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Use of GnRH antagonists in IVF stimulation protocols shortens controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and reduces the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). However, profound reduction in LH levels has been associated with use of GnRH antagonists. This study aims to determine if LH suppression during GnRH antagonist cycles results in poorer IVF outcomes. This was a prospective pilot longitudinal study where serum LH levels were measured on day 2/3 of the menstrual cycle before COH, 1/2 days following institution of GnRH antagonist and at the day of ovulation trigger. A threshold of LH

Highlights • Self-collected saliva and buccal swab results show moderate agreement with those of nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS). • A combined strategy is recommended. • Primary screening for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may be performed with a saliva test or buccal swab. • A negative test should warrant a confirmatory NPS test to avoid false-negatives. • This minimizes discomfort and reduces the risk of spread to the community and healthcare workers., Background Effective management of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) requires large-scale testing to identify and isolate infectious carriers. Self-administered buccal swab and saliva collection are convenient, painless, and safe alternatives to the current healthcare worker (HCW)-collected nasopharyngeal swab (NPS). Methods A cross-sectional single-centre study was conducted on 42 participants who had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 via an NPS within the past 7 days. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed and cycle threshold (Ct) values were obtained for each test. The positive percent agreement (PPA), negative percent agreement (NPA), and overall agreement (OA) were calculated for the saliva samples and buccal swabs, and compared with NPS. Results Among the 42 participants, 73.8% (31/42) tested positive by any one of the three tests. With reference to NPS, the saliva test had PPA 66.7%, NPA 91.7%, and OA 69.0%; the buccal swab had PPA 56.7%, NPA 100%, and OA 73.8%. Conclusion Self-collected saliva tests and buccal swabs showed only moderate agreement with HCW-collected NPS. Primary screening for SARS-CoV-2 may be performed with a saliva test or buccal swab, with a negative test warranting a confirmatory NPS to avoid false-negatives, minimize discomfort, and reduce the risk of spread to the community and HCWs.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS The routine practices of examining submucosal lesions are not suitable for deep lesions. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of non-real-time image-guided transnasal endoscopic fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in diagnosing nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) with submucosal lesions. STUDY DESIGN The effectiveness evaluation of diagnostic methods. METHODS Fifty suspected NPC patients who failed in conventional biopsies were enrolled in this study. The efficacy, maneuverability, and safety of FNAB in diagnosing these intractable cases were evaluated. RESULTS The definitive diagnostic results of these 50 patients were NPC (34/50, 68.0%), nasopharyngeal necrosis (1/50, 2.0%), nasopharyngeal mucositis (12/50, 24.0%), and other cancers (3/50, 6.0%), respectively. The results of the diagnostic efficacy of FNAB were sensitivity, 89.2%; specificity, 100.0%; positive predictive value, 100.0%; negative predictive value, 76.5%; and accuracy, 92.0%, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves was 0.946 (95% confidence interval = 0.884-1.00, P

BACKGROUND Topical anesthesia is widely used in many dermatological and cosmetic procedures. Nevertheless, the stratum corneum serves as the skin barrier, impedes the transdermal drug delivery greatly, and results in insufficient analgesia. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has been researched as a transdermal drug delivery promoter with ex vivo experiments for a few years, while clinical trials are scarce. AIMS To assess the efficacy and safety of CAP as a pretreatment to improve the transdermal absorption of topical anesthetic cream before the CO2 laser treatment for postacne scars in the human body. PATIENTS/METHODS Twenty patients, seeking full facial laser treatment for atrophic acne scars, underwent a randomized split-face study. One side of the face was pretreated by CAP before topical anesthetic cream was applied, and the other side was applied with topical anesthetic cream only as control. After that, the subjects went through full-face fractional CO2 laser treatment of postacne scars. They were asked to score the pain on a visual analogue scale (VAS) after the laser treatment to measure the anesthesia effects which indicates the transdermal absorption of the cream. Possible adverse effects of the plasma were recorded during the pretreatment including associated pain, heat, erythema, and edema. RESULTS The VAS score of the treated side was statistically lower (5.1 ± 2.1) compared with the nontreated side (6.3 ± 1.9), with a mean difference of 1.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6-1.9; P

The computation and storage capacity of the edge device are limited, which seriously restrict the application of deep neural network in the device. Toward to the intelligent application of the edge device, we introduce the deep neural network compression algorithm based on knowledge transfer, a three-stage pipeline: lightweight, multi-level knowledge transfer and pruning that reduce the network depth, parameter and operation complexity of the deep learning neural networks. We lighten the neural networks by using a global average pooling layer instead of a fully connected layer and replacing a standard convolution with separable convolutions. Next, the multi-level knowledge transfer minimizes the difference between the output of the ”student network” and the ”teacher network” in the middle and logits layer, increasing the supervised information when training the ”student network”. Lastly, we prune the network by cutting off the unimportant convolution kernels with a global iterative pruning strategy. The experiment results show that the proposed method improve the efficiency up to 30% than the knowledge distillation method in reducing the loss of classification performance. Benchmarked on GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) server, Raspberry Pi 3 and Cambricon-1A, the parameters of the compressed network after using our knowledge transfer and pruning method have achieved more than 49.5 times compression and the time efficiency of a single feedforward operation has been improved more than 3.2 times.

