Therapeutic effects of deep pharyngeal electrical stimulation combined with modified masako maneuver on aspiration in patients with stroke.

BACKGROUND: Stroke patients often experience difficulty swallowing. OBJECTIVE: To assist in the improvement of dysphagia symptoms by introducing a novel approach to the treatment of patients with post-stroke aspiration. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with post-stroke aspiration were enrolled and divided into an experimental group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 30). The control group received standard treatment, sham intraoral stimulation, and the Masako maneuver, while the experimental group was administered standard treatment, deep pharyngeal electrical stimulation (DPES), and a modified Masako maneuver. Changes in their Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) and Rosenbek scale scores were observed. RESULTS: The FOIS scores of both groups increased significantly after treatment (p < 0.01, respectively). The Rosenbek scale scores of both groups decreased significantly after treatment, with the experimental group scoring significantly lower than the control group (1.01±0.09 vs. 2.30±0.82) (p < 0.05). After treatment, the overall response rate in the experimental group (93.33%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (83.33%) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In terms of effectively improving dysphagia in aspiration patients after stroke, DPES combined with modified Masako maneuver is clinically recommended.

Effects of extracorporeal diaphragm pacing combined with inspiratory muscle training on respiratory function in people with stroke: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of external diaphragmatic pacing (EDP) combined with inspiratory muscle training on respiratory function in post-stroke patients. METHODS: Patients with stroke were enrolled from the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University in China between 2021 and 2022. The patients were randomized into an EDP treatment group (control group) or an EDP treatment plus inspiratory muscle training group (experimental group). Each therapy was administered once a day for 6 days per week. The peak inspiratory flow (PIF), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC% ratio, and diaphragm thickness and mobility were measured and compared between the two groups after 4 weeks. RESULTS: After 4 weeks of intervention, respiratory muscle function indicators including PIF (95% CI: 0.21-1.28, p = 0.008) and MIP (95% CI: 6.92-25.44, p = 0.001) significantly improved in the experimental group. Diaphragmatic thickness also significantly increased in the experimental group (p < 0.05), while diaphragmatic excursion showed no significant difference between the two groups. Additionally, FVC (95% CI: 0.14-1.14, p = 0.013) and FEV1 (95% CI: 0.20-1.06, p = 0.005) demonstrated a significant increase in the experimental group, whereas FEV1/FVC% (95% CI: -0.84 to 9.36, p = 0.099) exhibited no significant group difference. CONCLUSION: EDP combined with inspiratory muscle training in individuals with stroke provides greater benefits than EDP alone in terms of respiratory function recovery, except for the parameters of diaphragmatic excursion and FEV1/FVC%.

The Effect of Perioperative Comprehensive Nursing on Patients Undergoing Ovary Endometriosis Laparoscopic Surgery.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of perioperative nursing interventions in improving outcomes and satisfaction for patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for ovarian endometriosis. Methods: From July 2021 to September 2022, 80 patients with endometriosis underwent laparoscopic surgery at Shijiazhuang Fourth Hospital and were randomly assigned to the conventional (n=40) and experimental (n=40) groups. During the perioperative period, patients in the conventional group received standard nursing interventions, while patients in the experimental group received comprehensive nursing interventions. The two groups were compared in terms of postoperative clinical indicators, self-rated anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rated depression scale (SDS) scores, nursing compliance, complications, and nursing satisfaction. Results: comprehensive nursing resulted in better postoperative clinical indices (time to get out of bed, hospital stay) versus routine nursing (all P < .001). The comprehensive nursing led to significantly lower SAS and SDS scores versus routine nursing. The nursing compliance of the patients in the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the patients in the conventional group (P < .001). Comprehensive nursing was associated with a significantly lower incidence of complications versus routine nursing (P < .001). Comprehensive nursing contributed to significantly higher nursing satisfaction versus routine nursing (P < .001). Conclusion: Comprehensive perioperative nursing interventions for patients with ovarian endometriosis undergoing laparoscopic surgery considerably accelerate patient recovery and enhance nursing compliance, as well as minimize patient negative emotions and improve patient satisfaction with nursing.  The comprehensive approach addresses the specific needs of patients during the recovery period, minimizing postoperative complications, accelerating patient recovery, and improving overall quality of life. By integrating psychological support, tailored strategies for pain management, early mobilization, and prompt intervention for complications, this intervention sets a benchmark for holistic care in gynecological surgery.

