CircHAT1 regulates the proliferation and phenotype switch of vascular smooth muscle cells in lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans through targeting SFRS1.

This study aimed to decipher the mechanism of circular ribonucleic acids (circRNAs) in lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans (LEASO). First, bioinformatics analysis was performed for screening significantly down-regulated cardiac specific circRNA-circHAT1 in LEASO. The expression of circHAT1 in LEASO clinical samples was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The protein expression of splicing factor arginine/serine-rich 1 (SFRS1), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), Calponin (CNN1), cyclin D1 (CNND1) and smooth muscle myosin heavy chain 11 (SMHC) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) was detected by Western blotting. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) and Transwell assays were used to evaluate cell proliferation and migration, respectively. RNA immunoprecipitation (RNA-IP) and RNA pulldown verified the interaction between SFRS1 and circHAT1. By reanalyzing the dataset GSE77278, circHAT1 related to VSMC phenotype conversion was screened, and circHAT1 was found to be significantly reduced in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of LEASO patients compared with healthy controls. Knockdown of circHAT1 significantly promoted the proliferation and migration of VSMC cells and decreased the expression levels of contractile markers. However, overexpression of circHAT1 induced the opposite cell phenotype and promoted the transformation of VSMCs from synthetic to contractile. Besides, overexpression of circHAT1 inhibited platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)-induced phenotype switch of VSMC cells. Mechanistically, SFRS1 is a direct target of circHAT1 to mediate phenotype switch, proliferation and migration of VSMCs. Overall, circHAT1 regulates SFRS1 to inhibit the cell proliferation, migration and phenotype switch of VSMCs, suggesting that it may be a potential therapeutic target for LEASO.

Association of the triglyceride-glucose index with coronary artery disease complexity in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

AIM: The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index has been shown to be an independent predictor for the progression and prognosis of coronary artery disease (CAD). Whether the TyG index predicts the severity of CAD in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains unknown. METHODS: A total of 1,007 individuals presenting with ACS undergoing coronary angiography were stratified according to the tertiles of the TyG index and The Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (SYNTAX) score (SYNTAX score ≤ 22 versus SYNTAX score > 22). CAD complexity was determined by the SYNTAX score. RESULTS: After adjusting for multiple confounding factors, the TyG index was still an independent risk factor for mid/high SYNTAX scores (SYNTAX score > 22, OR 2.6452, 95% CI 1.9020-3.6786, P < 0.0001). Compared with the lowest tertile of the TyG (T1) group, the risk for a mid/high SYNTAX score in the T2 and T3 groups was 2.574-fold higher (OR, 2.574; 95% CI 1.610-4.112; P < 0.001) and 3.732-fold higher (OR, 3.732; 95% CI 2.330-5.975; P < 0.001), respectively. Furthermore, there was a dose‒response relationship between the TyG index and the risk of complicated CAD (SYNTAX score > 22; nonlinear P = 0.200). The risk for a mid/high SYNTAX score in the T2 and T3 groups was significantly higher in normoglycemia, prediabetes mellitus, and diabetes mellitus subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: A higher TyG index was associated with the presence of a higher coronary anatomical complexity (SYNTAX score > 22) in ACS patients, irrespective of diabetes mellitus status. The TyG index might serve as a noninvasive predictor of CAD complexity in ACS patients and could potentially influence the management and therapeutic approach.

Saturated fatty acids synergizes cadmium to induce macrophages M1 polarization and hepatic inflammation.

Exposure to the toxic metal cadmium (Cd) is a well-established risk factor for hepatic inflammation, but it remains unclear how metabolic components, such as different fatty acids (FAs), interact with Cd to influence this process. Understanding these interactions is essential for identifying potential preventative and therapeutic targets for this disorder. To address this question, we conducted in vitro and in vivo studies to investigate the combinatorial effect of Cd and saturated FAs on hepatic inflammation. Specifically, we assessed the cytotoxicity of Cd on macrophages and their polarization and inflammatory activation upon co-exposure to Cd and saturated FAs. Our results showed that while saturated FAs had minimal impact on the cytotoxicity of Cd on macrophages, they significantly collaborated with Cd in predisposing macrophages towards a pro-inflammatory M1 polarization, thereby promoting inflammatory activation. This joint effect of Cd and saturated FAs resulted in persistent inflammation and hepatic steatohepatitis in vivo. In summary, our study identified macrophage polarization as a novel mechanism by which co-exposure to Cd and saturated lipids induces hepatic inflammation. Our findings suggest that intervening in macrophage polarization may be a potential approach for mitigating the adverse hepatic effects of Cd.