Background The lack of simple and affordable spirometry has led to the missed and delayed diagnoses of chronic respiratory diseases in communities. The PUS201P is a portable spirometry developed to solve this problem. Objective We aimed to verify the consistency of the PUS201P spirometer with conventional Jaeger spirometer. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we randomly recruited 202 subjects aged > 40 years. Testing with the portable spirometry and conventional spirometry were performed on all participants. We compared forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC measured by the PUS201P device with the conventional spirometer. Pearson correlation coefficient and Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) were assessed to confirm the consistency of the measures from two instruments. Bland–Altman graph was created to assess the agreement of the measures from two devices. Results 202 participants were included in this study. The ICC on FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC measured by the portable spirometer and the conventional spirometer were 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.94–0.96), 0.92 (95% CI: 0.90–0.94], 0.93 (95% CI: 0.91–0.95), respectively. The Bland–Altman plots showed that the mean difference between the measures from two spirometers are always located in the 95% limits of agreement. Conclusions Our results support that the measures from the portable spirometer and the conventional spirometer have a good agreement and reproducibility. And the portable spirometer is a reliable tool to screen and diagnose chronic airway diseases in the primary care settings.

Although transdermal drug delivery would be very useful for the treatment of many diseases, in practice it is difficult to accomplish for the obstruction of the stratum corneum. The application of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) as a pretreatment to the skin surface helps to enhance the delivery of topically applied drugs into the skin and the systemic circulation. CAP can change the skin properties to improve drug penetration by various different effects based on its multiple components. This review first introduces the skin barrier properties and some traditional transdermal drug delivery strategies. Next what is known about the application of CAP in transdermal drug delivery has been summarized, including the mechanisms and possible side effects. We believe that CAP could be developed as a non-invasive and efficient pretreatment to improve the transdermal permeation of drugs in clinical practice, although more research needs to be done to overcome the challenges. Graphical Abstract.

Papulopustular rosacea (PPR) is characterized by central facial erythema and transient papules and/or pustules, with or without telangiectases. The treatment of PPR is challenging due to the unclear and complex pathogenesis. In the present retrospective study, patients with PPR treated with oral minocycline and supramolecular salicylic acid (SSA) 30% chemical peels enrolled between June 2018 and June 2019 were evaluated. All patients were treated with 50 mg minocycline twice a day and SSA 30% twice a month. A total of 19 patients were enrolled and all received the therapy for 12 weeks. A significant reduction of rosacea severity was observed by Investigator Severity Assessment (ISA) after treatment; the mean score reduced from 3.32±0.6 at baseline to 0.89±0.7 (P

Solutions Resolve for Problem Encountered of Entering New Market in Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd (F&NHB) F&NHB is among the oldest and most successful businesses in Singapore and Malaysia with core expertise and leadership in the food, beverage and other sectors. 135 years ago, two visionaries who are John Fraser and David Chalmers Neave formed The Singapore and Straits Aerated Water Company to produce carbonated soft drinks. This company eventually became one of the region’s food and beverage giants which is Fraser & Neave (F&N). Now, this company had been listed on Bursa Malaysia’s main board. F&NHB has an annual turnover in excess of RM 4 billion from its core business in the manufacture, sale and marketing of beverages and dairy products. In the present work, there are a problem encountered for entering new market of F&NHB according to our research. In fact, entering new market is a big challenge for every company because it represents the company must expand its business scope to make more profits. Before entering new market, F&NHB must determine the problems which will be faced in the future through analysing the political environment, economic environment, social and technology environment. Therefore, information is gathered to make the best decision for the market entry. Subsequently, solutions will be sought out and discussed to solve the issues which occurred in following new market through investigation. We will collect the data needed by referring the company website and other websites then analyse data to make the assignment completed.

A new dysprosium complex [Dy(IA)2(H2O)4]nnNO3 (1; IA is isonicotinic acid anion), was synthesized. The structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Every two neighborin...

Background: Poor lifestyle behaviors, including unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, contribute to the global obesity pandemic and result in long-term adverse health effects on mothers and their children. The time period before, during and after pregnancy represents a unique opportunity for interventions to cultivate sustained healthy lifestyle behaviors. Since the success of a lifestyle intervention is heavily dependent on uptake and continued compliance, the intervention components should be acceptable, sustainable, and tailored to the concerns and needs of the target population. This study aims to identify enablers and barriers towards engagement with a lifestyle intervention for improving the metabolic health of prospective mothers and their offspring, among a sample of the target population.Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 overweight or obese women in the preconception, pregnancy or postpartum periods. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was undertaken using NVivo. Factors influencing adoption of a novel lifestyle intervention were systematically charted using the integrated–Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i-PARIHS) framework, that comprises Recipient, Context, Innovation and Facilitation constructs.Results: Ten enablers and barriers were identified. Barrier factors within the Recipient construct include time constraints as participants juggled multiple roles, and poor baseline knowledge about healthy behaviors and the impact of maternal obesity on maternal and offspring health. Within Context, a family culture of communal meals, convenient access to unhealthy foods in the environment, as well as lack of relevant data sources, were barriers to dietary change. Recipient motivation to be healthy for themselves and their offspring is an enabler, along with family and social support within the Context construct. In the Innovation construct, a holistic delivery platform providing desired information delivered at appropriate times increases engagement. Lastly, in Facilitation, regular feedback, goal setting and nudges would ensure continued engagement and sustainability of lifestyle changes.Conclusions: The features of a successful lifestyle intervention targeting overweight and obese women include (i) a holistic life-course approach to provide education and guidance, (ii) using mobile health platforms to reduce barriers, provide personalized feedback and promote goal-setting, and (iii) health nudges to cultivate sustained lifestyle habits.