Physical Grinding of Prefabricated Co3O4 and MCM-22 Zeolite for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis: Impact of Pretreatment Procedure on the Dispersion and Catalytic Performance.

To improve the mess-specific activity of Co supported on zeolite catalysts in Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis, the Co-MCM-22 catalyst was prepared by simply grinding the MCM-22 with nanosized Co3O4 prefabricated by the thermal decomposition of the Co(II)-glycine complex. It is found that this novel strategy is effective for improving the mess-specific activity of Co catalysts in FT synthesis compared to the impregnation method. Moreover, the ion exchange and calcination sequence of MCM-22 has a significant influence on the dispersion, particle size distribution, and reduction degree of Co. The Co-MCM-22 prepared by the physical grinding of prefabricated Co3O4 and H+-type MCM-22 without a further calcination process exhibits a moderate interaction between Co3O4 and MCM-22, which results in the higher reduction degree, higher dispersion, and higher mess-specific activity of Co. Thus, the newly developed method is more controllable and promising for the synthesis of metal-supported catalysts.

Assessment of intracranial aneurysm rupture risk using a point cloud-based deep learning model.

Background and Purpose: Precisely assessing the likelihood of an intracranial aneurysm rupturing is critical for guiding clinical decision-making. The objective of this study is to construct and validate a deep learning framework utilizing point clouds to forecast the likelihood of aneurysm rupturing. Methods: The dataset included in this study consisted of a total of 623 aneurysms, with 211 of them classified as ruptured and 412 as unruptured, which were obtained from two separate projects within the AneuX morphology database. The HUG project, which included 124 ruptured aneurysms and 340 unruptured aneurysms, was used to train and internally validate the model. For external validation, another project named @neurIST was used, which included 87 ruptured and 72 unruptured aneurysms. A standardized method was employed to isolate aneurysms and a segment of their parent vessels from the original 3D vessel models. These models were then converted into a point cloud format using open3d package to facilitate training of the deep learning network. The PointNet++ architecture was utilized to process the models and generate risk scores through a softmax layer. Finally, two models, the dome and cut1 model, were established and then subjected to a comprehensive comparison of statistical indices with the LASSO regression model built by the dataset authors. Results: The cut1 model outperformed the dome model in the 5-fold cross-validation, with the mean AUC values of 0.85 and 0.81, respectively. Furthermore, the cut1 model beat the morphology-based LASSO regression model with an AUC of 0.82. However, as the original dataset authors stated, we observed potential generalizability concerns when applying trained models to datasets with different selection biases. Nevertheless, our method outperformed the LASSO regression model in terms of generalizability, with an AUC of 0.71 versus 0.67. Conclusion: The point cloud, as a 3D visualization technique for intracranial aneurysms, can effectively capture the spatial contour and morphological aspects of aneurysms. More structural features between the aneurysm and its parent vessels can be exposed by keeping a portion of the parent vessels, enhancing the model's performance. The point cloud-based deep learning model exhibited good performance in predicting rupture risk while also facing challenges in generalizability.

Genomic nursing science revealed the prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit alpha 2 as a significant biomarker involved in osteosarcoma.