[Chemical constituents from whole herb of Hedyotis scandens].

This study aimed to investigate the chemical constituents in the water extract of the whole herb of Hedyotis scandens by silica gel, ODS, and MCI column chromatographies together with preparative high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). The structures of isolated constituents were identified by NMR, HR-ESI-MS, etc. Thirteen compounds were isolated and identified as methyl 4-benzoyloxy-3-methoxybenzeneacetate(1), 4-benzoyloxy-3-methoxybenzeneacetic acid(2), 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-propanoic acid(3), salicylic acid(4), 3-hydroxy-4-methoxypyridine(5), syringic acid(6), hydroxycinnamic acid(7),(R)-6-methyl-4,6-bis(4-methylpent-3-enyl)cyclohexa-1,3-dienecarbaldehyde(8), 1,2-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-propanediol(9), 1H-indole-3-carboxaldehyde(10), isoscopoletin(11), syringaresinol(12), and pinoresinol(13). Among them, compounds 1 and 2 were new phenolic acid compounds, compounds 3-5, 8-11, and 13 were isolated from this genus for the first time, and compounds 6, 7, and 12 were obtained from H. scandens for the first time. The activity test showed that compounds 1 and 10 had a certain inhibitory effect on Mycobacterium smegmatis, with MIC_(50) values of 58.5 and 33.3 µg·mL~(-1), respectively.

Hb New York, preliminary results concerning the hematologic characteristics and the effects on thalassemia.

BACKGROUND: The hematological phenotype and genotype analysis of hemoglobin New York (Hb New York) combined with α or ß thalassemia has been rarely reported, and whether there is any effect of Hb New York on thalassemia has not been well explored. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, peripheral blood samples from 346 Hb New York carriers were collected for blood cell parameter analysis. When comparing Hb New York heterozygotes, Hb New York combined with α0 thalassemia or α+ thalassemia, we found that the differences in hemoglobin (HGB), MCV and MCH values were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The HGB, MCV and MCH values of α thalassemia patients were not different from Hb New York combined with α thalassemia group (P > 0.05). When Hb New York heterozygotes were compared to Hb New York combined with ß0 thalassemia or ß+ thalassemia, the differences in MCV and MCH values were statistically significant (P < 0.05). However, the differences in MCV and MCH values were not statistically significant between Hb New York combined with ß thalassemia and ß thalassemia (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that the hematological characteristics of Hb New York combined with thalassemia are similar to the corresponding thalassemia, and Hb New York does not aggravate the clinical manifestations of thalassemia.

Chronic exposure to low-dose cadmium facilitated nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in mice by suppressing fatty acid desaturation.

Exposure to cadmium (Cd), a toxic metal, is epidemiologically linked to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in humans. However, the role of Cd in NASH remains to be fully elucidated. This study employed a novel murine NASH model to investigate the effects of chronic low-dose Cd on hepatic pathology and its underlying mechanisms. NASH is characterized by lipid accumulation, extensive cell death, and persistent inflammation in the liver. We found that treatment with Cd in drinking water (10 mg/L) for 6 or 12 weeks significantly boosted hepatic fat deposition, increased hepatocyte destruction, and amplified inflammatory responses in mice, confirming that low-dose Cd can facilitate NASH development in vivo. Mechanistically, chronic Cd exposure reshaped the hepatic transcriptional landscape, with PPAR-mediated fatty acid metabolic pathways being the most significantly altered. In particular, Cd repressed fatty acid desaturation, leading to the accumulation of saturated fatty acids whose lipotoxicity exacerbated cell death and, consequently, inflammatory activation. In summary, we validated the causal effects of chronic low-dose Cd on NASH in vivo and identified the fatty acid desaturation program as a novel target for Cd to instigate hepatopathological alterations.

Ipomoea staphylina Attenuates Potassium Dichromate-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Wistar Rats via Antioxidant and Antiapoptotic Effects.

