Dynamic Treatment Strategy of Chinese Medicine for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Based on Machine Learning Algorithm.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the dynamic treatment strategy of Chinese medicine (CM) for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) by machine learning algorithm, in order to provide a reference for the selection of CM treatment strategies for mCRC. METHODS: From the outpatient cases of mCRC in the Department of Oncology at Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, 197 cases that met the inclusion criteria were screened. According to different CM intervention strategies, the patients were divided into 3 groups: CM treatment alone, equal emphasis on Chinese and Western medicine treatment (CM combined with local treatment of tumors, oral chemotherapy, or targeted drugs), and CM assisted Western medicine treatment (CM combined with intravenous regimen of Western medicine). The survival time of patients undergoing CM intervention was taken as the final evaluation index. Factors affecting the choice of CM intervention scheme were screened as decision variables. The dynamic CM intervention and treatment strategy for mCRC was explored based on the cost-sensitive classification learning algorithm for survival (CSCLSurv). Patients' survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the survival time of patients who received the model-recommended treatment plan were compared with those who received actual treatment plan. RESULTS: Using the survival time of patients undergoing CM intervention as the evaluation index, a dynamic CM intervention therapy strategy for mCRC was established based on CSCLSurv. Different CM intervention strategies for mCRC can be selected according to dynamic decision variables, such as gender, age, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score, tumor site, metastatic site, genotyping, and the stage of Western medicine treatment at the patient's first visit. The median survival time of patients who received the model-recommended treatment plan was 35 months, while those who receive the actual treatment plan was 26.0 months (P=0.06). CONCLUSIONS: The dynamic treatment strategy of CM, based on CSCLSurv for mCRC, plays a certain role in providing clinical hints in CM. It can be further improved in future prospective studies with larger sample sizes.

Value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in microwave ablation treatment of symptomatic focal uterine adenomyosis.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the ultrasound-guided microwave ablation (MWA) treatment of symptomatic focal uterine adenomyosis. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted between March 2020 and January 2023, enrolling 52 patients with symptomatic focal uterine adenomyosis who had undergone MWA. All patients were examined with CEUS before and after MWA. The non-perfused volume (NPV) was compared between CEUS and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCEMRI) following ablation. Therapeutic efficacy and safety were evaluated at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. Additionally, this study explored the correlations between pre-treatment CEUS features and a volume reduction ratio indicating sufficient ablation, defined as 50% or more at the 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: No significant differences in NPV were noted between CEUS and DCE-MRI immediately after MWA and during follow-up (all P>0.05). At the 3-month follow-up, the median VRRs for the uterus and adenomyosis were 33.2% and 63.9%, respectively. Sufficient ablation was achieved in 69.2% (36/52) of adenomyosis cases, while partial ablation was observed in the remaining 30.8% (16/52). The identification of non-enhancing areas on pre-treatment CEUS was associated with sufficient ablation (P=0.016). At the 12-month follow-up, significant decreases were observed in both the uterine and adenomyosis volumes (all P<0.001). Dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia were significantly alleviated at 12 months, and no major complications were encountered. CONCLUSION: CEUS can be used to evaluate the ablation zone of focal adenomyosis that has been treated with MWA, similarly to DCE-MRI. The identification of non-enhancing areas on pretreatment CEUS indicates satisfactory treatment outcomes.

Single-nucleus transcriptome sequencing reveals hepatic cell atlas in pigs.

