Physical Activity Levels and Factors Affecting Them in Hospitalized Children With Leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity promotes healthy physical and mental development in children with leukemia. However, the level of physical activity in hospitalized children with leukemia and the factors that influence it are unknown. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to understand the physical activity level of hospitalized children with leukemia and to explore the factors influencing it to provide a reference for physical activity assessment and intervention in such children. METHODS: A total of 133 hospitalized children with leukemia completed a general information questionnaire, the Chinese University of Hong Kong Physical Activity Rating for Children and Youth, and the Children's Social Anxiety Scale. A cross-sectional study was used to explore the effects of different variables on the children's activity levels. RESULTS: Among the study participants, 44.4% had a low-intensity activity level, 35.3% had a moderate-intensity activity level, and 20.3% had a high-intensity activity level, with a total physical activity rating of 3 (1, 6). Chemotherapy phase (P = .007), screen time (P = .001), and social anxiety (P = .012) were identified as influential factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that children with hospitalized leukemia had lower-intensity physical activity levels, especially in the chemotherapy phase of induction remission. Furthermore, screen time and social anxiety had negative effects on the children's activity levels. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: According to the physical activity level of the children and the influencing factors, healthcare professionals should gradually improve children's mobility and promote their physical and mental health development through guidance and encouragement, and the development of personalized activity intervention programs.

Rapamycin alleviates irradiation-induced parotid injury by enhancing the whole gland homeostasis.

OBJECTIVES: Salivary gland injury is one of the most common complications of radiotherapy in head-and-neck cancers. This study investigated the mechanism by which rapamycin prevents irradiation (IR)-induced injury in the parotid glands. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Miniature pigs either received (a) no treatment (NT), (b) IR in the right parotid gland for 5 consecutive days (IR), or intraperitoneal administration of rapamycin (Rap) 1 h prior to IR (IR + Rap). Tissues were collected at three distinct time points (24 h, 4 weeks, and 16 weeks) after IR. Histological analyses, western blot, and real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction were performed to explore the mechanisms of IR-induced injury in the parotid gland. RESULTS: Rapamycin treatment maintained parotid salivary flow 16 weeks post-IR, preserved the number of acinar cells, and reduced parotid tissue fibrosis, as well as reduced apoptosis levels, decreased cleaved caspase-3 expression, and increased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio in the parotid glands. Autophagy marker LC3B was upregulated by rapamycin after IR, while P62 expression was downregulated. Rapamycin reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory factors and the mesenchymal tissue fibrosis following IR. CONCLUSIONS: Rapamycin maintains gland homeostasis after IR by decreasing apoptosis, reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory factors, and enhancing autophagy.

An herbal formulation "Shugan Xiaozhi decoction" ameliorates methionine/choline deficiency-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis through regulating inflammation and apoptosis-related pathways.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Shugan Xiaozhi (SGXZ) decoction is a traditional Chinese medicine used for treating nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). It has been used clinically for over 20 years and proved to be effective; however, the molecular mechanism underlying the effects of SGXZ decoction remains unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: We analyzed the chemical components, core targets, and molecular mechanisms of SGXZ decoction to improve NASH through network pharmacology and in vivo experiments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemical components, core targets, and related signaling pathways of SGXZ decoction intervention in NASH were predicted using network pharmacology. Molecular docking was performed to verify chemical components and their core targets. The results were validated in the NASH model treated with SGXZ decoction. Mouse liver function was assessed by measuring ALT and AST levels. TC and TG levels were determined to evaluate lipid metabolism, and lipid deposition was assessed via oil red O staining. Mouse liver damage was determined via microscopy following hematoxylin and eosin staining. Liver fibrosis was assessed via Masson staining. Western blot (WB) and immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses were performed to detect inflammation and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins, including IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-18, TNF-α, MCP1, p53, FAS, Caspase-8, Caspase-3, Caspase-9, Bax, Bid, Cytochrome c, Bcl-2, and Bcl-XL. In addition, WB and IHC were used to assess protein expression associated with the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway. RESULTS: Quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, naringenin, and nobiletin in SGXZ decoction were effective chemical components in improving NASH, and TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß were the major core targets. Molecular docking indicated that these chemical components and major core targets might interact. KEGG pathway analysis showed that the pathways affected by SGXZ decoction, primarily including apoptosis and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathways, interfere with NASH. In vivo experiments indicated that SGXZ decoction considerably ameliorated liver damage, fibrosis, and lipid metabolism disorder in MCD-induced NASH mouse models. In addition, WB and IHC verified the underlying molecular mechanisms of SGXZ decoction as predicted via network pharmacology. SGXZ decoction inhibited the activation of apoptosis-related pathways in MCD-induced NASH mice. Moreover, SGXZ decoction suppressed the activation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway in MCD-induced NASH mice. CONCLUSION: SGXZ decoction can treat NASH through multiple targets and pathways. These findings provide new insights into the effective treatment of NASH using SGXZ decoction.