The time period before, during and after pregnancy represents a unique opportunity for interventions to cultivate sustained healthy lifestyle behaviors to improve the metabolic health of mothers and their offspring. However, the success of a lifestyle intervention is dependent on uptake and continued compliance. To identify enablers and barriers towards engagement with a lifestyle intervention, thematic analysis of 15 in-depth interviews with overweight or obese women in the preconception, pregnancy or postpartum periods was undertaken, using the integrated–Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i-PARIHS) framework as a guide to systematically chart factors influencing adoption of a novel lifestyle intervention. Barrier factors include time constraints, poor baseline knowledge, family culture, food accessibility, and lack of relevant data sources. Enabling factors were motivation to be healthy for themselves and their offspring, family and social support, a holistic delivery platform providing desired information delivered at appropriate times, regular feedback, goal setting, and nudges. From the findings of this study, we propose components of an idealized lifestyle intervention including (i) taking a holistic life-course approach to education, (ii) using mobile health platforms to reduce barriers, provide personalized feedback and promote goal-setting, and (iii) health nudges to cultivate sustained lifestyle habits.

Summary Urbanization is a pressing challenge for earth’s humans because it is changing not only natural environments but also agricultural lands. Yet, the consequences of cropland loss on pest insect populations that largely depend on these habitats remain largely unclear. We used a 17-year data set to investigate the dynamics of three moth pest species (i.e., striped stem borer, yellow stem borer, and pink stem borer) and their driving forces across the largest mega-urban region of China. Total abundance of three pest species is declined by about 80%, which was strongly associated with cropland loss during rapid urbanization. Our findings indicate that not only the increasing conversion of natural areas to human-dominated landscapes but also that of agricultural lands to urban landscapes can be critical to insect populations. It is therefore essential to monitor and understand the insect dynamics in rapidly urbanizing regions, which are currently found in many developing countries worldwide., Graphical abstract, Highlights • Urbanization has worldwide dramatic impacts on the earth's insects • Its relation to declining farmland pest insect populations remains greatly understudied • Consistent moth population decline coincided with a rapid process of urbanization • About 80% of such decline was due to loss of agricultural land, Ecology; Entomology; Agricultural science; Economic entomology

To evaluate the prognostic value of the dynamic change in absolute lymphocyte counts (ALCs) and absolute monocyte counts (AMCs) and identify patients with N stage and plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA levels in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) who are at risk of treatment failure.A total of 1124 eligible patients with Stage II-IVb NPC treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) were enrolled. Percentage changes in the ALC (ΔALC%) and AMC (ΔAMC%) were calculated.Patients with high ΔALC% were correlated with poorer 5-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rates than those with low ΔALC%. Likewise, high ΔAMC% was significantly associated with worse outcome than low ΔAMC% (OS, p = 0.001; PFS, p = 0.001; DMFS, p = 0.034). Multivariate analyses revealed that ΔALC% (p = 0.046), ΔAMC% (p = 0.019), and EBV DNA level (p 0.001) were independent prognostic factors for OS. With respect to PFS, ΔALC% (p = 0.036), ΔAMC% (p = 0.011), N classification (p = 0.016), and EBV DNA level (p 0.001) were also independent prognosticators. Based on the aforementioned independent risk factors (ΔALC% ≥ 83.33%, ΔAMC% ≥ 40.00%, Stage N2-3, EBV DNA ≥ 4000 copies/ml), patients were divided into three different risk groups (low-risk group [with1 risk factor], intermediate risk group [with 1-3 risk factors], and high-risk group [with 4 risk factors]) that correlated with disparate risks of death (p 0.001), disease progression (p 0.001), and distant metastasis (p 0.001).High ΔALC% and ΔAMC% were correlated with poor prognosis in patients with NPC. Risk stratification based on ΔALC%, ΔAMC%, N classification, and plasma EBV DNA levels could provide potential utility for risk-adapted therapeutic strategies for NPC.

To compare the prognosis and adverse effects of induction or adjuvant chemotherapy (IC or AC) plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) versus CCRT alone in paediatric nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients in the intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) era.549 patients diagnosed from 2005 to 2021 were enrolled. Our primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). The recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) was applied to derive a risk stratification system. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to assess the cumulative survival rates, and cox analysis was applied to evaluate the relationship between variables and endpoints.The RPA-based risk stratification identified three different risk groups. In the intermediate-risk (stage IVa and EBV4000 copies/ml) group, patients who received IC followed by CCRT achieved a significantly better 3-year PFS rate than those treated with CCRT alone (87.35% versus 75.89%; P = 0.04). But survival benefit was not obtained from the additional IC or AC in the low-risk (stage II-III and EBV4000 copies/ml) or high-risk (stage II-IVa and EBV≥4000 copies/ml) group. The most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events in patients treated with CCRT, IC + CCRT, and CCRT + AC were neutropenia (8.1%, 33.0% versus 36.9%, respectively) and leukopenia (14.1%, 26.8% versus 32.3%, respectively) with statistically significant difference.Paediatric NPC patients in the intermediate-risk group treated with IC followed by CCRT had significantly better PFS compared with patients treated with CCRT alone. And the overall incidence of acute adverse events in patients treated with IC or AC plus CCRT was higher than in patients treated with CCRT alone.

