Anti-Hypertensive Drugs Moderate the Relationship of Blood Pressure with Alzheimer's Pathologies and Neurodegenerative Markers in Non-Demented Hypertensive Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to explore whether the relationships of blood pressures (BPs) with Alzheimer's disease (AD) endophenotypes varied by usage of antihypertensive drugs (AHDs). METHODS: A total of 765 non-demented older adults (mean age: 74.4 years; female: 43.1%) with a self-reported history of hypertension were followed for 6 years. Multiple linear regression and linear-mixed effect models were used to investigate the interaction effects of five categories of AHDs (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors [ACEI], angiotensin II receptor blockers [ARBs], ß-blocker, calcium channel blockers [CCB], diuretic) with BPs (systolic blood pressure [SBP], diastolic blood pressure [DBP], and pulse pressure [PP]) on AD core pathology and neurodegenerative markers. RESULTS: After Bonferroni correction, significant interaction effects of BPs with AHDs were observed. Elevated SBP or PP in late-life was associated with higher levels of cerebral Aß burden (diuretic alone/ß-blocker × SBP), higher levels of CSF tau proteins (diuretic × SBP/PP, ARBs/CCB × SBP), and lower volume of entorhinal region (ß-blocker × SBP, diuretic × PP) only among hypertensive patients who received no anti-hypertensive treatments, while these associations became compromised or null for users of specific AHDs except for ACEI. Compared to taking other classes of AHDs, elevated SBP in late-life was associated with lower cerebral Aß burden in diuretic users (padjusted = 0.08) and was associated with higher CSF tau proteins in ACEI alone users (padjusted = 0.03). Longitudinal data validated the above-mentioned interaction effects on changes of cerebral Aß burden (padjusted < 0.05), CSF tau proteins (padjusted < 0.10), and brain atrophy (padjusted < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The relationships of late-life BP with AD pathology and neurodegeneration could be modified by anti-hypertensive treatments and varied by AHD classification. These findings provide preliminary evidence for tailored BP management strategy for preventing AD among late-life hypertensive adults.

Use of N-Methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO) pretreatment to enhance the bioconversion of lignocellulosic residues to methane.

Lignocellulosic residues (LRs) are one of the most abundant wastes produced worldwide. Nevertheless, unlocking the full energy potential from LRs for biofuel production is limited by their complex structure. This study investigated the effect of N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO) pretreatment on almond shell (AS), spent coffee grounds (SCG), and hazelnut skin (HS) to improve their bioconversion to methane. The pretreatment was performed using a 73% NMMO solution heated at 120 °C for 1, 3, and 5 h. The baseline methane productions achieved from raw AS, SCG, and HS were 54.7 (± 5.3), 337.4 (± 16.5), and 265.4 (± 10.4) mL CH4/g VS, respectively. The NMMO pretreatment enhanced the methane potential of AS up to 58%, although no changes in chemical composition and external surface were observed after pretreatment. Opposite to this, pretreated SCG showed increased porosity (up to 63%) and a higher sugar percentage (up to 27%) after pretreatment despite failing to increase methane production. All pretreatment conditions were effective on HS, achieving the highest methane production of 400.4 (± 9.5) mL CH4/g VS after 5 h pretreatment. The enhanced methane production was due to the increased sugar percentage (up to 112%), lignin removal (up to 29%), and loss of inhibitory compounds during the pretreatment. An energy assessment revealed that the NMMO pretreatment is an attractive technology to be implemented on an industrial scale for energy recovery from HS residues. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13399-022-03173-x.

Enhanced photoreduction efficiency of Cr(VI) driven by visible light in a new Zr-based metal-organic framework modified by hydroxyl groups.

While metal-organic framework (MOF) photocatalysts have demonstrated a unique Cr(VI) photoreduction capability in recent decades, their performance is still insufficient for practical applications because of their low Cr(VI) uptake and poor visible light response. To cope with these drawbacks, a new OH-modified Zr-based MOF, termed HCMUE-1, was successfully prepared via a solvothermal method in this work. The complete characterization of HCMUE-1 was performed through various techniques, including powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (TGA-DSC), scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The obtained data exhibited the excellent Cr(VI) photoreduction efficiency of HCMUE-1, reaching up to 98% after 90 min and almost 100% after 120 min under visible light illumination in a low acidic medium. Noteworthily, HCMUE-1 retained the same Cr(VI) removal rate for at least seven cycles without considerable loss. Further experimental investigations demonstrated that the structural stability and surface morphology of HCMUE-1 were retained after photoreduction. Moreover, the photocatalytic reduction mechanism of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) was interpreted through a series of systematic experimental measurements. These results indicate that HCMUE-1 possesses potential as an efficient photocatalyst for reducing toxic Cr(VI) species from wastewater in real-life conditions.

