The Association Between Epidermal Growth Factor rs3756261 A/G Gene Polymorphism and the Risk of Ankylosing Spondylitis in a Chinese Han Population.

Background: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a potent pro-angiogenic molecule promoting the angiogenic phenotype of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Studies demonstrated that EGF rs3756261 polymorphism was associated with the risk of inflammatory diseases, but not including AS. Methods: To investigate the association between EGF rs3756261 polymorphism and the risk of AS, we genotyped the EGF rs3756261 polymorphism in 208 patients with AS and 412 controls in a Chinese Han population using a custom-by-design 48-Plex SNP scanTM Kit. The serum EGF levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 208 AS patients and 412 controls. Results: Our data indicated that EGF rs3756261 polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of AS in the Chinese Han population. Stratified analyses indicated that the EGF rs3756261 polymorphism elevated the risk of AS among the males, smokers, drinkers and those aged <30 years. In addition, the EGF rs3756261 polymorphism was related to increased CRP and HLA-B27 levels in AS patients. Next, we found that the average serum levels of EGF were significantly higher in AS patients compared with controls. Meanwhile, EGF serum levels were significantly higher in AG genotype carriers when compared with AA genotype carriers in AS patients. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study indicated that EGF rs3756261 polymorphism was associated with the risk of AS and EGF serum levels in a Chinese Han population.

Repeated sexual intercourse as a coping strategy for men with premature ejaculation.

BACKGROUND: Patients with premature ejaculation (PE) are often concerned and distressed about their sexual performance. Hence, they may be more willing to exploit their refractory period to employ sexual coping strategies in order to improve their unsatisfactory sexual intercourse compared with patients without PE. AIM: The study sought to verify the sexual coping strategies of patients with PE in the daily sexual activities. METHODS: We included both patients with PE and individuals without PE and analyzed their sexual behaviors and attitudes by means of detailed interviews and questionnaires. OUTCOMES: The main outcomes were perceived intravaginal ejaculatory latency time recording, Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool score, and sexual frequency, attitudes, and behavior log. RESULTS: A total of 182 young patients with PE (age 31.2 ± 6.2 years) and 92 individuals without PE (age 30.7 ± 5.1 years) were included in the study. A total of 53.3% of patients with PE vs 17.4% of individuals without PE reported engaging in multiple sexual intercourse sessions within a single day in the past 4 weeks. PE patients who engaged in multiple intercourse sessions displayed better performance during the second attempt but performed poorly compared with individuals without PE. Scores for the first attempt in PE vs second attempt in individuals with PE vs without PE were the following: intravaginal ejaculatory latency time, 2.4 ± 1.6 vs 4.8 ± 5.7 vs 9.9 ± 9.4 (P < .001); Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool, 14.9 ± 3.1 vs 12.7 ± 4.8 vs 5.2 ± 2.5 (P < .001); satisfaction, 2.9 ± 1.0 vs 3.1 ± 0.8 vs 3.7 ± 1.4 (P < .001). A total of 57.1% of patients held a negative attitude toward precoital masturbation, for reasons such as a reduced sexual desire (21.2%), the belief that masturbation is harmful (17.6%), concerns about erectile function (15.7%), fatigue (9.8%), and other mixed reasons (35.3%). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Engaging in multiple intercourse sessions within a day is more common among the young PE population, and using precoital masturbation as a coping strategy is not universally applicable among patients with PE. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: This is the first study to explore symptom-coping strategies in patients with PE compared with individuals without PE. However, the conclusions cannot be generalized to the entire male population. CONCLUSION: Patients with PE, compared with individuals without PE, are more inclined to engage in multiple sexual intercourse sessions within a single sexual session, likely in an attempt to compensate for their first unsatisfactory sexual encounter. Moreover, the majority of patients with PE here studied hold a negative attitude toward using precoital masturbation as a coping strategy for symptoms.

Deferasirox exerts anti-epileptic effects by improving brain iron homeostasis via regulation of ITPRIP.

