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Abstract Background Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a cerebrovascular disease with unknown cause. Patients with MMD disease usually experience transient neurological events (TNEs) after revascularization surgery. This retrospective single-center study was aimed to explore the risk factors of postoperative TNEs after surgical revascularization in patients with MMD. Methods We selected 324 patients who underwent surgical revascularization between January 2017 and September 2022 in our center. The perioperative characteristics of the patients were recorded and the outcome was TNEs after surgery. An analysis of risk factors contributing to postoperative TNEs by using logistic regression model. Results Three hundred twelve patients were enrolled, and the incidence of postoperative TNEs was 34% in our study. Males were more likely to suffer from postoperative TNEs (OR = 2.344, p = 0.002). Preoperative ischemic presentation (OR = 1.849, p = 0.048) and intraoperative hypotension (OR = 2.332, p = 0.002) were associated with postoperative TNEs. Compared to patients with blood type O, patients with blood type A (OR = 2.325, p = 0.028), B (OR = 2.239, p = 0.027) and AB (OR = 2.938, p = 0.019) had a significantly higher incidence of postoperative TNEs. A risk prediction model for postoperative TNEs was established, and the established risk prediction area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) of the model was 0.741. Conclusions Males, preoperative ischemic presentation and intraoperative hypotension were associated with postoperative TNEs. We also found a possible link between postoperative TNEs and ABO blood types after surgical revascularization for moyamoya patients.

Abstract Berberine hydrochloride is the main effective component of Coptis spp. used in Chinese herbal medicine and its underlying molecular mechanisms, responsible for inducing effects in crustacean species, are not fully understood. In this study, the molecular response of the crab Charybdis japonica to berberine hydrochloride exposure was studied using transcriptome sequencing. The survival rate, gene expression and activities of several immune enzymes were measured after berberine hydrochloride treatments, with or without injection of the pathogenic bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila. A total of 962 differentially expressed genes (464 up-regulated and 498 down-regulated) were observed during exposure to 100 mg/L of berberine hydrochloride and in the control group after 48 h. Enrichment analysis revealed that these genes are involved in metabolism, cellular processes, signal transduction and immune functions, indicating that exposure to berberine hydrochloride activated the immune complement system. This bioactive compound simultaneously activated fibrinogen beta (FGB), fibrinogen alpha (FGA), alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M), kininogen (KNG), fibrinogen gamma chain (FGB), alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein (AHSG), caspase-8 (CASP8), cathepsin L (CTSL), adenylate cyclase 3 (Adcy3) and MMP1. Its action could significantly increase the survival rate of the crabs injected with A. hydrophila and promote the activity of LZM, Caspas8, FGA, ACP and AKP in the hepatopancreas. When A. hydrophila was added, the neutralization of 300 mg/L berberine hydrochloride maximized the activities of Caspas8, LZM, ACP and AKP. Our results provide a new understanding of the potential effects of berberine hydrochloride on the immune system mechanisms in crustaceans.

Abstract: Straw return is an important management tool for tackling and promoting soil nutrient conservation and improving crop yield in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, China. Although the incorporation of maize straw with deep plowing and rotary tillage practices are widespread in the region, only few studies have focused on rotation tillage. To determine the effects of maize straw return on the nitrogen (N) efficiency and grain yield of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), we conducted experiments in this region for 3 years. Five treatments were tested: (i) rotary tillage without straw return (RT); (ii) deep plowing tillage without straw return (DT); (iii) rotary tillage with total straw return (RS); (iv) deep plowing tillage with total straw return (DS); (v) rotary tillage of 2 years and deep plowing tillage in the 3rd year with total straw return (TS). Treatments with straw return increased kernels no. ear−1, thousand-kernel weight (TKW), grain yields, ratio of dry matter accumulation post-anthesis, and nitrogen (N) efficiency whereas reduced the ears no. ha−1 in the 2011–2012 and 2012–2013 growing seasons. Compared with the rotary tillage, deep plowing tillage significantly increased the grain yield, yield components, total dry matter accumulation, and N efficiency in 2013–2014. RS had significantly higher straw N distribution, soil inorganic nitrogen content, and soil enzymes activities in the 0–10 cm soil layer compared with the DS and TS. However, significantly lower values were observed in the 10–20 and 20–30 cm soil layers. TS obtained approximately equal grain yield as DS, and it also reduced the resource costs. Therefore, we conclude that TS is the most economical method for increasing grain yield and N efficiency of winter wheat in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain.

BackgroundHealth-related quality of life (HRQOL) has become commonly used both as a concept and as a field of research. However, little is known about the HRQOL of men who have sex with men and women (MSMW). The aim of this study was to examine HIV-related behaviors, social support, and HRQOL status and explore its predictors among MSMW.MethodsAn anonymous cross-sectional study was conducted by snowball sampling method in 2013. A total of 563 Chinese MSM completed a structured questionnaire. The HRQOL and social support were measured with the Chinese version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BRFE) and the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), respectively.ResultsOf the 563 MSM analyzed, 77 (13.68%) were MSMW who had a higher proportion of in-marriage and preference for an insertive role as compared with the men who have sex with men only (MSMO) (PConclusionsTo improve the HRQOL among MSMW, more attention needs to be paid to those with low social support, low-income, the old and those prefer a receptive role during anal sex populations.