[Organ preservation and watch-and-wait strategy in esophageal cancer: a promising future].

The traditional treatment modalities for esophageal cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, each presenting its own limitations. With advancements in endoscopic techniques and the integration of immunotherapy, the feasibility and safety of organ preservation have significantly improved, offering patients improved survival and quality of life. The selection of patients suitable for organ preservation treatment demands ongoing exploration. Those selected for this approach require rigorous monitoring, with surgical intervention as a salvation for tumor progression or metastasis, though the timing of surgery remains a topic of debate. Organ preservation and watch-and-wait strategy may provide a more conservative treatment option, aiming to maximize quality of life.

Evaluating Acute Pulmonary Changes in Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Comparative Analysis of Computed Tomography, Chest Radiography, Lung Ultrasound, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Positron Emission Tomography with Fluorodeoxyglucose Modalities.

This review explores imaging's crucial role in acute Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) assessment. High Resolution Computer Tomography is especially effective in detection of lung abnormalities. Chest radiography has limited utility in the initial stages of COVID-19 infection. Lung Ultrasound has emerged as a valuable, radiation-free tool in critical care, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging shows promise as a Computed Tomography alternative. Typical and atypical findings of COVID-19 by each of these modalities are discussed with emphasis on their prognostic value. Considerations for pediatric and immunocompromised cases are outlined. A comprehensive diagnostic approach is recommended, as radiological diagnosis remains challenging in the acute phase.

[Application of "modified double pocket suture" pancreatoenterostomy in laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy].

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the value of the "improved double purse-string suture method" for pancreatojejunostomy in laparoscopic pancreaticoduodene-ctomy. Methods: The clinical data of 273 patients who underwent laparoscopic pancreaticoduode-nectomy in the Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery of the First Hospital of Jilin University from January 2021 to May 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the method of pancreaticoenteric anastomosis, the patients were divided into two groups: the "improved double purse-string suture method" group and the "Hong's one-stitch method" group. Results: The "improved double purse-string suture method" for pancreaticoenteric anastomosis was performed in a total of 189 patients, including 107 males and 82 females, with a mean age of (59.6±10.2) years. The "Hong's one-stitch method" group" was performed in a group of 84 patients, including 52 males and 32 females, with a mean age of (60.8±9.3) years.The results showed that the "improved double purse-string suture method" group had a lower incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula (6.88% vs 8.33% for grade B fistula, and 1.58% vs 2.38% for grade C fistula) and a shorter anastomosis time [(25.25±4.73) min vs (25.76±6.71) min] than the "Hong's one-stitch method" group. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of postoperative biliary fistula, abdominal bleeding, delayed gastric emptying, and other complications (P>0.05). Conclusion: The "improved double purse-string suture method" for pancreatojejunostomy is safe and feasible in laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Relationships of Hypnotics with Incident Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease: A Longitudinal Study and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Evidence describing the association between hypnotics use and dementia risk is conflicting. It is unknown if the controversy is related to the type or dose of hypnotics or if hypnotics affect different populations. OBJECTIVES: We sought to derive lessons learned and future projections based on evidence from longitudinal studies. MEASUREMENTS: In the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) cohort, 1,543 older adults without dementia (mean age = 73.3 years, female = 45%) were followed for four years. The association between hypnotics and the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) was investigated using Cox proportional hazards regressions. Next, electronic databases were searched until March 2022 to conduct the evidence synthesis of the associations of hypnotics with incident risk of dementia. RESULTS: In the ADNI cohort, ever use of hypnotics was associated with an increased risk of AD (hazard ratio = 1.96, 95% confidence intervals = 1.23-3.11, p < 0.01). This association was significant for benzodiazepines and Z-drugs but not for melatonin. The association was stronger in long-term (more than one year) users and those with high cumulative doses. A meta-analysis of 26 longitudinal studies with 3,942,018 participants revealed a correlation between the use of hypnotics and the risk of dementia (relative risk = 1.23, 95% confidence intervals = 1.13-1.33, p < 0.001, median risk difference = 4%). It is a linear dose-response relationship, if a person takes the daily recommended dose for 100 days, their risk of developing dementia increases by 5% relative to non-users. According to subgroup analyses, neither association was significant among patients with a history of insomnia. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals who use hypnotics, especially high-dose or long-term users, are at a higher risk of dementia and AD. The main issue with conclusion credibility is heterogeneity.