Small airway dysfunction (SAD) is an early lesion of chronic respiratory disease that is best detected using impulse oscillometry (IOS). Few studies have investigated risk factors for IOS-defined SAD (IOS-SAD) in a large population. We aimed to explore the clinical features of and risk factors for IOS-SAD in a community-based population.We divided subjects into IOS-SAD and non-SAD groups based on a cutoff of0.07 kPa/L/s in the difference between the resistance at 5 Hz versus the resistance at 20 Hz (R5-R20). All participants underwent spirometry, IOS, and completed a questionnaire; some participants underwent computed tomography (CT). We analyzed the risk factors for SAD based on binary logistic regression.The total cohort comprised 1327 subjects. The prevalence of IOS-SAD was 32.9% (437/1327). Compared with the non-SAD group, the IOS-SAD group was older (64.0 ± 7.8 vs. 59.6 ± 7.8 years, p 0.001), included less never-smokers (30.2% vs. 35.8%, p 0.001), had greater airway resistance and worse lung function, indicated by a larger R5-R20 (0.15 ± 0.08 vs. 0.03 ± 0.02 kPa/L/s, p 0.001) and smaller forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity after bronchodilation (60.2 ± 14.4% vs. 72.6 ± 10.0%, p 0.001); on CT, the IOS-SAD group had higher prevalences of emphysema and gas trapping. Risk factors for SAD were older age, high BMI, smoking, childhood cough, and asthma.Subjects with IOS-SAD had increased airway resistance and visible CT changes. Individuals with smoking exposure, advanced age, high BMI, childhood cough, and asthma were more prone to SAD.ChiCTR1900024643.

To investigate the effect of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT-2I) on bone turnover markers in overweight and obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: according to the criteria of selection and exclusion, 42 patients with overweight and obese type 2 diabetes (BMI≥25kg/m2) were selected from October 2019 to May 2020. The patients were randomly divided into experimental group and control group, there were 18 cases in the experimental group and 24 cases in the control group. The experimental group was treated with SGLT-2I, and other oral hypoglycemic agents (or insulin) were added according to the blood glucose situation. The control group received oral hypoglycemic agents (non-SGLT-2I) and/or insulin and/or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA). Every 28 days of follow-up, medication regimen was adjusted according to blood glucose and adverse reactions of patients. Fasting venous serum of the patients was collected at the beginning and again 24 weeks later and the levels of PINP and β-CTX were detected uniformly. SPSS 21.0 was used to compare the changes of clinical indexes before and after the treatment. Results: 1. In the experimental group, PINP, HbA1c, FPG and BMI decreased (p

Objective: Explore the partial mechanisms of cupping therapy by means of the cellular factors in the peripheral blood cells; methods: Replicate the rabbit model of cold stagnation leading to blood stasis by adopting the cold stimulation and randomly dividing 12 rabbits to three groups based on the weight. Observe the sign of the rabbits before and after cupping test, the content of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF)in the peripheral blood; Results: After replicated the model, the model group and the treatment group gradually appeared the sign of cold stagnation leading to blood stasis. After cupping treatment, the sign of cold stagnation leading to blood stasis of the rabbits gradually disappeared. Compared with the blank controlled group and the model group at the same time, the epidermal growth factor (EGF)in the peripheral blood of the treatment group was much higher after cupping and was statistically difference (p

BACKGROUND: Nutritional status is a key factor influencing the prognosis of patients with cancer. The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) has been used to predict mortality risk and long-term outcomes. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the predictive value of pretreatment GNRI in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: A total of 1,065 patients with biopsy-proven non-disseminated nasopharyngeal carcinoma were included. Based on a cutoff value of pretreatment GNRI, patients were divided into two groups (low ≤107.7 and high >107.7). Combining GNRI and baseline Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA, all patients were further stratified into three risk groups, namely, high-risk (high EBV DNA and low GNRI), low-risk (low EBV DNA and high GNRI), and medium-risk (except the above) groups. Multivariate analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazards model to assess the predictive value of the GNRI. RESULTS: Among the 1,065 patients, 527 (49.5%) and 538 (50.5%) were divided into low and high GNRI groups, respectively. Within a median follow-up of 83 months, patients with a high GNRI score exhibited significantly higher overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) compared to those with low GNRI scores (P

Background Riehl's melanosis is a chronic, refractory disorder, which can adversely affect patient's quality of life. Intense pulse light, neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser, hydroquinone, tranexamic acid have been reported to treat this disease, but there have been few reports on the effectiveness of other treatments. Aim To assess the efficacy and safety of triple combination therapy with salicylic acid chemical peels, oral glycyrrhizin compound, and vitamin C for Riehl's melanosis. Patients/methods Three patients diagnosed with Riehl's melanosis were enrolled. All patients were treated with glycyrrhizin compound (150 mg/d), vitamin C (100 mg/d), and salicylic acid 30% peels once every 2 weeks. Clinical photographs and VISIA were used to assess the efficacy. Results All patients received obvious improvement and reported no obvious side effects. Conclusion Triple combination therapy with salicylic acid peels, oral glycyrrhizin compound, and vitamin C is a safe and effective modality for Riehl's melanosis.

Dual-layer photoanode thin films for dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) has garnered great attention, due to its excellent scattering property, dye loading capacity, superior electron transfer and simple device fabrication processing. Here, we report a ZnO nanorod/ZnO-SnO2 mesoporous (ZZS) composite film as an efficient electron extraction layer for dye sensitized solar cells. The DSSCs exhibit a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.10% and a short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 12.94 mA·cm−2 due to the improved light scattering, absorption and interface bonding, which controlled by varying the processes of hydrothermal reaction and solid state reaction. The results further demonstrated that the ZnO/ZnO-SnO2 photoanode structure is a promising strategy with effective electron extract efficiency for efficient DSSCs.

Overage service pressure vessels are widespread in China. These pressure vessels may be suffered from some forms of material deterioration and damage with an increasing possibility of failure. However, some of the potential damage mechanism couldn’t be found if the inspection strategies were carried out in according with traditional inspection regulations. Through identifying the damage mechanism of these pressure vessels, the risk evaluation would be carried out by use of RBI technology in company with the structure integrity assessment. The procedure of inspection for overage service pressure vessels was developed, and some of the reasonable inspection and testing requirements and basic principles also were proposed. The three levels evaluation methods of residual safe-service life for these pressure vessels were proposed. At the same time, the risk supervision method of these pressure vessels was established by use on the risk basic theory.

