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Background: miR-144-3p exerts inhibitory roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This paper aims to explore that miR-144-3p and its predictive target gene, SLIT- and NTRK-like family member 4 (SLITRK4), in HCC progression. Materials and Methods: The levels of SLITRK4 and miR-144-3p were determined by western blot and qPCR. A loss- and gain-of-function test was used to test whether the relationship between miR-144-3p and SlitrK4 affected the growth of HCC cells. StarBase examined the miR-144-3p target prediction using SLITRK4. Through the use of a luciferase reporter experiment, miR-144-3p's targeting SLITRK4 was identified. The salvage experiment confirmed that miR-144-3p interacts SLITRK4 to regulate the progression of HCC. Results: Findings showned that the expression of miR-144-3p decreased in HCC tissue and cells. MiR-144-3p inhibits deterioration progression of HCC cell progression. MiR-144-3p targeted SLITRK4 and negatively modulated SLITRK4 levels. Besides, miR-144-3p upregulation decreased HCC migration and invasion activity, while SLITRK4 overexpression reduced this inhibition effects. Conclusions: MiR-144-3p regulates invasion and proliferation activity in HCC by targeting SLITRK4. MiR-144-3P/SLITRK4 axis might provide a potential anti-cancer therapy pathway for clinical diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in hepatoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This systematic review and meta-analysis summarizes the safety and efficacy of high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. Methods We performed a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science. We identified randomized controlled trials that compared HFNC to conventional oxygen therapy. We pooled data and report summary estimates of effect using relative risk for dichotomous outcomes and mean difference or standardized mean difference for continuous outcomes, with 95% confidence intervals. We assessed risk of bias of included studies using the Cochrane tool and certainty in pooled effect estimates using GRADE methods. Results We included 9 RCTs (n = 2093 patients). We found no difference in mortality in patients treated with HFNC (relative risk [RR] 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67-1.31, moderate certainty) compared to conventional oxygen therapy. We found a decreased risk of requiring intubation (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.74-0.99) or escalation of oxygen therapy (defined as crossover to HFNC in the control group, or initiation of non-invasive ventilation or invasive mechanical ventilation in either group) favouring HFNC-treated patients (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.51-0.98), although certainty in both outcomes was low due to imprecision and issues related to risk of bias. HFNC had no effect on intensive care unit length of stay (mean difference [MD] 1.38 days more, 95% CI 0.90 days fewer to 3.66 days more, low certainty), hospital length of stay (MD 0.85 days fewer, 95% CI 2.07 days fewer to 0.37 days more, moderate certainty), patient reported comfort (SMD 0.12 lower, 95% CI 0.61 lower to 0.37 higher, very low certainty) or patient reported dyspnea (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.16 lower, 95% CI 1.10 lower to 1.42 higher, low certainty). Complications of treatment were variably reported amongst included studies, but little harm was associated with HFNC use. Conclusion In patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, HFNC may decrease the need for tracheal intubation without impacting mortality., Author(s): B. Rochwerg [sup.1] [sup.2] [sup.22], D. Granton [sup.1], D. X. Wang [sup.3], Y. Helviz [sup.4], S. Einav [sup.4] [sup.5], J. P. Frat [sup.6] [sup.7] [sup.8], A. Mekontso-Dessap [sup.9] [sup.10], [...]

