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Sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains the leading complication for mortality caused by bacterial infection. The regulatory T (Treg) cells appear to be an important modulator in resolving lung injury. Despite the extensive studies, little is known about the role of macrophage HMGB1/PTEN/β-catenin signaling in Treg development during ALI. Objectives: This study was designed to determine the roles and molecular mechanisms of HMGB1/PTEN/β-catenin signaling in mediating CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg development in sepsis-induced lung injury in mice. Setting: University laboratory research of First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. Subjects: PTEN/β-catenin Loxp and myeloid-specific knockout mice. Interventions: Groups of PTENloxp/β-cateninloxp and myeloid-specific PTEN/β-catenin knockout (PTENM-KO/β-cateninM-KO) mice were treated with LPS or recombinant HMGB1 (rHMGB1) to induce ALI. The effects of HMGB1-PTEN axis were further analyzed by in vitro co-cultures. Measures and Main Results: In a mouse model of ALI, blocking HMGB1 or myeloid-specific PTEN knockout (PTENM-KO) increased animal survival/body weight, reduced lung damage, increased TGF-β production, inhibited the expression of RORγt and IL-17, while promoting β-catenin signaling and increasing CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs in LPS- or rHMGB-induced lung injury. Notably, myeloid-specific β-catenin ablation (β-cateninM-KO) resulted in reduced animal survival and increased lung injury, accompanied by reduced CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs in rHMGB-induced ALI. Furthermore, disruption of macrophage HMGB1/PTEN or activation of β-catenin significantly increased CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs in vitro. Conclusions: HMGB1/PTEN/β-catenin signaling is a novel pathway that regulates Treg development and provides a potential therapeutic target in sepsis-induced lung injury.

Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) vulcanizates were prepared by sulfur vulcanization, semi-effective vulcanization, sulfur carrier vulcanization, organic peroxide vulcanization and composite vulcanization systems respectively. The effects of different vulcanization systems on curing characteristics, physical and mechanical properties and electrical insulation of EPDM vulcanizates were investigated. The results showed that in the cross-linking structure of EPDM vulcanizate, peroxide vulcanized EPDM vulcanizate had excellent electrical insulation, but poor physical and mechanical properties. The sulfur vulcanized EPDM vulcanizate had excellent physical and mechanical properties but poor electrical insulation. The electrical insulation and physical and mechanical properties of EPDM vulcanizates vulcanized with sulfur carrier and semi- effective vulcanization were poor. In the composite vulcanization system, EPDM vulcanizate had excellent electrical insulation, large volume resistivity, small dielectric loss and dielectric constant, and excellent physical and mechanical properties.

To evaluate the efficacy of one‐step acellular dermis combined with autologous split thickness skin grafting in the treatment of burn or trauma wounds by a multicenter controlled study. In patients with extensive burns, it is even difficult to repair the wounds due to the shortage of autologous skin. The traditional skin grafting method has the disadvantages of large damage to the donor site, insufficient skin source and unsatisfactory appearance, wear resistance and elasticity of the wound tissue after skin grafting. One‐step acellular dermis combined with autologous ultra‐thin split thickness skin graft can achieve better healing effect in the treatment of burn and trauma wounds. A total of 1208 patients who underwent single‐layer skin grafting and one‐step composite skin grafting in the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhan Third People's Hospital and Lu 'an People's Hospital from 2019 to 2022 were retrospectively analysed. The total hospitalization cost, total operation cost, hospitalization days after surgery, wound healing rate after 1 week of skin grafting and scar follow‐up at 6 months after discharge were compared and studied. The total cost of hospitalization and operation in the composite skin grafting group was significantly higher than those in the single‐layer autologous skin grafting group. The wound healing rate after 1 week of skin grafting and the VSS score of scar in the follow‐up of 6 months after discharge were better than those in the single‐layer skin grafting group. One‐step acellular dermis combined with autologous ultra‐thin split thickness skin graft has high wound healing rate, less scar, smooth appearance and good elasticity in repairing burn and trauma wounds, which can provide an ideal repair method for wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plasma procalcitonin (PCT) concentration and red blood cell distribution (RDW) value after severe burns can be used as prognostic indicators, but at present, it is difficult to give consideration to sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing the prognosis of severe burns with a single indicator. This study analysed the diagnostic value of plasma PCT concentration and RDW value at admission on the prognosis of severe burn patients to improve its sensitivity and specificity. A total of 205 patients with severe burns who were treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from November 2017 to November 2022 were retrospectively analysed. The optimal cut‐off values of plasma PCT concentration and RDW were analysed and counted through the subject curve (ROC curve). According to the cut‐off value, patients were divided into high PCT group and low PCT group, high RDW group and low RDW group. The independent risk factors of severe burns were analysed by single‐factor and multiple‐factor COX regression. Kaplan–Meier survival was used to analyse the mortality of high PCT group and low PCT group, high RDW group and low RDW group. The area under the curve of plasma PCT concentration and RDW value at admission was 0.761 (95% CI, 0.662–0.860, P <.001), 0.687 (95% CI, 0.554–0.820, P =.003) respectively, and the optimal cut‐off values of serum PCT concentration and RDW were 2.775 ng/mL and 14.55% respectively. Cox regression analysis found that age, TBSA, and RDW were independent risk factors for mortality within 90 days after severe burns. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed that there was a significant difference in the 90‐day mortality rate of severe burns between the PCT ≥ 2.775 ng/mL group and the PCT < 2.775 ng/mL group (log‐rank: 24.162; P <.001), with the mortality rate of 36.84% versus 5.49%, respectively. The 90‐day mortality rate of severe burns was significantly different between the RDW ≥ 14.55% group and the RDW < 14.55% group (log‐rank: 14.404; P <.001), with the mortality rate of 44% versus 12.2% respectively. The plasma PCT concentration and RDW value at admission are both of diagnostic value for the 90‐day mortality of severe burns, but the plasma PCT concentration has higher sensitivity and the RDW value has higher specificity. Age, TBSA, and RDW were independent risk factors for severe burns, and then plasma PCT concentration was not independent risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel binuclear Cu(I) halide complex, Cu2I2(DPPCz)2, which emits efficient thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF), is reported. The crystal of this complex spontaneously undergoes ligand rotation and coordination-configuration transformation, converting to its isomer without any external stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]