Obesity may be a risk factor for kidney donors to develop reduced renal function. The Framingham heart study suggested that visceral adipose tissue (VAT) confers a more adverse metabolic profile compared with subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). Asians tend to have a higher VAT composition and it is unclear if their kidney function is affected differently. We hypothesized that Asian living kidney donors who have visceral obesity are at a higher risk of renal function deterioration 1 year after donation.Between 2011 and 2014, we retrospectively evaluated data from 73 consecutive patients (52% male; mean age 44.9 ± 11.7 years) before they underwent donor nephrectomy and at their 1 year routine follow-up. VAT and SAT were measured at the level of the umbilicus on pre-operative computerized tomography (CT). Visceral obesity (VO) was defined as a VAT 100 cm [2] and patients were then further divided and compared in two subgroups: VAT 100 and 100 cm [2]. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, mL/min per 1.73 m [2]) was calculated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation pre-operatively and 1 year post-operatively.Both subgroups had similar baseline kidney function (P = NS) pre-operatively. At the 1 year follow-up, patients with VO experienced a more significant decline of renal function (109 ± 9 to 89 ± 8 mL/min per 1.73 mVisceral obesity as defined by VAT 100 cm

There is insufficient evidence concerning the efficacy of wet silver-containing dressings for wound healing in pemphigus vulgaris (PV). In this randomized, controlled clinical trial, 58 patients with PV skin erosions (10%-70% body surface area) were assigned to receive either wet silver-containing dressings (n = 28) or wet to dry povidone-iodine dressings as a control (n = 30). The patients in the treatment group demonstrated a significant improvement in the number of dressing changes, wound healing time, and duration of hospital stay compared with the control group. Patients treated with wet silver dressings had significantly lower NRS pain scores and reported better subjective satisfaction compared with the control group. The only adverse reactions were an occasional abnormal discharge or infection, but there was no difference between the two groups. In our study the wet silver-containing dressings were safe and effective for the treatment of wound healing in PV patients.

Attenuation information from Localizer Radiograph (LR) is the basis for Automatic Exposure Control. However, the total achievable dose optimization could be significantly affected by either LR based attenuation calculation or patient positioning. To avoid those aspects, we proposed an integrated procedure for more robust and accurate attenuation calculation as well as possible automatic patient centering combined with the Rotating Projection base Localizer Radiograph (RPLR). A 3D attenuation map with more accurate attenuation information and automatic patient centering can be realized with one pre-view scan, so that a complete automatic workflow with always optimized dose modulation can be enabled.

In the Lungu area of the Tarim Basin, a large number of karst fracture-cavity reservoirs associated with the subterranean rivers are developed in the ancient buried hills of the Ordovician carbonate rocks. These are the main oil and gas production targets in the area. The reservoirs in the paleo-aqueous system are strong heterogeneity in both vertical and horizontal directions, therefore, identifying and predicting the characteristics of the underground river system is one of the effective ways to improve the success rate of oil and gas exploration and development. To analyze the seismic response characteristics of different shapes, sizes and filling degrees underground river reservoirs. This paper focuses on get forward seismic profiles based on three-dimensional forward modeling method of artillery domain wave equations, which using various types of underground river geology models that established from seismic, logging and drilling data. The forward simulation results show that the length, height, fillings, and surrounding rock factors of the underground river all influence the seismic reflection characteristics. The forward modeling results supported the implement of the spatial distribution of the ancient underground river system and the development of high-quality fracture-cavity reservoirs. In addition, it provided theoretical guidance to the interpretation and prediction of the fractured-cavity reservoirs related to the underground river systems.

Urbanization is a pressing challenge for earth's human because it is transforming and fragmenting not only natural environments, but also rural lands. Yet, the consequences of rural land-use change on insect populations that depend on these habitats remain largely unclear. We used a 17-year data set to investigate the dynamics of three dominant native farmland moths and its driving forces across the largest megaurban region of China. Total moth abundance declined by about 80%, which was strongly associated with loss and fragmentation of croplands during rapid urbanization. Our findings indicate that urbanization, through loss of traditional agricultural lands, can be a further threat to insect populations. It is therefore really critical to monitor and understand the agrobiodiversity dynamics in rapidly urbanizing regions, which are currently found in many developing countries worldwide.

Background As the incidence of allergic asthma in children increases, the immunoglobin E (IgE) molecular sensitization profile of allergic asthma remains underreported while the level of total IgE (tIgE) and sIgE/tIgE have not been studied as predictors of efficacy of allergen immunotherapy (AIT) for allergic asthma, specifically in children. Methods Starting from August 2018 to March 2019 in the Respiratory Department of the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, asthmatic children, with positive skin prick tests to Der p or Der f, were enrolled in this study. Total IgE, allergen serum-specific IgE (sIgE) of Der p, Der f, Blomia tropicalis (Blo t), cat dander, dog dander, egg white, milk, cockroach, shrimp, and crab, along with Der p allergen components, Der p1 and Der p2, were measured by ImmunoCAP™ assay. Results A total of 142 children with allergic asthma were enrolled, all of whom showed positive IgE for Der p, Der p1, Der p2, and Der f; meanwhile, the positive rates of Blo t, cat dander, dog dander, egg white, milk, cockroach, shrimp, and crab were 91.84%, 10.96%, 7.32%, 9.15%, 11.58%, 17.03%, 18.90%, and 18.28% respectively. A significantly high correlation was found between total IgE and the sIgE of Der f, Der p, Der p 1, and Der p 2. Asthmatic children with a family history of allergy displayed higher total IgE and unknown IgE levels than those patients without a family history of allergy. The ratios of Der f sIgE/tIgE and Der p sIgE/tIgE were higher in the negative family history of allergy group than in the positive family history of allergy group. Furthermore, total IgE and unknown IgE were higher in the polysensitized group than in the in monosensitized group. The ratios of Der f sIgE/tIgE and Der p sIgE/tIgE were higher in the monosensitized group than in the polysensitized group. Conclusions From this study, we noticed that dust mites are the main cause of asthma in children investigated. Our findings indicate patients with no family history of allergy and monosensitized patients have a higher ratio of sIgE/tIgE, and those patients may benefit more from AIT.