BACKGROUND: As the largest substantive organ of animals, the liver plays an essential role in the physiological processes of digestive metabolism and immune defense. However, the cellular composition of the pig liver remains poorly understood. This investigation used single-nucleus RNA sequencing technology to identify cell types from liver tissues of pigs, providing a theoretical basis for further investigating liver cell types in pigs. RESULTS: The analysis revealed 13 cells clusters which were further identified 7 cell types including endothelial cells, T cells, hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, stellate cells, B cells, and cholangiocytes. The dominant cell types were endothelial cells, T cells and hepatocytes in the liver tissue of Dahe pigs and Dahe black pigs, which accounts for about 85.76% and 82.74%, respectively. The number of endothelial cells was higher in the liver tissue of Dahe pigs compared to Dahe black pigs, while the opposite tendency was observed for T cells. Moreover, functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that the differentially expressed genes in pig hepatic endothelial cells were significantly enriched in the protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, MAPK signaling pathway, and FoxO signaling pathway. Functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that the differentially expressed genes in pig hepatic T cells were significantly enriched in the thyroid hormone signaling pathway, B cell receptor signaling pathway, and focal adhesion. Functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that the differentially expressed genes in pig hepatic hepatocytes were significantly enriched in the metabolic pathways. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, this study provides a comprehensive cell atlas of porcine hepatic tissue. The number, gene expression level and functional characteristics of each cell type in pig liver tissue varied between breeds.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on protein expressions of SOCS3 and IRS-1 in hypothalamus and pancreas islet morphology in diabetic fatty rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on protein expressions of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) and insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) in hypothalamus and morphology of pancreas islet in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, and to explore its possible mechanism on improving plasma glucose and insulin resistance of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: Twelve SPF male ZDF rats were selected and fed with high-fat diet for 4 weeks to establish the T2DM model, after modeling, the rats were randomly divided into a model group and an EA group, 6 rats in each one. Besides, 6 SPF male Zucker lean rats were selected as a blank group. In the EA group, EA was applied at "Pishu" (BL 20), "Weiwanxiashu" (EX-B 3), "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6), with continuous wave, 15 Hz in frequency, 2 mA in intensity, once a day, 20 min each time, 6 times a week for 4 weeks. The fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was measured before and after intervention. The serum level of fasting insulin (FINS) was measured by radioimmunoassay, and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was calculated; the morphological change of pancreas islets was observed by HE staining; the protein expressions of SOCS3 and IRS-1 in hypothalamus were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Before intervention, compared with the blank group, FPG in the model group and the EA group was increased (P<0.01). After intervention, compared with the blank group, FPG, serum level of FINS and HOMA-IR were increased (P<0.01), the protein expression of SOCS3 was increased while IRS-1 was decreased in the hypothalamus in the model group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, FPG, serum level of FINS and HOMA-IR were decreased (P<0.01), the protein expression of SOCS3 was decreased while IRS-1 was increased in the hypothalamus in the EA group (P<0.01). In the model group, the shape of pancreas islets was irregular, the area of pancreas islets and the number of islet ß cell nuclei were decreased, the nuclei of islet ß cell was compensatory enlargement. In the EA group, the shape and the area of pancreas islets and the number of islet ß cell nuclei were improved, the compensatory increase of islet ß cell nuclei was alleviated compared with the model group. CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture can reduce the fasting plasma glucose, improve the morphology of pancreas islets, and alleviate the insulin resistance in ZDF rats. The mechanism may relate to the down-regulation of SOCS3 and up-regulation of IRS-1 in the hypothalamus, and improving the function of hypothalamus in regulating peripheral glucose metabolism.

Traditional Chinese Nursing Using Fennel With Coarse Salt for Ironing and Umbilical Moxibustion for Epigastric Pain With Spleen-stomach Vacuity Cold.