Backgrounds: This study aims to explore the clinical value of P4HA2 (prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit alpha 2) in Osteosarcoma (OSC), and assess its potential to provide directions and clues for the practice of precision nursing. Methods: The GSE73166 and GSE16088 datasets were used to explore the P4HA2 expression in OSC. We then used the clinical data of patients obtaining from TARGET database to assess the prognostic value of P4HA2 in OSC. We also evaluated the predictive value of prognostic model based on P4HA2-related genes. Further, GSEA analysis was performed to explore related pathways. Results: The P4HA2 mRNA expression was higher in OSC than that in normal tissues and other bone cancer samples. Survival analysis found that P4HA2 high expression caused poor overall survival (OS) of patients with OSC and P4HA2 presented a favorable performance for predicting OS. Specifically, P4HA2 high expression statistically influenced the OS of patients with age≥15 years old and those with or without metastasis. Cox regression analysis indicated the independent prognostic value of P4HA2 in OSC, and nomogram analysis revealed its significant contribution to the survival probability of patients. We further established a prognostic model based on P4HA2-related genes, finding that prognostic model had a good prediction ability on OS. These results supported the clinical significance of P4HA2 in OSC. GSEA analysis suggested that P4HA2 was significantly related to the MAPK signaling pathway. In addition, P4HA2-associated natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity and T cell receptor signaling pathway were also predicted. Conclusions: This study revealed that P4HA2 can serve as an important prognostic biomarker for OSC patients, and it may become a promising therapeutic target in OSC treatment.

GRP78 protein metabolism in obese and diabetic rats: a study of its role in metabolic disorders.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare and analyze the expression and significance of the GRP78 protein in cochlear cell injury induced by a high glucose and high-fat diet in obese and diabetic rats. METHODS: Male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups: normal (NC) and high-fat (HF) groups. The NC group was fed a standard diet for eight weeks, while the HF group received a high-glucose, high-fat diet. The HF group was further categorized into the obesity group (OB group) and the type II diabetes mellitus group (T2DM group). To induce a type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) model, the T2DM group received an intraperitoneal injection of a small dose of STZ (45 mg/kg). After four weeks on the original diet, body weight, blood glucose, blood lipid levels, and auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds were measured. The cochlea was dissected, and its morphology was observed using HE staining. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting were utilized to examine the expression level of the GRP78 protein in the cochlea. RESULTS: (1) The ABR threshold demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the T2DM group and the OB group (P < 0.05), as well as between the OB group and the NC group (P < 0.05). (2) Based on morphological comparisons from HE-stained sections, the T2DM group exhibited the most significant alterations in the number of cells in the spiral ganglion, the organ of Corti, and the stria vascularis of the cochlea. (3) The expression level of the GRP78 protein in the cochlea was higher in the T2DM group compared to the OB group (P < 0.05) and higher in the OB group compared to the NC group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that the GRP78 protein plays a role in hearing loss caused by T2DM and hyperlipidemia. Moreover, T2DM is more likely than hyperlipidemia to be associated with hearing impairment.

Left main coronary artery morphological phenotypes and its hemodynamic properties.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis may be linked to morphological defects that lead to variances in coronary artery hemodynamics. Few objective strategies exit at present for generalizing morphological phenotypes of coronary arteries in terms of hemodynamics. We used unsupervised clustering (UC) to classify the morphology of the left main coronary artery (LM) and looked at how hemodynamic distribution differed between phenotypes. METHODS: In this study, 76 LMs were obtained from 76 patients. After LMs were reconstructed with coronary computed tomography angiography, centerlines were used to extract the geometric characteristics. Unsupervised clustering was carried out using these characteristics to identify distinct morphological phenotypes of LMs. The time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS) for each phenotype was investigated by means of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of the left coronary artery. RESULTS: We identified four clusters (i.e., four phenotypes): Cluster 1 had a shorter stem and thinner branches (n = 26); Cluster 2 had a larger bifurcation angle (n = 10); Cluster 3 had an ostium at an angulation to the coronary sinus and a more curved stem, and thick branches (n = 10); and Cluster 4 had an ostium at an angulation to the coronary sinus and a flatter stem (n = 14). TAWSS features varied widely across phenotypes. Nodes with low TAWSS (L-TAWSS) were typically found around the branching points of the left anterior descending artery (LAD), particularly in Cluster 2. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated that UC is a powerful technique for morphologically classifying LMs. Different LM phenotypes exhibited distinct hemodynamic characteristics in certain regions. This morphological clustering method could aid in identifying people at high risk for developing coronary atherosclerosis, hence facilitating early intervention.