Users can experience sufficient visual and auditory feedback with a current head-mounted display and can interact with objects in the virtual environment with controllers. Still, current controllers only provide vibration feedback in addition to track the local motion. In order to improve haptic feedback during manipulation, previous research focuses on utilizing prop, wearable devices, or retrofit of the VR controller. Nevertheless, props only provide the shape and texture; the wearable device could not simulate multiple tactile sensations on a texture; while the VR controller could not simulate the shape of the object. However, the combination of wearable device and VR controller can provide some other tactile sensations, such as vibration, wind, and thermal. Therefore, we present FoodBender, an immersive VR game with multisensory feedback, which utilizes an attachable haptic device to activate utensil for playing in the immersive game. With the utensil on the device, we can simulate virtual objects’ shape and texture. Furthermore, user can receive additional vibration, wind, thermal feedback from the attachable device. In our game, physical kitchenware are used to simulate virtual weapons with various haptic feedback in the virtual environment.

Purpose Curative radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) can lead to acquired nasal cavity stenosis and atresia (ANCSA). As the first study to investigate risk factors of ANCSA in a large cohort of NPC patients, this article aims to develop and validate a multivariate normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) model to predict the development of ANCSA and to establish a nomogram for clinical use. Methods and materials The retrospective cohort was comprised of 548 NPC patients treated with radical radiotherapy. The cohort was randomly divided into training and validation groups. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was performed for variable selection from the clinical and dosimetric characteristics in the training group. A multivariate NTCP model and a nomogram were established for the prediction of ANCSA development. Discrimination and calibration were tested using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration tests, respectively, for both groups. Results ANCSA was observed in 132 (24.1%) of 548 patients with NPC who underwent radical radiotherapy. The median time to ANCSA detection after treatment was 2.8 months (range, 0.0–57.7 months). Five potential predictors, including choanal invasion, low white blood cell count, high C-reactive protein level, high serum amyloid A level, and high V70Gy of the nasal cavity, were selected to develop the NTCP model based on 365 patients in the training group. The model had a fairly good discriminative power according to the ROC analysis in both the training (area under ROC curve = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.73–0.84) and validation (0.73, 0.64–0.82) groups. The calibration power was tested using the calibration test in the training (E-max = 0.069, E-avg = 0.015, p = 0.977) and validation (E-max = 0.057, E-avg = 0.032, p = 0.747) groups. Conclusions We developed and successfully validated an NTCP model for early prediction of ANCSA in patients with NPC after radical radiotherapy. This could help clinicians assess the risk of ANCSA before the initiation of follow-ups and ensure appropriate and timely management of this complication.

BackgroundEffective management of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) requires large-scale testing. Collection of nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) by healthcare workers (HCW) is currently used to diagnose SARS-CoV-2, which increases the risk of transmission to HCWs. Self-administered saliva and buccal swabs are convenient, painless and safe alternative sample collection methods.MethodsA cross-sectional single centre study was conducted on 42 participants who were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 via NPS within the past 7 days. A self-collected saliva and buccal swab and a HCW-collected NPS were obtained. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed and cycle threshold (CT) values were obtained. Positive percent agreement (PPA), negative percent agreement (NPA) and overall agreement (OA) were calculated for saliva and buccal swabs, as compared with NPS.ResultsAmong the 42 participants, 73.8% (31/42) tested positive via any one of the 3 tests. With reference to NPS, the saliva test had PPA 66.7%, NPA 91.7% and OA 69.0%. The buccal swab had PPA 56.7%, NPA 100% and OA 73.8%. Presence of symptoms improved diagnostic accuracy. There was no statistically significant association between CT values and duration of symptom onset within the first 12 days of symptoms for all three modalities.ConclusionSelf-collected saliva tests and buccal swabs have only moderate agreement with HCW-collected NPS swabs. Primary screening for SARS-CoV-2 may be performed with a saliva test or buccal swab, with a negative test warranting a confirmatory NPS to avoid false negatives. This combined strategy minimizes discomfort and reduces the risk of spread to the community and HCWs.

