patients and 705 ethnicity-matched controls. In this study, we found that patients who carry at least one minor allele (C) of rs3816527 (AC and CC) tended to develop advanced forms of diseases (clinical large T stage, OR, 1.593, p = 0.032; pathologically-confirmed nodal spread, OR, 1.987, p = 0.011; metastatic tumour, OR, 3.896, p = 0.032) as compared with those homologous for the major allele (AA). Further stratification analysis showed that such association of rs3816527 with lymphatic and distal metastasis of PCa was accentuated in the younger age group (≤65 at diagnosis) but not seen in the older age group (>65 at diagnosis), suggesting an age-specific effect of PTX3 variants. Prediction of PTX3 protein structure implied that polymorphism may alter the quaternary organization and oligomerization of PTX3 protein. Moreover, our gene silencing experiments and survey of public datasets revealed that elevation of PTX3 levels in PCa was required for cell migration and associated with tumour metastasis. Our results highlight an association of PTX3 rs3816527 with the progression of PCa.

Upper Gastrointestinal Involvement in Crohn's Disease as an Independent Predictor of New-Onset Strictures: Insights from an Extensive Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Crohn's Disease (CD) can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract, including the upper sections (UGI), which is often overlooked, especially in Asian populations. There's a notable gap in research regarding the impact of UGI involvement on the intricate landscape of ensuing complications. This study aims to address this gap. METHODS: Conducting a retrospective study at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital from January 2001 to September 2023, we compared CD patients with UGI (Montreal L4) involvement against non-L4 counterparts, focusing on baseline characteristics, post-diagnosis complications, and overall outcomes. Routine UGI endoscopy was performed around the time of diagnosis in all patients followed in our inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) center, and all CD patients with adequate follow-up were included in this study. RESULTS: The study included 212 CD patients, 111 in the L4 group and 101 in the non-L4 group, with an average follow-up of 40.8 ± 15.1 months. At baseline, individuals in the L4 category demonstrated elevated smoking rates, increased Crohn's Disease Activity Index scores, a higher prevalence of strictures, and a more prevalent usage of biologics and proton pump inhibitors. Moreover, this group was characterized by reduced albumin levels. Upon concluding the follow-up, those with L4 involvement continued to show escalated CDAI scores and hospitalization frequencies, alongside heightened C-reactive protein levels and diminished albumin concentrations. Additionally, the occurrence of UGI involvement, stricturing disease at the time of diagnosis, and a younger age at the onset of CD were pinpointed as independent predictors for the development of new-onset strictures. CONCLUSIONS: CD patients with UGI involvement exhibit elevated disease activity and serve as independent predictors for the development of intestinal strictures. Thorough UGI evaluations at the time of diagnosis, coupled with assertive treatment strategies, are essential for managing these patients effectively.

Light regulates widespread plant alternative polyadenylation through the chloroplast.

Transcription of eukaryotic protein-coding genes generates immature mRNAs that are subjected to a series of processing events, including capping, splicing, cleavage, and polyadenylation (CPA), and chemical modifications of bases. Alternative polyadenylation (APA) greatly contributes to mRNA diversity in the cell. By determining the length of the 3' untranslated region, APA generates transcripts with different regulatory elements, such as miRNA and RBP binding sites, which can influence mRNA stability, turnover, and translation. In the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, APA is involved in the control of seed dormancy and flowering. In view of the physiological importance of APA in plants, we decided to investigate the effects of light/dark conditions and compare the underlying mechanisms to those elucidated for alternative splicing (AS). We found that light controls APA in approximately 30% of Arabidopsis genes. Similar to AS, the effect of light on APA requires functional chloroplasts, is not affected in mutants of the phytochrome and cryptochrome photoreceptor pathways, and is observed in roots only when the communication with the photosynthetic tissues is not interrupted. Furthermore, mitochondrial and TOR kinase activities are necessary for the effect of light. However, unlike AS, coupling with transcriptional elongation does not seem to be involved since light-dependent APA regulation is neither abolished in mutants of the TFIIS transcript elongation factor nor universally affected by chromatin relaxation caused by histone deacetylase inhibition. Instead, regulation seems to correlate with changes in the abundance of constitutive CPA factors, also mediated by the chloroplast.

