Biodegradable electrospun fibers as sustained-release carriers of insect pheromones for field trapping of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

BACKGROUND: Insect pheromones are highly effective and environmentally friendly, and are widely used in the monitoring and trapping of pests. However, many researchers have found that various factors such as ultraviolet light and temperature in the field environment can accelerate the volatilization of pheromones, thus affecting the actual control effect. In recent years, electrospinning technology has demonstrated remarkable potential in the preparation of sustained carriers. Moreover, the utilization of biodegradable materials in electrospinning presents a promising avenue for the advancement of eco-friendly carriers. RESULTS: In this study, homogeneous and defect-free pheromone carriers were obtained by electrospinning using fully biodegradable polyhydroxybutyrate materials and pheromones of Spodoptera litura. The electrospun fibers with porous structure could continuously release pheromone (the longest can be ≤80 days). They also had low light transmission, hydrophobic protection. More importantly, the pheromone-loaded electrospun fiber carriers showed stable release and good trapping effect in the field. They could trap pests for at least 7 weeks in the field environment without other light stabilizers added. CONCLUSION: Sustained-release carriers constructed by electrospinning and green materials could improve the efficacy of pheromones and ensure environmental friendliness, and provided a tool for the management of S. litura and other pests and sustainable development of agricultural. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

[Novel sternoclavicular hook-plate for treatment of proximal clavicle fracture with dislocation of sternoclavicular joint].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy of a novel sternoclavicular hook-plate for treatment of proximal clavicle fracture with dislocation of sternoclavicular joint. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 13 cases of proximal clavicle fracture with dislocation of sternoclavicular joint treated with sternoclavicular hook-plate from June 2011 to January 2019 in our department. There were 9 males and 4 females, aged 26 to 78 years old, with an average age of (54.08±13.91) years old. All the patients had closed injuries without damage of blood vessels and nerves. The patient's operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay time, and postoperative complications were recorded. Fracture healing and reduction were evaluated according to X-ray and CT after operation. Constant-Murley score and Rockwood sternoclavicular joint score were used to evaluate limb function at 12 months after operation. RESULTS: All the patients were treated with sternoclavicular hook-plate. The operation time ranged from 50 to 76 min, with a mean of (54.08±13.91) min. The intraoperative blood loss ranged from 20 to 56 ml, with a mean of (46.08±11.15) ml. The hospital stay time ranged from 6 to 14 d, with a mean of (8.31±2.32) d. X-ray and CT examination on the second day after operation showed that all fractures and dislocations were anatomically reduced, and shoulder joint function exercise was performed early. All patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 12 to 24 months, with a mean of (16.77±4.63) months. The healing time ranged from 9 to 13 d, with a mean of (11.00±1.75) d;and the bone healing time ranged from 3 to 4 months, with a mean of (3.65±0.46) months. There were no complications such as infection, internal fixation failure and nerve injury. At 12 months follow-up, the constant Murley score ranged from 78 to 100, with a mean of 87.83± 11.26; and Rockwood score ranged from 9 to 15, with a mean of 13.70±1.85. Among them, 11 cases were excellent, 1 case was good, and 1 case was general. CONCLUSION: The use of the novel sternoclavicular hook-plate for treatment of proximal clavicle fracture with dislocation of sternoclavicular joint is an effectively internal fixation with high safety, allowing early functional exercise for patients.

[Case-control study on reduction for external and posterior malleolar fractures combined with compressive articular surface through tibiafibular fractures region].

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical outcomes of external and posterior malleolar fractures associated with compressive articular surface through posteriorlateral incision and posteriormedial incision. METHODS: From January 2012 to January 2015, 52 patients with external and posterior malleolar fractures associated with compressive articular surface were treated by interfix. Among them, 24 patients were treated through posteriourlateral incision, including 16 males and 8 females, aged from 20 to 65 years old with an average of(35.2±6.4);28 patients were treated through posteromedi and posterior lateral incision, including 18 males and 10 females, aged from 22 to 62 years old with an average of(36.4±4.8). Operation time, blood loss, length of incision, times of X-ray exposure and complications between two groups were recorded and compared, AOFAS scores were applied for evaluate clinical outcomes. RESULTS: All patients were followed up, group A were followed up from 13 to 55 months with an average of (27.5±2.5) months;group B were followed up from 12 to 54 months with an average of (28.5±2.4) months. All fractures were obtained good reduction, and the healing time ranged from 10 to 16 weeks with an average of 12 weeks. Two patients in group B occurred incision infection, and 1 patient occurred screw loosening; while no incision infection occurred in group A, and 1 patient occurred screw loosening. There were statistical significance in operation time, blood loss, times of X-ray exposure and complications between two group;while no significant difference in ankle AOFAS score between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with reduction through achilles tendon, reduction for external and posterior malleolar fractures combined with compressive articular surface through tibiafibular fractures region has advantages of less blood loss, shorter operation time, less times of X-ray exposure, good recovery of ankle joint function, especially in treating external and posterior malleolar combined with compressive articular surface which could not obtained good reduction through normal pathway.

