Information management of full-cycle inpatient bed reservation for cancer patients under the normalised prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: During the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals became focal points for normalised prevention and control. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of an inpatient bed reservation system for cancer patients that was developed in the department?s public WeChat account. We also explored its role in improving operational efficiency and nursing quality management, as well as in optimising nursing workforce deployment. METHODS: We utilised WeChat to facilitate communication between cancer patients and health care professionals. Furthermore, we collected data on admissions, discharges, average number of hospitalisation days, bed utilisation rate, and the number of bed days occupied by hospitalised patients through the hospital information system and nurses? working hours and competency levels through the nurse scheduling system. The average nursing hours per patient per day were calculated. Through the inpatient bed reservation system, the number of accepted admissions, denied admissions, and cancelled admissions from the reservation system were collected. The impact of the bed reservation system on the department?s operational efficiency was analysed by comparing the number of hospitalisation discharges before and after reservations, as well as the average hospitalisation and bed utilisation rates. By comparing nurses? working hours per month and average nursing hours per patient per day, the system?s impact on nurses? working hours and nursing quality indicators was analysed. RESULTS: The average hospitalisation length, bed utilisation rate, and nurses? working hours were significantly lower, and the average number of nursing hours per patient per day was significantly higher after the implementation of the reservation system. The full-cycle bed information management model for cancer patients did not affect the number of discharged patients. CONCLUSION: Patients? ability to reserve bed types from home in advance using the department?s official WeChat-based inpatient bed reservation system allowed nurses to prepare for their work ahead of time. This in turn improved the operational efficiency of the department and nursing quality, and it optimised the deployment of the nursing workforce.

Identification of endocrine-disrupting chemicals targeting key OP-associated genes via bioinformatics and machine learning.

Osteoporosis (OP), a metabolic disorder predominantly impacting postmenopausal women, has seen considerable progress in diagnosis and treatment over the past few decades. However, the intricate interplay between genetic factors and endocrine disruptors (EDCs) in the pathogenesis of OP remains inadequately elucidated. The objective of this research is to examine the environmental pollutants and their regulatory mechanisms that could potentially influence the pathogenesis of OP, in order to establish a theoretical foundation for the targeted prevention and medical management of individuals with OP. Utilizing CTD and GEO datasets, network toxicology and bioinformatics analyses were conducted to identify target genes from a pool of 98 co-associated genes. Subsequently, a novel prediction model was developed employing a multiple machine learning algorithm. The efficacy of the model was validated based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Finally, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to confirm the expression levels of key genes in clinical samples. We have identified significant genes (FOXO3 and LUM) associated with OP and conducted Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis, immune infiltration analysis, and molecular docking analysis. Through the analysis of these key genes, we have identified 13 EDCs that have the potential to impact OP. Several endocrine disruptors, such as Dexamethasone, Perfluorononanoic acid, genistein, cadmium, and bisphenol A, have been identified as notable environmental pollutants that impact the OP. Molecular docking analysis revealed significant binding affinity of major EDCs to the post-translational protein structures of key genes. This study demonstrates that EDCs, including dexamethasone, perfluorononanoic acid, genistein, cadmium, and bisphenol A, can be identified as important environmental pollutants affecting OP, and that FOXO3 and LUM have the potential to be diagnostic markers for OP. These results elucidate a novel association between EDCs regulated by key genes and the onset of OP.

A new coumarin and a new flavonoid from Ochrocarpus longifolius.

A new coumarin (1) and a new flavonoid (2) were isolated from the air-dried flower buds of Ochrocarpus longifolius, together with ten known compounds (3-12). The structures of two new compounds were established by 1D and 2D NMR and MS data. In addition, the new compound 2 showed significant proliferation inhibitory activity on Eca-109 and MGC-803 cells. The results of this study may enrich the diversity of compounds from O. longifolius and provide a basis for further research on its natural products and pharmacological activities.