Epilepsy constitutes a global health concern, affecting millions of individuals and approximately one-third of patients exhibit drug resistance. Recent investigations have revealed alterations in cerebral iron content in both epilepsy patients and animal models. However, the extant literature lacks a comprehensive exploration into the ramifications of modulating iron homeostasis as an intervention in epilepsy. This study investigated the impact of deferasirox, a iron ion chelator, on epilepsy. This study unequivocally substantiated the antiepileptic efficacy of deferasirox in a kainic acid-induced epilepsy model. Furthermore, deferasirox administration mitigated seizure susceptibility in a pentylenetetrazol-induced kindling model. Conversely, the augmentation of iron levels through supplementation has emerged as a potential exacerbating factor in the precipitating onset of epilepsy. Intriguingly, our investigation revealed a hitherto unreported discovery: ITPRIP was identified as a pivotal modulator of excitatory synaptic transmission, regulating seizures in response to deferasirox treatment. In summary, our findings indicate that deferasirox exerts its antiepileptic effects through the precise targeting of ITPRIP and amelioration of cerebral iron homeostasis, suggesting that deferasirox is a promising and novel therapeutic avenue for interventions in epilepsy.

Dynamic genomic changes in methotrexate-resistant human cancer cell lines beyond DHFR amplification suggest potential new targets for preventing drug resistance.

BACKGROUND: Although DHFR gene amplification has long been known as a major mechanism for methotrexate (MTX) resistance in cancer, the early changes and detailed development of the resistance are not yet fully understood. METHODS: We performed genomic, transcriptional and proteomic analyses of human colon cancer cells with sequentially increasing levels of MTX-resistance. RESULTS: The genomic amplification evolved in three phases (pre-amplification, homogenously staining region (HSR) and extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA)). We confirm that genomic amplification and increased expression of DHFR, with formation of HSRs and especially ecDNAs, is the major driver of resistance. However, DHFR did not play a detectable role in the early phase. In the late phase (ecDNA), increase in FAM151B protein level may also have an important role by decreasing sensitivity to MTX. In addition, although MSH3 and ZFYVE16 may be subject to different posttranscriptional regulations and therefore protein expressions are decreased in ecDNA stages compared to HSR stages, they still play important roles in MTX resistance. CONCLUSION: The study provides a detailed evolutionary trajectory of MTX-resistance and identifies new targets, especially ecDNAs, which could help to prevent drug resistance. It also presents a proof-of-principal approach which could be applied to other cancer drug resistance studies.

The experiences of nursing students participating in a student death doula service-learning program in palliative care settings: A qualitative study.

Nursing students desire more training and experience in palliative care due to a need for more skills and knowledge. This descriptive qualitative study explored nursing students' experiences in participating in a student death doula service-learning program in palliative care settings. Fourteen final-year undergraduate nursing students participated in semi-structured focus group discussions via Zoom. Four focus group discussions were conducted. Six themes with 19 subthemes were developed: (1) initial feelings of fear and uncertainty, (2) death doula training and orientation, (3) palliative wards being a happier place than expected, (4) experience of watching their patients deteriorate over time, (5) benefits of participating in service-learning in palliative care settings, and (6) improving the service-learning experience. The program was well received by the nursing students, who recommended incorporating it into the nursing curriculum to enhance palliative nursing education. Additional refinements were proposed to better support nursing students during service-learning.

Yingxiang Acupoint Embedding Improves Mucosal Barrier Function in Rats with Local Allergic Rhinitis.

