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To explore characteristics of clinical parameters and cytokines in patients with drug-induced liver injury (DILI) caused by different drugs and their correlation with clinical indicators. The study was conducted on patients who were up to Review of Uncertainties in Confidence Assessment for Medical Tests (RUCAM) scoring criteria and clinically diagnosed with DILI. Based on Chinese herbal medicine, cardiovascular drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anti-infective drugs, and other drugs, patients were divided into five groups. Cytokines were measured by Luminex technology. Baseline characteristics of clinical biochemical indicators and cytokines in DILI patients and their correlation were analyzed. 73 patients were enrolled. Age among five groups was statistically different (P = 0.032). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (P = 0.033) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (P = 0.007) in NSAIDs group were higher than those in chinese herbal medicine group. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in patients with Chinese herbal medicine (IL-6: P < 0.001; TNF-α: P < 0.001) and cardiovascular medicine (IL-6: P = 0.020; TNF-α: P = 0.001) were lower than those in NSAIDs group. There was a positive correlation between ALT (r = 0.697, P = 0.025), AST (r = 0.721, P = 0.019), and IL-6 in NSAIDs group. Older age may be more prone to DILI. Patients with NSAIDs have more severe liver damage in early stages of DILI, TNF-α and IL-6 may partake the inflammatory process of DILI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify the representative attributes of the five elements of a person with a qualitative methodology and provide the basis for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of "people with the five elements in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)." Data collected from the literature review, two sessions of brainstorming of experts with related experience in "people with the five elements in TCM" from October 2020 to December 2020, and six rounds of in-depth interviews with 30 participants who had various attributes of the five elements from March 2021 to October 2021 were analyzed. Triangulation was used in this study, and theming and synthesizing were used to analyze the data. A total of 31 experts and 30 interviewees participated in this study. The median age of the experts and interviewees were 48.0 and 38.5 years, respectively; 51.66% and 54.8% of experts and interviewees, respectively, were men. The descriptors of facial diagrams of "people with the five elements in TCM" were complexion, shape, distribution state of facial bones, convergence trend of facial muscles, and facial expression. A theoretical model of "people with the five elements in TCM" was shaped based on these findings. The study suggests a possibility for bridging the gap between personality and bodily state, identifying an avenue for personality research from the perspective of TCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyze the rules of acupoint selection in adjuvant interventions for in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) with acupuncture and moxibustion, with the use of complex network technology. Articles on clinical trials of acupuncture and moxibustion for IVF-ET were searched in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, VIP, PubMed, and Web of Science databases from inception to January 31, 2020. A database of acupoint prescriptions has been established. Descriptive analysis was conducted using Microsoft Excel 2019, association rule analysis was conducted using SPSS Modeler 18.0 Apriori algorithm, clustering analysis of high-frequency acupoints was performed using SPSS 25.0 Ward, and complex network analysis of acupoints was performed by using Gephi 0.9.2. A total of 124 clinical trials were included, and 187 acupoint prescriptions were extracted, for a total of 91 acupoints. The total frequency of using these acupoints was 1,296 times, with Sānyīnjiāo (三阴交SP6) used the most frequently. The acupoints were generally located around the conception vessel, spleen meridian, and stomach meridian, and they were mainly distributed in the lower extremities, chest, and abdomen. Considerable consideration was paid to the specific points. The association rule analysis showed that the highest correlation presented between Guānyuán (关元CV4) and Zĭgōng (子宫EX-CA1). Complex network k-core hierarchical analysis discovered that CV4, SP6, Xuèhăi (血海SP10), Hégŭ (合谷LI4), Tàichōng (太冲LR3), Qìhăi (气海CV6), and EX-CA1 were the core acupoints in adjuvant interventions with acupuncture-moxibustion for IVF-ET. In adjuvant interventions with acupuncture-moxibustion, acupoints were commonly located around the conception vessel, spleen meridian, and stomach meridian, and the convergent point was particularly used as a specific point. The acupoints were selected to smooth the liver qi , remove stagnation, activate blood circulation, resolve stasis, and benefit the liver and kidney. "CV4→SP6→EX-CA1→ST36" were the core points, and CV4 was the core prescription in adjuvant treatments with acupuncture-moxibustion in IVF-ET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a class of porous organic polymers (POPs) of p -hydroxy azobenzene with a mesoporous structure was designed and synthesized by a –N N– coupling reaction of tetraamino-metal phthalocyanine (MTAPc, where M = Co, Ni or Cu) with hydroquinone (namely Azo-MHQ, where M = Co, Ni or Cu). The Azo-MHQ materials possessed good thermal stabilities, excellent dispersibilities in water, polar and non-polar organic solvents, as well as excellent chemical stabilities. Among them, Azo-CuHQ showed an outstanding iodine trapping ability in an iodine solution and vapor with saturated adsorption capacities of 1347.47 mg g−1 and 118 wt%. In addition, Azo-CuHQ also showed a high adsorption capacity for methylene blue (MB) with the adsorption amount of 191.21 mg g−1. Furthermore, by loading Azo-CuHQ onto polyethersulfone (PES) membrane, the water permeability of the obtained membranes reached 147.03 L m−2 h−1 bar−1, and the retention rate of Ag in a very low concentration solution of 20 ppm was 56.8 %. Additionally, a thorough analysis of the Azo-CuHQ adsorption and separation mechanism was conducted. A novel approach to the design and synthesis of a class of materials with multifunctional adsorption and separation capabilities is presented in this research. [Display omitted] • Low-temperature synthesis of Azo-MHQ in an aqueous solution is an effective method. • Azo-CuHQ exhibits an excellent adsorption capability for iodine molecule. • Azo-CuHQ can preferentially adsorb MB via hydrogen bonds. • By loading Azo-CuHQ onto PES, the Ag retention rate is 56.80 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information dissemination driven by the epidemic may intensify individuals' awareness to change their behavior, as we observe that aware ones often pursue more resources to resist the epidemic. Particularly, the co-effects of herd awareness to individuals and resource allocation between locations on the spatial spreading of the epidemic has not further uncovered. Therefore, to deeply investigate the co-effects of herd awareness and resource allocation on the spatial spreading of the epidemic, a three-layer metapopulation networks model is proposed to characterize the complex interplay among information diffusion, resource allocation, and epidemic spreading. The results indicate enhancing self-awareness apparently promotes the information dissemination and validly suppresses the epidemic spreading. Intensifying herd awareness can remarkably suppress the epidemic spreading. Besides, pursuing resources excessively has few impacts on curbing the epidemic when individuals suffer from panics, and reducing the infection rate of susceptible individuals via investing resources can properly reduce the final infection scale. • Herd awareness drives the enhancement of individual awareness. • Herd awareness alters the flow of resources. • Herd awareness propagation is conducive to curbing the epidemic. • Enhancing resource production can properly reduce the infection scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural cascades frequently use spatial organization to introduce beneficial substrate channeling mechanisms, a strategy that has been widely mimicked in many engineered multienzyme cascades with enhanced catalysis. Enabled by new molecular scaffolds it is now possible to test the effects of spatial organization on cascade kinetics; however, these scaffolds can also alter the microenvironment experienced by the assembled enzymes. We know from decades of enzyme immobilization research that the microenvironment affects enzymatic activity, thus complicating kinetic analysis. Here, we review these effects and discuss examples that exploit the microenvironment to improve single enzyme and cascade catalysis. In doing so, we highlight the challenges in ascribing kinetic enhancements directly to substrate channeling without first determining the effects of the microenvironment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]