Mild hyperthermia enhanced synergistic uric acid degradation and multiple ROS elimination for an effective acute gout therapy.

BACKGROUND: Acute gouty is caused by the excessive accumulation of Monosodium Urate (MSU) crystals within various parts of the body, which leads to a deterioration of the local microenvironment. This degradation is marked by elevated levels of uric acid (UA), increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, hypoxic conditions, an upsurge in pro-inflammatory mediators, and mitochondrial dysfunction. RESULTS: In this study, we developed a multifunctional nanoparticle of polydopamine-platinum (PDA@Pt) to combat acute gout by leveraging mild hyperthermia to synergistically enhance UA degradation and anti-inflammatory effect. Herein, PDA acts as a foundational template that facilitates the growth of a Pt shell on the surface of its nanospheres, leading to the formation of the PDA@Pt nanomedicine. Within this therapeutic agent, the Pt nanoparticle catalyzes the decomposition of UA and actively breaks down endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to produce O2, which helps to alleviate hypoxic conditions. Concurrently, the PDA component possesses exceptional capacity for ROS scavenging. Most significantly, Both PDA and Pt shell exhibit absorption in the Near-Infrared-II (NIR-II) region, which not only endow PDA@Pt with superior photothermal conversion efficiency for effective photothermal therapy (PTT) but also substantially enhances the nanomedicine's capacity for UA degradation, O2 production and ROS scavenging enzymatic activities. This photothermally-enhanced approach effectively facilitates the repair of mitochondrial damage and downregulates the NF-κB signaling pathway to inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. CONCLUSIONS: The multifunctional nanomedicine PDA@Pt exhibits exceptional efficacy in UA reduction and anti-inflammatory effects, presenting a promising potential therapeutic strategy for the management of acute gout.

Interaction-driven Chern insulating phases in the α-T3 lattice with Rashba spin-orbit coupling.

The magnetic interaction is a necessary ingredient to break the time-reversal symmetry in realizing quantum anomalous Hall, or Chern insulating phases. Here, we study topological phases in the α-T3 model, a minimal theoretical model supporting the flat band, taking account of Rashba spin-orbit coupling and flat-band-induced spontaneous ferromagnetism. By analyzing the interaction-driven phase diagrams, band structures, topological edge states, and topological invariants, we demonstrate that this system offers a platform for realizing a wide range of phases, including normal insulators, semimetals, and Chern insulators. Uniquely, there exist both high-Chern-number insulators and valley-polarized Chern insulators. In the latter phase, edge channels exist in the single valley, leading to nearly 100% valley polarization. These findings demonstrate the potential of interaction-driven systems in realizing exotic phases and their promising role in future applications in topology electronics and valleytronics.

[Effects of mechanical ventilation and controlled spontaneous respiration on pulmonary function during short duration of general anesthesia with tracheal intubation].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of mechanical ventilation on pulmonary function during short duration of general anesthesia with tracheal intubation, and assess the safety of controlled spontaneous respiration during general anesthesia. METHODS: Fifty-three adult patients (aged 18-55 years, ASA physical status I-II) scheduled for elective unilateral tympanoplasty were randomly assigned into mechanical ventilation group (group M, n=28) and spontaneous respiration group (group S, n=25). Anesthesia induction was performed in group M with intravenous propofol (2 mg/kg), fentanyl (3 microg0.05). The pH and SpO(2) [ (97.9-/+1.00)% at the lowest] and PaO(2) in group S were significantly lower and the PaCO(2) was higher than those in group M (P<0.05). In group S, the pH values were 7.274-/+0.025 and 7.331-/+0.039, PaCO(2) values were 60-/+6 and 53-/+5 mmHg, and PETCO(2) values were 53-/+ 6 and 48-/+7 mmHg, and the PaO(2) values were 143-/+37 and 165-/+49 mmHg immediately and 150 min after the intubation, respectively. These values were considered safe under the concept of permissive hypercapnia. No significant differences were found in the P(A-a)DO(2), RI, VD/VT and TFC between or within the two groups (P>0.05), nor were moving, bucking, swallowing and awareness recorded during the surgical procedures. CONCLUSION: In essentially normal lungs, short-term mechanical ventilation during general anesthesia with tracheal intubation does not damage the lung functions, and spontaneous respiration can offer sufficient oxygen supply without causing harmful carbon dioxide retention.