INTRODUCTION: Epithelial barrier disruption is the initial cause of various diseases. We previously reported that acupoint catgut embedding (AE) improves tight junction proteins (TJs) in rats with allergic rhinitis. However, whether AE improves the epithelial barrier in local allergic rhinitis (LAR) remains unknown. METHODS: A total of 36 Sprague Dawley (SD) male rats aged 5-7 weeks were divided into 6 groups with 6 rats each: control group, LAR model group, false acupoint embedding + LAR group, acupoint embedding + LAR group, capsaicin + LAR group, and tunicamycin + acupoint embedding + LAR group. Behavioral observation, ELISA to detect inflammatory factors in nasal lavage fluid and serum IgE, nasal mucosal permeability test, hematoxylin-eosin staining, PCR to detect Substance P (SP), Western blot, and immunofluorescence to detect endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) index and TJs were used to investigate the mechanism of AE in LAR. RESULTS: AE improved the symptoms and pathological features of nasal mucosa of LAR rats, reduced the inflammatory factors (IL4, IL5, IL13) of nasal lavage fluid, and showed no significant change in serum IgE levels in all groups. In addition, AE decreased the expression of SP in nasal mucosa of LAR rats, inhibited ERS, increased the expression of tight junction protein, reduced the permeability of nasal mucosa, and improved the function of nasal mucosal barrier. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that AE can improve the nasal mucosal barrier function of LAR by reducing the expression of SP, inhibiting ERS and increasing the expression of TJs, thus enhancing the nasal mucosal barrier function.

Neutrophil extracellular traps promote acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury in mice via AIM2.

Excessive acetaminophen (APAP) can induce neutrophil activation and hepatocyte death. Along with hepatocyte dysfunction and death, NETosis (a form of neutrophil-associated inflammation) plays a vital role in the progression of acute liver injury (ALI) induced by APAP overdose. It has been shown that activated neutrophils tend to migrate towards the site of injury and participate in inflammatory processes via formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). In this study we investigated whether NETs were involved in hepatocyte injury and contributed to APAP-induced ALI progression. ALI mouse model was established by injecting overdose (350 mg/kg) of APAP. After 24 h, blood and livers were harvested for analyses. We showed that excessive APAP induced multiple programmed cell deaths of hepatocytes including pyroptosis, apoptosis and necroptosis, accompanied by significantly increased NETs markers (MPO, citH3) in the liver tissue and serum. Preinjection of DNase1 (10 U, i.p.) for two consecutive days significantly inhibited NETs formation, reduced PANoptosis and consequently alleviated excessive APAP-induced ALI. In order to clarify the communication between hepatocytes and neutrophils, we induced NETs formation in isolated neutrophils, and treated HepaRG cells with NETs. We found that NETs treatment markedly increased the activation of GSDMD, caspase-3 and MLKL, while pre-treatment with DNase1 down-regulated the expression of these proteins. Knockdown of AIM2 (a cytosolic innate immune receptor) abolished NETs-induced PANoptosis in HepaRG cells. Furthermore, excessive APAP-associated ALI was significantly attenuated in AIM2KO mice, and PANoptosis occurred less frequently. Upon restoring AIM2 expression in AIM2KO mice using AAV9 virus, both hepatic injury and PANoptosis was aggravated. In addition, we demonstrated that excessive APAP stimulated mtROS production and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) leakage, and mtDNA activated the TLR9 pathway to promote NETs formation. Our results uncover a novel mechanism of NETs and PANoptosis in APAP-associated ALI, which might serve as a therapeutic target.

Inhibition of USP7 enhances CD8+ T cell activity in liver cancer by suppressing PRDM1-mediated FGL1 upregulation.

Lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG3), an immune checkpoint molecule expressed on activated T cells, functions as a negative regulator of immune responses. Persistent antigen exposure in the tumor microenvironment results in sustained LAG3 expression on T cells, contributing to T cell dysfunction. Fibrinogen-like protein 1 (FGL1) has been identified as a major ligand of LAG3, and FGL1/LAG3 interaction forms a novel immune checkpoint pathway that results in tumor immune evasion. In addition, ubiquitin-specific peptidase 7 (USP7) plays a crucial role in cancer development. In this study we investigated the role of USP7 in modulation of FGL1-mediated liver cancer immune evasion. We showed that knockdown of USP7 or treatment with USP7 inhibitor P5091 suppressed liver cancer growth by promoting CD8+ T cell activity in Hepa1-6 xenograft mice and in HepG2 or Huh7 cells co-cultured with T cells, whereas USP7 overexpression produced the opposite effect. We found that USP7 upregulated FGL1 in HepG2 and Huh7 cells by deubiquitination of transcriptional factor PR domain zinc finger protein 1 (PRDM1), which transcriptionally activated FGL1, and attenuated the CD8+ T cell activity, leading to the liver cancer growth. Interestingly, USP7 could be transcriptionally stimulated by PRDM1 as well in a positive feedback loop. P5091, an inhibitor of USP7, was able to downregulate FGL1 expression, thus enhancing CD8+ T cell activity. In an immunocompetent liver cancer mouse model, the dual blockade of USP7 and LAG3 resulted in a superior antitumor activity compared with anti-LAG3 therapy alone. We conclude that USP7 diminishes CD8+ T cell activity by a USP7/PRDM1 positive feedback loop on FGL1 production in liver cancer; USP7 might be a promising target for liver cancer immunotherapy.

