The role and mechanism of PDZ binding kinase in hypobaric and hypoxic acute lung injury.

Background: Acute lung injury (ALI) caused by hypobaric hypoxia (HH) is frequently observed in high-altitude areas, and it is one of the leading causes of death in high-altitude-related diseases due to its rapid onset and progression. However, the pathogenesis of HH-related ALI (HHALI) remains unclear, and effective treatment approaches are currently lacking. Methods: A new mouse model of HHALI developed by our laboratory was used as the study subject (Chinese patent No. ZL 2021 1 1517241 X). Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of PDZ-binding kinase (PBK), sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), and PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) in mouse lung tissue. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe the main types of damage and damaged cells in lung tissue, and the lung injury score was used for quantification. The wet-dry (W/D) ratio was used to measure lung water content. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect changes in inflammatory factors and oxidative stress markers in the lungs. Western blotting verified the expression of various mitochondrial autophagy-related proteins. The 5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzimi-dazoylcarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) method was used determined the health status of mitochondria based on changes in mitochondrial membrane potential. Transmission electron microscopy was used to directly observe the morphology of mitochondria. Multicolor immunofluorescence was used to observe the levels of mitochondrial autophagy markers. Other signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms that may play a role in epithelial cells were analyzed via through RNA sequencing. Results: Low pressure and hypoxia caused pathological changes in mouse lung tissue, mainly ALI, leading to increased levels of inflammatory factors and intensified oxidative stress response in the lungs. Overexpression of PBK was found to alleviate HHALI, and activation of the p53 protein was shown to abrogate this therapeutic effect, while activation of SIRT1 protein reactivated this therapeutic effect. The therapeutic effect of PBK on HHALI is achieved via the activation of mitochondrial autophagy. Finally, RNA sequencing demonstrated that besides mitochondrial autophagy, PBK also exerts other functions in HHALI. Conclusions: Overexpression of PBK inhibits the expression of p53 and activates SIRT1-PINK1 axis mediated mitochondrial autophagy to alleviate HHALI.

Network pharmacology and experimental validation to reveal the pharmacological mechanisms of Sini decoction against renal fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism by which Sini decoction (, SND) improves renal fibrosis (Rf) in rats based on transforming growth factor ß1/Smad (TGF-ß1/Smad) signaling pathway. METHODS: Network pharmacology was applied to obtain potentially involved signaling pathways in SND's improving effects on Rf. The targets of SND drug components and the targets of Rf were obtained by searching databases, such as the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCSMP) and GeenCard. The intersection targets of two searches were obtained and underwent signaling pathway analysis using a Venn diagram. Then experimental pharmacology was utilized to prove and investigate the effects of SND on target proteins in the TGF-ß1/Smad signaling pathway. The Rf rat model was established by unilateral ureteral occlusion (UUO). The expression levels of transforming growth factor, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), matrix metal protease-2 (MMP-2), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) were determined by Masson staining of rat renal tissue, and immunohistochemical methods. The expression levels of Smad3, Smad2, and Smad7 in renal tissue were determined by Western blotting (WB). The mechanism of the improving effects of SND on Rf was investigated based on TGF-ß1/Smad signaling pathway. RESULTS: A total of 12 drug components of Fuzi (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata), 5 drug components of Ganjiang (Rhizoma Zingiber), and 9 drug components of Gancao (Radix Glycy et Rhizoma) were obtained from the database search, and 207 shared targets were found. A total of 1063 Rf targets were found in the database search. According to the Venn diagram, in total, 96 intersection targets were found in two database searches. The metabolic pathways involved included TGF-ß signaling pathway, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/serine-threonine protein kinase signaling (PI3K/Akt) pathway, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) signaling pathway. Masson staining analysis showed that compared with the model group, the renal interstitial collagen deposition levels in the SSN and SND groups were significantly lower (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis, compared with the control group, the positive cell area expression levels of MMP-9/TIMP-1 and MMP-2/TIMP-1 in the kidney tissue of the model group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the positive cell area expression levels of CTGF and TGF-ß1 were significantly increased (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the positive cell area expression levels of MMP-9/TIMP-1 and MMP-2/TIMP-1 in the kidney tissue of the SSN and SND groups were significantly increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the positive cell area expression levels of CTGF and TGF-ß1 in the kidney tissue were significantly decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). WB results showed that the SSN group and the SND group could reduce the expression of Smad2 and Smad3 (P < 0.05) and increase the expression of Smad7 (P < 0.05).

