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Abstract Recently, the collective behavior of micro/nanorobots has shown unprecedented potential in biomedicine and environmental remediation. Collective behavior can work more efficiently, adaptively, and robustly than individual micro/nanorobots. The paradigm of collective behavior needs to be understood in different dimensions, including from individual to cluster, from planar to spatial, and from mono‐functional to multifunctional. In this review, the focus will be on summarizing the achievements of collective control of micro/nanorobot swarms in recent years from different dimensions, in an attempt to better understand how the structure and materials of individuals should be designed, how collective behavior should be implemented, and how robots are functionalized to cope with practical applications under the introduction of collective control. The opportunities and challenges that collective control faces at this stage are illustrated to provide perspectives for its future development.

Abstract Background Androgenic alopecia (AGA) is the most common type of hair loss in men, and there are many studies on the treatment of hair loss by platelet‐rich plasma (PRP). The human scalp contains a huge microbiome, but its role in the process of hair loss remains unclear, and the relationship between PRP and the microbiome needs further study. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of PRP treatment on scalp microbiota composition. Methods We performed PRP treatment on 14 patients with AGA, observed their clinical efficacy, and collected scalp swab samples before and after treatment. The scalp microflora of AGA patients before and after treatment was characterized by amplifying the V3‐V4 region of the 16 s RNA gene and sequencing for bacterial identification. Results The results showed that PRP was effective in the treatment of AGA patients, and the hair growth increased significantly. The results of relative abundance analysis of microbiota showed that after treatment, g_Cutibacterium increased and g_Staphylococcus decreased, which played a stable role in scalp microbiota. In addition, g_Lawsonella decreased, indicating that the scalp oil production decreased after treatment. Conclusions The findings suggest that PRP may play a role in treating AGA through scalp microbiome rebalancing.

Abstract Aims To improve telemonitoring strategies in heart failure patients, there is a need for novel non‐obtrusive sensors that monitor parameters closely related to intracardiac filling pressures. This proof‐of‐concept study aims to evaluate the responsiveness of cardiac kinetic energy (KE) measured with the Kinocardiograph (KCG), consisting of a seismocardiographic (SCG) sensor and a ballistocardiographic (BCG) sensor, during treatment of patients with acute decompensated heart failure. Methods and results Eleven patients with acute decompensated heart failure who were hospitalized for treatment with intravenous diuretics received daily KCG measurements. The KCG measurements were compared with the diameter of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and body weight. Follow‐up stopped at discharge, that is, in the recompensated state. Median (interquartile range) weight and IVC diameter decreased significantly after diuretic treatment [weight 74.5 (67.6–98.7) to 73.3 (66.7–95.6) kg, P = 0.003; IVC diameter 2.47 (2.33–2.99) to 1.78 (1.65–2.47) cm, P = 0.03]. In contrast with BCG measurements, significant changes in median KE measured with SCG were observed during the passive filling phase of the diastole [SGG: 0.48 (0.39–0.60) to 0.69 (0.56–0.84), P = 0.026; BCG: 0.68 (0.46–0.73) to 0.68 (0.59–0.82), P = 0.062], the active filling phase of the diastole [SCG: 0.38 (0.30–0.61) to 0.31 (0.09–0.47), P = 0.016; BCG: 0.29 (0.17–0.39) to 0.26 (0.20–0.34), P = 0.248], and the ratio between the passive and active filling phases [SCG: 2.76 (1.68–5.30) to 5.02 (3.13–10.17), P = 0.006; BCG: 5.87 (3.57–7.55) to 5.27 (3.95–9.43), P = 0.790]. The correlations between changes in KE during the passive and active filling phases, using SCG, and changes in weight or IVC were non‐significant. Systolic KE did not show significant changes. Conclusion KE measured with the KCG using SCG is highly responsive to changes in fluid status. Future research is needed to confirm its accuracy in a larger study population and specifically its application for detection of clinical deterioration in the home‐environment.

