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Nonprobability samples, especially web survey data, have been available in many different fields. However, nonprobability samples suffer from selection bias, which will yield biased estimates. Moreover, missingness, especially nonignorable missingness, may also be encountered in nonprobability samples. Thus, it is a challenging task to make inference from nonprobability samples with nonignorable missingness. In this article, we propose a Bayesian approach to infer the population based on nonprobability samples with nonignorable missingness. In our method, different Logistic regression models are employed to estimate the selection probabilities and the response probabilities; the superpopulation model is used to explain the relationship between the study variable and covariates. Further, Bayesian and approximate Bayesian methods are proposed to estimate the response model parameters and the superpopulation model parameters, respectively. Specifically, the estimating functions for the response model parameters and superpopulation model parameters are utilized to derive the approximate posterior distribution in superpopulation model estimation. Simulation studies are conducted to investigate the finite sample performance of the proposed method. The data from the Pew Research Center and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System are used to show better performance of our proposed method over the other approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is involved in the carcinogenesis of gastric cancer (GC) upon infection of normal cell and induces a highly variable composition of the tumour microenvironment (TME). However, systematic bioinformatics analysis of key genes associated with EBV regulation of immune infiltration is still lacking. In the present study, the TCGA and GEO databases were recruited to analyse the association between EBV infection and the profile of immune infiltration in GC. The weighted gene co‐expression analysis (WGCNA) was applied to shed light on the key gene modules associated with EBV‐associated immune infiltration in GC. 204 GC tissues were used to analysed the expression of key hub genes by using the immunohistochemical method. Real‐time PCR was used to evaluate the association between the expression of EBV latent/lytic genes and key immune infiltration genes. Our results suggested that EBV infection changed the TME of GC mainly regulates the TIICs. The top three hub genes of blue (GBP1, IRF1, and LAP3) and brown (BIN2, ITGAL, and LILRB1) modules as representative genes were associated with EBV infection and GC immune infiltration. Furthermore, EBV‐encoded LMP1 expression is account for the overexpression of GBP1 and IRF1. EBV infection significantly changes the TME of GC, and the activation of key immune genes was more dependent on the invasiveness of the whole EBV virion instead of single EBV latent/lytic gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the oral cavity and its adjacent sites, which endangers the physical and mental health of patients and has a complex etiology. Chronic infection is considered to be a risk factor in cancer development. Evidence suggests that periodontal pathogens, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Treponema denticola, are associated with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). They can stimulate tumorigenesis by promoting epithelial cells proliferation while inhibiting apoptosis and regulating the inflammatory microenvironment. Candida albicans promotes OSCC progression and metastasis through multiple mechanisms. Moreover, oral human papillomavirus (HPV) can induce oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). There is evidence that HPV16 can integrate with host cells' DNA and activate oncogenes. Additionally, oral dysbiosis and synergistic effects in the oral microbial communities can promote cancer development. In this review, we will discuss the biological characteristics of oral microbiome associated with OSCC and OPSCC and then highlight the mechanisms by which oral microbiome is involved in oral oncogenesis, tumor progression, and metastasis. These findings may have positive implications for early diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Gallbladder and biliary diseases (GBDs) are one of the most prevalent medical issues in the digestive system. This study was designed to describe the characteristics of prevalence, death, and disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs) of GBDs during 1990–2019 using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019. Methods: Prevalence, death, and DALYs for GBDs in different locations, years, sex, and age groups were estimated using DisMod‐MR 2.1 and a generic Cause of Death Ensemble Modeling approach. Countries and territories were categorized according to socio‐demographic index (SDI) quintiles. Results: The prevalence cases (127 345 732 to 193 493 378), death cases (82 430 to 124 941), and DALYs (4 604 821 to 6 352 738) of GBDs increased from 1990 to 2019. However, the age‐standardized rates of indicators decreased over the 30‐year period (prevalence, 2851.84 to 2350.78 per 100 000 population; death, 2.40 to 1.65 per 100 000 population; DALYs, 106.76 to 78.25 per 100 000 population). In 2019, the high and middle–high SDI regions had higher age‐standardized prevalence rates, the low SDI region had the highest age‐standardized death rate, and the middle SDI region had the highest DALYs and age‐standardized DALYs rate of GBDs. Being female, older age, and high body mass index were important risk factors for the burden of GBDs. Conclusions: Globally, there were improvements in overall health with regard to GBDs over the 30 years. However, the prevention of GBDs should be promoted in middle, middle–high, and high SDI regions, while more medical resources should be provided to improve treatment levels in low SDI region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manipulating droplets by light in microscale allows precise control of microfluidics, liquid delivery, micromachines, and so on. Among these applications, microfluidic technology is of particular interest for miniaturization of the portable analysis systems, which require the integration of various liquid operations in one device. Here, a photodeformable microfluidic platform is constructed by combining Laplace pressure and capillary condensation to integrate the transportation, fusion, separation, and mixing of liquid slugs in one chip. The Laplace pressure, attributed to the photodeformation of the liquid crystal polymers, is generated to propel the slug. The capillary condensation is introduced by the delicate design of the fluid channels, allowing the fusion and separation of slugs without any connected microvalves. Catalytic oxidation reaction and protein detection processes are realized in the platform, which are amenable to a variety of miniaturized bio‐medical applications, such as portable analysis and point of care testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the impact of initial vancomycin trough concentration (VTC) on mortality in adult patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) undergoing vancomycin therapy. During their first ICU stay, patients with initial VTC records after vancomycin treatment were recruited from the eICU Collaborative Research Database to this multicenter retrospective cohort study, and classified into four groups according to VTC: less than 10, 10–15, 15–20, and greater than 20 mg/L. Multivariable logistic regression and sensitivity analyses were performed to explore the association of VTC, as a continuous and categorical variable, with mortality. This study enrolled 7220 patients from 335 different ICUs at 208 hospitals. Multivariable logistic regression models indicated that VTC was positively correlated with ICU (odds ratio [OR], 1.028, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.019–1.037) and hospital (OR 1.028, 95% CI, 1.020–1.036) mortalities. Moreover, compared with VTC less than 10 mg/L, VTCs of 10–15, 15–20, and greater than 20 mg/L were associated with a higher risk of ICU mortality (OR, 1.330, 95% CI, 1.070–1.653; OR, 1.596, 95% CI, 1.265–2.015; abd OR, 1.875, 95% CI, 1.491–2.357, respectively), and VTCs of 15–20 and greater than 20 mg/L were also correlated with increased hospital mortality (OR, 1.482, 95% CI, 1.225–1.793; and OR, 1.831, 95% CI, 1.517–2.210, respectively). Similar results persisted in patients with different Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅳ scores, creatinine clearance levels, ages, and body mass indexes. Our findings indicated a potential relationship of initial VTC with ICU and hospital mortalities in patients in the ICU. However, due to the retrospective nature of this study, future prospective studies or randomized controlled trials are needed to validate those results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The study aimed to determine whether dental pulp stem cell‐derived exosomes (DPSC‐Exos) exert protective effects against cerebral ischaemia‐reperfusion (I/R) injury and explore its underlying mechanism. Materials and Methods: Exosomes were isolated from the culture medium of human DPSC. Adult male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to 2 hours transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) injury followed by 2 hours reperfusion, after which singular injection of DPSC‐Exos via tail vein was administrated. Brain oedema, cerebral infarction and neurological impairment were measured on day 7 after exosomes injection. Then, oxygen‐glucose deprivation–reperfusion (OGD/R) induced BV2 cells were studied to analyse the therapeutic effects of DPSC‐Exos on I/R injury in vitro. Protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, NF‐κB p65, HMGB1, IL‐6, IL‐1β and TNF‐α were determined by western blot or enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The cytoplasmic translocation of HMGB1 was detected by immunofluorescence staining. Results: DPSC‐Exos alleviated brain oedema, cerebral infarction and neurological impairment in I/R mice. DPSC‐Exos inhibited the I/R‐mediated expression of TLR4, MyD88 and NF‐κB significantly. DPSC‐Exos also reduced the protein expression of IL‐6, IL‐1β and TNF‐α compared with those of the control both in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, DPSC‐Exos markedly decreased the HMGB1 cytoplasmic translocation induced by I/R damage. Conclusions: DPSC‐Exos can ameliorate I/R‐induced cerebral injury in mice. Its anti‐inflammatory mechanism might be related with the inhibition of the HMGB1/TLR4/MyD88/NF‐κB pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overproduction of HOCl is highly correlated with diseases such as atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer. Whilst acting as a marker of these diseases, HOCl might also be used as an activator of prodrugs or drug delivery systems for the treatment of the corresponding disease. In this work, a new platform of HOCl probes has been developed that integrates detection, imaging, and therapeutic functions. The probes can detect HOCl, using both NIR emission and the naked eye in vitro, with high sensitivity and selectivity at ultralow concentrations (the detection limit is at the nanomolar level). Basal