Adulteration Detection and Quantification in Olive Oil Using Excitation-Emission Matrix Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Chemometrics.

This research investigates the use of excitation-emission matrix fluorescence (EEMF) in conjunction with chemometric models to rapidly identify and quantify adulteration in olive oil, a critical concern where sample availability is limited. Adulteration is simulated by blending soybean, peanut, and linseed oils into olive oil, creating diverse adulterated samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to the EEMF spectral data as an initial exploratory measure to cluster and differentiate adulterated samples. Spatial clustering enabled vivid visualization of the variations and trends in the spectra. The novel application of parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) for data decomposition in this paper focuses on unraveling correlations between the decomposed components and the actual adulterated components, which offers a novel perspective for accurately quantifying adulteration levels. Additionally, a comparative analysis was conducted between the PCA and PARAFAC methodologies. Our study not only unveils a new avenue for the quantitative analysis of adulterants in olive oil through spectral detection but also highlights the potential for applying these insights in practical, real-world scenarios, thereby enhancing detection capabilities for various edible oil samples. This promises to improve the detection of adulteration across a range of edible oil samples, offering significant contributions to food safety and quality assurance.

Modulation of cecal microbiota and fecal metabolism in mice by walnut protein.

Walnut meal is a by-product of walnut oil pressing, in which the protein content is more than 40%, which is an excellent food raw material, but at present, it is basically used as animal feed or discarded, which results in a great waste of resources, and its modulating effect on the intestinal microbiota is not clear. In this study, we used supercritically extracted walnut meal as a raw material, prepared walnut meal isolate protein (WP) by alkaline extraction and acid precipitation, and systematically analyzed its structure by Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy (Raman), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM); meanwhile, we explored the effects of WP on the cecal bacterial flora and fecal metabolites of mice by microbiological and metabolomic techniques. The results showed that the protein content of WP prepared using alkaline extraction and acid precipitation was as high as 83.7%, in which arginine and glutamic acid were abundant, and it has the potential to be used as a raw material for weight-loss meal replacement food; FTIR and Raman analyses showed that the absorption peaks of WP's characteristic functional groups were obvious, and that the content of the α-helix and ß-fold in the secondary structure was greater than 30%, which indicated that it was structurally stable; differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and SEM analyses showed that WP is a typical spherical particle, its denaturation temperature is 73.6 °C, and it has good thermal stability. Supplementation of WP significantly altered the composition of the intestinal flora in mice, with an increase in beneficial bacteria and a decrease in harmful bacteria; the strongest modulation of the intestinal flora was achieved by altering the composition of the intestinal flora and by increasing the number of Akkermansia (p < 0.01), which consequently affects the function of the microbiota. Based on LC-MS metabolomic results, we identified a total of 87 WP-regulated metabolites, mainly enriched in the bile secretion pathway, which had the highest relevance, followed by benzoxazine biosynthesis. In summary, walnut protein is an important plant protein and has a positive impact on intestinal health, which may provide new ideas for the development of functional foods.

Implementation and impact of the World Health Organization integrated care for older people (ICOPE) program in China: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Fragmentation of services increases health and social care burden as people live longer with higher prevalence of diseases, frailty and dependency. Local evidence for implementing person-centred integrated care is urgently needed to advance practice and policies to achieve healthy ageing. OBJECTIVE: To test the feasibility and impact of World Health Organization's (WHO) Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) approach in China. DESIGN: A randomised controlled trial examining the feasibility of implementing ICOPE approach, evaluating its impact on health outcomes and health resource utilisation. SETTING: Primary care setting in urban and suburban communities of Chaoyang District, Beijing, China. SUBJECTS: Community-dwelling older adults screened as at-risk of functional declines and randomised into intervention (537) and control (1611) groups between September 2020 and February 2021. METHODS: A 6-month intervention program following WHO's ICOPE care pathways implemented by integrated care managers compared to standard available care. RESULTS: After 1 to 1 propensity score matching, participants in intervention and control groups (totally 938) had comparable baseline characteristics, demonstrated feasibility of implementing ICOPE with satisfaction by participants (97-99%) and providers (92-93%). All outcomes showed improvements after a 6-month intervention, while statistically significant least-squares mean differences (control-intervention) in vitality (Mini-Nutritional Assessment Short Form to measure vitality, -0.21, 95% CI, -0.40-0.02), mobility (Short Physical Performance Battery to measure mobility, -0.29, 95% CI, -0.44-0.14) and psychological health (Geriatric Depression Scale five items to measure psychological health, 0.09, 95% CI, 0.03-0.14) were observed (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible to localise and implement WHO's ICOPE approach in regions with fragmented resources such as China. Preliminary evidence supports its acceptance among key stakeholders and impact on health outcomes.