The 755 nm picosecond Alexandrite laser has been demonstrated to be effective and well tolerated in patients with acne scars. In this split-face, investigator-blinded study, 16 patients with post-inflammatory erythema (PIE) and acne scars were randomized to receive laser treatment on half the face, with the other half serving as a control. The treatment side demonstrated a significant improvement in both PIE and scars compared to the baseline and also when compared to the control side. Treatment was well-tolerated, with only transient and mild erythema and edema reported as side-effects. In our study the picosecond Alexandrite laser was safe and effective in the treatment of PIE and acne scars. Comprehensive treatment outcomes should be taken into consideration when deciding on which device to use. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

For a long time, due to the insufficient importance of distribution network and the large number of poles, the grounding resistance of poles in distribution lines is often difficult to meet the standard requirements. Because the line arrester releases the lightning current through the pole, the effect of the grounding resistance of pole on the effect of the line arrester is an important concern of lightning protection in the distribution network. In this paper, a lightning strike distribution line model is established through PSCAD, and the influence of grounding resistance on lightning resistance level of non-arrester lines is analyzed through simulation. The effect of different grounding resistance and disposition density of lightning arrester on lightning resistance level is analyzed, and the safety of natural grounding of pole under lightning is verified. This paper illustrates the effectiveness and feasibility of using concrete poles for natural grounding of lightning arrester for distribution network line, and provides a basis for the lightning arrester configuration scheme of distribution overhead line.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma derives from keratinocytes and is the second most common cause of non-melanoma skin cancer. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) develops rapidly and is also the leading cause of death in non-melanoma cancers. Lymph node metastasis occurs in 5% of cSCC patients, and some patients may even metastasize to the viscera. Patients with regional lymphatic metastasis or distant metastases have a

IL-37 was discovered as an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive cytokine of the IL-1 family. Significant advancements in the understanding of signaling pathways associated with IL-37 have been made in recent years. IL-37 binds to IL-18R and recruits IL-1R8 to form the IL-37/IL-1R8/IL-18Rα complex. Capase-1 plays a key role in the nuclear transduction of IL-37 signal, processing precursor IL-37 into the mature isoform, and interacting with Smad3. IL-37 exerts its role by activating anti-inflammation pathways including AMPK, PTEN, Mer, STAT3 and p62, and promoting tolerogenic dendritic cells and Tregs. In addition, IL-37 inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, IL-23, TNF-α, and IFN-γ, and suppresses Fyn, MAPK, TAK1, NFκB, and mTOR signaling. The final effects of IL-37 depend on the interaction among IL-18R, IL-1R8, IL-37 and IL-18BP. Previous studies have deciphered the role of IL-37 in the development and pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, chronic infections and cancer. In this review, we discuss the role of IL-37 in psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, Behcet’s diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus, and other skin and connective tissue diseases.

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory cutaneous disorder that adversely affects patient's health and quality of life due to the complex course and the need for repeated treatment. The exact molecular mechanisms of rosacea are unclear. Mast cells are innate immune cells that can be found in virtually all tissues. Recently, increasing evidence has indicated that mast cells have important effects on the pathogenesis of rosacea. In this review article, we describe recent advances of skin mast cells in the development of rosacea. These studies suggested that mast cells can be an important immune cell that connected innate immunity, nerves, and blood vessels in the development of rosacea. Moreover, we review the inhibition of mast cells for the potential treatment of rosacea.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common viral pathogen causing acute lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in infants. Airway epithelial cells, including Club cells, are primary targets of RSV infection. The "Club cell 10-kDa protein" (CC10), produced mainly by Club cells, possesses anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties that are relevant in infection, injury, and allergic reactions. However, its role in the RSV infection is not fully understood. In the clinic, we found that levels of CC10 in the nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) of infants, hospitalized with RSV bronchiolitis, were significantly lower than those without LRTI, and were also negatively correlated with the severity of the disease. In BALB/c mice, the CC10 levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were also decreased at the 5th day after infection. When recombinant CC10 was administrated in the mice, RSV-induced airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) were alleviated. Similarly, inhibition of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) or cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), which is a downstream signaling molecule for cPLA2, both alleviated RSV-induced airway inflammation and AHR. Administration of CC10 reduced the phosphorylation of cPLA2 and protein levels of COX-2 in mouse lungs, resulting from infection, thus providing a molecular mechanism for previous reports that CC10 plays a protective role, partly through inhibiting the activity of cPLA2. We conclude that CC10 inhibits the cPLA2/COX2 pathway to alleviate RSV-induced lung airway inflammation and AHR.

Particle Filter (PF) is a data assimilation method to solve recursive state estimation problem which does not depend on the assumption of Gaussian noise, and is able to be applied for various systems even with non-linear and non-Gaussian noise. However, while applying PF in dynamic systems, PF undergoes particle degeneracy, sample impoverishment, and problems of high computational complexity. Rapidly developing sensing technologies are providing highly convenient availability of real-time big traffic data from the system under study like never before. Moreover, some sensors can even receive control commands to adjust their monitoring parameters. To address these problems, a bidirectional dynamic data-driven improvement framework for PF (B3DPF) is proposed. The B3DPF enhances feedback between the simulation model and the big traffic data collected by the sensors, which means the execution strategies (sensor data management, parameters used in the weight computation, resampling) of B3DPF can be optimized based on the simulation results and the types and dimensions of traffic data injected into B3DPF can be adjusted dynamically. The first experiment indicates that the B3DPF overcomes particle degeneracy and sample impoverishment problems and accurately estimates the state at a faster speed than the normal PF. More importantly, the new method has higher accuracy for multidimensional random systems. In the rest of experiments, the proposed framework is applied to estimate the traffic state on a real road network and obtains satisfactory results. More experiments can be designed to validate the universal properties of B3DPF.