Background The digital transformation of medical data enables health systems to leverage real‐world data from electronic health records to gain actionable insights for improving hypertension care. Methods and Results We performed a serial cross‐sectional analysis of outpatients of a large regional health system from 2010 to 2021. Hypertension was defined by systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg, or recorded treatment with antihypertension medications. We evaluated 4 methods of using blood pressure measurements in the electronic health record to define hypertension. The primary outcomes were age‐adjusted prevalence rates and age‐adjusted control rates. Hypertension prevalence varied depending on the definition used, ranging from 36.5% to 50.9% initially and increasing over time by ≈5%, regardless of the definition used. Control rates ranged from 61.2% to 71.3% initially, increased during 2018 to 2019, and decreased during 2020 to 2021. The proportion of patients with a hypertension diagnosis ranged from 45.5% to 60.2% initially and improved during the study period. Non‐Hispanic Black patients represented 25% of our regional population and consistently had higher prevalence rates, higher mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and lower control rates compared with other racial and ethnic groups. Conclusions In a large regional health system, we leveraged the electronic health record to provide real‐world insights. The findings largely reflected national trends but showed distinctive regional demographics and findings, with prevalence increasing, one‐quarter of the patients not controlled, and marked disparities. This approach could be emulated by regional health systems seeking to improve hypertension care.

Abstract Owing to the advancement of interdisciplinary concepts, for example, wearable electronics, bioelectronics, and intelligent sensing, during the microelectronics industrial revolution, nowadays, extensively mature wearable sensing devices have become new favorites in the noninvasive human healthcare industry. The combination of wearable sensing devices with bionics is driving frontier developments in various fields, such as personalized medical monitoring and flexible electronics, due to the superior biocompatibilities and diverse sensing mechanisms. It is noticed that the integration of desired functions into wearable device materials can be realized by grafting biomimetic intelligence. Therefore, herein, the mechanism by which biomimetic materials satisfy and further enhance system functionality is reviewed. Next, wearable artificial sensory systems that integrate biomimetic sensing into portable sensing devices are introduced, which have received significant attention from the industry owing to their novel sensing approaches and portabilities. To address the limitations encountered by important signal and data units in biomimetic wearable sensing systems, two paths forward are identified and current challenges and opportunities are presented in this field. In summary, this review provides a further comprehensive understanding of the development of biomimetic wearable sensing devices from both breadth and depth perspectives, offering valuable guidance for future research and application expansion of these devices.

Abstract In filter bank multi‐carrier (FBMC) with offset quadrature amplitude modulation (OQAM) systems, the major limitation of FBMC‐OQAM signaling is the high peak‐to‐average power ratio (PAPR). High PAPR results in increased hardware complexity and is also prone to non‐linear effects of high‐power amplifiers (HPA). The existing HPA energy‐efficient optimization strategies are constrained severely by the scarcity and heterogeneity of signal distribution in the degree of freedom. This paper theorizes the optimal FBMC‐OQAM signal distribution, which has a global and steady feature and evaluates the maximal HPA efficiency‐suited multi‐carrier modulation (MCM) signal. This paper first proposes that the Binary Particle Swarm Optimization based Partial Transmit Sequence (BPSO‐PTS) with the Input‐Back Off Modulation Error Ratio (IBO‐MER) scheme traces the signal distribution for maximal HPA efficiency to save supply‐side energy. This paper further proposes Continuous‐Unconstrained Particle Swarm Optimization based PTS(CUPSO‐PTS) with IBO‐MER to obtain the theoretical boundaries and drastically accelerate convergence in the continuous‐unconstrained searching space. To decrease the computational complexity of MER calculation, this paper proposes the CUPSO with IBO Signal‐to‐Distortion Ratio (IBO‐SDR), enabling it to meet more practical applications. The simulation results show that the proposed scheme outperforms conventional IBO and HPA efficiency schemes.