[Study on chemical components of Hypericum himalaicum and mechanism of anti-inflammatory based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology].

The chemical constituents of ethyl acetate from Hypericum himalaicum were isolated by silica gel column chromatography, gel column chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography. The structure of the isolated compounds was identified by modern spectral techniques(NMR, MS, IR, and UV), and the potential anti-inflammatory targets and action pathways were analyzed and predicted by network pharmacology and molecular docking methods.Ten compounds were isolated from H. himalaicum and identified as 5,9,11-trihydroxy-3,3-dimethyl-3H,8H-benzo[6,7][1,4]dioxepino[2,3-f]chromen-8-one(1), betulinic acid(2), demethyltorosaflavone C(3), kaempferol(4), quercetin(5), hyperwightin B(6), toxyloxanthone B(7), 1,7-dihydroxy-xanthone(8), emodin(9), and 1,7-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-xanthone(10). Among them, compound 1 was a new compound, and compounds 2-10 were isolated from H. himalaicum for the first time. Network pharmacology screened 60 key anti-inflammatory targets. By acting on TNF, AKT1, CASP3, and other key targets, involving PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, VEGF signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, and other signaling pathways, and phosphorylation, cell migration and movement, protein tyrosine kinase, and other biological processes were regulated to achieve anti-inflammatory effects. The results of molecular docking show that the above components have good binding properties with the core targets.

[A new xanthone from Hypericum lagarocladum].

Repeated silica gel column chromatography, reversed-phase C_(18) column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography and semi-preparative medium pressure liquid chromatography were performed to separate and purify the chemical constituents of Hypericum lagarocladum. Spectroscopic methods such as mass spectrometry(MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) combined with physicochemical properties were adopted in identifying the structure of the isolated compounds. Ten compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of H. lagarocladum and identified as lagarxanthone A(1), 1,7-dihydroxyxanthone(2), 3,4,5-trihydroxyxanthone(3), 2,7-dihydroxy-1-methoxyxanthone(4), 1,3-dihydroxy-7-methoxyxanthone(5), 1,5-dihydroxy-8-methoxyxanthone(6), 3,4-dihydroxy-2-methoxyxanthone(7), 3,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxyxanthone(8), 2,3-dimethoxyxanthone(9), and 2,3,4-trimethoxyxanthone(10). Among them, compound 1 was a new compound, and compounds 2-10 were isolated from this plant for the first time. These ten compounds were tested for glucose uptake in L6 cells, and the results showed that all the compounds had no significant effect on glucose uptake.

[Polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols from Hypericum species and their biological activities].

Hypericum species are distributed widely in China, especially in the southwest. This genus is rich in species types in China, including 55 species and 8 subspecies. The main chemical constituents of Hypericum species are flavonoids, xanthones and polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols(PPAPs). PPAPs are characterized by polycyclic and branched-chain substitutions in their structures, which make their structure types diverse. Moreover, they have been found to have antitumor, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and other biological activities. This research classified and summarized 344 polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols from Hypericum plants in order to provide a scientific basis for further development and utilization of PPAPs from the genus.

Curcumin potentiates laryngeal squamous carcinoma radiosensitivity via NF-ΚB inhibition by suppressing IKKγ expression.

