The effect of intravenous lidocaine on postoperative cognitive dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) has been reported as a significant complication in elderly patients. Various methods have been proposed for reducing the incidence and severity of POCD. Intravenous lidocaine administration has been reported in the literature to reduce POCD, but the effect of lidocaine remains controversial. METHODS: We screened Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (up to April 2022) databases following a search strategy for intravenous lidocaine on POCD. We also screened related bibliographies on lidocaine for POCD. Ten articles comprising 1517 patients were selected and analyzed. We divided the postoperative follow-up period as follows: short term (<30 days), medium term (30-90 days), and long term (>90 days). OUTCOMES: We found that lidocaine could attenuate the overall incidence of POCD, especially in the short term. There were no differences between lidocaine and placebo on the overall severity of POCD. CONCLUSION: Lidocaine administered intravenously could attenuate the overall incidence of POCD and its severity in the short term.

Solid Carbon Spheres with Interconnected Open Pore Channels Enabling High-Efficient Polysulfide Conversion for High-Rate Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Hollow carbon spheres or core-sheath porous carbon spheres have been widely used in the S cathode of lithium-sulfur batteries. However, the sphere shells or the pore walls may block the free transport of active species to a certain extent and may have a negative influence on the effective accommodation of elemental sulfur. Herein, solid but porous carbon spheres (PNCS) with large porosity and high specific surface area are developed, which enable high sulfur loading and ample cathode/electrolyte contact area, and the interconnected open pore channels significantly shorten the ion/electron transport pathways. Together with high-conducting nitrogen-doped graphene (NG), facilitated polysulfide conversion kinetics is realized in the as-assembled Li-S batteries, which deliver a high initial discharge capacity of 1445 mAh g-1 at 0.2 C, excellent rate capability of 872 mAh g-1 at 4 C, and low capacity decay of 0.047% per cycle for 500 cycles at 1 C. Even under high sulfur loading of 5.5 mg cm-2 and low electrolyte/sulfur (E/S) ratio of 5 µL mg-1, the Li-S batteries still display high specific capacities of 896 mAh g-1 and 4.96 mAh cm-2. The real application of PNCS/NG is also demonstrated by the corresponding Li-S pouch cells showing high discharging capacity and stable open circuit voltage. This work exhibits the promising application of the solid carbon spheres as the S host for effectively addressing the polysulfide shuttle and propelling the development of high-performance Li-S batteries.

How Residents' Attitudes to Tourists and Tourism Affect Their Pro-tourism Behaviours: The Moderating Role of Chinese Traditionality.

Although sufficient attention has been paid to residents' attitudes to tourism in previous studies, few studies have used residents' attitudes to tourists and tourism simultaneously to explain their support for tourism. This study fills this gap by examining the effect of place image and host-tourist interactions on residents' attitudes to tourists and tourism, respectively, and their consequent reactions by considering the moderating effect of Chinese traditionality. The proposed model is tested using data from 357 residents living in Huangshan, a fifth-tier city in China. Results demonstrate that attitudes to tourism and host-tourists interaction positively affect their pro-tourism behaviours. Moreover, attitudes to tourism mediate place the image's, host-tourists interaction's and attitudes to tourists' respective relationships with pro-tourism behaviours. Furthermore, the higher the Chinese traditionality of residents, the stronger the influence of their attitudes to tourism on pro-tourism behaviours. However, the relationship of place image and attitudes of residents towards tourists with pro-tourism behaviours are not supported. Findings offer critical implications for planners, practitioners and interested researchers.

[Correlation of C-MYC Protein, MDSC and Th17 Cells with Pathogenesis of Myeloma in Different Clinical Stages].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation of C-MYC protein with MDSC, Th17 cells and the pathogenesis of myeloma in different clinical stages. METHODS: A total of 65 patients with multiple myeloma treated in our hospital were selected as MM group, and 30 healthy subjects were selected as control group. The positive expression rate of C-MYC protein in bone marrow tissue, and the ratios of peripheral blood MDSC and Th17 cells were compared among the two groups, and the correlation of C-MYC protein, the ratio of MDSC, Th17 cells with onset of myeloma at different clinical stages, the relationship of the expression of C-MYC protein with the ratio of MDSC/Th17 cells and the clinical parameters of MM was analyzed. Also, the diagnostic value of single diagnosis and combined diagnosis was compared. RESULTS: The positive expression rate of C-MYC protein in bone marrow, the ratio of MDSC and Th17 cells in peripheral blood in MM group were significantly higher than those in normal control group(P＜0.05); the positive expression rate of C-MYC protein, MDSC and Th17 cells in patients at ISS stage Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ MM showed an increasing trend (r=0.432, r=0.401, r=0.351); the correlation between the ratio of MDSC, Th17 cells and the positive expression rate of C-MYC protein in MM patients was positive (r=0.415, r=0.417); the area under ROC curve (AUC) of combined diagnosis was significantly larger than that of single index diagnosis (C-MYC protein, MDSC cells, Th17 cells)(P＜0.05). There was no correlation between the expression of C-MYC protein, the proportion of MDSC, Th17 cells and sex or age in MM patients (P＞0.05). CONCLUSION: The positive expression rate of C-MYC protein and the proportion of MDSC and Th17 cells in MM patients significantly increase, which positively correlates with clinical ISS stagin.