COL1A1::PDGFB fusion uterine sarcoma with a TERT promoter mutation.

COL1A1::PDGFB fusion uterine sarcoma is a rare uterine mesenchymal tumor with some clinicopathological features that overlap with those of soft tissue dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. However, the varied clinicopathologic and genetic characteristics have not been fully revealed, which may be a potential pitfall for diagnosis. Here, we present a case of COL1A1::PDGFB fusion-positive uterine sarcoma in a 49-years-old female. Histologically, the tumor from the initial marginal excision predominantly exhibited high-grade fibrosarcomatous and myxofibrosarcoma-like appearances, while a low-grade focal area displaying storiform growth was identified in the residual tumor after subsequently extended resection. Immunohistochemically, the high-grade components mainly exhibited focal positivity for CD34 and mutated-type p53 immunoreactivity, whereas the low-grade component showed diffuse positivity for CD34 and wild-type p53 staining. The COL1A1::PDGFB fusion was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization and next-generation sequencing. In addition, the TERT-124 C > T mutation was further identified in this lesion's fibrosarcomatous and classic storiform components. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first described case of COL1A1::PDGFB fusion uterine sarcoma with a TERT promoter mutation, which might be a novel genetic finding associated with tumorigenesis of this rare tumor.

Medium-Term Prognostic Implications of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With Myocardial Infarction With Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries (MINOCA): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the medium-term prognostic implications of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in patients with myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA). METHODS: A systematic literature search of Embase, PubMed, and The Cochrane Library was performed. Eligible studies reported outcomes of CMR-assessed MINOCA with a mean follow-up period of >6 months. The primary endpoint was all-cause death. Secondary endpoints included cardiac death, reinfarction, and cardiovascular rehospitalisation. The pooled effect sizes with 95% confidence interval (CIs) were estimated using a random effect model. RESULTS: A total of 3,050 patients from twenty-one studies were included in the meta-analysis. The prevalence of myocarditis, "true" myocardial infarction, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, and normal CMR imaging was 36%, 25%, 14%, and 19%, respectively. Pooled data showed that the annualised event rates for all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, reinfarction, and cardiovascular rehospitalisation were 1.01% (95% CI 0.59%-1.51%), 0.06% (95% CI 0.00%-0.39%), 0.68% (95% CI 0.18%-1.38%), and 5.67% (95% CI 3.11%-8.85%), respectively. Compared with patients with a diagnosis of myocarditis on CMR, patients with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (RR 7.11; 95% CI 3.04-16.66) and "true" myocardial infarction (RR 3.82; 95% CI 1.65-8.86) were associated with a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality, whereas a similar risk of all-cause mortality was observed in patients with normal imaging (RR 1.01; 95% CI 0.28-3.59). No association was found between CMR diagnoses and the risk of secondary endpoints in MINOCA. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with MINOCA assessed by CMR, the overall absolute incidence rates of mortality and reinfarction were low. However, certain imaging diagnoses were associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality, with most deaths attributed to non-cardiac causes. Additionally, these patients experienced a high burden of cardiovascular rehospitalisation. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (CRD42022323615).

The CX3CL1-CX3CR1 chemokine axis can contribute to tumor immune evasion and blockade with a novel CX3CR1 monoclonal antibody enhances response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.