Background Stress experienced in a marriage or committed relationship may be associated with worse patient‐reported outcomes after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but little is known about this association in young adults (≤55 years) with AMI. Methods and Results We used data from VIRGO (Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI Patients), an observational cohort study that enrolled individuals aged 18 to 55 years with AMI (2008–2012). Marital stress was self‐reported 1 month after AMI using the Stockholm Marital Stress Scale (categorized as absent/mild, moderate, and severe). Outcomes were physical/mental health (Short Form‐12), generic health status (EuroQol‐5 Dimensions), cardiac‐specific quality of life and angina (Seattle Angina Questionnaire), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire‐9), and all‐cause readmission 1 year after AMI. Regression models were sequentially adjusted for baseline health, demographics (sex, age, race or ethnicity), and socioeconomic factors (education, income, employment, and insurance). Sex and marital stress interaction was also tested. Among 1593 married/partnered participants, 576 (36.2%) reported severe marital stress, which was more common in female than male participants (39.4% versus 30.4%, P=0.001). Severe marital stress was significantly associated with worse mental health (beta=−2.13, SE=0.75, P=0.004), generic health status (beta=−3.87, SE=1.46, P=0.008), cardiac‐specific quality of life (beta=−6.41, SE=1.65, P0.05). Conclusions The association between marital stress and worse 1‐year health outcomes was statistically significant in young patients with AMI, suggesting a need for routine screening and the creation of interventions to support patients with stress recovering from an AMI.

Micro‐/nanorobots have tremendous potential in biomedical applications, as they efficiently and accurately perform local diagnosis and targeted therapy. A magnetic field provides a wireless mean to drive and control micro/nanorobots. This method requires no fuel and is convenient for debugging, reconfiguration, and programmability; it is recyclable and allows nondestructive penetration of biological tissue. The successful integration of well‐designed robots, remote actuation systems, and imaging techniques has become a crucial step toward biomedical applications, particularly in vivo implementations. Herein, the fabrication methods of micro/nanorobots are examined, the driving mechanism of magnetic micro/nanorobots is explained, and the development of micro/nanorobots as transport tools to load and deliver drugs, biological reagents, and live cells is traced. Applications of these micro/nanorobots are expanding as surgical tools for sample collection, ophthalmic surgery, and biofilm degradation and as tools for in vivo and in vitro imaging relying on light, sound, and magnetism. Finally, the challenges faced by micro/nanorobots in in vivo applications and their future prospects are discussed.

Abstract The incidence and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are gradually increasing during the past years. Recently, some studies have reported that malic enzyme (ME) plays an important role in cancer development, while the involvement of ME2 in HCC remains still undetermined. Here, we demonstrated that ME2 played an oncogenic role in HCC. ME2 was overexpressed in HCC tissues. TCGA database showed that the ME2 transcript level was inversely associated with the survival of HCC patients. Loss‐of‐function and gain‐of‐function assays showed that ME2 promoted HCC cell growth and migration. Furthermore, the xenografted tumorigenesis of MHCC97H cells was retarded by ME2 knockdown. ME2 silencing also suppressed the cell cycle process and induced apoptosis. Mechanistically, ME2 potentiated triglyceride synthesis, inhibition of which suppressed the proliferation and migration. We propose that ME2 promotes HCC progression by increasing triglyceride production.

Background Although aldosterone antagonists improve outcomes in select individuals with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction, studies in the United States have raised concerns about underuse and overuse. Variations in the prescription of aldosterone antagonist in China are unknown. Methods and Results In the multicenter, hospital‐based, retrospective China PEACE (China Patient‐Centered Evaluative Assessment of Cardiac Events) study, we identified a nationally representative cohort of admissions for heart failure in a nationally representative sample of Chinese hospitals in 2015. Patients were classified into 1 of 3 groups according to their eligibility for spironolactone—“ideal” (left ventricular ejection fraction

Background Semaglutide holds the promise for weight loss and risk reduction. Less is known about racial and ethnic disparities in financial barriers among the semaglutide‐eligible population. Methods and Results We conducted a cross‐sectional analysis of adults aged 18 years or older using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015 to 2020. We analyzed adults eligible for semaglutide based on Food and Drug Administration labeling and assessed financial barriers and social determinants of health among the eligible population overall and by race and ethnicity. A total of 13 711 adults were included in the final analysis. In 2015 to 2020, 51.1% (48.3%–53.2%) of US adults (≈112.5 million) met the Food and Drug Administration eligibility criteria for semaglutide. The percentage of adults eligible for semaglutide was highest among Black adults (56.6% [54.2%–59.1%]), followed by Hispanic adults (55.0% [52.8%–57.3%]). Among adults eligible for semaglutide, 11.9% (10.1%–13.6%) were uninsured, 13.3% (12.1%–14.5%) lacked a usual source of care, 33.6% (30.2%–36.9%) had low family income, and 38.9% (36.5%–41.3%) lacked higher education. Compared with White individuals, significantly larger proportions of Black and Hispanic individuals were uninsured, lacked a usual source of care, had low family income, or lacked higher education (P

Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive malignancy with limited effective treatments and ranks as the second most lethal tumor. Immunotherapy has brought great hope for HCC treatment. Oxysophocarpine is a bioactive alkaloid which poses various pharmacological functions including neuroprotective, anti‐virus, anti‐convulsant, and anti‐nociception. However, there is little systematic study of Oxysophocarpine against HCC and its underlying potential and mechanism combined with immunotherapy in HCC treatment remain poorly unknown. This study was aimed to investigate whether Oxysophocarpine can distinctly suppress HCC cells and sensitize the immunotherapy of CD8+ T cells against HCC. We used HepG2, Hepa1‐6, and primary CD8+ T cells to perform in vitro assays and Hepa1‐6 subcutaneous tumor to conduct in vivo assay. Oxysophocarpine inhibited the proliferation and increased the apoptosis of HepG2 and Hepa1‐6 cells, meanwhile suppressed the migration of HepG2 and Hepa1‐6 cells. Oxysophocarpine sensitized the Lag‐3 immunotherapy effect of CD8+ T cells against HCC in vivo and in vitro by decreasing Fibrinogen‐like protein 1 (FGL1) expression through downregulating IL‐6‐mediated JAK2/STAT3 signaling, whereas Oxysophocarpine treatment had a little effect of CD8+ T cells cytotoxicity function against HCC with PD‐1, Tim‐3, or TIGIT blockade. Our studies provided preclinical basis for clinical application of Oxysophocarpine.

Abstract This study investigated the variations of the nucleotide sequences and ovarian expression levels of genes related to follicular development and atresia in prolific Jintang black goats and nonprolific Tibetan goats. Eight genes, FSHB, LHB, FSHR, LHCGR, ESR2, B4GANT2, BCL2 and BAX, were examined using reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction and quantitative real‐time PCR. The results showed that the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the LHB and BAX genes were not different, but there was one base change in the FSHR genes between the two breeds. There was one base change in the FSHB gene, which resulted in one amino acid substitution; there were nine base changes in the LHCGR gene, which resulted in five amino acid substitutions; and there were six base changes in the B4GANT2 gene, which resulted in four amino acid substitutions. The expression levels of the FSHR, LHCGR, ESR2, B4GANT2, BCL2 and BAX genes in the ovaries were not different between the two breeds. The plasma concentrations of FSH were not different, but the plasma concentrations of LH, P4 and E2 were lower in prolific Jintang black goats than in nonprolific Tibetan goats (P ˂ 0.05) at 40 hr after removal of the Controlled Internal Drug Release Devices. These results provide some foundations elucidating the endocrine and molecular mechanisms controlling ovulation rate in goats, but these need to be further verified.

Activating the natural fracture (NF) during hydraulic fracture (HF) propagation is a dominant factor for forming the complex fracture network in shale reservoirs. On basis of Renshaw and Pollard’s criterion for fracture intersection, we simulate the NF stability under dynamic disturbance of HF propagation in shale reservoirs with the cohesive zone model in ABAQUS and analyze the effects of various factors on the NF stability. The results show that activation of the NFs in shale hydraulic fracturing is controlled by NF length, NF density, intersection angle between the NF and the HF, horizontal principal stress difference, frac fluid viscosity, and injection rate. During HF propagation, the NF shorter than 0.2 m is less likely to be activated, and those longer than 0.5 m are more likely to be activated. As the NF density increases, not all NFs are activated. The NF at an approach angle larger than 10° is more likely to be activated. The NF is more likely to be activated under the low stress difference, and the NF cannot be activated when the stress difference is higher than 10 MPa. Both frac fluid viscosity and injection rate have effects on activation of NFs, and the NF is more likely to be activated by higher viscosity frac fluid and under higher injection rate. The results provide reference for fracture network stimulation in shale reservoirs.