Context: Spleen-stomach vacuity cold is the primary TCM pattern for epigastric pain, accounting for 75% of the patients. According to the TCM theory of treating both the tip and the root, epigastric pain requires the caregiver to dissipate cold and relieve pain, the treatments for the tip, which warm and supplement the spleen and stomach, the treatments for the root. Objective: This study aimed to explore effectiveness of traditional Chinese nursing care using fennel mixed with coarse salt for ironing,with umbilical moxibustion, for epigastric pain, with a pattern of spleen-stomach vacuity cold. Design: The research team designed a randomized control trial (RCT). Setting: The study was conducted at Ruikang Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine in the capital city of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in the People's Republic of China. Participants: Participants were 96 patients who had been admitted to the hospital between October and November 2020 with epigastric pain resulting from the TCM spleen-stomach vacuity cold pattern, equivalent to chronic atrophic gastritis in Western medicine. Intervention: The research team randomly divided participants into an intervention group (n = 48) and a control group (n = 48) using a random digits table. The intervention group received fennel mixed with coarse salt for ironing, combined with umbilical moxibustion, whereas the control group received routine care. Outcome Measures: The study's instruments included the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Syndrome Score Scale (TCMSSS), Medical Outcome Study (MOS) Short Form 36 (SF-36), and Satisfaction with TCM Nursing Program (STCMNP). Data were collected and analyzed through descriptive statistics a Chi-square test and independent t test. A significance level of P < .05 was accepted for all statistical analyses. Results: The intervention group had mean scores that indicated significantly higher decreases in epigastric pain, and increases in quality of life and level of satisfaction with the traditional Chinese nursing care than the control group did (P < .05). Conclusions: The traditional Chinese nursing care was able to improve epigastric pain, enhance quality of life, and increase satisfaction with the traditional Chinese nursing care.

Effects of tobacco smoking on cardiovascular disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to the general population. However, little is known about the effects of tobacco smoking on CVD in patients with SLE. Objective: To systematically review and summarize the available literature regarding the effects of tobacco smoking on developing CVD in patients with SLE. Methods: We retrieved relevant studies from the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI) database. Two reviewers independently reviewed the eligible studies, assessed their validity, and extracted relevant data. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were performed to distinguish sources of heterogeneity. Results: A total of 10 studies, which comprised 6984 participants, were included in the analysis. The overall quality of evidence was rated as moderate to low. The smoking prevalence among CVD patients was 39.28% (271/690), which was higher than 31.36% (1974/6294) among non-CVD patients. Compared with never-smokers, the risk of developing CVD in current smokers was 1.42 (95% CI: 1.21-1.66). No significant publication bias was found in our meta-analysis. Conclusions: In spite of the several negative results, this study found that current smokers with SLE have an increased risk of developing CVD, although most of the included studies were in low-to-moderate quality. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42022338109.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation for uterine fibroids: mid-term local treatment efficiency and associated influencing factors.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mid-term local treatment efficiency of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) for uterine fibroids (UFs) and the associated influencing factors. METHODS: From July 2020 to October 2021, a total of 28 patients with 52 UFs who had undergone ultrasound-guided MWA were retrospectively included in this study. Pre-treatment clinical characteristics, conventional ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features were analyzed to explore their correlation with volume reduction ratios (VRRs) of sufficient ablation (i.e. a VRR of at least 50% at the 3 month follow-up). The patients were assessed at 1-, 3-, 6 month follow-up after MWA treatment and the assessment included VRR, adverse events, uterine fibroid symptom (UFS) and quality of life (QoL) scores, and clinical symptoms. RESULTS: The procedures of percutaneous MWA for UFs were tolerated well and no major complications occurred in all patients. At the 1-, 3-, 6 month follow-up, the median VRRs of UFs were 30.1%, 46.9%, and 65.8%, respectively. At the 3 month follow-up, 44.4% of fibroids obtained sufficient ablation while the remaining 55.6% obtained partial ablation (i.e. a VRR of <50%). Non-enhancing area during the early phase (i.e. within 30 s after injecting contrast agent) on pre-treatment CEUS was present in 22.2% UFs, which was associated with sufficient ablation at the 3 month follow-up (p < 0.05). In addition, the relevant clinical symptoms of all patients were alleviated or removed. The UFS and QoL score after MWA decreased significantly in comparison with those after MWA (p = 0.04 and p = 0.057, respectively), indicating a remarkable improvement of clinical symptom and QoL. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided MWA is an effective and safe method to treat patients with UFs. Non-enhancing area during the early phase on pretreatment CEUS is associated with mid-term local treatment efficiency, which might be used to predict treatment outcome. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Non-enhancing area during the early phase on pretreatment CEUS is an important factor associated with mid-term local treatment efficiency. This is the first study finding that CEUS feature can be used as a marker for the prediction of mid-term local treatment response.