Reproductive outcomes of dual trigger therapy with GnRH agonist and hCG versus hCG trigger in women with diminished ovarian reserve: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) is one of the obstacles affecting the reproductive outcomes of patients receiving assisted reproductive therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether dual trigger, including gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), can improve pregnancy outcomes in patients with DOR undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles using mild stimulation protocols. METHODS: A total of 734 patients with DOR were included in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into a recombinant hCG trigger group and a dual trigger group (hCG combined with GnRHa) according to the different trigger drugs used. The main outcome measures included the number of oocytes retrieved, the fertilization rate, the number of transferable embryos, the implantation rate, the clinical pregnancy rate, the miscarriage rate, the live birth rate (LBR), and the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR). Generalized linear model and logistic regression analyses were performed for confounding factors. RESULTS: There were 337 cycles with a single hCG trigger and 397 cycles with dual trigger. The dual trigger group demonstrated significantly higher numbers of retrieved oocytes [3.60 vs. 2.39, adjusted ß = 0.538 (0.221-0.855)], fertilized oocytes [2.55 vs. 1.94, adjusted ß = 0.277 (0.031-0.523)] and transferable embryos [1.22 vs. 0.95, adjusted ß = 0.162 (-0.005-0.329)] than did the hCG trigger group, whereas no significant difference in the fertilization rate was observed between the two groups. Moreover, the embryo transfer cancellation rate (35.5% vs. 43.9%) was obviously lower in the dual trigger group. Among the fresh embryo transfer cycles, the implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate and live birth rate were similar between the two groups. After controlling for potential confounding variables, the trigger method was identified as an independent factor affecting the number of oocytes retrieved but had no significant impact on the CLBR. CONCLUSIONS: Dual triggering of final oocyte maturation with hCG combined with GnRHa can significantly increase the number of oocytes retrieved in patients with DOR but has no improvement effect on the implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate or LBR of fresh cycles or on the CLBR.

Application of Slice Culture System for Successional Dental Lamina in Diphyodont Mammals.

Replacement teeth develop from the successional dental lamina (SDL). Understanding how SDL transitions from quiescence to initiation is crucial for preserving dental lamina stem cells in the jawbone microenvironment and for complete tooth regeneration. Miniature pigs are good models for studying human tooth replacement because of their similarities to humans. However, the molecular mechanisms and cellular composition that initiate SDL development remain unclear. One possible reason for this is the limitations of the current methods for culturing SDL in vitro, such as the inability to directly observe tooth morphological changes during culture and low tissue viability. This study aimed to improve the in vitro culture method for SDL. Using a McIlwain Tissue Chopper, we obtained mandibular slices containing deciduous canine and SDL of permanent canine. The slices were approximately 500 µm thick and were cultured on a Transwell membrane supported with metal grids over medium. The SDL developed into the bud stage on the second day and entered the cap stage on the fifth day in vitro. The expression of proliferation markers, cell death markers, and key odontogenetic genes in vitro was similar to that observed in vivo. In conclusion, we successfully applied a slice culture system to the SDL of miniature pigs. This slice culture method allowed us to directly visualize SDL initiation and further elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the initiation of permanent tooth development.

Salivary nitrate prevents osteoporosis via regulating bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells proliferation and differentiation.

