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Study Design: Eight cadavers were included in this anatomical study.Objective: This study aimed to confirm the anatomical feasibility of extradural transfer of the contralateral T11 ventral root (VR) to the ipsilateral L2 level and the contralateral L1 VR to the ipsilateral L3 level to restore lower limb function in cases of paraplegia.Summary Of Background Data: Motor dysfunction due to hemiplegia significantly affects the daily life of patients. To date, unlike in cases of upper limb dysfunction, there are few studies on the surgical management of lower limb movement dysfunction.Materials and Methods: Eight cadavers were included in this study to confirm the feasibility of the nerve transfer. After separating the VR and dorsal root at each level, the VRs at the T11 and L1 levels were anastomosed with the VRs of L2 and L3, respectively. The length of the VRs of donor roots and the distance between the donor and recipient nerves were measured. H&E staining was performed to verify the number of axons and the cross-sectional area of the VRs. Lumbar x-rays of 60 healthy adults were used to measure the distance between the donor and recipient nerves.Results: After exposing the bilateral extradural each root, the VRs could be easily isolated from the whole root. The distance between the VRs of T11 and L2, L1, and L3 was significantly longer than the length of the donor nerve. Therefore, the sural nerve was used for grafting. The measurements performed on the lumbar x-rays of the 60 healthy adults confirmed the results. The number of axons and cross-sectional area of the VRs were measured.Conclusion: Our study confirmed the anatomical feasibility of transferring the VRs of T11 to L2 and that of L1 to L3 to restore lower limb function in cases of hemiplegia.Level Of Evidence: 5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design: Two fresh-frozen and six formalin-fixed cadavers were included in the study.Objective: To ascertain whether transferring T9 or T11 ventral root (VR) to L2 VR and T10 or T12 VR to L3 VR in restoring lower limb function after spinal cord injury is anatomically feasible.Summary Of Background Data: Lower limb paralysis impairs the quality of the life and places burden on the whole society. However, no significant improvement in this area was achieved during recent years.Methods: In the present study, two fresh-frozen and six formalin-fixed cadavers were dissected to confirm the anatomical feasibility. A limited laminectomy was performed to expose the T9-L3 extradural nerve roots. T9 and T10 VR were anastomosed to L2 and L3 VR respectively, or T11 and T12 VR were anastomosed to L2 and L3 VR respectively. The pertinent distances between the donor and recipient nerves were measured and H&E staining was used to detect the axon number and cross-section area of each VR.Results: The limited incision was performed to expose the T9-L3 nerve root. According to the anatomic landmark of dorsal root ganglion, each VR could be isolated from each extradural nerve root. The T9 or T11 VR needs sural nerve graft to be transferred to L2 VR, and T10 or T12 VR also needs a nerve bridge to connect to L3 VR. The nerve numbers of T9, T10, T11, T12, L2, and L3 VRs and the sural nerves were measured respectively. The cross-section areas of T9, T10, T11, T12, L2, and L3 VRs and sural nerves were measured respectively.Conclusion: Our study suggested that application of transferring T9 or T11 VR to L2 VR and T10 or T12 VR to L3 VR in restoring lower limb function is anatomically feasible.Level of Evidence: 5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Developing low-power FETs holds significant importance in advancing logic circuits, especially as the feature size of MOSFETs approaches sub-10 nanometers. However, this has been restricted by the thermionic limitation of SS , which is limited to 60 mV per decade at room temperature. Herein, we proposed a strategy that utilizes 2D semiconductors with an isolated-band feature as channels to realize sub-thermionic SS in MOSFETs. Through high-throughput calculations, we established a guiding principle that combines the atomic structure and orbital interaction to identify their sub-thermionic transport potential. This guides us to screen 192 candidates from the 2D material database comprising 1608 systems. Additionally, the physical relationship between the sub-thermionic transport performances and electronic structures is further revealed, which enables us to predict 15 systems with promising device performances for low-power applications with supply voltage below 0.5 V. This work opens a new way for the low-power electronics based on 2D materials and would inspire extensive interests in the experimental exploration of intrinsic steep-slope MOSFETs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in electronic devices due to their high energy density and long cycle life. However, the use of flammable organic solvents in electrolytes leads to frequent safety problems. Therefore, ensuring the safety of lithium-ion batteries has become an essential and urgent research topic. In this study, vinyl tris(2-methoxyethoxy)silane (VTMS) and triethyl phosphite (TEPi), serving as flame retardant additives, were employed to systematically explore the synergistic flame retardant effect and elucidate the underlying mechanism between them. Additionally, an assessment was conducted to examine the impact of their incorporation on the performance of the battery. The results indicate that the introduction of a combination of VTMS and TEPi led to the formation of a uniform and compact char layer under elevated temperatures, in contrast to the use of either additive alone. Incorporating 5 wt% of VTMS and TEPi enhances the thermal stability of the LiCoO2 electrode, resulting in discharge capacity exceeding 145 mA h g−1 for Li‖LiFePO4 and 315 mA h g−1 for Li‖natural graphite half cells, respectively, at a current density of 0.5C. Moreover, their utilization facilitates the generation of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) film. This study offers a novel perspective for investigating flame-retardant electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus coagulans has been widely studied for its probiotic properties. Therefore, identifying a strain that can be used as an adjunct starter culture for yogurt production would have commercial value. In this study, 30 B. coagulans strains were isolated from vegetable samples from 11 provinces or autonomous regions in China, and their pan-genomic and phylogenetic characteristics were analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis categorized 30 strains into 4 different subphylotypes, including subtype I (11 isolates), subtype II (7 isolates), subtype III (11 isolates), and subtype IV (1 isolate). Four B. coagulans strains (B. coagulans -70, B. coagulans -78, B. coagulans -79, and B. coagulans -100) were randomly selected from each subphylotype of the phylogenetic tree as adjunct starter cultures. Compared with the other tested strains, B. coagulans -70 showed the highest count in yogurt at the end of the manufacturing period. Comparative genome analysis indicated that the different bacterial levels of B. coagulans strains in yogurt may be associated with the abundance of genes related to carbohydrate transport and metabolism (e.g., sucrose utilization). Finally, differences in texture and volatile flavor compound profiles were observed between the yogurt samples. Compared with the other groups, the addition of