A thiadiazolopyridine-functionalized Zr(iv)-based metal-organic framework for enhanced photocatalytic synthesis of tetrahydroquinolines under visible light.

Metal-organic framework (MOF) materials provide a versatile and promising platform for constructing heterogeneous photocatalysts with applications in organic transformations. One of the methods for enhancing MOFs' performance in photocatalysis relies on the elaborate design and functionalization of organic linkers. Here we reported a photoactive thiadiazolopyridine (TDP) moiety functionalized UiO-68 isoreticular Zr(iv)-based MOF (denoted as UiO-68-TDP) that was synthesized by the de novo approach of mixed dicarboxylate struts. Under blue LED irradiation and in an open air atmosphere, MOF UiO-68-TDP exhibited a largely higher photocatalytic activity for the synthesis of tetrahydroquinolines by oxidative annulation reaction between N,N-dimethylanilines and maleimides, in comparison to the benzothiadiazole decorated analogue MOF. Besides, UiO-68-TDP can be reused at least three times without significant loss of its photocatalytic activity and its framework was well maintained after these cycles. Furthermore, the related mechanism involving reactive oxygen species was properly proposed.

The Effect of Cardiovascular Medications on Disease-Related Outcomes in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Multiple studies have revealed that idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients are more at risk for cardiovascular diseases and that many IPF patients receive cardiovascular medications like statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), and anticoagulants. Existing studies have reported divergent findings on the link between cardiovascular medications and fibrotic disease processes. The aim of this study is to synthesize the evidence on the efficacy of cardiovascular medications in IPF. Methods: We searched studies reporting the effect of cardiovascular medications on IPF in the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and two Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure database and China Wanfang database). We calculated survival data, forced vital capacity (FVC) decline, and IPF-related mortality to assess the efficacy of cardiovascular medications in IPF. We also estimated statistical heterogeneity by using I2 and Cochran Q tests, and publication bias was evaluated by risk of bias tools ROBINS-I. Results: A total of 12 studies were included in the analysis. The included studies had moderate-to-serious risk of bias. Statin use was associated with a reduction in mortality (hazard ratio (HR), 0.89; 95% CI 0.83-0.97). Meta-analysis did not demonstrate any significant relationship between statin use and the FVC decline (HR, 0.86; 95% CI 0.73-1.02), ACEI/ARB use, and survival data (HR, 0.92; 95% CI 0.73-1.15) as well as anticoagulant use and survival data (HR, 1.16; 95% CI 0.62-2.19). Conclusion: Our study suggested that there is a consistent relationship between statin therapy and survival data in IPF population. However, there is currently insufficient evidence to conclude the effect of ACEI, ARB, and anticoagulant therapy on IPF population especially to the disease-related outcomes in IPF.

[Electroacupuncture improves glucose and lipid metabolism by regulating APN/AMPK/PPARα signaling of skeletal muscle in Zucker diabetic obese rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on skeletal muscle adiponectin receptor (Adipor1) / adenylate activated protein kinase (AMPK) / peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) signaling pathway and skeletal muscle morphology by the secretion of serum adiponectin in Zucker diabetic obese (ZDF) rats, so as to explore its mechanism underlying regulating glucose and lipid metabolism of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and improving skeletal muscle insulin resistance (IR). METHODS: Twelve male ZDF rats and six Zucker thin (ZL) rats were selected. The rats were fed with Purina#5008 high-fat diet for four weeks to induce T2DM model after adaptive feeding with normal diet for one week. The ZDF rats were randomly divided into model group and EA group according to blood glucose level after modeling and 6 ZL rats were used as the blank control group. Rats in the EA group were treated with "Pishu" (BL20), EA stimulation of "Yishu" (EX-B3), "Zusanli" (ST36) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP6), once a day and 6 times a week for 4 weeks. Rats of the model and blank control groups were grabbed and fixed in the same way as EA group. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) was measured before and after EA intervention. Serum levels of insulin (INS), C-peptide (C-P), adiponectin (APN) were measured by radioimmunoassay, and those of free fatty acid (FFA), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) content determined by enzyme colorimetry and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was calculated. The protein expression levels of AdipoR1, AMPK and PPARα proteins in the quadriceps femoris tissues were detected by Western blot and histopathological changes of quadriceps femoris muscle were observed by H.E. staining. RESULTS: Compared with the blank control group, the levels of FBG, serum INS, C-P, FFA, LDL, TC, TG and HOMA-IR in the model group were significantly increased (P<0.01, P<0.05), while the levels of serum APN and the expressions of AdipoR1, AMPK and PPARα proteins in the skeletal muscle were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the levels of FBG, serum INS, C-P, FFA, LDL, TC and HOMA-IR in the EA group were significantly decreased (P<0.01), and those of serum APN and expression levels of AdipoR1, AMPK and PPARα proteins in the skeletal muscle significantly increased (P<0.01), but the serum TG level had no remarkable change in the EA group (P>0.05). In addition, H.E. staining showed disordered arrangement of skeletal muscle cells, rupture and fuzziness of muscle fibers, enlargement of the space between muscular fibers and infiltration of small number of adipose cells which were relatively milder in the EA group. CONCLUSION: EA can reduce blood glucose and lipid levels, and improve IR in ZDF rats, which may be related to its functions in up-regulating AdipoR1/AMPK/PPARα signaling and in promoting APN secretion.

