Re-Designing Cellulosic Core-Shell Composite Fibers for Advanced Photothermal and Thermal-Regulating Performance.

Flexible fibers and textiles featuring photothermal conversion and storage capacities are ideal platforms for solar-energy utilization and wearable thermal management. Other than using fossil-fuel-based synthetic fibers, re-designing natural fibers with nanotechnology is a sustainable but challenging option. Herein, advanced core-shell structure fibers based on plant-based nanocelluloses are obtained using a facile co-axial wet-spinning process, which has superior photothermal and thermal-regulating performances. Besides serving as the continuous matrix, nanocelluloses also have two other important roles: dispersing agent when exfoliating molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), and stabilizer for phase change materials (PCM) in the form of Pickering emulsion. Consequently, the shell layer contains well-oriented nanocelluloses and MoS2, and the core layer contains a high content of PCM in a leak-proof encapsulated manner. Such a hierarchical cellulosic supportive structure leads to high mechanical strength (139 MPa), favorable flexibility, and large latent heat (92.0 J g-1), surpassing most previous studies. Furthermore, the corresponding woven cloth demonstrates satisfactory thermal-regulating performance, high solar-thermal conversion and storage efficiency (78.4-84.3%), and excellent long-term performance. In all, this work paves a new way to build advanced structures by assembling nanoparticles and polymers for functional composite fibers in advanced solar-energy-related applications.

Peroxiredoxin 1/2 protects brain against H2O2-induced apoptosis after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Recent studies suggest that peroxiredoxin1/2 (Prx1/2) may be involved in the pathophysiology of postischemic inflammatory responses in the brain. In this study, we assessed the distribution and function of Prx1/2 in mice after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We investigated the distribution of Prx1/2 in the brains of mice both in vivo and in vitro using immunofluorescence staining. The expression of Prx1/2 after SAH was determined by Western blot. Adenanthin was used to inhibit Prx1/2 function, and Prx1/2 overexpression was achieved by injecting adeno-associated virus. Oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis were assessed both in vivo and in vitro. The neurologic function, inflammatory response, and related cellular signals were analyzed. The results showed that Prx1 was mainly expressed in astrocytes, and Prx2 was abundant in neurons. The expression of Prx1/2 was elevated after SAH, and their expression levels peaked before proinflammatory cytokines. Inhibiting Prx1/2 promoted neuronal apoptosis by increasing the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels via the apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1/p38 pathway. By contrast, overexpression of Prx1/2 attenuated oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis after SAH. Thus, early expression of Prx1/2 may protect the brain from oxidative damage after SAH and may provide a novel target for treating SAH.-Lu, Y., Zhang, X.-S., Zhou, X.-M., Gao, Y.-Y., Chen, C.-L., Liu, J.-P., Ye, Z.-N., Zhang, Z.-H., Wu, L.-Y., Li, W., Hang, C.-H. Peroxiredoxin 1/2 protects brain against H2O2-induced apoptosis after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Peroxiredoxin 2 activates microglia by interacting with Toll-like receptor 4 after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Peroxiredoxin (Prx) protein family have been reported as important damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) in ischemic stroke. Since peroxiredoxin 2 (Prx2) is the third most abundant protein in erythrocytes and the second most protein in the cerebrospinal fluid in traumatic brain injury and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients, we assessed the role of extracellular Prx2 in the context of SAH. METHODS: We introduced a co-culture system of primary neurons and microglia. Prx2 was added to culture medium with oxyhemoglobin (OxyHb) to mimic SAH in vitro. Neuronal cell viability was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, and neuronal apoptosis was determined by TUNEL staining. Inflammatory factors in culture medium were measured by ELISA, and their mRNA levels in microglia were determined by qPCR. Toll-like receptor 4 knockout (TLR4-KO) mice were used to provide TLR4-KO microglia; ST-2825 was used to inhibit MyD88, and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) was used to inhibit NF-κB. Related cellular signals were analyzed by Western blot. Furthermore, we detected the level of Prx2 in aneurysmal SAH patients' cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) and compared its relationship with Hunt-Hess grades. RESULTS: Prx2 interacted with TLR4 on microglia after SAH and then activated microglia through TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. Pro-inflammatory factors were expressed and released, eventually caused neuronal apoptosis. The levels of Prx2 in SAH patients positively correlated with Hunt-Hess grades. CONCLUSIONS: Extracellular Prx2 in CSF after SAH is a DAMP which resulted in microglial activation via TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway and then neuronal apoptosis. Prx2 in patients' CSF may be a potential indicator of brain injury and prognosis.

