Evaluating TRAIL and IP-10 alterations in vaccinated pregnant women after COVID-19 diagnosis and their correlation with neutralizing antibodies.

Background: This study evaluates tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and interferon-γ-induced protein-10 (IP-10) in pregnant women with COVID-19 and their newborns, exploring the effects of antiviral treatments and vaccine-induced neutralizing antibody (Nab) inhibition on these key viral infection biomarkers. Methods: We studied 61 pregnant women with past COVID-19 and either three (n=56) or four (n=5) doses of vaccination, and 46 without COVID-19 but vaccinated. We analyzed them and their newborns' blood for TRAIL, IP-10, and Nab levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), correlating these with other clinical factors. Results: Our study found lower TRAIL but higher IP-10 levels in maternal blood than neonatal cord blood, irrespective of past COVID-19 diagnosis. Cases diagnosed with COVID-19 < 4 weeks previously had higher maternal blood TRAIL levels (16.49 vs. 40.81 pg/mL, p=0.0064) and IP-10 (154.68 vs. 225.81 pg/mL, p=0.0170) than those never diagnosed. Antiviral medication lowered TRAIL and IP-10 in maternal blood without affecting Nab inhibition (TRAIL: 19.24 vs. 54.53 pg/mL, p=0.028; IP-10: 158.36 vs. 255.47 pg/mL, p=0.0089). TRAIL and IP-10 levels were similar with three or four vaccine doses, but four doses increased Nab inhibition (p=0.0363). Previously COVID-19 exposed pregnant women had higher Nab inhibition (p < 0.0001). No obvious correlation was found among TRAIL, IP-10, and Nab inhibition level. Conclusions: Our study suggests that lower maternal TRAIL and higher IP-10 levels compared to neonatal cord blood coupled with a rise in both markers following COVID-19 diagnosis that could be reduced by antivirals indicates a correlation to infection severity. Higher vaccine doses enhance Nab inhibition, irrespective of antiviral medication use and independent of TRAIL or IP-10 levels, highlighting the significance and safety of adequate vaccination and antiviral use post-diagnosis in pregnant women.

Experimental Study on the Temperature-Dependent Static, Dynamic, and Post-Dynamic Mechanical Characteristics of Municipal Solid Waste.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) has huge potential to be recycled as construction material, which would have significant benefits for environmental conservation. However, the cornerstone of this undertaking is a solid comprehension of the mechanical response of MSW in real-world engineering locations, taking into account the effects of stress levels and temperature. In this paper, well-mixed MSW samples were sieved and crushed to produce standardized specimens in cylindrical molds. A series of static, dynamic, and post-cyclic shear tests were conducted on the MSW at temperatures ranging from 5 °C to 80 °C with normal stresses of 50 kPa, 100 kPa, and 150 kPa. The experimental findings demonstrate that the static, dynamic, and post-cyclic mechanical response of MSW presents temperature range-dependency; temperature variation between 5 °C and 20 °C affects MSW's mechanical reaction more than variation in temperature between 40 °C and 80 °C under various stress settings; at 5 °C~80 °C, the static peak shear strength of MSW is the highest, being followed by the post-cyclic peak shear strength, while the dynamic peak shear strength is the lowest; the sensitivity of the dynamic shear strength of MSW to temperature variation is the largest, being followed by the post-cyclic peak shear strength, and the static peak shear strength is the lowest.

Flow-mediated dilation facilitates radial artery cannulation in patients undergoing intravenous general anesthesia: A prospective randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is commonly used as a diagnostic tool to assess endothelial function, and compared with other methods for stimulating radial artery dilation, FMD offers several advantages such as non-invasiveness, ease of execution, minimal equipment requirements, and negligible risk. The study aimed to investigate the effect of FMD in facilitating radial arterial cannulation in the context of intravenous general anesthesia. METHODS: Eighty patients undergoing intravenous general anesthesia and requiring radial artery cannulation were randomized 1:1 to the FMD group and control group. Patients in the FMD group received an upper arm occlusion for 5 min after anesthesia induction, and the cuff was placed without inflation for the equivalent duration in the control group. The primary outcome was first-attempt success rate. Secondary outcomes were the diameter and percentage of dilation of radial artery, overall success rate, total number of attempts, cannulation time, and occurrence of procedure-related complications. RESULTS: Intravenous anesthetic agents significantly dilated the radial artery (p < 0.05), which was further increased by FMD. An increase in both the first-attempt and overall success rate of radial artery cannulation was demonstrated with the use of FMD (67.5% vs 42.5%, p < 0.05). The total number of attempts needed to cannulate the radial artery was reduced in the FMD group as compared with the control group (p < 0.05), but no differences in cannulation time and procedure-related complications were found between the two groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: FMD induced by a 5-min upper arm occlusion may facilitate radial artery cannulation in patients undergoing intravenous general anesthesia.