Inhibition of Aspirin-Induced Gastrointestinal Injury: Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Background: Administration of aspirin has the potential for significant side effects of gastrointestinal (GI) injury mainly caused by gastric acid stimulation, especially in long-term users or users with original gastrointestinal diseases. The debate on the optimal treatment of aspirin-induced gastrointestinal injury is ongoing. We aimed to compare and rank the different treatments for aspirin-induced gastrointestinal injury based on current evidence. Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), and Chinese databases for published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of different treatments for aspirin-induced gastrointestinal injury from inception to 1 May 2021. All of the direct and indirect evidence included was rated by network meta-analysis under a Bayesian framework. Results: A total of 10 RCTs, which comprised 503 participants, were included in the analysis. The overall quality of evidence was rated as moderate to high. Eleven different treatments, including omeprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole, famotidine, geranylgeranylacetone, misoprostol, ranitidine bismuth citrate, chili, phosphatidylcholine complex, omeprazole plus rebamipide, and placebo, were evaluated in terms of preventing gastrointestinal injury. It was suggested that omeprazole plus rebamipide outperformed other treatments, whereas geranylgeranylacetone and placebo were among the least treatments. Conclusion: This is the first systematic review and network meta-analysis of different treatments for aspirin-induced gastrointestinal injury. Our study suggested that omeprazole plus rebamipide might be considered the best option to treat aspirin-induced gastrointestinal injury. More multicenter, high quality, large sample size randomized controlled trials will confirm the advantages of these medicines in the treatment of aspirin-induced gastrointestinal injury in the future.

Modular synthesis of 3-substituted isocoumarins via silver-catalyzed aerobic oxidation/6-endo heterocyclization of ortho-alkynylbenzaldehydes.

A method involving silver-catalyzed aerobic oxidation/6-endo heterocyclization of ortho-alkynylbenzaldehydes to yield 3-substituted isocoumarins is described. The developed protocol allows convenient access to a range of synthetically useful 3-substituted isocoumarins and related fused heterocyclolactones in good to high yields, using silver tetrafluoroborate as the catalyst, and atmospheric oxygen as the terminal oxidant and the source of endocyclic oxygen. Mechanistic studies suggest the involvement of a free-radical pathway.

