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Currently approved HER2-targeting antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for HER2-positive breast cancer (BC) are associated with safety concerns. In this multicenter, single-arm, dose-escalation (phase 1a) and dose-expansion (phase 1b) phase 1 trial (NCT03944499), patients with HER2-expressing advanced solid tumors received FS-1502 (an anti-HER2 ADC) with a 3 + 3 design in phase 1a; patients with metastatic HER2-positive BC received FS-1502 at the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) in phase 1b. The primary end points were dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and RP2D for phase 1a and objective response rate (ORR) for phase 1b. A total of 150 patients with HER2-expressing solid tumors (n = 5) and BC (n = 145) were enrolled (female, n = 146, 97.3%). One DLT each was reported at 3.0 and 3.5 mg/kg; the MTD was not reached. The RP2D was 2.3 mg/kg once every 3 weeks. Five (3.3%) patients experienced pneumonitis; four (2.7%) had grade 3 reversible ocular events. Of 67 HER2-positive BC patients receiving the RP2D, the best ORR was 53.7% (95% CI, 41.1-66.0%), including PRs confirmed (confirmed ORR, 37.5%) and pending for confirmation. FS-1502 was well tolerated with limited ocular and pulmonary findings and demonstrated promising antitumor activity in HER2-positive BC patients. Safety concerns limit the success of HER2-targeting antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of HER2-postive breast cancer. Here, the authors present a phase 1a/b trial reporting the safety and preliminary efficacy of FS-1502, an anti-HER2 ADC with a cancer-selective cleavable linker, for the treatment of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coalbed methane (CBM) mining has always been plagued by low mining efficiency. CBM-rich areas have high mining efficiency, but their formation is affected by CBM seepage. Through on-site mining, it is found that gas seepage in low-permeability areas presents nonlinear characteristics. In this paper, the causes and rules of nonlinear seepage are analyzed. The pore structure characteristic parameters such as pore size distribution, pore proportion and fractal dimension were obtained by nuclear magnetic resonance technology, and the pore structure characteristics of low permeability coal are analyzed. The results showed that the proportion of porosity was 6.30–11.02% and the proportion of percolation pores was 7.52–19.59%. Both total porosity and percolation pores had fractal characteristics. Aiming at the nonlinear problem of gas seepage law in low permeability coal, the permeability and gas flow data of coal samples under different gas pressures were measured by the self-designed coal core permeability automatic tester, and the gas seepage characteristics of low permeability coal samples are studied. The experiment showed that there was a starting pressure gradient in gas seepage in coal samples, and the relationship between gas permeability and gas pressure turned over at 1.25 MPa, indicating that there is a slip effect in coal pores. Considering the influence of pore structure parameters on the nonlinear seepage characteristics of CBM, the relationships between porosity, tortuosity, pore proportion, and fractal dimension and Kirschner permeability, slippage factor, and starting pressure gradient were fitted. The analysis showed that the pore size distribution characteristics with large proportion of micro-pores in low permeability coal made the pressure gradient required for the internal gas seepage larger, the influence of the slippage effect was enhanced, and the seepage of gas was nonlinear. To conclude, the influence of micro-pores developed in low permeability coal on nonlinear gas seepage was significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe-Si cores with a CoO-SiOx-Co composite coating layer were prepared by sintering Fe-6.5wt.%Si/Co3O4 composite powders. The effects of Co3O4 coating content and structural evolution mechanism on magnetic properties of the Fe-Si cores were systematically studied. The results indicate that the high temperature during hot pressing sintering promotes solid-state interface reactions between Co3O4 coating and Si atoms from the Fe-6.5wt.%Si magnetic powder, resulting in the formation of electrical insulation phase SiOx and ferromagnetic phase Co. The formed CoO-SiOx-Co composite coating layer can effectively weaken the eddy current effect and magnetic dilution effect. When the Co3O4 coating content increases, the saturation magnetization of Fe-Si core decreases but still maintains a high value. And the magnetic loss shows a trend of first decreasing and then increasing. When the Co3O4 coating content is 5.0 wt.%, the Fe-Si core exhibits relatively superior magnetic properties, such as high saturation magnetization (192.9 emu/g), high permeability (98), and low magnetic loss (343.3 kW/m3, 0.02 T/50 kHz). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic pain after lung transplantation (LTx) can substantially reduce quality of life (QoL), yet current consensus guidelines say little about how to prevent or manage it. Research on pain after LTx has tended to focus on acute rather than chronic pain, and it has not extensively examined the factors associated with onset or resolution of chronic pain, which differ from factors influencing chronic pain after general thoracic surgery. This narrative review explores what is known about the epidemiology and risk factors of chronic pain after LTx, as well as effective ways to treat or prevent it. The review identifies key questions and issues that should be the focus of future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatigue failure is a significant factor influencing the safety and stability of corrugated tubes in service. With the rapid development of electric power, aerospace and other areas, increasing expectations for the fatigue life of corrugated tubes are being put forth. Currently, industry and national standards are the most often used approaches for predicting fatigue life. Conventional approaches have limits in reliably forecasting fatigue life under complicated coupled nonlinear circumstances. This research intends to investigate the fatigue life potential of corrugated tubes and improve service safety by concentrating on the relationship between the evolution law of stress-strain distribution and fatigue failure behavior under key material parameter and loading method conditions. The finite element model of corrugated tube fatigue failure under cyclic loading is established based on the combination of experimental method and numerical simulation method. On this basis, the evolution law of stress-strain distribution and fatigue failure of corrugated tubes is examined to reveal the fatigue failure mechanism of corrugated tubes under varied material parameters and loading modes. The research results can not only enrich the theory of design and technology of corrugated tubes but also provide a practical theoretical basis for predicting the behavior of fatigue failure of corrugated tubes in service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Data on the long-term oncological outcomes of patients who undergo conversion surgery (CS) in gastric cancer (GC) patients with peritoneal metastasis (PM) are limited. Methods: GC patients with PM who received intraperitoneal (ip) and systemic chemotherapy between April 2015 and January 2021 were enrolled. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors associated with survival. Clinicopathological and survival outcomes were compared between those with CS and those without CS (NCS). The paclitaxel (PTX) plus tegafur–gimeracil–oteracil potassium capsules (S-1) (PS) + ip PTX and oxaliplatin plus S-1 (SOX) + ip PTX groups were matched in a 1:1 ratio using propensity score matching. Oncological and survival data were collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 540 patients who received ip chemotherapy via subcutaneous port and systemic chemotherapy were analyzed and 268 patients were enrolled, including 113 who underwent CS and 155 who did not. Overall survival (OS) were 27.0 months and 11.8 months in the CS and NCS groups (P < 0.0001), respectively. R0 resection was an independent prognostic factor for patients who underwent CS. The OS of patients with or without ovariectomy was 21.3 or 12.0 months (P < 0.0001). No difference of clinicopathological and survival outcomes was found between the PS + ip PTX and SOX + ip PTX groups. Conclusion: Conversion therapy is safe and adverse events were manageable. CS improves the survival of GC patients with PM after ip and systemic chemotherapy. R0 is an important prognostic factor. Furthermore, outcomes are comparable between the PS + ip PTX and SOX + ip PTX groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics between survivors and non-survivors after acute diquat (DQ) poisoning. Patients treated in the Emergency Department of Fu Yang People's Hospital for DQ poisoning between January 2018 and February 2022 were enrolled in this retrospective comparative study. A total of 65 patients were collected, including 36 males (55.4%) and 29 females (44.6%). There were 34 survivors (52.3%), and 31 non-survivors (47.7%). Patients in the non-survivor group were significantly older (P = 0.003), received a higher dose of DQ before admission (P < 0.001), had more severe organ damage (P < 0.001), lower respiration rate (P < 0.001) and enema (P = 0.009), lower GCS score (P = 0.038), and higher SIRS score (P = 0.018) and APACHE-II score (P < 0.001) than patients in the survivor group. Additionally, biochemical indicators after admission between survivors and non-survivors were significantly different (all P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that respiratory failure (P = 0.021), the dose of DQ (P = 0.022), respiratory rate (P = 0.007), and highest alanine transaminase (ALT) level after admission (P = 0.030) were independent risk factors for acute DQ-induced death. These data suggest that non-survivors with acute DQ poisoning are more likely to suffer from respiratory failure, have higher respiratory rate and ALT after admission, and are exposed higher doses of DQ before admission than survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have shown promises for the next-generation, high-energy electrochemical storage, yet are hindered by rapid performance decay due to the polysulfide shuttle in the cathode and safety concerns about potential thermal runaway. To address the above challenges, herein, we show a flame-retardant cathode binder that simultaneously improves the electrochemical stability and safety of batteries. The combination of soft and hard segments in the polymer framework of binders allows high flexibility and mechanical strength for adapting to the drastic volume change during the Li (de)intercalation of the S cathode. The binder contains a large number of polar groups, which show the high affinity to polysulfides so that they help to anchor active S species at the cathode. These polar groups also help to regulate and facilitate the Li-ion transport, promoting the kinetics of polysulfide conversion reaction. The binder contains abundant phosphine oxide groups, which, in the case of battery's thermal runaway, decompose and release PO· radicals to quench the combustion reactions and stop the fire. Consequently, Li-S batteries using the new cathode binder show the improved electrochemical performance, including a low-capacity decay of 0.046% per cycle for 800 cycles at 1 C and favorable rate capabilities of up to 3 C. This work offers new insights on the practical realization of high-energy rechargeable batteries with stable storage electrochemistry and high safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study mainly uses point defect engineering (Ca doping) to modify the oxide thermoelectric material ZnO, and all experiments use ball milling mixing and spark plasma sintering system (SPS) to prepare samples to study the improvement of the thermoelectric performance of ZnO thermoelectric material with Ca element as the doping source. The thermoelectric properties of Ca doped ZnO have been systematically studied through experimental and theoretical calculation methods. The introduction of Ca element into ZnO matrix can decrease length of the bond of Zn–O, significantly increase the density of states near the Fermi level for the hybridization effect between the impurity level of the Ca atoms (mainly the d- orbits) and the Zn atoms (mainly the d- and p- orbits) and O atoms (mainly the p- orbits), and increase the corresponding carrier concentration, and electrical conductivity. The power factor obtained the maximum value of ~ 9.05 μWcm−1 K−2. The thermal conductivity and lattice thermal conductivity decrease due to the enhancement of heterogeneous scattering and the decrease of Young's modulus. Finally, the maximum ZT value of the Ca doped ZnO sample was increased to ~ 0.35 at 873 K at doping concentration x = 0.016, which is approximately ~ 3.57 times as that of the pure ZnO. Our experimental research has laid a good foundation for promoting the application of ZnO materials in high-temperature thermoelectric devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an adaptive second-order sliding mode control approach is proposed for the performance improvement of electronic throttles (ET). Based on the traditional twisting approach, a novel adaptation mechanism based on the online zero-crossing checking is contained in the modified approach to make the control magnitude of the controller at the minimum admissible level. The idea behind it is to calculate the number of zero-crossings of the sliding surface in real time. The guaranteed stability condition and convergence region of the system are also deduced. In order to further prove its high adaptation capability, the commonly used adaptation mechanism called the Lyapunov-based type is also introduced for comparative study. Simulations and experiments validate the proposed approach with the advantages of chattering elimination, high speed and accuracy in the control of ET systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal experiments have shown that high exposure to ethylene oxide (EO) can cause multiple system damages including the renal system. Recent studies have reported associations between exposure to EO and cancer, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. However, the impact of exposure to EO on the prevalence and prognosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in humans is scarcely investigated. The study was designed to investigate the associations between EO exposure and incidence and prognosis of CKD among 2900 US adults. Exposure to EO was measured by detecting the levels of hemoglobin adducts of EO (HbEO). The diagnosis of CKD was made according to an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and/or a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) > 30 mg/g. Prognosis of CKD was assessed based on the evaluation system initiated by KDIGO that consists of eGFR and UACR. Survey-weighted generalized linear models and proportional odds models were constructed to assess the associations between HbEO and prevalence and prognosis of CKD, with odds ratios (ORs) and proportional odds ratios (PORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) reported, respectively. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) function was performed to depict the correlation between HbEO and CKD. The weighted median (interquartile range) of HbEO was 31.3 (23.1–60.3) pmol/g Hb. A total of 491 participants (16.9%) were diagnosed with CKD, and 153 participants (5.31%) were identified to be at high or very high risk. Referred to the first tertile of HbEO, the adjusted ORs (95% CIs) for CKD in the second and third tertile were 1.46 (0.85, 2.50) and 1.69 (1.00, 2.85), and the adjusted PORs (95% CIs) for prognosis of CKD in the second and third tertile were 1.37 (0.94, 1.99) and 1.58 (1.10, 2.26). When HbEO was analyzed as a continuous variable, the adjusted OR (95% CI) for CKD and POR (95% CI for prognosis of CKD were 1.24 (0.97, 1.58) and 1.22 (1.01, 1.47), respectively. RCS analysis revealed a non-linear positive correlation between HbEO and prevalence of CKD (P for nonlinearity < 0.05). Subgroup analysis indicated smoking status had a significant impact on this association, which remained significant among never smokers but lost significance among smokers. Among US adults, increased EO exposure was independently related to increased CKD prevalence and poor CKD outcomes, which was established in never smokers but not among ever smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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There is little empirical data on the heightened risk of loneliness among individuals residing in the COVID-19 epicenter or those who have recently left. This study compared the risk of loneliness in individuals residing in Wuhan, the COVID-19 epicenter in China, and those who had recently left during the initial outbreak period to those living in non-epicenter regions. During the COVID-19 outbreak in China in 2020, three samples were obtained using snowball sampling. The samples included 2882 epicenter residents, 1028 left residents, and 2963 non-epicenter residents. Loneliness was assessed using the six-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, with a score of two or more indicating the presence of loneliness. 53.5% and 55.2% of epicenter and recently left residents, respectively, experienced loneliness, which was significantly higher than the 43.9% observed in non-epicenter residents. After adjusting for covariates, the risk of loneliness remained statistically significant for both epicenter and left residents (OR = 1.35, P < 0.001 and OR = 1.20, P = 0.017, respectively), when compared to non-epicenter residents. Individuals residing in the COVID-19 epicenter, as well as those who have recently left, are at a heightened risk of loneliness during the outbreak. These individuals need psychosocial support to mitigate their risk of loneliness and promote their psychological wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenol, an important bioactive substance in jujube fruit, is one of the most important indexes of fruit quality. In order to clarify the phenolic substance composition, content and distribution characteristics of different varieties of jujube fruits, this study measured and compared the content of total phenols, total flavonoids and phenolic substance composition in different parts of fruits of six jujube varieties, and combined with the principal component analysis, the results showed that: Fourteen phenolic substances were identified in the fruits of different jujube varieties, and proanthocyanidins, epicatechin, catechin and rutin were the main components, accounting for 58.60%, 16.08%, 13.56% and 5.57% of the total phenolic substances, respectively. The total phenolic and total flavonoid contents of jujube fruits of each variety were between 18.11 and 21.45 mg GAE/g DW and 10.56–20.25 mg RE/g DW, respectively, and the differences in the contents between the varieties were significant, and the contents of 'Junzao' and 'Jinlingyuanzao' were higher than those of other varieties.The phenolic content of different parts of jujube fruits showed spatial distribution differences, manifested as the total phenols, total flavonoids and their fractions of the peel were significantly higher than that of the pulp, while the content of the pulp near the kernel was significantly higher than that of other parts of the pulp, This study provides a theoretical basis for analysing the differences in phenolic substances in jujube fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy has been demonstrated to be effective in early triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In this single-arm, phase II study with Simon's two-stage design, we investigated the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant camrelizumab plus chemotherapy in patients with early TNBC (NCT04213898). Eligible female patients aged 18 years or older with histologically confirmed treatment-naïve early TNBC were treated with camrelizumab (200 mg, on day 1), nab-paclitaxel (125 mg/m2, on days 1, 8, and 15), and epirubicin (75 mg/m2, on day 1) every three weeks for six cycles. The primary end point was the pathological complete response; secondary endpoints included safety, objective response rate, and long-term survival outcomes of event-free survival, disease-free survival, and distant disease-free survival. A total of 39 patients were enrolled between January 2020 and October 2021. Twenty-five patients achieved a pathological complete response (64.1%, 95%CI: 47.2, 78.8). The objective response rate was 89.7% (95%CI: 74.8, 96.7), including 35 patients with partial responses. Treatment-related adverse events of grade 3 or 4 occurred in 30 (76.9%) patients. In conclusion, the trial meets the prespecified endpoints showing promising efficacy and manageable safety of neoadjuvant camrelizumab plus nab-paclitaxel and epirubicin chemotherapy in female patients with early TNBC. Long-term survival outcomes are still pending. Recent evidence suggests the feasibility of neoadjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitors plus chemotherapy-based therapy for patients with early triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Here the authors report the results of a single-arm phase II trial of neoadjuvant camrelizumab (anti-PD-1) plus nab-paclitaxel and epirubicin for early TNBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CDK4/6 inhibitors have shown a synergistic effect with anti-HER2 therapy in hormone receptor (HR)-positive and HER2-positive breast cancer (BC). In this phase 2 study (NCT04293276), we aim to evaluate a dual-oral regimen of CDK4/6 inhibitor dalpiciclib combined with HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor pyrotinib as front-line treatment in women with HER2-positive advanced BC (n = 41) including those with HR-negative disease. The primary endpoint is the objective response rate, and secondary endpoints include progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. With a median follow-up of 25.9 months, 70% (28/40) of assessable patients have a confirmed objective response, meeting the primary endpoint. The median PFS is 11.0 months (95% CI = 7.3–19.3), and OS data are not mature. The most common grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events (AEs) are decreased white blood cell count (68.3%), decreased neutrophil count (65.9%), and diarrhea (22.0%). Most AEs are manageable, and no treatment-related deaths occur. These findings suggest that this combination may have promising activity and manageable toxicity. Further investigation is needed. Dalpiciclib is a CDK4/6 inhibitor, recently approved for treatment in advanced breast cancer patients in China. Here, the authors report the results of a phase II trial investigating oral dalpiciclib (CDK4/6 inhibitor) and pyrotinib (pan-HER inhibitor) in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary problem in achieving carbon emission reduction and carbon peak is to identify the key driving factors and emission reduction potential of the industrial sector, especially in resource-cursed regions like Xinjiang. This study aimed to explore the key driving factors and abatement potential of carbon emissions based on the "energy-environment-economy" hybrid input–output model of Xinjiang during 1997–2017. The result showed that: (1) Industrial carbon emissions have experienced three stages: slow growth-rapid growth-stable growth. (2) Demand change effect and energy intensity effect were the determinants of Xinjiang industrial carbon emission change; Capital formation and domestic trade were the biggest drivers of carbon emissions growth; Especially after entering the "new normal",the driving force of imports in Xinjiang's international trade increased gradually over time. (3) The coal-based energy structure was both the biggest obstacle and the best entry point in carbon emission reduction. (4) Of the 28 key industry sectors, heavy industry including the production and supply of electricity and heat (S22), petroleum processing, coking and nuclear fuel processing (S11), chemical industry (S12), metal smelting and rolling (S14), and energy industries had the greatest potential for carbon reduction. The research findings provide scientific decision-making reference for Xinjiang to