Anti-aging effect of peptides on Caenorhabditis elegans: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Peptides have been studied in Caenorhabditis elegans for anti-aging research recently. Due to the lack of sufficient evidence, we conducted this meta-analysis focusing on the anti-aging effect of peptides in C. elegans to provide more convincing evidence. RESULTS: A literature search in PubMed, SCOUPUS, and Web of Science databases yielded 2879 articles. After removing duplicates and based on inclusion criteria and STAIR checklist quality assessment, 9 articles were selected. Data extraction and analysis showed that, compared to the control group without peptide intervention, peptide supplementation significantly reduced nematode mortality risk (HR= 0.54, 95% CI = 0.47, 0.62; p < 0.05), significantly increased the pharyngeal pumping rate (SMD = 1.64, 95% CI = 0.87, 2.41; p < 0.05), bending frequency (SMD = 1.67, 95% CI =1.16, 2.18; p < 0.05), and significantly decreased the accumulation of lipofuscin levels within nematodes (SMD = -4.48, 95% CI = -6.85, -2.12; p < 0.05). Additionally, subgroup analysis showed that doses ranging from 0.1-1 kg m3 ^-1 (HR= 0.50, 95% CI = 0.38, 0.65; p < 0.05) displayed better anti-aging effects compared to other dose ranges. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that peptides can significantly extend the lifespan of C. elegans under normal circumstances and improve three indicators of healthylife. More importantly, subgroup analysis revealed that a dosage of 0.1-1 kg m3 ^-1 demonstrated superior anti-aging effects. This meta-analysis provides more convincing evidence that peptides can play an anti-aging role in C. elegans. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Adsorption Behaviors and Mechanism of Phenol and Catechol in Wastewater by Magnetic Graphene Oxides: A Comprehensive Study Based on Adsorption Experiments, Mathematical Models, and Molecular Simulations.

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the adsorption behaviors and mechanisms of phenol and catechol on magnetic graphene oxide (MGO) nanocomposites based on adsorption experiments, mathematical models, and molecular simulations. Through systematic experiments, the influence of various parameters, including contact time, pH conditions, and ionic strength, on the adsorption efficacy was comprehensively evaluated. The optimal contact time for adsorption was identified as 60 min, with the observation that an increase in inorganic salt concentration adversely affected the MGOs' adsorption capacity for both phenol and catechol. Specifically, MGOs exhibited a superior adsorption performance under mildly acidic conditions. The adsorption isotherm was well represented by the Langmuir model, suggesting monolayer coverage and finite adsorption sites for both pollutants. In terms of adsorption kinetics, a pseudo-first-order kinetic model was the most suitable for describing phenol adsorption, while catechol adsorption conformed more closely to a pseudo-second-order model, indicating distinct adsorption processes for these two similar compounds. Furthermore, this research utilized quantum chemical calculations to decipher the interaction mechanisms at the molecular level. Such calculations provided both a visual representation and a quantitative analysis of the interactions, elucidating the underlying physical and chemical forces governing the adsorption phenomena. The findings could not only offer crucial insights for the treatment of coal industrial wastewater containing phenolic compounds with bridging macroscopic observations with microscopic theoretical explanations but also advance the understanding of material-pollutant interactions in aqueous environments.