Investigation on the construction of teaching case base in medical genetics.

Medical genetics is a basic medical course that discusses the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases in relation with genetic factors. This course requires students who have abilities of strong logical thinking, independent thinking, problem analyzing and solving. Single "cramming" teaching is difficult to mobilize students' autonomous learning, and hardly achieves teaching effect of medical genetics. Teaching of case-based discussion breaks passive teaching mode in traditional class. The teacher throws out typically clinical cases. The students prepare materials around relevant problems of cases, and carry out class discussion. Then, key and difficult points of the course are integrated in teaching and learning interaction, which reaches a remarkable effect of teaching. Since 2013, the teaching and research group has carried out teaching of case-based discussion in undergraduates majoring in clinical medicine. In this paper, we screen and sort clinical cases on the basis of course teaching plan and case-based discussion in the teaching of medical genetics. The cases are summarized into 8 chapters in teaching case base, which basically cover the teaching of disease genetics and clinical genetics.The construction of teaching case base in medical genetics has realized the deep integration of clinical cases and teaching. Students can understand and master important and difficult points of teaching in a more intuitive way, which is helpful to stimulate students' innovative thinking, improve students' learning interest and class participation.

Mechanism of Flavonoids in Patriniae Herba in Affecting Occurrence and Development of Colorectal Cancer / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Colorectal cancer is a common malignant tumor in the digestive system， ranking third in incidence and second in the cause of death worldwide. In recent years， the incidence of colorectal cancer is on the rise， and the age of patients with colorectal cancer tends to be younger， with a heavy cancer burden. It is of great significance to prevent the occurrence， development， recurrence， and metastasis of colorectal cancer to reduce the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer. Patriniae Herba has the effects of clearing heat， removing toxins， eliminating carbuncle， and discharging pus and shows good therapeutic efficacy on inflammatory bowel disease， digestive tract tumors， pelvic inflammation， gynecological tumor， and so on. Patriniae Herba is often used in the clinical treatment of colorectal cancer， but its mechanism of action is not clear. Modern studies have found that Patriniae Herba contains triterpenoids， saponins， iridoids， flavonoids， and other chemical components， with antioxidant， anti-tumor， anti-bacterial， and other pharmacological effects. The main anti-tumor components of Patriniae Herba are flavonoids. The analysis of network pharmacology and the spectrum-effect relationship has suggested that quercetin， luteolin， apigenin， isoorientin， and isovitexin play a major role in inhibiting the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer. In vivo and in vitro studies have shown that flavonoids in Patriniae Herba can play an anti-tumor role in various ways， such as preventing precancerous lesions of colorectal cancer， inhibiting the growth and proliferation of cancer cells， blocking cancer cell cycle， promoting cancer cell apoptosis， and reversing drug resistance of colorectal cancer. The oral availability of flavonoids is low. The gut is the main metabolic site of flavonoids in the body， its metabolic pathway is closely related to gut microbiota. This paper reviewed the anti-tumor mechanism of flavonoids and their influence on gut microbiota to provide a reference for further research on the mechanism of Patriniae Herba against colorectal cancer and its clinical application.