Occupational and environmental exposure to chromium compounds leads to nephrotoxicity to humans and animals due to the overproduction of ROS. Our study was aimed to demonstrate the shielding effect of hydroethanolic extract of Ipomoea staphylina (HEIS) bark on male Wistar rats challenged with potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7). Division of animals was done in 4 groups' viz., normal control, K2Cr2O7 control, K2Cr2O7+HEIS (100 mg/kg), and K2Cr2O7+HEIS (200 mg/kg). Except for the normal control group, other groups were challenged with a single dose (subcutaneous) of K2Cr2O7 (15 mg/kg) and then treated with HEIS (100 and 200 mg/kg) for 1 week. It was observed that animals treated with K2Cr2O7 showed a notable increase in serum creatinine, blood urea, and BUN and dwindles in protein level. These changes were significantly reversed after a 1-week treatment with HEIS (100 and 200 mg/kg). Moreover, HEIS (100 and 200 mg/kg) showed a remarkable improvement in the activity of antioxidant enzymes (GPx, CAT, and SOD) and decreased the levels of TNF-α and IL-1ß in the kidney. Furthermore, treatment with HEIS (100 and 200 mg/kg) notably decreased the activity of caspase-3 and improved the level of HO-1 especially in the K2Cr2O7+ HEIS (200 mg/kg) group. Also, the histopathological study of the kidney supported the protective effects of HEIS. Hence, HEIS bark holds a notable protective effect against K2Cr2O7-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Association between early treatment with Qingfei Paidu decoction and favorable clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19: A retrospective multicenter cohort study.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic has been almost controlled in China under a series of policies, including "early diagnosis and early treatment". This study aimed to explore the association between early treatment with Qingfei Paidu decoction (QFPDD) and favorable clinical outcomes. In this retrospective multicenter study, we included 782 patients (males, 56 %; median age 46) with confirmed COVID-19 from 54 hospitals in nine provinces of China, who were divided into four groups according to the treatment initiation time from the first date of onset of symptoms to the date of starting treatment with QFPDD. The primary outcome was time to recovery; days of viral shedding, duration of hospital stay, and course of the disease were also analyzed. Compared with treatment initiated after 3 weeks, early treatment with QFPDD after less than 1 week, 1-2 weeks, or 2-3 weeks had a higher likelihood of recovery, with adjusted hazard ratio (HR) (95 % confidence interval [CI]) of 3.81 (2.65-5.48), 2.63 (1.86-3.73), and 1.92 (1.34-2.75), respectively. The median course of the disease decreased from 34 days to 24 days, 21 days, and 18 days when treatment was administered early by a week (P < 0.0001). Treatment within a week was related to a decrease by 1-4 days in the median duration of hospital stay compared with late treatment (P<0.0001). In conclusion, early treatment with QFPDD may serve as an effective strategy in controlling the epidemic, as early treatment with QFPDD was associated with favorable outcomes, including faster recovery, shorter time to viral shedding, and a shorter duration of hospital stay. However, further multicenter, prospective studies with a larger sample size should be conducted to confirm the benefits of early treatment with QFPDD.

A high-performance amperometric sensor based on a monodisperse Pt-Au bimetallic nanoporous electrode for determination of hydrogen peroxide released from living cells.

A neotype electrochemical sensor based on a three-dimensional nanoporous gold (3D-NPG) electrode decorated with ultra-thin platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) was fabricated for high-performance electrocatalysis and sensitive determination of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) released from pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. The monodisperse Pt-Au bimetallic nanoporous (Pt-Au-BNP) electrode prepared by cyclic voltammetry electrodepositing monolayer Pt NPs on the surface of the 3D-NPG electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Amperometric response for H2O2 measurement was chosen at an applied potential of - 0.4 V. Upon optimal conditions, the wide linear range for the amperometric determination of H2O2 was from 0.05 µM to 7.37 mM, with a limit of detection (S/N = 3) of 1.5 × 10-8 mol/L and a high sensitivity of 1.125 µA µM-1 cm-2, certifying the large electrocatalytic action of the Pt-Au-BNP electrode. The proposed sensor has been successfully applied to the dynamic determination of H2O2 released from PC12 cells (from which the H2O2 generated by each cell was about 52.5 amol) with negligible interference. Thus, the proposed new electrochemical sensor displays potential applications for the dynamic, real-time monitoring of key small molecules secreted by living cells, further deepening the understanding of cell behavior stimulated by foreign materials. Graphical Abstract .