Tea pigments consisting of theabrownins (TBs), theaflavins (TFs), and thearubigins (TRs) affect the color and taste of tea. TBs include a variety of water-soluble compounds, but do not dissolve in n-butanol and ethyl acetate. Previously, the traditional method of TB extraction only mixed tea with n-butanol, and TBs were retained in the water phase. However, without ethyl acetate extraction, TFs and TRs remained in the water phase and affected the detection of TB content. Although an improved method had been devised by adding an ethyl acetate extraction step between tea production and n-butanol extraction, the proportional equation for calculating TB content (%) was not yet developed. In this study, we compared the absorbance at 380 nm (A380) of TB solutions from six major types of tea (green, yellow, oolong, white, black, and dark teas) extracted by improved and traditional methods from the same tea samples. Significantly lower A380 values were obtained from TB solutions via the improved method compared to the traditional method for six major types of tea, and the highest and lowest slops in TB concentrations from A380 analyses were from dark tea and green tea, respectively. Moreover, newly developed equations for TB content in those six tea types extracted by the improved methods were also established.

Background Adventitial remodeling is a pathological hallmark of hypertension that results in target organ damage. Activated adventitial fibroblasts have emerged as critical regulators in this process, but the precise mechanism remains unclear. Methods and Results Interleukin 11 (IL‐11) knockout and wild‐type mice were subjected to angiotensin II (Ang II) infusion to establish models of hypertension‐associated vascular remodeling. IL‐11 mRNA and protein were increased especially in the adventitia in response to Ang II. Compared with wild‐type mice, Ang II–treated IL‐11 knockout mice showed amelioration of vascular hypertrophy, adventitial fibrosis, macrophage infiltration, and inflammatory factor expression. Recombination mouse IL‐11 exacerbated adventitial fibrosis in Ang II–infused wild‐type mice. Interestingly, IL‐11 neutralizing antibody attenuated adventitial fibrosis, macrophage infiltration, and inflammatory factor expression after Ang II infusion for 7 days. Mechanistically, in primary cultured adventitial fibroblasts, Krüppel‐like factor 15 negatively regulated Ang II–induced IL‐11 expression. Ang II increased extracellular signal‐regulated kinases 1 and 2 activation, especially in adventitia, and caused biphasic extracellular signal‐regulated kinases 1 and 2 activation in adventitial fibroblasts. A rapid and early activation increased IL‐11 production through decreasing Krüppel‐like factor 15 expression, which, in turn, induced the second extracellular signal‐regulated kinases 1 and 2 activation, resulting in posttranscriptional profibrotic gene expression. Conclusions These results demonstrate that extracellular signal‐regulated kinases 1 and 2 activation is important for Krüppel‐like factor 15–mediated IL‐11 expression in adventitial fibroblasts to promote adventitial remodeling in Ang II–induced hypertension. Therefore, targeting the Krüppel‐like factor 15/IL‐11 axis might serve as a new therapeutic strategy for vascular diseases.

Background Despite its clinical significance, the risk of severe infection requiring hospitalization among outpatients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection who receive angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) remains uncertain. Methods and Results In a propensity score–matched outpatient cohort (January–May 2020) of 2263 Medicare Advantage and commercially insured individuals with hypertension and a positive outpatient SARS‐CoV‐2, we determined the association of ACE inhibitors and ARBs with COVID‐19 hospitalization. In a concurrent inpatient cohort of 7933 hospitalized with COVID‐19, we tested their association with in‐hospital mortality. The robustness of the observations was assessed in a contemporary cohort (May–August). In the outpatient study, neither ACE inhibitors (hazard ratio [HR], 0.77; 0.53–1.13, P=0.18) nor ARBs (HR, 0.88; 0.61–1.26, P=0.48) were associated with hospitalization risk. ACE inhibitors were associated with lower hospitalization risk in the older Medicare group (HR, 0.61; 0.41–0.93, P=0.02), but not the younger commercially insured group (HR, 2.14; 0.82–5.60, P=0.12; P‐interaction 0.09). Neither ACE inhibitors nor ARBs were associated with lower hospitalization risk in either population in the validation cohort. In the primary inpatient study cohort, neither ACE inhibitors (HR, 0.97; 0.81–1.16; P=0.74) nor ARBs (HR, 1.15; 0.95–1.38, P=0.15) were associated with in‐hospital mortality. These observations were consistent in the validation cohort. Conclusions ACE inhibitors and ARBs were not associated with COVID‐19 hospitalization or mortality. Despite early evidence for a potential association between ACE inhibitors and severe COVID‐19 prevention in older individuals, the inconsistency of this observation in recent data argues against a role for prophylaxis.