[Analysis of etiology and complications in children with stage 5 chronic kidney disease].

Objective: To investigate the etiology, complications, and prognostic factors of stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD5) in children. Methods: A case series study was conducted to retrospectively analyze the general situation, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, genetic testing, and follow-up data (until October 2022) of 174 children with CKD5 who were diagnosed and hospitalized at the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from April 2012 to April 2021. The characteristics of complications in the children were compared based on age, gender, and etiology. Based on the presence or absence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), patients were divided into LVH group and non LVH group for analyzing the influencing factors of cardiovascular disease. Patients were also divided into death group and survival group, peritoneal dialysis group and hemodialysis group based on the follow-up data for analyzing the prognostic factors. The chi-square test, independent sample t-test, Fisher exact probability test, Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis test were used to analyze data among different groups. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the prognostic factors. Results: A total of 174 children with CKD5 were enrolled in the study (96 boys and 78 girls), aged 11.2 (8.2, 13.0) years. Congenital kidney and urinary tract malformations (CAKUT) were the most common causes of the CKD5 (84 cases, 48.3%), followed by glomerular diseases (83 cases, 47.7%), and among which 28 cases (16.1%) were hereditary glomerular diseases. The common complications of CKD5 included anemia (98.2%, 165/168), mineral and bone disorder in chronic kidney disease (CKD-MBD) (97.7%, 170/174), lipid metabolism disorders (87.5%, 63/72), hypertension (81.4%, 127/156) and LVH (57.6%,57/99). The incidences of hypertension in primary glomerular disease were higher than that in CAKUT(93.8%(30/32) vs.73.7%(56/76),χ2=5.59,P<0.05). The incidences of hypertension in secondary glomerular disease were higher than that in CAKUT and that in hereditary kidney disease (100.0%(20/20) vs. 73.7%(56/76), 68.2%(15/22), both P<0.05). The incidence of hypocalcemia in CAKUT, primary glomerular disease, and hereditary kidney disease was higher than that in secondary glomerular disease (82.1%(69/84), 88.2%(30/34), 89.3%(25/28) vs. 47.6%(10/21), χ2=10.21, 10.75, 10.80, all P=0.001); the incidence of secondary hyperparathyroidism in women was higher than that in men (80.0%(64/80) vs. 95.0%(57/60), χ2=6.58, P=0.010). The incidence of LVH in children aged 6-<12 was higher than that in children aged 12-18 (73.5%(25/34) vs. 43.1%(22/51), χ2=7.62, P=0.006). Among 113 follow-up children, the mortality rate was 39.8% (45/113). Compared to the survival group, the children in the death group had lower hemoglobin, higher blood pressure, lower albumin, lower alkaline phosphatase and higher left ventricular mass index ((67±19) vs. (75±20) g/L, 142 (126, 154) vs. 128(113, 145) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), (91±21) vs. (82±22) mmHg, 32 (26, 41) vs. 40 (31, 43) g/L, 151 (82, 214) vs. 215 (129, 37) U/L, 48 (38, 66) vs. 38(32, 50) g/m2.7,t=2.03, Z=2.89, t=2.70, Z=2.49, 2.79, 2.29,all P<0.05), but no independent risk factors were identified (all P>0.05). The peritoneal dialysis group had better alleviation for anemia, low calcium, and high phosphorus than the hemodialysis group ((87±22) vs. (72±16) g/L, (1.9±0.5) vs. (1.7±0.4) mmol/L, (2.2±0.7) vs. (2.8±0.9) mmol/L, t=2.92, 2.29, 2.82, all P<0.05), and the survival rate of the peritoneal dialysis group was significantly higher than that of the hemodialysis group (77.8% (28/36) vs. 48.4% (30/62), χ2=8.14, P=0.004). Conclusions: CAKUT is the most common etiology in children with CKD 5, and anemia is the most common complication. The incidence of complications in children with CKD 5 varies with age, gender and etiology. Anemia, hypertension, hypoalbuminemia, reduced alkaline phosphatase and elevated LVMI may be the prognostic factors in children with CKD5. Peritoneal dialysis may be more beneficial for improving the long-term survival rate.