Prediction models of intravenous glucocorticoids therapy response in thyroid eye disease.

Background: Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an autoimmune orbital disease, with intravenous glucocorticoid (IVGC) therapy as the first-line treatment. Due to uncertain response rates and possible side effects, various prediction models have been developed to predict IVGC therapy outcomes. Methods: A thorough search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Data extraction included publication details, prediction model content, and performance. Statistical analysis was performed using R software, including heterogeneity evaluation, publication bias, subgroup analysis, and sensitivity analysis. Forest plots were utilized for result visualization. Results: Of the 12 eligible studies, 47 prediction models were extracted. All included studies exhibited a low-to-moderate risk of bias. The pooled area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and the combined sensitivity and specificity for the models were 0.81, 0.75, and 0.79, respectively. In view of heterogeneity, multiple meta-regression and subgroup analysis were conducted, which showed that marker and modeling types may be the possible causes of heterogeneity (P < 0.001). Notably, imaging metrics alone (AUC = 0.81) or clinical characteristics combined with other markers (AUC = 0.87), incorporating with multivariate regression (AUC = 0.84) or radiomics analysis (AUC = 0.91), yielded robust and reliable prediction outcomes. Conclusion: This meta-analysis comprehensively reviews the predictive models for IVGC therapy response in TED. It underscores that integrating clinical characteristics with laboratory or imaging indicators and employing advanced techniques like multivariate regression or radiomics analysis significantly enhance the efficacy of prediction. Our research findings offer valuable insights that can guide future studies on prediction models for IVGC therapy in TED.

COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnancy: Pilot Study of Plasma MicroRNAs Associated with Inflammatory Cytokines after COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination.

BACKGROUND: The impact of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines on the immunological profiles of pregnant women remains a crucial area of study. This research aims to explore the specific immunological changes triggered by these vaccines in this demographic. METHODS: In a focused investigation, we examined the effects of mRNA COVID-19 vaccination on microRNA expression in pregnant women. Key microRNAs, including miR-451a, miR-23a-3p, and miR-21-5p, were analyzed for expression changes post-vaccination. Additionally, we assessed variations in S1RBD IgG levels and specific cytokines to gauge the broader immunological response. RESULTS: Post-vaccination, significant expression shifts in the targeted microRNAs were observed. Alongside these changes, we noted alterations in S1RBD IgG and various cytokines, indicating an adapted inflammatory response. Notably, these immunological markers displayed no direct correlation with S1RBD IgG concentrations, suggesting a complex interaction between the vaccine and the immune system in pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: Our pilot study provides valuable insights into the nuanced effects of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine on immune dynamics in pregnant women, particularly emphasizing the role of microRNAs. The findings illuminate the intricate interplay between vaccines, microRNAs, and immune responses, enhancing our understanding of these relationships in the context of pregnancy. This research contributes significantly to the growing body of knowledge regarding mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and their specific impact on maternal immunology, offering a foundation for further studies in this vital area.

LY333531 attenuates contraction of tumor necrosis factor-α-sensitized human airway smooth muscle cells.