Assessing the Impact of Stem Cell-based Therapy on Periodontal Health: A Meta-analysis of Clinical Studies.

OBJECTIVE: While clinical trials exploring stem cells for regenerating periodontal tissues have demonstrated positive results, there is a limited availability of systematic literature reviews on this subject. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of stem cell interventions in periodontal regeneration, this meta-analysis is undertaken to assess the beneficial effects of stem cells in human periodontal regeneration. METHODS: "PubMed," "Cochrane Library," "Web of Science," "Embase," "Wanfang," and "CNKI," were used to extract clinical studies related to the utilization of stem cells in repairing periodontal tissue defects. This search included studies published up until October 5, 2023. The inclusion criteria required the studies to compare the efficacy of stem cell-based therapy with stem cell-free therapy for regenerating periodontal tissues. Meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager software (version 5.4). RESULTS: This meta-analysis synthesized findings from 15 selected studies investigating the impact of stem cell interventions on periodontal tissue regeneration. The "stem cell" group displayed a substantial reduction in clinical attachment level (CAL) compared to the "control" group within 3 to 12 months post-surgery. However, no significant differences in CAL gain were found between groups. Probing pocket depth (PPD) significantly decreased in the "stem cell" group compared to the "control" group, particularly for follow-up periods exceeding 6 months, and dental stem cell treatment exhibited notable improvements. Conversely, no significant differences were observed in PPD reduction. Gingival recession (GR) significantly decreased in the "stem cell" group compared to the "control" group at 3 to 12 months post-surgery. No significant differences were observed in GR reduction between groups. No significant differences were identified in cementoenamel junction-bone distance reduction, infrabony defect reduction, or bone mineral density increase between the two groups. Furthermore, no significant changes were observed in the gingival index, plaque index, or width of keratinized gingiva. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, while stem cell-based therapy offers promising prospects for periodontal defect treatment, there are notable limitations in the current body of research. Larger, multicenter, double-blind RCTs with robust methodologies are needed to provide more reliable evidence for stem cell-based intervention in periodontitis.

The clinical use of remote parameter testing during cardiac implantable electronic devices implantation procedures: a single center, randomized, open-label, non-inferiority trial.

Background: A novel non-contact system for remote parameter testing and reprogramming offers an alternative method for assessing device parameters during cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) implantation without the need for physical contact with the manufacturer's clinical service technician. The safety and feasibility of using this system in CIEDs implantation procedures remains to be determined. Objective: Evaluate the safety and feasibility of remote parameter testing in CIEDs implantation procedures. Methods: A single center, randomized, open-label, non-inferiority trial (ChiCTR2200057587) was conducted to compare the two approaches for interrogating CIEDs during implantation procedures: routine interrogation performed by on-site technicians or remote interrogation performed by technicians using the 5G-Cloud Technology Platform. Patients aged ≥18 years and elected to receive CIEDs were eligible for inclusion. The primary endpoint was the completion rate of the parameter test. Safety and efficiency were evaluated in all randomly assigned participants. Results: A total of 480 patients were finally enrolled and were randomly assigned to routine group (n = 240) or remote group (n = 240). The primary endpoint was achieved by 100% in both groups (P = 0.0060 for noninferiority). The parameters of sensing, threshold, and impedance regarding the right atrium, right ventricle, and left ventricle had no statistical significance between the two groups (P > 0.05). Procedure time, parameter testing time, and both duration and dose of x-ray irradiation were not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). Shut-open door frequency was significantly higher in the routine group than the remote group [6.00 (4.00, 8.00) vs. 0, P < 0.0001]. Notably, no clinical or technical complications were observed in the remote group. Conclusions: Remote parameter testing is safe and feasible across various devices implantation procedures. The utilization of remote parameter testing and reprogramming could represent an innovative approach to improve healthcare accessibility and unlock the full potential of secondary centers in managing CIEDs. The Registration Identification: ChiCTR2200057587.