accurately grasp the carbon emission reduction potential of the industry and formulate a targeted carbon peak action plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effect of emodin on high glucose (HG)-induced podocyte apoptosis and whether the potential anti-apoptotic mechanism of emodin is related to induction of adenosine-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-mediated autophagy in podocytes (MPC5 cells) in vitro. Methods: MPC5 cells were treated with different concentrations of HG (2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 160 mmol/L), emodin (2, 4, 8 µ mol/L), or HG (40 mmol/L) and emodin (4 µ mol/L) with or without rapamycin (Rap, 100 nmol/L) and compound C (10 µ mol/L). The viability and apoptosis of MPC5 cells were detected using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. The expression levels of cleaved caspase-3, autophagy marker light chain 3 (LC3) I/II, and AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins were determined by Western blot. The changes of morphology and RFP-LC3 fluorescence were observed under microscopy. Results: HG at 20, 40, 80 and 160 mmol/L dose-dependently induced cell apoptosis in MPC5 cells, whereas emodin (4 µ mol/L) significantly ameliorated HG-induced cell apoptosis and caspase-3 cleavage (P<0.01). Emodin (4 µ mol/L) significantly increased LC3-II protein expression levels and induced RFP-LC3-containing punctate structures in MPC5 cells (P<0.01). Furthermore, the protective effects of emodin were mimicked by rapamycin (100 nmol/L). Moreover, emodin increased the phosphorylation of AMPK and suppressed the phosphorylation of mTOR. The AMPK inhibitor compound C (10 µ mol/L) reversed emodin-induced autophagy activation. Conclusion: Emodin ameliorated HG-induced apoptosis of MPC5 cells in vitro that involved induction of autophagy through the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway, which might provide a potential therapeutic option for diabetic nephropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qishen Yiqi Dripping Pills (QSYQ) is a compound of Chinese medicine, which has been used to treat coronary heart disease and cardiac dysfunction. Its natural components include astragaloside IV, flavonoids, danshensu, protocatechualdehyde, salvianolic acid B, salvianolic acid A, ginsenosides Rg1, ginsenosides Rb1, and essential oils, etc. It exerts effects of nourishing qi and promoting blood circulation to relieve pain. In this review, the bioactive components of QSYQ and its effects for treating cardiovascular diseases and possible mechanism were summarized, providing references for further study and clinical application of QSYQ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some studies have investigated the effects of PM2.5 on cardiovascular diseases based on the population–average exposure data from several monitoring stations. No one has explored the short-term effect of PM2.5 on cardiovascular hospitalizations using individual-level exposure data. We assessed the short-term effects of individual exposure to PM2.5 on hospitalizations for myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke in Guangzhou, China, during 2014–2019. The population-based data on cardio-cerebrovascular events were provided by Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Average annual percent changes (AAPCs) were used to describe trends in the hospitalization rates of MI and stroke. The conditional logistic regression model with a time-stratified case-crossover design was applied to estimate the effects of satellite-retrieved PM2.5 with 1-km resolution as individual-level exposure. Furthermore, we performed stratified analyses by demographic characteristics and season. There were 28,346 cases of MI, 188,611, and 36,850 cases of ischemic stroke (IS) and hemorrhagic stroke (HS), respectively, with an annual average hospitalization rate of 37.2, 247, and 48.4 per 100,000 people. Over the six-year study period, significant increasing trends in the hospitalization rates were observed with AAPCs of 12.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.24%, 17.6%), 13.1% (95% CI: 9.54%, 16.7%), and 9.57% (95% CI: 6.27%, 13.0%) for MI, IS, and HS, respectively. A 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was associated with an increase of 1.15% (95% CI: 0.308%, 1.99%) in MI hospitalization and 1.29% (95% CI: 0.882%, 1.70%) in IS hospitalization. A PM2.5-associated reduction of 1.17% (95% CI: 0.298%, 2.03%) was found for HS hospitalization. The impact of PM2.5 was greater in males than in females for MI hospitalization, and greater effects were observed in the elderly (≥ 65 years) and in cold seasons for IS hospitalization. Our study added important evidence on the adverse effect of PM2.5 based on satellite-retrieved individual-level exposure data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To quantify the influence of surface roughness and its fractal characteristics on the wettability of the samples, coal samples of five particle sizes were selected to produce different cylindrically shaped coal samples in the laboratory, and four grinding methods were used to obtain the coal samples having different roughness values. Three different wetting solutions were utilized to conduct the wetting tests on the coal samples having different roughness values. Theoretical analysis and laboratory studies were carried out to investigate the influence of roughness on wetting parameters. The fractal characteristics of the coal samples with different surface roughness values were analyzed by electron microscopy, and the mechanism of the effect of roughness on wetting performance was analyzed in conjunction with parameters. The results showed that as the surface roughness of the coal samples gradually increased, the fractal dimension increased, the specific surface area of the coal samples increased, the actual contact area of the solid–liquid interface was found to be larger than the apparent contact area, and the adhesion tension and the adhesion work of the wetting solution on the surface of the coal samples increased. The chance of forming a continuous liquid film on the surface of coal samples decreased, more pores were found filled by the wetting solution, resulting in the decrease in contact angle of the liquid on the surface of the coal samples. When the roughness values of the coal samples were in the range of 7–11 μm, the fractal dimension increased rapidly, while the contact angle decreased rapidly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prognosis of advanced gastric cancer (GC) invading the gastric serosa remains poor, mainly owing to high incidence of peritoneal recurrence. Patients with peritoneal metastases are often treated with neoadjuvant intraperitoneal and systemic chemotherapies (NIPS). Good responders to NIPS often undergo conversion gastrectomy. This study aims to explore biomarkers predicting the occurrence of peritoneal metastasis (PM) and evaluating the efficacy of NIPS in GC patients. Methods: We collected six peritoneal lavage (PL) samples from two patients with PM, two without PM, and two with diminished PM after NIPS via intraperitoneal access ports. We equally isolated microRNAs from exosomes derived from PL samples for deep sequencing. Two microRNAs (hsa-let-7g-3p and hsa-miR-10395-3p) were identified, and their expression levels were examined in PL samples of 99 GC patients using qRT-PCR. Moreover, we performed in vivo and in vitro functional assays to investigate effects of these microRNAs on metastasis and chemoresistance of GC cells. Results: Exosomal microRNA expression profiling of six PL samples indicated that the microRNA signature in exosomes of PLs from patients with diminished PM was similar to that from patients without PM. Expression levels of hsa-let-7g-3p and hsa-miR-10395-3p were associated with PM. In vivo and in vitro functional assays confirmed that hsa-let-7g-3p and hsa-miR-10395-3p are involved in GC metastasis and chemoresistance. Conclusion: PL-derived exosomes in GC contain large amounts of microRNAs related to PM. Moreover, hsa-let-7g-3p and hsa-miR-10395-3p could be used as biomarkers predicting PM and NIPS efficacy and are involved in GC