CX3CL1 secreted in the tumor microenvironment serves as a chemoattractant playing a critical role in metastasis of CX3CR1 expressing cancer cells. CX3CR1 can be expressed in both cancer and immune-inhibitory myeloid cells to facilitate their migration. We generated a novel monoclonal antibody against mouse CX3CR1 that binds to CX3CR1 and blocks the CX3CL1-CX3CR1 interaction. We next explored the immune evasion strategies implemented by the CX3CL1-CX3CR1 axis and find that it initiates a resistance program in cancer cells that results in 1) facilitation of tumor cell migration, 2) secretion of soluble mediators to generate a pro-metastatic niche, 3) secretion of soluble mediators to attract myeloid populations, and 4) generation of tumor-inflammasome. The CX3CR1 monoclonal antibody reduces migration of tumor cells and decreases secretion of immune suppressive soluble mediators by tumor cells. In combination with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, this CX3CR1 monoclonal antibody enhances survival in an immunocompetent mouse colon carcinoma model through a decrease in tumor-promoting myeloid populations. Thus, this axis is involved in the mechanisms of resistance to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy and the combination therapy can overcome a portion of the resistance mechanisms to anti-PD-1.

Effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy combined with isokinetic strength training on spastic calf triceps in patients after a stroke: a double-blinded randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the antitetanic effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) combined with isokinetic strength training (IST) on calf triceps spasm in patients after a stroke. METHODS: Forty-five patients with hemiplegia after a stroke and lower extremity spasms were randomly assigned into three groups: a control group (n = 15), an ESWT group (n = 15) and an ESWT+IST group (n = 15). All patients agreed to conventional rehabilitation therapy, while the ESWT and ESWT+IST groups received ESWT of 2.0-3.0 bar once a week for four weeks. In addition, the ESWT+IST group underwent four weeks of ankle IST. All groups were assessed using the modified Ashworth scale (MAS) and surface electromyography before and after four weeks of treatment. The ankle passive movement of all groups was measured using the BIODEX isokinetic system at angular velocities of 60°/s, 120°/s, 180°/s and 240°/s. RESULTS: After four weeks of treatment, compared with the control group, the ESWT+IST groups showed a significant reduction in MASscores (P = 0.030). The ESWT+IST group had significantly lower MAS scores than the baseline (P = 0.002), while the ESWT group did not show a significant difference (P = 0.072). The average electromyography (AEMG) analysis demonstrated a significant difference among the groups after four weeks (P = 0.001), with the ESWT+IST group having lower AEMG values compared with the control group (P < 0.001) and the ESWT group (P = 0.042). Peak resistive torque significantly decreased in both the ESWT and ESWT+IST groups at all velocities (60°/s: P = 0.030, 120°/s: P = 0.039, 180°/s: P = 0.030 and 240°/s: P = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy combined with IST can significantly improve calf triceps spasm in patients after a stroke.

cdh23 affects congenital hearing loss through regulating purine metabolism.

Introduction: The pathogenic gene CDH23 plays a pivotal role in tip links, which is indispensable for mechanoelectrical transduction in the hair cells. However, the underlying molecular mechanism and signal regulatory networks that influence deafness is still largely unknown. Methods: In this study, a congenital deafness family, whole exome sequencing revealed a new mutation in the pathogenic gene CDH23, subsequently; the mutation has been validated using Sanger sequencing method. Then CRISPR/Cas9 technology was employed to knockout zebrafish cdh23 gene. Startle response experiment was used to compare with wide-type, the response to sound stimulation between wide-type and cdh23-/-. To further illustrate the molecular mechanisms underlying congenital deafness, comparative transcriptomic profiling and multiple bioinformatics analyses were performed. Results: The YO-PRO-1 assay result showed that in cdh23 deficient embryos, the YO-PRO-1 signal in inner ear and lateral line neuromast hair cells were completely lost. Startle response experiment showed that compared with wide-type, the response to sound stimulation decreased significantly in cdh23 mutant larvae. Comparative transcriptomic showed that the candidate genes such as atp1b2b and myof could affect hearing by regulating ATP production and purine metabolism in a synergetic way with cdh23. RT-qPCR results further confirmed the transcriptomics results. Further compensatory experiment showed that ATP treated cdh23-/- embryos can partially recover the mutant phenotype. Conclusion: In conclusion, our study may shed light on deciphering the principal mechanism and provide a potential therapeutic method for congenital hearing loss under the condition of CDH23 mutation.