Comparison of acidity and chemical composition of summertime cloud water and aerosol at an alpine site in Northwest China: Implications for the neutral property of clouds in the free troposphere.

Aerosol and cloud acidity are essential to human health, ecosystem health and productivity, as well as climate effects. The main chemical composition of cloud water greatly varies in different regions, resulting in substantial differences in the pH of cloud water. However, the influences of the anthropogenic emissions of acidic gases and substances, alkaline dust components, and dicarboxylic acids (diacids) on the ground concerning the acidity of cloud water in the free troposphere of the Guanzhong Plain, China, remain clear. In this study, cloud water and PM2.5 samples were simultaneously collected in the troposphere (Mt. Hua, 2060 m a.s.l). The results indicated that the cloud water was alkaline (pH = 7.6) and PM2.5 was acidic (pH = 3.2). These results showed the neutral property of clouds collected in the heavily polluted Guanzhong Plain, although most previous studies always considered acidity as a marker of pollution. The sulfate (SO42-), nitrate (NO3-), and ammonium (NH4+) (SNA) of particulate matter and cloud water in the same period were compared. SO42- was dominant in particulate matters (accounting for 63.4 % of the total SNA) but substantially decreased in cloud water (only 30.1 % of the total SNA), whereas NO3- and NH4+ increased from 28.5 % and 8.2 % to 39.8 % and 30.2 %, respectively. This could be attributed to the complex formation mechanism and sources of SO42- and NO3- in the cloud. The results of ion balance indicated that a significant deficit of inorganic anion equivalents was observed in the cloud water samples. The high concentration of diacids in the cloud phase (1237.4 µg L-1) may facilitate the formation of salt complexes with NH4+, thus influencing the acidity of the cloud water. The pH of cloud water has increased in recent decades due to the sustained reduction of sulfur dioxide, which may also affect the acidity of future precipitation.

[Evaluation of digital subtraction angiography rabbit VX2 hepatic carcinoma model with modified hepatic artery catheterization].

OBJECTIVE: To modify the success rate of establishing VX2 transplanted tumor model with different methods in rabbits, and access new typed modification and improved technique in catheterization. METHODS: In the study, 30 rabbits were randomly divided into 2 groups. In prophase, tumor cell suspension was implanted in group I, while tumor tissue particles were implanted into liver under direct vision, to establish VX2 transplanted tumor model. The rabbits were catheterized from femoral artery to selective hepatic artery under DSA, by using conventional modification with Seldinger technique in group I and by using new typed modification with improved technique in group II. The imaging and histological features of VX2 tumor were evaluated by combining pathology and DSA, then the success rate, operation time and postoperative complications were compared and evaluated. RESULTS: The success rates of the liver tumor model were 60.0% and 93.3%; the disposable success rates of catheterization were 66.7% and 92.8%; the operation time of catheterization were (35.6±5.8) min and (27.4±5.3) min; the incidence rates of adverse reaction were 22.5% and 18.0%; the differences between the two groups in the experimental rabbits were significant (P<0.05) statistically. CONCLUSION: The efficiency of tumor tissue particles implanted is better than that of tumor cell suspension implanted in establishing VX2 transplanted tumor model under direct vision. The cathetenzation quality and outcomes of new typed modification by improved technique, from femoral artery to selective hepatic artery, is superior to those of conventional modification with Seldinger technique.

[Research on detecting concentration of serum protein based on resonance Rayleigh scattering].

The resonance Rayleigh scattering spectral detection system was designed based on the 2, 9, 16, 23-tetracarboxylate-phthalocyanine zinc and protein system. In the system, excitation light source is 405 nm wide band gap semiconductor lasers, and monochromator is 475 nm narrow-band band-pass filter, and the detector is low-noise and high-gain photoelectric amplifier based on blue-ray enhanced photodiode. Experiment shows that, the solution's strong absorption wavelength is near 420 nm. Under the action of incentive light, resonance Rayleigh scattering is generated at the resonant wavelength, and the scattering intensity is proportional to the protein content. The system uses 2, 9, 16, 23-tetracarboxylate as the spectrum probe to determine the concentration of serum proteins by resonance Rayleigh scattering method. Its linear detection range is 10 - 50 mg.mL-1, and its detection limit is 0. 001 mg.mL-1. The newly developed device for detecting concentration of the serum protein has the advantages of small size, low cost, low power consumption, and being easy to use.