metastasis and chemoresistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interfacial solar evaporation technology is considered as one of the most promising green ways to solve the problems of freshwater scarcity and sewage treatment. Herein, we prepared a low-cost, easy-to-fabricate, and excellent performance polyaniline (PANI)-wood solar evaporator using a simple surface self-assembly technique. The evaporator achieves an evaporation rate of 1.66 kg m−2 h−1 under 1 sun and a photothermal conversion efficiency of 86.9%. In the process of seawater desalination, the purification rate of four ions in seawater reaches at least 99%. And water purified by evaporator meets the drinking water standard of the World Health Organization (WHO). In the experiment of evaporating organic dye aqueous solution, the light transmittance of the purified water is similar to that of deionized water. These performances are higher than those of most reported wood-based solar evaporators. Therefore, the efficient solar evaporation system has great potential in addressing desalination and water purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The feasibility and efficacy of low-protein diets (LPD) treatment in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is controversial. Based on the characteristics of the Chinese diet, we observe the qualification rates and short-term clinical effects of LPD for CKD patients in our center. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. CKD stages 3–5 patients who were regularly followed up 5 times (over 2 years) and treated with LPD were included. We collected clinical data to observe the changes in LPD qualification rates and divided patients into LPD and non-LPD group according to the average dietary protein intake (DPI) of 5 follow-up time points and compared the changes in primary and secondary outcome measures between the two groups. Results: We analyzed data from 161 eligible CKD stages 3–5 patients. From baseline to the 5th follow-up time point, the LPD qualification rates of all patients were 11.80%, 35.40%, 47.82%, 53.43% and 54.04%, respectively. For primary outcome measures, the urine protein/creatinine ratio (UPCR) decreased more in the LPD group than in the non-LPD group [Median (interquartile range, IQR) of the difference between the 5th follow-up time point and baseline: 0.19 (− 0.01–0.73) vs. 0.10 (− 0.08–0.27), P < 0.001]. We constructed three classes of mixed linear models (model I, II, III). The UPCR slopes were all negative in the LPD group and positive in the non-LPD group (P < 0.001). Meanwhile, in model I, the estimate glomerular filtration rate(eGFR) decline slope in the LPD group was lower than that in the non-LPD group [slope (standard error): − 1.32 (0.37) vs. − 2.35 (0.33), P = 0.036]. For secondary outcome measures, body mass index (BMI) triglycerides (TG), body weight, and fat free mass (FFM) showed stable statistical differences in the comparison of LPD and non-LPD groups, with greater declines in the former. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that LPD treatment can reduce UPCR in patients with CKD stages 3–5, and may also delay the decline in eGFR. Meanwhile, it also reduces BMI, TG, body weight, and FFM, thus the need to prevent malnutrition in clinical implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grid-based sand-fixing protection barriers have been widely used to solve linear engineering problems in sandy areas. Their placement directly affects the combined change law of wind speed weakening and sand sediment in the sand barrier. It also affects the cost of sand control and the selected structure of the protection system. Therefore, quantifying the effect of different sand barriers is important. We installed nylon mesh checkerboard sand-fixing barriers of three heights and three sizes on the windward side of the highway in the Ulanbuhe Desert, China. By using anemometer and sand collecting instrument, through comparing and observing air flow changes, windproof efficiency, and sand sediment inside the sand barrier, it is found that height had more influence on the protective benefit of a sand barrier than did the mesh specification. The protective effect at the boundary of a sand barrier resulted from compound superposition. The model for calculating a suitable sand barrier protection width was affected by sand-driving wind speed, open field wind speed, sand barrier unit side length, height, and actual protection demand. Sand barriers of 1 × 1 m (It is the grid size of the mesh.) at 20-cm height, 1 × 1 m and 1.5 × 1.5-m at 30-cm height could be laid over a wide area. Different collocation patterns can be selected according to the dominant wind direction. The results can provide basic data and theoretical support for sand barrier protection system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pamiparib in patients with locally advanced or metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−) breast cancer, with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline BRCA1/2 mutations (gBRCA1/2 m). Methods: In this open-label, phase II, multicenter study in China (NCT03575065), patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC cohort) or hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/HER2− breast cancer (HR+/HER2− cohort) and ≤ 2 prior lines of chemotherapy received pamiparib 60 mg orally twice daily in 28-day, continuous cycles. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR; RECIST v1.1) by independent review committee. Results: In total, 88 patients were enrolled (TNBC cohort: 62; HR+/HER2− cohort: 26). Median age was 45.5 (range: 27–67) years, and 60 patients (68.2%) had received 1 or 2 prior lines of chemotherapy; 42 patients (47.7%) had previously received platinum chemotherapy. In the TNBC cohort, ORR was 38.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.4–52.3) and median duration of response (DoR) was 7.0 months (95% CI 3.9–not estimable). In the HR+/HER2− cohort, ORR was 61.9% (95% CI 38.4–81.9) and median DoR was 7.5 months (95% CI 5.6–14.8). The most common treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), treatment-related TEAEs, and ≥ Grade 3 TEAEs were hematologic (including anemia, decreased neutrophil count, and decreased white blood cell count). Overall, 64.8% of patients had TEAEs leading to dose reduction and 2.3% had TEAEs leading to treatment discontinuation. Conclusion: Pamiparib showed encouraging efficacy and an acceptable safety profile in patients with locally advanced and metastatic HER2− breast cancer with gBRCA1/2 m. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03575065; July 2, 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is crucial to obtain accurate and efficient instance segmentation masks in many modern applications such as automatic pilot and robotic manipulation. In this paper, we propose a straightforward and flexible two-stage framework for instance segmentation, which simultaneously generates box-level localization information in an image and instance-level segmentation information for each instance. We name this framework as Attention-based Adaptive Context Network for anchor-free Instance Segmentation (ContextMask), which extends the object detector FCOS (Fully Convolutional One-stage Object Detection) by adding a novel multi-scale adaptive context-guided mask (MACG-Mask) branch containing an adaptive context network and a MaskIoU branch. The adaptive context network is to combine the global context in predicted bounding boxes and the MaskIoU branch is to evaluate the quality of the predicted masks. With the development of deep convolutional neural networks, the network continues to deepen so that it is difficult to balance spatial information and semantic information well. To address the issue, we design a weighted FPN, which obtains feature maps with balance-well spatial and semantic information by concatenating and weighting feature maps of different resolutions. Besides, we also propose an attention-based head, which adds spatial attention and channel attention module to make each pixel have a unique weight to solve the problem of large-scale variant of objects. We verify ContextMask's effectiveness