The predictive and prognostic value of risk factors in patients receiving hybrid coronary revascularization with postoperative pulmonary complications.

Background: The mortality rate of coronary artery disease ranks first in developed countries, and coronary revascularization therapy is an important cornerstone of its treatment. The postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in patients receiving one-stop hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) aggravate the dysfunction of multiple organs such as the heart and lungs, therefore increasing mortality. However, the risk factors are still unclear. The objective of this study was to explore the risk factors of PPCs after HCR surgery. Methods: In this study, the perioperative data of 311 patients undergoing HCR surgery were reviewed. All patients were divided into two groups according to whether the PPCs occurred. The baseline information and surgery-related indicators in preoperative laboratory examination, intraoperative fluid management, and anesthesia management were compared between the two groups. Results: Advanced age [odds ratio (OR): 1.065, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.030-1.101, P<0.001], high body mass index (BMI; OR: 1.113, 95% CI: 1.011-1.225, P=0.02), history of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) surgery (OR: 2.831, 95% CI: 1.388-5.775, P=0.004), one-lung volume ventilation (OR: 3.804, 95% CI: 1.923-7.526, P<0.001), inhalation of high concentration oxygen (OR: 3.666, 95% CI: 1.719-7.815, P=0.001), the application of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP; OR: 2.567, 95% CI: 1.338-4.926, P=0.005), and long one-lung ventilation time (OR: 1.015, 95% CI: 1.006-1.023, P=0.001) may be risk factors for postoperative PPCs in patients undergoing one-stop coronary revascularization surgery. Using the above seven factors to jointly predict the risk of PPCs in patients undergoing one-stop coronary revascularization surgery, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed an area under the curve (AUC) =0.873, 95% CI: 0.835-0.911, sensitivity: 84.81%, and specificity: 75.82%; the predictive model was shown to be effective. Conclusions: Patients undergoing HCR surgery with advanced age, high BMI, a history of PCI surgery, one-lung volume ventilation, inhalation of high concentration oxygen, use of PEEP, and prolonged single lung ventilation are more prone to PPCs.

Characterization of the aroma-active compounds in Xiaokeng green tea by three pretreatment methods combined with gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O).

Chinese Xiaokeng green tea (XKGT) possesses elegant and fascinating aroma characteristics, but its key odorants are still unknown. In this study, 124 volatile compounds in the XKGT infusion were identified by headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME), stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE), and solvent extraction-solid phase extraction (SE-SPE) combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Comparing these three pretreatments, we found HS-SPME was more efficient for headspace compounds while SE-SPE was more efficient for volatiles with higher boiling points. Furthermore, SBSE showed more sensitive to capture ketones then was effective to the application of pretreatment of aroma analysis in green tea. The aroma intensities (AIs) were further identified by gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O). According to the AI and relative odor activity value (rOAV), 27 compounds were identified as aroma-active compounds. Quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) showed that the characteristic aroma attributes of XKGT were chestnut-like, corn-like, fresh, and so on. The results of network analysis showed that (E, Z)-2,6-nonadienal, nonanal, octanal and nerolidol were responsible for the fresh aroma. Similarly, dimethyl sulfide, (E, E)-2,4-heptadienal, (E)-2-octenal and ß-cyclocitral contributed to the corn-like aroma. Furthermore, indole was responsible for the chestnut-like and soybean-like aroma. This study contributes to a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of the aroma characteristics of XKGT.

Oxygen tension regulating hydrogels for vascularization and osteogenesis via sequential activation of HIF-1α and ERK1/2 signaling pathways in bone regeneration.

