Search

Jiawei Ye,1,* Yingying Huang,2,* Caiting Chu,3 Juan Li,1 Guoxiang Liu,1 Wenjie Li,1 Chengjin Gao1 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, People’s Republic of China; 2Dementia Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University Sydney, Australia; 3Department of Radiology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Chengjin Gao; Wenjie Li, Email gaochengjin@xinhuamed.com.cn; kingnever@hotmail.comBackground: Some patients with COVID-19 rapidly develop respiratory failure or mortality, underscoring the necessity for early identification of those prone to severe illness. Numerous studies focus on clinical and lab traits, but only few attend to chest computed tomography. The current study seeks to numerically quantify pulmonary lesions using early-phase CT scans calculated through artificial intelligence algorithms in conjunction with clinical and laboratory helps clinicians to early identify the development of severe illness and death in a group of COVID-19 patients.Methods: From December 15, 2022, to January 30, 2023, 191 confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to Xinhua Hospital Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine were consecutively enrolled. All patients underwent chest CT scans and serum tests within 48 hours prior to admission. Variables significantly linked to critical illness or mortality in univariate analysis were subjected to multivariate logistic regression models post collinearity assessment. Adjusted odds ratio, 95% confidence intervals, sensitivity, specificity, Youden index, receiver-operator-characteristics (ROC) curves, and area under the curve (AUC) were computed for predicting severity and in-hospital mortality.Results: Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that myoglobin (OR = 1.003, 95% CI 1.001– 1.005), APACHE II score (OR = 1.387, 95% CI 1.216– 1.583), and the infected CT region percentage (OR = 113.897, 95% CI 4.939– 2626.496) independently correlated with in-hospital COVID-19 mortality. Prealbumin stood as an independent safeguarding factor (OR = 0.965, 95% CI 0.947– 0.984). Neutrophil counts (OR = 1.529, 95% CI 1.131– 2.068), urea nitrogen (OR = 1.587, 95% CI 1.222– 2.062), SOFA score(OR = 3.333, 95% CI 1.476– 7.522), qSOFA score(OR = 15.197, 95% CI 3.281– 70.384), PSI score(OR = 1.053, 95% CI 1.018– 1.090), and the infected CT region percentage (OR = 548.221, 95% CI 2.615– 114,953.586) independently linked to COVID-19 patient severity.Keywords: COVID-19, chest CT, artificial intelligence, mortality, severity

Detection of airborne chemical releases in densely populated urban environments requires precise sensors with high temporal and spatial resolution capable of covering large areas. For this purpose, we present a mobile mid-infrared quantum cascade laser dual-comb spectrometer for identification and quantification of chemical plumes. Field tests with the remote sensor were conducted during daytime in the downtown Boston area over a five day period during which chemical releases were simulated by intermittently emitting non-toxic substances. Open-air sensing was performed with retroreflectors positioned at up to 230 m distance and with sensitivities in the ppm m range for one second of averaging time. The field campaign demonstrates a step toward a semiconductor dual-comb spectroscopic sensor in the mid-infrared fingerprint region, suitable for long-term deployments. These types of sensors will be valuable complements to existing optical sensors for urban hazardous gas leak monitoring, air quality assessments, and localization of clandestine chemical production.

Xiaoqing Tian,1 YinFeng He,2 Zhe Han,3 HongMin Su,4 Chao Chu4 1Department of Orthopeadic Surgery, Heze Mudan People’s Hospital, Heze City, Shandong 274000, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Joint Surgery, Heze Municipal Hospital, Heze City, Shandong 274000, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Traumatic Surgery, Heze Municipal Hospital, Heze City, Shandong 274000, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Spinal Surgery, Heze Municipal Hospital, Heze City, Shandong 274000, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Chao ChuDepartment of Spinal Surgery, Heze Municipal Hospital, 2888 Caozhou West Road, Heze City, Shandong 274000 People’s Republic of ChinaEmail chaochuaaa@126.comBackground: To date, the impact and potential molecular mechanisms of CLDN12 and its association with malignancy in osteosarcoma have not been determined.Materials and methods: In the present study, the expression profiles of CLDN12 in osteosarcoma cell lines and tissues were explored by immunohistochemistry. A fetal osteoblast cell line was transfected with a eukaryotic expression plasmid, and endogenous CLDN12 in osteosarcoma cells were silenced through an RNA interference (RNAi) method. These transfections were verified, and the activation state of Thr308 site in protein kinase B (Akt) was explored by Western blotting. Moreover, the malignant phenotype of osteosarcoma cells was evaluated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation, Transwell, and wound-healing assays. Furthermore, osteoblast cells were treated with the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 to determine the impact of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway on cell migration ability.Results: The results revealed that CLDN12 was overexpressed and localized in the cytoplasm of osteosarcoma cells, and its overexpression was associated with an unfavorable prognosis, irrespective of tumor node metastasis stage. In addition, the knockdown of CLDN12 in cultured osteosarcoma cells markedly attenuated cell proliferation and migration, as indicated by the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, colony formation assay, scratch wound healing assay and Transwell migration assay. The results also demonstrated that the overexpression of CLDN12 increased the activation of Thr308 site in Akt in fetal osteoblast cells, and the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 partially decreased CLDN12-promoted proliferation and metastasis.Conclusion: In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that CLDN12 promoted cell proliferation and migration through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in osteosarcoma cells, suggesting that CLDN12 may be a potential agent in the treatment of patients with osteosarcoma.Keywords: tight junction, claudin-12, osteosarcoma, metastasis, protein kinase B