Upregulation of miR-183 expression and its clinical significance in human brain glioma.

Glioma is the most common type of primary malignant tumor in the central nervous system (CNS) with a high incidence and a high mortality rate, as well as an extremely low 5-year survival rate. As a class of small non-coding RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) may be closely involved in carcinogenesis and might also be connected with glioma diagnosis and prognosis. In this study, we aimed at investigating the expression level of microRNA-183 (miR-183) in 105 cases of glioma tissues of four World Health Organization (WHO) grades and 10 cases of normal brain tissues and its potential predictive and prognostic values in glioma. We found that the expression levels of miR-183 were significantly higher in glioma tissues than that in normal brain tissues, and also higher in high-grade gliomas (WHO grade III and IV) compared with low-grade gliomas (WHO grade I and II). The miR-183 expression level was classified as low or high according to the median value. High expression of miR-183 was found to significantly correlate with larger tumor size, higher WHO grade, and worse Karnofsky performance score (KPS). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients with high miR-183 expression had worse overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) than patients with low miR-183 expression. Moreover, univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that miR-183 expression level was an independent prognostic parameter of a patient's OS and PFS. In conclusion, our study indicated that miR-183 was upregulated in glioma, and that it may be used as a potential biomarker of poor prognosis in patients with glioma.

Decreased progranulin levels in patients and rats with subarachnoid hemorrhage: a potential role in inhibiting inflammation by suppressing neutrophil recruitment.

BACKGROUND: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a devastating neurological injury with high morbidity and mortality that is mainly caused by early brain injury (EBI). Progranulin (PGRN) is known to be involved in various biological functions, such as anti-inflammation and tissue repair. This study aimed to investigate the change of PGRN in the brain after SAH and its role on EBI. METHODS: The levels of PGRN, myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin1ß (IL-1ß), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from SAH patients by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, PGRN levels were also detected in the cerebral cortex after experimental SAH in rats by western blotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Recombinant human PGRN (r-PGRN) or an equal volume of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was administrated at 30 min after SAH. All rats were subsequently sacrificed at 24 h after SAH. Neurological score and brain water content were assessed. For mechanistic studies, the changes of MPO, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1), Bcl-2, and cleaved caspase-3 were examined by western blotting and the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß and TNF-α) were determined by ELISA. In addition, neuronal apoptosis and blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability were examined. RESULTS: The levels of PGRN significantly decreased, and the levels of MPO, IL-1ß, and TNF-α were markedly elevated in the CSF from SAH patients. In rats, PGRN levels in the brain also decreased after SAH. Administration of r-PGRN decreased brain water content and improved neurological scores at 24 h after SAH. These changes were associated with marked reductions in MPO, MMP-9, and proinflammation cytokine levels, as well as increased levels of Bcl-2 and ZO-1. In addition, neuronal apoptosis and BBB permeability were alleviated by r-PGRN. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the levels of PGRN decreased after SAH and that r-PGRN alleviates EBI after SAH possibly via inhibition of neutrophil recruitment, providing a new target for the treatment of SAH.

Engineering strong man-made cellulosic fibers: a review of the wet spinning process based on cellulose nanofibrils.

With the goal of sustainable development, manufacturing continuous high-performance fibers based on sustainable resources is an emerging research direction. However, compared to traditional synthetic fibers, plant fibers have limited length/diameter and uncontrollable natural defects, while regenerated cellulose fibers such as viscose and Lyocell suffer from inferior mechanical properties. Wet-spun fibers based on nanocelluloses especially cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) offer superior mechanical performance since CNFs are the fundamental high-performance building blocks of plant cell walls. This review aims to summarize the progress of making CNF wet-spun fibers, emphasizing on the whole wet spinning process including spinning suspension preparation, spinning, coagulation, washing, drying and post-stretching steps. By establishing the relationships between the nano-scale assembling structure and the macroscopic changes in the CNF dope from gels to dried fibers, effective methods and strategies to improve the mechanical properties of the final fibers are analyzed and proposed. Based on this, the opportunities and challenges for potential industrial-scale production are discussed.

