Systemic immune-inflammation index may predict the acute kidney injury and prognosis in patients with spontaneous cerebral hemorrhage undergoing craniotomy: a single-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) is an emerging prognostic marker of cancer. We aimed to explore the predictive ability of the SII on acute kidney injury (AKI) and prognosis in patients with spontaneous cerebral hemorrhage (SCH) who underwent craniotomy. METHODS: Patients with SCH who underwent craniotomy between 2014 and 2021 were enrolled in this study. The epidemiology and predictive factors for AKI after SCH were analyzed. The prognostic factors for clinical outcomes in patients with SCH and AKI were further investigated. The prognostic factors were then analyzed using a logistic regression model and a receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: In total, 305 patients were enrolled in this study. Of these, 129 (42.3%) patients presented with AKI, and 176 (57.7%) patients were unremarkable. The SII (odds ratio [OR], 1.261; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.036-1.553; P = 0.020) values and serum uric acid levels (OR, 1.004; 95% CI, 1.001-1.007; P = 0.005) were significant predictors of AKI after SCH craniotomy. The SII cutoff value was 1794.43 (area under the curve [AUC], 0.669; 95% CI, 0.608-0.730; P < 0.001; sensitivity, 65.9%; specificity, 65.1%). Of the patients with AKI, 95 and 34 achieved poor and good outcomes, respectively. SII values (OR, 2.667; 95% CI, 1.167-6.095; P = 0.020), systemic inflammation response index values (OR, 1.529; 95% CI, 1.064-2.198; P = 0.022), and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores on admission (OR, 0.593; 95% CI, 0.437-0.805; P = 0.001) were significant in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. The cutoff SII value was 2053.51 (AUC, 0.886; 95% CI, 0.827-0.946; P < 0.001; sensitivity, 78.9%; specificity, 88.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The SII may predict AKI in patients with SCH who underwent craniotomy and may also predict the short-term prognosis of these patients.

Alpinumisoflavone suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth and metastasis via NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis.

AIM: This research aims to explore the effect of alpinumisoflavone (AIF) as an anti-cancer drug for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assay were used to evaluate the viability of the cells and their clonogenic ability. Cellular migration and their invasion capabilities were detected using the wound-healing and transwell assay, respectively. The release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was detected using the LDH kit. The expression levels of genes in the cells and tumor tissues were examined by qRT-PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemical techniques. The cells transfected with mRFP-GFP-LC3 adenoviruses were stained to determine their autophagy status. MCC950 (NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor) and NLRP3 shRNA were used to block NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis. Chloroquine and Atg 5 siRNA were used to inhibit the autophagy of the cells. RESULTS: AIF suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion capacity of SMMC 7721 and Huh7 cells. The incorporation of AIF induced the formation of NLRP3 inflammasome assembly, pyroptosis, and autophagy of the cells. However, the anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic effects of AIF on the HCC cells were attenuated by NLRP3 inhibitor and knockdown. Furthermore, Atg 5 knockdown inhibited autophagy and enhanced the rate of AIF-induced pyroptosis of the cells. AIF also suppressed tumor growth and increased the levels of pyroptosis-related genes in tumor tissues, which were consistent with in vitro observations. CONCLUSION: AIF inhibited HCC cell growth and metastasis by inducing NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis. Furthermore, AIF-induced autophagy augmented pyroptosis in HCC.

The Reservoir Adaptability and Oil Displacement Mechanism of Polymer Microspheres.

Polymer microsphere profile control is a promising approach for the profile control of heterogeneous reservoirs. Matching between polymer microspheres and the reservoir pore throat is crucial for profile control. In this study, the range of the optimal matching factor Ra between polymer microspheres and core porosity was divided through core permeability limit experiments, and the dynamic migration laws and shut-off patterns of microspheres were studied using 9-m-long cores and microscopic models. The oil displacement effect and mechanism of microspheres were analyzed using three cores in parallel. The "injectability limit" and "in-depth migration limit" curves were divided by Ra into three zones: blockage (Ra < 1.09 ± 0.10), near-well profile control (1.09 ± 0.10 < Ra < 5.70 ± 0.64), and in-depth fluid diversion (Ra > 5.70 ± 0.64). During migration in porous media, the microspheres gradually enlarged in size and thus successively shut off in four forms: multi-microsphere bridging shut-off, few-microsphere bridging shut-off, single-microsphere shut-off, and elastic shut-off. Microspheres with a rational combination of sizes versus those with a single particle size further enhanced reservoir oil recovery under certain reservoir conditions. Through "temporary shut-off-breakthrough-temporary shut-off," the polymer microspheres were able to change the fluid flow rate and streamlines, mobilize residual oils, and enhance the oil recovery rates.

