Combination of Albumin/Fibrinogen Ratio and Admission Hunt-Hess Scale Score as an Independent Predictor of Clinical Outcome in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: The albumin/fibrinogen ratio (AFR) is an independent predictor of clinical outcomes of some diseases; however, the prognostic value of AFR and the admission Hunt-Hess (HH) score is still unclear for patients with an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). This study aimed to assess the relationship between the AFR-HH score and 6-month outcomes of aSAH patients. METHODS: The clinical characteristics of aSAH patients admitted to our department between December 2017 and December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The candidate risk factors were screened using univariate regression analysis, and the independence of the resultant risk factors was evaluated by binary logistic regression analysis. The predictive value of the combined AFR and HH score for unfavorable outcomes was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS: A total of 112 aSAH patients were included. Binary logistic regression analysis showed the perioperative period AFR, Glasgow coma scale score, and admission HH score were independent risk factors for unfavorable outcomes for aSAH patients. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed the predictive capacity of AFR plus the admission HH score outperformed the AFR, Glasgow coma scale score, and admission HH scale alone and the combination of the AFR and Glasgow coma scale score. CONCLUSIONS: A low AFR during the perioperative period is associated with unfavorable outcomes for aSAH patients at 6 months. The combination of the AFR and admission HH scale score provides superior predictive capacity to either the AFR or HH scale score alone.

Risk factors for necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants: a Meta analysis. / æ—©äº§å„¿åæ­»æ€§å°è‚ ç»“è‚ ç‚Žå±é™©å› ç´ çš„Meta分析.

OBJECTIVES: To systematically evaluate the risk factors for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm infants. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Data were searched for case-control studies and cohort studies on the risk factors for NEC in preterm infants published up to December 2021. RevMan 5.3 software was used to perform the Meta analysis. RESULTS: A total of 38 studies were included (28 case-control studies and 10 cohort studies). The Meta analysis showed that maternal gestational diabetes (OR=2.96, P<0.001), intrahepatic cholestasis during pregnancy (OR=2.53, P<0.001), preeclampsia (OR=1.73, P=0.020), history of neonatal asphyxia (OR=2.13, P<0.001), low gestational age (OR=1.23, P=0.010), sepsis (OR=5.32, P<0.001), patent ductus arteriosus (OR=1.57, P=0.001), congenital heart disease (OR=3.78, P<0.001), mechanical ventilation (OR=2.23, P=0.020), history of antibiotic use (OR=1.07, P<0.001), use of vasopressors (OR=2.34, P=0.040), and fasting (OR=1.08, P<0.001) were risk factors for NEC in preterm infants, while cesarean section (OR=0.73, P=0.004), use of pulmonary surfactant (OR=0.43, P=0.008), and breastfeeding (OR=0.24, P=0.020) were protective factors against NEC. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal gestational diabetes, intrahepatic cholestasis during pregnancy, preeclampsia, low gestational age, fasting, sepsis, patent ductus arteriosus, congenital heart disease, and histories of asphyxia, mechanical ventilation, antibiotic use, and use of vasopressors may increase the risk of NEC in preterm infants, while cesarean section, use of pulmonary surfactant, and breastfeeding may decrease the risk of NEC in preterm infants.

Esculetin protects against early sepsis via attenuating inflammation by inhibiting NF-κB and STAT1/STAT3 signaling.

Esculetin, a natural derivative from the traditional and widely-used Chinese medicinal herb Cortex Fraxini, has a variety of pharmacological effects, especially in anti-inflammation. However, it is not clear whether esculetin has a therapeutic effect on sepsis. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and protective effects of esculetin on early sepsis. The results showed that the lung injury was significantly relieved with the treatment of esculetin, accompanied with the restrained production of inflammatory factors including IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, CCL2 and iNOS during the early phase of E.coli-induced sepsis. Of note, activation of NF-κB and STAT1/STAT3 signals, the main upstream signals of many inflammatory factors, were attenuated by esculetin in both lung tissues from septic mice and LPS-stimulated macrophage. These findings suggested that the protection of esculetin against early sepsis should be related to its anti-inflammatory effect, which was at least partly due to its inhibition on NF-κB and STAT1/STAT3 signaling pathway in macrophage. Thus, esculetin could serve as a potential therapeutic agent by rebalancing innate immune response in macrophage for the treatment of early sepsis.

Combination of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Admission Glasgow Coma Scale Score Is Independent Predictor of Clinical Outcome in Diffuse Axonal Injury.