Chen Chu,1,* Lixiao Zhou,1,* Heran Xie,1,* Zijie Pei,2 Mengyue Zhang,1 Mengqi Wu,1 Shaohui Zhang,3 Luqi Wang,4 Chunfang Zhao,5 Lei Shi,6,7 Ning Zhang,1 Yujie Niu,6,7 Yuxin Zheng,8 Rong Zhang1,7,*1Department of Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pathology, Medical School, China Three Gorge University, Yichang, 443002, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Experimental Center, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050051, People’s Republic of China; 4Riodiology, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050051, People’s Republic of China; 5Histology and Embryology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, People’s Republic of China; 6Occupational Health and Environmental Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, People’s Republic of China; 7Hebei Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People’s Republic of China; 8Department of Toxicology, Public Health College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workBackground: Recent years, there occurs heavy haze pollution in northern China during wintertime. The potential influence of airborne particulate matter (PM) on human health attracts great concern. The fuel-derived PM in the inhalable size range is dominated by aggregates of nanoparticles of Carbon black (CB). However, there are still lack of evidences especially regarding long-term exposure to explain the chronic effects of nanoscaled CB and the relative mechanism.Purpose: The objective of this study was to identify the potential mechanism of chronic effects of nanoscale CB. The systemic toxicity, immune suppression or activity and local toxicity were evaluated.Methods: 32 rats were divided into 2 groups: 30 mg/m3 CB exposure (nose only, 90 d, 6h/d) and control (clean air). Half of rats were scarified after exposure and another half of rats recovered for 14 days. Eight rats in each group were executed the lung function tests using a ventilated bias flow whole body plethysmograph (WBP). SDS-PAGE protocol was used to detect the deposition and retention of CB in lung of rats. HE staining was used to observe the changes of histopathology. Cell apoptosis was examined by TUNEL assay or flow cytometry. The levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-17 and TNF-α in serum and lung tissue were evaluated with commercially available ELISA kit. The peripheral blood cell counts were detected by Auto 5-diff hematology analyzer.Results: The lung burden of CB was 16 mg in lung of rats after a 90-day exposure by MPPD. Fourteen percentages of the amount of CB accumulated at the end of the exposure period was cleared from the lung during the 14 dys recovery period. The lung function was significantly decreased and could not recover after a short time recovery. The fibroblasts and granuloma formation were found in lung. The levels of apoptosis and DNA damages were significantly increased in lung cells after CB inhalation. The cytokines levels in lung but not in serum were significantly increased in CB exposure group. The cell counts of WBC, monocytes and neutrophils had 1.72, 3.13, and 2.73-fold increases after CB exposure, respectively. The percentages of CD4+ lymphocytes and the rates of CD4+/CD8+ were statistically increased after CB exposure. The stimulation indexes of the peripheral blood lymphocytes were significantly decreased after CB exposure. In the CB exposure group, the disrupted histomorphology of thymus and spleen were found as well as the early apoptotic thymocytes had a 2.36-fold increase.Conclusion: CB induced the localized or direct toxicity and systemic immune toxicity. The direct and systemic immune responses had a combined effect on the lung damages caused by CB.Keywords: nanoscale CB particles, pulmonary toxicology, immune toxicity, chronic toxicity, inhalation