Amanita fuliginea poisoning with thrombocytopenia: A case series.

Amanita fuliginea (A. fuliginea) poisoning is an uncommon and potentially fatal amatoxin exposure. We present 3 cases of severe A. fuliginea poisoning associated with thrombocytopenia in China. Three patients consumed foraged A. fuliginea and developed nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. They were transferred from primary clinics to our hospital 19-39 h after mushroom ingestion. They all presented with acute hepatic injury, coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia (6-41 × 109/L), and positive fecal occult blood. Intravenous fluids and antioxidants were administered immediately after admission. Fibrinogen and platelets were given to patients A, B and C. Patient A developed fulminant liver failure and died on day 5 after mushroom exposure. Patients B and C recovered and were discharged on days 11 and 9, respectively. The main targets of A. fuliginea poisoning are the liver and digestive tract. To our knowledge this is the first report of thrombocytopenia associated with A. fuliginea ingestion.

[Analysis and health risk assessment of aflatoxin B_1 residue in Ziziphi Spinosae Semen].

This study aimed to analyze the residues of aflatoxin B_1( AFB_1) in Ziziphi Spinosae Semen from different producing areas and to assess the health risk of aflatoxin B_1 residue based on the obtained data. A total of 72 samples of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen from different areas were detected by IAC-HPLC-FLD. Based on the data of AFB_1 pollution,a probabilistic assessment model with Monte Carlo simulation was developed. Then,the risk assessment of AFB_1 exposure by Ziziphi Spinosae Semen intake was carried out by MOE( margin of exposure). The results showed that 32 out of 72 of samples( 44. 4%) were found to be contaminated with AFB_1,and the average and maximum concentration of AFB_1 in samples was 5. 42 µg·kg~(-1) and 55. 09 µg·kg~(-1),respectively. After health risk assessment,the average and 97. 5%( 90% confidence interval) exposure level of daily exposure of AFB_1 by Ziziphi Spinosae Semen intake were 0. 008 6( 0. 008 1-0. 009 2) and 0. 057 3( 0. 053 2-0. 061 4) µg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1),respectively. The results showed common use of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen had low level of risk associated with AFB_1. However,the high consumption of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen showed a higher risk than common intake,requiring attention. This study laid a foundation for clinical safe prescription of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen.

Emphysematous pyelonephritis and cystitis in a patient with uremia and anuria: A case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) or cystitis (EC) is a severe infection of the urinary tract with high mortality. EPN is uncommon among the patients of end stage of renal failure (ESRD) CASE PRESENTATION:: A 38-year-old male with uremia and anuria who was on hemodialysis was found to have gas formation in the bilateral pelvis, ureters, and urinary bladder by CT scan. The diagnosis was emphysematous pyelonephritis and cystitis. And Foley catheter was placed and bladder irrigation was performed. Escherichia coli infection was identified in urine culture and antibiotic was prescribed accordingly. Gas disappeared completely and the patient recovered uneventfully. CONCLUSION: This is the first case report of asymptomatic EPN and EC in uremic patient, and conservative management was optimistic in this condition. More attention should be paid to EPN and EC happening to ESRD patients.

A Rapid Label-Free Fluorescent Aptasensor PicoGreen-Based Strategy for Aflatoxin B1 Detection in Traditional Chinese Medicines.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a very hazardous carcinogen, readily contaminating foodstuffs and traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) that has inspired increasing health concerns due to dietary exposure. Colloidal nanocrystals have been proposed as optical labels for aptasensor assembly, but these typically require tedious multistep conjugation and suffer from unsatisfactory robustness when used for complex matrices. In the present study, we report a rapid and sensitive method for screening for trace AFB1 levels in TCMs using a label-free fluorescent aptasensor PicoGreen dye-based strategy. Using PicoGreen to selectively measure complementary double-stranded DNA, fluorescence enhancement due to dsDNA is 'turned off' in the presence of AFB1 due binding of aptamer target over complementary sequence. Self-assembly of a label-free fluorescent aptasensor based on AFB1 aptamer and PicoGreen dye was performed. Due to competition between the complementary sequence and AFB1 target, this rapid method was capable of highly sensitive and selective screening for AFB1 in five types of TCMs. This proposed approach had a limit of detection as low as 0.1 µg·L-1 and good linearity with a range of 0.1-10 µg·L-1 (0.1-10 ppb). Among the 20 samples tested, 6 batches were found to be contaminated with AFB1 using this method, which was confirmed using sophisticated liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry analysis. The results of this study indicate the developed method has the potential to be a simple, quick, and sensitive tool for detecting AFB1 in TCMs.