KCNH2A561V Heterozygous Mutation Inhibits KCNH2 Protein Expression via The Activation of UPR Mediated by ATF6.

The potassium channel protein KCNH2 is encoded by KCNH2 gene, and there are more than 300 mutations of KCNH2. Unfolded protein response (UPR) is typically initiated in response to an accumulation of unfolded and/or misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The present study aimed to explore the UPR process and the role of activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) in the abnormal expression of potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily H member 2 (KCNH2)A561V. The wild-type (wt) KCNH2 and A561V mutant KCNH2 was constructed with his-tag. The 293 cells were used and divided into KCNH2wt+KCNH2A561V, KCNH2wt and KCNH2A561V groups. The expression levels of ATF6 and KCNH2 in different groups were detected by Western blotting, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, immunofluorescence and immuno-coprecipitation assays. The protein types and abundance of immuno-coprecipitation samples were analyzed by mass spectrometry. The proteomic analysis of the mass spectrometry results was carried out by using the reactome database and GO (Gene Ontology) tool. The mRNA expression levels of KCNH2 and ATF6 in the KCNH2wt+KCNH2A561V group were higher compared with the KCNH2A561V group. However, the full-length protein expression of ATF6 was inhibited, indicating that ATF6 was highly activated and a substantial number of ATF6 was sheared in KCNH2wt+KCNH2A561V group compared with control group. Furthermore, A561V-KCNH2 mutation leading to the accumulation of the immature form of KCNH2 (135 kDa bands) in ER, resulting in the reduction of the ratio of 155 kDa/135 kDa. In addition, the abundance of UPR-related proteins in the KCNH2A561V group was higher compared with the KCNH2wt+KCNH2A561V group. The 'cysteine biosynthetic activity' of GO:0019344 process and the 'positive regulation of cytoplasmic translation activity' of GO:2000767 process in the KCNH2A561V group were higher compared with the KCNH2wt+KCNH2A561V group. Hence, co-expression of wild-type and A561V mutant KCNH2 in 293 cells activated the UPR process, which led to the inhibition of protein translation and synthesis, in turn inhibiting the expression of KCNH2. These results provided a theoretical basis for clinical treatment of Long QT syndrome.

Geriatric Services Hub - A Collaborative Frailty Management Model between The Hospital and Community Providers.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is an important geriatric syndrome especially with ageing populations. Frailty can be managed or even reversed with community-based interventions delivered by a multi-disciplinary team. Innovation is required to find community frailty models that can deliver cost-effective and feasible care to each local context. OBJECTIVES: We share pilot data from our Geriatric Service Hub (GSH) which is a novel frailty care model in Singapore that identifies and manages frailty in the community, supported by a hospital-based multi-disciplinary team. METHODS: We describe in detail our GSH model and its implementation. We performed a retrospective data analysis on patient characteristics, uptake, prevalence of frailty and sarcopenia and referral rates for multi-component interventions. RESULTS: A total of 152 persons attended between January 2020 to May 2021. Majority (59.9%) were female and mean age was 81.0 ± 7.1 years old. One-fifth (21.1%) of persons live alone. Mean Charlson Co-morbidity Index was 5.2 ± 1.8. Based on the clinical frailty risk scale (CFS), 31.6% were vulnerable, 51.3% were mildly frail and 12.5% were moderately frail. Based on SARC-F screening, 45.3% were identified to be sarcopenic whilst 56.9% had a high concern about falling using the Falls-Efficacy Scale-International. BMD scans were done for 41.4% of participants, of which 58.7% were started on osteoporosis treatment. In terms of referrals to allied health professionals, 87.5% were referred for physiotherapy, 71.1% for occupational therapy and 50.7% to dieticians. CONCLUSION: The GSH programme demonstrates a new local model of partnering with community service providers to bring comprehensive population level frailty screening and interventions to pre-frail and frail older adults. Our study found high rates of frailty, sarcopenia and fear of falling in community-dwelling older adults who were not presently known to geriatric care services.

Presence of SARS-CoV-2-like coronaviruses in bats from east coast Malaysia.