Angiogenesis plays a crucial role in bone regeneration. Hypoxia is a driving force of angiogenesis at the initial stage of tissue repair. The hypoxic microenvironment could activate the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α signaling pathway in cells, thereby enhancing the proliferation, migration and pro-angiogenic functions of stem cells. However, long-term chronic hypoxia could inhibit osteogenic differentiation and even lead to apoptosis. Therefore, shutdown of the HIF-1α signaling pathway and providing oxygen at later stage probably facilitate osteogenic differentiation and bone regeneration. Herein, an oxygen tension regulating hydrogel that sequentially activate and deactivate the HIF-1α signaling pathway were prepared in this study. Its effect and mechanism on stem cell differentiation were investigated both in vitro and in vivo. We proposed a gelatin-based hydrogel capable of sequentially delivering a hypoxic inducer (copper ions) and oxygen generator (calcium peroxide). The copper ions released from the hydrogels significantly enhanced cell viability and VEGF secretion of BMSCs via upregulating HIF-1α expression and facilitating its translocation into the nucleus. Additionally, calcium peroxide promoted alkaline phosphatase activity, osteopontin secretion, and calcium deposition through the activation of ERK1/2. Both Cu2+ and calcium peroxide demonstrated osteogenic promotion individually, while their synergistic effect within the hydrogels led to a superior osteogenic effect by potentially activating the HIF-1α and ERK1/2 signaling pathways.

Enhanced osteogenic and ROS-scavenging MXene nanosheets incorporated gelatin-based nanocomposite hydrogels for critical-sized calvarial defect repair.

The healing of critical-sized bone defects is a major challenge in the field of bone tissue engineering. Gelatin-related hydrogels have emerged as a potential solution due to their desirable properties. However, their limited osteogenic, mechanical, and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging capabilities have hindered their clinical application. To overcome this issue, we developed a biofunctional gelatin-Mxene nanocomposite hydrogel. Firstly, we prepared two-dimensional (2D) Ti3C2 MXene nanosheets using a layer delamination method. Secondly, these nanosheets were incorporated into a transglutaminase (TG) enzyme-containing gallic acid-imbedded gelatin (GGA) pre-gel solution to create an injectable GGA-MXene (GM) nanocomposite hydrogel. The GM hydrogels exhibited superior compressive strength (44-75.6 kPa) and modulus (24-44.5 kPa) compared to the GGA hydrogels. Additionally, the GM hydrogel demonstrated the ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (OH- and DPPH radicals), protecting MC3T3-E1 cells from oxidative stress. GM hydrogels were non-toxic to MC3T3-E1 cells, increased alkaline phosphatase secretion, calcium nodule formation, and upregulated osteogenic gene expressions (ALP, OCN, and RUNX2). The GM400 hydrogel was implanted in critical-sized calvarial defects in rats. Remarkably, it exhibited significant potential for promoting new bone formation. These findings indicated that GM hydrogel could be a viable candidate for future clinical applications in the treatment of critical-sized bone defects.

Bone-derived PDGF-BB enhances hippocampal non-specific transcytosis through microglia-endothelial crosstalk in HFD-induced metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: It is well known that high-fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic syndrome plays a crucial role in cognitive decline and brain-blood barrier (BBB) breakdown. However, whether the bone-brain axis participates in this pathological process remains unknown. Here, we report that platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) secretion by preosteoclasts in the bone accelerates neuroinflammation. The expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALPL), a nonspecific transcytosis marker, was upregulated during HFD challenge. MAIN BODY: Preosteoclast-specific Pdgfb transgenic mice with high PDGF-BB concentrations in the circulation recapitulated the HFD-induced neuroinflammation and transcytosis shift. Preosteoclast-specific Pdgfb knockout mice were partially rescued from hippocampal neuroinflammation and transcytosis shifts in HFD-challenged mice. HFD-induced PDGF-BB elevation aggravated microglia-associated neuroinflammation and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) secretion, which increased ALPL expression and transcytosis shift through enhancing protein 1 (SP1) translocation in endothelial cells. CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm the role of bone-secreted PDGF-BB in neuroinflammation and the transcytosis shift in the hippocampal region during HFD challenge and identify a novel mechanism of microglia-endothelial crosstalk in HFD-induced metabolic syndrome.