BACKGROUND: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an independent predictor of clinical outcome of different diseases, such as acute ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, malignant tumor, and traumatic brain injury. However, the prognostic value of NLR plus admission Glasgow Coma Scale score (NLR-GCS) is still unclear in patients with diffuse axonal injury (DAI). Therefore this study assessed the relationship between the NLR-GCS and 6-month outcome of DAI patients. METHODS: The clinical characteristics of DAI patients admitted to our department between January 2014 and January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The candidate risk factors were screened by using univariate analysis, and the independence of resultant risk factors was evaluated by the binary logistic regression analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis. The predictive value of NLR-GCS in an unfavorable outcome was assessed by the receiver operating characteristics curve analysis. RESULTS: A total of 93 DAI patients were included. Binary logistic regression analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis showed the level of NLR on admission was an independent risk factor of unfavorable outcomes in DAI patients. The ROC curve analysis showed that the predictive capacity of the combination of NLR and admission GCS score and combination of NLR and coma duration outperformed NLR, admission GCS score, and coma duration alone. CONCLUSIONS: The higher NLR level on admission is independently associated with unfavorable outcomes of DAI patients at 6 months. Furthermore, the combination of NLR and admission GCS score provides the superior predictive capacity to either NLR or GCS alone.

Enhanced Thermoelectric Performance of LiZnSb-Alloyed CaZn0.4Ag0.2Sb by Band Engineering.

LiZnSb is a Zintl phase that has been predicted to be a good material in thermoelectric applications for a long time. However, experimental work indicated that the synthesized LiZnSb materials were p type, and their maximum zT value is only 0.08 at 525 K. CaZn0.4Ag0.2Sb, which belongs to the LiGaGe structure type and is also closely associated with the LiZnSb structure, did show high zT plateaus in a wide range of temperature, with the mixed transition metal Zn/Ag sites regulated. By comparing their crystallographic and electronic band structures, it is evident that the interlayered distances in both compounds have a great effect on the regulation of the corresponding electrical transport properties. When alloying CaZn0.4Ag0.2Sb with LiZnSb, solid solutions form within a specific range, which led to a marked enhancement in the Seebeck coefficient through the orbital alignment and carrier concentration optimization. In addition, a low thermal conductivity was obtained owing to the reduced electronic component. With the above optimization, a maximum zT value of ∼1.3 can be realized for (CaZn0.4Ag0.2Sb)0.87(LiZnSb)0.13 at 873 K, more than twice that of the pristine CaZn0.4Ag0.2Sb and about 10-fold compared to that of LiZnSb. This work may shed new light on the optimization of thermoelectric properties based on Zintl phases, for which the crystal structures are usually very complicated and a direct correlation between the structures and properties is difficult to make.

Sr9Mg4.45(1)Bi9 and Sr9Mg4.42(1)Sb9: Mg-Containing Zintl Phases with Low Thermal Conductivity.

Zintl phases with nominal 9-4-9 formulas are very interesting for their potential applications as thermoelectric materials. However, the formation of such phases usually requires divalent transition metals, for example, Zn, Mn, and Cd, which are covalently bonded to the pnictogen atoms. In this report, for the first time, two Mg-containing compounds with such structures as Sr9Mg4.45(1)Bi9 and Sr9Mg4.42(1)Sb9 were synthesized and their structures were determined by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. Both title compounds crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Pnma and are isostructural with Ca9Mn4.41(1)Sb9, which features complex polyanion structures compared to the classical 9-4-9 phases. For Sr9Mg4.45(1)Bi9, its low thermal conductivity, combined with its high electrical conductivity and moderate Seebeck coefficient, leads to a decent figure of merit of 0.57 at 773 K, which obviously prevails in the unoptimized 9-4-9 phases. The discovery of such Mg-containing 9-4-9 phases is very significant, as the discovery not only enriches the structure map of the well-known 9-4-9 family but also provides very valuable thermoelectric candidates surely deserving of more in-depth investigation.

Exploring New Zintl Phases in the 9-4-9 Family via Al Substitution. Synthesis, Structure, and Physical Properties of Ae9Mn4-xAlxSb9 (Ae = Ca, Yb, Eu).