[A comparison of the metabolic effect of postoperative analgesia with lornoxicam and morphine or morphine on patients undergoing gastrointestinal carcinoma operation].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the metabolic effect of postoperative analgesia with lornoxicam/morphine or morphine on patients undergoing gastrointestinal carcinoma operation. METHODS: One hundred patients, undergone gastrointestinal carcinoma operations, were randomly assigned into two groups: group A received postoperative analgesia with lornoxicam/morphine and Group B with morphine alone. Parenteral nutrition with limited nitrogen resource was given to both groups. Visual analog scale (VAS), temperature and postoperative nitrogen balance were monitored postoperatively. The concentration of plasma cortisol , epinephrine, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured preoperatively and day 1, 3 postoperatively. RESULTS: VAS of two groups at 24 th, 48 th, 72 th after operation were similar (P>0.05). The temperature of two groups on the third postoperative day increased as compared to that before operation, and the temperature of group B on 1st and 3rd postoperative day [(37.8+/-0.6),(37.5+/-0.8)degrees C] were significantly higher than those of group A[(37.3+/-0.5)degrees C,(37.0+/-0.8)degrees C](P<0.05). Nitrogen balance within 3 days after operation were -7.5+/-3.2, -5.2+/-4.2, -3.1+/-1.2 in group A and -16.7+/-7.3, -10.5+/-6.1, -9.1+/-2.1 in group B (P<0.05). The post-operative plasma concentrations of cortisol and epinephrine increased significantly in both groups as compared to those examined preoperatively(P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups. However, the plasma concentrations of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in group B were significantly higher than those in group A(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative analgesia with lornoxicam/morphine or morphine is able to produce an adequate postoperative analgesia to patients undergoing gastrointestinal carcinoma operation. Lornoxicam and morphine analgesia possesses a better metabolic intervention in decreasing the protein metabolism and improving the nitrogen balance.

[Effect of postoperative analgesia with flurbiprofen axetil and sufentanyl on metabolism of surgical patients with intestinal carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: T To evaluate the effect of postoperative analgesia with flurbiprofen axetil combined with sufentanyl in modulating the metabolism of patients undergoing operations for intestinal carcinoma. METHODS: Eighty patients undergoing operations for intestinal carcinoma were randomly assigned into two groups, in group A, the patients received postoperative analgesia with flurbiprofen axetil combined with sufentanyl, and in group B, only sufentanyl was given. Parenteral nutrition with restricted nitrogen resource was given in both groups. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), body temperature and postoperative nitrogen balance were monitored postoperatively, and the concentrations of plasma cortisol, epinephrine, tumour necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured perioperatively. RESULTS: VAS at 24, 48, 72 h after operation were similar between the two groups (P>0.05). The changes in body temperature, nitrogen balance, TNF-alpha and IL-6 after operation were more obvious in group B than in group A, but significantly improved on postoperative day 3 (P<0.05) in the two groups. Flurbiprofen did not result in postoperative increase in cortisol and epinephrine. CONCLUSION: Postoperative analgesia with flurbiprofen axetil and sufentanyl or with sufentanyl alone produces similar postoperative analgesic effect in patients undergoing operation for intestinal carcinoma, but the former protocol offers better interventional effect on protein catabolism and promotes nitrogen balance.

[Analysis of factors leading to prescheduled analgesic withdrawal in patients with postoperative epidural analgesia].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the factors leading to prescheduled analgesic withdrawal in patients with postoperative epidural analgesia. METHODS: A retrospective study of 4876 patients with postoperative epidural analgesia was conducted and the effect of analgesia and incidence of prescheduled analgesic withdrawal were recorded. The factors precipitating the occurrences of analgesic withdrawal and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Early analgesic withdrawal occurred in 113 cases (2.3%), among which 74 (0.5%) were due to factors irrelevant to analgesic complications. Analgesia-related complications occurred in 578 patients, but only 39 (0.7%) of them needed discontinuation of the analgesics. CONCLUSION: Prescheduled analgesic withdrawal is predominantly due to technical inadequacies rather than complications arising from the analgesics, and improvement of the operation skills for postoperative analgesia may reduce early analgesia discontinuation and enhance the patients' satisfaction.

[Effects of Astragalus membranaceus injection on nitric oxide and endothelin concentration of intestinal mucosa after hemorrhage shock-reperfusion in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Stragalus membranaceus injection on nitric oxide and endothelin levels of intestinal mucosa in reperfusion injury after hemorrhage shock. METHOD: 32 SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal group, model group, low dosage group, (treated with Astragalus membranaceus 10 g x kg(-1)); high dosage group (treated with Astragalus membranaceus 20 g x kg(-1)). Models of hemorrhagic shock for 60 minutes and reperfusion for 90 minutes were created. The animals were administrated 3 mL therapeutic solution before reperfusion. At the end of study, intestinal pathology was observed, and the concentration of lactic acid (LD), nitric oxide (NO), endothelin (ET) of intestinal mucosa were detected. RESULT: The intestinal pathology showed that intestinal mucosa epithelial cells damage in model group was severe, in low dosage group was medium, in high dosage group was slight, and no obvious damage was found in normal group. The concentration of LD and NO of small intestine mucous membrane in model group and low dosage group were significantly higher than those in high dosage group and normal group (P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences between high dosage group and normal group (P > 0.05). The concentration of ET of small intestine mucous membrane in model group was the highest of the four groups (P < 0.05). The concentration of ET in low dosage group was significantly higher than that in high dosage group and normal group (P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences between high dosage group and normal group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Stragalus membranaceus injection can reduce small intestine mucous damage by protecting endothelium function in injury after hemorrhage shock-reperfusion.