Laparoscopic versus open surgery in treating patients with gallbladder cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Concerns over the security of laparoscopic radical operation for gallbladder cancer (GBC) persist. This systematic review and meta-analysis attempted to compare the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery (LS) versus open surgery (OS) in the treatment of GBC. Methods: The PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched from inception to July 18, 2022. Literature search, quality assessment, and data extraction were completed independently and in duplicate. Effect-size estimates expressed as weighted mean difference (WMD) or odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were derived under the random-effects model. Results: A total of 27 independent studies including 2,868 participants were meta-analyzed. Significance was noted for intraoperative blood loss (WMD: -117.194, 95% CI: -170.188 to 64.201, P<0.001), harvested lymph nodes (WMD: -1.023, 95% CI: -1.776 to -0.269, P=0.008), postoperative hospital stay (WMD: -3.555, 95% CI: -4.509 to -2.601, P<0.001), postoperative morbidity (OR: 0.596, 95% CI: 0.407 to 0.871, P=0.008), overall survival rate at 2-year (OR: 1.524, 95% CI: 1.143 to 2.031, P=0.004), T2 survival at 1-year (OR: 1.799, 95% CI: 1.777 to 2.749, P<0.01) and 2-year (OR: 2.026, 95% CI: 1.392 to 2.949, P<0.001), as well as T3 survival at 1-year (OR: 2.669, 95% CI: 1.564 to 4.555, P<0.001) and 2-year (OR: 2.300, 95% CI: 1.308 to 4.046, P=0.004). Subgroup analyses revealed that ethnicity, incidental GBC, sample size, and follow-up period were possible sources of heterogeneity. There was a low probability of publication bias for all outcomes except postoperative morbidity. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that LS statistically had better 2-year survival rates, less intraoperative bleeding, shorter hospitalization times, and lower rates of complications than OS. However, the superiority and even the safety of LS still remain an open question due to the impact of incidental GBC, unaccounted heterogeneity, publication bias, lymph node dissection, and port-site metastasis.

TREM2 Alleviates Subarachnoid Hemorrhage-Induced Brain Injury through Attenuating Neuroinflammation and Programmed Cell Death in Vivo and in Vitro.

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis and pyroptosis are two types of programmed cell death related to the neuroinflammatory reaction after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Research indicates that triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) can regulate the SAH-induced inflammatory response. However, whether TREM2 regulates programmed cell death (apoptosis and pyroptosis) remains to be clarified. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of TREM2 on cell death in SAH. METHODS: SAH was induced in adult male C57BL/6J mice by endovascular perforation. An in-vitro cellular model of SAH was established by treating cocultured BV2 microglia and HT22 neuronal cells with oxyhemoglobin. TREM2 overexpression or knockdown was carried out by intraventricular lentivirus injection at 7 d before SAH induction in mice or lentiviral transfection, respectively. Neurobehavioral tests as well as western blot, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), immunofluorescence, Evans blue (EB) staining, Nissl staining, and flow cytometry assays were performed to investigate the neuroprotective role of TREM2 after SAH. RESULTS: After SAH, the TREM2 mRNA and protein levels were elevated in SAH mice, exhibiting a peak at 72 h. TREM2 overexpression improved the SAH-induced neurological deficits in mice, while TREM2 knockdown worsened them. In the brains of mice with TREM2 overexpression, less neuronal death and more neuronal survival were detected at 72 h post SAH. Meanwhile, TREM2 overexpression showed an inhibitory effect on microglial activation, neutrophil infiltration, and the expression of cell death marker proteins. Consistent results were obtained in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Our research indicates the important role of TREM2 on cell death after SAH, suggesting that targeting TREM2 might be an effective approach for treating SAH.