Antecedents of Residents' Pro-tourism Behavioral Intention: Place Image, Place Attachment, and Attitude.

Few prior studies have investigated place image from the residents' perspective, how this and residents' place attachment influence attitude to tourism, and consequent reactions. Accordingly, this study aims to develop a model for local residents' pro-tourism behavioral intention and to discover the relationships between constructs. Analysis was based on a sample of 370 residents in Huangshan City, China. Results indicate that residents' attitude to tourism positively affects their pro-tourism behavioral intention. Residents' place image is found to positively relate to place attachment and attitude to tourism, while place attachment is also related to attitude and pro-tourism behavioral intention. In addition, attitude to tourism mediates place image's and place attachment's respective relationships with pro-tourism behavioral intention. Lastly, place image indirectly impacts residents' attitude to tourism and pro-tourism behavioral intention through place attachment. However, the positive relationship between place image and pro-tourism behavioral intention is not supported. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Serum exosomal microRNAs as novel biomarkers for multiple myeloma.

Accumulating studies have focused on circulating microRNAs, which might be potential biomarkers for different malignancies. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of serum exosomal microRNAs to be novel serum biomarkers for smouldering myeloma (SMM) or even multiple myeloma (MM). The levels of serum exosomal microRNAs and serum circulating microRNAs were measured in healthy individuals and patients with SMM (n = 20) or MM (n = 20). Serum exosomal microRNAs and serum circulating microRNAs were extracted from serum, and the expression levels of selected microRNAs were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The levels of serum exosome-derived miR-20a-5p, miR-103a-3p, and miR-4505 were significantly different among patients with MM, patients with SMM, and healthy individuals, while there were differences in the levels of let-7c-5p, miR-185-5p, and miR-4741 in patients with MM relative to those in SMM patients or healthy controls. Additionally, a significant correlation was rarely found between the levels of serum and exosomal microRNAs. This study shows that serum exosomal microRNAs can be used independently as novel serum biomarkers for MM.

Potential Relationship between Clinical Significance and Serum Exosomal miRNAs in Patients with Multiple Myeloma.

This study evaluated the potential relationship between exosomal miRNAs and clinical symptoms in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Forty-eight newly diagnosed myeloma patients and sixteen normal donors were enrolled in the study. The results showed that the relative expression levels of let-7c-5p, let-7d-5p, miR-140-3p, miR-185-5p, and miR-425-5p in the exosomes of MM patients were significantly lower than those of healthy controls. Furthermore, there were significant differences in the clinical characteristics of myeloma, such as kidney damage, while the expression levels of the same miRNA in exosomes and serum are not correlated. The expression of exosomal miRNA is related to the expression levels of clinical feature-related factors, such as creatinine, ß2-microglobulin, ß-CTX, and IL-6 in serum. Establishing this relationship could contribute to understanding the pathogenesis of MM.

Anti-CD200 attenuates concanavalin A induced hepatitis via modulating the imbalance of CD4+ T lymphocyte differentiation in mice.

Hepatitis occurs in critical ill patients with bad morbidity and mortality. It is known that imbalance of Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes differentiations plays a key role in its mechanisms. Recent studies indicated that type 1 membrane glycoprotein CD200 serves as co-inhibitory molecule, negatively regulating the immune response. In regard of this, we used Concanavalin A (Con A) induced liver injury model to research the effect of CD200 on the differentiation of CD4+ T lymphocyte and found that the expression of CD200 on CD4+ T was significantly higher in hepatitis mouse. The apoptosis of CD4+ T cell in Con A induced liver injury was significantly attenuated by anti-CD200. The concentration of solube IL-2 and IFN-γ was reduced by anti-CD200, in addition, the expression of T-bet, GATA3 and FoxP3 mRNA were all attenuated by anti-CD200. The phosphorylation of SH-2 containing inositol 5' polyphosphatase 1 (SHIP1) was significantly increased in Con A induced liver injury and reduced by anti-CD200. We hypothesized that, anti-CD200 inhibited the phosphorylation of SHIP1, the expression of T-bet, GATA3 and FoxP3 mRNA and CD4+ T differentiation to protect the liver from autoimmune hepatitis.

