Microwave Ablation versus Surgical Resection for US-detected Multifocal T1N0M0 Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A 10-Center Study.

Background Microwave ablation (MWA) is currently under preliminary investigation for the treatment of multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and has shown promising treatment efficacy. Compared with surgical resection (SR), MWA is minimally invasive and could preserve thyroid function. However, a comparative analysis between MWA and SR is warranted to draw definitive conclusions. Purpose To compare MWA and SR for preoperative US-detected T1N0M0 multifocal PTC in terms of overall and 1-, 3-, and 5-year progression-free survival rates and complication rates. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, 775 patients with preoperative US-detected T1N0M0 multifocal PTC treated with MWA or SR across 10 centers between May 2015 and December 2021 were included. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed for patients in the MWA and SR groups, followed by comparisons between the two groups. The primary outcomes were overall and 1-, 3-, and 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates and complication rates. Results After PSM, 229 patients (median age, 44 years [IQR 36.5-50.5 years]; 179 female) in the MWA group and 453 patients (median age, 45 years [IQR 37-53 years]; 367 female) in the SR group were observed for a median of 20 months (range, 12-74 months) and 26 months (range, 12-64 months), respectively. MWA resulted in less blood loss, shorter incision length, and shorter procedure and hospitalization durations (all P < .001). There was no evidence of differences in overall and 1-, 3-, or 5-year PFS rates (all P > .05) between MWA and SR (5-year rate, 77.2% vs 83.1%; P = .36) groups. Permanent hoarseness (2.2%, P = .05) and hypoparathyroidism (4.0%, P = .005) were encountered only in the SR group. Conclusion There was no evidence of a significant difference in PFS rates between MWA and SR for US-detected multifocal T1N0M0 PTC, and MWA resulted in fewer complications. Therefore, MWA is a feasible option for selected patients with multifocal T1N0M0 PTC. © RSNA, 2024 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Georgiades in this issue.

Effect of dissolved oxygen and ammonia nitrogen on Culter alburnus: Physiology, biochemistry, and molecular analyses.

Culter alburnus (topmouth culter)is an economically valuable freshwater fish. However, its insufficient tolerance to dissolved oxygen (DO) and ammonia nitrogen (AN) hinders its industrialisation. 360 experimental fish (4.87 ± 1.10 g) were placed in breathing chambers (oxygen level was 0.70-6.50 mg/L) or water tanks (control AN, 0 mg/L; low AN, 8 mg/L; high AN, 16 mg/L). This study analysed the effects of DO and AN on C. alburnus at physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels. (1) Physiology level: the floating point, coma critical point, and coma point at 20 °C group were significantly higher than those at 30 °C. The oxygen consumption rate of C. alburnus at 20 °C, 25 °C, and 30 °C was (256.65 ± 25.87), (470.47 ± 83.84), and (520.87 ± 55.40) mg/kg.h. The LC50 of AN after 96 h was 24.13 mg/L, and the safe concentration was 2.41 mg/L. The survival rate in the high AN group was significantly lower than that in the other two groups. (2) Biochemistry level: The change curves of antioxidant enzyme activity in the liver tissue under hypoxic stress reached a maximum at 12 h and then decreased. In addition, the increase and decrease in enzyme activity (except malondialdehyde) in the high AN group was lower than that in the low AN group. (3) Molecular level: the angiotensin-converting enzyme and carboxypeptidase genes were the major differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in hypoxic stress, and the DEGs were mainly enriched in the ABC transporter signal transduction pathway. In addition, the serum/glucocorticoid-regulated kinase, stearoyl-CoA desaturase, and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase genes were among the major DEGs under high AN stress. The DEGs were mainly enriched in steroid biosynthesis or glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism transporter signal transduction pathways. In summary, it is necessary to focus on the DO and AN during C. alburnus breeding.

Four new tirucallane-type triterpenoids from Aphanamixis polystachya.

Four new tirucallane-type triterpenoids, polystanins H-K (1-4), were obtained from the stems and leaves of Aphanamixis polystachya. Their structures were elucidated by analysis of the spectroscopic data and comparison with literature data. Compounds 1 and 2 showed week inhibitory effects against NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. All the isolates were investigated for their antifungal activities against drug-resistant Candida albicans.