Image restoration is a research hotspot in computer vision and computer graphics. It uses the effective information in the image to fill in the information of the designated damaged area. This has high application value in environmental design, film and television special effects production, old photo restoration, and removal of text or obstacles in images. In traditional sparse representation image restoration algorithms, the size of dictionary atoms is often fixed. When repairing the texture area, the dictionary atom will be too large to cause blurring. When repairing a smooth area, the dictionary atom is too small to cause the extension of the area, which affects the image repair effect. In this paper, the structural sparsity of the block to be repaired is used to adjust the repair priority. By analyzing the structure information of the repair block located in different regions such as texture, edge, and smoothing, the size of the dictionary atom is adaptively determined. This paper proposes a color image restoration method that adaptively determines the size of dictionary atoms and discusses a model based on the partial differential equation restoration method. Through simulation experiments combined with subjective and objective standards, the repair results are evaluated and analyzed. The simulation results show that the algorithm can effectively overcome the shortcomings of blurred details and region extension in fixed dictionary restoration, and the restoration effect has been significantly improved. Compared with the results of several other classic algorithms, it shows the effectiveness of the algorithm in this paper.

In this paper, the single-machine scheduling problem is studied by simultaneously considering due-date assignment and group technology (GT). The objective is to determine the optimal sequence of groups and jobs within groups and optimal due-date assignment to minimize the weighted sum of the absolute value in lateness and due-date assignment cost, where the weights are position dependent. For the common (CON) due-date assignment, slack (SLK) due-date assignment, and different (DIF) due-date assignment, an On log n time algorithm is proposed, respectively, to solve the problem, where n is the number of jobs.

Background The digital transformation of medical data provides opportunities to perform digital population health surveillance and identify people inadequately managed in usual care. We leveraged the electronic health records of a large health system to identify patients with markedly elevated blood pressure and characterize their follow‐up care pattern. Methods and Results We included 373 861 patients aged 18 to 85 years, who had at least 1 outpatient encounter in the Yale New Haven Health System between January 2013 and December 2017. We described the prevalence and follow‐up pattern of patients with at least 1 systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥160 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥100 mm Hg and patients with at least 1 SBP ≥180 mm Hg or DBP ≥120 mm Hg. Of 373 861 patients included, 56 909 (15.2%) had at least 1 SBP ≥160 mm Hg or DBP ≥100 mm Hg, and 10 476 (2.8%) had at least 1 SBP ≥180 mm Hg or DBP ≥120 mm Hg. Among patients with SBP ≥160 mm Hg or DBP ≥100 mm Hg, only 28.3% had a follow visit within 1 month (time window of follow‐up recommended by the guideline) and 19.9% subsequently achieved control targets (SBP

Background. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been confirmed effectiveness in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and P2X3 receptors in the peripheral and central neurons participate in the acupuncture-mediated relief of the visceral pain in IBS. Objective. To reveal the neurobiological mechanism that P2X3 receptor of colonic primary sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia of the lumbosacral segment is involved in the alleviation of visceral hypersensitivity by EA in an IBS rat model. Methods. The IBS chronic visceral pain rat model was established according to the method of Al-Chaer et al. EA at the bilateral He-Mu points, including ST25 and ST37, was conducted for intervention. The behavioral studies, histopathology of colon, electrophysiology, immunofluorescence histochemistry, and real-time polymerase chain reaction assays were used to observe the role of P2X3 receptor in the colon and related DRG in relieving visceral hypersensitivity by EA. Results. EA significantly reduced the behavior scores of the IBS rats under different levels (20, 40, 60, 80 mmHg) of colorectal distention stimulation and downregulated the expression levels of P2X3 receptor protein and mRNA in colon and related DRG of the IBS rats. EA also regulated the electrical properties of the membranes, including the resting membrane potential, rheobase, and action potential of colon-associated DRG neurons in the IBS rats. Conclusion. EA can regulate the P2X3 receptor protein and mRNA expression levels in the colon and related DRG of IBS rats with visceral pain and then regulate the excitatory properties of DRG neurons.