Study of the mandibular canal and its surrounding canals by multi-view cone-beam computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the mandibular anatomical structures by observing cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) from multiple angles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 1593 consecutive CBCT images. Ultimately, 95 CBCTs met the inclusion criteria. The mandibular, inferior lingual, and bony canals at the tooth apex were studied by multi-angle observation CBCT. Descriptive statistics were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: It is beneficial to further observe the anastomosis of the mandibular, lingual, and mandibular canals when the course of the mandibular lingual canal is observed on CBCT cross-section. The frequency of the inferior lingual canal anastomosis with the mandibular canal was 43.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) 33, 53.3) in the sample. The mental foramen was located below the long axis of the tooth in a few samples, with an occurrence rate of 29.5% (95% CI 20.1, 38.8). The occurrence rate of various types of the bony canal at the apex of the tooth in canines, first premolars, second premolars, first molars, and second molars under the root apex was recorded through the multi-angle observation of the dental volume reformat (DVR) and three-dimensional (3D) levels in CBCT. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the utility of CBCT imaging in examining mandibular anatomy from multiple angles, providing valuable insights into anatomical variations, and enhancing our understanding of mandibular structures. This research emphasizes the crucial role of meticulous CBCT examination in precisely identifying and understanding key anatomical structures, ultimately reducing the risk of surgical complications. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: By examining cone-beam computed tomography scans from various perspectives, it is possible to determine the precise position of anatomical structures within the jaw. This allows for a more accurate assessment, reducing the risk of harm to these structures during treatment. KEY POINTS: • It is crucial to utilize image data effectively to enhance the comprehension of human anatomy. • We captured detailed images of the mandible from different angles and orientations utilizing cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). • This study provides essential anatomical information for procedural planning to ensure optimal outcomes and patient safety.

Targeting ferroptosis unveils a new era for traditional Chinese medicine: a scientific metrology study.

In the past 11 years, there has been a surge in studies exploring the regulatory effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) on ferroptosis. However, a significant gap persists in comprehensive scientometric analysis and scientific mapping research, especially in tracking the evolution, primary contributors, and emerging research focal points. This study aims to comprehensively update the advancements in targeting ferroptosis with various TCMs during the previous 11 years. The data, covering the period from 1 January 2012, to 30 November 2023, were retrieved from the Web of Science database. For in-depth scientometric and visualized analyses, a series of advanced analytical instruments were employed. The findings highlight China's predominant role, accounting for 71.99% of total publications and significantly shaping research in this domain. Noteworthy productivity was observed at various institutions, including Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Zhejiang University. Thomas Efferth emerged as the foremost author within this field, while Frontiers in Pharmacology boasted the highest publication count. This study pinpointed hepatocellular carcinoma, chemical and drug-induced liver injury, mitochondrial diseases, acute kidney injury, and liver failure as the most critical disorders addressed in this research realm. The research offers a comprehensive bibliometric evaluation, enhancing our understanding of the present status of TCM therapy in managing ferroptosis-related diseases. Consequently, it aids both seasoned researchers and newcomers by accelerating access to vital information and fostering innovative concept extraction within this specialized field.

The 2nd China Vaccinology Integrated Innovation & Teaching Development Conference: Promoting the construction of vaccinology discipline system.

The 2nd China Vaccinology Integrated Innovation & Teaching Development Conference was held in Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 18-19, November 2023. Over 200 participants in the field of Vaccinology gathered together to address challenges and issues relevant to vaccine education and training courses, research, and public health programs in China. The conference themed "Promoting the Integrated and Innovative Development of Vaccinology through Collective Efforts." The conference was organized by the China Association of Vaccine (CAV) and hosted by Vaccinology Education Professional Committee of CAV, and School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University. Other partners included the Medical Virology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, the editorial committee of the Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine, Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, and the People's Medical Publishing House. The 1st conference was held in Hangzhou, in October 2020.

Combination of stem cells and nerve guide conduit for the treatment of peripheral nerve injury: A meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: Many small-sized, single-center preclinical studies have investigated the benefits of introducing stem cells into the interior of nerve conduit. The aims of this meta-analysis are to review and contrast the effects of various types of stem cells in in vivo models used to reconstruct peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) and to assess the reliability and stability of the available evidence. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted using Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science to identify studies conducted from January 1, 2000, to September 21, 2022, and investigate stem cell therapy in peripheral nerve reconstruction animal models. Studies that met the relevant criteria were deemed eligible for this meta-analysis. RESULTS: Fifty-five preclinical studies with a total of 1234 animals were incorporated. Stem cells demonstrated a positive impact on peripheral nerve regeneration at different follow-up times in the forest plots of five outcome indicators: compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude, latency, muscle mass ratio, nerve conduction velocity, and sciatic functional index (SFI). In most comparisons, stem cell groups showed substantial differences compared with the control groups. The superior performance of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in terms of SFI, CMAP amplitude, and latency (p < .001) was identified. DISCUSSION: The findings consistently demonstrated a favorable outcome in the reconstruction process when utilizing different groups of stem cells, as opposed to control groups where stem cells were not employed.