levels of HOCl can be imaged in HL‐60 cells without special stimulation. Moreover, the probes provided by this platform can rapidly release either amino‐ or carboxy‐containing compounds from prodrugs, during HOCl detection and imaging, to realize a therapeutic effect. Triple action: An HOCl‐responsive platform has been developed that integrates detection, imaging, and therapeutic functions. The probes derived from this platform can detect HOCl by using NIR emission in vitro and in vivo with high sensitivity and selectivity. Additionally, they rapidly release amino‐ or carboxy‐containing compounds from prodrugs, during HOCl detection and imaging, to realize a therapeutic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of bicholesteryl-based gelators with different central linker atoms C, N, and O (abbreviated to GC, GN, and GO, respectively) have been designed and synthesized. The self-assembly processes of these gelators were investigated by using gelation tests, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, field-emission transmission electron microscopy, UV/Vis absorption, IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, rheology, and contact-angle experiments. The gelation ability, self-assembly morphology, rheological, and surface-wettability properties of these gelators strongly depend on the central linker atom of the gelator molecule. Specifically, GC and GN can form gels in three different solvents, whereas GO can only form a gel in N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF). Morphologies from nanofibers and nanosheets to nanospheres and nanotubes can be obtained with different central atoms. Gels of GC, GN, and GO formed in the same solvent (DMF) have different tolerances to external forces. All xerogels gave a hydrophobic surface with contact angles that ranged from 121 to 152°. Quantum-chemical calculations indicate that the GC, GN, and GO molecules have very different steric structures. The results demonstrate that the central linker atom can efficiently modulate the molecular steric structure and thus regulate the supramolecular self-assembly process and properties of gelators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Previous studies have suggested that sleep timing is associated with cardiovascular risk factors. However, there is no evidence on the relationship between sleep timing and congestive heart failure (CHF). We aimed to examine this relationship in this study. Methods and Results We recruited 4765 participants (2207 men; mean age, 63.6±11.0 years) from the SHHS (Sleep Heart Health Study) database in this multicenter prospective cohort study. Follow-up was conducted until the first CHF diagnosis between baseline and the final censoring date. Sleep timing (bedtimes and wake-up times on weekdays and weekends) was based on a self-reported questionnaire. Cox proportional hazard models were constructed to investigate the association between sleep timing and CHF. During the mean follow-up period of 11 years, 519 cases of CHF (10.9%) were reported. The multivariable Cox proportional hazards models revealed that participants with weekday bedtimes >12:00 am (hazard ratio [HR], 1.56; 95% CI, 1.15-2.11; P =0.004) and from 11:01 pm to 12:00 am (HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.00-1.56; P =0.047) had an increased risk of CHF compared with those with bedtimes from 10:01 pm to 11:00 pm. After stratified analysis, the association was intensified in participants with a self-reported sleep duration of 6 to 8 hours. Furthermore, wake-up times >8:00 am on weekdays (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.07-2.17; P =0.018) were associated with a higher risk of incident CHF than wake-up times ≤6:00 am. Conclusions Delayed bedtimes (>11:00 pm) and wake-up times (>8:00 am) on weekdays were associated with an increased risk of CHF.

Background Disrupted circadian rhythm of blood pressure is commonly observed in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). This study assessed the association of nocturnal mean arterial pressure rising (NMAPR) with short- and long-term mortality in critically ill adult patients. Methods and Results Adult patients with a complete record of mean arterial pressure monitoring during the first 24 hours of ICU stay in the Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care II (MIMIC-II) database were included in this retrospective cohort study. All patients were divided into the non-NMAPR group (≤1) or the NMAPR group (>1), according to the value of mean nighttime divided by daytime mean arterial pressure. The associations of NMAPR with ICU, hospital, 28-day, and 1-year mortality were assessed using multivariable logistic regression or a Cox proportional hazards model. Interaction and subgroup analyses were performed for those patients who had a first Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score of ≥8 or <8. The overall cohort comprised 5185 patients. The patients with NMAPR (n=1865) had higher ICU, hospital, 28-day, and 1-year mortality than the non-NMAPR group (n=3320). After adjusting for covariates, the analysis showed that NMAPR was significantly associated with mortality in the ICU (odds ratio: 1.34; 95% CI, 1.10-1.65), in the hospital (odds ratio: 1.35; 95% CI, 1.12-1.63), at 28 days (hazard ratio: 1.27; 95% CI, 1.10-1.48), and at 1 year (hazard ratio: 1.24; 95% CI, 1.10-1.40). All results of the interaction analysis had no statistical significance, and similar results persisted in the patients with different SOFA scores. Conclusions NMAPR may aid in the early identification of critically ill patients at high risk of ICU, hospital, 28-day, or 1-year mortality.