[Contribution of nutrient uptake and utilization on yield advantage in maize and potato intercropping under different nitrogen application rates]. / ä¸åŒæ°®æ°´å¹³ä¸‹ä½œç‰©å »åˆ†å¸æ”¶ä¸Žåˆ©ç”¨.

Intercropping of maize and potato, as an important intercropping planting pattern, has a prominent advantage of resource utilization and yield. However, contribution of nutrient uptake and utilization to crop yield advantage and its response to N application rates remain unclear. Through a 2-year plot experiment, including maize monoculture, potato monoculture and maize intercropping with potato at 4 N-fertilized levels of N0(0 kg·hm-2), N1(125 kg·hm-2), N2(250 kg·hm-2) and N3(375 kg·hm-2), nutritional contribution of yield advantage of intercropping was studied. The results showed that weighted average uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was gradually increased with N application rate in monocultures, but increase followed by a decrease in intercropping. Compared with monoculture at the same N level, nutrient uptake advantage of intercropping was the highest at N1, which increased nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake by 14.9%, 38.6% and 27.8%, respectively. However, the nutrient use efficiencies were highest in intercropping at N0 and N3 with increment of 3.5%-14.3% for nitrogen, 3.5%-18.5% for phosphorus and 10.6%-31.6% for potassium. Maize and potato intercropping had a significant yield advantage at N0 and N1. Yield advantage in intercropping attributed to improvement of nutrient use efficiency at N0 while to increase of nutrient uptake at N1. To utilize the yield advantage from nutrient uptake, controlling input of nitrogen fertilizer is necessary in intercropping.

MiR-125b regulates SFRP5 expression to promote growth and activation of cardiac fibroblasts.

Myocardial fibrosis (MF), which typically occurs after a myocardial infarction (MI), is a major factor involved in the process of ventricular remodeling and subsequent progression to heart failure. Current studies have found that various microRNAs (miRNAs), such as miR-125b, play an important role in this process. However, few studies have investigated the specific mechanism of miR-125b. Transfection of miR-125b mimics into cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) resulted in significantly increased expression of the myofibroblast marker alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and vinculin by Western blot analysis, while transfection of miR-125b inhibitors resulted in the opposite effect. Analysis of putative CF target genes for miR-125b revealed that miR-125b specifically inhibits expression of secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (SFRP5). SFRP5 inhibited expression of α-SMA and collagen I and III in CFs, while miR-125b promoted the expression of these proteins. Cotransfection of the SFRP5 overexpression vector and miR-125b mimics did not result in significant upregulation of SFRP5 expression or downregulation of α-SMA and collagen I and III. Further analysis revealed that miR-125b promotes the proliferation and migration of CFs and inhibits their apoptosis, while SFRP5 exhibits the opposite effects. These results indicate that miR-125b can regulate SFRP5 expression and thus influence the growth and activation of CFs. Hence, this study provides important insight into possible approaches for the prevention and treatment of MF after an MI.

Efficacy and Safety of Bortezomib in Multiple Myeloma Patients with Hepatitis B: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety evidence of bortezomib in multiple myeloma (MM) patients with hepatitis B is vacant. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of bortezomib in MM patients with hepatitis B in China. METHODS: From 2006 to 2011, 739 newly diagnosed MM patients were screened for serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) biomarkers. HBV-infected patients were followed for HBV reactivation by monitoring of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and HBV DNA load. The pattern of HBV reactivation in relation to bortezomib was evaluated. Seven hundred thirty-nine MM patients were included in this study. RESULTS: The prevalence of MM patients infected with HBV was 3.4% (n = 25), of which 17 cases were treated with bortezomib. Bortezomib had no significant influence on liver function (ALT before and after treatment: 36.69 ± 8.90 U/L vs. 11.31 ± 2.74 U/L, P = 0.19) and HBV DNA of MM patients with HBV (detectable HBV DNA percentage: 5.9% vs. 11.8%, P = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS: Bortezomib can be used safely and effectively in MM patients with hepatitis B. HBV prophylaxis and surveillance are recommended during the MM treatment.