Boosting Thermoelectric Performance of Bi2 Te3 Material by Microstructure Engineering.

Due to the intrinsic contradiction of electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient in thermoelectric materials, the enhancement for the power factor (PF) is limited. Since the PF decides the output power, strategies to the enhancement of PF are of paramount importance. In this work, Bi2 Te3 /Sb and Bi2 Te3 /W multilayer films are proposed to enhance the thermoelectric properties. Both systems possess extremely high conductivity of ≈5.6 × 105 S m-1 . Moreover, the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient simultaneously increase as temperature rising, showing the overcome of the intrinsic contradiction. This results in ultrahigh PFs of 1785 µWm-1  K-2 for Bi2 Te3 /W and of 1566 µWm-1  K-2 for Bi2 Te3 /Sb at 600 K. Thermal heating of the Bi2 Te3 /Sb multilayer system shows compositional changes with subsequent formation of Bi-Te-Sb phases, Sb-rich Bi-Te precipitates, and cavities. Contrary, the multilayer structure of the Bi2 Te3 /W films is maintained, while Bi2 Te3 grains of high-crystalline quality are confined between the W layers. In addition, bilayer defects in Bi2 Te3 and smaller cavities at the interface to W layers are also observed. Thus, compositional and confinement effects as well as structural defects result in the ultrahigh PF. Overall, this work demonstrates the strategies on how to obtain ultrahigh PFs of commercial Bi2 Te3 material by microstructure engineering using multilayer structures.

Natural products in traditional Chinese medicine: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets of renal fibrosis and state-of-the-art drug delivery systems.

Renal fibrosis (RF) is the end stage of several chronic kidney diseases. Its series of changes include excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of renal tubular cells, fibroblast activation, immune cell infiltration, and renal cell apoptosis. RF can eventually lead to renal dysfunction or even renal failure. A large body of evidence suggests that natural products in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have great potential for treating RF. In this article, we first describe the recent advances in RF treatment by several natural products and clarify their mechanisms of action. They can ameliorate the RF disease phenotype, which includes apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and EMT, by affecting relevant signaling pathways and molecular targets, thereby delaying or reversing fibrosis. We also present the roles of nanodrug delivery systems, which have been explored to address the drawback of low oral bioavailability of natural products. This may provide new ideas for using natural products for RF treatment. Finally, we provide new insights into the clinical prospects of herbal natural products.

Lipoteichoic acid restrains macrophage senescence via ß-catenin/FOXO1/REDD1 pathway in age-related osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis and its related fractures are common causes of morbidity and mortality in older adults, but its underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we found that lipoteichoic acid (LTA) treatment could ameliorate age-related bone degeneration and attenuate intramedullary macrophage senescence. FOXO1 signaling, which was downregulated and deactivated in aging macrophages, played a key role in the process. Blocking FOXO1 signaling caused decreased REDD1 expression and increased phosphorylation level of mTOR, a major driver of aging, as well as aggravated bone loss and deteriorated macrophage senescence. Moreover, LTA elevated FOXO1 signaling through ß-catenin pathway while ß-catenin inhibition significantly suppressed FOXO1 signaling, promoted senescence-related protein expression, and accelerated bone degeneration and macrophage senescence. Our findings indicated that ß-catenin/FOXO1/REDD1 signaling plays a physiologically significant role that protecting macrophages from senescence during aging.