B. coagulans -70 exerted a positive effect on the appearance and texture of yogurt products. Volatile analysis showed increased quantities of 2-heptanone, 2-nonanone, amyl alcohol, and 2-hydroxy-3-pentanone in the B. coagulans -70 group compared with control yogurts. These results above combined with the results of a sensory evaluation indicated that B. coagulans -70 is the most suitable strain for further use in functional dairy product development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the important role of oil source in our life, the separation of water-in-oil emulsion is urgent and necessary. Membrane seperation technology has been an efficient and widely used method in separating oil-water separation. Herein, we report a versatile approach to fabricate surface carbonized membranes with self-standing property from biomass-derived precursor by synergistic charring of phytic acid, arginine and filter paper. The obtained membrane exhibited superhydrophobicity in oil, excellent fouling resistance, and self-supporting ability. The membrane can be cycle-used at least 12 times with high permeation flux (up to 1380 L·m−2·h−1) and separation efficiency (up to 99.4%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Percutaneous kyphoplasty is the main method in the treatment of thoracolumbar osteoporotic compression fractures. However, much radiation exposure during the operation harms the health of surgeons and patients. In addition, the accuracy of this surgery still needs to be improved. This study aimed to assess the radiation exposure and clinical efficacy of Tirobot-assisted vertebroplasty in treating thoracolumbar osteoporotic compression fracture. Methods: Included in this retrospective cohort study were 60 patients (60–90 years) who had undergone unilateral vertebroplasty for thoracolumbar osteoporotic compression fracture at our hospital between June 2019 and June 2020. All showed no systemic diseases and were assigned to Tirobot group (treated with Tirobot-assisted approach) and control group (treated with traditional approach). Fluoroscopic frequency, operative duration, length of stay (LOS), post-operative complications (cement leakage, infection, and thrombosis), and pre-operative and pre-discharge indexes (VAS score, JOA score, and Cobb's angle) were compared. Results: The fluoroscopic frequency (P < 0.001) and post-operative complications (P = 0.035) in Tirobot group were significantly lower than those in control group. The operative duration and LOS in the Tirobot group were shorter than those in the control group, but the differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.183). Pre-discharge VAS score and Cobb's angle decreased, and JOA increased after surgeries in both groups. These three indexes showed a significant difference after surgery in each group (P < 0.001), but not between groups (PVAS = 0.175, PCobb's = 0.585, PJOA = 0.448). Conclusion: The Tirobot-assisted vertebroplasty can reduce surgery-related trauma, post-operative complications, and patients' and operators' exposure to radiation. As a safe and effective strategy, this surgery can realize the quick recovery from thoracolumbar osteoporotic compression fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specifically, From the published article, Figure 5E, pcDNA 3.1, pcDNA 3.1-VEGFA; pcDNA 3.1-VEGF+miRNA NC; pcDNA 3.1-VEGFA+miR-302a mimics; pcDNA 3.1-VEGFA+miR-302b mimics; pcDNA 3.1-VEGFA+miR-302c mimics and pcDNA 3.1-VEGFA+miR-302d mimics have been duplicated with images in Figure 2F, Control and anti-miR-211; Figure 6E, Control; Figure 2F, pre-NC and anti-NC; Figure 4E, KLF5 (-)-NC and Figure 6E, AGGF1 (-)-NC, respectively from Yang et al, 2018. At the authors request, the Editor and Publisher of I OncoTargets and Therapy i are retracting the published article. [Extracted from the article]

In this article, we first give an essential characterization of Toeplitz operators with quasihomogeneous symbols on the weighted pluriharmonic Bergman space of the unit polydisk. Then we completely characterize when the product of two Toeplitz operators with monomial-type symbols is a Toeplitz operator. As a result, some interesting higher-dimensional phenomena appear on the unit polydisk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: miR-302 cluster has been reported as a tumor suppressor in many human cancers; yet, its function in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) tumorigenesis remains largely unclear. The study was aimed to explore the functional roles of miR-302 cluster in CML progression. Materials and methods: Quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR and Western blot were performed to evaluate miR-302 cluster and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) expression levels. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, colony formation assay and human umbilical vein endothelial cell line capillary tube formation were used to determine the influence of miR-302 cluster on the growth and angiogenesis of K562 cells, respectively. Luciferase reporter assay was employed to confirm the direct target interaction between miR-302 cluster and VEGFA. Results: This study demonstrated that miR-302 cluster was frequently downregulated in CML samples and cell lines and high level of miR-302 cluster was significantly associated with good prognosis of CML patients. Compared with miRNA negative control, miR-302 cluster mimics obviously suppressed cell growth, colony formation and angiogenesis. Further studies revealed that VEGFA was a direct target gene of miR-302 cluster. Moreover, overexpression of VEGFA dramatically abated the inhibition of miR-302 cluster on cell growth and angiogenesis. Conclusion: The present study, for the first time, identified miR-302 cluster as a tumor suppressor, and overexpression of miR-302 cluster inhibited growth and angiogenesis in K562 cells. miR-302 cluster may be a potential therapeutic target in CML to develop the adjuvant antiangiogenic therapy based on VEGFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residual dipolar couplings (RDC) emerged to be an important structural parameter for organic and biomolecules. Herein, a new helical polyisocyanopeptide ( l,l-PIAF-OBn) that forms lyotropic liquid crystals (LLC) in CDCl3 is proposed as a novel weakly orienting medium for acquiring residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) of organic molecules. We demonstrate its application for the structural elucidation of strychnine and triptolide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is a great potential reinforcing additives or conductive fillers for polymer composites. It is well known that interfacial properties between CNTs and polymer matrix have a critical effect on the properties of composites. Here, we demonstrate a novel strategy for preparing high efficient percolation networks of CNTs in polymer composite by partially wrapping of MWCNTs with crystallization induced self-assembly of pyrene end-capped poly( p -dioxanone)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (Py-PPDO-b-PEG). The wrapped surface can prevent the aggregation of CNTs, while the bare surface may still induce enough interconnection of CNTs, resulting in high efficient percolation network. The wrapping density, which could be easily engineered by control the crystallization temperature of PPDO block, is essential to the formation of percolation networks. The composite film prepared from Py-PPDO-b-PEG@MWCNTs and PCL exhibited much improved conductivity especially at very low nanotube