Background: Nitrate, a key component of saliva, has been shown widely physiological functions in the human body. But its function on bone metabolism remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the function and mechanism of saliva nitrate on osteoporosis and the function of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Methods: Saliva nitrate removal or supplemental interventions were performed for 1 month in ovariectomized (OVX) osteopenia mice. The nitrate levels in saliva and serum were detected. The bone formation and bone microarchitecture in the OVX mouse model were investigated by quantitative Micro--computed tomography imaging, histological staining and serum bone biomarker analysis. The effects of nitrate on the functional homeostasis of BMSCs in OVX mice were explored by Ki67 immunofluorescence staining, Ki67 flow staining, alizarin red staining, qPCR and western blotting. Finally, downstream signaling pathways were screened by proteomics and verified by western blotting. Results: The results showed that nitrate deficiency exacerbated osteoporosis, while nitrate administration prevent osteoporosis in OVX mice. Nitrate increased the expression of PINP, a biomarker of bone formation, in OVX mice. Besides, nitrate enhanced the proliferative capacity and osteogenic function of BMSCs in OVX mice in vitro and in vivo. In addition, nitrate upregulated the expression levels of osteogenesis-related genes ALP, Run2 and OPN of BMSCs. EGFR and mTOR signaling were screened as the key downstream of nitrate, and phosphorylated protein levels of its subfamily members AKT, ERK and S6K were significantly upregulated by nitrate. Conclusion: The present results showed saliva nitrate preventively protects against osteoporosis through enhances the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation potential of BMSCs. The effects of nitrate on bone homeostasis are closely related to the EGFR/AKT/ERK and mTOR/S6K signaling axes. The translational potential of this article: Our study provides experimental evidence for the use of saliva nitrate as an effective candidate for the prevention of osteoporosis and maintenance of bone homeostasis.

SIRT3 regulates cardiolipin biosynthesis in pressure overload-induced cardiac remodeling by PPARγ-mediated mechanism.

Cardiac remodeling is the primary pathological feature of chronic heart failure (HF). Exploring the characteristics of cardiac remodeling in the very early stages of HF and identifying targets for intervention are essential for discovering novel mechanisms and therapeutic strategies. Silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 3 (SIRT3), as a major mitochondrial nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent deacetylase, is required for mitochondrial metabolism. However, whether SIRT3 plays a role in cardiac remodeling by regulating the biosynthesis of mitochondrial cardiolipin (CL) is unknown. In this study, we induced pressure overload in wild-type (WT) and SIRT3 knockout (SIRT3-/-) mice via transverse aortic constriction (TAC). Compared with WT mouse hearts, the hearts of SIRT3-/- mice exhibited more-pronounced cardiac remodeling and fibrosis, greater reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, decreased mitochondrial-membrane potential (ΔΨm), and abnormal mitochondrial morphology after TAC. Furthermore, SIRT3 deletion aggravated TAC-induced decrease in total CL content, which might be associated with the downregulation of the CL synthesis related enzymes cardiolipin synthase 1 (CRLS1) and phospholipid-lysophospholipid transacylase (TAFAZZIN). In our in vitro experiments, SIRT3 overexpression prevented angiotensin II (AngII)- induced aberrant mitochondrial function, CL biosynthesis disorder, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) downregulation in cardiomyocytes; meanwhile, SIRT3 knockdown exacerbated these effects. Moreover, the addition of GW9662, a PPARγ antagonist, partially counteracted the beneficial effects of SIRT3 overexpression. In conclusion, SIRT3 regulated PPARγ-mediated CL biosynthesis, maintained the structure and function of mitochondria, and thereby protected the myocardium against cardiac remodeling.

Quality of working life and adaptability of returning to work in nurse cancer survivors: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between quality of working life (QWL) and adaptability of returning to work (RTW) among nurse cancer survivors (NCSs). METHOD: We conducted a cross-sectional study on nurses previously diagnosed with cancer. QWL was quantified using the Quality of Working Life Scale (QWL7-32), and the level of RTW adaptability was assessed using the Adaptability of Returning to Work for Cancer Survivors (ARTW-CS) scale. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to control for confounding factors, and a simple effect analysis was performed on the interaction term. RESULTS: After controlling for sociodemographic, work-related, and health-related factors, the findings indicated a significant correlation between "adaptation and planning" and QWL score (p < 0.05). Further analysis revealed that "RTW gradualness" and "support seeking" had an interaction effect (p = 0.021). The simple effect analysis demonstrated that when the "RTW gradualness" score was ≥ 16 points, nurses with a high "support seeking" score (≥ 7 points) exhibited a significantly better QWL than those with a low "support seeking" score (< 7 points) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The interaction between "RTW gradualness" and "support seeking" in the ARTW-CS scale significantly impacted the QWL of the NCSs, underscoring the importance of implementing a gradual career plan and seeking support to enhance QWL.