OBJECTIVE: Protein kinase C (PKC) has been implicated in the increased contraction of human airway smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) in asthma. Using the three-dimensional collagen gel contraction system, the study aimed to determine the effects of LY333531, a specific inhibitor of the PKC-ß isoform, on the contraction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-sensitized HASMCs. METHODS: Cultured HASMCs were divided into five groups: the control group received no treatment, and the cells in the TNF-α group were sensitized with 10 ng/mL TNF-α for 48 h, while TNF-α was administered to sensitize HASMCs in the presence of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.5 µM LY333531 for 48 h in the 0.1LY, 0.2LY, and 0.5LY groups, respectively. Following this, HASMCs contraction was stimulated with 1 mM acetylcholine (ACh) for up to 24 h in each group and assessed using a three-dimensional collagen gel contraction assay. Furthermore, western blot and immunofluorescence analysis were performed. RESULTS: The collagen gel contraction assay revealed that TNF-α increased the protein expression of phosphorylated PKC-ß2, CPI-17, and MLC while exacerbating ACh-induced HASMCs contraction. LY333531 significantly attenuated HASMCs contraction and downregulated the protein expression of both p-CPI-17 and p-MLC. CONCLUSIONS: At least in part by regulating CPI-17 and MLC phosphorylation, LY333531 attenuates augmented contraction of TNF-α-sensitized HASMCs in a collagen gel contraction system.

TRAIL and IP-10 dynamics in pregnant women post COVID-19 vaccination: associations with neutralizing antibody potency.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to investigate changes in TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and gamma interferon-induced protein 10 (IP-10) after COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant women and to explore their association with neutralizing antibody (Nab) inhibition. Methods: The study evaluated 93 pregnant women who had previously received two (n=21), three (n=55) or four (n=17) doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Also we evaluated maternal blood samples that were collected during childbirth. The levels of TRAIL, IP-10 and Nab inhibition were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Results and discussion: Our study revealed four-dose group resulted in lower TRAIL levels when compared to the two-dose and three-dose groups (4.78 vs. 16.07 vs. 21.61 pg/ml, p = 0.014). The two-dose group had reduced IP-10 levels than the three-dose cohort (111.49 vs. 147.89 pg/ml, p=0.013), with no significant variation compared to the four-dose group. In addition, the four-dose group showed stronger Nab inhibition against specific strains (BA.2 and BA.5) than the three-dose group. A positive correlation was observed between TRAIL and IP-10 in the two-dose group, while this relationship was not found in other dose groups or between TRAIL/IP-10 and Nab inhibition. As the doses of the COVID-19 vaccine increase, the levels of TRAIL and IP-10 generally increase, only by the fourth dose, the group previously vaccinated with AZD1222 showed lower TRAIL but higher IP-10. Despite these changes, more doses of the vaccine consistently reinforced Nab inhibition, apparently without any relation to TRAIL and IP-10 levels. The variation may indicate the induction of immunological memory in vaccinated mothers, which justifies further research in the future.

Pilot Study on Evaluating the Impact of Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap), Influenza, and COVID-19 Vaccinations on Antibody Responses in Pregnant Women.

This study assessed IgG levels to influenza/pertussis and neutralizing antibody (Nab) responses of COVID-19 vaccines in blood of pregnant women following immunization with pertussis (Tdap), influenza, and COVID-19 vaccines. We prospectively collected 71 participants categorized by the following vaccine combinations: 3TI, 4TI, 3T, and 4T groups (three and four doses of COVID-19 vaccines plus Tdap/influenza or Tdap vaccines alone). Our findings have indicated that the 3TI group exhibited elevated IgG levels for influenza B compared to the 3T group (12.90 vs. 7.75 U, p = 0.001); this pattern was not observed for influenza A. Pertussis IgG levels remained uniform across all groups. The 4TI group demonstrated a greater Nab inhibition rate from COVID-19 vaccines compared to both the 3TI and 3T groups (61.34% vs. 22.5% and 15.16%, respectively, p = 0.001). We observed no correlation between Nab inhibition rate and IgG levels for Tdap/influenza, with the exception of a moderate correlation with influenza B in the 3TI group. The efficacy of Tdap vaccine in pregnant women remained consistent, regardless of the administration of COVID-19 or influenza vaccines. Interestingly, without the influenza vaccine, both three and four doses of the COVID-19 vaccine still offered protection against influenza A, but not B. Hence, co-administering COVID-19, influenza, and Tdap vaccines during prenatal care maintains immunogenicity and is highly advised to safeguard pregnant women fully.

COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnancy: Pilot Study for Maternal and Neonatal MicroRNA Profiles.