Machine learning and bioinformatics analysis to identify autophagy-related biomarkers in peripheral blood for rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Although rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease, the precise pathogenesis of the disease remains unclear. Recent research has unraveled the role of autophagy in the development of RA. This research aims to explore autophagy-related diagnostic biomarkers in the peripheral blood of RA patients. Methods: The gene expression profiles of GSE17755 were retrieved from the gene expression ontology (GEO) database. Differentially expressed autophagy-related genes (DE-ARGs) were identified for the subsequent research by inserting autophagy-related genes and differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Three machine learning algorithms, including random forest, support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE), and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), were employed to identify diagnostic biomarkers. A nomogram model was constructed to assess the diagnostic value of the biomarkers. The CIBERSORT algorithm was performed to investigate the correlation of the diagnostic biomarkers with immune cells and immune factors. Finally, the diagnostic efficacy and differential expression trend of diagnostic biomarkers were validated in multiple cohorts containing different tissues and diseases. Results: In this study, 25 DE-ARGs were identified between RA and healthy individuals. In addition to "macroautophagy" and "autophagy-animal," DE-ARGs were also associated with several types of programmed cell death and immune-related pathways according to GO and KEGG analysis. Three diagnostic biomarkers, EEF2, HSP90AB1 and TNFSF10, were identified by the random forest, SVM-RFE, and LASSO. The nomogram model demonstrated excellent diagnostic value in GSE17755 (AUC = 0.995, 95% CI: 0.988-0.999). Furthermore, immune infiltration analysis showed a remarkable association between EEF2, HSP90AB1, and TNFSF10 expression with various immune cells and immune factors. The three diagnostic biomarkers also exhibited good diagnostic efficacy and demonstrated the same trend of differential expression in multiple validation cohorts. Conclusion: This study identified autophagy-related diagnostic biomarkers based on three machine learning algorithms, providing promising targets for the diagnosis and treatment of RA.

The effect of Staphylococcus aureus on innate and adaptive immunity and potential immunotherapy for S. aureus-induced osteomyelitis.

Osteomyelitis is a chronic inflammatory bone disease caused by infection of open fractures or post-operative implants. Particularly in patients with open fractures, the risk of osteomyelitis is greatly increased as the soft tissue damage and bacterial infection are often more severe. Staphylococcus aureus, one of the most common pathogens of osteomyelitis, disrupts the immune response through multiple mechanisms, such as biofilm formation, virulence factor secretion, and metabolic pattern alteration, which attenuates the effectiveness of antibiotics and surgical debridement toward osteomyelitis. In osteomyelitis, immune cells such as neutrophils, macrophages and T cells are activated in response to pathogenic bacteria invasion with excessive inflammatory factor secretion, immune checkpoint overexpression, and downregulation of immune pathway transcription factors, which enhances osteoclastogenesis and results in bone destruction. Therefore, the study of the mechanisms of abnormal immunity will be a new breakthrough in the treatment of osteomyelitis.

Global Trends and Hotspots on Microglia Associated with Pain from 2002 to 2022: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Background: Researchers have made significant progress in microglia associated with pain in recent years. However, more relevant bibliometric analyses are still needed on trends and directions in this field. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive perspective and to predict future directions of pain-related microglia research via bibliometric tools. Methods: English articles and reviews related with pain and microglia were extracted from the Web of Science core collection (WosCC) database between 2002 to 2022. Bibliometric tools such as VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Bibliometrix R package were used to analyze publication characteristics, countries, authors, institutions, journals, research hotspots, and trend topics. Results: A total of 2761 articles were included in this analysis. Research on microglia associated with pain has increased significantly over the last two decades. China (n = 1020, 36.94%) and the United States (n = 751, 27.20%) contributed the most in terms of publications and citations, respectively. Kyushu University published the most articles in this field compared to other institutions, and Professor Inoue Kazuhide (n = 54) at this university made outstanding contributions in this field. Molecular Pain (n = 113) was the journal with the most publication, while Journal of Neuroscience had the highest number of citations. According to the authors keywords analysis, the research in this area can be summarized into 7 clusters such as "microglia activation pathways", "pain treatment research", "mental symptoms of chronic pain", and so on. Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of pain-related microglia research in the past two decades. We identified the countries, institutions, scholars, and journals with the highest number of publications and the most influence in the field, and the research trends identified in this paper may provide new insights for future research.