Stage II Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma after Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUNDS: Concomitant abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and gastrointestinal malignancies are uncommon. Endovascular repair (EVAR) is widely used to treat AAA. However, no consensus exists on the optimal strategy for treating AAA when associated with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. In addition, only few reports of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) after EVAR exist. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A pancreatic tumor was detected during follow-up after EVAR for AAA in an 83-year-old female patient. The diagnosis was high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia. Modified pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy was safely performed. The patient recovered moderately and was discharged two weeks after surgery. The pathological diagnosis was middle-grade pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The patient survived for 24 months with no recurrence or cardiovascular complications. CONCLUSIONS: Conducting periodic follow-ups after AAA surgery is helpful for the early discovery of gastrointestinal tumors. EVAR surgery is safe and feasible and thus recommended for AAA patients with pancreatic cancer, although it may increase the risk of cancer. The stage of malignancy and post-EVAR medical history can be valuable in evaluating the benefits of pancreatic surgery for such cases.

High-strength and functional nanocellulose filaments made by direct wet spinning from low concentration suspensions.

Continuous filaments obtained through the wet spinning of nanocellulose have promising mechanical properties with sustainable features. To guarantee proper spinnability for wet spinning, freshly made cellulose nanofibril (CNF) suspension needs to be concentrated to have a concentration above 1 wt%, resulting in energy- and time-consuming, and inferior mechanical properties of the final filaments owing to decreasing the CNF alignment against shear flows. In this study, a CNF spinning suspension at a low concentration (0.4 wt%) can be used right after the fibrillation process without further treatments. The effects of the concentration and re-concentrating process are studied by carefully characterizing the rheological behavior and filament solidification processes, which provides more fundamental understandings on the spinnability and CNF network formation of such colloidal CNF suspensions. Combined with a post stretching process, the final dried CNF filaments have superior mechanical properties with Young's modulus and tensile strength of 35 GPa and 567 MPa, surpassing most literature data. Moreover, different functional particles can be easily incorporated to prepare functional filaments. With facile preparation and superior properties, these CNF filaments may be suitable for advanced composite filler and special textile applications.

EEG-based spatial elements optimisation design method.

In the field of digital design, a recent hot topic is the study of the interaction between spatial environment design and human factors. Electroencephalogram (EEG) and eye tracking can be used as quantitative analysis methods for architectural space evaluation; however, conclusions from existing studies on improving the quality of spatial environments based on human factors tend to remain qualitative. In order to realise the quantitative optimisation design of spatial elements from human physiological data, this research used the digital space optimisation method and perceptual evaluation research. In this way, it established an optimisation method for built space elements in real-time using human psychological indicators. Firstly, this method used the specific indicators of the Meditation value and Attention value in the human EEG signal, taking the ThinkGear AM (TGAM) module as the optimisation objective, the architectural space colour and the window size as the optimisation object, and the multi-objective genetic algorithm as the optimisation tool. Secondly, this research combined virtual reality scenarios and parametric linkage models to realise this optimisation method to establish a tool platform and workflow. Thirdly, this study took the optimisation of a typical living space as an example and recruited 50 volunteers to participate in an optimisation experiment. The results indicated that with the iterative optimisation of the multi-objective genetic algorithm, the specific EEG index decreases significantly and the standard deviation of the in-dex fluctuates and decreases during the iterative process, which further indicates that the optimisation method established in this study with the specific EEG index as the optimisation objective is effective and feasible. In addition, this study laid the foundation for more EEG indicators and more complex spatial element opti-misation research in the future.

MRI appearances of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: a retrospective study of 57 patients.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEH) is extremely rare and the MRI features have never been investigated in a large group of patients. METHODS: A retrospective study was designed to review the MRI images of HEH patients. Two radiologists separately evaluated signal intensity (SI) on unenhanced imaging, morphological features, contrast-enhancement pattern at dynamic study. The MRI features were compared between patients with HEH and hepatic metastatic tumor (HMT). RESULTS: Fifty-seven HEH patients were included in this study and a total of 412 lesions were evaluated. On per-lesion analysis, the rate of coalescent lesion and subcapsular lesion were 18.2% and 39.8%, respectively. Capsular retraction and lollipop sign were observed in 47 lesions (11.4%) and 60 lesions (14.6%), respectively. Large lesions (> 5 cm) had the highest rate of coalescent lesion, subcapsular lesion, capsular retraction and lollipop sign. Target sign appeared in 196 lesions (47.6%) on T2 weighted (T2W) and 146 lesions (35.4%) on portal phase. Medium lesions (2-5 cm) had the highest rate of target sign on both T2W (72.9%) and portal phase (55.2%). On per-patient analysis, compare with HEH patients, HMT patients seldom had the appearance of lollipop sign (66.7% versus 6.4%, p < 0.01), capsular retraction (59.6% versus 3.2%, p < 0.01) and target appearance on both T2Wand portal phase (64.9% versus 12.7%, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: MRI features of HEH correlated with the lesion size. Capsular retraction, lollipop sign and coexistence of target sign on both T2W and portal phase were relatively specific MRI features of HEH, which could be helpful in suggesting the diagnosis.