This pilot study explores alterations in miRNA profiles among pregnant women and their neonates upon receiving different doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Blood samples, including maternal blood (MB) and neonatal cord blood (CB), collected from five pregnant women were scrutinized using the miRNA PanelChip Analysis System, identifying nine distinct miRNAs, including miR-451a and miR-1972, which exhibited significant downregulation with two vaccine doses in both MB and CB. When compared with women vaccinated with four doses, miR-486-5p, miR-451a, and miR-1972 in the two-dose group also showed notable downregulation. Evaluating recipients of three and four doses, miR-423-5p and miR-1972 expression were significantly reduced in both MB and CB. Further comparative analysis highlighted a decline in miR-223-3p expression with increasing vaccine doses, while miR15a-5p, miR-16-5p, and miR-423-5p showed an upward trend. Notably, miR-451a, miR-1972, and miR-423-5p levels varied across doses and were associated with pathways such as "PI3K-Akt", "neurotrophin signaling", and "cortisol synthesis", suggesting the profound influence of vaccination on diverse molecular mechanisms. Our research has uncovered that escalating vaccine dosages impact miRNA profiles, which may be associated with the immunological response mechanisms in both the mother and fetus, thus indicating a substantial impact of vaccination on various molecular processes.

Exosome Cargos as Biomarkers for Diagnosis and Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Due to the insidiousness of HCC onset and the lack of specific early-stage markers, the early diagnosis and treatment of HCC are still unsatisfactory, leading to a poor prognosis. Exosomes are a type of extracellular vesicle containing various components, which play an essential part in the development, progression, and metastasis of HCC. A large number of studies have demonstrated that exosomes could serve as novel biomarkers for the diagnosis of HCC. These diagnostic components mainly include proteins, microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, and circular RNAs. The exosome biomarkers showed high sensitivity and high specificity in distinguishing HCC from health controls and other liver diseases, such as chronic HBV and liver cirrhosis. The expression of these biomarkers also exhibits correlations with various clinical factors such as tumor size, TMN stage, overall survival, and recurrence rate. In this review, we summarize the function of exosomes in the development of HCC and highlight their application as HCC biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis prediction.

[Analyzing the Pollution Sources and Mechanisms of Urban Rivers Based on Identifying the Molecular Signature of Dissolved Organic Matter].

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is an essential component of river pollutants. Under the new situation of black water treatment in urban areas of China, in view of the widespread problem of unclear sources of multiple pollutants, further analysis of DOM components in urban rivers from the molecular level is a key link to deeply explore the sources, causes, and mechanism of river pollution so as to achieve efficient management. In this study, the urban rivers in the central city were selected as the research object, and a total of five rivers were selected that were seriously affected by the discharge sewage of four combined and separated sewer systems, respectively. Using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS), this study identified the molecular formulae and analyzed the elemental composition and compound groups of DOM in water and sediment samples at each site in dry and wet weather. The results showed that:①although CHO molecules and lignins were the main compounds in the urban river DOM, the high proportion of lipids, proteins, and heteroatomic compounds (especially CHOS molecules) revealed the anthropogenic pollution in rivers, which also led to the increase in DOC, TN, and NH+4-N. ②Surfactants such as C17H28O3S and C18H30O3S were ubiquitous in all urban rivers, which could be used as markers of domestic wastewater pollution. ③In wet weather, the rainfall inputs, storm runoffs, and hydraulic disturbance jointly led to the increase in the proportion of CHO molecules and lignin compounds; the decrease in proteins and lipids; the rise of DOC, TN, and NH+4-N concentrations in river water; and the decrease in DOC, TN, and NH+4-N concentrations and proteins and lipids in river sediments. ④The abundance of multi-heteroatomic compounds and condensed aromatics in the combined sewer system was higher than that in the separated sewer system, which may have been more severely polluted by domestic wastewater and storm runoff, especially kitchen wastewater. This study provides new insight for clarifying the critical causes of pollution in the new stage and provides an essential basis for further precision prevention and control of water pollution.

COVID-19 Bivalent Booster in Pregnancy: Maternal and Neonatal Antibody Response to Omicron BA.5, BQ.1, BF.7 and XBB.1.5 SARS-CoV-2.