CD28 family of receptors on T cells in chronic HBV infection: Expression characteristics, clinical significance and correlations with PD-1 blockade.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the overall clinical expression characteristics of the cluster of differentiation (CD)28 family receptors [CD28, inducible T-cell co-stimulator, programmed cell death protein 1 (PD­1), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 and B­ and T-lymphocyte attenuator] on T cells in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), analyze the correlations among these receptors and the clinical parameters, and to investigate the effects of PD­1 blockade on the receptor expression profiles, T­cell function and other biological effects. The expression characteristics of the CD28 family of receptors, the effects of PD­1 blockade on the receptor expression profiles and the levels of interferon (IFN)­Î³ were investigated in the T cells of patients with CHB. In addition, the transcription factor, T­box 21 (T­bet) and GATA binding protein 3 (GATA­3) mRNA expression levels were investigated in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with CHB. The expression levels of the CD28 family receptors in the T cells of patients with CHB demonstrated distinct characteristics , for example levels of PD­1 and CTLA­4 on CD4 T cells and ICOS, PD­1, and BTLA on CD8 T cells were increased in cells from patients with CHB compared with those from the healthy individuals. A significant positive correlation was demonstrated among the serum HBV DNA titers and the levels of PD­1 on CD8+ T cells with the highest expression of PD­1 corresponding to viral levels >106 IU/ml. A significant positive correlation was observed between the serum HBV DNA titers and the expression levels of BTLA on CD8+ T cells with the highest expression of BTLA corresponding to viral levels >106 IU/ml. PD­1 blockade altered the expression profiles of CD28 family receptors in the T cells of patients with CHB, partly enhanced T cell function and increased the ratio of T­bet/GATA­3 mRNA in PBMCs. Thus, CD28 family receptors are potential clinical indicators for the rapid monitoring of changes in T cell function during CHB treatment. Furthermore, PD­1 blockade has a therapeutic potential that may be enhanced by modulating the expression of co-stimulatory and -inhibitory receptors of the CD28 family.

Upregulation of toll-like receptor 4 on T cells in PBMCs is associated with disease aggravation of HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure.

Immune-mediated inflammatory injury is an important feature of the disease aggravation of hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been shown previously to play a pivotal role in the activation of innate immunity. The purpose of this study was to characterize the TLR4 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of ACLF patients and its possible role in the disease aggravation. Twelve healthy subjects, 15 chronic HBV-infected (CHB) patients and 15 ACLF patients were enrolled in this study. The TLR4 expression in PBMCs and T cells of all subjects was examined by real-time PCR and flow cytometry. The correlation of TLR4 expression on T cells with the markers of disease aggravation was evaluated in ACLF patients. The ability of TLR4 ligands stimulation to induce inflammatory cytokine production in ACLF patients was analyzed by flow cytometry. The results showed that TLR4 mRNA level was upregulated in PBMCs of ACLF patients compared to that in the healthy subjects and the CHB patients. Specifically, the expression of TLR4 on CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells of PBMCs was significantly increased in ACLF patients. The TLR4 levels on CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells were positively correlated with serum total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), international normalized ratio (INR) levels and white blood cells (WBCs), and negatively correlated with serum albumin (ALB) levels in the HBV-infected patients, indicating TLR4 pathway may play a role in the disease aggravation of ACLF. In vitro TLR4 ligand stimulation on PBMCs of ACLF patients induced a strong TNF-α production by CD4(+) T cells, which was also positively correlated with the serum markers for liver injury severity. It was concluded that TLR4 expression is upregulated on T cells in PBMCs, which is associated with the aggravation of ACLF.

Alcohol intake and risk of stroke: a dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol intake is inconsistently associated with the risk of stroke morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to summarize the evidence regarding this relationship by using a dose-response meta-analytic approach. METHODS: We performed electronic searches of PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library to identify relevant prospective studies. Only prospective studies that reported effect estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of stroke morbidity and mortality for more than 2 categories of alcohol intake were included. RESULTS: We included 27 prospective studies reporting data on 1,425,513 individuals. Low alcohol intake was associated with a reduced risk of total stroke (risk ratio [RR], 0.85; 95% CI: 0.75-0.95; P=0.005), ischemic stroke (RR, 0.81; 95% CI: 0.74-0.90; P<0.001), and stroke mortality (RR, 0.67; 95% CI: 0.53-0.85; P=0.001), but it had no significant effect on hemorrhagic stroke. Moderate alcohol intake had little or no effect on the risks of total stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, ischemic stroke, and stroke mortality. Heavy alcohol intake was associated with an increased risk of total stroke (RR, 1.20; 95% CI: 1.01-1.43; P=0.034), but it had no significant effect on hemorrhagic stroke, ischemic stroke, and stroke mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Low alcohol intake is associated with a reduced risk of stroke morbidity and mortality, whereas heavy alcohol intake is associated with an increased risk of total stroke. The association between alcohol intake and stroke morbidity and mortality is J-shaped.

Efficacy of intensive control of glucose in stroke prevention: a meta-analysis of data from 59,197 participants in 9 randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of treatments that lower glucose in reducing the risk of incident stroke remains unclear. We therefore did a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of intensive control of glucose in the prevention of stroke. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We systematically searched Medline, EmBase, and the Cochrane Library for trials published between 1950 and June, 2012. We included randomized controlled trials that reported on the effects of intensive control of glucose on incident stroke compared with standard care. Summary estimates of relative risk (RR) reductions were calculated with a random effects model, and the analysis was further stratified by factors that could affect the treatment effects. Of 649 identified studies, we included nine relevant trials, which provided data for 59,197 patients and 2037 events of stroke. Overall, intensive control of glucose as compared to standard care had no effect on incident stroke (RR, 0.96; 95%CI 0.88-1.06; P = 0.445). In the stratified analyses, a beneficial effect was seen in those trials when body mass index (BMI) more than 30 (RR, 0.86; 95%CI: 0.75-0.99; P = 0.041). No other significant differences were detected between the effect of intensive control of glucose and standard care when based on other subset factors. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our study indicated intensive control of glucose can effectively reduce the risk of incident stroke when patients with BMI more than 30.