Successfully controlling the incidence of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa through antibiotic stewardship and infection control programmes at a Chinese university hospital.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of imposing infection control programmes (ICPs) and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) by monitoring the antimicrobial resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. METHODS: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed in accordance with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute and European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing guidelines. ICPs and AMS were initiated at the Fourth Hospital from 2013 to 2018. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A total of 2,886 P. aeruginosa isolates were assessed. The antimicrobial resistance trends of the P. aeruginosa strains improved after the intervention measures. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) P. aeruginosa contributed to 18.5% and 3.5% of the total P. aeruginosa strains, respectively. Colistin was the most effective antibiotic against 97.6% of XDR-P. aeruginosa and 99.41% of MDR-P. aeruginosa. The consumption of alcohol-based hand gel (ABHG) increased from 0.6 L to 10.8 L per 1,000 patient-days (PD) (p = 0.005). The yearly consumption of antibiotics decreased from 45 to 37.5 defined daily doses (DDD) per 1,000 PD(p = 0.04). After 2013, the incidence rate of MDR-P. aeruginosa showed a significant decrease from 22% to 14.1% (p = 0.04), and XDR-P. aeruginosa decreased from 5.8% to 0.9%. The use of ABHG was negatively related to MDR-P. aeruginosa morbidity (r = -0.86; p = 0.021). The consumption of antibiotics was positively related to MDR-P. aeruginosa morbidity (r = 0.86; p = 0.021). WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: Successful control of MDR-P. aeruginosa resistance was achieved by imposing comprehensive ICPs and AMS.

Vinylene-bridged donor-acceptor type porous organic polymers for enhanced photocatalysis of amine oxidative coupling reactions under visible light.

Porous organic polymers (POPs), owing to their abundant porosity, high stability and well-tunable properties, are promising candidates as heterogeneous photocatalysts for organic transformations. Here we report two vinylene-bridged donor-acceptor (D-A) structural POPs (TpTc-POP and TbTc-POP) that are facilely constructed by the electron-rich triarylamine and electron-deficient tricyanomesitylene as key building blocks by the organic base catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation. Both TpTc-POP and TbTc-POP possess hierarchical meso- and micro-pores with a high surface area. Furthermore, the unsubstituted vinylene linkages of D-A moieties in their polymer backbones extend their π-conjugation and render their broad absorption range in the visible-light region. Thus, these DA-POPs exhibited highly effective photocatalytic activities for aerobic oxidative coupling of amines to imines under visible light irradiation. This study shows the great potential of conjugated POPs with a D-A structural feature in designing highly efficient and active heterogeneous photocatalytic systems.

Prevalence of Opportunistic Pathogens and Diversity of Microbial Communities in the Water System of a Pulmonary Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to investigate the occurrence of opportunistic pathogens and characterize the bacterial community structures in the water system of a pulmonary hospital. METHODS: The water samples were collected from automatic and manual faucets in the consulting room, treatment room, dressing room, respiratory ward, and other non-medical rooms in three buildings of the hospital. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify the load of several waterborne opportunistic pathogens and related microorganisms, including Legionella spp., Mycobacterium spp., and M. avium. Illumina sequencing targeting 16S rRNA genes was performed to profile bacterial communities. RESULTS: The occurrence rates of Legionella spp., Mycobacterium spp., and M. avium were 100%, 100%, and 76%, respectively in all samples. Higher occurrence rates of M. avium were observed in the outpatient service building (building 1, 91.7%) and respiration department and wards (building 2, 80%) than in the office building (building 3), where no M. avium was found. M. avium were more abundant in automatic faucets (average 2.21 × 10 4 gene copies/L) than in manual faucets (average 1.03 × 10 4 gene copies/mL) ( P < 0.01). Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, and Acidobacteria were the dominant bacterial phyla. Disinfectant residuals, nitrate, and temperature were found to be the key environmental factors driving microbial community structure shifts in water systems. CONCLUSION: This study revealed a high level of colonization of water faucets by opportunistic pathogens and provided insight into the characteristics of microbial communities in a hospital water system and approaches to reduce risks of microbial contamination.

Protective effects of GPR120 agonist-programmed macrophages on renal interstitial fibrosis in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) rats.