concentration compared to those from neat MWCNTs without any wrapping. Especially using Py-PPDO-b-PEG@MWCNTs prepared at 40 °C as the precursors, the composite film exhibits both best electrical conductivity (3–11 orders of magnitude higher than that of PCL/MWCNTs composites films at same MWCNTs contents) and mechanical properties, which could be attributed to the optimized wrapping density of this sample. Dense or excessively sparse wrapping may impede the interconnection and dispersity of the MWCNTs, respectively, and therefore resulted in decreased conductivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a model Hamiltonian for van der Waals tunnel transistors (vdW-TFETs) relying on few physical parameters calibrated against density functional theory (DFT) band structure calculations. Based on this model, we develop a fully 3-D nonequilibrium Green’s function simulator including electron-phonon scattering, and we investigate some fundamental aspects and design challenges related to vdW-TFETs based on single-layer MoS2 and WTe2. In particular, we devote a specific analysis to the impact of top gate alignment and back-oxide thickness on the device performance. Our results suggest that the vdW-TFETs can provide very small values of subthreshold swing (SS) and fairly good ON-state current. However, these devices also pose specific design challenges related to the geometrical features of gated regions, and their ultimate SS may be lower limited by inelastic phonon scattering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homoharringtonine combined with aclarubicin and cytarabine (HAA) is a highly effective treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), especially for t(8;21) AML. However, the underlying mechanisms by which HAA kills t(8;21) AML cells remain unclear. In this study, SKNO-1 and Kasumi-1 cells with t(8;21) were used. Compared with individual or pairwise administration of homoharringtonine, aclarubicin, or cytarabine, HAA showed the strongest inhibition of growth and induction of apoptosis in SKNO-1 and Kasumi-1 cells. HAA caused cleavage of the AML1-ETO (AE) oncoprotein to form truncated AE (ΔAE). Pretreatment with the caspase-3 inhibitor caspase-3 inhibitor Q-DEVD-OPh (QDO) not only suppressed HAA-induced apoptosis but also abrogated the cleavage of AE and generation of ΔAE. These results suggest that HAA synergistically induces apoptosis in t(8;21) leukemia cells and triggers caspase-3-mediated cleavage of the AML1-ETO oncoprotein, thus providing direct evidence for the strong activity of HAA toward t(8;21) AML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental-friendly hematite iron oxide (α-FeO) has important application prospects in the photocatalysis field owing to its narrow indirect band gap. Here, we report a band gap engineering of α-FeO by incorporation of electrochemically-generated atomic hydrogen at moderate conditions. The ultraviolet-visible spectra show the reduction of the α-FeO band gap after hydrogenation and the absorption region from 200-800 nm is enhanced, especially in the visible light region. First principles calculation reveals the mixing of the new hybrid energy level with the valence band top resulting in a decrease in the band gap of α-FeO. Further photocatalytic degradation experiments of dyes demonstrate that the photocatalytic efficiency of α-FeO can be greatly enhanced by the atomic hydrogen incorporation. The hydrogenated α-FeO can be easily recycled by magnets and has good photocatalytic stability. These findings offer possibilities for utilizing this inexpensive and earth-abundant oxide materials in the pollution controlling areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2-D) materials, especially transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), have attracted great attention due to their unique properties and the vast possibility they offer when combined into van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs), for example in optoelectronic applications. Although various photodetectors based on TMDC vdWHs have been successfully synthesized, an ab initio simulation framework dedicated to such devices is still missing. In this work, we investigate two photodetector designs based on MoSe 2 -WSe 2 vdWHs through a recently developed approach combining density functional theory and quantum transport calculations. Geometries with a partial and total TMDC overlap are considered, with a p-doped (n-doped) left (right) extension and an intrinsic region in the middle. We show that the partial overlap structure supports a non-zero photo-current, even without a p–n junction, and gives rise to the bulk photovoltaic effect (BPVE). The present results provide an easy-to-fabricate guideline for engineering the BPVE in the TMDC vdWHs. • We investigate two photodetector designs based on MoSe 2 -WSe 2 heterostructures through DFT + NEGF. • We demonstrate non-zero photocurrent without built-in potential with partial overlap. • The interlayer absorption and asymmetrical structure result in the unusual BPVE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The addition of BC30 improved the acidification and proteolysis of yogurt samples. • BC30 could maintain a high level of bacteria during the storage period of yogurt. • Texture profiles of BC30 fermented yogurt significantly changed during storage. • Discriminatory volatiles of BC30 fermented yogurt were detected during storage. The effects of Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086 (BC30) as supplementation on yogurt fermentation and storage were investigated in this study. Over 14 d of storage at 4 °C, we monitored changes in multiple parameters, including pH, titratable acidity, bacterial level, texture profiles, volatile flavor compounds, and sensory quality. BC30 supplementation improved fermented milk acidification and proteolysis. The bacterial level was significantly higher at the fermentation termination (5.59 log CFU/mL) than the fermentation initiation (6.86 log CFU/mL) (P < 0.05), indicating that BC30 own the potential to serve as an adjunct start culture. During the storage period, a high bacterial level of BC30 was detected. With prolonged storage, the yogurt samples supplemented with BC30 showed a decrease in firmness and an increase in viscosity. Furthermore, 12 discriminatory volatiles of BC30 fermented yogurt were detected during storage. Notably, the contents of some important diketones (2,3-butanedione and 3-hydroxy-2-butanone) increased continuously during storage, peaking at 14 d. The BC30-supplemented fermented milk had similar human sensory scores to the control group. Comparative genomic analysis between BC30 and B. coagulans -70 indicated that both these two strains showed the potentially to survive in the dairy environment. Our results will be of interest to the dairy industry to develop novel functional dairy products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We simulate a band-to-band tunneling field-effect transistor based on a vertical heterojunction of single-layer MoS 2 and WTe 2 , by exploiting the non-equilibrium Green’s function method and including electron–phonon scattering. For both in-plane and out-of-plane transport, we attempt to calibrate out models to the few available experimental results. We focus on the role of chemical doping and back-gate biasing, and investigate the off-state physics of this device by analyzing the influence of the top-gate geometrical alignment on the device performance. The device scalability as a function of gate length is also