Safety and effectiveness of double microcatheter technique in the treatment of ruptured aneurysms of anterior cerebral circulation.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the double microcatheter technique in the treatment of ruptured aneurysms of the anterior cerebral circulation. Methods: Between 2012 and 2019, 113 patients with ruptured aneurysms of the anterior cerebral circulation were treated using the double microcatheter technique. Clinical records, angiographic results, and procedure-related complications were reviewed. Clinical and angiographic follow-up was performed. Results: Complete occlusion, neck remnant, and partial occlusion were, respectively, recorded in 56.6, 38.9, and 4.4% of the total cases. For all patients, the incidence of intraoperative complications was 5.3% (6/113), and the overall rate of morbidity was 10.6% (12/113). Before discharge, three patients (2.7%) died. There was no procedure-related mortality. At discharge, favorable outcomes were observed in 79.6% (90/113) of the patients. High Hunt-Hess grades and receiving a craniotomy or external ventricular drainage were risk factors for clinical outcomes at discharge. Clinical follow-up was performed in 91 patients at a mean interval of 14.07 ± 11.68 months. At follow-up, favorable outcomes were observed in 92.3% (84/91) of the patients. Angiographic follow-up was performed in 66 patients at an average of 11.53 ± 11.13 months. The recurrence rate was 37.9%. Of these patients, 13 (19.7%) received retreatment. Conclusion: The double microcatheter technique can be performed in ruptured aneurysms with high technical success and low morbidity/mortality. However, recurrence remains a problem, and patients should be followed up regularly.

Pterostilbene Attenuates Subarachnoid Hemorrhage-Induced Brain Injury through the SIRT1-Dependent Nrf2 Signaling Pathway.

Neuroinflammatory injury, oxidative insults, and neuronal apoptosis are major causes of poor outcomes after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Pterostilbene (PTE), an analog of resveratrol, has been verified as a potent sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) activator. However, the beneficial actions of PTE on SAH-induced brain injury and whether PTE regulates SIRT1 signaling after SAH remain unknown. We first evaluated the dose-response influence of PTE on early brain impairment after SAH. In addition, EX527 was administered to suppress SIRT1 signaling. The results revealed that PTE significantly attenuated microglia activation, oxidative insults, neuronal damage, and early neurological deterioration. Mechanistically, PTE effectively enhanced SIRT1 expression and promoted nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) accumulation in nuclei. Furthermore, EX527 pretreatment distinctly repressed PTE-induced SIRT1 and Nrf2 activation and deteriorated these beneficial outcomes. In all, our study provides the evidence that PTE protects against SAH insults by activating SIRT1-dependent Nrf2 signaling pathway. PTE might be a therapeutic alternative for SAH.

Comparison of Enterprise stent 2 with 1 in assisting coiling of ruptured aneurysms: a real-world study.

Aim: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of the Enterprise 2 (E2) stent versus the Enterprise 1 (E1) stent in treating ruptured intracranial aneurysms (RIAs) in China. Materials & methods: The authors conducted an electronic medical record analysis for patients with RIAs who underwent E1/E2 deployment. The main outcomes were immediate complete occlusion (ICO), patient functional outcomes, complications and aneurysm recurrence. Results: Stent deployment was successful in all patients (E2: 90; E1: 270). ICO and patients with good functional outcomes at discharge were similar between E2 and E1 (80.0% vs 75.1% and 78.7% vs 81.1%, respectively). The E2 group had a significantly lower complication rate compared with the E1 group (7.8% vs 16.4%; odds ratio: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.15-0.91; p = 0.031). By 6 months post-discharge, the two groups had comparable patient functional outcomes and aneurysm recurrence (E2 vs E1: 80.2% vs 81.9% and 13.3% vs 14.9%). Conclusion: Compared with the E1 stent, the E2 stent had similar effectiveness but a lower complication risk in treating RIAs.