Three new quaternary Zintl phases with the "9-4-9" formula, Ae9Mn4-xAlxSb9 (Ae = Ca, Yb, Eu), have been synthesized using Pb as the metal flux, and their crystal structures have been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both Ca9Mn2.91(4)Al1.09Sb9 and Yb9Mn3.59(6)Al0.41Sb9 are isostructural with Ca9Mn4Bi9, and they crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Pbam with unit cell dimensions of a = 12.4571(8), 12.2884(16) Å, b = 22.1352(16), 22.024(3) Å, and c = 4.6012(3), 4.6187(6) Å, respectively. Their anionic structures can be viewed as infinite ribbons based on corner-shared tetrahedrons. Also, Eu9Mn2.87(4)Al1.13Sb9 has the space group Cmca and a = 9.4883(7) Å, b = 23.6895(18) Å, and c = 24.4845(19) Å. The structural relationships between Ca9Mn2.91(4)Al1.09Sb9 and Eu9Mn2.87(4)Al1.13Sb9 are compared and discussed as well. The successful Al3+ substitution provides additional electrons to the compounds to achieve structural stability. Magnetic susceptibility and electrical resistivity measurements, performed on single crystals of Eu9Mn2.87(4)Al1.13Sb9, indicate complex magnetic properties and semiconductor behavior. The physical properties of Yb9Mn3.59(6)Al0.41Sb9 are similar to those observed for Yb9Mn4.18(2)Sb9.

[Quality control of Dandeng Tongnao Ruanjiaonang based on UPLC fingerprint combined with chemical pattern recognition].

To establish the ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) fingerprint of Dandeng Tongnao Ruanjiaonang and conduct a systemic, comprehensive quality evaluation of the drug by combining with a chemical pattern recognition method. In this study, Waters UPLC ultra-high performance liquid chromatography instrument and ACQUITY UPLCHSS T3 chromatographic colum n were employed to perform the separation with acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid aqueous solution as the mobile phase for gradient elution; and the detection wavelength was set at 256 nm to establish the UPLC fingerprint of 10 batches of Dandeng Tongnao Ruanjiaonang. Then, the further quality assessment of the drug was carried out by similarity evaluation, Cluster Analysis(CA), Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). Finally, 77 peaks were recognised as common peaks in the fingerprint, and 15 peaks of them were identified using standard references. The similarity value of these 10 batches of drugs was all above 0.960, indicating a relatively stable quality. But minor differences were still discovered between the batches of the drug by CA and PCA. Finally, 6 common peaks were recognised as the quality makers using OPLS-DA method. The analysis method established in this study was scientific, accurate, reliable and simple; fingerprint combined with chemical pattern recognition technique can be used to systematically and comprehensively evaluate the drug quality of Dandeng Tongnao Ruanjiaonang; what's more, it could also provide a reference for the quality control of traditional Chinese medicine and its preparations at the same time.

A novel self-assembled pH-sensitive targeted nanoparticle platform based on antibody-4arm-polyethylene glycol-pterostilbene conjugates for co-delivery of anticancer drugs.

Recently, antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) have shown potential for cancer immunotherapy by tumor-targeted delivery of anticancer drugs. However, the development of ADC is subject to many restrictions, such as the payloads, stabilities and intracellular uptake of the drugs, which has greatly restricted their clinical application. To overcome these hurdles, in this study, a novel pH-sensitive targeted nanoparticle platform based on a newly synthesized amphipathic antibody-drug conjugate (antibody-4arm-polyethylene glycol-pterostilbene, mAb-4arm-PEG-PS) was fabricated for co-delivery of another anticancer drug (10-hydroxy camptothecin, HCPT). The prepared mAb-4arm-PEG-PS/HCPT nanoparticles (NPs) had a moderate particle size (∼120 nm), a high drug to antibody ratio (∼22.4) and relatively high binary drug loading capacity (∼24.2 wt% HCPT, ∼2.9 wt% PS). Moreover, the mAb-4arm-PEG-PS/HCPT NPs exhibited enhanced intracellular uptake (∼5 fold that of mAb-4arm-PEG-PS conjugates) and excellent cytotoxicity in vitro. In subsequent Daudi lymphoma xenograft assays, compared with free drugs and mAb-4arm-PEG-PS conjugates, the mAb-4arm-PEG-PS/HCPT NPs inhibited tumor growth more efficiently. Our results indicated the great potential of mAb-4arm-PEG-PS/HCPT NPs for targeted co-delivery of anticancer drugs to solid tumors.

Self-Assembled pH and Redox Dual Responsive Carboxymethylcellulose-Based Polymeric Nanoparticles for Efficient Anticancer Drug Codelivery.