Brownian Motion Paving the Way for Molecular Translocation in Nanopores.

Tracing fast nanopore-translocating analytes requires a high-frequency measurement system that warrants a temporal resolution better than 1 µs. This constraint may practically shift the challenge from increasing the sampling bandwidth to dealing with the rapidly growing noise with frequencies typically above 10 kHz, potentially making it still uncertain if all translocation events are unambiguously captured. Here, a numerical simulation model is presented as an alternative to discern translocation events with different experimental settings including pore dimension, bias voltage, the charge state of the analyte, salt concentration, and electrolyte viscosity. The model allows for simultaneous analysis of forces exerting on a large analyte cohort along their individual trajectories; these forces are responsible for the analyte movement leading eventually to the nanopore translocation. Through tracing the analyte trajectories, the Brownian force is found to dominate the analyte movement in electrolytes until the last moment at which the electroosmotic force determines the final translocation act. The mean dwell time of analytes mimicking streptavidin decreases from ≈6 to ≈1 µs with increasing the bias voltage from ±100 to ±500 mV. The simulated translocation events qualitatively agree with the experimental data with streptavidin. The simulation model is also helpful for the design of new solid-state nanopore sensors.

Establishment and characterization of a golden pompano (Trachinotus blochii) fin cell line for applications in marine fish pathogen immunology.

Pompano fishes have been widely farmed worldwide. As a representative commercial marine species of the Carangidae family, the golden pompano (Trachinotus blochii) has gained significant popularity in China and worldwide. However, because of rapid growth and high-density aquaculture, the golden pompano has become seriously threatened by various diseases. Cell lines are the most cost-effective resource for in vitro studies and are widely used for physiological and pathological research owing to their accessibility and convenience. In this study, we established a novel immortal cell line, GPF (Golden pompano fin cells). GPF has been passaged over 69 generations for 10 months. The morphology, adhesion and extension processes of GPF were evaluated using light and electron microscopy. GPF cells were passaged every 3 days with L-15 containing 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS) at 1:3. The optimum conditions for GPF growth were 28 °C and a 20% FBS concentration. DNA sequencing of 18S rRNA and mitochondrial 16S rRNA confirmed that GPF was derived from the golden pompano. Chromosomal analysis revealed that the number pattern of GPF was 48 chromosomes. Transfection experiments demonstrated that GPF could be utilized to express foreign genes. Furthermore, heavy metals (Cd, Cu, and Fe) exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity against GPF. After polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) treatment, transcription of the retinoic acid-inducible gene I-like receptor (RLR) pathway genes, including mda5, mita, tbk1, irf3, and irf7 increased, inducing the expression of interferon (IFN) and anti-viral proteins in GPF cells. In addition, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation up-regulated the expression of inflammation-related factors, including myd88, irak1, nfκb, il1ß, il6, and cxcl10 expression. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on the immune response signaling pathways of the golden pompano using an established fin cell line. In this study, we describe a preliminary investigation of the GPF cell line immune response to poly I:C and LPS, and provide a more rapid and efficient experimental material for research on marine fish immunology.

Floquet Fermi Liquid.

We demonstrate the existence of a nonequilibrium "Floquet Fermi liquid" state arising in partially filled Floquet Bloch bands weakly coupled to ideal fermionic baths, which possess a collection of "Floquet Fermi surfaces" enclosed inside each other, resembling matryoshka dolls. We elucidate several properties of these states, including their quantum oscillations under magnetic fields which feature slow beating patterns of their amplitude reflecting the different areas of the Floquet Fermi surfaces, consistent with those observed in microwave induced resistance oscillation experiments. We also investigate their specific heat and thermodynamic density of states and demonstrate how by controlling properties of the drive, such as its frequency, one can tune some of the Floquet Fermi surfaces toward nonequilibrium Van Hove singularities without changing the electron density.