Sadika Akhter,1,2 Shannon Rutherford,1 Feroza Akhter Kumkum,2 David Bromwich,1 Iqbal Anwar,2 Aminur Rahman,2 Cordia Chu1 1Centre for Environment and Population Health, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; 2International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh Background: Traditionally, women in Bangladesh stayed at home in their role as daughter, wife, or mother. In the 1980s, economic reforms created a job market for poor, uneducated rural women in the ready-made garment industry, mostly located in urban areas. This increased participation in paid work has changed the gender roles of these women. Women’s earnings support their family, but they are also separated from their children, with impacts on their mental health and well-being. This study explores the lived experience of women in Bangladesh working in the ready-made garment industry as they strive to be mothers and family providers, often in high-stress conditions.Methods: The study was conducted in two industrial areas of Dhaka over 8 months. Data collection included a literature review, 20 in-depth interviews with married female garment workers, and 14 key-informant interviews with officials from the Ministry of Labour and Employment, health-service providers within the garment factories, factory managers, and representatives of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association. The data collected were analyzed thematically.Results: Poverty was a key motivating factor for female migrant workers to move from rural areas. Their children stay in their village with their grandparents, because of their mothers’ work conditions and the lack of childcare. The women reported stress, anxiety, restlessness, and thoughts of suicide, due to the double burden of work and separation from their children and family support. Further, they cannot easily access government hospital services due to their long work hours, and the limited medical services provided in the workplace do not meet their needs.Conclusion: In order to improve the health and well-being of female garment workers, steps should be taken to develop health interventions to meet the needs of this important group of workers who are contributing significantly to the economic development of the country. Keywords: female workers, Bangladesh, ready-made garment industry, gender, health, work

Qihui Niu,1,* Lei Yang,1,* Xueqin Song,1 Congying Chu,2 Hao Liu,1 Lifang Zhang,1 Yan Li,1 Xiang Zhang,1 Jingliang Cheng,1 Youhui Li1 1Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 2Brainnetome Certer, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Objective: This paper attempts to explore the brain activity of patients with obsessive-­compulsive disorder (OCD) and its correlation with the disease at resting duration in patients with first-episode OCD, providing a forceful imaging basis for clinic diagnosis and pathogenesis of OCD. Methods: Twenty-six patients with first-episode OCD and 25 healthy controls (HC group; matched for age, sex, and education level) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning at resting state. Statistical parametric mapping 8, data processing assistant for resting-state fMRI analysis toolkit, and resting state fMRI data analysis toolkit packages were used to process the fMRI data on Matlab 2012a platform, and the difference of regional homogeneity (ReHo) values between the OCD group and HC group was detected with independent two-sample t-test. With age as a concomitant variable, the Pearson correlation analysis was adopted to study the correlation between the disease duration and ReHo value of whole brain. Results: Compared with HC group, the ReHo values in OCD group were decreased in brain regions, including left thalamus, right thalamus, right paracentral lobule, right postcentral gyrus, and the ReHo value was increased in the left angular gyrus region. There was a negative correlation between disease duration and ReHo value in the bilateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Conclusion: OCD is a multifactorial disease generally caused by abnormal activities of many brain regions at resting state. Worse brain activity of the OFC is related to the OCD duration, which provides a new insight to the pathogenesis of OCD. Keywords: OCD, resting state, functional MRI, regional homogeneity

Heng Liu,1,2 Xiao Chen,1 Wei Xue,1 Chengchao Chu,2 Yu Liu,2 Haipeng Tong,1 Xuesong Du,1 Tian Xie,1 Gang Liu,2 Weiguo Zhang1,3 1Department of Radiology, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 2State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 3Chongqing Clinical Research Center for Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China Abstract: The highly infiltrative and invasive nature of glioma cells often leads to blurred tumor margins, resulting in incomplete tumor resection and tumor recurrence. Accurate detection and precise delineation of glioma help in preoperative delineation, surgical planning and survival prediction. In this study, recombinant epidermal growth factor-like domain-1, derived from human coagulation factor VII, was conjugated to iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) for targeted glioma magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The synthesized EGF1-EGFP-IONPs exhibited excellent targeting ability toward tissue factor (TF)-positive U87MG cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro, and demonstrated persistent and efficient MR contrast enhancement up to 12 h for preclinical glioma models with high targeting specificity in vivo. They hold great potential for clinical translation and developing targeted theranostics against brain glioma. Keywords: epidermal growth factor-like domain-1, tissue factor, iron oxide nanoparticles, MRI, glioma