Context: Curcumin has shown efficacy in promoting radiosensitivity combined with radiotherapy. However, the role and mechanism of curcumin on radiosensitivity in laryngeal squamous cell cancer (LSCC) is largely unknown.Objective: The aim of our study is to explore the role of IKKγ-NF-κB signaling in curcumin enhancing LSCC cell radiosensitivity in vitro.Materials and methods: Curcumin and X-ray were used to induce cell DNA damage and apoptosis, or inhibit cell clone formation. IKKγ siRNA and plasmid were used to change IKKγ expression. The CCK8 assay was used to detect cell viability. Clone formation ability was analyzed using a clonogenic assay, cell apoptosis was examined using flow cytometry, an immunofluorescence assay was used to detect DNA damage, while mRNA and protein levels were assayed using real time PCR and western blotting, respectively.Results: Curcumin significantly enhanced irradiation-induced DNA damage and apoptosis, while weakening clone-forming abilities of LSCC cell line Hep2 and Hep2-max. Compared to Hep2 cells, Hep2-max cells are more sensitive to curcumin post-irradiation. Curcumin suppressed irradiation-induced NF-κB activation by suppressing IKKγ expression, but not IKKα and IKKß. Overexpression of IKKγ decreased irradiation-induced DNA damage and apoptosis, while promoting clone-forming abilities of Hep2 and Hep2-max cells. IKKγ overexpression further increased expression of NF-κB downstream genes, Bcl-XL, Bcl-2, and cyclin D1. Conversely, IKKγ silencing enhanced irradiation-induced DNA damage and apoptosis, but promoted clone formation in Hep2 and Hep2-max cells. Additionally, IKKγ silencing inhibited expression of Bcl-XL, Bcl-2, and cyclin D1.Conclusions: Curcumin enhances LSCC radiosensitivity via NF-ΚB inhibition by suppressing IKKγ expression.

Protection of Curcumin against Streptozocin-Induced Pancreatic Cell Destruction in T2D Rats.

As a kind of traditional Chinese medicine extract, curcumin has been proven to be effective in inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis in pancreatic islet ß cells in the streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus rat model, although the underlying mechanism has not yet been clarified. To examine the effect of curcumin on inflammation and apoptosis in pancreatic islet ß cells, we established a type 2 diabetes rat model by feeding the animals a high-fat diet and intraperitoneally injecting streptozotocin. The curcumin was administered by intraperitoneal injection. The rat body weight, fasting blood glucose, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests, and insulin tolerance tests were recorded and analyzed. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used for morphological analysis, and a TUNEL assay was performed to detect the apoptotic cells. The expression levels of proteins related to oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis were detected by Western blotting and ELISA. Curcumin administration significantly decreased fasting blood glucose and promoted recovery of pancreas function in type 2 diabetes rats. In curcumin-treated rats, the pancreatic tissue destruction and apoptosis index were reduced. The expression of IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, caspase-3, Bax, and malondialdehyde were significantly reduced, and Bcl-2, superoxide dismutase 2, and glutathione peroxidase were significantly increased. Curcumin inhibited the expression of phosphorylated JNK and NF-κB proteins to block the RAGE/JNK/NF-κB signaling pathway. In conclusion, these results indicate that curcumin blocks the phosphorylation of JNK and NF-κB protein to inhibit this signaling pathway, thereby further inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis in pancreatic islet ß cells. Curcumin has potential value for the treatment of diabetes.

An oral second-generation proteasome inhibitor oprozomib significantly inhibits lung cancer in a p53 independent manner in vitro.

The destruction of proteins via the ubiquitin-proteasome system is a multi-step, complex process involving polyubiquitination of substrate proteins, followed by proteolytic degradation by the macromolecular 26S proteasome complex. Inhibitors of the proteasome promote the accumulation of proteins that are deleterious to cell survival and are promising anticancer agents. Oprozomib (OPZ), an oral second-generation proteasome inhibitor, has been shown to inhibit the growth of several cancers in preclinical and clinical trials, including multiple myeloma and head and neck cancers, but its effects on lung cancer has not yet been determined. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of OPZ on lung cancer cell lines in vitro. The results showed that OPZ significantly suppressed cell proliferation and strongly induced apoptosis in both tested lung cancer cells independent of p53 expression. OPZ was able to cause obvious caspase 3 and PARP cleavages and stabilize p53 and its transcriptional targets p21, PUMA, and Noxa. Moreover, OPZ was capable of sensitizing lung cancer cells to the conventional chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin. Our study provides preclinical data and sheds light on the potential applications of proteasome inhibitor OPZ in lung cancer treatment.