To face the growing demand of polymeric nanoparticles with biocompatibility and a drug release profile, in this work, a novel carboxymethylcellulose-based pH and redox dual-responsive polymeric nanoparticle, carboxymethyl cellulose-dithiopropionate hydrazide-8arm-polyethylene glycol-pterostilbene/10-hydroxy camptothecin (CTPP/HCPT), was prepared for efficient drug codelivery. These well-dispersed CTPP/HCPT NPs were prepared with a dimension of around 144 nm and exhibited high binary drug loading capacity and good biocompatibility. The biggest advantage of this design is that these nanoparticles can rapidly release the drug payload responding to intracellular acidic or reductive stimuli, while maintaining sufficient stability under normal physiological conditions. The in vitro drug release study revealed that the HCPT payload released from nanoparticles in a weakly acidic environment with 10 mM reductive glutathione was about 74.8%, which was 3.8-fold higher than under normal physiological conditions (∼19.6%). Further in vitro and in vivo investigation demonstrated that such dual-responsive CTPP/HCPT NPs could potently kill cancer cells and suppress tumor growth with lower adverse effects. All these results suggested that CTPP/HCPT NPs were suitable as potential and effective candidates for cancer therapy.

Emodin Attenuates Cigarette Smoke Induced Lung Injury in a Mouse Model via Suppression of Reactive Oxygen Species Production.

Emodin has antioxidative activities. Here, we investigated the effects of emodin on cigarette smoke (CS)-induced acute lung inflammation. Mice (C57BL/6) were exposed to CS. Emodin was administrated with intraperitoneal bolus injection of emodin (20 or 40 mg/kg) daily 1 h before CS exposure. Emodin inhibited CS-induced inflammatory cells infiltration in mouse lungs, especially at 40 mg/kg. Moreover, emodin resulted in significant reductions in total bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cells, as compared with air exposure control, coupled with decreases in BALF cytokines. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were remarkably enhanced by emodin in CS-exposed mice. Emodin enhanced CS-induced expression of heme oxygenase-1 and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2 (both are antioxidative genes) at both mRNA and protein levels, and profoundly promoted their activities in CS-treated mice. Collectively, our results suggested that emodin protects mouse lung from CS-induced lung inflammation and oxidative damage, most likely through its antioxidant activity.

A novel self-assembled targeted nanoparticle platform based on carboxymethylcellulose co-delivery of anticancer drugs.

Single-drug therapy for cancer is greatly hampered by its non-specific delivery to the target tissue, limited efficacies, poor tolerability, and resistance profiles. In order to overcome these limitations, we developed a new targeted nanoparticle platform for co-delivery of two different anticancer drugs. A conjugate based on carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) was first synthesized by introducing hydrophilic molecules (PEG), target molecules (folate), and drug molecules (betulinic acid) into CMC. Then another anticancer drug hydroxycamptothecine (HCPT) was encapsulated into the nanoparticles from the conjugate using a simple nanoprecipitation method. The obtained nanoparticles possessed appropriate size (∼180 nm), high drug loading efficiency (∼23 wt% BA, 21.15 wt% HCPT), a slow drug release rate, higher blood circulation half-time of free BA (6.4-fold) and HCPT (6.0-fold), and high synergetic activity of BA and HCPT toward cancer cells. Furthermore, the targeted nanoparticles showed rapid cellular uptake by tumor cells. The antitumor effect of the nanoparticles in a mouse tumor xenograft model exhibited a much better tumor inhibition efficacy and fewer side effects than that of BA and HCPT, strongly supporting their application as efficient carriers for anticancer therapy.

Self-assembled targeted folate-conjugated eight-arm-polyethylene glycol-betulinic acid nanoparticles for co-delivery of anticancer drugs.

In this study, a targeted nanoparticle platform for co-delivery of anticancer drugs based on folate-conjugated eight-arm-polyethylene glycol-betulinic acid (F-8arm-PEG-BA) was first presented. F-8arm-PEG-BA was synthesized by introducing target molecules (folate) and drug molecules (betulinic acid, BA) to hydrophilic molecules (8arm-PEG). Then another anticancer drug, hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT), was encapsulated into the self-assembled nanoparticles from the conjugate by a simple nanoprecipitation method. These F-8arm-PEG-BA/HCPT nanoparticles (NPs) had a small size (∼120 nm), acceptable critical aggregation concentration (∼64.8 µg mL-1), and high drug loading (∼18 wt% BA and ∼16 wt% HCPT). Compared to the free drugs, the nanoparticles significantly improved the cellular cytotoxicity and exhibited an obvious synergistic effect by the co-delivery of two different anticancer drugs, BA and HCPT. Pharmacokinetics study revealed the nanoparticles could prolong the circulation of BA and HCPT in the blood. In vivo studies indicated that the nanoparticles enhanced tumor targeting and antitumor activity with lower systemic toxicity. In conclusion, F-8arm-PEG-BA/HCPT NPs have great potential for targeted chemotherapy for cancer.

