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Rainstorm is one of the global meteorological disasters that threaten the safety of transportation infrastructure and the connectivity of transportation system. Aiming to support the resilience assessment of transportation infrastructure in three representative regions: Sichuan–Chongqing, Yangtze River Delta, and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei-Shandong, rainfall data over 40 years in the three regions are collected, and the temporal distribution of rainfall are analyzed. Prediction equations of rainfall are established. For the purpose of this, the probabilistic density function (PDF) is assigned to the rainfall by fitting the frequency distribution histogram. Using the assigned PDF, the rainfall data are transformed into standard normal space where regression of prediction equations is performed and the prediction accuracy is tested. The results show that: (1) The frequency of rainfall in the three regions follows a lognormal distribution based on which the prediction equations of rainfall can be established in standard normal space. The error of regression shows no remarkable dependence on self-variables, and the significance analysis indicates that the equations proposed in this paper are plausible for predicting rainfalls for the three regions. (2) The Yangtze River Delta region has a higher risk of rainstorm disaster compared to the other two regions according to the frequency of rainfall and the return period of precipitation concentration. (3) Over the period of 1980–2021, the Sichuan–Chongqing region witnessed an increase in yearly rainfall but a decrease in rainstorm disasters, whereas the other two regions experienced a consistent rise in both metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This meta-analysis aims to determine the efficacy of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in the treatment of myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury (MIRI) and summarize the mechanisms involved. Literature from six databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan-Fang database, and VIP database (VIP) were systematically searched. All the analysis were conducted by R. Twenty-five eligible studies involving 443 animals were included in this meta-analysis. The results indicated that compared to controls, EGCG exerts a cardioprotective effect by reducing myocardial infarct size (SMD = −4.06; 95% CI: −5.17, −2.94; P < 0.01; I2 = 77%). The funnel plot revealed publication bias. Moreover, EGCG significantly improves cardiac function, serum myocardial injury enzyme, and oxidative stress levels in MIRI animal models. This meta-analysis demonstrates that EGCG exhibits therapeutic promise in animal models of MIRI. However, further validation is still needed in large animal models and large clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo is the main food source of the giant panda. To increase bamboo intake in captive giant pandas, we studied factors affecting the bamboo intake. Fourteen healthy captive giant pandas in Dujiangyan Base of China Conservation and Research Center for The Giant Panda ("Dujiangyan Base" for short) were selected as research objects. A bamboo feeding experiment was conducted to study the effects of seasons, bamboo age, slope orientations where bamboo grows and felling-feeding time on bamboo intake of the giant panda. We found that the type of bamboo that captive giant pandas feed on was abundant in spring and summer, but relatively homogeneous in winter. With the increase of bamboo age, the intake of bamboo leaves decreased, while bamboo culms increased. The feed intake of 1-year-old bamboo leaves and 5-year-old bamboo culms reached the highest respectively. The slope orientation also affected the panda's bamboo intake, and the bamboo growing on sunny slopes or semi-sunny slopes was more favored by captive giant pandas. Moreover, the bamboo intake reached the highest when felling-feeding time was less than 24 h. In short, we confirmed that seasons, bamboo age, slope orientations and felling-feeding time were factors affecting bamboo intake for captive giant pandas. This study was expected to provide scientific guidance improving the feeding behavior management of captive giant pandas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Submental island flap has certain advantages in repairing postoperative defects of oral cancer, and it can often achieve similar or even better effects compared with those of the free tissue flap. In this study, according to the different characteristics of patients and postoperative defects of oral cancer, submental island flaps with different states of vascular pedicle were prepared, and its repair methods, safety, and clinical effects in treating postoperative defects of oral cancer were investigated. 83 patients with oral cancer who met the inclusion criteria were selected. According to the different characteristics of the patients and postoperative defects of oral cancer, the traditional submental island flap vascular pedicle was modified into three different states: submental artery perforator flap, vascular pedicled flap with the anterior belly of digastric muscle but without the submandibular gland (SIF with anterior belly of DM), and vascular pedicled flap with the anterior belly of the digastric muscle and the submandibular gland (SIF with anterior belly of DM and SG). The types of the submental artery and the drainage vein, flap survival, and complications, were observed. The flap was successfully harvested for all patients, and the submental artery could be found or separated for all of them, with the venous drainage to the internal jugular vein in 57 (57/83, 68.67%), to the external jugular vein in 18 (18/83, 21.69%), and to the anterior jugular vein in eight (8/83, 9.64%) cases. Submental artery perforator flap was used for 11 cases, complete necrosis occurred in two cases (2/11, 18.18%), partial necrosis occurred in one case (1/11, 9.09%); SIF with anterior belly of DM was used for 49 cases, complete necrosis occurred in one case (1/49, 2.04%), partial necrosis occurred in four cases (4/49, 8.16%); SIF with anterior belly of DM and SG was used for 23 cases, including chimeric flap combining the submental island flap and the submandibular gland used for 15 cases, there were no cases of complete or partial necrosis. Submental island flap was effective in repairing postoperative defects of oral cancer. Submental island flaps with three different states of vascular pedicle could repair oral cancer-affected tissues with different defect characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To find the risk of time thresholds of PROM for infectious diseases of term neonates. A multi-center prospective cohort study including pregnancies with PROM at term with a single fetus were conducted. Time thresholds of the duration from PROM to delivery were examined in 2-h increments to assess the rates of infectious neonatal diseases. 