Analysis of Distribution of Intracranial and Extracranial Atherosclerotic Lesions and Risk Factors for Recurrence in First-Ever and Recurrent Ischemic Stroke Patients in Northeast China.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to analyze the distribution characteristics of atherosclerotic lesions and the risk factors of recurrence in patients with ischemic stroke. Methods: A total of 505 patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke from October 2016 to October 2022 were included. Divide 505 patients with ischemic stroke into old stroke group and new stroke group. Patients without old cerebral infarction were included in the first ischemic stroke group (first group), while patients with old cerebral infarction were included in the recurrent ischemic stroke group (recurrence group).Carotid artery color Doppler ultrasonography and transcranial Doppler ultrasonography were performed on all patients. Results: We compared the distribution and risk factors of atherosclerotic lesions between the first and recurrent groups (378 cases) (127 cases). Mild, moderate, and severe stenosis of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and occlusion of the intracranial vertebral artery (VA) were the most common in both groups. Intracranial artery stenosis is significantly higher than extracranial artery stenosis, and the anterior circulation artery is more affected than the posterior circulation artery. In the initial and recurrent groups, the proportion of patients with intracranial artery stenosis was significantly higher than that of patients with extracranial artery stenosis (43.4% vs. 22.5% and 53.4% vs. 22.5%), and the number of patients with anterior circulation stenosis was higher than that of other groups. Compared with the first group, the recurrence group had a higher incidence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insufficient physical exercise. There is a significant difference in the levels of triglycerides (TG) and platelets (PLT) between the two groups in biochemical indicators. In the first group, infarction was most common in 284 cases (75.1%) of the frontal lobe, followed by 232 cases (61.4%) of the basal ganglia, and 147 cases (38.9%) of the parietal lobe. In the recurrence group, the proportion of frontal lobe infarction [284 (74.0%)], basal ganglia infarction [232 (70.1%)], and parietal lobe infarction [147 (37.0%)] was the highest. It can be observed that the recurrence group had a higher incidence of basal ganglia infarction (70.1% vs. 61.4%), but a lower incidence of occipital lobe infarction (0.8% vs. 4.2%). Conclusions: Our study found no significant difference in the distribution of intracranial and extracranial atherosclerotic lesions between first-ever and recurrent ischemic stroke patients in China. Notably, hypertension, years of dyslipidemia, insufficient physical exercise, elevated triglyceride (TG) levels, and increased platelet (PLT) counts were identified as significant risk factors for stroke recurrence. These findings may have implications for the management and prevention of recurrent ischemic strokes in clinical practice.

Effects of coffee and tea on postprandial cardiometabolic risk factors in healthy individuals: a randomized crossover trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The effect of different coffee and tea consumption on postprandial glucose and lipid metabolism has never been reported previously. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of different coffee or tea consumption at breakfast on postprandial cardiometabolic risk factors in healthy individuals. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Eighteen healthy young subjects completed the trial. After 8-hour overnight fast, volunteers either ingested water, freeze-dried coffee, spray-dried coffee, green tea, black tea or oolong tea together with a breakfast consisting of an egg and 180g deep-fried dough sticks. Blood was drawn at 0h, 0.5h, 1h, 2h, and 3h. RESULTS: The differences in triglyceride (TG) values relative to the baseline levels at 2h and 3h of green tea was significantly decreased compared with black tea and oolong tea (p<0.05). Compared with black tea, green tea and oolong tea significantly reduced postprandial total cholesterol (TC) levels (p<0.05, p<0.01), respectively. Furthermore, the serum concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were substantially decreased after oolong tea consumption compared with black tea (p<0.05, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Green tea ingestion can lower the elevation of serum TG and TC levels after high-fat or high-cholesterol diets. Our findings have far-reaching implications given the widespread use of coffee and tea and the current concern over cardiometabolic risk factors.

[Carbon Reduction Analysis of Life Cycle Prediction Assessment of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles：Considering Regional Features and Vehicle Type Differences].

