A theoretical study of surface lithium effects on the [111] SiC nanowires as anode materials.

CONTEXT: Silicon carbide nanowires (SiCNWs) are considered a promising alternative material for application in lithium-ion batteries, with researchers striving to develop new electrode materials that exhibit high capacity and high charge/discharge rate performance. To gain a deeper understanding of the application of SiCNWs in semiconductor material science and energy supply fields, we investigated the effects of nanoscale and surface lithiation on the electrical and mechanical properties of SiCNWs grown along the [111] direction. First-principles calculation was used to study their geometries, electronic structures, and associated electrochemical properties. Herein, we considered SiCNWs with full hydrogen passivation, full lithium passivation, and mixed passivation at different sizes. The formation energy indicates that the stability of SiCNWs increases with the increasing diameter, and the surface-lithiated SiC nanowires (Li-SiCNWs) are found to be energetically stable. The mixed passivated SiCNWs exhibit the properties of indirect band gap with the increase of lithium atoms on the surface, while the fully lithium passivated nanowires exhibit metallic behavior. Charge analysis shows that a portion of the electrons on the lithium atoms are transferred to the surface atoms of the nanowires and electrons prefer to cluster more near the C atoms. Additionally, Li-SiCNWs still have good mechanical resistance during the lithiation process. The stable open-circuit voltage range and theoretical capacity of these SiCNWs indicate their suitability as anode materials. METHOD: In this study, Materials Studio 8.0 was used to construct the models of the SiCNWs. And all the density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed by the Vienna ab initio Simulation Package (VASP). The self-consistent field calculations are performed over a Monkhorst-Pack net of 1 × 1 × 6 k-points. The energy convergence criteria for the self-consistent field calculation were set to 10-5 eV/atom with a cutoff energy of 400 eV.

The impact of sphygmomanometer placement and cuff placement on blood pressure measurements.

Background: Hypertension is the most significant global risk factor for mortality and morbidity, making standardized blood pressure measurement crucial. Objectives: To investigate whether the location of blood pressure monitors and the positioning of cuffs yield differing results in blood pressure measurements. Methods: Patients admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Jiujiang College between 1 January 2022 and 30 June 2023 were enrolled in this study and randomly allocated into four groups. These groups were defined based on the positioning of monitoring equipment as follows: varied placements of cuffs on automatic blood pressure monitors, different heights for mercury column blood pressure monitors, varied heights for automatic blood pressure monitors, and different orientations for the cuff airbag tubes on electrocardiogram monitors. Blood pressure was measured and recorded for each group, followed by an analysis of the variations in readings across the different setups. Results: In the first cohort of 763 individuals, mean systolic blood pressure measured at the standard upper arm site was 128.8 ± 10.5 mmHg, compared to 125.3 ± 10.4 mmHg at the elbow fossa. The corresponding diastolic pressures were 79.2 ± 10.7 and 75.0 ± 10.6 mmHg, respectively. The difference in systolic pressure between these positions was significant at 3.48 ± 3.22 mmHg (t1 = 29.91, p1 < 0.001) and for diastolic pressure at 4.23 ± 1.31 mmHg (t2 = 88.98, p2 < 0.001). For the subsequent groups, involving 253, 312, and 225 individuals, respectively, blood pressure measurements were analyzed and compared across different methods within each group. All p-values exceeded 0.05, indicating no statistically significant differences. Conclusions: Blood pressure values measured at the elbow fossa position using an upper arm-type automatic sphygmomanometer were found to be lower than those measured at the upper arm position, with a difference of 3.48 mmHg for systolic and 4.23 mmHg for diastolic pressures. It is therefore essential to position the cuff correctly, specifically 2-3 cm above the elbow fossa, when utilizing an upper arm-type automatic sphygmomanometer for blood pressure monitoring. Conversely, the placement of the mercury column sphygmomanometer and the automated sphygmomanometer at varying heights had no significant effect on blood pressure readings. Similarly, the orientation of the electrocardiogram's cuffed balloon tube, whether facing upward or downward, did not influence blood pressure measurement outcomes.

Amino acid mutations PB1-V719M and PA-N444D combined with PB2-627K contribute to the pathogenicity of H7N9 in mice.