Most of the public health importance coronaviruses, such as Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and SARS-CoV-2 are likely originated from bats and spread to humans through intermediate hosts; civet cats, dromedary camel and Malayan pangolin, respectively. SARS-CoV-2-like coronaviruses were detected in Thailand, which is neighbouring with Kelantan in East Coast Malaysia. To date, there is no report on the presence of public health concerns (SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV) coronaviruses in bats from Malaysia. This study was aimed to elucidate the presence of these coronaviruses in bat samples from East Coast, Malaysia. A total of hundred seventy oropharyngeal swab samples were collected from three states of East Coast Malaysia. Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) was conducted based on partial 3' Untranslated region (3'UTR) or ORF10 gene and the products were sequenced. The sequences were compared with all coronavirus sequences from the National Center for Biotechnology Information-GenBank (NCBI-GenBank) using NCBI-Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (NCBI-BLAST) software. A phylogenetic tree was constructed to determine the genetic relationship among the detected coronaviruses with the reference coronaviruses from the NCBI-GenBank. Our results showed that SARSCoV-2-like viruses were present in 3% (5/170) of the bats from East Coast Malaysia that have 98-99% sequence identities and are genetically related to SARS-CoV-2 from humans. This finding indicates the presence of SARS-CoV-2-like viruses in bats from East Coast Malaysia that may become a public health concern in the future.

[Expression profile of circular RNA in inflammatory response in human bronchial epithelial cells induced by carbon black nanoparticles].

Objective: To explore the toxic effect of carbon black nanoparticles on human bronchial epithelial cells, and identify the differentially expressed circular RNA based on the full transcriptome high-throughput sequencing, so as to provide evidence for the development of biomarkers exposed to carbon black nanoparticles and their application on epigenetic toxicology. Methods: In June 2020, 16 HBE cells were treated with carbon black nanoparticles at concentrations of 20, 40 and 80 µg/ml, and 16 HBE cells without any intervention were used as the control group. The cytotoxicity of carbon black nanoparticles was detected by CCK8 and LDH experiments. Real-time quantitative fluorescent PCR (qRT-PCR) and ELISA were used to detect the changes of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-6, IL-8) mRNA and protein levels of carbon black nanoparticles with concentration gradient after 72 h exposure. Western blot analysis was conducted to detect the expression levels of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB (P-NF-κB), apoptosis-related speckled protein (ASC) and Caspase-1 associated with nuclear factor-κB. According to high-throughput sequencing results, differentially expressed Circrnas were screened and identified by qRT-PCR, and those with stable differentially expressed circrnas and the strongest association with the NF-κB pathway were selected for ring performance identification. Results: After being exposed to carbon black nanoparticles for 72 h, the activity of 16HBE cells decreased significantly (P<0.05), and the release of lactate dehydrogenase increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with control group, mRNA expression levels of IL-6 and IL-8, protein levels of IL-6 and IL-8 were increased, and protein levels of TLR4, p-NF-κB, ASC and Caspase-1 were significantly up-regulated in 16 HBE cells of different concentrations, with statistical significance (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, a total of 492 differentially expressed circular Rnas (|log2 FC|>1) were detected. Among the 5 differentially expressed (P<0.05) circular Rnas, circ_002642 was selected as the object of subsequent research on circular Rnas, affter 72 hours of exposure to 80 µg/ml CBNPs, 16HBE cells showed signlficantly higher expression of circ_002642 (P<0.05) . Conclusion: Carbon black nanoparticles can induce differentially expressed circular RNAs associated with inflammatory response in human bronchial epithelial cells.

The impact of Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT) on medical education.

Artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine is developing rapidly. The advent of Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT) has taken the world by storm with its potential uses and efficiencies. However, technology leaders, researchers, educators, and policy makers have also sounded the alarm on its potential harms and unintended consequences. AI will increasingly find its way into medicine and is a force of both disruption and innovation. We discuss the potential benefits and limitations of this new league of technology and how medical educators have to develop skills and curricula to best harness this innovative power.

[Outcomes of laryngotracheal reconstruction with anterior and posterior costal cartilage grafts in severe pediatric subglottic stenosis or laryngeal web].