As one of the important paths for China to achieve the "dual carbon" strategy， developing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is currently being promoted in various regions across the country， including passenger cars， coaches， and heavy-duty trucks. Quantifying the carbon reduction potential of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for different vehicle types and regions has become a hot research topic. Using a life cycle assessment method that considers future vehicle fuel economy， power generation carbon emission factors， hydrogen production carbon emission factors， and regional differences in the scale and hydrogen production methods， this study quantitatively evaluated the life cycle carbon emissions of different types of vehicles， including fuel cell vehicles （FCV）， traditional fuel vehicles （ICEV）， and battery electric vehicles （BEV）. We compared and analyzed the carbon reduction potential of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles at different times and in different regions and conducted an uncertainty analysis on hydrogen consumption per hundred kilometers. The results showed that by 2025， the life cycle carbon emissions of hydrogen fuel cell coaches would decrease by 36.0% compared to that of traditional fuel coaches， but the reduction in carbon emissions for hydrogen fuel cell heavy-duty trucks was not significant. By 2035， as the hydrogen energy source structure in China continues to improve， the life cycle carbon emissions of hydrogen fuel cell heavy-duty trucks were predicted to decrease by 36.5% compared to that of traditional fuel heavy-duty trucks. The decarbonization potential was most significant for heavy-duty trucks compared to that of passenger cars and coaches. Taking the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei demonstration group as an example in 2035， as the hydrogen consumption per hundred kilometers decreases by 20%， the carbon reduction potential of FCV passenger cars， coaches， and heavy-duty trucks would increase by 7.29%， 9.93%， and 19.57%， respectively. Therefore， it is recommended to prioritize the promotion of hydrogen fuel cell coaches in the short term， heavy-duty trucks in the long term， and passenger cars as a supplement. Promoting hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in different regions and stages will help advance the low-carbon development of the automotive industry in China.

[Advances in the role and mechanism of NK cell immune response mediated by NKG2A-HLA-E axis in viral infectious diseases].

Natural killer (NK) cells directly lysis the virus-infected cells through rapidly releasing cytotoxic mediators and cytokines. The balance between inhibitory and activated receptors on the surface of NK cells, as well as the corresponding ligands expressed on target cells are involved in the regulation of the cytotoxic function of NK cells. NKG2A is one of the highly anticipated inhibitory receptors expressed on NK cells, which can inhibit the cytotoxicity of NK cells to autologous normal tissue cells through interacting with the ligand HLA-E. The studies have shown that HLA-E is overexpressed on virus-infected cells and forms a complex with peptides derived from viral proteins. The interaction of HLA-E and NKG2A can regulate the functions of NK cells, participateing the pathogenesis process of virus infectious diseases. This review outlines the characteristics of the molecular interaction between NKG2A and HLA-E, as well as the mechanisms of NKG2A-HLA-E axis in regulating NK cell responses.

A natural mutation in the promoter of the aconitase gene ZjACO3 influences fruit citric acid content in jujube.

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) is the most economically important fruit tree of the Rhamnaceae and was domesticated from wild or sour jujube (Z. jujuba Mill. var. spinosa Hu). During the process of domestication, there was a substantial reduction in the content of organic acids, particularly malate and citrate, which greatly influence the taste and nutritional value of the fruit. We previously demonstrated that ZjALMT4 is crucial for malate accumulation. However, the mechanism of citrate degradation in jujube remains poorly understood. In the present study, aconitase ZjACO3 was shown to participate in citric acid degradation in the cytoplasm through the GABA pathway. Interestingly, we discovered an E-box mutation in the ZjACO3 promoter (-484A > G; CAAGTG in sour jujube mutated to CAGGTG in cultivated jujube) that was strongly correlated with fruit citrate content; 'A' represented a high-citrate genotype and 'G' represented a low-citrate genotype. We developed and validated an ACO-based Kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) marker for determining citric acid content. Yeast one-hybrid screening, transient dual-luciferase assays, and overexpression analyses showed that the transcription factor ZjbHLH113 protein directly binds to CAGGTG in the promoter of ZjACO3 in cultivated jujube plants, transcriptionally activating ZjACO3 expression, and enhancing citric acid degradation. Conversely, binding ability of the ZjbHLH113 protein to CAAGTG was weakened in sour jujube, thereby promoting citrate accumulation in the fruit. These findings will assist in elucidating the mechanism by which ZjACO3 modulates citrate accumulation in sour jujube and its cultivars.