Summary: Erector spinae plane block and paravertebral block can provide analgesia for abdominal surgery. It is unclear whether erector spinae block is inferior to paravertebral block. We aimed to determine whether sufentanil dose and pain intensity (11‐point scale) to 24 h after erector spinae block exceeded those after paravertebral block by no more than 5 μg and 1 point, respectively. We randomly allocated 166 adults to 0.4 ml.kg−1 ropivacaine 0.375% before scheduled laparoscopic nephroureterectomy, 83 each to erector spinae or paravertebral injection. We measured incision pain and intra‐abdominal pain at rest and on movement 0.5 h, 2 h, 6 h, 18 h, 24 h and 48 h after surgery. Median (IQR [range]) cumulative sufentanil dose after erector spinae block was 15 (5–30 [0–105]) μg vs. 20 (10–50 [0–145]) μg after paravertebral block, median (95%CI) difference 5 μg (0–10), erector spinae non‐inferiority p < 0.001. Median (IQR [range]) pain were 1.5 (1.0–2.0 [0.0–5.3]) after erector spinae block vs. 2.0 (1.0–2.5 [0.0–6.0]) after paravertebral block, median (95% CI) difference 0.3 (0.0–0.5), erector spinae non‐inferiority p < 0.001. Adverse events did not differ between groups. Erector spinae block analgesia was not inferior to paravertebral block analgesia after laparoscopic nephroureterectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Ciprofol is a newly developed intravenous sedative-hypnotic drug. The objective of the study was to prove whether ciprofol was non-inferior to propofol for the successful induction of general anesthesia. The ideal post-induction sedation level was assessed by comparing patients' clinical symptoms and their hemodynamic effects in responding to noxious stimuli, mostly tracheal intubation and bispectral index (BIS) alterations following ciprofol/propofol administration PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this multi-center, randomized, double-blind phase 3 trial, selective surgery patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either ciprofol 0.4 mg/kg (n = 88) or propofol 2.0 mg/kg (n = 88) groups. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients with successful anesthesia inductions. Secondary endpoints included the times to successful induction of general anesthesia and loss of the eyelash reflex, changes in BIS, as well as safety indicators. RESULTS: The anesthesia induction success rates for both ciprofol 0.4 mg/kg and propofol 2 mg/kg groups were 100.0%, with a 95% CI lower success limit of -4.18% difference between the two groups, indicating that ciprofol was non-inferior to propofol. For secondary outcomes, the average time to successful anesthesia and loss of the eyelash reflex were 0.91 min and 0.80 min for ciprofol and 0.80 min and 0.71 min for propofol, respectively. The pattern of BIS changes with ciprofol was similar to propofol and stable during the anesthesia maintenance period. Safety was comparable with 88.6% TEAEs in the ciprofol group compared to 95.5% in the propofol group. The incidence of injection pain was significantly lower in the ciprofol group compared to the propofol group (6.8% vs. 20.5%, p < 0.05). In addition, the patients treated with ciprofol had a lesser increase in blood pressure and heart rate, and fewer cases with BIS > 60 within 15 min of intravenous administration, which indicated that ciprofol may provide a better ideal sedation level during the post-induction period under an equivalent dosing regimen to propofol. CONCLUSIONS: Ciprofol for patients undergoing selective surgery is a new option for the induction of general anesthesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of HSK3486 for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia in elective surgical patients, but excluding emergency, cardiothoracic, cerebral and endoscopic sinus cases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 40 eligible patients were randomly assigned to HSK3486 (n = 30) or propofol (n = 10) dosage groups in a ratio of 3:1. Drugs were administered as a bolus injection of 0.4 mg/kg (HSK3486) or 2.0 mg/kg (propofol) for induction, followed by maintenance infusion with the same anesthetic. An additional 6 non-randomized patients received propofol (2.0 mg/kg) for induction and were given HSK3486 for maintenance. RESULTS: The primary efficacy endpoint - the success rate of anesthesia maintenance - was 100% in the 3 arms. The secondary efficacy endpoints included times from discontinuation of HSK3486 or propofol maintenance to full alertness, respiratory recovery, extubation and reaching the goal of the Aldrete score. Also, the proportion of patients who constantly maintained BIS40-60 or those with a period of BIS40-60 during maintenance anesthesia showed no significant difference in the HSK3486 and propofol groups (all p > 0.05). Patients who received HSK3486 exhibited a higher satisfaction score from anesthesiologists during the induction period (p = 0.024). The occurrence and types of treatment-emergent adverse events were similar among the 3 arms, both with a severity of grade 1 or 2. Drug-related hypotension occurred in 14 (46.7%) and 7 (70.0%) patients treated with HSK3486 and propofol, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: HSK3486 exhibited good efficacy for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia and was well tolerated by patients who underwent elective surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sophora viciifolia Hance is an edible plant used in traditional Chinese medicine. Sophocarpine, a tetracyclic quinolizidine alkaloid, is one of the most abundant active ingredients in Sophora viciifolia Hance. Here, we study the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as