Our study was to investigate the effects of bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccination during pregnancy on neutralizing antibody (Nab) levels in maternal blood (MB), transplacental transmission in umbilical cord blood (CB), and efficacy against Omicron SARS-CoV-2 subvariants including BA.5, BF.7, BQ.1, and XBB.1.5. We collected MB and CB from 11 pregnant participants during baby delivery and detected Nab inhibition by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Nab inhibition was 89-94% in MB and 82-89% in CB for Omicron subvariants. Those receiving AZD1222 vaccines in previous monovalent vaccination demonstrated poorer maternal Nab inhibition of BA.5, BQ.1, and XBB.1.5 than others. Poorer maternal Nab inhibition of BA.5, BF.7, and BQ.1 was found in those receiving two-dose AZD1222 vaccinations than with either one or no AZD1222 vaccination. MB from those with infants weighing < 3100 g demonstrated better Nab inhibition of BF.7 than those > 3100 g (97.99 vs. 95.20%, p = 0.048), and there were also similar trends for Nab inhibition of BA.5 and BQ.1. No significant differences were seen in CB samples. Although diminished maternal Nab inhibition was seen in those with previous monovalent AZD1222 vaccination and heavier newborns, neonatal Nab inhibition was still strong after bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccination.

PICK1 modulates glycolysis and angiogenesis of hypoxic endothelial cells by regulating iron homeostasis.

Iron accumulation, which is controlled by transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), modulates hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) activation and angiogenesis of hypoxic endothelial cells. The study examined the role of protein interacting with C-kinase 1 (PICK1), a scaffold protein containing PDZ domain, in regulating glycolysis and angiogenesis of hypoxic vascular endothelial cells through its potential effect on TfR1, which features a supersecondary structure that interacts with the PDZ domain. Iron chelator deferoxamine and TfR1 siRNA were employed to assess the impact of iron accumulation on angiogenesis, while the effects of PICK1 siRNA and overexpressing lentivirus on TfR1-mediated iron accumulation were also investigated in hypoxic human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). The study found that 72-h hypoxia impaired the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of HUVECs, and reduced the upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor, HIF-1α, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3, and PICK1, while increasing the expression of TfR1 as compared to 24-h hypoxia. Administration of deferoxamine or TfR1 siRNA reversed these effects and led to increased glycolysis, ATP content, and phosphofructokinase activity, along with increased PICK1 expression. PICK1 overexpression improved glycolysis, enhanced angiogenic capacity, and attenuated TfR1 protein upregulation in hypoxic HUVECs, with higher expression of angiogenic markers, which could be significantly reversed by the PDZ domain inhibitor. PICK1 knockdown exerted opposite effects. The study concluded that PICK1 modulated intracellular iron homeostasis, thereby promoting glycolysis and angiogenesis of HUVECs in response to prolonged hypoxia, at least in part, by regulating TfR1 expression.

Pilot Study for Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine with Seasonal Influenza and Pertussis Vaccines in Pregnant Women.

Background: It is well known that the implementation of routine immunizations to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases has a significant impact on the health and well-being of infants, children, and pregnant women. We aimed to evaluate the influence of influenza, tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine on the immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine among pregnant women, the priority population recommended for vaccination. Methods: We conducted a prospective study among pregnant women without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection in Taiwan. Maternal and umbilical cord blood samples at delivery were analyzed for the percentage of inhibition of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against the original strain, Delta, and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 as well as the total antibody to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. We examined the association between different doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in combination with influenza and Tdap vaccination, and two-dose SARS-CoV-2 vaccination with or without influenza and Tdap vaccines via a two-sample t-test. Results of p < 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Results: 98 pregnant women were enrolled in our study, with 32 receiving two doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-1273 vaccine, 60 receiving three-dose of mRNA-1273, and 6 receiving one-dose of ChAdOx1 and two-dose of mRNA-1273. Twenty-one participants were immunized with SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and Tdap vaccines. Of these 21 individuals, there were no significant NAbs levels in maternal and cord blood samples against the Omicron variant, regardless of doses or type of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. However, antibody responses against the wild-type and Delta variant were significantly lower in all maternal sera in the two-dose SARS-CoV-2 vaccine group. Among 32 women receiving two-dose mRNA-1273, significantly lower levels of NAbs in maternal sera were observed against the Delta variant and total antibody both in maternal sera and cord blood were observed in individuals receiving SARS-CoV-2 and influenza vaccine. Conclusion: This is the pilot study to demonstrate the effects of influenza and the Tdap vaccine on the immunogenicity of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine among pregnant women. These results suggest that combination vaccination during pregnancy may result in immunogenic interactions.