Spiritual Needs and Influencing Factors of Postoperative Breast Cancer Women Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine the status of spiritual needs and influencing factors of postoperative breast cancer (BC) women undergoing chemotherapy. Participants and Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study. A total of 173 participants completed a general information questionnaire and a Chinese version of the Spiritual Needs Scale at the Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital. Data were collected by purposive sampling from December 2022 to April 2023. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, independent t-test, ANOVA, non-parametric test, and logistic regression analysis. Results: The spiritual needs of postoperative BC women undergoing chemotherapy were at a high level (84.20 ± 12.86). The need for "hope and peace" was considered paramount and the need for a "relationship with transcendence" was considered the least important. Significant differences were found in the following: spiritual needs total score (P=0.040) and "hope and peace" (P=0.021) in education level; "love and connection" in disease stage (P=0.021); "meaning and purpose" in education level (P=0.013), household income (P=0.012), and payment method (P=0.015); "relationship with transcendence" in religion (P<0.001); and "acceptance of dying" in marital status (P=0.023). The level of education was the influencing factor of spiritual needs (OR=1.50, P=0.005), especially for "hope and peace" (OR=1.50, P=0.012). Conclusion: The spiritual need of postoperative BC Chinese women undergoing chemotherapy is at a high level and should receive more attention. In clinical work, nurses should fully assess the spiritual needs of patients and meet their specific needs. Results may help nurses to develop targeted and comprehensive spiritual intervention strategies according to the characteristics of patients.

Evaluation of preoperative coagulation function changes and deep vein thrombosis incidence in elderly patients with hip fractures.

OBJECTIVE: This study involved an analysis of preoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) incidence and changes in coagulation function among elderly patients suffering from hip fractures. The objective was to offer guidance on the prevention and management of preoperative DVT in the lower extremities of elderly individuals with hip fractures. METHODS: A total of 282 elderly individuals with a hip fracture were enrolled and divided into two groups based on the location of the fracture: femoral intertrochanteric fracture (FIF, 161 individuals) and femoral neck fracture (FNF, 121 individuals). The two groups were compared with respect to baseline characteristics, including gender, age, and comorbid chronic diseases. Furthermore, the analysis encompassed the incidence of preoperative DVT in both lower extremities, along with seven coagulation parameters and platelet count before the surgical procedure. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in baseline information between the two groups. The incidence of preoperative DVT in the FIF group was higher than that in the FNF group, along with a significantly higher percentage of patients exhibiting increased levels of D-dimer and fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products (FDPs). CONCLUSION: Preoperative hypercoagulability and a greater prevalence of DVT were observed in elderly individuals with FIF compared to individuals with FNF. This indicates that clinicians should pay attention to elderly patients with FIFs, especially those with increased D-dimer and FDP levels.

Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma/Waldenström Macroglobulinemia Diagnosed Following Recurrent Epistaxis.

We present a rare case of Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma/Waldenström Macroglobulinemia (LPL/WM) diagnosed in a 65-year-old female initially presenting with recurrent bilateral epistaxis. Despite multiple cauterizations and a history of ineffective conventional treatments, comprehensive evaluations led to the diagnosis, underscoring the critical need for thorough investigation in persistent epistaxis cases, particularly when standard approaches fail. This case emphasizes the importance of considering indolent lymphomas in the differential diagnosis of recurrent epistaxis and showcases the diagnostic pathway leading to successful identification and treatment of a rare etiology. Laryngoscope, 2024.

Participation of Long Noncoding RNA FOXP4-AS1 in the Development and Progression of Endometrioid Carcinoma with Epigenetically Silencing DUSP5.