Sorafenib in liver function impaired advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy and safty of sorafenib in Child-Pugh class B to class C hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: In this three-center open-label study from November 2011 to May 2013, we randomly assigned 189 patients with advanced Child-Pugh class B or C HCC patients into two groups, one group with 95 patient to receive sorafenib (400 mg a time, twice a day) and the other group with 94 patients to receive best supportive care. The primary end points were progression-free survival and overall survival. RESULTS: The median progression-free survival was 2.2 months and 1.9 months in the sorafenib group and best supportive care group respectively (Hazard ratio in the sorafenib group, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.40-0.75; P=0.002). The median overall survival was 4.0 months and 3.5 months in the sorafenib group and best supportive care group respectively (Hazard ratio in the sorafenib group, 0.48; 95% confidence interval, 0.35-0.68; P<0.001). The main adverse effect of sorafenib was rash and acne of the skin (in 51.7% patients). The incidences of severe rash, diarrhea, and dry skin were 5.6%, 5.6%, and 2.2% in the sorafenib group. One patient reached partial response in the sorafenib group. CONCLUSIONS: Sorafenib is safe in patients with liver function impaired advanced HCC. It is effective in terms of progression-free survival and overall survival compared with best supportive care. Liver functions are the important predictive factors.

[Clinical significance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with multiple myeloma].

This study was purposed to investigate the relation of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels with clinical types and therapeutic efficacy of multiple myeloma (MM), and to analyze the significance of VEGF in MM. The levels of serum VEGF were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique in 76 patients with MM. The relationship between the serum VEGF levels with MM patients' age, stages, types, and efficacy were analyzed. The results showed that the patients who were less than 65 years old had higher serum VEGF levels than elder patients, however, the difference between them had no statistical significance (P > 0.05). The VEGF level was the highest in IgG type patients, and then in light chain type, lowest in IgA type, however there were no statistical differences between them (P > 0.05). Patients of DS stage III had higher VEGF level than that of stage II, and there was also no statistical difference (P > 0.25). Patients of ISS stage I had lower VEGF level than that of stage II and III, and it also showed no statistical difference (P > 0.05). After treatment, patients obtained complete remission (CR) or very good partial remission (VGPR) had decrease of serum VEGF level, however, patients obtained less than partial remission (PR) had increase of serum VEGF level. Patients were divided into two groups according serum VEGF level ( ≤ 150 ng/L), patients with high VEGF levels had short overall survival time, there was statistical difference (P = 0.03). It is concluded that the serum VEGF level of MM patients dose not relate with age, clinical stages and M protein types; however, there was a certain association between overall survival and serum VEGF level, and the later may be one of poor prognostic factors.

Antitumor effect and immune response induced by local hyperthermia in B16 murine melanoma: Effect of thermal dose.

This study aimed at investigating the antitumor effect and immune response induced by local high-temperature hyperthermia at different thermal doses in B16 murine melanoma. The screened optimal thermal dose (50°C, 15 min) which was demonstrated to be the most effective in immune response activation was applied to the treatment of lung metastasis. The optimal thermal dose was determined by evaluating the tumor volume change, survival period of tumor-bearing mice, and immune indices including interleukin (IL)-2, interferon (IFN)-γ and TNF-α mRNA expression in the spleen of mice subjected to local hyperthermia at various thermal doses. The activation of the immune response was further investigated by rechallenging the cured mice 60 days after hyperthermia treatment. The screened optimal thermal dose combined with immunoadjuvant compound 48/80 was applied for melanoma lung metastasis. While local hyperthermia effectively inhibited B16 melanoma tumor growth and prolonged the survival period of tumor-bearing mice, the antitumor immunity was significantly enhanced and the effect was thermal dose-dependent. Higher temperatures (≥50°C) induced a significant effect even with a short treatment time (≤15 min). No tumor regrowth was observed for rechallenged B16 melanoma in mice following treatment with local hyperthermia at a higher temperature. Local hyperthermia by optimal thermal dose in combination with immunoadjuvant compound 48/80 is an effective approach for the treatment of B16 melanoma lung metastasis. This study indicated that the use of a local high-temperature hyperthermia protocol inhibits tumor growth and stimulates a favorable antitumor immune response against malignant melanoma. The results of these experiments may have clinical significance for the treatment of melanoma.

c-Myb interacts with the glucocorticoid receptor and regulates its level in pre-B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.

Glucocorticoid (GC) hormones are used in the treatment of hematopoietic malignancies. When the GC binds to the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) protein, c-Myb and GR are recruited at the Glucocorticoid Response Unit in the DNA. Here we demonstrate that c-Myb interacts with the GR and that decreasing c-Myb amounts reduces the levels of GR transcripts and protein in 697 pre-B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells. Furthermore, the auto-upregulation of GR promoter 1C and promoter 1D is blunted at reduced c-Myb levels. Taken together, these data show that c-Myb is a direct, key regulator of the GR. Unexpectedly, the reduction in c-Myb levels increased the sensitivity of the cells to steroid-mediated apoptosis. This was because the reduction in c-Myb itself decreases cell viability, and the residual GR remained above the threshold needed to trigger apoptosis. These studies show the mutual importance of c-Myb and the GR in controlling survival of pre-B ALL cells.