H7N9 subtype avian influenza viruses (AIVs) cause 1567 human infections and have high mortality, posing a significant threat to public health. Previously, we reported that two avian-derived H7N9 isolates (A/chicken/Eastern China/JTC4/2013 and A/chicken/Eastern China/JTC11/2013) exhibit different pathogenicities in mice. To understand the genetic basis for the differences in virulence, we constructed a series of mutant viruses based on reverse genetics. We found that the PB2-E627K mutation alone was not sufficient to increase the virulence of H7N9 in mice, despite its ability to enhance polymerase activity in mammalian cells. However, combinations with PB1-V719M and/or PA-N444D mutations significantly enhanced H7N9 virulence. Additionally, these combined mutations augmented polymerase activity, thereby intensifying virus replication, inflammatory cytokine expression, and lung injury, ultimately increasing pathogenicity in mice. Overall, this study revealed that virulence in H7N9 is a polygenic trait and identified novel virulence-related residues (PB2-627K combined with PB1-719M and/or PA-444D) in viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) complexes. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying AIV pathogenesis in mammals, with implications for pandemic preparedness and intervention strategies.

Mapping and analysis of protein and gene profiles identify the important role of TGF-ß in synovial invasion in pigmented villonodular synovitis.

BACKGROUND: Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a rare benign proliferative disease affecting the soft tissue lining the synovial joints and tendons. Its etiology is poorly understood, largely limiting the availability of current therapeutic options. Here, we mapped the synovial gene and protein profiles of patients with PVNS, revealed a link between synovial inflammation and invasion, and elucidated the potential molecular mechanism involved. METHODS: The expression of synovial genes from six control individuals, seven OA patients, and nineteen PVNS patients was analyzed via RNA sequencing. Protein profiles from five control individuals, ten OA patients, and thirty-two PVNS patients were analyzed using label-free proteomics. Microarray and RT-PCR analyses and immunohistochemical staining were used to evaluate inflammatory cytokine and target gene expression levels in synovial tissue, epithelial cells, and synovial fibroblasts (FLSs) derived from PVNS tissue. Various signaling pathway inhibitors, siRNAs, and western blots were used for molecular mechanism studies. Transwell migration and invasion assays were subsequently performed. RESULTS: In total, 522 differentially expressed proteins were identified in the PVNS tissues. By integrating RNA sequencing and microarray analyses, significant changes in the expression of EMT-related genes, including TGFBI, N-cadherin, E-cadherin, SNAIL, and TWIST, were confirmed in the PVNS tissue compared to the control tissue. In vitro, TGF-ß induced EMT and increased epithelial cell migration and invasion. Moreover, TGF-ß not only promoted interactions between epithelial cells and FLSs but also directly increased the migration and invasion abilities of FLSs by activating the classical Smad2/3 and nonclassical JNK/AKT signaling pathways. CONCLUSION: This study provides overall protein and gene profiles of PVNS and identifies the crucial role of TGF-ß in synovial invasion pathology. Exploring the related molecular mechanism may also reveal a new strategy or target for PVNS therapy.

Pulsed Laser-Bleaching Semiconductor and Photodetector.

Pulsed lasers alter the optical properties of semiconductors and affect the photoelectric function of the photodetectors significantly, resulting in transient changes known as bleaching. Bleaching has a profound impact on the control and interference of photodetector applications. Experiments using pump-probe techniques have made significant contributions to understanding ultrafast carrier dynamics. However, there are few theoretical studies to the best of our knowledge. Here, carrier dynamic models for semiconductors and photodetectors are established, respectively, employing the rectified carrier drift-diffusion model. The pulsed laser bleaching effect on seven types of semiconductors and photodetectors from visible to long-wave infrared is demonstrated. Additionally, a continuous bleaching method is provided, and the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is used to solve carrier dynamic theory models. Laser parameters for continuous bleaching of semiconductors and photodetectors are calculated. The proposed bleaching model and achieved laser parameters for continuous bleaching are essential for several applications using semiconductor devices, such as infrared detection, biological imaging, and sensing.

Quercetin alleviates inflammation induced by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in MARC-145 cells through the regulation of arachidonic acid and glutamine metabolism.