Rice planthoppers and associated virus diseases have become the most important pests threatening food security in China and other Asian countries, incurring costs of hundreds of millions of US dollars annually in rice losses, and in expensive, environmentally harmful, and often futile control efforts. The most economically damaging species, the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), cannot overwinter in temperate East Asia, and infestations there are initiated by several waves of windborne spring or summer migrants originating from tropical areas in Indochina. The interaction of these waves of migrants and synoptic weather patterns, driven by the semi-permanent western Pacific subtropical high-pressure (WPSH) system, is of critical importance in forecasting the timing and intensity of immigration events and determining the seriousness of subsequent planthopper build-up in the rice crop. We analysed a 26-year data set from a standardised light trap network in Southern China, showing that planthopper aerial transport and concentration processes are associated with the characteristics (strength and position) of the WPSH in the year concerned. Then, using N. lugens abundance in source areas and indices of WPSH intensity or related sea surface temperature anomalies, we developed a model to predict planthopper numbers immigrating into the key rice-growing area of the Lower Yangtze Valley. We also demonstrate that these WPSH-related climatic indices combined with early-season planthopper catches can be used to forecast, several months in advance, the severity of that season’s N. lugens infestations (the correlation between model predictions and outcomes was 0.59), thus allowing time for effective control measures to be implemented. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s10340-018-1022-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

In past decades, increasing evidence regarding cancer stem cells (CSCs) may account for carcinogenesis, tumor drug-resistant, and metastasis. CSCs are even considered as the root causes of tumor recurrence and metastases. Targeting CSCs may provide a new clue to cure cancer. Epidemiological and clinical studies have suggested that intake of dietary natural products may bring health benefits including lowering risk of cancer incidence. In this review, we have particularly focused on targeting signaling pathways of CSCs by natural resveratrol and its dimethylated derivative pterostilbene. © 2017 BioFactors, 44(1):61-68, 2018.

Background Asthma is a heterogeneous disease with different phenotypes, endotypes and responses to treatment. Dust mite allergic asthma (DMAA) is the most common type in children. Compared with randomized control trials, a patient registry study (PRS) can reflect the real physical condition and clinical diagnosis more comprehensively. Methods Children who visited the asthma clinic of the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between August 2018 and August 2020, and met the inclusion criteria and also agreed to participate, were enrolled in the registry study. Clinical information, laboratory tests and peripheral blood samples were collected after informed consent was given by guardians. Results To date, 208 children have been enrolled in the patient registry database of DMAA. They are mainly male, with >50% having a history of allergic rhinitis, cesarean section, positive family history and passive smoking. Eosinophils and total immunoglobulin E levels were all significantly higher than normal. According to results for the childhood asthma control test (c-ACT) and ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to predicted value after inhaled corticosteroid treatment, the uncontrolled group had higher hemoglobin (Hb) levels than the control group. The group exhibiting abnormal pulmonary function was older, and had longer disease duration, higher fractional exhaled nitric oxide and Hb than the group in which pulmonary function was restored. Conclusions We have preliminarily established a registered study database of children with DMAA. By cluster analysis and using blood samples, we can further study the different pathophysiological mechanisms in order to provide more individualized and targeted treatments for all children.

This study aimed to investigate the frequency and characteristics of accessory mental foramina (AMFs) and their bony canals in a selected Chinese population using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).Reconstructed CBCT images of the mandible in 784 Chinese patients (305 males and 479 females) were retrospectively analysed to identify the AMF. The presence, dimension and location of the AMF as well as the origin and course of the associated bony canal were evaluated and classified. Variations in these characteristics were analysed according to gender, side and age.A total of 66 AMFs were found in 57 (7.3%) of the 784 patients. The frequency of AMFs was significantly influenced by gender and side of the mandible (p .05). Most AMFs were located apically between apices of the first and second premolars. The high-position AMFs (above the mental foramen) accounted for 54.5% of the total. The mean horizontal and vertical diameters of the AMF were 1.38 ± 0.47 and 1.23 ± 0.37 mm, respectively. Two typical types of the bony canal leading to the AMF were identified according to their bifurcation site from the mandibular canal. Most bony canals originated from the anterior loop of the mental canal (56.1%) and coursed posterosuperiorly (36.3%). The mean length of the bony canals was 5.78 ± 2.31 mm.This study presents a considerable frequency of AMFs in a Chinese population. The high-position AMF and the associated bony canal coursing in the oblique upward direction appear frequently. Thus, clinicians should be alert to the presence of the AMF to avoid neurovascular complications especially when dental procedures require periosteum detachment and implant insertion in the mental region.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) employs a photosensitizer (PS) and visible light in the presence of oxygen, leading to production of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species, which can damage the cellular organelles and cause cell death. In dermatology, PDT has usually taken the form of topical application of a precursor in the heme biosynthesis pathway, called 5-aminolevulinic acid (or its methyl ester), so that an active PS, protoporphyrin IX accumulates in the skin. As PDT enhances dermal remodeling and resolves chronic inflamation, it has been used to treat cutaneous disorders include actinic keratoses, acne, viral warts, skin rejuvenation, psoriasis, localized scleroderma, some non-melanoma skin cancers and port-wine stains. Efforts are still needed to mitigate the side effects (principally pain) and improve the overall procedure.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is soft tissue malignancy which is locally aggressive, slow-growth, rarely metastasizing but recurs frequently after surgical excision. Fibrosarcomatous dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (FS-DFSP) is a variant of DFSP with a higher risk of recurrence and metastasis. For treatment of metastatic DFSP, antiangiogenesis therapy is an important therapeutic option, which is beneficial in increasing the efficacy of chemotherapy. Apatinib is a novel vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) inhibitor and revealed potential anti-tumor efficacy in some types of sarcomas. However, there is still no report of apatinib as an angiogenesis therapy for metastatic DFSP to date. Herein we first describe a case of FS-DFSP relapsed and metastasized post multiple surgeries and adjuvant radiotherapy responded to apatinib in combination with chemotherapy, indicating apatinib may be a potential therapeutic option for metastatic DFSP.