studied. Finally, we present two metrics for the switching delay and energy of the device. Our simulations indicate that vertical field-effect transistors based on transition metal dichalcogenides can provide very small values of sub-threshold swing when properly designed in terms of doping concentration and top-gate extension length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of perioperative dexmedetomidine treatment on physiological modulators of surgical stress response. The quality of the included studies was assessed prior to performing meta-analyses of the weighted mean differences in the changes from baseline of stress hormones and interpreted in the light of statistical heterogeneity between the studies. Nineteen studies (844 surgical subjects) data were used for this meta-analysis. Dexmedetomidine administration significantly decreased blood cortisol levels ( μg/ dL) postoperatively (mean difference with 95% confidence interval ( CI) from controls: −18.78 (−28.45, −9.10); P < 0.05). In the subgroup analysis, the mean difference between dexmedetomidine-treated and saline-treated subjects in the changes from baseline of the cortisol levels was −20.10 (−30.96, −9.25; P < 0.05) but, between dexmedetomidine- and comparator-treated subjects, it was not statistically significantly different (−15.13 (−49.78, 19.52); P < 0.05). Compared with controls, dexmedetomidine treatment also decreased adrenaline and noradrenaline levels significantly (mean difference in the percent changes from baseline: −90.41 (−145.79, −35.03)%; P < 0.05 and −62.82 (−85.47, −0.40.17)%; P < 0.05, respectively). Dexmedetomidine also decreased prolactin levels with a mean difference of −19.42 (−39.37, 0.52) μg/L ( P = 0.06). In conclusion, perioperative use of dexmedetomidine reduces serum catecholamine and cortisol levels but the decrease in cortisol levels was not statistically different from the comparator anaesthetics. More data will be required to assess the effects of dexmedetomidine on corticotropin, prolactin, and growth hormone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Titania–poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) organic–inorganic hybrid material is synthesized via in situ polymerization. The hybrid material is employed to prepare poly vinylidene fluoride–hexafluoropropylene (PVdF–HFP) composite polymer electrolyte. The effect of the hybrid material is investigated by SEM, TG-DSC, AC impedance and charge/discharge cycling tests. The results demonstrate that the inorganic–organic hybrid material as additive increases the porosity, pore size and electrolyte uptake of the PVdF–HFP composite polymer electrolyte membrane, so that the ionic conductivity of the composite polymer electrolyte membrane is improved. The performance enhancement of the composite polymer electrolyte is confirmed by an electrochemical test using LiCoO2/Li cells in the voltage range of 2.75–4.4 V. This study shows that titania–PMMA hybrid material is a promising additive for PVDF–HFP composite polymer electrolyte for Li-ion batteries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Interfacial compatibility of composite polymer electrolyte and electrode is the key factor to affect the performance of polymer Li-ion batteries. In this work, liquid electrolyte, pristine PVDF-HFP (poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene)) gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) and nano-TiO2-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) hybrid doped PVDF-HFP composite polymer electrolyte (CPE) are used to investigate the interfacial compatibility between electrolyte and electrode on performance of LiCoO2/Li cells. The electrochemical performances of cells are studied by charge/discharge tests and electrochemical impedance. The interfacial compatibility coefficient (λ) that related to the interface of electrolyte and electrode is evaluated in terms of the fitting (i = e, sf, b and ct) with equivalent circuit and diffusion resistance (R diff ). The results confirm that the C-rare performance of cells with GPE is more significantly associated with the interfacial compatibility than the ionic conductivity of GPE. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The presented contribution aims at investigating the role of nano-TiO2 dispersibility in affecting the performance of PVDF-HFP based composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) for Li-ion cells. Four types of polymer electrolytes containing pristine PVDF-HFP gel polymer electrolyte (GPE), PVDF-HFP/nano-TiO2 CPE, PVDF-HFP/nano-TiO2-PMMA CPE and PVDF-HFP/high-dispersed nano-TiO2-PMMA CPE membranes are obtained by phase inversion. The effect of nano-TiO2 dispersibility on performances of PVDF-HFP based CPEs in terms of ionic conductivity, C-rate and cycling performance is investigated. The results demonstrate that the dispersibility of nano-TiO2 is a key factor to affect the performance of PVDF-HFP based CPEs, and the improvement of the dispersibility of nano-TiO2 can remarkably enhance the electrochemical performances of cells assembled with the corresponding CPEs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: NANOG is critical for maintaining the self-renewal and proliferative properties of embryonic stem cells. Here we found that cultured T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells, as well as human primary T-ALL cells, express a functional variant of NANOG. NANOG mRNA is derived predominantly from a retrogene locus termed NANOGP8. Furthermore, we showed that RNA interference-mediated NANOG knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, reduced self-renewal, promoted apoptosis and arrested the cell cycle through a p53-mediated pathway in leukemic cells. These findings demonstrate the oncogenic potential of this pluripotent gene in human T-ALL cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, B. coagulans ATCC 7050T was used as a probiotic supplement. Genome analysis showed that carbohydrate metabolism pathways related to lactose and galactose were determined in B. coagulans ATCC 7050T, which indicated this strain has adaptability to fermented milk. The sugar metabolism phenotype analysis of this strain was also studied. The results showed that the strain had application potential in the development of dairy industry. Subsequently, the quality of yogurt samples fermented by commercial starter culture and B. coagulans ATCC 7050T in three proportions (1:1, 1:5, 1:10) was evaluated. Compared to the control group, the addition of B. coagulans ATCC 7050T enhanced fermented milk acidification and proteolysis. However, the post-acidification differences were more obvious with prolonged storage and the use of a larger inoculum of B. coagulans ATCC 7050T. Next, the physical properties of yogurt samples, including water holding capacity, hardness, consistency, cohesiveness, viscosity, and volatile compound content, were determined during the storage period. Compared to other groups, the yogurt samples in the YO-MIX 300 + B. coagulans ATCC 7050T (1:1) group were the most similar to the control group, suggesting the recommended proportion between starter culture and B. coagulans ATCC 7050T was 1:1 (viable bacteria). • Genomic analysis showed B. coagulans ATCC 7050T had the ability to utilize lactose and galactose. • Sugar metabolism phenotype analysis suggested this strain has adaptability to fermented milk. • The addition of B. coagulans ATCC 7050T significantly changed the physical properties of yogurt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have