BACKGROUND: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection causes severe inflammatory response, respiratory disease and sow reproductive failure. Quercetin is among the widely occurring polypheno found abundantly in nature. Quercetin has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-viral properties. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the effect and mechanism of quercetin on PRRSV-induced inflammation in MARC-145 cells. METHODS: Observing the cytopathic effect and measurements of inflammatory markers in MARC-145 cells collectively demonstrate that quercetin elicits a curative effect on PRRSV-induced inflammation. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was further used for a non-targeted metabolic analysis of the role of quercetin in the metabolic regulation of PRRSV inflammation in MARC-145 cells. RESULTS: It was shown that quercetin attenuated PRRSV-induced cytopathy in MARC-145 cells. Quercetin treatment inhibited PRRSV replication in MARC-145 cells in a dose-dependent manner. We also found that quercetin inhibited PRRSV-induced mRNA expression and secretion levels of tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin 1ß and interleukin 6. Metabolomics analysis revealed that quercetin ameliorated PRRSV-induced inflammation. Pathway analysis results revealed that PRRSV-induced pathways including arachidonic acid metabolism, linoleic acid, glycerophospholipid and alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism were suppressed by quercetin. Moreover, we confirmed that quercetin inhibited the activation of NF-κB/p65 pathway, probably by attenuating PLA2, ALOX and COX mRNA expression. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide a crucial insight into the molecular mechanism of quercetin in alleviating PRRSV-induced inflammation.

A strategy for improving silk yield and organ size in silk-producing insects.

Insect silks possess excellent biodegradability, biocompatibility and mechanical properties, and have numerous applications in biomedicine and tissue engineering. However, the application of silk fiber is hindered by its limited supply, especially from non-domesticated insects. In the present study, the silk yield and organ size of Bombyx mori were significantly improved through genetic manipulation of the target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) pathway components. Silk protein synthesis and silk gland size were decreased following rapamycin treatment, inhibiting the TORC1 signaling pathway both in vivo and ex vivo. The overexpression of posterior silk gland-specific Rheb and BmSLC7A5 improved silk protein synthesis and silk gland size by activating the TORC1 signaling pathway. Silk yield in BmSLC7A5-overexpression silkworms was significantly increased by approximately 25%. We have demonstrated that the TORC1 signaling pathway is involved in the transcription and translation of silk genes and transcriptional activators via phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase 1 and 4E-binding protein 1. Our findings present a strategy for increasing silk yield and organ size in silk-producing insects.

Immediate Efficacy of Contralateral Acupuncture on SI3 Combined with Active Exercise for Acute Lumbar Sprains: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: Acute lumbar sprain (ALS) is a common clinical disease characterized by persistent intolerable low back pain and limitation of movement, and quick pain relief and restoration of mobility in a short time are the main needs of patients when they visit the clinic. This study aims to evaluate the immediate efficacy of contralateral acupuncture (CAT) on SI3 combined with active exercise in treating ALS. Methods and Analysis: This study is a randomized controlled trial which will recruit 118 eligible participants aged 18 to 55 years with ALS at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine between March 2024 and December 2026. Participants will be randomly assigned to the acupuncture group or the sham-acupuncture group in a 1:1 ratio. The acupuncture group will receive a 10-minute acupuncture treatment combined with active exercise, while the sham-acupuncture group will receive a 10-minute sham acupuncture treatment combined with active exercise. Randomization will use a computer-generated sequence with allocation concealed in opaque envelopes. The primary outcome will be the pain visual analogue scale (VAS) scores after 10 minutes of treatment. Secondary outcomes will include the pain VAS scores at other time points (2, 4, 6, and 8 minutes post-treatment), the lumbar range of motion (ROM) scores at various time points, blinded assessment, the treatment effect expectancy scale, and the rescue analgesia rate. The analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. The primary outcome will be analyzed using ANCOVA, and secondary outcomes with repeated measures ANOVA. The rescue analgesia rate will be assessed using either the χ2 test or Fisher's exact test. Discussion: This study is the first randomized controlled trial to assess the immediate efficacy of CAT in combination with active exercise for ALS. This study will provide a simple, rapid, and effective treatment for the clinical management of ALS.

Brain implantation of tissue-level-soft bioelectronics via embryonic development.