Objective: To investigate outcomes of laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR)with anterior and posterior costal cartilage grafts in severe pediatric subglottic stenosis (SGS) or laryngeal web (LW). Methods: A review of patients with severe subglottic stenosis or laryngeal web between January 2020 and January 2022 was performed. Demographic features including gender, age at diagnosis, age at surgery, etiology, airway support, and other comorbidities were collected preoperatively. Patients were evaluated in surgical site, breathing, swallowing, phonation and complications postoperatively.Descriptive analysis was used in this research. Results: Eight patients were included: six with grade Ⅲ SGS following Cotton-Myer grading scale, and two with type Ⅲ LW following Cohen's classification. All patients underwent LTR with anterior and posterior costal cartilage grafts. Five patients underwent single-stage LTR (ssLTR), and three patients underwent double-stage LTR (dsLTR). Seven out of eight patients were able to successfully extubate or decannulate with normal swallowing function; four patients had mild hoarseness, and three had moderate hoarseness. One patient failed in extubation, and underwent tracheotomy. Conclusions: LTR with anterior and posterior costal cartilage grafts is an effective and safe treatment for severe SGS or LW. Careful preoperative assessment of disease severity and overall medical status will help selection between ssLTR and dsLTR, thereby maximizing patient outcomes for both modalities.

Effects of dietary niacinamide and CP concentrations on the nitrogen excretion, growth performance, and meat quality of pigs.

Reducing the dietary CP concentration in the formulation of low-protein diets without adverse effects on animal growth performance and meat quality remains challenging. In this study, we investigated the effects of nicotinamide (NAM) on the nitrogen excretion, growth performance, and meat quality of growing-finishing pigs fed low-protein diets. To measure the nitrogen balance, we conducted two trials: in nitrogen balance trial 1, four crossbred (Duroc × Landrace × Large White) barrows (40 ± 0.5 kg BW) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design with four diets and periods. The diets consisted of a basal diet + 30 mg/kg NAM (a control dose), basal diet + 90 mg/kg NAM, basal diet + 210 mg/kg NAM, and basal diet + 360 mg/kg NAM. In nitrogen balance trial 2, another four barrows (40 ± 0.5 kg BW) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The diets consisted of a basal diet + including 30 mg/kg NAM (control), basal diet + 360 mg/kg NAM, low-protein diet + 30 mg/kg NAM, and low-protein diet + 360 mg/kg NAM. To measure growth performance, two trials were conducted. In growth performance trial 1, 40 barrows (37.0 ± 1.0 kg) were randomly allocated to one of four dietary treatments (n = 10 per group), whereas in growth performance trial 2, 300 barrows (41.4 ± 2.0 kg) were randomly allocated to one of four dietary treatments, with each dietary treatment conducted in five repetitions with 15 pigs each. The four diets in the two growth performance trials were similar to those in nitrogen balance trial 2. Supplementing the diet with 210 or 360 mg/kg NAM reduced urinary nitrogen excretion and total nitrogen excretion and increased nitrogen retention comparted with the control diet (P < 0.05). Compared with the control diet, the low-protein diet with 360 mg/kg NAM reduced faecal, urinary, and total nitrogen excretion (P < 0.05) without affecting nitrogen retention and average daily gain (P > 0.05). Pigs fed the low-protein diet with 360 mg/kg NAM showed a decreased intramuscular fat content in the longissimus thoracis muscle when compared with pigs fed the control diet (P > 0.05). Our results suggest NAM as a suitable dietary additive to reduce dietary CP concentration, maximise nitrogen retention and growth performance, and decrease fat deposition in pigs.

All-silicon quantum light source by embedding an atomic emissive center in a nanophotonic cavity.

Silicon is the most scalable optoelectronic material but has suffered from its inability to generate directly and efficiently classical or quantum light on-chip. Scaling and integration are the most fundamental challenges facing quantum science and technology. We report an all-silicon quantum light source based on a single atomic emissive center embedded in a silicon-based nanophotonic cavity. We observe a more than 30-fold enhancement of luminescence, a near-unity atom-cavity coupling efficiency, and an 8-fold acceleration of the emission from the all-silicon quantum emissive center. Our work opens immediate avenues for large-scale integrated cavity quantum electrodynamics and quantum light-matter interfaces with applications in quantum communication and networking, sensing, imaging, and computing.

Influence of ZIF-9 and ZIF-12 structure on the formation of a series of new Co/N-doped porous carbon composites as anode electrodes for high-performance lithium-ion batteries.