Effect of Salvianolic Acid B Combined with Puerarin on Pyroptosis of SH-SY5Y Cells Injured by Oxygen-glucose Deprivation/Reoxygenation / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of salvianolic acid B combined with puerarin in protecting the SH-SY5Y cells from the damage by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation （OGD/R） based on pyroptosis. MethodSH-SY5Y cells were used to establish the model of OGD/R， and cells were classified into the control， OGD/R， 10 μmol·L-1 salvianolic acid B， 100 μmol·L-1 puerarin， 10 μmol·L-1 salvianolic acid B + 100 μmol·L-1 puerarin， and 10 μmol·L-1 NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） inhibitor MCC950 groups. Except the control group， other groups were rapidly reoxygenated for 12 h after 6 h OGD for modeling. The cell survival rate was determined by the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium （MTT） assay. An optical microscope was used to observe the cell morphology. A spectrophotometer was used to determine the content of lactic dehydrogenase （LDH） in culture supernatant. Cell damage was measured by Hoechst/PI staining. The mRNA levels of NLRP3， cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 （Caspase-1）， gasdermin D （GSDMD）， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein （ASC）， and interleukin-1β （IL-1β） were determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. The protein activation of Caspase-1 and NLRP3 was detected by immunofluorescence. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of IL-1β， ASC， NLRP3， Caspase-1， and cleaved Caspase-1. ResultCompared with the control group， the OGD/R group showed decreased cell survival rate （P<0.01）， damaged cell morphology， increased leakage rate of LDH （P<0.01）， up-regulated mRNA levels of NLRP3， Caspase-1， GSDMD， ASC， and IL-1β （P<0.01）， and up-regulated protein levels of IL-1β， ASC， NLRP3， Caspase-1， and cleaved Caspase-1 （P<0.01）. Compared with the OGD/R group， salvianolic acid B， puerarin， and salvianolic acid B combined with puerarin improved cell survival rate （P<0.01）， and the combined treatment group outperformed salvianolic acid B and puerarin used alone （P<0.01）. Salvianolic acid B combined with puerarin and MCC950 both improved cell morphology， reduced the leakage of LDH （P<0.01）， alleviated cell damage， and down-regulated the mRNA levels of NLRP3， Caspase-1， GSDMD， ASC， and IL-1β （P<0.05， P<0.01） and also the protein levels of IL-1β， ASC， NLRP3， Caspase-1， and cleaved Caspase-1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionThe results indicated that salvianolic acid B combined with puerarin can alleviate the OGD/R-induced damage of SH-SY5Y cells by inhibiting pyroptosis.

tRNA-derived small RNA dataset in multiple organs of intrauterine growth-restricted pig.

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) impairs neonatal weight and causes multiple organ dysplasia. IUGR not only threatens human health but is also a significant constraint to the development of animal husbandry. However, the molecular mechanism underlying IUGR remains to be further elucidated. tRNA-derived small RNA (tsRNAs) is a regulative non-coding RNA, which has recently been reported to correlate with the onset and progression of several diseases. In this study, we investigated the tsRNAs expression profiles of IUGR pigs. A tsRNAs dataset for multiple organs in normal and IUGR pigs was generated, including muscle, liver, spleen and intestine. We further analyzed the characteristics of tsRNAs in different organs of pigs, and KEGG pathway analysis was performed to investigate possible pathways involved. This dataset will provide valuable information for further exploring the molecular mechanism of IUGR formation.

COVID-19 vaccination of patients with chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines among patients with chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease (IMID) in China. METHODS: Participants who were diagnosed with a chronic IMID were eligible for inclusion in this study. Age- and sex-matched healthy vaccinated individuals were set as the control group. All participants received two doses of the inactivated CoronaVac vaccine or three doses of the recombinant protein subunit vaccine ZF2001. Adverse events, IMID activity after vaccination, and the rate of COVID-19 in the two groups were compared. RESULTS: There were 158 patients in the IMID group, with an average age of 40 ± 14 years old, and 98 female subjects. In the IMID group, 123 patients received the inactivated CoronaVac vaccine, and 35 patients received the recombinant protein subunit vaccine ZF2001. There were 153 individuals in the control group, including 122 who received the CoronaVac vaccine and 31 who received the recombinant protein subunit vaccine ZF2001. The frequency of vaccine-related adverse events in the IMID group was less than that in the control group, all of which were mild local effects, and no serious events occurred. Of note, no disease flares occurred in the IMID group. No participants in either group subsequently got COVID-19, so the incidence rate was 0% in both groups. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 vaccination was found to be safe for IMID subjects, any adverse events were mild, and vaccination did not increase the risk of disease activity. Meanwhile, vaccination could effectively reduce the incidence of COVID-19 in IMID patients. In the future, studies with a larger sample size and a longer duration are needed.

Evaluation of the nutrition literacy assessment questionnaire for college students and identification of the influencing factors of their nutrition literacy.