Comparison of Standard Suture vs Barbed Suture for Closing the Porcine Knee Joint: Evaluation of Biomechanical Integrity and Permeability.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the biomechanical strength and permeability of barbed vs traditional suture for closure of the porcine knee joint. METHODS: This study used Duroc pig knee joints. For each specimen, a 5-cm medial parapatellar arthrotomy was performed with the knee at 30° of flexion. We closed the arthrotomy wound using barbed suture (size 1/0 V-Loc 180) or traditional suture (size 1/0 PDS II). Specimens were divided into a PDS II (n = 9) and a V-Loc group (n = 9) for biomechanical testing, and a PDS II (n = 9) and a V-Loc group (n = 9) for permeability testing. In biomechanical testing, a continuous load was applied and the wound was pulled apart at 50 mm/min. We compared the maximum load under which each suture type could maintain wound closure. In permeability testing, the knee joints were flexed and extended for 200 cycles at 0.5 Hz from 0° to 120° of flexion. A tube was fixed in the articular cavity of the specimen and connected to a 1.5-m high water capsule. The time taken to wound effusion was compared. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the mean load at initial failure for PDS II (424 ± 192 N) vs V-Loc (471 ± 100 N, P = .529), or between the mean time until effusion for PDS II (6.8 ± 3.4 seconds) vs V-Loc (5.5 ± 2.5 seconds, P = .390). CONCLUSION: Standard and barbed suture had similar wound holding strength and permeability. The barbed suture was as stable as traditional suture.

Formation of Curvature Subunit of Carbon in Combustion.

Curvature prevalently exists in the world of carbon materials (e.g., fullerenes, buckyl bowls, carbon nanotubes, and onions), but traditional C2-addition mechanisms fail to elucidate the mechanism responsible for the formation of carbon curvature starting from a pentagonal carbon ring in currently available chemical-physical processes such as combustion. Here, we show a complete series of nascent pentagon-incorporating C5-C18 that are online produced in the flame of acetylene-cyclopentadiene-oxygen and in situ captured by C60 or trapped as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for clarifying the growth of the curved subunit of C20H10. A mechanism regarding C1-substitution and C2-addition has been proposed for understanding the formation of curvature in carbon materials, as exemplified by the typical curved molecule containing a single pentagon completely surrounded by five hexagons. The present mechanism, supported by the intermediates characterized by X-ray crystallography as well as NMR, has been experimentally validated for the rational synthesis of curved molecule in the commercially useful combustion process.

Capturing the Fused-Pentagon C74 by Stepwise Chlorination.

As a bridge to connect medium-sized fullerenes, fused-pentagon C74 is still missing heretofore. Of 14 246 possible isomers, the first fused-pentagon C74 with the Fowler-Manolopoulos code of 14 049 was stabilized as C74Cl10 in the chlorine-involving carbon arc. The structure of C74Cl10 was identified by X-ray crystallography. The stabilization of pristine fused-pentagon C74 by stepwise chlorination was clarified in both theoretical simulation with density functional theory calculations and experimental fragmentation with multistage mass spectrometry.

Nonuniformity correction for an infrared focal plane array based on diamond search block matching.

In scene-based nonuniformity correction algorithms, artificial ghosting and image blurring degrade the correction quality severely. In this paper, an improved algorithm based on the diamond search block matching algorithm and the adaptive learning rate is proposed. First, accurate transform pairs between two adjacent frames are estimated by the diamond search block matching algorithm. Then, based on the error between the corresponding transform pairs, the gradient descent algorithm is applied to update correction parameters. During the process of gradient descent, the local standard deviation and a threshold are utilized to control the learning rate to avoid the accumulation of matching error. Finally, the nonuniformity correction would be realized by a linear model with updated correction parameters. The performance of the proposed algorithm is thoroughly studied with four real infrared image sequences. Experimental results indicate that the proposed algorithm can reduce the nonuniformity with less ghosting artifacts in moving areas and can also overcome the problem of image blurring in static areas.