Isoliquiritigenin mitigates oxidative damage after subarachnoid hemorrhage in vivo and in vitro by regulating Nrf2-dependent Signaling Pathway via Targeting of SIRT1.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress is a crucial factor leading to subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)-induced early brain injury (EBI). Isoliquiritigenin has been verified as a powerful anti-oxidant in a variety of diseases models and can activate sirtuin 1 and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathways. However, the effects of isoliquiritigenin against EBI after SAH and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. PURPOSE: The primary goal of this study is to verify the therapeutic effects of isoliquiritigenin on EBI after SAH and the possible molecular mechanisms. STUDY DESIGN: A prechiasmatic cistern SAH model in rats and a hemoglobin incubation SAH model in primary neurons were established. Isoliquiritigenin was administered after SAH induction. EX527 was employed to inhibit sirtuin 1 activation and ML385 was used to suppress Nrf2 signaling. METHODS: In our study, neurological scores, brain edema, biochemical estimation, western blotting, and histopathological study were performed to explore the therapeutic action of isoliquiritigenin against SAH. RESULTS: Our data revealed that isoliquiritigenin significantly mitigated oxidative damage after SAH as evidenced by decreased reactive oxygen species overproduction and enhanced intrinsic anti-oxidative system. Concomitant with the reduced oxidative insults, isoliquiritigenin improved neurological function and reduced neuronal death in the early period after SAH. Additionally, isoliquiritigenin administration significantly enhanced Nrf2 and sirtuin 1 expressions. Inhibition of Nrf2 by ML385 reversed the anti-oxidative and neuroprotective effects of isoliquiritigenin against SAH. Moreover, inhibiting sirtuin 1 by EX527 pretreatment suppressed isoliquiritigenin-induced Nrf2-dependent pathway and abated the cerebroprotective effects of isoliquiritigenin. In primary cortical neurons, isoliquiritigenin treatment also ameliorated oxidative insults and repressed neuronal degeneration. The beneficial aspects of isoliquiritigenin were attributed to the promotion of sirtuin 1 and Nrf2 signaling pathways and were counteracted by EX527. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that isoliquiritigenin exerts cerebroprotective effects against SAH-induced oxidative insults by modulating the Nrf2-mediated anti-oxidant signaling in part through sirtuin 1 activation. Isoliquiritigenin might be a new potential drug candidate for SAH.

Low-toxic, fluorescent labeled and size-controlled graphene oxide quantum dots@polystyrene nanospheres as reference material for quantitative determination and in vivo tracing.

Polystyrene (PS) is selected as a representative nanoplastic and persistent pollutant for its difficult degradation and wide application. The environmental risk assessment of PS is obstructed by the toxic dye-based fluorescent PS, which false positives could be induced by the leakage of dye. For high biocompatibility, low toxicity, hydrophilicity, good water dispersibility, strong fluorescent stability, graphene oxide quantum dots (o-CQDs) are selected and embedded into PS microspheres, i.e., o-CQDs@PS, by microemulsion polymerization and denoted as CPS. Meanwhile, the sizes of CPS, e.g., 100, 150, and 200 nm, could be controlled by optimizing the type and number of water-soluble initiators. The anti-interference, low toxicity, and in vivo fluorescent tracing of CPS are proven by the coexistence of metals (including Fe2+, Fe3+, K+, Ba2+, Al3+, Zn2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and Na+) on the fluorescence intensity of CPS, the growth of Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Artemia cysts as aquatic phytoplankton and zooplankton cultured with CPS, and the transfer of CPS from water into brine shrimp. In the concentration range of 0.1-100 mg/L, CPS can be quantitatively determined, which is suitable for coastal water and wastewater treatment plants. Therefore, CPS with standard size is suitable as reference material of PS.