The role of kurtosis and kurtosis-adjusted energy metric in occupational noise-induced hearing loss among metal manufacturing workers.

Background: Noise energy has been well-established to increase the risk of occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). However, the role of noise temporal structure (expressed by kurtosis) or its combination with energy metrics (e.g., kurtosis-adjusted cumulative noise exposure, adj-CNE) in occupational NIHL was still unclear. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 867 Chinese workers, including 678 metal manufacturing workers and 189 workers exposed to Gaussian noise, was conducted. Noise energy metrics, including LAeq,8h and CNE, kurtosis (ß), and adj-CNE were used to quantify noise exposure levels. Noise-induced permanent threshold shift at frequencies 3, 4, and 6 kHz (NIPTS346) and the prevalence of high-frequency NIHL (HFNIHL%) were calculated for each participant. The dose-response relationship between kurtosis or adj-CNE and occupational NIHL was observed. Results: Among 867 workers, different types of work had specific and independent noise energy and kurtosis values (p > 0.05). HFNIHL% increased with an increase in exposure duration (ED), LAeq,8h, CNE, or kurtosis (p < 0.01), and there were strong linear relationships between HFNIHL% and ED (coefficient of determination [R2] = 0.963), CNE (R2 = 0.976), or kurtosis (R2 = 0.938, when CNE < 100 dB(A)∙year). The "V" shape notching extent in NIPTS became deeper with increasing kurtosis when CNE < 100 dB(A)∙year and reached the notching bottom at the frequency of 4 or 6 kHz. The workers exposed to complex noise (ß ≥ 10) had a higher risk of NIHL than those exposed to Gaussian noise (ß < 10) at the frequencies of 3, 4, 6, and 8 kHz (OR > 2, p < 0.01). Moreover, HFNIHL% increased with adj-CNE (p < 0.001). There were strong linear relationships between NIHL and adj-CNE or CNE when ß ≥ 10 (R2adj-CNE > R2CNE). After CNE was adjusted by kurtosis, average differences in NIPTS346 or HFNIHL% between the complex and Gaussian noise group were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Kurtosis was a key factor influencing occupational NIHL among metal manufacturing workers, and its combination with energy metrics could assess the risk of NIHL more effectively than CNE alone.

Gegen Qinlian Decoction combined with Metformin for the treatment of patients with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus: A retrospective observational study.

Objectives: To investigate Gegen Qinlian Decoction (GQD) combined with metformin for treatment of patients with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Methods: This retrospective observational study reviewed the clinical data of 89 patients diagnosed with T2DM in the Department of Acupuncture and Massage, Hainan Medical University from January 2021 to June 2022. Patients were non-randomized and divided into two groups based on the treatment received: observation group (n=41, GQD combined with metformin); control group (n=48, metformin only). Fasting blood glucose levels (FBG), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores, clinical effect, blood glucose time in range and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in age, gender, BMI and duration of T2DM between the two groups (P>0.05). The FBG, 2h glucose, HbA1c levels and TCM syndrome scores of the two groups were significantly lower post-treatment (P<0.001) with a greater decrease in the observation group (P<0.001). The observation group was more clinically efficacious than the control group post-treatment (92.68% vs. 77.08%; P<0.05). Blood glucose time in range and the incidence of adverse reactions were lower in the observation group than the control group (P<0.001 and P<0.05). Conclusions: GQD combined with metformin can significantly reduce FBG, 2h glucose and HbA1c levels, and improve TCM syndrome, with good clinical efficacy, shorter blood glucose time in range and less adverse reactions.

Corrosion-tailoring, osteogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial aspirin-loaded organometallic hydrogel composite coating on biodegradable Zn for orthopedic applications.