[Study on the Structure and Nanomechanical Properties of Organic Montmorillonite Reinforced Urea-Formaldehyde Adhesive].

Montmorillonite (MMT) is a natural mineral that has great potential as reinforcing filler in wood adhesives. In order to study the reinforcing mechanism more clearly, organic MMT-reinforced urea-formaldehyde adhesive (UF-OMMT) was prepared to analyze its chemical properties and crystal structure with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The nanomechanical properties of UF, UF-MMT and PF-OMMT adhesives in the interphase of wood-based composite were analyzed by nanoindentation (NI) and the macro-bonding strength of composite were also tested. The results of FTIR and XRD indicated that in the spectra of MMT modified by cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), the new peaks appeared at 2 929 and 2 853 cm-1corresponding to C­H stretching vibrations of the organic intercalation agent (CTAB). The (001) diffraction peak of MMT was shifted to a lower angle and the lamellar repeat distance increases from 1.51 nm to 2.71 nm after organic modification. The ion exchange of the cations in montmorillonite with organic ammonium ions and the separating and disorder crystalline improved the compatibility of the modified clay with the polymers and the dispersion of the layers into the matrix. The good physical filling of MMT particles and the elastomer formed during the reaction could transfer and distribute loads between components more homogenously, therebycontributing to the improved mechanical properties of adhesives. As compared to the untreated UF, the reduced elastic modulus and hardness of UF-OMMT in the interphase increased by about 66.9% and 24.2%, respectively. At the macroscale, the bonding strength of plywood bonded with UF-OMMT increased by about 97% as compared to that of unmodified UF resin. The positive effects of montmorillonite on water and heat resistance can be attributed to the better barrier properties of the interphase.

Innovative measurement of parallelism for parallel transparent plate based on optical scanning holography by using a random-phase pupil.

A potential method is proposed to measure the parallelism of parallel transparent plate with an advanced lower limit and a convenient process by optical scanning holography (OSH) using a random-phase pupil, which is largely distinct from traditional methods. As a new possible application of OSH, this promising method is demonstrated theoretically and numerical simulations are carried out on a 2 cm×2 cm parallel plate. Discussions are also made on the quality of reconstructed image as well as local mean square error (MSE), which are closely related with the parallelism of sample. These amounts may become the judgments of parallelism, while in most interference methods judgments are paces between two interference fringes. In addition, randomness of random-phase pupil also affects the quality of reconstructed image and local MSE. According to the simulation results, high parallelism usually brings about distinguishable reconstructed information and suppressed local MSE.