The design of bioelectronics capable of stably tracking brain-wide, single-cell, and millisecond-resolved neural activities in the developing brain is critical to the study of neuroscience and neurodevelopmental disorders. During development, the three-dimensional (3D) structure of the vertebrate brain arises from a 2D neural plate 1,2 . These large morphological changes previously posed a challenge for implantable bioelectronics to track neural activity throughout brain development 3-9 . Here, we present a tissue-level-soft, sub-micrometer-thick, stretchable mesh microelectrode array capable of integrating into the embryonic neural plate of vertebrates by leveraging the 2D-to-3D reconfiguration process of the tissue itself. Driven by the expansion and folding processes of organogenesis, the stretchable mesh electrode array deforms, stretches, and distributes throughout the entire brain, fully integrating into the 3D tissue structure. Immunostaining, gene expression analysis, and behavioral testing show no discernible impact on brain development or function. The embedded electrode array enables long-term, stable, brain-wide, single-unit-single-spike-resolved electrical mapping throughout brain development, illustrating how neural electrical activities and population dynamics emerge and evolve during brain development.

Investigating the impact of the quantity of wet and dry cycles on the mechanical characteristics and fracture variations of sandstones.

The sandstone is in a state of dry-wet cycle under the repeated action of rainfall, and its mechanical properties are deteriorated to varying degrees, which causes cracks in the sandstone. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the mechanical properties and fracture propagation of sandstone under the action of dry-wet cycles. Currently, there are limited studies using numerical simulation methods to study the fracture extension of rocks under various dry and wet cycling conditions.Therefore, in this paper, the effects of different amounts of dry and wet cycling on the mechanical properties and fracture behavior of sandstone are investigated through uniaxial compression tests and numerical simulations of fracture extension. The findings indicate that the deformation stage of sandstone remains unchanged by the dry-wet cycle. The uniaxial compressive potency and coefficient of restitution gradually diminish as the quantity of cycles rises, while the Poisson's ratio exhibits the opposite trend, and the impact on the mechanical performance of sandstone wanes with cycle increments, and the correlation coefficient surpasses 0.93, signifying a substantial influence of the dry-wet cycle on sandstone's mechanical performances. The discrepancy between the numerical simulation and experimental results is minimal, with a maximum error of only 3.1%, demonstrating the congruence of the simulation and experimental outcomes.The mesoscopic examination of the simulations indicates that the quantity of fractures in the sandstone specimens rises with the escalation of dry-wet cycles, and the steps of analysis linked to crack inception and fracture propagation are accelerated, and the analysis steps from fracture initiation to penetration are also reduced.

Salvage Latarjet may provide worse outcomes in terms of recurrent instability and returning to sports compared to primary Latarjet: a systematic review of comparative studies.

BACKGROUND: The Latarjet procedure (LP) is performed as a primary stabilization procedure (primary LP) and a salvage procedure when an earlier shoulder stabilization procedure has failed (salvage LP). However, whether primary LP or salvage LP provides better outcomes for anterior shoulder instability remains unknown. METHODS: Two independent reviewers performed the literature search based on the PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, web of science and Cochrane Library was performed from their inception date to December 4, 2023. Inclusion criteria mainly included the comparison of postoperative outcomes between primary and salvage LP, English language, and full text availability. Two reviewers independently examined the literature, collected data, and evaluated the methodological robustness of the included studies. The Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies was used to evaluate the quality of nonrandomized studies. Recurrent instability, complications, reoperations, return to sports, patient-reported outcomes, and range of motion were assessed. Statistical evaluations were conducted using Manager V.5.4.1 (The Cochrane Collaboration, Software Update, Oxford, UK). RESULTS: Twelve studies were included in the systematic review, with 940 shoulders undergoing primary LP and 631 shoulders undergoing salvage LP. Statistically significant differences in favor of primary LP were found in 2 of the 11 and 2 of 4 included studies in terms of recurrent instability and returning to the same sports (RTS) at preinjury level, respectively. In terms of the visual analog scale, subjective shoulder value and the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index, 2 of the 4, 1 of the 3 and 1 of the 3 included studies reported statistically significant differences in favor of primary LP. Differences were not noticed regarding complications, reoperations, the time to RTS, the Rowe score, the Athletic Shoulder Outcome Scoring System, and forward flexion. CONCLUSION: Current evidence suggests that compared with primary LP, salvage LP may provide inferior postoperative outcomes in terms of recurrent instability and the rate of RTS at preinjury level. Primary and salvage LP may yield comparable efficacy in terms of complications, reoperations, the rate of RTS, the time to RTS, pain, shoulder function, and range of motion. PROSPERO ID: CRD42023492027.