reported the associations of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) with cytokine release syndrome (CRS), neurotoxic events (NEs) and efficacy after chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for relapsed or refractory (R/R) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). We present a retrospective study of 67 patients with R/R B-ALL who received anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy, 41 (61.2%) patients received G-CSF (G-CSF group), while 26 (38.8%) did not (non-G-CSF group). Patients had similar duration of grade 3–4 neutropenia between the two groups. The incidences of CRS and NEs were higher in G-CSF group, while no differences in severity were found. Further stratified analysis showed that the incidence and severity of CRS were not associated with G-CSF administration in patients with low bone marrow (BM) tumor burden. None of the patients with low BM tumor burden developed NEs. However, there was a significant increase in the incidence of CRS after G-CSF administration in patients with high BM tumor burden. The duration of CRS in patients who used G-CSF was longer. There were no significant differences in response rates at 1 and 3 months after CAR T-cell infusion, as well as overall survival (OS) between the two groups. In conclusion, our results showed that G-CSF administration was not associated with the incidence or severity of CRS in patients with low BM tumor burden, but the incidence of CRS was higher after G-CSF administration in patients with high BM tumor burden. The duration of CRS was prolonged in G-CSF group. G-CSF administration was not associated with the efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have suggested a potential association between gut microbiota and neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, the causal relationship between gut microbiota and cognitive performance remains uncertain. A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study used SNPs linked to gut microbiota (n = 18,340) and cognitive performance (n = 257,841) from recent GWAS data. Inverse-variance weighted (IVW), MR Egger, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode were employed. Heterogeneity was assessed via Cochran's Q test for IVW. Results were shown with funnel plots. Outliers were detected through leave-one-out method. MR-PRESSO and MR-Egger intercept tests were conducted to address horizontal pleiotropy influence. Limited to European populations, generic level, and potential confounding factors. IVW analysis revealed detrimental effects on cognitive perfmance associated with the presence of genus Blautia (P = 0.013, 0.966[0.940–0.993]), Catenibacterium (P = 0.035, 0.977[0.956–0.998]), Oxalobacter (P = 0.043, 0.979[0.960–0.999]). Roseburia (P < 0.001, 0.935[0.906–0.965]), in particular, remained strongly negatively associated with cognitive performance after Bonferroni correction. Conversely, families including Bacteroidaceae (P = 0.043, 1.040[1.001–1.081]), Rikenellaceae (P = 0.047, 1.026[1.000–1.053]), along with genera including Paraprevotella (P = 0.044, 1.020[1.001–1.039]), Ruminococcus torques group (P = 0.016, 1.062[1.011–1.115]), Bacteroides (P = 0.043, 1.040[1.001–1.081]), Dialister (P = 0.027, 1.039[1.004–1.074]), Paraprevotella (P = 0.044, 1.020[1.001–1.039]) and Ruminococcaceae UCG003 (P = 0.007, 1.040[1.011–1.070]) had a protective effect on cognitive performance. Our results suggest that interventions targeting specific gut microbiota may offer a promising avenue for improving cognitive function in diseased populations. The practical application of these findings has the potential to enhance cognitive performance, thereby improving overall quality of life. • A bidirectional two-sample MR analysis was performed to explore the causal effect between gut microbiota and cognitive performance. • IVW analysis showed that four gut microbiotas impaired cognitive performance. • Two families and six genera of gut microbiotas had protective effects on cognitive performance. • We provided compelling evidence that specific gut microbiotas play an important role in cognitive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: T-cell dysregulation and T-cell-related cytokine abnormalities are involved in the pathogenesis of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). One of our previous studies showed that elevated IL-22 correlated to Th1 and Th22 cells plays an important role in the immunopathogenesis of ITP. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of high-dose dexamethasone (HD-DXM) on IL-22 production and on the IL-22-producing T-cell subsets in ITP patients. Methods: IL-22 plasma levels and the percentages of Th1, Th17, and Th22 cells were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry in 25 ITP patients receiving DXM 40 mg/day for 4 consecutive days. Results: Plasma IL-22 concentrations and the percentages of Th1 and Th22 cells were significantly increased in pre-therapy patients relative to controls ( P < 0.05), but the percentage of Th17 cells was not. HD-DXM administration reduced IL-22 production and corrected the imbalance between Th1 and Th22 subsets. IL-22 levels were positively correlated with Th1 and Th22 cells in ITP patients before and after HD-DXM treatment. Conclusion: These results suggest that HD-DXM may regulate the production of IL-22 in ITP, possibly by correcting Th1 and Th22 polarization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The profile of ferroelectric fatigue in lead zirconate titanate ceramic in the thickness direction was investigated by thinning the fatigued samples continuously from both sides symmetrically. The electrical properties of fatigued samples exhibited a gradual recovery with the samples being thinned and then remained nearly unchanged, however, well below the values at fresh state. The results revealed that fatigue was not limited to the near-electrode regions, but throughout the ceramic samples in the thickness direction. The electric field inhomogeneity in ferroelectric ceramics during bipolar switching was proposed to be responsible for ferroelectric fatigue and the fatigue profile through phase decomposition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) can prevent graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Here we developed a lentivirus-based strategy to ectopically express Foxp3 in mouse CD4+CD25− T cells. These cells shared similar immunophenotypes and biological features of natural Tregs. Co-injection of engineered Tregs with donor bone marrow cells and splenocytes prevented recipients from lethal GVHD. Furthermore, we showed that graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect against EL4/DsRed leukemic cells was maximally preserved while GVHD was minimized during exposure to engineered Tregs in a mouse leukemia model. These findings provide a novel approach to preventing GVHD while maintaining GVL effect during BMT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cryoballoon ablation (CBA) is one of the most commonly used technologies designed for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), although the dosing of CBA remains controversial. We evaluated the long‐term efficacy and safety of a novel individualized strategy of CBA compared to radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for patients with PAF. Methods: In this observational study, symptomatic patients with drug‐refractory paroxysmal AF were prospectively consented and enrolled in four centers, being assigned either to the CBA or RFA arm for ablation. In