Immediate implant placement and simultaneous bone grafting with bone cement in extraction sockets: A systematic review.

Background: The placement of immediate dental implants intrinsically displays crestal gaps, which may compromise implant osseointegration. Several grafting materials have been used to overcome this issue. Of the available materials, the use of bone cement is relatively new in oral implantology. This study aimed to examine the available literature on the utilization of bone cements in immediate placement of dental implants and assess its potential in oral implantology. Objectives: To synthesize evidence for appraising the impact of bone cements on implant stability and bone-to-implant contact (BIC) of dental implants placed immediately after extraction in humans and animals after 3 months of healing from tooth extraction. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Medline, and ScienceDirect for relevant studies published from inception to September 2021 using relevant search terms. Of the 1624 studies, 4 were selected for this systematic review. Results: Three of the four studies concluded that bone cements enhanced implant stability and/or BIC with better quality and/or quantity of bone surrounding the immediate dental implant. The conclusion drawn by one article remained indecisive. Meta-analysis could not be performed owing to the presence of substantial heterogeneity. Conclusion: Bone cement is a promising treatment alternative as it augments implant stability and/or BIC in immediate dental implants. Nonetheless, further prospective human clinical trials are required to establish its clinical effectiveness and arrive at a definitive conclusion to recommend its clinical use.

Applications of Lightsheet Fluorescence Microscopy by High Numerical Aperture Detection Lens.

This Review explores the evolution, improvements, and recent applications of Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy (LSFM) in biological research using a high numerical aperture detection objective (lens) for imaging subcellular structures. The Review begins with an overview of the development of LSFM, tracing its evolution from its inception to its current state and emphasizing key milestones and technological advancements over the years. Subsequently, we will discuss various improvements of LSFM techniques, covering advancements in hardware such as illumination strategies, optical designs, and sample preparation methods that have enhanced imaging capabilities and resolution. The advancements in data acquisition and processing are also included, which provides a brief overview of the recent development of artificial intelligence. Fluorescence probes that were commonly used in LSFM will be highlighted, together with some insights regarding the selection of potential probe candidates for future LSFM development. Furthermore, we also discuss recent advances in the application of LSFM with a focus on high numerical aperture detection objectives for various biological studies. For sample preparation techniques, there are discussions regarding fluorescence probe selection, tissue clearing protocols, and some insights into expansion microscopy. Integrated setups such as adaptive optics, single objective modification, and microfluidics will also be some of the key discussion points in this Review. We hope that this comprehensive Review will provide a holistic perspective on the historical development, technical enhancements, and cutting-edge applications of LSFM, showcasing its pivotal role and future potential in advancing biological research.

Associations between Marketing Exposure, In-game Purchases, Problem Gaming, Simulated Gambling, and Psychological Distress among Adolescents.

This study examined the relationships between marketing exposure, in-game purchase, problem gaming, online simulated gambling game playing, and psychological distress. Data were obtained from a sample of 2,595 seventh-grade students from 30 middle schools in Taiwan. A self-administered questionnaire was conducted in 2020. The results indicated that 94% of adolescents engage in online gaming, with 38% making in-game purchases, and 9% playing online simulated gambling games. The multiple regression results showed that adolescents who are exposed to higher levels of gaming marketing, influenced by advertising effects, involved in in-game purchases, and have lower levels of active parental mediation were more likely to experience problem gaming. Adolescents who have increased exposure to gambling game marketing, are influenced by advertising effects, are involved in in-game purchases, and who are experiencing problem gaming were more likely to engage in online simulated gambling game playing and token purchasing. Involvement in in-game purchases, problem gaming, and playing online simulated gambling games were associated with higher levels of psychological distress and poor sleep quality. In conclusion, the results of this study link adolescents' exposure to marketing with their involvement in in-game purchases, problem gaming, and engaging in online simulated gambling.

