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Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of Remimazolam in the context of combined spinal-epidural anesthesia for sedation during orthopedic surgery. Methods: This randomized controlled trial enrolled patients scheduled for orthopedic surgery under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (N = 80), who were randomly allocated to receive either dexmedetomidine (Group-D) or remimazolam (Group-R). The target sedation range aimed for a Ramsay score of 2–5 or a BIS value of 60–80 to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of remimazolam during sedation. Results: The time taken to achieve the desired level of sedation was significantly shorter in the remimazolam group compared to the dexmedetomidine group (3.69 ± 0.75 vs. 9.59 ± 1.03; P < 0.0001). Patients in the remimazolam group exhibited quicker recovery, fewer intraoperative adverse events, more consistent vital signs, and greater satisfaction at various time points throughout the surgery. Conclusion: This preliminary study demonstrates that remimazolam tosilate serves as a safe and effective sedative for orthopedic surgery performed under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia, in comparison with dexmedetomidine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This graphic abstract outlines the key concepts discussed in the article. Firstly, existing biomaterial types for bone repair are introduced. It is summarized that biomaterials can immunomodulate macrophage function via multiple molecular mechanisms. Intelligently triggered strategies are proposed to more precisely control macrophage phenotypic shifts in order to better promote osteogenesis. Additionally, prospects are discussed whereby developments in novel active biomaterials may uncover new immunomodulatory mechanisms. Such discoveries could inform new approaches for intelligent triggering and necessitate biomaterials meeting evolving design criteria enabled by advanced trigger systems. A reinforced cycle is proposed whereby biomaterial innovation, immunomodulatory elucidation, and trigger technology advancement interact synergistically. Through this interconnected progression, further development may be achieved across the intersecting fields of bone immunology and tissue engineering. [Display omitted] • Immune Responses in Osteogenesis: Newest review on macrophages in biomaterial-assisted bone repair, highlighting biomaterials and immune cell interplay. • Macrophages in Bone Regeneration: Focus on macrophage role in inflammation regulation and interactions in bone repair, emphasizing molecular mechanisms and precise modulation of polarization. • Biomaterials for Bone Repair: Manuscript bridges tissue engineering and biology, detailing macrophage and biomaterial interactions for advanced bone regeneration solutions. The skeletal system is essential for preserving body structure and facilitating mobility; however, bone diseases frequently result in significant disabilities, necessitating the investigation into biomaterials for bone restoration. Nevertheless, these biomaterials may elicit immune reactions that obstruct the healing process. Macrophages assume a pivotal role in modulating inflammation and sustaining immune homeostasis essential for bone regeneration. A comprehensive understanding of the molecular interactions between biomaterials and macrophages is imperative for the development of sophisticated biomaterials designed to regulate the bone immune environment and promote bone remodeling. This review delves into the generation, polarization, and interaction of macrophages with principal cell types implicated in osteogenesis, detailing the molecular mechanisms by which macrophages influence bone repair and their response to biomaterials. Additionally, it discusses strategies for the precise modulation of macrophage functionality via intelligent mechanisms, and outlines the challenges and constraints in designing biomaterials that integrate bone immune functions. By elucidating these mechanisms and challenges, the review lays the groundwork for the creation of advanced biomaterials endowed with smart bone immunomodulatory capabilities, heralding novel approaches for the treatment of bone defects and the advancement of bone regeneration therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• It was found that the agricultural land expanded significantly, desert reduced from 1993 to 2019 in the oasis region in Hotan River Basin, China. • The key indicators of the coupling system of vegetation–climate, soil-adjusted vegetation index, albedo, surface temperature, and evapotranspiration were calculated and mapped their spatial-temporal dynamics. • We investigated how the different landscape patterns altered the interaction between vegetation and climate in the desert oasis ecosystem and quantified the effects with structural equation model. In the arid region, the oasis is characterized by a desert substance and a mosaic of vegetation. The biophysical processes and interactions between vegetation and the local climate in this kind of region are determined by the macroscopic structure of the ecosystems, i.e. landscape patterns. To understand how these landscape patterns impact regional hydro-heat coupling across space and evolve over time, we utilized remote sensing observational data and methods to examine the relationships among these factors. In this case, we focused on the oasis along the upstream of the Hotan River Basin in the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang of western China and employed the satellite imagery datasets of Landsat from 1993 to 2019 to investigate the dynamics of vegetation–climate factors. Based on the land use and cover change datasets, the landscape pattern metrics, including patch density (PD), contagion index (CONTAG), fractal dimension (FRAC), were calculated to measure the landscape features on the different aspects, i.e. the fragmentation, the connectivity, and the complexity. With the algorithm of land surface energy balance, the land surface indicators, including the soil-adjusted vegetation index (SAV I), albedo, surface irradiance temperature (T s), and evapotranspiration (ET), were calculated to represent the key process in the interaction of vegetation–climate. The temporal-spatial dynamics of the landscape patterns and the vegetation–climate metrics were mapped and demonstrated in a quantitative manner. The statistical results revealed that during the past decades, the agricultural land in the study area had significantly increased by 17 %. Grassland and shrubs had also expanded, while the desert area decreased from 82.57 % to 78.82 % of the total area, with an overall reduction rate of 1.4 %/10a. It was found the study area was getting warmer and dryer based on the general trends of T s and ET observed during the period of 1993–2019. The agricultural land had the highest PD and CONTAG , and the lowest FRAC. The agricultural land had the lowest T s and the highest ET. The results of structural equation model identified the decoupling effects of PD and CONTAG on the regional hydro-heat environment, while confirmed that FRAC had positive impact on the coupling between T s and ET. Our study bridged the landscape pattern with the regional vegetation–climate interaction and provided the suggestions for the landscape planning and management for a more sustainable arid region. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel and facile modified method using non-thermal plasma is proposed to insert N active sites into biomass-derived porous carbon as high-performance electrode materials for supercapacitor. Large surface areas up to 3040.3 and 2662.5 m2/g with mesopore-dominant hierarchical porous carbons are produced from biomass of lilac and lotus seedpods via KOH activation, respectively. The lilac and lotus seedpods derived porous carbon electrodes present good specific capacitances of 214.5 and 201.1 F/g, respectively. N 2 non-thermal plasma modification successfully increases N-containing groups on lilac and lotus seedpods derived porous carbons, where the corresponding N atomic contents are increased by 10.2 and 3.6 times, respectively. As supercapacitor electrodes, their specific capacitances are improved greatly after plasma modification and up to 342.5 F/g (increased by 59.7%) and to 332.1 F/g (increased by 65.2%) at 0.5 A/g in 6 M KOH electrolyte with excellent cycling stability of 85.2% and 95.4% at 10 A/g after 5000 cycles, respectively. Image 1 • Lilac and lotus seedpods were used to prepare porous carbons for supercapacitor electrodes. • The obtained porous carbon achieves large surface areas up to 3040 m2/g. • Plasma modification enhances supercapacitor performances of obtained carbon electrodes. • Lilac-derived carbon after plasma modification exhibits high capacitance of 342.5 F/g. • Lotus seedpods-derived carbon after plasma modification exhibits high capacitance of 332.1 F/g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discovered in the late 1920s, 3,4-didehydroretinol (DROL, vitamin A2) plays a significant biological role in freshwater fish. The functions of this vitamin have been investigated but to a far lesser extent than those of retinol (ROL, vitamin A1). A recent study indicating all-trans DROL has 119-127% vitamin A biological activity compared to that of all-trans ROL suggests the significance of DROL for addressing vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in comparison to ROL may be currently overlooked. Freshwater fish such as small indigenous fish species (SIS), with high DROL content can be a promising dietary source for reducing VAD in areas where SIS are readily available and consumed. In this paper, the discovery and biological relevance of DROL are reviewed and furthermore, the vast potential of production and consumption of DROL-rich SIS in food-based strategies to combat VAD in Bangladesh and other developing countries with high prevalence of VAD is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boiled biofortified cassava containing β-carotene can increase retinyl palmitate in triacylglycerol-rich plasma. Thus, it might alleviate vitamin A deficiency. Cassava requires extensive preparation to decrease its level of cyanogenic glucosides, which can be fatal. Garification is a popular method of preparing cassava that removes cyanogen glucosides. Our objective was to compare the effectiveness of biofortified gari to gari prepared with red palm oil. The study was a randomized crossover trial in 8 American women. Three gari preparations separated by 2-week washout periods were consumed. Treatments (containing 200-225.9 g gari) were as follows: biofortified gari (containing 1 mg β-carotene), red palm oil–fortified gari (1 mg β-carotene), and unfortified gari with a 0.3-mg retinyl palmitate reference dose. Blood was collected 6 times from −0.5 to 9.5 hours after ingestion. Triacylglycerol-rich plasma was separated by ultracentrifugation and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detection. Area under the curve for β-carotene, α-carotene, and retinyl palmitate increased after the fortified meals were fed ( P < .05), although the retinyl palmitate increase induced by the red palm oil treatment was greater than that induced by the biofortified treatment ( P < .05). Vitamin A conversion was 2.4 ± 0.3 and 4.2 ± 1.5 μg pro–vitamin A carotenoid/1 μg retinol (means ± SEM) for red palm oil and biofortified gari, respectively. These results show that both treatments increased β-carotene, α-carotene, and retinyl palmitate in triacylglycerol-rich plasma concentrations in healthy well-nourished adult women, supporting our hypothesis that both interventions could support efforts to alleviate vitamin A deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies suggest that β -cryptoxanthin has a greater plasma response from its common food sources than other carotenoids such as β -carotene and lycopene. The hypothesis of this study is that changes in plasma β -cryptoxanthin concentrations will be greater than changes in plasma β -carotene or lycopene concentrations even if these carotenoids are fed in a similar food matrix, such as citrus fruit. We tested this hypothesis by measuring changes in plasma concentrations of β -cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and β -carotene after feeding measured amounts of canned tangerines and pink grapefruit to healthy nonsmoking adult humans. Volunteers served as their own controls and received both citrus fruit treatments randomly. In the first study, 8 subjects ate single meals of 234-304 g of tangerines or 60-540 g of pink grapefruit. The second study compared changes in plasma carotenoid concentration caused by feeding 234 g of tangerines or 540 g of pink grapefruit to 11 subjects. Blood was collected 5 times within 24 hours after each citrus meal. Carotenoid concentrations were analyzed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Plasma β -cryptoxanthin concentrations increased within 5 hours and then stabilized, remaining high throughout the 24 hours measured. Plasma concentrations of lycopene and β -carotene did not change. These results show that β -cryptoxanthin concentrations increased after a citrus fruit meal, but lycopene and β -carotene concentrations did not change after a similar citrus fruit meal. These results support our hypothesis that changes in plasma β -cryptoxanthin are greater than changes in plasma lycopene or β -carotene, even when these carotenoids are fed in a similar food matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]