Underwater versus conventional endoscopic mucosal resection for ≥10 mm sessile or flat colorectal polyps: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Underwater endoscopic mucosal resection (UEMR) has been an emerging substitute for conventional EMR (CEMR). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at comparing the efficiency and safety of the two techniques for removing ≥10 mm sessile or flat colorectal polyps. METHODS: PubMed, Cochrane Library and Embase databases were searched up to February 2023 to identify eligible studies that compared the outcomes of UEMR and CEMR. This meta-analysis was conducted on the en bloc resection rate, R0 resection rate, complete resection rate, procedure time, adverse events rate and recurrence rate. RESULTS: Nine studies involving 1,727 colorectal polyps were included: 881 were removed by UEMR, and 846 were removed by CEMR. UEMR was associated with a significant increase in en bloc resection rate [Odds ratio(OR) 1.69, 95% confidence interval(CI) 1.36-2.10, p<0.00001, I2 = 33%], R0 resection rate(OR 1.52, 95%CI 1.14-2.03, p = 0.004, I2 = 31%) and complete resection rate(OR 1.67, 95%CI 1.06-2.62, p = 0.03, I2 = 0%) as well as a significant reduction in procedure time(MD ‒4.27, 95%CI ‒7.41 to ‒1.13, p = 0.008, I2 = 90%) and recurrence rate(OR 0.52, 95%CI 0.33-0.83, p = 0.006, I2 = 6%). Both techniques were comparable in adverse events rate. CONCLUSION: UEMR can be a safe and efficient substitute for CEMR in removing ≥10 mm sessile or flat colorectal polyps. More studies verifying the advantages of UEMR over CEMR are needed to promote its application.

Efficacy of auricular acupressure on lung function among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

OBJECTIVES: To systematically evaluate the efficacy of auricular acupressure on lung function, sleep quality and quality of life in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. BACKGROUND: Auricular acupressure has been increasingly used in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, such as lung function and sleep quality, but the efficacy has not yet been unified. DESIGN: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. METHODS: Randomised controlled trials comparing auricular acupressure intervention with non-auricular acupressure intervention in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients were included. We searched English databases and Chinese databases from the inception to 26 December 2022. The risk of bias was assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The PRISMA statement was used to report a meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 12 randomised controlled trials with 987 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients were included. The meta-analysis showed that auricular acupressure had significant differences in improving lung function, including FEV1 (MD = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.21 to 0.37, p < .0001), FVC (MD = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.34, p < .0001) and FEV1/FVC (MD = 4.70, 95% CI: 3.63 to 5.78, p < .0001). There was also a positive effect on sleep quality (MD = -0.71, 95% CI: -0.89 to -0.53, p < .0001) and quality of life (MD = -3.20, 95% CI: -3.92 to -2.49, p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated auricular acupressure had a positive efficacy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients to improve lung function, sleep quality and quality of life, but these results should be treated with caution due to the low quality of included studies. Future researchers need to conduct more high-quality randomised controlled trials to provide a solid basis to demonstrate the efficacy of auricular acupressure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. RELEVANT TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Auricular acupressure has the advantages of being non-invasive, convenient and without significant side effects. This review suggested auricular acupressure could be considered a non-pharmacological intervention for patients. Clinical nurses can teach chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients to perform auricular acupressure to help self-manage complications. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No Patient or Public Contribution.

The role of CEMIP in cancers and its transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation.

CEMIP is a protein known for inducing cell migration and binding to hyaluronic acid. Functioning as a hyaluronidase, CEMIP primarily facilitates the breakdown of the extracellular matrix component, hyaluronic acid, thereby regulating various signaling pathways. Recent evidence has highlighted the significant role of CEMIP in different cancers, associating it with diverse pathological states. While identified as a biomarker for several diseases, CEMIP's mechanism in cancer seems distinct. Accumulating data suggests that CEMIP expression is triggered by chemical modifications to itself and other influencing factors. Transcriptionally, chemical alterations to the CEMIP promoter and involvement of transcription factors such as AP-1, HIF, and NF-κB regulate CEMIP levels. Similarly, specific miRNAs have been found to post-transcriptionally regulate CEMIP. This review provides a comprehensive summary of CEMIP's role in various cancers and explores how both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms control its expression.

Propagation effects in polarization-gated attosecond soft-X-ray pulse generation.