BACKGROUND: Nutrition health has become a major public health issue in both high and middle-income countries. Nutrition literacy is an important indicator to evaluate the effect of public health intervention and one of the important concepts in health promotion. Thus, this study aimed to verify the reliability and validity of a nutrition literacy assessment questionnaire (NLAQ) and investigate the associated factors of nutrition literacy among college students. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of college students from April to November 2022 in Wuhan (N = 774). We employed the Cronbach's alpha coefficient, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to evaluate the reliability and validity. We used latent profile analysis to classify the nutrition literacy. We conducted Chi-square test and binary logistic regression to identify the influencing factors. RESULTS: The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the NLAQ and its dimension was ranging from 0.837 to 0.909. The common factors were consistent with the original dimensions. All indicators met the requirements (χ2/df = 6.16 < 8, GFI = 0.929, NFI = 0.939, CFI = 0.948, RMSEA = 0.082 < 0.1). College students' disciplines (χ2 = 7.769, P = 0.021), mothers' education level (χ2 = 26.599, P < 0.001), and fathers' occupation type (χ2 = 11.218, P = 0.024) had impacts on nutrition literacy. CONCLUSION: The NLAQ has good reliability and validity, and could be used as a measurement tool to evaluate college students' nutrition literacy. Schools and families should take targeted measures to improve the college students' nutrition literacy.

Cost-effective core@shell structured zero-valent iron nanoparticles @ magnetic (nZVI@Fe3O4) for Cr(vi) removal from aqueous solutions: preparation by disproportionation of Fe(ii).

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) and its composites are known for their excellent ability to remove Cr(vi), but their preparation can be expensive due to the reduction processes. This study presents a cost-effective method to prepare core@shell structured nZVI@Fe3O4 nanocomposites using a novel Fe(ii) disproportionation reaction. The nZVI@Fe3O4 was thoroughly characterized using various techniques, including FESEM, HRTEM, EDS, XPS, XRD, FTIR, and VSM. Batch experiments were performed to evaluate the removal efficiency of nZVI@Fe3O4 in eliminating Cr(vi) ions from aqueous solutions, while classical models were employed to investigate the influencing factors associated with the removal process. The results showed that a 0.7 mg per ml NaOH solution reacted with Fe(ii) at 150 °C for 0.5 h could be used to prepare nZVI@Fe3O4 composites efficiently and inexpensively. nZVI@Fe3O4 was able to remove more than 99% of Cr(vi) from both simulated Cr(vi) solutions and real electroplating wastewater, and the recovery and preparation could be easily performed using external magnets to separate it from the solution. At pH 6.0, the maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) for Cr(vi) reached 58.67 mg g-1. The reaction mechanism was discussed from the perspective of electron transfer. Overall, the results suggest that nZVI@Fe3O4, an efficient adsorbent prepared using an environmentally friendly and inexpensive Fe(ii) disproportionation reaction, is a promising option for the treatment of Cr(vi) from industrial wastewater and other contaminated water sources.

Geniposide augments apoptosis in fibroblast-like synoviocytes by restoring hypoxia-enhanced JNK-BNIP3-mediated autophagy.

BACKGROUND: As the main effector cells of chronic inflammation and hyperplasia of synovium, fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) show abnormal proliferation and insufficient apoptosis in the hypoxic microenvironment, which is due to the increase of BNIP3-mediated autophagy. This study aimed to explore the mechanism of geniposide (GE) on hypoxia-induced hyper-proliferative FLSs with a focus on autophagy and the JNK-BNIP3 pathway. METHODS: The dynamic changes of autophagy, apoptosis, and hypoxia-related proteins in adjuvant arthritis (AA) rats were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The proliferation, autophagy, apoptosis, and mitochondrial state of FLSs were detected by CCK-8, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. Western blot, qRT-PCR, and co-immunoprecipitation were used to detect the expression of the JNK-BNIP3 pathway. RESULTS: The excessive accumulation of BNIP3 in the synovium of AA rats was accompanied by inhibition of apoptosis and an increase in autophagy. GE inhibited the expression of BNIP3, enhanced apoptosis, decreased autophagy, and improved chronic inflammation and hyperplasia of synovium. The amount of autophagy under different oxygen concentrations was the key to mediating the different survival rates of FLSs, and the inhibition of autophagy triggered apoptosis. GE suppressed the proliferation of FLSs and down-regulated autophagy, leading to the accumulation of ROS and the decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential, induced the increase of apoptosis, and suppressed the accumulation of BNIP3 and the hyperphosphorylation of JNK. CONCLUSION: GE inhibited autophagy by restoring the hypoxia-induced activated JNK-BNIP3 pathway, inducing mitochondrial oxidative damage, augmented apoptosis, and decreased survival rate of FLSs.