Ma C, Smith H, Chu C, Juarez D. Integr Pharm Res Pract. 2015;4:91–99.Page 96, left-hand column, the reference citations for the following text “The US Hawaii Health Information Exchange (HHIE) is a 501 (C) (3) nonprofit, state-wide organization established in 2006. By facilitating assessment and implementing targeted health initiatives, HHIE strives to enhance care coordination, to improve the health outcomes of Hawai‘i’s patients, and to reduce the cost of care for both patients and health care providers.39” and “A project called Pharm2Pharm, funded for $14.3 million USD by an innovation grant from CMS, uses information provided by HHIE to facilitate all written communication between hospitals and outpatient health care teams.40” were incorrect. The citation numbers 39 and 40 in this section should be replaced by number 55.Page 96, left-hand column, the reference citations for the following text “HHIE Community Health Record, a tool that pharmacists can use to access patient lab values and other clinical information. This complete record of medications, labs, and other clinical information can then be utilized to support additional health care strategies specifically designed for each patient.39,40” were incorrect. The citation numbers 39 and 40 in this section should be replaced by number 55.Page 99, the following reference should be added to the reference list as reference number 55 “Pellegrin KL. The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Scripts: Pharm2Pharm: Leveraging Medication Expertise Across the Continuum of Care. Hawaii J Med Public Health. 2015;74(7):248–252.”Read the original article

Carolyn Ma, Helen Wong Smith, Cherie Chu, Deborah T JuarezDepartment of Pharmacy Practice, The Daniel K Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, Hilo, HI, USAAbstract: Pharmacy informatics is defined as the use and integration of data, information, knowledge, technology, and automation in the medication-use process for the purpose of improving health outcomes. The term “big data” has been coined and is often defined in three V's: volume, velocity, and variety. This paper describes three major areas in which pharmacy utilizes big data, including: 1) informed decision making (clinical pathways and clinical practice guidelines); 2) improved care delivery in health care settings such as hospitals and community pharmacy practice settings; and 3) quality performance measurement for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid and medication management activities such as tracking medication adherence and medication reconciliation.Keywords: clinical pharmacy data base, pharmacy informatics, patient outcomes

A key strategy for successful access management is the adoption of driveway spacing guidelines that consider both safety and operations. The goal is to provide sufficient distance from one driveway to the next so that drivers can perceive and react to the conditions at each potential conflict point in succession. State DOTs across the country have adopted different driveway spacing standards that vary according to the access class and characteristics of the adjacent roadway, such as type of roadway, posted speed limit, and traffic volume. Utilizing the VISSIM microscopic traffic simulation tool and FHWA's Surrogate Safety Assessment Model (SSAM), this research examined safety implications of four different driveway spacing policies representing 13 states. The analysis involved calibrating the VISSIM model for an arterial roadway corridor in West Columbia, SC, and then using the calibrated model to simulate various operational changes to the corridor, including speed limits, traffic volumes, and the associated minimum driveway spacing criteria for the four different policies. SSAM was used to analyze vehicle trajectories derived from VISSIM to determine the number of conflict points. Experimental results indicate that posted speed limit and traffic volume are the primary impact factors for driveway safety, and thus, these parameters should be considered in establishing minimum driveway spacing. Findings from this study indicate that there are significant differences in safety impacts between the different driveway spacing policies adopted by various state DOTs.

We present field deployment results of a portable optical absorption spectrometer for localization and quantification of fugitive methane (CH4) emissions. Our near-infrared sensor targets the 2ν3 R(4) CH4 transition at 6057.1 cm−1 (1651 nm) via line-scanned tunable diode-laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS), with Allan deviation analysis yielding a normalized 2.0 ppmv∙Hz−1/2 sensitivity (4.5 × 10−6 Hz−1/2 noise-equivalent absorption) over 5 cm open-path length. Controlled CH4 leak experiments are performed at the METEC CSU engineering facility, where concurrent deployment of our TDLAS and a customized volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor demonstrates good linear correlation (R2 = 0.74) over high-flow (>60 SCFH) CH4 releases spanning 4.4 h. In conjunction with simultaneous wind velocity measurements, the leak angle-of-arrival (AOA) is ascertained via correlation of CH4 concentration and wind angle, demonstrating the efficacy of single-sensor line-of-sight (LOS) determination of leak sources. Source magnitude estimation based on a Gaussian plume model is demonstrated, with good correspondence (R2 = 0.74) between calculated and measured release rates.