on the fine-annotations Cityscapes and COCO dataset. ContextMask outperforms state-of-the-art methods and achieves 38.4 % AP on the Cityscapes dataset and 39.0 % AP on the COCO dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is evidence linking hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) to gut microbiota dysbiosis, and this relationship was corroborated in a large HFMD patient population in our previous study. Here, we present a bacterial 16S rRNA gene dataset from faecal samples of 713 individuals (254 HFMD patients, 459 healthy controls) aged 2 to 7 years residing in Heyuan and Jiangmen counties, Guangdong Province, southern China. Microbiome analysis indicated a significant increase in genus Prevotella, Cetobacterium, and Megamonas was observed in patients with HFMD, whereas a large increase in genus Bacteroides, Ruminococcus, and Faecalibacterium were seen in the control group. We also share the bioinformatic analytical pipeline for this analysis, from data preprocessing to data filtering and amplicon sequence variant (ASV) table generation. We expect that the dataset will be reprocessed, evaluated and fully analysed with various analysis methods to further elucidate the role of the gut microbiota in HFMD development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to evaluate sex-specific association between admission systolic blood pressure (SBP) and in-hospital prognosis in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) admitted to intensive care unit (ICU). In this retrospective, observational study, 1268 ADHF patients requiring intensive care were consecutively enrolled and divided by sex. Patients were divided into three subgroups according to SBP tertiles: high (≥ 122 mmHg), moderate (104–121 mmHg) and low (< 104 mmHg). The primary endpoint was either all-cause mortality, cardiac arrest or utilization of mechanical support devices during hospitalization. Female patients were more likely to be older, have poorer renal function and higher ejection fractions (p < 0.001). The C statistics of SBP was 0.665 (95%CI 0.611–0.719, p < 0.001) for men and 0.548 (95% CI 0.461–0.634, p = 0.237) for women, respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that admission SBP as either a continuous (OR = 0.984, 95% CI 0.973–0.996) or a categorical (low vs. high, OR = 3.293, 95% CI 1.610–6.732) variable was an independent predictor in male but the risk did not statistically differ between the moderate and high SBP strata (OR = 1.557, 95% CI 0.729–3.328). In female, neither low (OR = 1.135, 95% CI 0.328–3.924) nor moderate (OR = 0.989, 95% CI 0.277–3.531) SBP had a significant effect on primary endpoint compared with high SBP strata. No interaction was detected between left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and SBP (p for interaction = 0.805). In ADHF patients admitted to ICU, SBP showed a sex-related prognostic effect on primary endpoint. In male, lower SBP was independently associated with an increased risk of primary endpoint. Conversely, in female, no relationship was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of Bcl-2 inhibitor Venetoclax (VEN) combined with hypomethylating agents or chemotherapy has shown efficacy in treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML) as frontline treatment and for relapse, allowing more patients to bridge to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). However, the influence of VEN-based therapy on the prognosis of subsequent allogeneic HSCT remains unknown. We retrospectively collected data from patients who proceeded to allo-HSCT between November 2018 and November 2020 after VEN-based therapy at five transplant centers in Zhejiang Province, China. A total of 39 patients were analyzed. Thirty-one patients were diagnosed with AML (28 de novo, 3 secondary to MDS), 6 with MDS, and 2 with CMML. The majority (74.4%) of patients received VEN-based therapy for the treatment of relapse (38.5%) or refractory disease (35.9%); 5 (12.8%) received it as an initial treatment, and 5 (12.8%) patients who were already in complete remission (CR) received VEN for further consolidation or deep remission before HSCT. Twenty-seven (69.2%) patients were in CR at the time of HSCT. Day + 100 cumulative incidences of grade I–IV acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) and grade II–IV aGVHD were 43.6% and 15.4%, respectively. Of 34 evaluable patients, 6.4% and 25.6% developed chronic GVHD at 1 year and 2 years. The 100-day cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation occurred in 76.3% of patients and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation occurred in 29.7% of patients. With a median follow-up of 14.7 months, overall survival, progression-free survival, relapse, and non-relapse mortality incidence at 1 year were 75.5%, 61.6%, 16.7%, and 21.7%, respectively. Both univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that relapsed/refractory (R/R) disease was associated with inferior PFS (HR 4.849, 95% CI 1.009–23.30; p = 0.049). Prior poor response to VEN was found to be a significant factor predicting higher risk of relapse (HR 4.37, 95% CI 1.130–16.9; p = 0.033). Our results showed that VEN-based regimen therapy followed by allo-HSCT in AML patients is feasible and does not increase the risk of transplant-related mortality and toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Diabetes increases the risk for cancers. However, whether it is associated with hematologic malignancies is not clear. The present study investigated the association between diabetes and acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (ML), non-Hopkin lymphoma (NHL), and multiple myeloma (MM). Methods: Newly diagnosed adult cancer patients were recruited consecutively from our clinical database. Peoples from a local enterprise were recruited to create a small-scale population-based dataset. We compared the diabetes prevalence between the cancer patients and the local people; an increase in diabetes prevalence in the cancer patients suggests an association between diabetes and the cancer(s). Results: We found that the prevalence of diabetes was 19.7%, 21.3%, 12.5%, and 12.0% in ALL, AML, NHL, and MM, respectively, which was higher than that (9.1%) in the local people. Despite that there were more male than female cancer patients, there were more female than male diabetic patients. The increase in diabetes prevalence occurred in ALL and NHL patients aged 18 to 39 years old as well as in AML patients over 40. In MM patients, the increase in diabetes prevalence (18.6%) occurred only in females. Approximately 70% of the diabetic patients were undiagnosed before the diagnosis of the blood cancer. Approximately half of the pre-existing diabetic patients had anti-diabetic treatment, with over 70% of them still had poor glycemic control. Conclusions: Our results suggest that diabetes is associated with ALL, AML, NHL, and MM, at least in adult patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural and creative products are incredibly diverse that difficult to mass-produce and fail to meet market demands. The unique characteristics and the cultural and sales value of cultural and creative products must be highlighted through the application of multifunctional design. As a scientific approach, the Delphi method and fuzzy logic theory were applied to create a multiattribute DFuzzy decision model for cultural and creative product design. This model is intended to enable objective, quantitative auxiliary decision evaluation for product design, providing a reference for optimization of commodity production. Fuzzy logic is one of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and quantifies the fuzzy semantics of human languages. The Delphi method enables group decision-making among experts, thus contributing to the scientific and objective nature of the DFuzzy model. The 16 Delphi experts invited to participate in this study were the chief executive officers in the cultural and creative industry, local cultural management commissioners, and domain knowledge professors, all of whom had at least 12 years of experience in cultural and creative industry development. The experts reached a consensus regarding 19 preliminary criteria identified through a three-round Delphi process. The four criteria suitable for the DFuzzy model were determined to be cultural images, innovation and creativity, customer demand, and city charm. The model was then applied to evaluate three cases, a multifunctional scale ruler, a toy robot, and an agricultural specialty product. Another consensus was then reached by the experts through a two-round Delphi process, and the four criteria were validated. Thus, the objective quantitative calculation function of the DFuzzy model was confirmed along with its applicability for auxiliary decision-making in cultural and creative product design and education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platinum is recommended in combination with gemcitabine in the treatment of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC). We conduct a randomized phase 3, controlled, open-label trial to compare nab-paclitaxel/cisplatin (AP) with gemcitabine/cisplatin (GP) in mTNBC patients (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02546934). 