Accurate estimation of the duration of soft-x-ray pulses from high-harmonic generation (HHG) remains challenging given their higher photon energies and broad spectral bandwidth. The carrier-envelope-phase (CEP) dependence of generated soft-x-ray spectra is indicative of attosecond pulse generation, but advanced simulations are needed to infer the pulse duration from such data. Here, we employ macroscopic propagation simulations to reproduce experimental polarization-gated CEP-dependent soft-x-ray spectra. The simulations indicate chirped pulses, which we theoretically find to be compressible in hydrogen plasmas, suggesting this as a viable compression scheme for broadband soft-x-rays from HHG.

The effect of the fear factor on the dynamics of an eco-epidemiological system with standard incidence rate.

In order to protect endangered prey, ecologists suggest introducing parasites into predators which have achieved the expected goal in practice. Then how to explain the inherent mechanism and validate the effectiveness of this approach theoretically? In response to this question, we propose an eco-epidemiological system with the standard incidence rate and the anti-predator behavior in this paper, where the predator population is infected by parasites. We show the existence and local stability of equilibria for the system, and verify the occurrence of Hopf bifurcation. Theoretical and numerical results suggest that the fear effect reduces the density of the predator population but has no effect on the density of prey population. In addition, the cost of fear may not only break the stability of the equilibrium of the system, but also induce the equilibrium to change from unstable to stable. Based on the theoretical analysis, we confirm that introducing parasites into the predator population is an effective method to protect endangered prey.

Efficient Integration of Rate-Adaptive Reconciliation with Syndrome-Based Error Estimation and Subblock Confirmation for Quantum Key Distribution.

An effective post-processing algorithm is essential for achieving high rates of secret key generation in quantum key distribution. This work introduces an approach to quantum key distribution post-processing by integrating the three main steps into a unified procedure: syndrome-based error estimation, rate-adaptive reconciliation, and subblock confirmation. The proposed scheme employs low-density parity-check codes to estimate the quantum bit error rate using the syndrome information, and to optimize the channel coding rates based on the Slepian-Wolf coding scheme for the rate-adaptive method. Additionally, this scheme incorporates polynomial-based hash verification in the subblock confirmation process. The numerical results show that the syndrome-based estimation significantly enhances the accuracy and consistency of the estimated quantum bit error rate, enabling effective code rate optimization for rate-adaptive reconciliation. The unified approach, which integrates rate-adaptive reconciliation with syndrome-based estimation and subblock confirmation, exhibits superior efficiency, minimizes practical information leakage, reduces communication rounds, and guarantees convergence to the identical key. Furthermore, the simulations indicate that the secret key throughput of this approach achieves the theoretical limit in the context of a BB84 quantum key distribution system.

A preventative role of nitrate for hypoxia-induced intestinal injury.

BACKGROUND: Studying effective interventions for hypoxia-induced injury is crucial, particularly in high-altitude areas. Symptoms stemming from intestinal injuries have a significant impact on the health of individuals transitioning from plains to plateau regions. This research explores the effects and mechanisms of nitrate supplementation in preventing hypoxia-induced intestinal injury. METHODS: A hypoxia survival mouse model was established using 7% O2 conditions. The intervention with 4 mM sodium nitrate (NaNO3) in drinking water commenced 7 days prior to hypoxia exposure. Weight monitoring, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and intestinal permeability assays were employed for physiological, histological, and functional analyses. Quantitative PCR (qPCR), Western blot, and immunofluorescence were utilized to analyze the levels of tight junction (TJ) proteins and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (Hif 1α). RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) identified nitrate's target, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) verified the transcriptional impact of Hif 1α on TJ proteins. Villin-cre mice infected with AAV9-FLEX-EGFP-Hif 1α were used for mechanism validation. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that nitrate supplementation significantly alleviated small intestinal epithelial cell necrosis, intestinal permeability, disruption of TJs, and weight loss under hypoxia. Moreover, the nitrate-triggered enhancement of TJs is mediated by Hif 1α nuclear translocation and its subsequent transcriptional function. The effect of nitrate supplementation on TJs was largely attributed to the stimulation of the EGFR/PI3K/AKT/mTOR/Hif 1α signaling pathways. CONCLUSION: Nitrate serves as a novel approach in preventing hypoxia-induced intestinal injury, acting through Hif 1α activation to promote the transcription of TJ proteins. Furthermore, our study provides new and compelling evidence for the protective effects of nitrate in hypoxic conditions, especially at high altitudes.