The discovery in 2008 of the Fe-pnictide and Fe-chalcogenide superconductors has generated immense interest. They crystallize in four different structures, namely, the 1111-phase (RFeAsO, where R = rare earth) with the ZrCuSiAs structure (P4/nmm); the 122-phase (AeFe2As2 and AFe2As2, where Ae = alkaline earth and A = alkaline) with the ThCr2Si2 structure (I4/mmm); the 111-phase (AFeAs, where A = alkaline) with the PbFCl structure (P4/nmm); and the 11-phase (FeSe1-x) with the PbO structure (P4/nmm). The highest Tc’s of these compounds are 57 K, 38 K, 20 K and 10 K for the 1111, 122, 111 and 11 structure classes with different electron or hole- ping at ambient. Until now, no effort has been successful to raise the maximum Tc of Fe-pnictides or -chalcogenides to above the 60’s K as predicted. In view of the unsettled superconducting behavior of Ca122 under pressure, we have investigated the electron-doping effect on Ca122, in contrast to previous studies on the 122 class where only hole-doping has been carried out. We have detected superconductivity up to 49 K in single crystalline CaFe2As2 via electron-doping by partial replacement of Ca by rare-earth. The superconducting transition observed suggests the possible existence of two phases: one starts at ~ 49 K with a low critical field ~ 4 Oe, and the other at ~ 21 K, with a much higher critical field > 5 T. Our observations are in strong contrast to previous reports of doping or pressurizing layered compounds AeFe2As2 (or Ae122), where Ae = Ca, Sr or Ba. In Ae122, hole-doping has been previously observed to generate superconductivity with a transition temperature (Tc) only up to 38 K and pressurization has been reported to produce superconductivity with a Tc up to 30 K. The unusual 49 K phase observed appears to be filamentary or interfacial in nature. The associated superconducting transition at 49 K behaves as Josephson-Junctioncoupled-like, suggesting the existence of a superconducting phase above 49 K in the R-Ca-Fe-As compound system. The results will be presented and the implications discussed.

Introduction: The 2019e2020 coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on all aspects of health care. Decrease in clinical and operative volume and limitations for conferences has drastically decreased educational opportunities for resident trainees. We describe the formation and initial success of the Collaborative Online Video Didactics lecture series, a multi-institutional online video didactics collaboration. Methods: Zoom data extraction and postlecture evaluation surveys were used to collect data on the impact of the pandemic on local educational activities as well as feedback about the lecture series. Lectures are being given by faculty from 35 institutions. The twice daily, hour-long webinar averages more than 470 live viewers per session with an average of 33.5 questions per session and has over 7,000 YouTube views of the recordings after the first 2 weeks. Results: Viewers reported significant decreases in outpatient (75.2%), inpatient (64.9%) and operating room (77.7%) volumes at local programs, and only half (52.7%) of the survey responders indicated an increase in didactics locally. The lectures have been well-received, with over 90% of respondents giving the lecturers and series above average or excellent ratings. A significant majority of responders indicated that the lecture series has allowed for ongoing education opportunities during the pandemic (95.0%), helped to access faculty experts from other institutions (92.3%) and provided a sense of community connectedness during this period of social isolation (81.7%). Conclusions: We strongly encourage other institutions and trainees to participate in the didactic series and hope that this series can continue to evolve and be of benefit beyond the pandemic.

There is a great interest in generating high-power hard X-ray Free Electron Laser (FEL) in the terawatt (TW) level that can enable coherent diffraction imaging of complex molecules like proteins and probe fundamental high-field physics. A feasibility study of producing such X-ray pulses was carried out employing a configuration beginning with a Self-Amplified Spontaneous Emission FEL, followed by a “self-seeding” crystal monochromator generating a fully coherent seed, and finishing with a long tapered undulator where the coherent seed recombines with the electron bunch and is amplified to high power. The undulator tapering profile, the phase advance in the undulator break sections, the quadrupole focusing strength, etc. are parameters to be optimized. A Genetic Algorithm (GA) is adopted for this multi-dimensional optimization. Concrete examples are given for LINAC Coherent Light Source (LCLS) and LCLS-II-type systems. Analytical estimate is also developed to cross check the simulation and optimization results as a quick and complimentary tool.

Despite tremendous progress in genome sequencing, the basic goal of producing a phased (haplotype-resolved) genome sequence with end-to-end contiguity for each chromosome at reasonable cost and effort is still unrealized. In this study, we describe an appr