Exploring the Effect of Bladder Functional Training Combined with Repetitive Sacral Root Magnetic Stimulation in the Treatment of Neurogenic Bladder.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of bladder function training combined with repetitive sacral root magnetic stimulation (rSMS) on neurogenic bladder in patients with spinal cord injury. METHODS: From January 2019 to May 2021, we selected 68 patients with neurogenic bladder and spinal cord injury who were hospitalized in the rehabilitation department of our hospital. Patients were divided into the rSMS group (36 cases) and control group (32 cases) according to a random number table. The rSMS group was treated with bladder functional training combined with rSMS, while the control group was treated only with bladder functional training. The training lasted for 40 days. Finally, we compared the therapeutic effects in the 2 groups. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in sex, age, course of disease, site, and grade of spinal cord injury between the 2 groups. There was no statistically significant difference in urodynamics between the 2 groups before treatment. After treatment, the residual urine volume of the rSMS group was 82.7 ± 34.6 mL, maximum urine flow rate was 15.7 ± 4.8 mL/second, bladder volume was 388.6 ± 51.3 mL, and bladder pressure was 36.3 ± 6.3 cm H2O. After treatment, the residual urine volume in the rSMS group was significantly less than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The maximum urine flow, bladder volume, and bladder pressure in the rSMS group were higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). After treatment and after 40 days of follow-up, the Barthel index scores of the patients in the rSMS group were 69.5 ± 9.3 and 73.5 ± 8.2, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the patients in the control group (P < 0.05). The effective rates were 94.4% in the rSMS group and 81.3% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with bladder function training alone, bladder function training combined with rSMS was more effective in the treatment of neurogenic bladder, particularly for detrusor hyporeflexia/areflexia; it significantly improved patients' ability to urinate autonomously, reduced the residual urine volume of the bladder, and improved patients' quality of life.

Perioperative Administration of Pregabalin and Esketamine to Prevent Chronic Pain After Breast Cancer Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Perioperative multimodal analgesia can prevent chronic pain after breast cancer surgery. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of combined perioperative oral pregabalin and postoperative esketamine in preventing chronic pain after breast cancer surgery. Methods: Ninety patients undergoing elective breast cancer surgery were randomized into the combined pregabalin and esketamine group (EP group) and the general anesthesia alone group (Control group). The EP group received 150 mg of oral pregabalin 1 h before surgery and twice daily for seven days postoperatively, and a patient-controlled analgesia pump after surgery that delivered 100 µg sufentanil + 1.25 mg/kg esketamine + 4 mg tropisetron in 100 mL saline solution intravenously. The Control group received placebo capsules before and after the surgery and routine postoperative analgesia (100 µg sufentanil + 4 mg tropisetron in 100 mL saline solution). The primary outcome was the incidence of chronic pain three and six months after surgery. Secondary outcomes included acute postoperative pain, postoperative opioid consumption, and incidence of adverse events. Results: The incidence of chronic pain in the EP group was significantly lower than in the Control group three (14.3% vs 46.3%, P = 0.005) and six (7.1% vs 31.7%, P = 0.009) months postoperatively. The rest numerical rating scale (NRS) pain scores 1-3 days postoperatively and coughing NRS pain scores 1-7 days postoperatively in the EP group were significantly lower than in the Control group (all P ˂ 0.05). The cumulative sufentanil consumption in the EP group during postoperative 0-12, 12-24, and 24-48, 0-24, and 0-48 hours were significantly lower than in the Control group (all P ˂ 0.05). Conclusion: Combined perioperative oral pregabalin and postoperative esketamine effectively prevented chronic pain after breast cancer surgery, improved acute postoperative pain, and reduced postoperative opioid consumption.