[Analysis on depression of patients with advanced schistosomiasis and its influencing factors].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the status of depression in patients with advanced schistosomiasis and its influencing factors, so as to provide the evidence for improving psychological interventions. METHODS: A total of 206 patients with advanced schistosomiasis were investigated with the self-designed general information questionnaire, the Self-Rating Depression Scale, and WHOQOL-BREF Form. RESULTS: Among the 206 cases, the incidence of depression was 69.4%, and depression was negatively related to the quality of life (P = 0.000). The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the times of hospitalization (ß = 0.442, P = 0.007) was a risk factor for depression, while the high education levels (ß = -0.583, P = 0.011) and the history of portal hypertension operation (ß = -0.917, P = 0.000) were the protective factors. CONCLUSION: The incidence of depression in advanced schistosomiasis patients is high, and it is influenced by various factors. Therefore, we should take corresponding interventions to reduce its occurrence.

[Nitrogen and phosphate pollution characteristics and eutrophication evaluation for typical urban landscape waters in Hefei City].

To understand the water environment regimes of the city-circling water system in Hefei City, six typical landscape waters were chosen to investigate pollution characteristics of nitrogen and phosphate and evaluate water eutrophication level according to the monitoring data of water physicochemical characteristics and chlorophyll content from September 2012 to July 2013. Study results showed that (1) the six waters mentioned above have been seriously polluted by nitrogen and phosphorus loadings, with the monthly mean values of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations far exceeding the universally accepted threshold values of water eutrophication; (2) the nitrogen contents in the waters of Nanfeihe River, Heichiba and Yuhuatang scenic spots exhibited a markedly monthly variation, and both TP and PO(3-)(4)-P in Nanfeihe River showed a fluctuated characteristic with high concentrations while presenting a significant upward trend in Yuhuatang scenic spot; (3) the average values of TN/TP ratios for Yuhuatang and Heichiba scenic spots were 104.7 and 158.3, respectively, and the ratios for Baohe Park, Yinhe Park, Xiaoyaojin Park, and city segment of Nanfeihe River were 16.8, 18.7, 6.4 and 16.8, respectively, indicating that the scenic waters of Yuhuatang and Heichiba were phosphate-limited whereas Xiaoyaojin Park was nitrogen-limited; (4) all the six scenic waters were, in general, subsumed under just two broad categories, namely Hechiba scenic spot and Nanfeihe River, which were seriously polluted, and clustered together, and the others fall into the second class; and (5) water eutrophication appraisal result indicated that the six waters were all in the state of eutrophication, and could be arranged in the order of eutrophication level, Yinhe Park > Heichiba scenic spot > city segment of Nanfeihe River > Xiaoyaojin Park > Yuhuatang scenic spot > Baohe Park.

[Impact of splenectomy on the hepatic hemodynamics in patients received liver transplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of hepatic hemodynamics in patients with splenectomy plus living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). METHODS: The data of 66 patients received LDLT from August 2006 to March 2009 were analyzed retrospectively:22 cases received splenectomy with LDLT (splenectomy group) and aged (45 ± 11) years. Forty-four comparable cases received LDLT only in the mean time were selected as control group and aged (44 ± 10) years. Comparative analysis was performed between the two groups with respect to the changes of hepatic hemodynamics after transplantation. RESULTS: Blood velocity in portal vein in control group and splenectomy group at 1 day before and after the transplantation were (12 ± 2) cm/s vs. (11 ± 3) cm/s, (35 ± 18) cm/s vs. (32 ± 17) cm/s, respectively. Postoperative blood velocity in portal vein in both groups increased significantly than the preoperative level (P < 0.05). Blood flow velocity in right hepatic vein in both groups at 1 week after the treatment were (44 ± 18) cm/s and (31 ± 15) cm/s (P < 0.05), respectively. Blood flow velocity in hepatic artery in both groups 2 weeks after the operation were (18 ± 8) cm/s vs. (26 ± 7) cm/s (P < 0.05) and resistance coefficient of hepatic artery were 0.66 ± 0.13 vs. 0.57 ± 0.12 (P < 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION: Hepatic hemodynamics in patients received LDLT plus splenectomy is superior to that in patients received LDLT only.