7019 pregnancies were included in the study. Neonatal pneumonia and sepsis were most frequent infectious diseases in neonates born from mother with PROM at term. Rates of early-onset pneumonia varied significantly when comparing length of time of PROM greater than 16 h vs. less than 16 h (for EOP in 3 days of life, adjusted OR 1.864, 95% CI 1.159 ~ 2.997, p = 0.010; for EOP in 7 days of life, adjusted OR 1.704, 95% CI 1.104 ~ 2.628, p = 0.016). Neonates born from mother of whom the length of time from PROM to delivery ≥ 16 h were at a higher risk of acquiring EOP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the clinical features and screened for predictive factors of anti-interferon-γ autoantibody (AIGA) positivity. We enrolled 63 AIGA-positive (group 1) and 29 AIGA-negative (group 2) HIV-negative patients. White blood cell (WBC) and neutrophil counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP), globulin, immunoglobulin (Ig) G, and IgM levels were higher, whereas CD4+T cell count and hemoglobin level were lower in group 1 than in group 2. Co-infections, multiple infections, and disseminated infections were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2. Prognosis was worse in group 1 than in group 2, especially for relapse and persistent infections. The number of infecting pathogens and sites involved; WBC and neutrophil counts; globulin, IgG, IgM, and CRP levels; and ESR were significantly positively correlated with AIGA titers; however, CD4+T cell count was significantly negatively correlated with AIGA titers. Therefore, IgG, globulin, and CRP levels; CD4+T cell and WBC counts; the number of infecting pathogens and sites involved; and ESR were considered potential predictors for AIGA positivity. For HIV-negative hosts with double or multiple opportunistic, disseminated infections and high serum IgG and globulin levels, low CD4+T cell count, and an increase in inflammatory marker levels, positive AIGA-associated immunodeficiency should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dry eye disease (DED), a multifactorial ocular surface disease, is estimated to affect up to 34% of individuals over 50 years old. Although numerous animal models, including rodents and rabbits, have been developed to mimic the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in dry eye, there is a lack of non-human primate (NHP) models, critical for translational drug studies. Here, we developed a novel desiccating stress-induced dry eye disease model using Rhesus macaque monkeys. The monkeys were housed in a controlled environment room for 21 to 36 days under humidity, temperature, and airflow regulation. Following desiccating stress, NHPs demonstrated clinical symptoms similar to those of humans, as shown by increased corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) and decreased tear-film breakup time (TFBUT). Moreover, corticosteroid treatment significantly reduced CFS scoring, restored TFBUT, and prevented upregulation of tear proinflammatory cytokines as observed in dry eye patients following steroid treatment. The close resemblance of clinical symptoms and treatment responses to those of human DED patients provides great translational value to the NHP model, which could serve as a clinically relevant animal model to study the efficacy of new potential treatments for DED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To describe the clinical features and the risk factors for nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and Talaromyces marneffei (TM) co-infections in HIV-negative patients. A multicenter retrospective study in 13 hospitals, and a systematic literature review were performed of original articles published in English related to TM/NTM co-infections. HIV-negative patients with TM and NTM co-infections comprised Group 1; TM-only infection Group 2; NTM-only infection Group 3; and healthy volunteers Group 4. Univariate logistic analysis was used to estimate the potential risk factors of TM/NTM co-infections. A total of 22 cases of TM and NTM co-infections were enrolled. Of these, 17 patients (77.3%) had a missed diagnosis of one of the TM or NTM pathogens. The anti-IFN-γ autoantibodies (AIGAs) titer, white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil counts (N), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), globulin, and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels of Group 1 were higher than those of the other groups, whereas the levels of CD4+T cells was lower than those of other groups. There was a significant negative correlation between the AIGA titers and the number of CD4+T cells (P < 0.05). Factors including the ratio of the actual values to the cut-off values of AIGAs, WBC, N, HGB, CD4+T cells, IgG, IgM, IgA, serum globulin, ESR, and CRP were taken as potential risk factors for TM and NTM co-infection. Most patients with TM and NTM co-infection had a missed diagnosis of one of the TM or NTM pathogens. The levels of AIGAs, WBC, N, ESR, and CRP in TM and NTM co-infections were remarkably higher than in mono-infection. High-titer AIGAs may be a potential risk factor and susceptibility factor for co-infection of TM and NTM in HIV-negative hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]