Promoting the healing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-infected wound by a multi-target antimicrobial AIEgen of 6-Aza-2-thiothymine-decorated gold nanoclusters.

The use of conventional antibiotic therapies is in question owing to the emergence of drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, novel, highly efficient antibacterial agents to effectively overcome resistant bacteria are urgently needed. Accordingly, in this work, we described a novel class luminogen of 6-Aza-2-thiothymine-decorated gold nanoclusters (ATT-AuNCs) with aggregation-induced emission property that possessed potent antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Scanning electron microscopy was performed to investigate the interactions between ATT-AuNCs and MRSA. In addition, ATT-AuNCs exhibited excellent ROS generation efficiency and could effectively ablate MRSA via their internalization to the cells. Finally, tandem mass tag-labeling proteome analysis was carried out to investigate the differential expression proteins in MRSA strains. The results suggested that ATT-AuNCs killed MRSA cells through altering the expression of multiple target proteins involved in DNA replication, aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis, peptidoglycan and arginine biosynthesis metabolism. Parallel reaction monitoring technique was further used for the validation of these proteome results. ATT-AuNCs could also be served as a wound-healing agent and accelerate the healing process. Overall, we proposed ATT-AuNCs could serve as a robust antimicrobial aggregation-induced emission luminogen (AIEgen) that shows the ability to alter the activities of multiple targets for the elimination of drug-resistant bacteria.

The feasibility of early detecting coronary artery disease using deep learning-based algorithm based on electrocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, yet it is frequently asymptomatic in the early stages and hence goes undetected. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to develop a novel artificial intelligence-based approach for early detection of CAD patients based solely on electrocardiogram (ECG). METHODS: This study included patients with suspected CAD who had standard 10-s resting 12-lead ECGs and coronary computed tomography angiography (cCTA) results within 4 weeks or less. The ECG and cCTA data from the same patient were matched based on their hospitalization or outpatient ID. All matched data pairs were then randomly divided into training, validation dataset for model development based on convolutional neural network (CNN) and test dataset for model evaluation. The accuracy (Acc), specificity (Spec), sensitivity (Sen), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the model were calculated by using the test dataset. RESULTS: In the test dataset, the model for detecting CAD achieved an AUC of 0.75 (95% CI, 0.73 to 0.78) with an accuracy of 70.0%. Using the optimal cut-off point, the CAD detection model had sensitivity of 68.7%, specificity of 70.9%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 61.2%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 77.2%. Our study demonstrates that a well-trained CNN model based solely on ECG could be considered an efficient, low-cost, and noninvasive method of assisting in CAD detection.

Investigating the impact of import, export, and innovation on carbon emission: evidence from Belt and Road Initiative countries.

Carbon emissions are a major cause of global climate change. The public is aware that the world must rapidly reduce its windows to avoid the worst effects of climate change. But how this responsibility is distributed between regions, countries, and individuals has become a recurring element of debate in international debates. Most countries are willing to adopt new policies to tackle the global problem of carbon emission. Since China is a real model and the first country of initiating the goal of carbon neutrality, this study aimed to compare the different impacts of export, import, and innovation on carbon emission in 29 selected countries with the Belt and Road Initiative from 2008 to 2019. STIRPAT modeling, cross-sectional analysis, and integrated testing were used to analyze the obtained data. The results show that exports and imports have a negative effect on carbon emission, and population size and energy efficiency increase carbon emission since most countries under the BRI are developing countries, and they tend to emit greatly due to various factors. However, the adoption of green energy via innovation has a significant impact on carbon emissions. In addition, the adoption of modern technologies via innovation reduces carbon emission by increasing energy efficiency. We recommended a set of policies that can efficiently reduce the emission of carbon to achieve an eco-friendly environment in the selected countries. It is important to promote environmental sustainability and the development of professional enterprises in certain countries.