Haloperidol Instigates Endometrial Carcinogenesis and Cancer Progression by the NF-κB/CSF-1 Signaling Cascade.

Haloperidol is a routine drug for schizophrenia and palliative care of cancer; it also has antitumor effects in several types of cancer. However, the role of haloperidol in endometrial cancer (EC) development is still unclear. Here, we show that chronic haloperidol treatment in clinically relevant doses induced endometrial hyperplasia in normal mice and promoted tumor growth and malignancy in mice with orthotopic EC. The pharmacokinetic study indicated that haloperidol highly accumulated in the uterus of mice. In vitro studies revealed that haloperidol stimulated the cellular transformation of human endometrial epithelial cells (HECCs) and promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of human endometrial carcinoma cells (HECCs) by activating nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and its downstream signaling target, colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1). Gain of function of CSF-1 promotes the cellular transformation of HEECs and the malignant progression of HECCs. Moreover, blockade of CSF-1 inhibited haloperidol-promoted EC progression in vitro and in vivo. A population-based cohort study of EC patients further demonstrated that the use of haloperidol was associated with increased EC-specific mortality. Collectively, these findings indicate that clinical use of haloperidol could potentially be harmful to female patients with EC.

Keratomycosis Caused by a Rare Pathogen, Myrothecium verrucaria.

PURPOSE: To report a case of keratomycosis caused by a very rare pathogen, Myrothecium verrucaria. METHODS: This is a case report. A 53-year-old man complaint of left eye redness, irritation, intermittent pain after ashes entered his left eye. The patient was examined by slit lamp, anterior segment OCT and in vivo confocal microscopy. The HRT III-RCM image showed massive interlocking white thin lines in the cornea stroma. Corneal scrapings were collected for pathogen culture and PCR test. M. verrucaria was isolated and identified. RESULTS: Hourly topical natamycin (5%) and voriconazole (10 mg/ml) was given as well as intravenous fluconazole (200 mg per day). Treatment was continued with oral itraconazole, 200 mg/day, topical natamycin (5%), 4 times/day, and pranoprofen, 4 times/day. The therapy was tapered off over one and half a month. The cornea lesion healed with scar formation two months later. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first case report of M. verrucaria keratomycosis in China. We are the first to show the characteristic of M. verrucaria on cornea with In vivo confocal microscopy. A combination treatment of tropical natamycin, voriconazole and systemic fluconazole was effective in the treatment of M. verrucaria.

Total Synthesis, Discovery and Biological Evaluation of Daldinin A Derivatives for Improving Hyperglycemia-Induced Endothelial Cell Death.

Daldinins are a novel type of naturally occurring tricyclic heterocycles isolated from Daldinia concentrica. In this study, four daldinin A derivatives with different alkyl side chains were synthesized using the same synthetic protocol. Bioactivity tests first indicated that the daldinin A derivatives showed significant protection for endothelial cells against damage caused by high glucose. The derivative compound with three carbon atoms on the alkyl side exhibited the best effect.

The effect of Wnt/ß-catenin pathway on the scleral remolding in the mouse during form deprivation.