High Prevalence of Artifacts in Optical Coherence Tomography With Adequate Signal Strength.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of artifacts in optical coherence tomography (OCT) images with acceptable signal strength and evaluate the performance of supervised deep learning models in improving OCT image quality assessment. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on 4555 OCT images from 546 patients, with each image having an acceptable signal strength (≥6). A comprehensive analysis of prevalent OCT artifacts was performed, and five pretrained convolutional neural network models were trained and tested to infer images based on quality. Results: Our results showed a high prevalence of artifacts in OCT images with acceptable signal strength. Approximately 21% of images were labeled as nonacceptable quality. The EfficientNetV2 model demonstrated superior performance in classifying OCT image quality, achieving an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.950 ± 0.007 and an area under the precision recall curve of 0.985 ± 0.002. Conclusions: The findings highlight the limitations of relying solely on signal strength for OCT image quality assessment and the potential of deep learning models in accurately classifying image quality. Translational Relevance: Application of the deep learning-based OCT image quality assessment models may improve the OCT image data quality for both clinical applications and research.

Exploring word-referent mapping in Mandarin-speaking late-talkers at 33 months and its language predictors at 27 months: An eye-tracking study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This longitudinal study investigated the language skills, phonological working memory and lexical-tone perception of Mandarin-speaking late-talkers (LTs) and those with typical language development (TLD) at 27 months, while also examining their connections with novel word-referent mapping (W-R mapping) through eye-tracking at 33 months. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Participants included 22 Mandarin-speaking 27-month-old LTs and 22 toddlers with TLD. Data on expressive and receptive language abilities, as well as phonological working memory and lexical-tone perception, were collected when participants were 27 months old. An eye-tracking paradigm was further employed during the word-learning tasks, which included W-R mapping and word-identification test (W-I test) phases at 33 months. Multilevel models were used to analyse participants' gaze pattern trajectories. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: At 27 months, LT toddlers exhibited poorer language skills (receptive: p = 0.015, expressive: p < 0.001), lexical-tone perception (p < 0.001) and phonological working memory (p < 0.001) compared to those with TLD, even after considering maternal educational level and participants' fine motor ability. During the W-I test phase, we observed that LT toddlers showed a slower increase in fixations on the novel target image while listening to the corresponding novel word over time, compared to TLD toddlers (linear: p = 0.011, quadratic: p = 0.007) after adding confounders. Further, expressive language ability at 27 months old was a predictor of their newly established W-R mappings at 33 months old (p = 0.016). Additionally, the toddler's phonological working memory and lexical-tone perception were associated with their expressive language ability (p = 0.001 and < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These findings indicate that the novel W-R mapping is not as robust in LTs as in TLDs, and the skills necessary for word learning share similarities with a wide range of expressive language abilities. Moreover, poor expressive language abilities were associated with deficits in lexical processing abilities; that is, phonological working memory and lexical-tone perception. These findings suggest the need for interventions aimed at improving LTs' lexical processing abilities to strengthen their lagging word-learning skills at toddlerhood. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on this subject Late-talkers (LTs) exhibit delays in expressive vocabulary development. Furthermore, they also perform poorly in word learning. What this paper adds to existing knowledge The eye-tracking paradigm was employed and found that novel word-referent mapping (W-R mapping) is not as robust in LTs as in those with typical language development. Toddlers' early expressive language ability could predict their ability to establish novel W-R mappings. Furthermore, the better the phonological working memory and lexical-tone perception of LTs are, the better their early expressive language ability is. What are the clinical implications of this work? Interventions might consider incorporating strategies to improve phonological working memory and lexical-tone perception to help Mandarin-speaking LTs enhance linguistic capacities and build robust novel W-R mapping.

Simultaneous carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus removal in sequencing batch membrane aerated biofilm reactor with biofilm thickness control via air scouring aided by computational fluid dynamics.

Membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) is challenged by biofilm thickness control and phosphorus removal. Air scouring aided by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was employed to detach outer biofilm in sequencing batch MABR treating low C/N wastewater. Biofilm with 177-285 µm thickness in cycle 5-15 achieved over 85 % chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) removals at loading rate of 13.2 gCOD/m2/d and 2.64 gNH4+-N/m2/d. Biofilm rheology measurements in cycle 10-25 showed yield stress against detachment of 2.8-7.4 Pa, which were equal to CFD calculated shear stresses under air scouring flowrate of 3-9 L/min. Air scouring reduced effluent NH4+-N by 10 % and biofilm thickness by 78 µm. Intermittent aeration (4h off, 19.5h on) and air scouring (3 L/min, 30 s before settling) in one cycle achieved COD removal over 90 %, TIN and PO43--P removals over 80 %, showing great potential for simultaneous carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus removals.