Paraneoplastic pemphigus misdiagnosed as juvenile dermatomyositis: A case report.

Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is a rare autoimmune skin disease closely related to tumors, characterized by a maculopapular rash with mucosal pain, bronchiole occlusion, and respiratory failure may occur over time, even resulting in death. We report a rare case of a child with autoimmune PNP misdiagnosed as juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM), and summarize the key points of differentiation of clinical manifestations and auxiliary examinations of PNP and JDM. When the diagnosis is not clear because the patient has features not typical of JDM, then skin biopsy and other diagnostic studies should be considered prior to any immunosuppressive therapy, as this could potentially obscure and delay the diagnosis of malignancy.

Clinical Presentation and Treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Combined with Lung Disease: A Narrative Review.

Juvenile idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is a common rheumatic disorder in children that can cause multiple systems to be affected simultaneously, leading to severe clinical symptoms and a high mortality rate in those with pulmonary involvement. Pleurisy is the most common manifestation of pulmonary involvement. At the same time, other conditions, such as pneumonia, interstitial lung disease, occlusive bronchiectasis, and alveolar protein deposition, have been increasingly reported in recent years. This review aims to provide an overview of the clinical manifestations of JIA lung damage and the current treatment options to assist in identifying and treating JIA lung involvement.

Molecular Composition, Seasonal Variation, and Size Distribution of n-Alkanes, PAHs, and Saccharides in a Medium-Sized City of Guanzhong Plain, Northwest China: Evaluation of Control Measures Executed in the Past Decade.

Baoji is a medium-sized city in the Guanzhong Plain of northwest China. The compositions of three important organic groups, namely n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and saccharides in atmospheric aerosol with different aerodynamic diameters in power were determined. Both seasonal and daily trends of the target organic chemical groups were demonstrated. The concentration levels of total quantified n-alkanes and saccharides in total suspended particles (TSP) in winter were 541 ± 39 and 651 ± 74 ng·m-3, respectively, much higher than those of the other three seasons. A high total quantified PAHs concentration level of 59.6 ± 6.4 ng·m-3 was also seen in wintertime. n-Alkanes showed a bimodal percent distribution in spring, autumn, and winter. Two peaks were found with the particle sizes of 0.7 µm < Dp < 2.1 µm and 3.3 µm < Dp < 4.7 µm, respectively. In summer, a unimodal was seen with a peak of 4.7 µm < Dp < 5.8 µm. Dehydrated saccharides and PAHs present a unimodal size distribution peaking at the aerodynamic diameters of 0.7 µm < Dp < 2.1 µm. In contrast to glucose and fructose, they mainly exist in the coarse mode particles and have the highest concentrations at aerodynamic diameters of 4.7 µm < Dp < 9.0 µm. The geometric mean diameters (GMD) of n-alkanes and saccharides of the fine particles in winter were higher than in the other seasons. Compared with the data in 2008, the fossil fuel-derived n-alkanes and PAHs in winter decreased by nearly an order of magnitude in 2017. Both the carbon preference index (CPI) of n-alkanes and the diagnostic ratios of PAHs suggest that coal combustion and vehicle exhaust were the major pollution sources of the organic groups in the two decades. It should be noted that the contribution of traffic emissions greatly increased from 2008 to 2017, consistently with a large raise of registered vehicles in Baoji city. The overall results confirm that the control measures conducted by the local government in the recent decade mitigated the air pollution in this city.

Comparison of chemical composition and acidity of size-resolved inorganic aerosols at the top and foot of Mt. Hua, Northwest China: The role of the gas-particle distribution of ammonia.