BACKGROUND: Many reports have shown that Wnt/ß-Catenin pathway is associated with a variety of diseases, but its role in the pathogenesis of myopia is still unknown. In order to clarify the role of Wnt/ß-catenin pathway in the development of form deprivation myopia (FDM), this study investigated the expression of scleral Wls, ß-catenin and TCF4 in mice model of form deprivation (FD) myopia. METHODS: Three parallel experimental groups, including FD, monocular exposure (SC) and binocular exposure (NC) group, were designed to investigate the effects of Wnt/ß-Catenin pathway on scleral remodeling mouse during form deprivation in three-week-old C57BL/6 mice. Diopters and axial lengths (AL) in each sample were measured with an infrared eccentric refractometer or spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. The expression of scleral Wls, ß-catenin and TCF4 were detected with Western blot. Morphological changes of posterior sclera were observed with a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The above characterization and analysis were performed on the 0th, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th days, respectively. RESULTS: The difference of diopter and AL between the three groups (SC, NC and FD group) gradually increased with the prolongation of FD time (except AL between SC and NC groups). The changes of diopter and AL gradually increased with the prolongation of FD time. Especially, the diopter and AL will increase sharply after FD lasts for a long time, such as the measurement on the 21st for diopter and 28th days for AL. Most notably, the AL of FD eyes significantly increased after 28 days of deprivation. Thinning and disordered arrangement of collagen fibers and a decrease of extracellular matrix were observed with TEM. The expression of scleral Wls, ß-catenin and TCF4 increased with age in the NC and SC group. In FD group, they increased significantly on the 7th, 14th and 21st days but decreased on the 28th day. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of Wls, ß-Catenin and TCF4 to FD were more sensitive indicators than that of diopter and AL. Within the first 7 days of FD, the expression of Wls, ß-Catenin and TCF4 in sclera increased sharply. With the extension of FD duration, it gradually decreased. It is suggested that the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway might be involved in the scleral remodeling induced in FDM mice.

Homogeneous triple-phase interfaces enabling one-pot route to metal compound/carbon composites.

Metal compounds (e.g., metal phosphides/sulfides/selenides) coupled with carbon materials have recently drawn great attraction for boosting the electrochemical performances because of their appealing synergistic effect and valuable structural stability. Despite many examples for their synthesis exist, there is still a need for a simplistic and comprehensive approach to such metal compound/carbon (MC/C) composites. Herein, an effective, facile, yet versatile strategy to produce various types of MC/C composites is presented. Key to this strategy is construction of a homogeneous triple-phase interface, which is realized by utilization of a hybrid assembly integrated with carbon, metal and sulfide (or selenide, phosphide) precursors through coupling metal cations with anion groups of a functional polymer. Such an intimately binding carbon-metal-sulfide (or selenide, phosphide) interface structure enables the successful in situ generation of MC nanoparticles uniformly encapsulated into the carbon matrix just after a one-step carbonization treatment. The present synthetic strategy provides remarkable adjustability, predictability and generality to facilely fabricate a series of MC/C composites, offering sufficient freedom to explore their unique energy storage/conversation properties. As a proof of concept, the as-prepared SnS/C composite exhibits superior lithium ion and potassium ion storage capabilities when used as anode materials for alkali-metal ion batteries. The present work provides impressive insights into the design principles for MC/C composites that are the potential materials in targeted application fields, and opens up an efficacious avenue for their facile synthesis as well.

Medical Equipment Comprehensive Management System Based on Cloud Computing and Internet of Things.

The continuous progress in modern medicine is not only the level of medical technology, but also various high-tech medical auxiliary equipment. With the rapid development of hospital information construction, medical equipment plays a very important role in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis observation of the disease. However, the continuous growth of the types and quantity of medical equipment has caused considerable difficulties in the management of hospital equipment. In order to improve the efficiency of medical equipment management in hospital, based on cloud computing and the Internet of Things, this paper develops a comprehensive management system of medical equipment and uses the improved particle swarm optimization algorithm and chicken swarm algorithm to help the system reasonably achieve dynamic task scheduling. The purpose of this paper is to develop a comprehensive intelligent management system to master the procurement, maintenance, and use of all medical equipment in the hospital, so as to maximize the scientific management of medical equipment in the hospital. Scientific Management. It is very necessary to develop a preventive maintenance plan for medical equipment. From the experimental data, it can be seen that when the system simultaneously accesses 100 simulated users online, the corresponding time for submitting the equipment maintenance application form is 1228 ms, and the accuracy rate is 99.8%. When there are 1000 simulated online users, the corresponding time for submitting the equipment maintenance application form is 5123 ms, and the correct rate is 99.4%. On the whole, the medical equipment management information system has excellent performance in stress testing. It not only predicts the initial performance requirements, but also provides a large amount of data support for equipment management and maintenance.