Mediation analysis for TNF-α as a mediator between multiple metal exposure and kidney function.

The association between metal mixtures and kidney function has been reported. However, reports on the mechanism of metal toxicity were limited. Oxidative stress was reported as a possible cause. This study aimed to determine the association between of kidney function and metals, such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn), and to explore the possible mediating role of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) between metal toxicity and kidney function. In this study, we recruited 421 adults from a health examination. The concentration of blood metals was analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. We used linear regression models to assess the association between metals and TNF-α. Then, mediation analysis was applied to investigate the relationship between metal exposure, TNF-α, and kidney function. In univariate linear regression, blood As, Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, and Zn levels significantly increased TNF-α and decreased kidney function. Higher blood As and Pb levels significantly increased TNF-α in multivariable linear regressions after adjusting for covariates. We found that blood levels of As (coefficients = -0.021, p = 0.011), Pb (coefficients = -0.060, p < 0.001), and Zn (coefficients = -0.230, p < 0.001) showed a significant negative association with eGFR in the multiple-metal model. Furthermore, mediation analysis showed that TNF-α mediated 41.7 %, 38.8 %, and 20.8 % of blood Cd, As and Pb, respectively. Among the essential elements, TNF-α mediated 24.5 %, 21.5 % and 19.9 % in the effects of blood Co, Cu, and Zn on kidney function, respectively. TNF-α, acting as a mediator, accounted for 20.1 % of the contribution between the WQS score of metal mixtures and the eGFR (p < 0.001). This study suggested that TNF-α may be a persuasive pathway mediating the association between metals and kidney function. Inflammation and kidney injury could be the underlying mechanisms of metal exposure. However, there is still a need to clarify the biochemical mechanism in follow-up studies.

Predicting tissue distribution and tumor delivery of nanoparticles in mice using machine learning models.

Nanoparticles (NPs) can be designed for targeted delivery in cancer nanomedicine, but the challenge is a low delivery efficiency (DE) to the tumor site. Understanding the impact of NPs' physicochemical properties on target tissue distribution and tumor DE can help improve the design of nanomedicines. Multiple machine learning and artificial intelligence models, including linear regression, support vector machine, random forest, gradient boosting, and deep neural networks (DNN), were trained and validated to predict tissue distribution and tumor delivery based on NPs' physicochemical properties and tumor therapeutic strategies with the dataset from Nano-Tumor Database. Compared to other machine learning models, the DNN model had superior predictions of DE to tumors and major tissues. The determination coefficients (R2) for the test datasets were 0.41, 0.42, 0.45, 0.79, 0.87, and 0.83 for DE in tumor, heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney, respectively. All the R2 and root mean squared error (RMSE) results of the test datasets were similar to the 5-fold cross validation results. Feature importance analysis showed that the core material of NPs played an important role in output predictions among all physicochemical properties. Furthermore, multiple NP formulations with greater DE to the tumor were determined by the DNN model. To facilitate model applications, the final model was converted to a web dashboard. This model could serve as a high-throughput pre-screening tool to support the design of new and efficient nanomedicines with greater tumor DE and serve as an alternative tool to reduce, refine, and partially replace animal experimentation in cancer nanomedicine research.

Comparison of Budesonide/formoterol versus Fluticasone furoate/vilanterol as maintenance and reliever therapy for asthma control: a real-world observational study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported reduced acute exacerbation rates and improved symptom control in asthma patients treated using inhaled corticosteroids plus formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy (MART). Fluticasone furoate (FF) and vilanterol (VIL) also provide rapid bronchodilation and sustained anti-inflammatory effects, however no studies have investigated FF/VIL as MART for asthma control. METHODS: From October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2023, this retrospective study included asthma patients classified as step 3 or 4 according to the Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines, who were then divided into two groups. One group received BUD/FOR as MART, while the other received FF/VIL as MART. Pulmonary function tests, exacerbation rates, Asthma Control Test (ACT), fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels, and blood eosinophil counts were measured before and after 12 months of treatment. RESULTS: A total of 161 patients were included, of whom 36 received BUD/FOR twice daily as MART, and 125 received FF/VIL once daily as MART. After 12 months of treatment, the FF/VIL group showed a significant increase in ACT scores by 1.57 (p < 0.001), while the BUD/FOR group had an increase of 0.88 (p = 0.11). In terms of FeNO levels, the BUD/FOR group experienced a decline of -0.2 ppb (p = 0.98), whereas the FF/VIL group had a mild increase of + 0.8 ppb (p = 0.7). Notably, there was a significant difference in the change of FeNO between the two groups (∆ FeNO: -0.2 ppb in BUD/FOR; + 0.8 ppb in FF/VIL, p < 0.001). There were no significant alterations observed in FEV1, blood eosinophil count, or acute exacerbation decline in either group. CONCLUSIONS: In the current study, patients treated with FF/VIL as MART showed improvements in ACT scores, while those treated with BUD/FOR as MART exhibited a reduction in FeNO levels. However, the difference between the two treatment groups did not reach clinical significance. Thus, FF/VIL as MART showed similar effectiveness to BUD/FOR as MART.