Efficacy and Safety of Interferon-Alpha 2b for Patients with Hepatic Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma: Outcomes of a Case-Series Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEH) is a rare tumor type. No effective medicine or standard treatment for HEH has been established. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From March 2014 to April 2021, 62 patients with pathologically diagnosed HEH were observed regularly, and interferon-alpha 2b (IFN-a 2b) was administered to patients with progressive disease or reoccurrence. Adverse events (AEs) were assessed and recorded, and a tumor assessment scan was performed every 3 months. RESULTS: A total of 42 patients with HEH received IFN-a 2b treatment in this study. No severe (grade ≥3) AEs were reported in the group overall. The most common treatment-related AEs in patients receiving IFN-a 2b were fever (50.0%) and fatigue (21.4%). Partial response and complete response were achieved in 20 patients (47.6%) and 2 patients (4.8%), respectively, and the objective response rate was 52.4%. Stable disease was observed in 12 patients (28.6%), and the disease control rate was 81.0%. Progressive disease was observed in 8 patients (19.0%). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year progression-free survival rates were 81.0%, 69.2%, and 62.3%, respectively. Only 1 patient died as a result of disease progression during the study. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 100%, 97.2%, and 97.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: IFN-a 2b is a safe and effective treatment for patients with HEH. The encouraging results with IFN-a 2b use make it a promising option for patients who have other types of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma; additional clinical trials are needed.

A Modified Treatment Through Point-to-Point Coil Embolization for Direct Carotid Cavernous to Fistula: A Single-Center Result.

This study aims to assess the safety and efficacy of the modified treatment through point-to-point coil embolization of direct carotid cavernous fistula (dCCF), and evaluate the long-term outcome of patients who underwent the above treatment. A total of 18 patients who suffered from dCCF (a total of 19 fistulas) between January 2013 to May 2020 were analyzed. Among these patients, 14 patients were treated through point-to-point coil embolization of the fistula, while four patients were treated through combined endovascular embolization (coils, a balloon, Onyx, and/or a stent). The number of coils that filled the fistulas was counted. The primary outcome was defined by post-operative digital subtraction angiography (DSA) or the signs after the recanalization of dCCFs during the follow-up period. For patients with dCCF who underwent point-to-point coil embolization, a minimum of three coils and a maximum of 16 coils were used for these 14 fistula patients, and an average of 7.9 coils were used for each fistula, but none of the fistulas was recanalized. Furthermore, two pseudoaneurysms were observed as a result of the compression of the coils. However, none of these 14 patients presented with signs of recanalization of fistulas or cranial paralysis. The procedure applied for the present study was shown to be a safe, economical and efficacious treatment approach for dCCFs through the point-to-point coil embolization of the fistula.

Endovascular Treatment of Ruptured Very Small Intracranial Aneurysms: Complications, Recurrence Rate, and Clinical Outcomes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment for ruptured very small (≤3 mm) intracranial aneurysms (VSIAs). Methods: The clinical data and imaging results for 152 patients with VSIAs treated with coil embolization from August 2014 to June 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The influential factors related to the preoperative complications, aneurysm recurrence, and clinical outcomes for these patients were analyzed. Results: Among 152 patients with ruptured VSIAs, 90 were treated with coil embolization alone, while 62 were treated with stent-assisted coil embolization. Eighteen patients experienced intra and/or postoperative complications (overall incidence = 11.8%). One person died of intraoperative aneurysm re-rupture and postoperative rebleeding (mortality rate = 0.65%). Twenty patients had various degrees of neurological dysfunction (morbidity rate = 13.1%). Statistical analysis showed that there was no independent risk factor associated with perioperative complications. The rate of complete aneurysm occlusion at discharge and follow-up was 76.3 and 86.2%, respectively. A total of 105 patients underwent digital subtraction angiography during follow-up, and 18 of them experienced postoperative recurrence (recurrence rate = 17.1%). Seven patients were retreated (retreatment rate = 6.7%). The use of stents was the only factor that affected the postoperative recurrence of aneurysm. The incidence of favorable clinical outcomes (Glasgow Outcome Scale score ≥ 4) at discharge and follow-up was 86.2 and 97.1%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that the preoperative Hunt-Hess grade, CT Fisher grade, and perioperative complications were risk factors for poor clinical outcomes. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that perioperative complication was the most significant risk factor for the clinical prognosis of patients with ruptured VSIAs. Conclusion: Endovascular treatment is a safe and efficient approach for ruptured VSIAs. Stent-assisted coiling reduced the recurrence rate of aneurysm without increasing the incidence of perioperative complications. The Hunt-Hess grade, CT Fisher grade, and perioperative complications were independent factors associated with the clinical outcomes of patients with ruptured VSIAs, and perioperative complication was the most significant risk factor for poor prognosis in patients.