Background Characterizing and assessing the prevalence, awareness, and treatment patterns of patients with isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH) can generate new knowledge and highlight opportunities to improve their care. Methods and Results We used data from the China PEACE (Patient‐centered Evaluative Assessment of Cardiac Events) Million Persons Project, which screened 2 351 035 participants aged 35 to 75 years between 2014 and 2018. IDH was defined as systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 28 kg/m2, consumed alcohol, had diabetes mellitus, and prior cardiovascular events were more likely to have IDH (all P28 kg/m2, higher income, diabetes mellitus, prior cardiovascular events, and Central or Eastern region (all P

Background Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is used in the treatment of many conditions, including heart failure (HF), although it is not well characterized. Methods and Results We conducted a retrospective analysis of TCM use in a random sample of hospitalizations for HF within a random sample of Western medicine hospitals in China in 2015 using data from the China PEACE 5r‐HF (China Patient‐Centered Evaluative Assessment of Cardiac Events 5 Retrospective Heart Failure Study). We describe the frequency of TCM use and its association with patient characteristics, in‐hospital use of evidence‐based therapies, and hospital characteristics using hierarchical logistic regression models. Finally, we assessed risk‐adjusted in‐hospital bleeding and mortality. Among 10 004 patients hospitalized with HF (median age, 73 years; 48.9% women) from 189 hospitals, 74.7% received TCM (83.3% administered intravenously). The most commonly used agent was Salvia miltiorrhiza (51.2%). Patients with coronary artery disease (odds ratio [OR], 1.73; 95% CI, 1.53–1.95) or stroke (OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.15–1.51) were more likely to receive TCM; there was no correlation with evidence‐based therapy use. Nearly all hospitals (99.4%) used TCM, with substantial variation across hospitals (median OR, 3.29; 95% CI, 2.82–3.76). In‐patient bleeding (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.03–1.88) and mortality (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.04–1.79) were higher with Salvia miltiorrhiza, although not with other TCMs. Conclusions In a nationally representative sample of patients hospitalized with acute HF in China, three fourths received TCM. Nearly all hospitals used TCM, although use varied substantially by hospital. Although TCM was not used in lieu of evidence‐based therapies for HF, we found a signal for harm with the most commonly used TCM. Clinical Trial Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02877914.

Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancer type. This study was aimed to investigate the role of microRNA‐584‐5p (miR‐584‐5p) in regulating HCC progression. Methods The expression of miR‐584‐5p in HCC cell lines was analyzed by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Effects of miR‐584‐5p depletion on HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro were analyzed by cell counting kit‐8 assay, wound‐healing assay, and transwell invasion assay. miR‐584‐5p targeting potassium voltage‐gated channel subfamily E regulatory subunit 2 (KCNE2) was identified using bioinformatics algorithm and dual‐luciferase activity reporter assay. Kaplan–Meier Plotter website was used to investigate the effect of miR‐584‐5p or KCNE2 expression on the overall survival of HCC patients. Results In vitro functional assays showed miR‐584‐5p depletion decreased HCC cell proliferation, cell migration, and cell invasion. Moreover, miR‐584‐5p functions by directly targeting KCNE2, and it in turn, mediates the effects of miR‐584‐5p on HCC cell behaviors. Conclusions These results demonstrated that miR‐584‐5p functions as an oncogenic miRNA in HCC.