A series of new Co/N-doped porous carbon composites, denoted as Co/CZIF-9 and Co/CZIF-12, containing Co nanoparticles encapsulated in nitrogen-doped carbon matrices were prepared by annealing Co-based zeolite imidazolate framework materials, ZIF-9 and ZIF-12, as the efficient precursors at different temperatures. The structural features of the as-synthesized composites at 900 °C were determined by analytical methods with high reliability. Consequently, Co/CZIF-12_900 exhibits a high first specific discharge capacity of 971.0 mA h g-1 at a current density of 0.1 A g-1. Notably, the specific discharge/charge capacity of Co/CZIF-12_900 reaches about 508.8 mA h g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 after 100 cycles. The outstanding behaviors can be accounted for by the efficient incorporation of hetero-nitrogen doping and the Co nanoparticles within the layered structure of porous carbon, enhancing electrical conductivity and structural stability and limiting volume change during the intercalation/deintercalation of Li+ ions. These findings suggest that the Co/CZIF-12_900 material could be employed as a promising anode electrode for energy storage products.

Adult Renal Dysfunction and Risk of Dementia or Cognitive Decline: Brain-Kidney Axis Hypothesis Based on a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The brain-kidney axis was proposed to emphasize roles of kidney functioning in modulating neurodegeneration. We aimed to evaluate the associations of renal diseases and blood markers with risk of dementia or cognitive decline among non-demented adults. METHODS: The PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library were searched until February 1st, 2022, to include longitudinal studies. Multivariate adjusted effects were pooled by random-effects models. The robust error meta-regression models were used for dose-response analyses. The credibility of meta-analyses was graded and an innovative index (Sdifference) was developed to evaluate the evidence tendency. RESULTS: A total of 41 longitudinal studies (6,480,136 participants, mean age range: 58.5-83.5 years) were included, of which 33 were for meta-analyses. Though with low level of evidence, five indicators of kidney were associated with increased risk of dementia or cognitive decline, including acute kidney injury (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.24, p = 0.0001), chronic kidney disease (HR = 1.29, p = 0.0001), higher serum creatinine (HR = 1.35, p = 0.0001), higher urine albumin creatine ratio (UACR, HR = 1.23, p = 0.0001), and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, HR = 1.18, p = 0.0001). A linear relationship was revealed for eGFR (p = 0.0217) or UACR (p = 0.0006). Heterogeneity is a main concern to jeopardize the evidence robustness, especially for eGFR (Sdifference = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Some renal indicators were associated with a higher risk of dementia, though the evidence base warrants further strengthening. Renal function management might serve as a promising target for dementia prediction and prevention.

Impact of Exercise and Cognitive Stimulation Therapy on Physical Function, Cognition and Muscle Mass in Pre-Frail Older Adults in the Primary Care Setting: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: Multicomponent exercise program have shown to improve function and cognition in older adults but studies on pre-frail older adults in the primary care setting are limited. This study aimed i) to evaluate impact of 6 months exercise (Ex) versus complementary effect of 3 months of cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) to 6 months of Ex (Ex+CST) on physical function, muscle mass and cognition versus control group at 3, 6 and 12 months ii) inflammatory biomarkers such as Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α). DESIGN: Cluster randomised control trial. SETTING AND INTERVENTION: Pre-frail older adults ≥ 65 years attending primary care clinic. Two intervention groups i) Ex 6 months ii) CST 3 months with Ex 6 months. MEASUREMENTS: At 0, 3, 6 and 12 months, questionnaires (on demographics, physical function, cognition, and depression) were administered and physical function assessment (gait speed, short physical performance battery (SPPB) test, handgrip strength, five times sit-to-stand (5x-STS)) was conducted. Muscle mass and its surrogates such as phase angle and body cell mass were measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis machine. Inflammatory biomarkers were measured at 0 and 3 months. RESULTS: Data from 190 participants was analysed at 3 months (111 control, 37 Ex and 41 Ex+CST). At 3 months, significant improvement in cognition was seen only in the Ex+CST group whereas improvements in depression, gait speed, SPPB and 5x-STS were seen in both the Ex and Ex+CST groups. At 6 months, the Ex+CST group improved in cognition and depression whereas improvement in frailty and muscle mass indices were seen in both the interventions groups. At 12 months, both the interventions groups had better perceived health, gait speed and less decline in muscle mass compared with control groups. Both the Ex and Ex+CST had significant association with TNF-α at 3 months (ß -2.71 (95% CI -4.80 - -0.62); p = 0.012 and ß -1.74 (95% CI -3.43 - -0.06); p = 0.043 respectively). CONCLUSION: Combined Ex+CST had significant improvement in cognition whereas the intervention groups improved in depression, physical function, muscle mass, frailty, perceived health and TNF-α levels. With growing evidence of the benefits of multicomponent interventions at primary care level, incorporating it into mainstream care with action plans on long-term sustainability and scalability should be a priority for every country.