The efficacy and safety of different does of intravenous tranexamic acid on blood loss in fresh foot and ankle fractures: a prospective, randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: There are a few studies on the effectiveness and safety of intravenous administration of tranexamic acid(TXA) in patients who underwent foot and ankle surgery, especially for preoperative hidden blood loss in patients with freshfoot and ankle fractures. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether intravenous administration of different doses of TXA can effectively reduce perioperative blood loss and blood loss before surgery and to determine its safety. METHODS: A total of 150 patients with fresh closed foot and ankle fractures from July 2021 to July 2023 were randomly divided into a control group (placebo controlled [PC]), standard-dose group (low-dose group [LD], 1 g/24 h; medium-dose group [MD], 2 g/24 h), and high-dose group (HD, 3 g/24 h; ultrahigh-dose group [UD], 4 g/24 h). After admission, all patients completed hematological examinations as soon as possible and at multiple other time points postsurgery. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the incidence of hidden blood loss before the operation between the TXA group and the control group, and the effect was greater in the overdose groups than in the standard-dose groups. There were significant differences in surgical blood loss (intraoperative and postoperative), postoperative HGB changes, and hidden blood loss among the groups. The TXA groups showed a significant decrease in blood loss compared to that of the control group, and the overdose groups had a more significant effect than the standard-dose groups. A total of 9 patients in the control group had early wound infection or poor healing, while only 1 patient in the other groups had this complication, and the difference among the groups was significant. No patients in any group suffered from late deep wound infection, cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events or symptomatic VTE. CONCLUSION: This is the first study on whether TXA can reduce preoperative hidden blood loss in patients with freshfoot and ankle fractures. In our study, on the one hand, intravenous application of TXA after foot and ankle fractures as soon as possible can reduce preoperative blood loss and postoperative blood loss. On the other hand, TXA can also lower wound complications, and over-doses of TXA are more effective than standard doses. Moreover, overdoses of TXA do not increase the incidence of DVT.

Mitofilin in cardiovascular diseases: Insights into the pathogenesis and potential pharmacological interventions.

The impact of mitochondrial dysfunction on the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease is increasing. However, the precise underlying mechanism remains unclear. Mitochondria produce cellular energy through oxidative phosphorylation while regulating calcium homeostasis, cellular respiration, and the production of biosynthetic chemicals. Nevertheless, problems related to cardiac energy metabolism, defective mitochondrial proteins, mitophagy, and structural changes in mitochondrial membranes can cause cardiovascular diseases via mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitofilin is a critical inner mitochondrial membrane protein that maintains cristae structure and facilitates protein transport while linking the inner mitochondrial membrane, outer mitochondrial membrane, and mitochondrial DNA transcription. Researchers believe that mitofilin may be a therapeutic target for treating cardiovascular diseases, particularly cardiac mitochondrial dysfunctions. In this review, we highlight current findings regarding the role of mitofilin in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and potential therapeutic compounds targeting mitofilin.

Comparison of the specific energies of sinusoidal VCS cutter rings and CCS cutter rings in breaking rock-like materials based on the FEM.

Disc cutters are essential for full-section hard-rock tunnel boring machines. The performance of these devices directly affects tunnel engineering costs and duration. This paper proposes a sinusoidal variable cross-section (VCS) cutter ring and design method and establishes a digital model. Rock-like materials are simulated with a finite element model, and the model validity is verified via rock simulation mechanics tests. A disc cutter rolling rock simulation model for a linear cutting machine is also established, and simulation tests are performed for single- and three-cutter rolling using sinusoidal VCSs and constant cross-section (CCS) cutter models, respectively. The stress and energy changes for the cutters and rock-like material damage area were compared via simulation, confirming that some sinusoidal VCS cutter rings do less work on rock-like materials and cause larger crushing areas under the same engineering parameters; therefore, these cutter rings have smaller specific energies. The sinusoidal VCS cutter ring performance is 7% greater than that of CCS on average under single-cutter simulation, and the intermediate cutter performance of the intermediate cutter is 9% greater than that of CCS on average under three-cutter simulation. Thus, sinusoidal VCS cutter rings offer improved rock damage performance, and further research and application of this technology will improve the working efficiency of tunnel boring machines.

Differential effects of oxytetracycline on detoxification and antioxidant defense in the hepatopancreas and intestine of Chinese mitten crab under cadmium stress.