Background With over a decade of directed efforts to reduce sex and racial differences in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) utilization, and post‐CABG outcomes, we sought to evaluate how the use of CABG and its outcomes have evolved in different sex and racial subgroups. Methods and Results Using data on all fee‐for‐service Medicare beneficiaries undergoing CABG in the United States from 1999 to 2014, we examined differences by sex and race in calendar‐year trends for CABG utilization and post‐CABG outcomes (in‐hospital, 30‐day, and 1‐year mortality and 30‐day readmission). A total of 1 863 719 Medicare fee‐for‐service beneficiaries (33.6% women, 4.6% black) underwent CABG from 1999 to 2014, with a decrease from 611 to 245 CABG procedures per 100 000 person‐years. Men compared with women and whites compared with blacks had higher CABG utilization, with declines in all subgroups. Higher post‐CABG annual declines in mortality (95% confidence interval) were observed in women (in‐hospital, −2.70% [−2.97, −2.44]; 30‐day, −2.29% [−2.54, −2.04]; and 1‐year mortality, −1.67% [−1.88, −1.46]) and blacks (in‐hospital, −3.31% [−4.02, −2.60]; 30‐day, −2.80% [−3.49, −2.12]; and 1‐year mortality, −2.38% [−2.92, −1.84]), compared with men and whites, respectively. Mortality rates remained higher in women and blacks, but differences narrowed over time. Annual adjusted 30‐day readmission rates remained unchanged for all patient groups. Conclusions Women and black patients had persistently higher CABG mortality than men and white patients, respectively, despite greater declines over the time period. These findings indicate progress, but also the need for further progress.

BackgroundYoung women (aged ≤55 years) with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have poorer health status outcomes than similarly aged men. Low omega‐3 fatty acids (FAs) have been implicated as risk factors for cardiovascular outcomes in AMI patients, but it is not clear whether young women have similar or different post‐AMI omega‐3 FA profiles compared with young men. Methods and ResultsWe assessed the sex differences in post‐AMI omega‐3 FAs and the associations of these biomarkers with patient‐reported outcomes (symptom, functioning status, and quality of life) at 12‐month follow‐up, using data from 2985 US adults with AMI aged 18 to 55 years enrolled in the VIRGO (Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients) study. Biomarkers including eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid/AA ratio, omega‐3/omega‐6 ratio, and omega‐3 index were measured 1 month after AMI. Overall, the omega‐3 FAs and AA were similar in young men and women with AMI. In both unadjusted and adjusted analysis (controlling for age, sex, race, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, and health status score at 1 month), omega‐3 FAs and AA were not significantly associated with 12‐month health status scores using the Bonferroni corrected statistical threshold. ConclusionsWe found no evidence of sex differences in omega‐3 FAs and AA in young men and women 1 month after AMI. Omega‐3 FAs and AA at 1‐month after AMI were generally not associated with 12‐month patient‐reported health status after adjusting for patient demographic, clinical characteristics, and the corresponding 1‐month health status score.

BackgroundThe reasons for China's high stroke prevalence are not well understood. The cardiovascular risk factor profiles of China and the United States have not been directly compared in nationally representative population samples. Methods and ResultsUsing data from the CHARLS (China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study) and the NHANES (US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey), we compared cardiovascular risk factors from 2011 to 2012 among people aged 45 to 75 years between the 2 countries (China, 12 654 people; United States, 2607 people): blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index, waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c, and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein. Compared with the United States, China had a lower prevalence of hypertension but a higher mean blood pressure and a higher proportion of patients with severe hypertension (≥160/100 mm Hg) (10.5% versus 4.5%). China had substantially lower rates of hypertension treatment (46.8% versus 77.9%) and control (20.3% versus 54.7%). Dyslipidemia was less common in China, but lipid levels were not significantly different because dyslipidemia awareness and control rates in China were 3‐ and 7‐fold lower than US rates, respectively. High‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein, body mass index, and waist circumference were significantly lower in China than in the United States. Clustering of hypertension with other cardiovascular risk factors was more common in China. ConclusionsHypertension is more common in the United States, but blood pressure levels are higher in China, which may be responsible for China's high stroke prevalence. The low rates of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension provide an exceptional opportunity for China to reduce risk in its population.