Arterial spin labeling for moyamoya angiopathy: A preoperative and postoperative evaluation method.

Objectives: Studies have shown that arterial spin labeling (ASL) effectively replaces traditional MRI perfusion imaging for detecting cerebral blood flow (CBF) in patients with Moyamoya angiopathy (MMA). However, there are few reports on the relationship between neovascularization and cerebral perfusion in patients with MMA. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of neovascularization on cerebral perfusion with MMA after bypass surgery. Methods: We selected patients with MMA in the Department of Neurosurgery between September 2019 and August 2021 and enrolled them based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. ASL imaging was used to monitor the baseline CBF level before surgery and determine the changes in cerebral vessels at postoperative 1 week and 6 months, respectively. The Alberta stroke grade, modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and digital subtraction angiography images were used to evaluate the effect of postoperative CBF status and prognosis. Ninety hemispheres from 51 patients were included in this study. There were no significant differences in the baseline data of the enrolled patients. At 1 week and 6 months post-surgery, the CBF state in the operation area was significantly changed compared with that at baseline (P < 0.05). The preoperative Alberta score (t = 2.714, P = 0.013) and preoperative mRS score (t = 6.678, P < 0.001) correlated with postoperative neovascularization. Conclusion: ASL is an effective method for detecting CBF and plays an important role in the long-term follow-up of patients with MMA. Combined cerebral revascularization significantly improves CBF in the operation area both in the short and long terms. Patients with lower preoperative Alberta scores and higher mRS scores were more likely to benefit from combined cerebral revascularization surgery. However, regardless of the type of patient, CBF reconstruction can effectively improve prognosis.

Damage Quantification and Identification in Structural Joints through Ultrasonic Guided Wave-Based Features and an Inverse Bayesian Scheme.

In this paper, defect detection and identification in aluminium joints is investigated based on guided wave monitoring. Guided wave testing is first performed on the selected damage feature from experiments, namely, the scattering coefficient, to prove the feasibility of damage identification. A Bayesian framework based on the selected damage feature for damage identification of three-dimensional joints of arbitrary shape and finite size is then presented. This framework accounts for both modelling and experimental uncertainties. A hybrid wave and finite element approach (WFE) is adopted to predict the scattering coefficients numerically corresponding to different size defects in joints. Moreover, the proposed approach leverages a kriging surrogate model in combination with WFE to formulate a prediction equation that links scattering coefficients to defect size. This equation replaces WFE as the forward model in probabilistic inference, resulting in a significant enhancement in computational efficiency. Finally, numerical and experimental case studies are used to validate the damage identification scheme. An investigation into how the location of sensors can impact the identified results is provided as well.

Superior improvement on soil quality by Pennisetum sinese vegetation restoration in the dry-hot valley region, SW China.

Vegetation restoration is a good way to improve soil quality and reduce erosion. However, the impact of vegetation restoration on soil quality in the dry-hot valley region has been overlooked for many years. This study aimed to reveal the effects of Pennisetum sinese (PS) and natural vegetation (NV) on soil quality and then to explore the feasibility of introducing PS for the vegetation restoration of the dry-hot valley region. The PS and NV restoration areas deserted land evolving from cultivated land (CL) have been established since 2011. The results showed that the soil properties were obviously improved by PS from the dry to wet seasons, except for the soil available phosphorous. The comprehensive soil quality indexes of the three typical seasons (dry, dry-wet, and wet) were determined by using nonlinear weighted additive (NLWA) based on the total dataset, significant dataset and minimum dataset (MDS). The results indicated that the comprehensive minimum dataset soil quality index (MDS-SQI) of the three typical seasons evaluate soil quality well. The soil quality of PS was significantly greater than that of CL and NV (P < 0.05), as shown by the MDS-SQI. Additionally, PS could maintain a stable soil quality in the three typical seasons, while both CL and NV had obvious fluctuations. In addition, the result of the generalized linear mode suggested that the vegetation type had the greatest impact on the soil quality (44.51 %). Comprehensively, vegetation restoration in the dry-hot valley region has a positive impact on the soil properties and quality. PS is a great candidate species for the early vegetation restoration in the dry-hot valley region. This work provides a reference for vegetation restoration and rational utilization of soil resources in degraded ecosystems in dry-hot valleys and other soil erosion areas.