Effect and mechanism of coexistence of microplastics on arsenate adsorption capacity in water.

Arsenic pollution control technology in water was important to ensure environmental health and quality safety of agricultural products. Therefore, the adsorption performance of three adsorbents for chitosan, sepiolite, and Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 (ZIF-8) were investigated in arsenate contaminated water. The results revealed that the adsorption capacity of ZIF-8 was higher than that of chitosan and sepiolite. The analysis of adsorption isotherm models showed that the behavior of ZIF-8 was more consistent with the Langmuir model. Furthermore, the adsorption mechanisms of three adsorbents for arsenate were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The analysis of FTIR showed that ZIF-8 maintained the stability of the interaction with arsenate by forming As-O chemical bonds. However, the effect of chitosan and sepiolite with arsenate was mainly physical adsorption. The analysis of XPS showed that the absorption of ZIF-8 with arsenate involved metal sites and nitrogen through the characteristic peak and the change of the binding energy. Furthermore, the impact of microplastics as a widespread coexistence pollutant in the water on adsorbent performance was investigated. The results indicated that the adsorption capacity of ZIF-8 was almost not affected by microplastics. The maximum adsorption amount of arsenate was changed from 73.45 mg/g to 81.89 mg/g. However, the maximum adsorption amount of chitosan and sepiolite decreased by 31.4 % and 11.6 %, respectively. The analysis of FTIR and XPS revealed that ZIF-8 enhances arsenate adsorption by forming N-O-As bonds in the presence of microplastics. This study provides scientific evidence for the management of arsenate pollution in water bodies, especially in complex water bodies containing microplastics.

Comparison of the hepatoprotection of intragastric and intravenous cyanidin-3-glucoside administration: focus on the key metabolites and gut microbiota modulation.

Liver injury is a life-threatening condition, and the hepatoprotective potential of cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) has been previously demonstrated. However, due to the low bioavailability, it has been doubtful that relatively low concentrations of intact C3G in vivo could account for these bioactivities. In this study, the hepatoprotective effects of intragastric and intravenous administration of C3G were investigated in a CCl4 induced liver injury model. Intragastric C3G administration was more effective than intravenous C3G injection in reducing serum damage biomarkers, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses, indicating that absorption of C3G into the bloodstream does not fully account for its observed benefits in vivo. Furthermore, intragastric C3G administration modulated the gut microbiota structure and increased the contents of five metabolites in the feces and serum with high inter-individual variation, indicating the key role of the interaction between C3G and the gut microbiota. At equivalent doses, the metabolites cyanidin and protocatechuic acid exhibited greater efficacy than C3G in reducing apoptosis and ROS production by activating the Nrf2 pathway in an AAPH-induced oxidative stress model. To achieve the desired health effects via C3G-rich food intake, more attention should be paid to microbially derived catabolites. Screening of specific metabolite-producing strains will help overcome individual differences and enhance the health-promoting effects of C3G.

Mapping the gut microecological multi-omics signatures to serum metabolome and their impact on cardiometabolic health in elderly adults.

BACKGROUND: Mapping gut microecological features to serum metabolites (SMs) will help identify functional links between gut microbiome and cardiometabolic health. METHODS: This study encompassed 836-1021 adults over 9.7 year in a cohort, assessing metabolic syndrome (MS), carotid atherosclerotic plaque (CAP), and other metadata triennially. We analyzed mid-term microbial metagenomics, targeted fecal and serum metabolomics, host genetics, and serum proteomics. FINDINGS: Gut microbiota and metabolites (GMM) accounted for 15.1% overall variance in 168 SMs, with individual GMM factors explaining 5.65%-10.1%, host genetics 3.23%, and sociodemographic factors 5.95%. Specifically, GMM elucidated 5.5%-49.6% variance in the top 32 GMM-explained SMs. Each 20% increase in the 32 metabolite score (derived from the 32 SMs) correlated with 73% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 53%-95%) and 19% (95% CI: 11%-27%) increases in MS and CAP incidences, respectively. Among the 32 GMM-explained SMs, sebacic acid, indoleacetic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid were linked to MS or CAP incidence. Serum proteomics revealed certain proteins, particularly the apolipoprotein family, mediated the relationship between GMM-SMs and cardiometabolic risks. INTERPRETATION: This study reveals the significant influence of GMM on SM profiles and illustrates the intricate connections between GMM-explained SMs, serum proteins, and the incidence of MS and CAP, providing insights into the roles of gut dysbiosis in cardiometabolic health via regulating blood metabolites. FUNDING: This study was jointly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Key Research and Development Program of Guangzhou, 5010 Program for Clinical Research of Sun Yat-sen University, and the 'Pioneer' and 'Leading goose' R&D Program of Zhejiang.