Background: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), as emerging regulators of a wide variety of biological processes via diverse mechanisms, have been demonstrated to be of increasing importance in biology. Genome-wide association studies of tumor samples have identified several lncRNAs as either oncogenes or tumor suppressors in various types of cancers. In recent years, the importance of lncRNAs, especially in endometrioid cancer (EEC), has become increasingly well understood. The lncRNA Forkhead box P4 antisense RNA 1 (FOXP4-AS1) has been reported to fulfill roles in several types of cancers; however, the main biological function and associated underlying molecular mechanism of FOXP4-AS1 in EEC have yet to be fully elucidated. Materials and Methods: The present study therefore aimed to investigate how RNA FOXP4-AS1 may participate in the development and progression of endometrioid carcinoma tissues. To meet this aim, in the present study, the expression level of FOXP4-AS1 was investigated in endometrioid carcinoma tissues and matching nearby normal endometrial tissues collected from patients receiving surgery at the hospital, and a series of molecular biological assays were performed to investigate the effect of FOXP4-AS1 on cell proliferation, cell migration, and cell invasion, and so on. Results: An increased concentration of FOXP4-AS1 was identified in endometrioid carcinoma samples and cell lines compared with the corresponding controls, and this lncRNA was found to be positively correlated with advanced FIGO stages in patients with endometrial cancer. Furthermore, knocking down endogenous FOXP4-AS1 led to a significant reduction in the colony formation number and a significant inhibition of cell proliferation, cell migration, and cell invasion in endometrioid carcinoma cells. Moreover, dual-specificity phosphatase 5 (DUSP5), which is lowly expressed in endometrioid carcinoma tissues cells and negatively modulated by FOXP4-AS1, was identified as the downstream target molecule of FOXP4-AS1. Subsequently, the mechanistic experiments confirmed that, through binding to enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2; one of the catalytic subunits of polycomb repressive complex 2 [PRC2]), FOXP4-AS1 could epigenetically suppress the expression of DUSP5. Finally, the oncogenic function of the FOXP4-AS1/EZH2/DUSP5 axis in endometrioid carcinoma was confirmed via rescue assays. Conclusions: The findings of the present study have highlighted how FOXP4-AS1 fulfills an oncogenic role in endometrioid carcinoma, and targeting FOXP4-AS1 and its pathway may provide new biomarkers for patients with endometrioid carcinoma.

The Effect of Perioperative Comprehensive Nursing on Patients Undergoing Ovary Endometriosis Laparoscopic Surgery.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of perioperative nursing interventions in improving outcomes and satisfaction for patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for ovarian endometriosis. Methods: From July 2021 to September 2022, 80 patients with endometriosis underwent laparoscopic surgery at Shijiazhuang Fourth Hospital and were randomly assigned to the conventional (n=40) and experimental (n=40) groups. During the perioperative period, patients in the conventional group received standard nursing interventions, while patients in the experimental group received comprehensive nursing interventions. The two groups were compared in terms of postoperative clinical indicators, self-rated anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rated depression scale (SDS) scores, nursing compliance, complications, and nursing satisfaction. Results: comprehensive nursing resulted in better postoperative clinical indices (time to get out of bed, hospital stay) versus routine nursing (all P < .001). The comprehensive nursing led to significantly lower SAS and SDS scores versus routine nursing. The nursing compliance of the patients in the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the patients in the conventional group (P < .001). Comprehensive nursing was associated with a significantly lower incidence of complications versus routine nursing (P < .001). Comprehensive nursing contributed to significantly higher nursing satisfaction versus routine nursing (P < .001). Conclusion: Comprehensive perioperative nursing interventions for patients with ovarian endometriosis undergoing laparoscopic surgery considerably accelerate patient recovery and enhance nursing compliance, as well as minimize patient negative emotions and improve patient satisfaction with nursing.  The comprehensive approach addresses the specific needs of patients during the recovery period, minimizing postoperative complications, accelerating patient recovery, and improving overall quality of life. By integrating psychological support, tailored strategies for pain management, early mobilization, and prompt intervention for complications, this intervention sets a benchmark for holistic care in gynecological surgery.

A retrospective study: exploring preoperative hyponatremia in elderly patients with hip fractures.