Differential protein expression profile between CD20 positive and negative cells of the NCI-H929 cell line.

At present, multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable disease and cologenic cells may be responsible for disease relapse. It has been proposed that CD20+/CD138- NCI-H929 cells could be hallmarks of MM clonogenic cells. Here, the immunology phenotype of NCI-H929 cells is described. Only a small population of CD20+/CD138- cells (<1%) was found in the NCI-H929 cell line, but CD20+/CD138- cells were not detected. We found that CD20+/CD138+ cells were able to exhibit cologenic capacity by colony formation assay and continuous passage culture. Proteins were analyzed by 1D-SDS-PAGE and TMT based quantitative differential liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). 1,082 non-redundant proteins were identified, 658 of which were differentially expressed with at least a 1.5-fold difference. 205 proteins in CD20+ cells were expressed at higher levels and 453 proteins were at lower levels compared with CD20- cells. Most proteins had catalytic and binding activity and mainly participated in metabolic processes, cell communication and molecular transport. These results proved that there are different biological features and protein expression profile between CD20+ and CD20- cells in the NCI-H929 cell line.

Feasibility study of high-temperature thermoseed inductive hyperthermia in melanoma treatment.

Current treatment modalities for melanoma do not offer satisfactory efficacy. We have developed a new, minimally invasive hyperthermia technology based on radio-frequency hyperthermia. Herein, we investigated the feasibility of using a nickel-copper thermoseed for inductive hyperthermia at a relatively high temperature (46-55 ˚C). In vitro, the thermoseed showed good thermal effects and effective killing of B16/F10 melanoma cells. Temperatures of 53.1 ± 0.5 ˚C were achieved for a single thermoseed and 56.5 ± 0.5 ˚C for two in parallel (spacing 5 mm). No B16/F10 melanoma cells survived with heating time longer than 20 min in the parallel thermoseed group. Magnetic fields or thermoseeds alone did not affect the survival rate of B16/F10 cells (P>0.05). In vivo, B16/F10 melanoma cells were subcutaneously injected into the right axilla of C57BL/6 mice. After the tumors grew to ~11-13 mm, two thermoseeds (spacing 5 mm) were implanted into the tumors and the mice were subjected to an alternating magnetic field (100-250 kHz, 15 kA/m) to induce hyperthermia. The temperature at the center of the tumor reached 46 ˚C at 5 min and plateaued at 50 ˚C. Thermoseed treatment produced large necrotic areas, inhibited tumor growth in 60% (6 of 10) of animals and prolonged survival time (P<0.05). Thus, with further optimization and testing, high-temperature thermoseed inductive hyperthermia may have therapeutic potential for melanoma.

A new, lineage specific, autoup-regulation mechanism for human glucocorticoid receptor gene expression in 697 pre-B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.

Glucocorticoid (GC) steroid hormones induce apoptosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Autoup-regulation of human GC receptor (hGR) levels is associated with sensitivity to GC-mediated apoptosis. Among the major hGR promoters expressed in 697 pre-B-ALL cells (1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D), only promoters 1C and 1D are selectively activated by the hormone. Promoter 1B is unresponsive, and promoter 1A is down-regulated by dexamethasone (Dex) in 697 cells, whereas they are both up-regulated in CEM-C7 T-ALL cells. Autoup-regulation of promoter 1C and 1D in 697 cells requires sequences containing GC response units (GRUs) (1C GRU, -2915/-2956; 1D GRU, -4525/-4559) that were identified previously in CEM-C7 cells. These GRUs potentially bind GR, c-myeloblastosis (c-Myb), and E-twenty six (Ets) proteins; 697 cells express high levels of c-Myb protein, as well as the E-twenty six family protein members, PU.1 and Spi-B. Dex treatment in 697 cells elevates the expression of c-Myb and decreases levels of both Spi-B and PU.1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed the specific recruitment of GR, c-Myb, and cAMP response element-binding protein binding protein to the 1C and 1D GRUs upon Dex treatment, correlating to observed autoup-regulated activity in these two promoters. These data suggest a hormone activated, lineage-specific mechanism to control the autoup-regulation of hGR gene expression in 697 pre-B-ALL cells via steroid-mediated changes in GR coregulator expression. These findings may be helpful in understanding the mechanism that determines the sensitivity of B-ALL leukemia cells to hormone-induced apoptosis.