the acute toxicity of sophocarpine from Sophora viciifolia Hance in mice. Sophocarpine (20, 40, and 80 mg/kgbw) significantly prolonged the delay period before a hot plate reaction occurred (all P < 0.05), and the delay before a tail-flick response was induced by a warm bath (P < 0.05 ; P < 0.01). Sophocarpine (40, 80 mg/kg) resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of the writhing reaction induced by acetic acid in mice (P < 0.05 ; P < 0.001 , respectively). Sophocarpine (80 mg/kg) reduced the total duration of a formalin-induced pain response (P < 0.05). Sophocarpine prolonged the foot-licking latency of mice after the hot plate reaction, and this effect was antagonized by calcium chloride and enhanced by verapamil. Sophocarpine (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg) significantly inhibited xylene-induced ear edema (P < 0.01 ; P < 0.001 ; P < 0.001 , respectively) and the penetration of acetic acid-induced dye into the peritoneal cavity (P < 0.01 ; P < 0.01 ; P < 0.001 , respectively). It also reduced the levels of proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and prostaglandin E2 (P < 0.05 , P < 0.01 , P < 0.001) and those of serum nitric oxide (P < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that sophocarpine possesses certain analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities, which may be related to calcium and inhibition of the secretion of inflammatory factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vitamin D is important for maintaining physiological functions including cognition and its deficiency is associated with the occurrence of cognitive impairment. This study was to explore the association between preoperative vitamin D status and the occurrence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in elderly patients undergoing major surgery.Methods: This was a predefined exploratory sub-analysis of one-centre data from a randomized controlled trial. In all, 123 elderly (≥ 65 years) patients who were scheduled to undergo major cancer surgery were recruited. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was measured before surgery. In total, 59 nonsurgical control subjects with comparable age and education level were also enrolled. A battery of neuropsychological tests was administered the day before and the 7th day after surgery in patients or at the same time interval in control subjects. POCD was diagnosed according to the ISPOCD1 definition.Results: 71.5% (88/123) of elderly patients had vitamin D deficiency (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration < 12 ng/ml) before surgery; 24.4% (30/123) of them developed cognitive dysfunction at 1 week after surgery. After adjusting for confounding factors, high preoperative serum 25-hydroxyvitamine D concentration was related to a decreased risk of POCD (odds ratio [OR]: 0.829, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.708-0.971; P = 0.020), whereas preoperative vitamin D deficiency was associated with an increased risk of POCD (OR: 8.427, 95% CI: 1.595-44.511; P = 0.012).Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in elderly patients undergoing major cancer surgery and increases the risk of early POCD development. Whether prophylactic vitamin D supplementation can reduce POCD in the elderly deserves further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of corticosteroid on hospital mortality, hospital length of stay, and time of viral clearance in patients with severe and critical COVID-19. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with severe and critical COVID-19 who had been discharged or expired were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into corticosteroid group and non-corticosteroid group according to the systemic corticosteroid use or not. Clinical data were collected, and hospital mortality, hospital length of stay, time of viral clearance, time of mechanical ventilation, and duration from illness onset to symptom resolution were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 72 inpatients who were diagnosed with severe and critical COVID-19 were enrolled, in which 47 patients were divided into corticosteroid group and 25 were involved as the non-corticosteroid group. Baseline characteristics were generally similar between the two groups. Four (5.6%) patients died during hospitalization, and 68 (94.4%) were discharged. Among survivors, the mean duration time from admission to discharge was 19.5d (SD 7.05 d). The mean time of viral clearance among survivors was 17.5d (SD 7.67 d), with a maximum of 37 d, and a minimum of 5 d. Hospital mortality (4.3% vs. 8.0%), length of hospital stay (18.7d vs. 21.0d), and time of viral clearance (16.1d vs. 19.4d) had no significant difference between two groups (p>0.05). The duration of symptoms suffering was shorter in the corticosteroid group than non-corticosteroid group, with statistically significant difference (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Corticosteroid therapy in patients with severe COVID-19 cannot reduce the hospital mortality, and is not associated with delayed viral clearance, but it could relieve the inflammatory storm and improve clinical symptoms in brief. Patients with severe COVID-19 could benefit from low-dose corticosteroid treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Deals with a study which verified the smooth-approximation theory for a space-charge dominated beam in an axisymmetric periodic focusing channel. Review of the smooth-approximation theory for an axisymmetric focusing channel; Analysis of the image signals; Significance of the spherical aberration effect in solenoidal focusing system.