the CBA group, we used a time to isolation (TTI) – based dosing protocol. The primary endpoint was the recurrence of atrial arrhythmia >30 s following a 90‐day blanking period. The secondary endpoint was procedure‐related complications and procedure parameters. Results: A total of 500 patients were recruited in either the CBA group (n = 247) or the RFA group (n = 253) between January 2017 and July 2018. After a median follow‐up of 778 days, the atrial tachyarrhythmia‐free survival was 71.7% in the CBA group and 67.0% in the RFA group. CBA and RFA displayed similar major or minor complication occurrence, while the former had a significantly shorter procedure duration (82.5 min vs. 141.1 min, p <.001) and left atrial dwell time (60.1 min vs. 109.9 min, p <.001) but longer fluoroscopy exposure (13.8 min vs. 8.1 min, p <.001). Conclusion: Compared to RFA, our TTI‐based CBA dosing protocol showed comparable efficacy and safety, with a significantly reduced procedure duration in patients with PAF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: With the miniaturization trend of modern electronic devices and increasing demand for multilayer ceramic chip components, a full understanding of the role of the co-fired ceramic/electrode interface in the performance and long-term reliability of the components becomes very important. In the present work, the inter-diffusion and structure of the co-fired interface of Pb-based relaxor ferroelectrics and Ag–Pd metal electrode were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy–energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (TEM–EDAX). No strong structural distortions were observed at the co-fired ceramic/electrode interface except for a thin interfacial layer of 1.5nm thick on each side of the interface. The ceramic near the interface retains the perovskite lattice structure. It is suggested that the diffused electrode compositions could be incorporated into the perovskite lattice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We present a magnetic force microscopy study of alternate sputtered (001) oriented L10phase FePt films. It is found that the root-mean-square value of phase shift of magnetic force images, (??)rms, can be used to characterize the perpendicular anisotropy for a series of specimens. Therefore, the considerable improvement of the perpendicular anisotropy after post-annealing can be characterized. In addition, the magnetic properties, magnetic and crystalline microstructures before and after post-annealing are compared for the typical [Fe5 nmPt5 nm]10film with substrate temperature Ts= 500°C, single layer thickness d= 5nm and total layer thickness D= 100nm to confirm the effect of post-annealing on improving the perpendicular anisotropy for Fe-Pt films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The nanoporous TiO2 film electrodes have been prepared by a sol–gel deposition process. The photostability of the electrodes at different pH values have been studied. The results show that the photostability of the electrodes decreases with increasing solution pH, especially in strong basic solutions without methanol. The increase of photocurrent and the decrease of onset potential with solution pH can be attributed to the increase of the adsorbed HO− ions. The adsorbed HO− ions act not only as electron donors but as also potential-determining ions on TiO2 film surface. However, in basic solutions the adsorbed O2− anions on TiO2 surface will form as pH value increases. The reaction of holes to the adsorbed O2− anions produces active O− anions. In the solutions without enough methanol the products of active O− anions oxidize Ti3+ to Ti4+ on TiO2 film surface and subsurface to occupy gradually the oxygen vacancies as electron donors. This results in the nanoporous TiO2 film electrodes being unstable with increasing pH. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin are the most important constituents in ginkgo flavonoids. A simple, rapid and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed to simultaneously determine quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin absorped by human breast cancer cells. Cells were treated with ginkgo flavonols and then lysed with Triton-X 100. The flavonols in the samples were measured by RP-HPLC with a C18 column after a simple extraction with a mixture of ether and acetone. The mobile phase contained phosphate buffer (pH 2.0; 10mM) tetrahydrofuran, methanol and isopropanol (65:15:10:20, v/v/v/v). The ultraviolet detector was operated at 380nm. The calibration curve was linear from 0.1 to 1.0μM (r >0.999) for each flavonol. The mean extraction efficiency was about 70%. The recovery of the assay was between 98.9 and 100.6%. The limit of detection was 0.01μM for quercetin and kaempferol and 0.05μM for isorhamnetin. The limit of quantitation was 0.1μM (R.S.D.&#60;10%) for each flavonol. The intra- and inter-day coefficients of variation were less than 10% (R.S.D.). The validated method was applied to quantify quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin in human breast cancer Bcap37 and Bcap37/MDR1 cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Dielectric and ferroelectric thin-film capacitors are of great importance as dynamic random-access memories (DRAM) and non-volatile random-access memories (NVRAM) for storage technology applications. Further improvements of the electrical performance of these devices require particularly a better control of thin-film engineering, since nanoscale layers of complex stoichiometry are subjected to relatively high-thermal budgets during the integration process. X-ray specular and diffuse reflectivity can provide valuable insight into current material problems of this field, e.g. structural changes and the possibility of interfacial reactions. An example is given for the annealing of thin Pb(Zr0.3Ti0.7)O3 (PZT) films on Pt/Ti-based layered electrodes. The correlation of electrical function and structural changes subsequent to electrical stress requires in situ investigations under applied electric fields. We report first experiments on Pt/PZT/Pt/Ti-films and discuss the setup of electrical in situ measurements under grazing incidence. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the present study, element interdiffusions at the cofired interface of 9/1 Ag/Pd electrode and lead magnesium niobate (PMN)-based ferroelectrics were investigated using Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES). Intense interdiffusions at the interface were observed while Ag and Pd could penetrate into the ceramics for about 1 μm. Ag-doping experiments were carried out to further study the effects of Ag diffusion on electrical properties of the ceramics. The results showed that Ag could be incorporated into solid solution of the ceramics as Ag+. As a whole, the Curie temperature (Tc) and dielectric constant of the ceramics decreased with Ag addition. However, Ag addition had no obvious effect on the insulation resistivity. The results inferred that Ag+ could substitute for Pb2+ at A site of ABO3 lattice, thereby oxygen vacancies were generated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Lateral growth of nickel coating on a ferrite substrate during electroplating of multilayer chip inductors (MLCI) was investigated. It was found that the lateral growth occurred after a certain time of electroplating, but not at the initial stage. Resistivity of the ferrite and inductance of MLCI decreased continuously with electroplating time. Moreover, surface morphology of the ferrite changed significantly after electroplating, which indicated chemical reactions to take place during the plating process whereas corrosion effect of acid solution on the material can be neglected. Judging from the results obtained, it was inferred that the resistance degradation should be attributed to hydrogen reduction during electroplating, which consequently led to the lateral growth of on the ferrite. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Electroplating treatment, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were conducted to investigate the reliability improvement of lead magnesium niobate-based ceramics (PMZNT) through MnO2 vaporous doping against hydrogen reduction during electroplating. The results showed that manganese dopant was reduced to be +3 oxidation state during the sintering and Mn3+ was incorporated into the perovskite lattice; however, only the outermost ceramics surface was doped while 50 μm beneath kept unchanged. This technique proved to enhance the reliability of PMZNT against electroplating significantly without changing the dielectric properties of ceramics body. Based on the above results, the modification mechanism of MnO2 vaporous doping was analyzed from the viewpoint of defect chemistry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Functional degradation of NiZnCu-based multilayer chip inductors (MLCI) during nickel electroplating and subsequent lateral growth of metal coating on the ferrite substrate were studied. It was found that the resistivity of the NiZnCu ferrite and inductance of MLCI decreased continuously during the electroplating. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that the surface morphology of the ferrite had changed significantly after the electroplating. However, the resistance-degraded specimens can be restored partially through air annealing at elevated temperature. Based on the results obtained, it was inferred that the ceramics surface had suffered hydrogen reduction during the electroplating, which led to the functional degradation of ferrite material and the lateral growth of nickel coating. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Short-range order can be developed in multi-principal element alloys and influences the point defect behavior due to the large variation of the local chemical environment. The effect of short-range order on vacancy and interstitial formation energy and migration behavior was studied in body-centered cubic multi-principal element alloy NbZrTi by first-principles calculations. Two short-range order structures created by density functional theory and Monte Carlo method at 500 and 800 K were compared with the structure of random solid solution. Both vacancy and interstitial formation energies increase with the degree of short-range order. Point defect formation energies tend to be higher in regions enriched in Nb and lower in regions enriched in Zr and Ti. Both vacancies and interstitials prefer to migrate toward Zr,Ti-rich regions and away from Nb-rich regions, suggesting that Zr,Ti-rich regions can potentially act as recombination centers for point defect annihilation. Compared to an ideal random solid solution, the short-range order increases the spatial inhomogeneity of point defect energy landscape. Tuning the degree of short-range order by different processing techniques can be a viable strategy to optimize the point defect behavior to achieve enhanced radiation resistance in multi-principal element alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the role of MICAL2 in myofibroblasts differentiation and epidural fibrosis. Epidural fibrosis (EF) may develop following laminectomy and aberrant myofibroblasts differentiation and excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation play key roles in the formation of EF. Dense epidural fibrosis results to the poor surgical outcomes and failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), and there is no effective treatment available. Molecule interacting with Casl2 (MICAL2) has been demonstrated to participate in multiple cellular processes by regulating actin cytoskeleton dynamics. However, its role in epidural fibrosis remains totally unverified. The potential functions and mechanisms of MICAL2 were explored using western blotting, immunofluorescence and lentivirus infection. In our study, we determined that the MICAL2 expression was elevated in epidural fibrotic tissues and TGF-β1-stimulated fibroblasts. Moreover, knockdown of MICAL2 using MICAL2-specific short hairpin RNA attenuated TGF-β1-induced myofibroblasts differentiation and epidural fibrosis both in vitro and vivo, as indicated by decreased scar formation, reduced collagen production and down-regulated expression of α-SMA, collagen-1 and fibronectin. We also demonstrated that MICAL2 knockdown affected the migratory capability of fibroblasts in vitro. By further mechanistic research, we revealed that the MRTF-A nuclear translocation was inhibited in response to the knockdown of MICAL2 in fibroblasts and MICAL2 served as a pro-fibrotic factor in an SRF/MRTF-A-dependent manner. In conclusion, our results indicated that MICAL2 mediated myofibroblasts differentiation and promoted epidural fibrogenesis via SRF/MRTF-A signaling pathway, suggesting manipulation of MICAL2 activity as a novel alternative strategy for the prevention of epidural fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional silicon-based transistor downscaling is approaching its physical limits, and thus additional novel solutions are urgently desired to address this issue. Herein, we show that 2-D antimonene with heavy effective mass and high density of state (DOS) via strain engineering presents reliable transistor performance with the channel length (${L}_{\text {ch}}$) shrinking below 5 nm. As the biaxial tensile strain increases to 7%, the band switching gives rise to a heavy hole effective mass of $12.6{m}_{{0}}$ and a Van Hoff singularity-like DOS. This unique electronic structure can effectively suppress the tunneling current, resulting in steep subthreshold swings (SSs) and ideal ON-current (${I}_{ \mathrm{ON}}$). Especially, as ${L}_{\text {ch}}$ downscales to 2.2 nm, the OFF-current can be easily reduced to 0.1 $\mu \text{A}/\mu \text{m}$ with SS of 120 mV/dec (310 mV/dec for pristine antimonene) and ${I}_{ \mathrm{ON}}$ exceeds 900 $\mu \text{A}/\mu \text{m}$ , fulfilling the requirements for high-performance applications. Our results provide new insights on extending the scaling limit in energy-efficient gate-controlled devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In agricultural production, fungal diseases significantly impact the yield and quality of cotton (Gossypium spp.) with Verticillium wilt posing a particularly severe threat. Results: This study is focused on investigating the effectiveness of endophytic microbial communities present in the seeds of disease-resistant cotton genotypes in the control of cotton Verticillium wilt. The technique of 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) amplicon sequencing identified a significant enrichment of the Bacillus genus in the resistant genotype Xinluzao 78, which differed from the endophytic bacterial community structure in the susceptible genotype Xinluzao 63. Specific enriched strains were isolated and screened from the seeds of Xinluzao 78 to further explore the biological functions of seed endophytes. A synthetic microbial community (SynCom) was constructed using the broken-rod model, and seeds of the susceptible genotype Xinluzao 63 in this community that had been soaked with the SynCom were found to significantly control the occurrence of Verticillium wilt and regulate the growth of cotton plants. Antibiotic screening techniques were used to preliminarily identify the colonization of strains in the community. These techniques revealed that the strains can colonize plant tissues and occupy ecological niches in cotton tissues through a priority effect, which prevents infection by pathogens. Conclusion: This study highlights the key role of seed endophytes in driving plant disease defense and provides a theoretical basis for the future application of SynComs in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to explore clinical treatment and prognosis of patients with AA with different economic status. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical outcome of 301 patients with AA in our center from April 2008 to November 2017. Treatments included anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) or anti-lymphocyte globulin (ALG) combined with cyclosporineA (CsA) (9%), allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) (7%), CsA combined with androgen or CsA alone (hereinafter referred to as CsA group) (77%), no specific therapy (7%). The 5-year overall survival (OS) was higher in patients with non-severe AA (94.6%) compared with those with severe AA (SAA) (66.6%, P <.001), very severe AA (VSAA) (41.3%, P <.001). The 5-year OS was 76.5% in patients with SAA/VSAA treated with ATG/ALG combined with CsA, 75% in allo-HSCT group(P =.936), 63.6% in CsA group (P =.557), which was significantly higher than no specific therapy group (21.8%, P =.002). For those who responded to CsA , the duration of CsA (median follow-up time: 27 months, 1–101 months) was positively correlated with progression-free survival (r=0.603, P <.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that 36–65 years of age, SAA/VSAA, and no specific therapy were independent risk factors for inferior survival. The treatment of elderly patients with AA still faces challenges. CsA is benefit to the survival of SAA/VSAA patients. AA patients, who responded to initialy CsA treatment, may benefit from prolonged CsA treatment. In view of the side effects of CsA, the timing of withdrawal is worth further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors report the study of polarization fatigue in Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) ferroelectric thin films using in situ high-resolution grazing incidence x-ray specular reflectivity of synchrotron radiation. The results demonstrate that there is no formation of a region of different electron densities in the film growth direction with subnanometer depth resolution during fatigue. The upper bounds on the theoretically predicted interfacial accumulation of oxygen vacancies at the interfaces between PZT and Pt electrodes are determined by the comparison of experimental results and theoretical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prognostic nutritional index (PNI) is an indicator to evaluate the nutritional immune status of patients. This study aimed to assess whether preoperative PNI could predict the occurrence of postoperative POD in aged patients undergoing non-neurosurgery and non-cardiac surgery. The aged patients undergoing non-neurosurgery and non-cardiac surgery between January 2014 and August 2019 were included in the retrospective cohort study. The correlation between POD and PNI was investigated by univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis, propensity score matching (PSM), inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), and subgroup analysis. In the cohort (n = 29,814), the cutoff value of PNI was 46.01 determined by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. In univariate and three multivariable regression analysis, the ORs of PNI ≤ 46.01 was 2.573(95% CI:2.261–2.929, P < 0.001),1.802 (95% CI:1.567-2.071, P < 0.001),1.463(95% CI:1.246–1.718, P < 0.001),1.370(95% CI:1.165–1.611, P < 0.001). In the PSM model and IPTW model, the ORs of PNI ≤ 46.01 were 1.424(95% CI:1.172–1.734, P < 0.001) and 1.356(95% CI:1.223–1.505, P < 0.001). The PNI was found to have a predictive value for POD in patients undergoing non-neurosurgery and non-cardiac surgery. Improving preoperative nutritional status may be beneficial in preventing POD for aged patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has a heavy impact on the mental health of elderly surgical patients worldwide. In particular, the elderly patients faced considerable psychological stress due to various environmental and medical factors during the outbreak. This study aims to examine changes in mental health trends among non-cardiac surgical patients aged 65 and above in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. This multi-center, convenient sampling, longitudinal observational study was conducted from April 1, 2020 to April 30, 2022. Primary outcome was the prevalence of postoperative depression. Secondary outcome was the prevalence of postoperative anxiety. Follow-up was conducted separately at 7 days and 30 days after surgery. Depression symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) scale. Anxiety symptoms were assessed using Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale, with scores of ≥5 defining positive depression or anxiety symptoms. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate risk factors of mental health status in more elderly patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. A total of 4639 patients were included, of whom 2279 (46.0 %) were male, 752 (15.2 %) were over the age of 75, and 4346 (93.7 %) were married. The monthly prevalence trends demonstrated that compared to the outbreak period, a significant reduction in the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms in elderly patients who underwent surgery during the post-pandemic period. In post-pandemic period, a statistically significant decrease in the prevalence of all severity depression and anxiety patients was noted at the 7-day follow-up, but no significant decrease was observed for severe depression and anxiety in the 30-day follow-up. In COVID-19 low-risk area, a significant overall decrease in prevalence of mental health was observed during the post-pandemic period compared to the outbreak period, including 7-day depression, 7-day anxiety, 30-day depression, and 30-day anxiety (all with P < 0.001). Female and patients with ≥2 comorbidities appeared to be more susceptible to postoperative depression and anxiety during the pandemic. The absence of data from the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak. This study analyzed the prevalence of depression and anxiety in elderly non-cardiac patients during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on dimensions such as severity, risk-areas, gender, and comorbidity. Our findings revealed a significant decrease in the prevalence of depression and anxiety in elderly surgery patients during the post-pandemic period. • This study was a multi-center, convenient sampling, longitudinal observational study which focused on the changes in mental health symptoms in the post-pandemic era of elderly patients in China. • We found that female and patients with more comorbidities were more likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety during the pandemic. • We showed a significant decrease in depression and anxiety prevalence of postoperative 7-day and 30-day compared to during the epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]