Aerosol pH is not only a diagnostic indicator of secondary aerosol formation, but also a key factor in the specific chemical reaction routes that produce sulfate and nitrate. To understand the characteristics of aerosol acidity in the Mt. Hua, the chemical fractions of water-soluble inorganic ions in the atmospheric PM2.5 and size-resolved particle at the top and foot of Mt. Hua in summer 2020 were studied. The results showed the mass concentrations of PM2.5 and water-soluble ions at the foot were 2.0-2.6 times higher than those at the top. The secondary inorganic ions, i.e., SO42-, NO3-, and NH4+ (SNA) were 56 %-61 % higher by day than by night. SO42- was mainly distributed in the fine particles (Dp < 2.1 µm). NO3- showed a unimodal size distribution (peaking at 0.7-1.1 µm) at the foot and a bimodal (0.7-1.1 µm and 4.7-5.8 µm) size distribution at the top. At the top site, the distribution of NO3- in coarse particles (> 2.1 µm) was mainly attributed to the gaseous HNO3 volatilized from fine particles reacting with cations in coarse particles to form non-volatile salts (such as Ca(NO3)2). The pH values of PM2.5 were 2.7 ± 1.3 and 3.3 ± 0.42 at the top and foot, respectively. NH4+/NH3(g) plays a decisive role in stabilizing aerosol acidity. In addition, the increase of the liquid water content (LWC) at the foot facilitates the gas-particle conversion of NH3, while the H+ concentration was diluted, resulting in a decrease in acidity at the foot. NH4+/NH3 had good linear correlations with SO42-, NO3-, and LWC during the daytime at both sites, indicating that SO42-, NO3-, and LWC together affect the gas-particle distribution of ammonia by day: however, the effect of LWC at night was not evident.

Orthogonal array design for optimization of hollow-fiber-based liquid-phase microextraction combined with high-performance liquid chromatography for study of the pharmacokinetics of magnoflorine in rat plasma.

In this work, a new sample-preparation method based on hollow-fiber liquid-phase microextraction (HF-LPME) was developed for analysis of magnoflorine in rat plasma. Analysis was accomplished by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), with ultraviolet detection by use of a photodiode-array detector. An orthogonal array design (OAD) was found to be effective for optimization of major conditions which may affect the efficiency of HF-LPME. Under the optimized conditions (pH of donor and acceptor phases 12 and 2.0, respectively; extraction time 20 min; stirring speed 800 rpm; and addition of 10 % (w/v) salt), the preconcentration factor for magnoflorine was 355. Calibration curves with reasonable linearity (r(2)≥0.9994) were obtained in the range 10-1000 ng mL(-1). Intra-day and inter-day precision (RSD) were <5.5 % and the limit of detection (LOD) for the analyte was 3.0 ng mL(-1) (S/N=3). The validated method was successfully used for pharmacokinetic studies of magnoflorine in rat plasma after intravenous administration.

Incidence and predictors of perioperative atrial fibrillation in burn intensive care unit patients following burn surgery.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation is a well-documented complication following cardiac surgery. It is associated with increased inpatient and long-term mortality. There have been few prior studies on perioperative atrial fibrillation following burn surgery in severely burned patients. The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence, predictors, and prognosis of perioperative atrial fibrillation after burn surgery in severely burned patients. METHODS: Patients aged older than 18 years with 30% burned total body surface area (TBSA) were enrolled in this study. Patients who had a previous history of atrial fibrillation or atrial fibrillation on the preoperative electrocardiogram were excluded. We reviewed medical records retrospectively, and the data of 214 patients were studied. RESULTS: A total of 214 critically ill burned patients and 1132 operations were available for analysis during the 5-year study period; 12 (1.1%) patients were diagnosed with newly developed atrial fibrillation after a burn operation, of whom 4 patients showed paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (all related to surgical stimulation) and none changed to persistent atrial fibrillation. The incidence of perioperative atrial fibrillation was associated with TBSA%, full-thickness TBSA%, and hypertension. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that TBSA% (OR=13.851, P < 0.001) and full-thickness TBSA% (OR=15.223, P = 0.018) were independent predictors for developing perioperative atrial fibrillation. All of our patients had at least one risk factor, with blood volume variation or burn sepsis occurring most commonly. Perioperative atrial fibrillation developed after a median of 0 days after burn surgery. Three patients died, and the causes of death were noncardiovascular events such as sepsis and multiple organ failure. CONCLUSION: Atrial fibrillation was a relatively rare complication among severely burned patients admitted to surgery and was associated with TBSA% and full thickness TBSA%. All of our patients exhibited at least one of the modifiable risk factors for atrial fibrillation, confirming the importance of optimization of electrolytes and fluid status and limitation of sympathetic activation.