254 patients with untreated mTNBC randomly receive AP (nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m² on day 1, 8 and cisplatin 75 mg/m² on day 1) or GP (gemcitabine 1250 mg/m² on day 1, 8 and cisplatin 75 mg/m² on day 1) intravenously every 3 weeks until progression disease, intolerable toxicity or withdrawal of consent. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS); secondary endpoints are objective response rate (ORR), safety and overall survival (OS). The trial has met pre-specified endpoints. The median PFS is 9.8 months with AP as compared to 7.4 months with GP (stratified HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.50–0.88; P = 0.004). AP significantly increases ORR (81.1% vs. 56.3%, P < 0.001) and prolongs OS (stratified HR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44–0.90; P = 0.010) to GP. Of grade 3 or 4 adverse events, a significantly higher incidence of neuropathy in AP and thrombocytopenia in GP is noted. These findings warrant further assessment of adding novel agents to the nab-paclitaxel/platinum backbone due to its high potency for patients with mTNBC. Platinum agents, such as carboplatin and cisplatin, have been recommended in combination with gemcitabine for the treatment of metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Here the authors report the results of a randomized phase 3 trial to compare the efficacy of first-line nab-paclitaxel/cisplatin to gemcitabine/cisplatin in patients with TNBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jujube is a crop highly resistant to drought and salinity, making it one of the main fruit trees in Xinjiang. The present study evaluated the changes in the physicochemical and antioxidant activities of jujube fruit of eight different cultivars from Xinjiang, China. The developmental stages were selected according to the days after full bloom and fruit peel colour during ripening; these stages included young (S1), fruit core-hardening (S2), green ripening (S3), half-red maturity (S4) and complete red. In present study, different cultivars of jujube fruit showed similar chemical profiles, but their amounts showed great variation. HZ had the highest content of sugars, and JY had the highest content of cAMP and cGMP, while relatively higher levels of ascorbic acid, catechin, epicatechin, rutin, proanthocyanidin and antioxidant activity were found in 'FS' than in other cultivars, indicating that 'FS' could be used as a potential natural antioxidant. Regarding the development stages of jujube fruit, the moisture, ascorbic acid, total polyphenol, catechin, epicatechin, proanthocyanidin and rutin contents decreased during the development of all jujube cultivars, while the fructose, glucose, sucrose, cAMP, and cGMP contents greatly increased. The antioxidant activity determined by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging decreased as the fruits matured. Therefore, the results suggest that green jujube (S1) could be used for natural antioxidants (catechin, epicatechin, proanthocyanidin) and that the advanced ripening stage(S5) is the proper picking period for fresh fruit and commercial processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purposes: The POPular Risk Score (PRiS), a pharmacogenetic-driven algorithm consisting of CYP2C19 genotype, platelet reactivity, and clinical risk factors, is developed to evaluate ischemic risk and guide dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DAPT in accordance with the PRiS in patients undergoing drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. Methods: A total of 1757 patients recruited in this cohort study were divided into four groups according to the PRiS and type of P2Y12 receptor inhibitor treatment at discharge. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE, a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, definite or probable stent thrombosis, and target vessel revascularization) during 1-year follow-up. The safety endpoints were defined by Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) criteria as major bleeding (BARC 3a, 3b, 3c, and 5) and clinically relevant bleeding (BARC 2, 3a, 3b, 3c, and 5). Results: Among 1046 patients with PRiS < 2 and 711 patients with PRiS ≥ 2, 34.2% and 38.3% of them were treated with ticagrelor, respectively. The PRiS ≥ 2 was an independent predictor for the 1-year incidence of MACE (HR(95%CI): 2.09 (1.37–3.20), p = 0.001). Multivariable Cox regression indicated that in the PRiS ≥ 2 group, ticagrelor was superior to clopidogrel in reducing the risk of MACE (HR(95%CI): 0.53 (0.29–0.98), p = 0.042), without increasing the bleeding risk. On the other hand, in the PRiS < 2 group, clopidogrel treatment was related to a remarkably lower rate of BARC class ≥ 2 bleeding (HR(95%CI): 0.39 (0.20–0.72), p = 0.003), but comparable incidences of MACE and BARC class ≥ 3 bleeding during 1-year follow-up. Similar associations between P2Y12 receptor inhibitors and 1-year endpoints in the PRiS < 2 and PRiS ≥ 2 group could also be identified in propensity score-weighted analysis and propensity score-matched analysis. Conclusion: Tailored DAPT based on the PRiS could assist in improving the prognosis of patients undergoing DES implantation. Further randomized controlled trials are required to provide more evidence for PRiS-guided DAPT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuroimaging studies have displayed aberrant brain activities in individual sensory- and emotional-linked regions in postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) patients. However, multi-dimensional dysfunction in chronic pain may rely on the interplay between networks. Little is known about the changes in the functional architecture of resting state networks (RSNs) in PHN. In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 31 PHN patients, 33 RHZ patients and 34 HCs; all participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans. We investigated the differences of within- and cross-network connectivities between different outcomes of HZ patients [including PHN and recuperation from herpes zoster (RHZ)] and healthy controls (HCs) so as to extract a characteristic network pattern of PHN. The abnormal network connectivities were then correlated with clinical variables in respective groups. PHN and RHZ patients could be similarly characterized by abnormal within-default mode network (DMN), DMN-salience network (SN) and SN-basal ganglia network (BGN) connectivity relative to HCs. Of note, compared with RHZ patients, PHN patients could be characterized by abnormal DMN–BGN and within-BGN connectivity. Furthermore, the within-DMN connectivity was associated with pain-induced emotional scores among PHN patients. Our study presented that network-level imbalance could account for the pain-related dysfunctions in different outcomes of herpes zoster patients. These insights are potentially useful for understanding neuromechanism of PHN and providing central therapeutic targets for PHN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) is an annual legume with excellent suitability in cold and dry regions. Despite