Gut microbiota: a superior operator for dietary phytochemicals to improve atherosclerosis.

Mounting evidence implicates the gut microbiota as a possible key susceptibility factor for atherosclerosis (AS). The employment of dietary phytochemicals that strive to target the gut microbiota has gained scientific support for treating AS. This study conducted a general overview of the links between the gut microbiota and AS, and summarized available evidence that dietary phytochemicals improve AS via manipulating gut microbiota. Then, the microbial metabolism of several dietary phytochemicals was summarized, along with a discussion on the metabolites formed and the biotransformation pathways involving key gut bacteria and enzymes. This study additionally focused on the anti-atherosclerotic potential of representative metabolites from dietary phytochemicals, and investigated their underlying molecular mechanisms. In summary, microbiota-dependent dietary phytochemical therapy is a promising strategy for AS management, and knowledge of "phytochemical-microbiota-biotransformation" may be a breakthrough in the search for novel anti-atherogenic agents.

Bone Marrow Stimulation Does Not Lead to Lower Retear Rates, Better Functional Outcomes, or Higher Complication Rates at Short-Term Follow-Up for Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of bone marrow stimulation (BMS) on retear rates, functional outcomes, and complication rates in patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR) through a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library were searched on March 25, 2023. Two evaluators independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the methodologic quality of the enrolled studies. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan software, version 5.4. RESULTS: A total of 7 randomized controlled trials with 638 patients were included. The evaluation of rotator cuff tendon integrity was conducted using distinct imaging modalities. Specifically, 259 patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging whereas 208 patients underwent ultrasound. Additionally, a subset of 95 patients underwent either of these modalities; however, the precise distribution between these 2 modalities was not explicitly delineated. Compared with RCR alone, RCR combined with BMS provided similar retear rates (P = .51, I2 = 46%), Constant-Murley scores (P = .14, I2 = 0%), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (standardized shoulder assessment form) scores (P = .56, I2 = 0%), Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index scores (P = .20, I2 = 0%), visual analog scale scores (P = .19, I2 = 0%), forward flexion (P = .18, I2 = 0%), external rotation (P = .62, I2 = 0%), severe complication rates (P = .56, I2 = 0%), and mild complication rates (P = .10, I2 = 0%). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the outcomes observed after isolated arthroscopic RCR, arthroscopic RCR with BMS showed comparable results in terms of retear rate, functional outcomes, and incidence of complications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, meta-analysis of Level I and II studies.

Prognostic factors for recurrent instability in recreational athletes following arthroscopic Bankart repair: a retrospective study with an average 4.1-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Extensive research has been conducted to investigate the short-term and long-term outcomes of arthroscopic Bankart repair, yielding varying results across different populations. However, there remains a dearth of studies specifically focused on evaluating outcomes in recreational athletes. METHODS: A retrospective case series study was conducted on recreational athletes who underwent isolated arthroscopic Bankart repair between 2013 and 2021. The primary outcome assessed was recurrent instability, defined as dislocation or subluxation. Secondary outcomes included patient satisfaction, rates of returning to the same sports (RTS) and RTS at preinjury level, and patient-reported outcomes. Evaluation of the Rowe score, Constant score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, and VAS pain score were performed. Prognostic factors for recurrent instability, including demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance of the labrum were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 191 patients met the selection criteria, with 150 (78.5%) available for the final follow-up. Recurrent instability occurred in 10.7% of patients, with a mean follow-up duration of 4.1 years. Younger age at surgery and more critical glenoid bone loss were significantly associated with recurrent instability (p = .038 and p = .011, respectively). The satisfaction rate regarding surgery was 90.0%. Rates of return to the same sports (RTS) and RTS at preinjury level were 82.0% and 49.3%, respectively. Clinical outcomes measured at the final follow-up were as follows: Rowe score - 92.8; Constant score - 98.0; ASES score - 98.3; VAS pain score - 0.2. Patients with recurrent instability had significantly inferior outcomes in terms of satisfaction rate, RTS at preinjury level rate, Rowe score, and Constant score (p = .000, p = .039, p = .000, and p = .015, respectively). A total of thirty-seven patients underwent MRI examination six months after surgery in our institution. The T2-weighted anterior labrum morphology was found to be poorer in patients with recurrent instability. No significant difference was observed between patients with or without recurrent instability in terms of anterior Slope, anterior labral glenoid height index (LGHI), inferior Slope, inferior LGHI, and T2-weighted inferior labrum morphology. CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic Bankart repair can yield satisfactory medium-term outcomes for recreational athletes. Younger age at surgery, more critical glenoid bone loss, and poorer T2-weighted anterior labrum morphology assessed six months postoperatively were significantly associated with recurrent instability.