Macrophages in the kidney play different roles in renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) depending on their phenotypes. M2 phenotype macrophages are believed to protect the kidney against RIF. Free fatty acid receptor GPR120 is expressed in macrophages, and its activation induces macrophage transition to M2 phenotype. In this study, the effects of GPR120 agonist-programmed macrophages on RIF were investigated. The peritoneal macrophages collected from rats were incubated with GPR120 agonist TUG891 in vitro for 24 h, and then they were transplanted autologously to the kidney with ureteral obstruction by intrarenal injection for 7 days on the same day following unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) operation. RIF was identified by Masson trichrome histological staining, and the expression of RIF-related proteins was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and western blot. It was observed that TUG891-programmed macrophages up-regulated the expression of CD206 and arginase-1 while the expression of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α were down-regulated. RIF in rats was significantly increased following UUO, which was markedly alleviated by TUG891-programmed macrophages but not untreated macrophages. TUG891-programmed macrophages inhibited the abnormal expression of TGF-ß1 and SMAD2. The abnormal expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins including vimentin, α-SMA and ß-catenin was also significantly decreased in rats with transplantation of TUG891-programmed macrophages as compared to UUO rats. This study suggests that autologous administration of peritoneal macrophages programmed in vitro by GPR120 agonist to kidney has a protective effect against RIF following UUO.

Selectively Light-up Detection of Phosgene with an Aggregation-Induced Emission-Based Fluorescent Sensor.

Phosgene, a widely used but highly toxic substance, may pose a serious risk to public safety and health because of the potential abuse and possible accidental leakage. Consequently, it is of great significance to develop a rapid, reliable, and sensitive detection method for this noxious agent. In this work, an aggregation-induced emission-based sensor, 3,6-bis(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)benzene-1,2-diamine (DATPE), has been rationally designed for detecting phosgene by conjugation of o-phenylenediamine (OPD) core as the reactive recognition moiety decorated with two peripheral triphenylethylene (TPE) units. A light-up fluorescence response is achieved by the fast cyclization reaction of OPD part and phosgene along with the formation of 2-imidazolidinone ring, thus inhibiting the intramolecular charge transfer quenching process in the sensor. Moreover, an easy-to-use test paper with DATPE is fabricated for onsite visual detection of phosgene in the gas phase even at a concentration of as low as 0.1 ppm.

Usefulness of bevacizumab-induced hypertension in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: an updated meta-analysis.

We tested the hypothesis that bevacizumab-induced hypertension may be a useful predictor for objective response rate, progression-free and overall survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer via a comprehensive meta-analysis. Search process, article selection and data extraction were independently performed by two investigators. Statistical analyses were conducted using the STATA/SE software. Fourteen independent studies and 2292 study subjects were synthesized. Overall relative risk of objective response rate for bevacizumab-induced hypertension was 2.03 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18-3.48, p=0.01), with significant heterogeneity and publication bias, whereas unbiased estimate was nonsignificant after considering potentially missing studies. Overall hazard ratio for progression-free survival was 0.58 (95% CI: 0.43-0.77, p<0.001), with significant heterogeneity and publication bias, and unbiased estimate was significant (hazard ratio: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.41-0.66, p<0.001). Overall hazard ratio for overall survival was 0.51 (95% CI: 0.39-0.65, p<0.001), and this estimate was not likely confounded by heterogeneity or publication bias. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses suggested that hypertension grade of controls, sample size, age and gender were possible causes of heterogeneity. Taken together, our findings indicate that bevacizumab-induced hypertension can predict progress-free survival and overall survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, whereas its prediction for objective response rate was nonsignificant.

Highly Efficient and Selective Photooxidation of Sulfur Mustard Simulant by a Triazolobenzothiadiazole-Moiety-Functionalized Metal-Organic Framework in Air.

A photoactive triazolobenzothiadiazole (TBTD)-conjugated terphenyldicarboxylate (TPDC) linker was introduced into a porous and robust UiO-68 isoreticular zirconium metal-organic framework (denoted as UiO-68-TBTD) by the de novo synthetic approach of mixed TPDC struts. Under blue-light-emitting-diode irradiation, UiO-68-TBTD can serve as a heterogeneous photocatalyst for the highly efficient and selective oxidation of a sulfur mustard simulant (2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide) to the corresponding much less toxic sulfoxide product, with a half-life of only 3 min in the open air atmosphere.