Objectives The objective of this experiment was to investigate spinal anaesthetic effects of pramoxine and its comparison with bupivacaine, a long-lasting local anaesthetic. Methods After intrathecal injection, three neurobehavioural assessments, which consisted of nociceptive, proprioceptive and motor block, were constructed in rats. The effects of bupivacaine and pramoxine (four doses of each drug) in a dose-related manner were conducted to obtain the ED50 (50% effective dose). Pramoxine potency and duration at provoking spinal nociceptive, proprioceptive and motor block were compared with those of bupivacaine. Key findings We manifested that pramoxine provoked dose-relatedly spinal blockades of nociception, proprioception and motor function. Based on the ED50, the rank potency at producing spinal nociceptive, proprioceptive and motor block was bupivacaine (0.90 (0.82-1.02), 1.00 (0.92-1.08) and 1.16 (1.02-1.34) lmol/kg) greater (P < 0.01 for the differences) than pramoxine (15.47 (14.04-17.05), 16.46 (15.06-17.99), and 17.77 (16.48-19.15) lmol/kg). The spinal block duration created by bupivacaine was not predominantly different (P > 0.05 for the differences) from that created by pramoxine at the equipotent doses (ED75, ED50 and ED25). Conclusions Our preclinical experiment indicated that pramoxine elicited a dose-related spinal block, was less potent than bupivacaine and had a similar duration of spinal block compared with bupivacaine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatitis is a type of inflammation in the pancreas, which frequently occurs due to alcohol and gallstones. The present study aimed to identify pancreatitis-associated microRNAs (miRNAs) by analyzing the microarray of GSE24279. GSE24279 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus, composed of a collective of 27 pancreatitis and 22 normal control samples. The differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) in pancreatitis samples were screened using the Limma package in Bioconductor. Subsequently, target genes of the DE-miRNAs were predicted using the miRecords and miRWalk databases. Their potential functions were analyzed by functional and pathway enrichment analysis using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery online tool. Finally, pancreatitis-associated genes among the target genes identified were searched using the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database, and a regulatory network of pancreatitis-associated genes and their target miRNAs were constructed using Cytoscape software. A total 14 upregulated and 39 downregulated miRNAs were identified in pancreatitis samples compared with control samples and 290 target genes of DE-miRNAs were determined. Cyclin D1 (CCND1), v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 2 (AKT2), cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) and SMAD family member 2 (SMAD2) were involved in the pathway of pancreatic cancer. Among the target genes, 279 genes were pancreatitis-associated genes, which in turn were targeted by 37 miRNAs in the regulatory network. Hsa-miR-15a, hsa-miR-16, hsa-miR-155, hsa-miR-375 and hsa-miR-429 in particular may be involved in pancreatitis by targeting genes in the regulatory network, including hsa-miR-15a→CCND1, hsa-miR-16→CCND1, hsa-miR-155→CCND1/SMAD2, hsa-miR-375→AKT2/CDK6 and hsa-miR-429→CCND1. The above miRNAs and their targets may contribute to the pathogenesis of pancreatitis; therefore, they may be potential therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar-blind ultraviolet photodetectors have many advantages, such as low false alarm rates, the ability to detect weak signals, and high signal-to-noise ratios. Among the various functional solar-blind ultraviolet photodetectors, Ga-based alloys of AlGaN and Ga2O3 are the most commonly adopted channel semiconductor materials and have attracted extensive research attention in the past decades. This review presents an overview of the recent progress in Ga-based solar-blind photodetectors. In case of AlGaN-based solar-blind ultraviolet photodetectors, the response properties can be improved by optimizing the AlN nucleation layer and designing the avalanche structure. On the other hand, we also discuss the morphology and growth methods of Ga2O3 nanomaterials and their effect on the performance of the corresponding solar-blind photodetectors. The mechanically exfoliated Ga2O3 flakes show good potential for ultraviolet detection. Also, Ga2O3 nanoflowers and nanowires reveal perfect response to ultraviolet light. Finally, the challenges and future development of Ga-based functional solar-blind ultraviolet photodetectors are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the feasibility of temporary extracorporeal continuous porta-caval diversion (ECPD) to relieve portal hyperperfusion in "small-for-size" syndrome following massive hepatectomy in pigs., Methods: Fourteen pigs underwent 85%-90% liver resection and were then randomly divided into the control group (n = 7) and diversion group (n = 7). In the diversion group, portal venous blood was aspirated through the portal catheter and into a tube connected to a centrifugal pump. After filtration, the blood was returned to the pig through a double-lumen catheter inserted into the internal jugular or subclavian vein. With the conversion pump, portal venous inflow was partially diverted to the inferior vena cava through a catheter inserted via the gastroduodenal vein at 100-130 mL/min. Portal hemodynamics, injury, and regeneration in the liver remnant were compared between the two groups., Results: Compared to the control group, porta-caval diversion via ECPD significantly mitigated excessive portal venous flow and portal vein pressure (PVP); the portal vein flow (PVF), hepatic artery flow (HAF), and PVP in the two groups were not significantly different at baseline; however, the PVF (431.8 ± 36.6 vs 238.8 ± 29.3, P < 0.01; 210.3 ± 23.4 vs 122.3 ± 20.6, P < 0.01) and PVP (13.8 ± 2.6 vs 8.7 ± 1.4, P < 0.01; 15.6 ± 2.1 vs 10.1 ± 1.3, P < 0.05) in the control group were significantly higher than those in the diversion group, respectively. The HAF in the control group was significantly lower than that in the diversion group at 2 h and 48 h post hepatectomy, and ECPD significantly attenuated injury to the sinusoidal lining and hepatocytes, increased the regeneration index of the liver remnant, and relieved damage that the liver remnant suffered due to endotoxin and bacterial translocation., Conclusion: ECPD, which can dynamically modulate portal inflow, can reduce injury to the liver remnant and facilitate liver regeneration, and therefore should replace permanent meso/porta-caval shunts in "small-for-size" syndrome.