BACKGROUND: This research aims to examine the frequency, age-related distribution, and intensity of preoperative hyponatremia among elderly individuals with hip fractures. This study aims to provide valuable insights into the diagnosis of preoperative hyponatremia in this patient population. METHODS: This research involved the analysis of clinical data obtained from 419 elderly individuals with hip fractures (referred to as the fracture group) and 166 elderly individuals undergoing routine health examinations (designated as the control group). A comprehensive comparison was conducted, examining baseline characteristics such as age, gender, and comorbidities between these two groups. We further investigated variations in the incidence rate of hyponatremia, age distribution, and the severity of hyponatremia. Additionally, a subgroup analysis compared patients with femoral neck fractures to those with intertrochanteric femur fractures, specifically examining the incidence rate and severity of hyponatremia in these distinct fracture types. RESULTS: The incidence of cerebrovascular disease was found to be higher in the fracture group as compared to the control group in our research. Nevertheless, no significant differences in general health and other comorbidities were observed between the two groups. Notably, the fracture group exhibited a greater preoperative prevalence of hyponatremia, with its severity increasing with age. Furthermore, among elderly patients with intertrochanteric femur fractures, the incidence of preoperative hyponatremia was not only higher but also more severe when compared to those with femoral neck fractures. CONCLUSION: Elderly individuals experiencing hip fractures exhibit a notable prevalence of preoperative hyponatremia, predominantly mild to moderate, with an escalating occurrence linked to advancing age. This phenomenon is especially conspicuous among patients with intertrochanteric fractures, warranting dedicated clinical scrutiny. The administration of sodium supplementation is advisable for the geriatric demographic as deemed necessary. Addressing hyponatremia becomes crucial, as it may play a role in the etiology of hip fractures in the elderly, and rectifying this electrolyte imbalance could potentially serve as a preventive measure against such fractures.

Tunnel-Oriented VO2 (B) Cathode for High-Rate Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries.

Tunnel-type vanadium oxides are promising cathodes for aqueous zinc ion batteries. However, unlike layer-type cathodes with adjustable layer distances, enhancing ion-transport kinetics in tunnels characterized by fixed sizes poses a considerable challenge. This study highlights that the macroscopic arrangement of the electrode crucially determines tunnel orientation, thereby influencing ion transport. By changing the material morphology, the tunnel orientation can be optimized to facilitate rapid ion diffusion. In a proof-of-concept demonstration, it is revealed that (00l) facets-dominated VO2 (B) nanobelts with dispersive morphology (VO2-D) tend to adopt a stacking pattern with directional ion transport along the c-axis on the electrode and guarantee fast ion diffusion. Compared with the aggregated sample (VO2-A) that tends to random arrangement on the electrode with isotropic and slow ion transfer behavior, the electrode featuring dispersive (00l) facets-dominated VO2 (B) nanobelts displays directional and fast ion diffusion behavior, thus exhibits an ultrahigh-rate performance (420.8 and 344.8 mAh g-1 at 0.1 and 10 A g-1, respectively) and long cycling stability (84.3% capacity retention under 5000 cycles at 10 A g-1). The results suggest that simultaneous manipulation of exposed crystal facet and morphology-related electrode arrangement should be promising for boosting the ion-transport kinetics in tunnel-type vanadium oxide cathodes.

Serum tumor markers expression (CA199, CA242, and CEA) and its clinical implications in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Glucose and lipid metabolic disorder in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with the levels of serum tumor markers of the digestive tract, such as cancer antigen (CA)199. Therefore, tumor markers in T2DM are important. AIM: To evaluate the expression of serum tumor markers [CA199, CA242, and car-cinoembryonic antigen (CEA)] and the clinical implications of the expression in T2DM. METHODS: For this observational study conducted at Hefei BOE Hospital, China, we enrolled 82 patients with first-onset T2DM and 51 controls between April 2019 and December 2020. Levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), tumor markers (CA199, CEA, and CA242), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), etc. were measured and group index levels were compared. Moreover, FBG and HbA1c levels were correlated with tumor marker levels. Tumor markers were tested for diagnostic accuracy in patients with > 9% HbA1c using the receiver operating curve (ROC) curve. RESULTS: The T2DM group had high serum FBG, HbA1c, CA199, and CEA levels (P < 0.05). A comparative analysis of the two groups based on HbA1c levels (Group A: HbA1c ≤ 9%; Group B: HbA1c > 9%) revealed significant differences in CEA and CA199 levels (P < 0.05). The areas under the ROC curve for CEA and CA199 were 0.853 and 0.809, respectively. CA199, CEA, and CA242 levels positively correlated with HbA1c (r = 0.308, 0.426, and 0.551, respectively) and FBG levels (r = 0.236, 0.231, and 0.298, respectively). CONCLUSION: As compared to controls, serum CEA and CA199 levels were higher in patients with T2DM. HbA1c and FBG levels correlated with CA199, CEA, and CA242 levels. Patients with poorly controlled blood sugar must be screened for tumor markers.