Zn and its alloys are receiving increasing interest for biodegradable orthopedic implant applications owing to their moderate corrosion rate and the potential functionality of Zn2+. However, their non-uniform corrosion behavior and insufficient osteogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties do not meet the comprehensive requirements of orthopedic implants in clinical use. Herein, an aspirin (an acetylsalicylic acid, ASA, 10, 50, 100, and 500 mg/L)-loaded carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC)/gelatin (Gel)-Zn2+ organometallic hydrogel composite coating (CMC/Gel&Zn2+/ASA) was fabricated on a Zn surface via an alternating dip-coating method, aiming to obtain a material with these comprehensive properties improved. The organometallic hydrogel composite coatings, ca. 12-16 µm in thickness, showed compact, homogeneous, and micro-bulge structured surface morphology. The coatings protected well the Zn substrate from pitting/localized corrosion and contained the release of the bioactive components, Zn2+ and ASA, in a sustained and stable manner in long-term in vitro immersions in Hank's solution. The coated Zn showed greater ability to promote proliferation and osteogenic differentiation for MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts, and better anti-inflammatory capacity when compared with uncoated Zn. Additionally, this coating displayed excellent antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli (>99 % antibacterial rate) and Staphylococcus aureus (>98 % antibacterial rate). Such appealing properties can be attributed to the compositional nature of the coating, namely the sustained release of Zn2+ and ASA, as well as the surface physiochemical properties because of its unique microstructure. This organometallic hydrogel composite coating can be considered a promising option for the surface modification of biodegradable Zn-based orthopedic implants among others.

Predicting the storage time of green tea by myricetin based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

The quality of green tea changes rapidly due to the oxidation and degradation of polyphenols during storage. Herein, a simple and fast Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) strategy was established to predict changes in green tea during storage. Raman spectra of green tea with different storage times (2020-2015) were acquired by SERS with silver nanoparticles. The PCA-SVM model was established based on SERS to quickly predict the storage time of green tea, and the accuracy of the prediction set was 97.22%. The Raman peak at 730 cm-1 caused by myricetin was identified as a characteristic peak, which increased with prolonged storage time and exhibited a linear positive correlation with myricetin concentration. Therefore, SERS provides a convenient method for identifying the concentration of myricetin in green tea, and myricetin can function as an indicator to predict the storage time of green tea.

Metal-organic Zn-zoledronic acid and 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid nanostick-mediated zinc phosphate hybrid coating on biodegradable Zn for osteoporotic fracture healing implants.

Zn and its alloys are increasingly under consideration for biodegradable bone fracture fixation implants owing to their attractive biodegradability and mechanical properties. However, their clinical application is a challenge for osteoporotic bone fracture healing, due to their uneven degradation mode, burst release of zinc ions, and insufficient osteo-promotion and osteo-resorption regulating properties. In this study, a type of Zn2+ coordinated zoledronic acid (ZA) and 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP) metal-organic hybrid nanostick was synthesized, which was further mixed into zinc phosphate (ZnP) solution to mediate the deposition and growth of ZnP to form a well-integrated micro-patterned metal-organic/inorganic hybrid coating on Zn. The coating protected noticeably the Zn substrate from corrosion, in particular reducing its localized occurrence as well as suppressing its Zn2+ release. Moreover, the modified Zn was osteo-compatible and osteo-promotive and, more important, performed osteogenesis in vitro and in vivo of well-balanced pro-osteoblast and anti-osteoclast responses. Such favorable functionalities are related to the nature of its bioactive components, especially the bio-functional ZA and the Zn ions it contains, as well as its unique micro- and nano-scale structure. This strategy provides not only a new avenue for surface modification of biodegradable metals but also sheds light on advanced biomaterials for osteoporotic fracture and other applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Developing appropriate biodegradable metallic materials is of clinical relevance for osteoporosis fracture healing, whereas current strategies are short of good balance between the bone formation and resorption. Here, we designed a micropatterned metal-organic nanostick mediated zinc phosphate hybrid coating modified Zn biodegradable metal to fulfill such a balanced osteogenicity. The in vitro assays verified the coated Zn demonstrated outstanding pro-osteoblasts and anti-osteoclasts properties and the coated intramedullary nail promoted fracture healing well in an osteoporotic femur fracture rat model. Our strategy may offer not only a new avenue for surface modification of biodegradable metals but also shed light on better understanding of new advanced biomaterials for orthopedic application among others.