Associations of Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Muscular Endurance Fitness With Pulmonary Function in Physically Active Young Adults.

RATIONALE: While the beneficial effects of physical fitness on general health are well-documented, the specific relationship between different types of physical fitness, particularly cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular endurance fitness (MEF), and lung function in physically active young adults remains less explored. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the relationship between CRF and MEF, and their correlation with lung function in physically active young adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved a cohort of 1227 physically active young adults without lung diseases. Lung function was assessed using FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC measurements. The 3000-m run was used to assess CRF, and the 2-min push-up and sit-up tests were used to assess MEF. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationships between these fitness measures and lung function, adjusting for potential covariates. RESULTS: Enhanced CRF was associated with superior FEV1 and FVC after adjusting for covariates (ß=-.078, p=.015 for FEV1; ß=-.086, p=.009 for FVC). Push-ups were positively associated with FEV1 (ß=.102, p=.014), but not with FVC. In contrast, sit-ups showed no significant correlation with lung function in the fully adjusted model. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated a clear association between improved physical fitness and better lung function in physically active young adults, with various exercises showing distinct associations with lung metrics. Notably, push-ups were particularly associated with higher FEV1. A future prospective study is necessary to determine whether routine exercises, such as push-ups, might lead to greater lung function.

[Mechanism of Dabugan Decoction in treatment of generalized anxiety disorder based on network pharmacology and experimental verification].

This study aims to explore the mechanism of Dabugan Decoction in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder(GAD) based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and animal experiments. Network pharmacology and molecular docking technology were used to obtain the possible targets and related signaling pathways of Dabugan Decoction in the treatment of GAD. The GAD rat model was established, and the corresponding drugs were given by gavage after randomization. After 28 days of continuous intervention, the anxiety state of rats was detected, and the pathological changes of the hippocampus were detected in each group. ELISA and Western blot were used to detect the protein expression levels of related molecules. A total of 65 drug compounds in Dabugan Decoction were obtained, involving 403 targets of action, 7 398 disease targets of GAD, and 279 common targets of "drug-disease". The key nodes in the protein-protein interaction(PPI) network were Akt1, TNF, IL-6, TP53, IL-1ß, etc. Function analysis of Gene Ontology(GO) and enrichment analysis of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) showed that the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway was the most important pathway. The results of molecular docking showed that the core components of the drug had good binding activity with the corresponding key targets. Animal experiments showed that Dabugan Decoction could effectively improve the anxiety behavior of rats and increase the open arm end movement distance and total distance of rats in the elevated cross labyrinth, the number and stay time of entering the open box, and the time(%) and the number of entering the center of the open field. At the same time, HE staining and Nicil staining showed that the number of hippocampal nerve cells in rats increased, and they were closely arranged. The damage to the cell body was improved, and there was an increase in Nissl substances in the cells. The expression of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß in rat hippocampus decreased, and the expression of TP53, p-Akt1, and p-PI3K increased. The mechanism may be related to the activation of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and the inhibition of inflammatory response. Dabugan Decoction can play a good therapeutic and regulatory role in GAD, reflecting the overall effect of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) compound and the characteristics of multiple targets and multiple pathways. At the same time, it is preliminarily discussed that the state of GAD may be improved by Dabugan Decoction via-activating PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and inhibiting inflammatory response and anti-apoptosis, thus providing experimental data support for the clinical application of Dabugan Decoction.