[Effects of ozone oxidative stress on the airway hyperresponsiveness and mucus production in mice with acute allergic airway inflammation].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact of ozone on the airway hyperresponsinveness (AHR), airway inflammation and mucus production in an allergic asthma mouse model. METHODS: Twenty-eight female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 4 equal groups: healthy control, ozone control, asthma model, and ozone intervention. For asthma model establishing, the mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin, while the controls received saline. For ozone exposure, the mice were exposed to 2.0 ppm ozone for 3 hrs, while the control treatment group exposed to filtered air for 3 hrs. Some measurements were performed 24 hrs after the exposure, including AHR, pulmonary inflammation, mucus secretion, epithelial barrier function, and the level of oxidant stress. RESULTS: Compared with the asthma model group, mice in the ozone intervention group exhibited lower LogPC100Penh (0.22 ± 0.09 vs 0.50 ± 0.19, t = 3.06, P = 0.006), higher bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) neutrophil numbers [(0.80 ± 0.21) x 10(3)/L vs (0.15 ± 0.06) x 10(3)/L, t = 3.63, P = 0.019] and BAL concentration of lower molecular weight hyaluronan (LMW-HA) [(111 ± 17) µg/L vs (35 ± 18) µg/L, t = 5.12 P = 0.000], TNF-α[(155 ± 30) µg/L vs (86 ±19) µg/L, t = 2.15, P = 0.044] and IL-13 [(65 ± 11) µg/L vs (33 ± 20) µg/L, t = 2.95, P = 0.008]. Mice in the ozone intervention group showed higher lung pathological inflammation score (2. 80 0.10 vs 1.92 ± 0.23, t =3.91, P = 0.000) and upregulated expressions of TNF-α mRNA (7.0 ± 1.5 vs 3.57 ± 1.20, t = 2.65, P = 0.014), CXCL-1 mRNA (7.0 ± 1.1 vs 2.5 ± 1.0, t = 4.12, P = 0.000) and IL-17 mRNA (28.8 ± 5.2 vs 16.4 ± 4.4, t = 6.33, P = 0.000). Ozone exposure on the asthmatic mice also caused higher percentage of PAS positive-staining epithelial cells [(76.2 ± 8.7) % vs (55.8 ± 14.4) %, t = 8.14, P = 0.000] and higher epithelial surface mucus volume [(721 ± 584) nl/mm2 vs (272 ± 185) nl/mm2, t = 5.78, P = 0.000] as well as the MUC5ac mRNA expression (15.4 ± 4.6 vs 7.0 ± 1.9, t = 4.37, P = 0.000). Besides, ozone exposure in the asthma model decreased epithelial cell density (82 ± 22 vs 116 ± 15, t = -10.1, P = 0.000), while increased the BAL concentration of albumin [(45 ± 6) g/L vs (33 ± 4) g/L, t = 3.89, P = 0.001] . CONCLUSIONS: Ozone exaggerates AHR and pulmonary inflammation, and causes damages in epithelial cells and promotes the production of epithelial mucus.

Triterpene saponins from the stems of Entada phaseoloides.

Ten new triterpene saponins (1-10) have been isolated from the stems of Entada phaseoloides. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods. Among these compounds, the aglycons of 6-10 are being reported for the first time, in this study, including 3ß,15α,16α-trihydroxy-11α,12α-epoxy olean-28,13ß-olide (6), 3ß,15α,16α-trihydroxy-11-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acids (7 and 8), and 3ß,15α,16α-trihydroxy-oleana-11,13(18)-dien-28-oic acids (9 and 10). The cytotoxic activities of all of these compounds were evaluated against HepG-2, A549, and Ec-1 cell lines.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 overexpression attenuates inflammation in rat model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) overexpression on rat model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and explore underlying mechanism. METHODS: The rat COPD model was established by cigarette smoking using a total body exposure method. A total of 64 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal, COPD, Ad-ACE2 and Ad-EGFP groups. The COPD model rats (including COPD, Ad-ACE2 and Ad-EGFP groups) received an intratracheal injection of normal saline, Ad-ACE2 and Ad-EGFP, respectively. The normal group underwent the same procedure but received an intratracheal injection of normal saline only. Pulmonary function tests, lung histopathology analysis, malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, ACE2 mRNA and protein expression level, inflammatory cytokines and related signaling pathway proteins were measured. RESULTS: COPD rats showed impairment of lung function as evidenced by decreased ratio of forced expiratory volume at 0.3 s and forced vital capacity (FEV0.3/FVC) and dynamic lung compliance (Cldyn), increased resistance inspiration (Ri) and resistance expiration (Re) as compared with the normal group, accompanying with reduced ACE2 mRNA expression, elevated ROS and MDA, elevated inflammatory cytokines levels (tumor necrosis factor α, TNF-α; interleukin-8, IL-8; IL-2 and IL-1ß) and activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and p38 MAPK (mitogen activated protein kinases) pathway in lung tissues. ACE2 overexpression through Ad-ACE2 infusion significantly attenuated the inflammatory response in lung tissues of COPD model rats. CONCLUSION: ACE2 could attenuate COPD inflammatory process induced by cigarette smoke through reduction of oxidative stress and inhibition of NF-κB and p38 MAPK pathway activation.