This study aims to evaluate the effects of oxytetracycline (OTC) on detoxification and oxidative defense in the hepatopancreas and intestine of Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) under cadmium (Cd) stress. The crab was exposed to 0.6 µM Cd, 0.6 µM OTC, and 0.6 µM Cd plus 0.6 µM OTC for 42 days. Our results showed that in the intestine, OTC alone enhanced protein carboxylation (PC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, which was associated with the increased OTC accumulation. Compared to Cd alone, Cd plus OTC increased Cd and OTC contents, and reduced detoxification (i.e., glutathione (GSH) content, gene expressions of cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms, 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity, mRNA levels and activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST)), and antioxidant defense (i.e., gene expressions and activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)) in the intestine, leading to the increased in PC and MDA contents, suggesting that OTC had a synergistic effect on Cd-induced oxidative damage. In the hepatopancreas, although OTC alone increased OTC accumulation, it did not affect PC and MDA contents. Compared to Cd alone, Cd plus OTC reduced MDA content, which was closely related to the improvement of detoxification (i.e., GSH content, mRNA levels of CYP isoforms, EROD activity, gene expressions and activities of GPx, GR and GST), and antioxidant defense (gene expressions and activities of CAT and SOD, metallothionein content). Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) transcriptional expressions were positively correlated with most detoxification- and antioxidant-related gene expressions, respectively, indicating that AhR and Nrf2 were involved in the regulation of these gene expressions. Our results unambiguously demonstrated that OTC had tissue-specific effects on Cd-induced toxicological effect in E. sinensis, which contributed to accurately evaluating Cd toxicity modulated by TCs in crab.

[Pollution Characteristics and Source Analysis of Soil Heavy Metal in Coal Mine Area near the Yellow River in Shandong].

To explore the pollution characteristics and source of soil heavy metal in a coal mine area near the Yellow River in Shandong, the geo-accumulation index method and improved Nemerow pollution index method were used to evaluate the pollution characteristics of soil heavy metal. The absolute principal component-multiple linear regression model (APCS-MLR) was used to quantitatively analyze the source of soil heavy metal, and the spatial distribution of Hg and Cd were analyzed using the Kriging spatial difference method in ArcGIS. The result accuracy of the APCS-MLR model was further verified. The results showed that:The measured contents of soil heavy metal Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni, As, and Hg all exceeded the normal site, among which, Hg and Cd exceeded the background values of soil elements in Shandong. The coefficient of variation (CV) of Hg was higher than 0.500, indicating significant spatial heterogeneity. Moreover, the correlation between Hg and other heavy metals was generally low, and the possibility of the same pollution source was small. The results of the geo-accumulation index and improved Nemerow pollution index showed that the overall soil heavy metal pollution was at a moderate level, among which the Hg pollution level was the highest, and its maximum value was at a slanted-heavy pollution level; Cu, Cd, and As in soil caused local pollution, which were at a slanted-light pollution level. Soil heavy metal pollution was closely related to mining activities, rehabilitation, and engineering construction in the coal mine area. The two major pollution sources of soil heavy metal in the research area were the compound source of the parent material and industrial and mining transportation sources (known source 1) and the compound source of atmospheric sedimentation and coal production (known source 2), the contribution rates of which were 76.705% and 16.171%, respectively. The results of the APCS-MLR model were shown to be reliable by analyzing the content distribution of Hg and Cd using the Kriging space difference mode. This research can provide scientific basis for the precise control and improvement of soil heavy metal pollution, ensuring the safety of food and agricultural products and improving the quality of the ecological environment in the coal mine area in the Shandong section of the Yellow River Basin.

Synthesis Strategies, Preparation Methods, and Applications of Chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Chiral metal-organic framework (CMOFs) is a kind of material with great application value in recent years. Formed by the coordination of metal ions or metal clusters with organic ligands. It is widely used in chemistry, biology, medicine and materials science because of its ordered and adjustable pores, multi-dimensional network structure, large specific surface area and excellent adsorption properties. In this paper, the synthesis strategies and preparation methods of chiral metal-organic frameworks are reviewed. In addition, the applications of chiral metal-organic framework materials in enantiomer recognition and separation, circularly polarized luminescence and asymmetric catalysis are systematically summarized. Finally, the challenges and prospects of the development of chiral metal-organic frame materials are analyzed in detail.