its great applied potential, the genomic information regarding common vetch currently remains unavailable. Methods and results: In the present study, the whole genome survey of common vetch was performed using the next-generation sequencing (NGS). A total of 79.84 Gbp high quality sequence data were obtained and assembled into 3,754,145 scaffolds with an N50 length of 3556 bp. According to the K-mer analyses, the genome size, heterozygosity rate and GC content of common vetch genome were estimated to be 1568 Mbp, 0.4345 and 35%, respectively. In addition, a total of 76,810 putative simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were identified. Among them, dinucleotide was the most abundant SSR type (44.94%), followed by Tri- (35.82%), Tetra- (13.22%), Penta- (4.47%) and Hexanucleotide (1.54%). Furthermore, a total of 58,175 SSR primer pairs were designed and ten of them were validated in Chinese common vetch. Further analysis showed that Chinese common vetch harbored high genetic diversity and could be clustered into two main subgroups. Conclusion: This is the first report about the genome features of common vetch, and the information will help to design whole genome sequencing strategies. The newly identified SSRs in this study provide basic molecular markers for germplasm characterization, genetic diversity and QTL mapping studies for common vetch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We recently reported that intraperitoneal injection of 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF), a brain-derived neurotrophic factor-mimicking small compound, could attenuate alcohol-related behaviors in a two-bottle choice ethanol consumption procedure (IA2BC) in rats via tropomyosin receptor kinase B in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which is closely related to alcohol use disorder. However, the detailed mechanisms underlying the regulation of 7,8-DHF on alcohol drinking behavior remain elusive. In this study, we determined the role of nitric oxide (NO), a pleiotropic signaling molecule, in the VTA in the action of 7,8-DHF upon alcohol drinking behavior. Intermittent alcohol exposure led to the overexpression of NO in the VTA, especially 72 h after withdrawal from four weeks of ethanol exposure in IA2BC rats. A higher amount of alcohol intake was also found at the same time point, consistent with the overexpression of NO in the VTA. Microinjection of NG-Nitro-l-Arginine Methyl Ester, (NO synthase inhibitor) or 2-4-carboxyphenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (NO scavenger) into the VTA inhibited alcohol intake, whereas application of S-Nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP, the NO donor) in the VTA further enhanced alcohol consumption in IA2BC rats. Interestingly, either 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3,-a]quinoxalin-1-one (a sGC inhibitor) or KT5823 [a selective protein kinase G (PKG) inhibitor] blocked NO's enhancing effect on ethanol intake. Intraperitoneal injection of 7,8-DHF reduced the overexpression of NO; SNAP microinjected into the VTA reversed the inhibitory effects of 7,8-DHF on alcohol consumption. Our findings suggest that NO-cGMP-PKG might be involved in regulation of 7,8-DHF on alcohol consumption in IA2BC rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The literature has investigated barriers to reporting adverse events in surgery, but with less emphasis on near misses. No attempt was made to categorise near misses by type and reportability. This paper attempts to fill these two gaps in the literature. Methods: A mixed methodology approach was adopted. A sample of 16 laparoscopic surgeries were observed followed by a questionnaire distributed among professionals dealing with laparoscopies. Non-parametric tests and mediation–moderation analysis were used to compare responses and identify causal factors. Results: A total of 469 near misses were observed, and classified into two categories: reportable events and common events. Among 23 observed reportable events, only 9 events were reported. Out of 300 distributed questionnaires, we received 178 valid responses (response rate 59%). The professionals strongly disagreed that reporting near misses (Mean 4.09, STD 0.95) and adverse events (4.17, 1.02) makes little contribution to the quality of surgery. However, the results show that professionals were more willing to disclose adverse events than near misses, Heavy workload, privacy, lack of support, and fear from disciplinary actions negatively affected professionals' willingness to report near misses. Discussion: Error reporting should aim to promote safety, knowledge sharing and education. It is important to differentiate near misses that should be reported from voluntary reported events. Hospital's management might award professionals who frequently report errors and provide solutions, Quality rather than quantity of reports should be emphasised with flexibility in the way near misses are reported. Conclusion: The outcome of this study has benefits of understanding the attitudes of surgical professionals towards error reporting. It provides healthcare management with tool for enhancing safety and providing suitable training for their professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have investigated the relationship between sarcopenia and mild to moderate renal decline. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and sarcopenia. In total, 123 patients hospitalized with CKD and 57 healthy volunteers who underwent physical examination during the same period (control group) were analyzed. Body compositions were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and the relative appendicular skeletal muscle index (RASMI) was calculated. Muscular strength was evaluated using hydraulic hand dynamometer. Walking speed within 6 m was measured for muscular function assessment. Single-photon emission computed tomography was performed to measure the glomerular filtration rate of CKD patients, who were then divided into CKD1 (55 patients in CKD stages 1 and 2) and CKD2 (68 patients in CKD stages 3–5). RASMI showed a downward trend with CKD progression (P = 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age and CKD progression were independent risk factors for sarcopenia. The morbidity of sarcopenia was significantly greater in CKD patients than in healthy volunteers, and the degree of muscle loss was closely related to CKD progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mutation MYBPC3–E334K is a culprit mutation of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The pathogenicity of MYBPC3–E334K is conflicting in ClinVar because of the limited segregation data and the relatively high frequency in gnomAD (0.03% overall, with 0.3% in East Asians and 0.8% in Japanese). The main aim is to clarify the clinical importance and phenotype–genotype correlations in subjects with or without MYBPC3–E334K alone. The prevalence of MYBPC3–E334K was sequenced in 1017 HCM unrelated probands. The clinical features, morphology phenotypes, and electrical phenotypes were further analyzed according to the phenotype and genotype status in families with single-mutation MYBPC3–E334K. Nine of 1017 (0.88%) unrelated HCM probands were detected harboring MYBPC3–E334K, and three of them harbored a second variant in sarcomere protein gene. Family study and co-segregation analyses indicated that patients with single-mutation MYBPC3–E334K showed autosomal dominant mode of inheritance with incomplete penetrance. The overall disease penetrance was 52.6%, and the disease penetrance was higher in males than in females (100% in men vs 25% in women, p = 0.003). The mean age at diagnosis of males was approximately 25 years younger than females (36.57 ± 18.65 vs 62.33 ± 12.10, p = 0.062). The variant MYBPC3–E334K was classified as a likely pathogenic variant, and a second sarcomere variant did not reveal obvious cumulative effects. The patients harboring single-mutation MYBPC3–E334K had incomplete penetrance, and males demonstrated higher penetrance and early onset HCM than females. A second sarcomere variant did not reveal obvious cumulative effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]