OBJECTIVE: Since December 2019, a novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) broke out in Wuhan, China, which has rapidly spread from China to at least 200 countries abroad. COVID-19 was issued a global outbreak and pandemic by the World Health Organization with more than 3 million confirmed cases by May 31, 2020. So far more than ten thousand severe and critically ill patients and hospital-related infection with COVID-19 have been reported with more than four thousand deaths in China. There is a great challenge for intensive care units (ICUs) in hospitals. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The comment mainly focused on admission and discharge criteria, therapy protocol, prevention and control strategies for ICU during COVID-19 outbreak. The emergency strategy for ICU will be helpful for prevention and control of COVID-19 and treatment of critically ill patients with COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: Progress in the management of ICU is crucial for a decrease in the mortality of critically ill patients with COVID-19 with the clinical evidence and experience updated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Regional anaesthesia may have advantages in preserving immune function. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are considered indicators of immune response in the tumor microenvironment and used as a prognostic marker in patients after cancer surgery. This study investigated the effects of combined epidural anaesthesia on the number of TILs in patients undergoing surgery for lung adenocarcinoma.Methods: Patients undergoing radical resection for primary lung cancer were randomized to receive either combined epidural-general anaesthesia (Epi-GA) or general anaesthesia (GA) in an ongoing randomized controlled trial (ChiCTR-TRC-14004136). Excised adenocarcinoma specimens from patients enrolled between 1 June 2015 and 30 November 2015 were selected for immunohistochemical staining of CD8 and FOXP3 molecules. The numbers of positive lymphocytes were counted and expressed as the number of cells per mm2 tumor area.Results: One hundred and twenty-eight patients were recruited and randomized; 64 patients were included in immunohistochemistry analysis (37 received Epi-GA vs. 27 received GA). The number of CD8+ T cells was higher in the Epi-GA group than in the GA group (median [interquartile range]: 292.8 [198.0-418.3] vs. 204.7 [131.1-305.8], P = 0.036); whereas the number of FOXP3+ T cells was less in the Epi-GA group than in the GA group (37.6 [14.7-92.3] vs. 99.8 [68.9-168.3], P < 0.001).Conclusions: For patients undergoing surgery for lung adenocarcinoma under general anesthesia, use of epidural anaesthesia increased CD8+ T cells infiltration but decreased FOXP3+ T cells accumulation in tumor tissues. Epidural anaesthesia may affect TILs in a manner that preserves immune function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe3O4 thin films with a thickness of about 140 nm have been deposited on MgO (001) substrates by reactive sputtering. Microstructural studies indicated that monocrystalline Fe3O4 thin films were epitaxially grown on the MgO substrates with a cubic-on-cubic orientation relationship with respect to the substrates. Strain field due to slight lattice mismatch between the films and substrates was observed. The saturation moment and the coercivity for in-plane magnetization hysteresis loop were 235 emu/cc and 500 Oe, respectively. The lower saturation moment value of the Fe3O4 thin film suggested that the strain field may play a role in the reduction of magnetization. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a high-resolution (0.1° × 0.1°) regional ocean model covering the entire northern Pacific, this study investigated the seasonal and interannual variability of the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) and the South China Sea Throughflow (SCSTF) as well as their interactions in the Sulawesi Sea. The model efficiency in simulating the general circulations of the western Pacific boundary currents and the ITF/SCSTF through the major Indonesian seas/straits was first validated against the International Nusantara Stratification and Transport (INSTANT) data, the OFES reanalysis, and results from previous studies. The model simulations of 2004-12 were then analyzed, corresponding to the period of the INSTANT program. The results showed that, derived from the North Equatorial Current (NEC)-Mindanao Current (MC)-Kuroshio variability, the Luzon-Mindoro-Sibutu flow and the Mindanao-Sulawesi flow demonstrate opposite variability before flowing into the Sulawesi Sea. Although the total transport of the Mindanao-Sulawesi flow is much larger than that of the Luzon-Mindoro-Sibutu flow, their variability amplitudes are comparable but out of phase and therefore counteract each other in the Sulawesi Sea. Budget analysis of the two major inflows revealed that the Luzon-Mindoro-Sibutu flow is enhanced southward during winter months and El Niño years, when more Kuroshio water intrudes into the SCS. This flow brings more buoyant SCS water into the western Sulawesi Sea through the Sibutu Strait, building up a west-to-east pressure head anomaly against the Mindanao-Sulawesi inflow and therefore resulting in a reduced outflow into the Makassar Strait. The situation is reversed in the summer months and La Niña years, and this process is shown to be more crucially important to modulate the Makassar ITF's interannual variability than the Luzon-Karimata flow that is primarily driven by seasonal monsoons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Odorant-binding proteins ( OBPs) are important components in insect olfactory systems that transport semiochemicals through the aqueous sensillum lymph to surface of olfactory receptor neurons. In this study, we cloned the c DNA of odorant-binding protein 2 ( Bhor OBP2) in Batocera horsfieldi ( Hope) and measured the level of the Bhor OBP2 m RNA in a variety of tissues using quantitative reverse transcription and real-time polymerase chain reaction. We found that the Bhor OBP2 m RNA was primarily expressed in the antennae, the level of Bhor OBP2 m RNA was higher in males than in females, and correlated with age and mating status. The Bhor OBP2 m RNA was also expressed in the labial palps at relatively high level, suggesting that it might have a role in gestation as well. To better understand the functions of the Bhor OBP2 protein in odorant reception, recombinant Bhor OBP2 was expressed in Escherichia coli, and the binding specificity of the protein for 18 volatile developmentally relevant chemicals and host-plant-related metabolites were assessed using N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine as a fluorescent probe. Competitive fluorescence binding assays showed that Bhor OBP2 bound a broad range of host-plant-related odorants, including ( E)-2-hexenal, 2-methyl-butanal, salicylaldehyde, (1 S)-(-)-verbenone, ( Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, ( E)-2-hexen-1-ol, β-pinene and ethyl acetate. Our results imply that Bhor OBP2 might play an important role in the selectivity and specificity of odorant reception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At atmospheric pressure, anatase TiO2 films with various nano-morphologies have been grown on quartz substrate by non-thermal TiCl4-O[sub 2]-Ar reactive plasma vapor deposition. High concentration of oxygen vacancies and undercoordinated Ti atoms are incorporated into the crystal lattice of the deposited films, which can be tuned by changing the discharge conditions such as temperature and vapor flow rate. Strong visible luminescence is found for the deposited films, originating from the radiative recombination of trapped electrons due to uncoordinated Ti atoms and oxygen vacancies. To clarify the growth mechanism, an analytical model is proposed to explain the corresponding discharging process. We find the theoretical predictions agree well with experimental results. By effectively adjusting the morphology and lattice crystallinity, we believe this work can provide an expedient and controllable way to fabricate anatase films with interesting optical properties, which can meet the demands of complex practical situations to the maximum degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]