The p38 MAPK/snail signaling axis participates in cadmium-induced lung cancer cell migration and invasiveness.

To determine that p38 MAPK activation contributes to the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells caused by cadmium (Cd). A549 lung cancer cell migration and invasion were assessed using a transwell plate system, and the role of p38 was determined by knocking down p38 activity with two different inhibitors of p38. The activity of p38 was measured by western blot analysis using phospho-specific p38 antibodies and normalized to blots using antibodies directed to total p38 proteins. Snail transcripts were measured using qRT-PCR. The inhibition of p38 blocked Cd-induced migration and invasion, which correlated with an increased activation of p38 as a function of dose and time. Furthermore, Cd-induced activation of p38 MAPK controlled the increase of snail mRNA expression. The p38 MAPK/snail signaling axis was involved in Cd-induced lung cancer cell migration and invasion.

Chloroform associated with bone mineral density and bone mineral content in adults: A population-based cross-sectional research.

BACKGROUND: Bone mineral density is an important indicator of osteoporosis, and its variation with volatile organic compounds exposure has rarely been studied. However, the relationship between chloroform (an essential volatile organic compounds component) and bone mineral density remains unclear. Consequently, we aimed to explore the relationship between chloroform alone and bone mineral density or bone mineral content. METHODS: Herein, 2,553 individuals aged 18 and above from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) in 2009-2010, 2013-2014, and 2017-2020, were included. We employed two independent t-tests and multi-linear regression models to statistically assess the relationship between chloroform exposure and BMD/BMC in the spine and femoral area. RESULTS: A "V"-shaped correlation between chloroform exposure and bone mineral density or bone mineral content (BMD/BMC) was observed in the unadjusted model, particularly in the Ward's triangle and femoral neck as a whole. A negative correlation was specifically observed for the Ward's triangle BMD/BMC and L4 BMD/BMC. On the other hand, in the adjusted model, a dominantly negative correlation between the L4 BMC and chloroform exposure was observed over a range of exposure levels. The subgroup analysis revealed a negative correlation between chloroform concentrations and BMC in the femur and spine, especially in women and the 65-80 age population. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed a "V" shaped correlation between chloroform and BMD/BMC of the femur and spine in U.S. adults. This finding highlights the fact that prolonged exposure to chloroform may cause the changes in BMD/BMC.

Establishment of self-reported hearing cut-off value on the Chinese version of short form of speech, spatial and qualities of hearing scale (SSQ12).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the Chinese version of Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (C-SSQ12) in the Chinese Mandarin-speaking population and to determine its screening cut-off value by comparing measured pure-tone average (PTA), the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly-Screening Version (HHIE-S) scores and C-SSQ12 scores. DESIGN: All participants completed the C-SSQ12 questionnaire and underwent the pure-tone audiometry. Older subjects aged ≧ 60 years completed the HHIE-S questionnaire. The optimal cut-off value for the C-SSQ12 as a hearing screening tool was calculated by comparing different cut-offs and hearing thresholds. STUDY SAMPLE: A total of 300 subjects were recruited. RESULTS: There was a negative correlation between C-SSQ12 scores and HHIE-S scores (r = -0.749). C-SSQ12 scores were negatively correlated with PTA (r = -0.507; r = -0.542). The best cut-off value for the C-SSQ12 was 6.0, with a sensitivity of 78.2%, specificity of 80.3%, positive predictive value of 63.7% and negative predictive value of 97.0% (PTA > 40dBHL for bilateral ears). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to mild hearing loss, the C-SSQ12 is a reliable and validated hearing screening tool with increased sensitivity for detecting moderate-to-severe hearing loss.