Terpinen-4-ol Improves Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Macrophage Inflammation by Regulating Glutamine Metabolism.

Terpinen-4-ol (T-4-O) is an important component of tea tree oil and has anti-inflammatory effects. Currently, there are very few studies on the mechanisms by which T-4-O improves lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophage inflammation. In this study, LPS-stimulated mouse RAW264.7 macrophages were used as a model to analyze the effects of T-4-O on macrophage inflammatory factors and related metabolic pathways in an inflammatory environment. The results showed that T-4-O significantly decreased the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines induced by LPS. Cellular metabolism results showed that T-4-O significantly decreased the ratio of the extracellular acidification rate and oxygen consumption rate. Non-targeted metabolomics results showed that T-4-O mainly affected glutamine and glutamate metabolism and glycine, serine, and threonine metabolic pathways. qPCR results showed that T-4-O increased the transcript levels of GLS and GDH and promoted glutamine catabolism. Western blotting results showed that T-4-O inhibited the mTOR and IκB, thereby decreasing NF-κB activity. The overall results showed that T-4-O inhibited mTOR phosphorylation to promote glutamine metabolism and increased cell oxidative phosphorylation levels, thereby inhibiting the expression of LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines.

Lower Reoperation Rate and Superior Patient-reported Outcome Following Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair with Concomitant Acromioplasty: An Updated Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

PURPOSE: This study aims to systematically assess the postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs with or without concomitant acromioplasty through a rigorous systematic review of randomized controlled trial s (RCTs). METHODS: This systematic review, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, aimed to identify RCTs comparing clinical outcomes of patients with full thickness rotator cuff tears undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with acromioplasty versus those without at a minimum of 12 months follow-up. Databases searched included PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using the revised Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB2). Meta-analysis was conducted for outcomes with at least three studies reporting, with pooled effect estimates calculated using either fixed-effect or random-effects models based on heterogeneity levels. Results were presented as the weighted mean difference (WMD) or odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). For outcomes with fewer than three studies reporting, a Fisher exact test was conducted, with continuity correction applied if necessary. Primary outcomes include rates of retear and reoperation, while secondary outcomes included improvement in American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, range of motion (ROM), and complication rate. RESULTS: Five high-quality RCTs, with low bias risk, involving 409 patients, revealed demographics of 58.4% males, mean age 58.4 years, and acromion types: 12.2% type I, 70.7% type II, and 17.1% type III. Mean follow-up was 52.2 months. Retear (12.5% versus 16.1%, P = 0.536) and complication rates (OR, 3.11; 95% CI, 0.31-30.73; P=0.33) were comparable between the two groups. However, reoperation rate (5.3% versus 15.9%, P < 0.001) and improvement in ASES score (WMD, 3.99; 95% CI, 1.00-6.99; P=0.009) favored the acromioplasty group. Both groups showed significant improvements in ROM, but insufficient data prevented a comparison. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to arthroscopic rotator cuff repair alone, arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with acromioplasty demonstrated similar rates of retear and complications, but a significantly lower reoperation rate and superior improvement in ASES score. The available data were insufficient to draw a definitive conclusion regarding ROM. This conclusion is fragile due to a limited sample size.