Rat and mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can spontaneously express troponin T.

PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate whether the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) of rat and mice can spontaneously express troponin T (cTnT) in vitro. METHODS: The BMSCs of rats and mice were cultured in vitro. The expression of cTnT in the BMSCs of rats and mice was detected by immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot. The detection of cTnT and α-sarcomeric actin coexpression on the surface of BMSCs was determined using immunofluorescence and qRT-PCR. RESULTS: In rats and mice, cTnT expression was detected in a portion of BMSCs. The positive rates of cTnT in rats and mice were approximately 10-52 % and 27-60 %, respectively. According to the results of the Western blot analysis, the gray values of cTnT in rats and mice were 0.64 ± 0.02 and 1.08 ± 0.03, respectively. Additionally, the surface of BMSCs can express cTnT and α-sarcomeric actin, which is a marker for striated muscle. CONCLUSION: The BMSCs of rats and mice can spontaneously express cTnT and automatically differentiate striated muscles in vitro.

Improved immune algorithm for sudden cardiac death first aid drones site selection.

AIMS: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) requires a fast emergency response, while traditional emergency takes too long to meet the demand. Combining a drone with a defibrillator can provide rapid resuscitation of OHCA patients. The aims are to improve survival in OHCA and to minimize the total system cost. METHODS: We developed an integer planning model for sudden cardiac death (SCD) first aid drone siting based on a set covering model with the stability of the siting system as the main constraint, considering the rescue time and total system cost. Using 300 points to simulate potential cardiac arrest locations in the main municipal district of Tianjin, China, the SCD first aid drone siting points are solved using an improved immune algorithm. RESULTS: Based on the actual parameters set by the SCD first aid drone, 25 siting points were solved in the main municipal district of Tianjin, China. These 25 sites were able to cover 300 simulated potential demand points. The average rescue time was 127.18 s and the maximum rescue time was 296.99 s. The total system cost was 136,824.46 Yuan. Comparing the pre- and post-algorithm solutions, the system stability was improved by 42.22%, and the maximum number of siting points corresponding to demand points was reduced by 29.41% and the minimum number was increased by 16.86%, which is closer to the average. CONCLUSIONS: We propose the SCD emergency system and use the improved immune algorithm for example solving. Comparing the solution results using the pre- and post-improvement algorithms, the cost solved by the post-improvement algorithm is less and the system is more stable.

Adenosine deaminase from the cerebrospinal fluid for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To comprehensively evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of adenosine deaminase in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for tuberculous meningitis (TBM), and the potential influence of patients' age groups and cutoffs of measured adenosine deaminase. METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis of relevant studies retrieved from PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were calculated with a random-effect model. RESULTS: Overall, 43 studies with 1653 patients with TBM and 3417 controls without were included. Pooled results showed that adenosine deaminase in CSF is associated with satisfactory diagnostic efficacy for TBM, with a pooled sensitivity of 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.82-0.90), specificity of 0.89 (95% CI: 0.86-0.91), positive likelihood ratio of 7.70 (95% CI: 6.16-9.63), and negative likelihood ratio of 0.15 (95% CI: 0.12-0.20). The pooled receiver operating characteristic (AUC) was 0.94 (95% CI: 0.91-0.96), suggesting good performance. Subgroup analyses showed good diagnostic efficacies of adenosine deaminase in CSF for both adults (AUC 0.95) and children (AUC 0.96) with TBM. AUCs indicating the diagnostic accuracies of adenosine deaminase in CSF for TBM were 0.93 for studies with cutoffs <10 U/L and and 0.94 for a cutoff =10 U/L, but only 0.90 for studies with cutoffs >10 U/L. CONCLUSIONS: Measuring adenosine deaminase of CSF shows satisfactory diagnostic efficacy for TBM in children and adults, particularly if using a cutoff ≤10 U/L.