Association between short-term systemic use of glucocorticoids and prognosis of cardiogenic shock: a retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prescription rate of short-term systemic use of glucocorticoids during hospitalization in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS), and outcomes related with glucocorticoid use. METHODS: We extracted patients' information from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV version 2.0 (MIMIC-IV v2.0) database. The primary endpoint was 90-day all-cause mortality. Secondary safety endpoints were infection identified by bacterial culture and at least one episode of hyperglycemia after ICU admission. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance baseline characteristics. The difference in cumulative mortality rate between these treated with and without glucocorticoids was assessed by Kaplan-Meier curve with log-rank test. Independent risk factors for endpoints were identified by Cox or Logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1528 patients were enrolled, and one-sixth of these patients received short-term systemic therapy of glucocorticoids during hospitalization. These conditions, including rapid heart rate, the presence of rheumatic disease, chronic pulmonary disease and septic shock, high lactate level, the requirements of mechanical ventilation and continuous renal replacement therapy, were associated with an increase in glucocorticoid administration (all P ≤ 0.024). During a follow-up of 90 days, the cumulative mortality rate in patients treated with glucocorticoids was significantly higher than that in these untreated with glucocorticoids (log-rank test, P < 0.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that glucocorticoid use (hazard ratio 1.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22-1.81; P < 0.001) was independently associated with an increased risk for 90-day all-cause mortality. This result was consistent irrespective of age, gender, the presence of myocardial infarction, acute decompensated heart failure and septic shock, and inotrope therapy, but was more evident in low-risk patients as assessed by ICU scoring systems. Additionally, multivariable Logistic regression analysis showed that glucocorticoid exposure was an independent predictor of hyperglycemia (odds ratio 2.14, 95% CI 1.48-3.10; P < 0.001), but not infection (odds ratio 1.23, 95% CI 0.88-1.73; P = 0.221). After PSM, glucocorticoid therapy was also significantly related with increased risks of 90-day mortality and hyperglycemia. CONCLUSIONS: Real-world data showed that short-term systemic use of glucocorticoids was common in CS patients. Importantly, these prescriptions were associated with increased risks of adverse events.

Cloning, Expression, and Characterization of a Highly Stable Heparinase I from Bacteroides xylanisolvens.

Heparinase I (Hep I), which specifically degrades heparin to oligosaccharide or unsaturated disaccharide, has an important role in the production of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). However, low productivity and stability of heparinase I hinders its applications. Here, a novel heparinase I (BxHep-I) was cloned from Bacteroides xylanisolvens and overexpressed in soluble form in Escherichia coli. The expression conditions of BxHep-I were optimized for an activity of 7144 U/L. BxHep-I had a specific activity of 57.6 U/mg at the optimal temperature and pH of 30 °C and pH 7.5, with the Km and Vmax of 0.79 mg/mL and 124.58 U/mg, respectively. BxHep-I catalytic activity could be enhanced by Ca2+ and Mg2+, while strongly inhibited by Zn2+ and Co2+. Purified BxHep-I displayed an outstanding thermostability with half-lives of 597 and 158 min at 30 and 37 °C, respectively, which are the highest half-lives ever reported for heparinases I. After storage at 4 °C for one week, BxHep-I retained 73% of its initial activity. Molecular docking revealed that the amino acids Asn25, Gln27, Arg88, Lys116, His156, Arg161, Gln228, Tyr356, Lys358, and Tyr362 form 13 hydrogen bonds with the substrate heparin disaccharides in the substrate binding domain and are mainly involved in the substrate binding of BxHep-I. These results suggest that the BxHep-I with high stability could be a candidate catalyst for the industrial production of LMWH.