A systematic evaluation of population pharmacokinetic models for polymyxin B in patients with liver and/or kidney dysfunction.

Polymyxin B (PMB) is considered a last-line treatment for multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative bacterial infections. Model-informed precision dosing with population pharmacokinetics (PopPK) models could help to individualize PMB dosing regimens and improve therapy. However, the external prediction ability of the established PopPK models has not been fully elaborated. This study aimed to systemically evaluate eleven PMB PopPK models from ten published literature based on a new independent population, which was divided into four different populations, patients with liver dysfunction, kidney dysfunction, liver and kidney dysfunction, and normal liver and kidney function. The whole data set consisted of 146 patients with 391 PMB concentrations. The prediction- and simulation-based diagnostics and Bayesian forecasting were conducted to evaluate model predictability. In the overall evaluation process, none of the models exhibited satisfactory predictive ability in both prediction- and simulation-based diagnostic simultaneously. However, the evaluation of the models in the subgroup of patients with normal liver and kidney function revealed improved predictive performance compared to those with liver and/or kidney dysfunction. Bayesian forecasting demonstrated enhanced predictability with the incorporation of two to three prior observations. The external evaluation highlighted a lack of consistency between the prediction results of published models and the external validation dataset. Nonetheless, Bayesian forecasting holds promise in improving the predictive performance of the models, and feedback from therapeutic drug monitoring is crucial in optimizing individual dosing regimens.

Chinese Translation and Validation of the Center for Neurologic Study Lability Scale.

INTRODUCTION: Pseudobulbar palsy is a common symptom in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but it is often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed as other diseases. The Center for Neurologic Study Lability Scale (CNS-LS) is a self-report scale consisting of seven questions designed for evaluating pseudobulbar affect (PBA). The current study aimed to validate a Chinese version of the CNS-LS. METHODS: The Chinese version of the CNS-LS was obtained through a standardized forward-backward translation and cultural adaptation. A total of 105 patients with ALS were recruited from the ALS database of Peking University Third Hospital in Beijing, China, to complete the CNS-LS. The reliability of the Chinese version was determined by the test-retest method, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed for criterion validity. RESULTS: Of 105 patients with ALS, 37 had symptoms of PBA and were diagnosed with that condition by neurologists. Forty-two patients completed the CNS-LS twice, and there was no statistically significant difference between the scores (Z = -0.896, p = 0.37). The Spearman correlation coefficient between the test and retest scores was 0.940 (p < 0.0005), and the Cronbach alpha coefficient was high (α = 0.905, n = 105). Scores of 12 or higher on the CNS-LS identified PBA with sensitivity of 0.919 and specificity of 0.882. The area under the ROC curve was 0.924. CONCLUSION: The Chinese version of the CNS-LS demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity in the group of patients with ALS enrolled in this study. The CNS-LS should be a useful instrument for clinical and research purposes for patients in this language group.

TacPrint: Visualizing the Biomechanical Fingerprint in Table Tennis.

Table tennis is a sport that demands high levels of technical proficiency and body coordination from players. Biomechanical fingerprints can provide valuable insights into players' habitual movement patterns and characteristics, allowing them to identify and improve technical weaknesses. Despite the potential, few studies have developed effective methods for generating such fingerprints. To address this gap, we propose TacPrint, a framework for generating a biomechanical fingerprint for each player. TacPrint leverages machine learning techniques to extract comprehensive features from biomechanics data collected by inertial measurement units (IMU) and employs the attention mechanism to enhance model interpretability. After generating fingerprints, TacPrint provides a visualization system to facilitate the exploration and investigation of these fingerprints. In order to validate the effectiveness of the framework, we designed an experiment to evaluate the model's performance and conducted a case study with the system. The results of our experiment demonstrated the high accuracy and effectiveness of the model. Additionally, we discussed the potential of TacPrint to be extended to other sports.