Stereochemical Control of Redox CoII/CoIII-Cages with Switchable Cotton Effects Based on Labile-Static States.

The structural dynamics of artificial assemblies, in aspects such as molecular recognition and structural transformation, provide us with a blueprint to achieve bioinspired applications. Here, we describe the assembly of redox-switchable chiral metal-organic cages Λ8/Δ8-[Pd6(CoIIL3)8]28+ and Λ8/Δ8-[Pd6(CoIIIL3)8]36+. These isomeric cages demonstrate an on-off chirality logic gate controlled by their chemical and stereostructural dynamics tunable through redox transitions between the labile CoII-state and static CoIII-state with a distinct Cotton effect. The transition between different states is enabled by a reversible redox process and chiral recognition originating in the tris-chelate Co-centers. All cages in two states are thoroughly characterized by NMR, ESI-MS, CV, CD, and X-ray crystallographic analysis, which clarify their redox-switching behaviors upon chemical reduction/oxidation. The stereochemical lability of the CoII-center endows the Λ8/Δ8-CoII-cages with efficient chiral-induction by enantiomeric guests, leading to enantiomeric isomerization to switch between Λ8/Δ8-CoII-cages, which can be stabilized by oxidation to their chemically inert forms of Λ8/Δ8-CoIII-cages. Kinetic studies reveal that the isomerization rate of the Δ8-CoIII-cage is at least an order of magnitude slower than that of the Δ8-CoII-cage even at an elevated temperature, while its activation energy is 16 kcal mol-1 higher than that of the CoII-cage.

The Synthesis and Assembly Mechanism of Micro/Nano-Sized Polystyrene Spheres and Their Application in Subwavelength Structures.

The following study involved the utilization of dispersion polymerization to synthesize micron/nano-sized polystyrene (PS) spheres, which were then deposited onto a silicon substrate using the floating assembly method to form a long-range monolayer. Subsequently, dry etching techniques were utilized to create subwavelength structures. The adjustment of the stabilizer polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), together with changes in the monomer concentration, yielded PS spheres ranging from 500 nm to 5.6 µm in diameter. These PS spheres were suspended in a mixture of alcohol and deionized water before being arranged using the floating assembly method. The resulting tightly packed particle arrangement is attributed to van der Waals forces, Coulomb electrostatic forces between the PS spheres, and surface tension effects. The interplay of these forces was analyzed to comprehend the resulting structure. Dry etching, utilizing the PS spheres as masks, enabled the exploration of the effects of etching parameters on the resultant structures. Unlike traditional dry etching methods controlling RF power and etching gases, in the present study, we focused on adjusting the oxygen flow rate to achieve cylindrical, conical, and parabolic etched structures.

Ocular Sarcoidosis Masquerading as Acute Retinal Necrosis: Two Case Reports.

PURPOSE: To report two cases of ocular sarcoidosis (OS) initially presenting as unilateral acute retinitis, which mimicked acute retinal necrosis. METHODS: Retrospective descriptive case reports. RESULTS: Two middle-aged healthy Asian women experienced progressive vision loss in their left eyes over a one-month period. Anterior uveitis, vitritis, and diffuse peripheral retinal infiltration were observed. Comprehensive diagnostic evaluations were conducted, including blood work-up, viral polymerase chain reaction of anterior chamber paracentesis samples, and chest X-ray, all yielding negative results. Despite prompt initiation of antiviral therapy, retinal infiltrations remained unchanged within the first 10 days. Chest CT imaging revealed multiple lymphadenopathies consistent with sarcoidosis. Case 1 was presumed OS, and case 2 was definite OS based on lung and lymph node biopsy results in accordance with the 2017 revised international workshop on OS (IWOS) criteria. In both cases, the retinal lesions gradually resolved after several weeks of systemic corticosteroids, and the best corrected vision of the affected eye improved to 20/25 at the 12 and 6-month follow-ups, respectively. CONCLUSION: Acute unilateral retinal infiltration in the peripheral region, exhibiting rapid progression resembling acute retinal necrosis, can be a rare manifestation of OS. Chest CT imaging can provide valuable assistance in the diagnostic process, especially when systemic examinations yield no significant findings.