Relationship between bleeding sites and clinical data: experience of 646 epistaxis cases in 8 years.

PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the bleeding sites and their relationship with clinical characteristics in hospitalized epistaxis patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 646 hospitalized epistaxis patients. RESULTS: The bleeding sites were identified in 395 (61.1%) patients and unidentified in 251 (38.9%). We found that age > 50 years (P = 0.030) and the history of cardiovascular diseases (P = 0.027) were more frequent in patients with unidentified bleeding sites. Among patients with identified sites, inferior meatus (n = 130, 32.9%) was the most common site, followed by the septal surface of the olfactory region (n = 102, 25.8%), nasal septum (n = 80, 20.3%), middle meatus (n = 60, 15.2%), and others (n = 23, 5.8%). After dividing patients into five groups by the area of the bleeding sites, we found significant differences in age (P = 0.026), history of hypertension (P = 0.001), cardiovascular diseases (P = 0.032), and nasal packing (P = 0.011). The logistic regression also revealed that these four factors were predictors for different bleeding sites. CONCLUSION: The bleeding sites can be identified in most epistaxis patients. Age > 50 years and the history of cardiovascular diseases are more frequent in patients with unidentified bleeding sites. In our patients, the most common bleeding site is inferior meatus, followed by the septal surface of the olfactory region, nasal septum, and middle meatus. Age, histories of hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and nasal packing are factors associated with the bleeding risks of different bleeding sites. According to the different clinical characteristics of patients, the order of the nasal endoscopic examination should be adjusted to develop their treatment plans.

Recent advances in super-resolution optical imaging based on aggregation-induced emission.

Super-resolution imaging has rapidly emerged as an optical microscopy technique, offering advantages of high optical resolution over the past two decades; achieving improved imaging resolution requires significant efforts in developing super-resolution imaging agents characterized by high brightness, high contrast and high sensitivity to fluorescence switching. Apart from technical requirements in optical systems and algorithms, super-resolution imaging relies on fluorescent dyes with special photophysical or photochemical properties. The concept of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) was proposed in 2001, coinciding with unprecedented advancements and innovations in super-resolution imaging technology. AIE probes offer many advantages, including high brightness in the aggregated state, low background signal, a larger Stokes shift, ultra-high photostability, and excellent biocompatibility, making them highly promising for applications in super-resolution imaging. In this review, we summarize the progress in implementation methods and provide insights into the mechanism of AIE-based super-resolution imaging, including fluorescence switching resulting from photochemically-converted aggregation-induced emission, electrostatically controlled aggregation-induced emission and specific binding-regulated aggregation-induced emission. Particularly, the aggregation-induced emission principle has been proposed to achieve spontaneous fluorescence switching, expanding the selection and application scenarios of super-resolution imaging probes. By combining the aggregation-induced emission principle and specific molecular design, we offer some comprehensive insights to facilitate the applications of AIEgens (AIE-active molecules) in super-resolution imaging.

Gamma-band-based dynamic functional connectivity in pigeon entopallium during sample presentation in a delayed color matching task.

Birds have developed visual cognitions, especially in discriminating colors due to their four types of cones in the retina. The entopallium of birds is thought to be involved in the processing of color information during visual cognition. However, there is a lack of understanding about how functional connectivity in the entopallium region of birds changes during color cognition, which is related to various input colors. We therefore trained pigeons to perform a delayed color matching task, in which two colors were randomly presented in sample stimuli phrases, and the neural activity at individual recording site and the gamma band functional connectivity among local population in entopallium during sample presentation were analyzed. Both gamma band energy and gamma band functional connectivity presented dynamics as the stimulus was presented and persisted. The response features in the early-stimulus phase were significantly different from those of baseline and the late-stimulus phase. Furthermore, gamma band energy showed significant differences between different colors during the early-stimulus phase, but the global feature of the gamma band functional network did not. Further decoding results showed that decoding accuracy was significantly enhanced by adding functional connectivity features, suggesting the global feature of the gamma band functional network did not directly contain color information, but was related to it. These results provided insight into information processing rules among local neuronal populations in the entopallium of birds during color cognition, which is important for their daily life.