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Patient and public versions of guidelines (PVG) have attracted increasing attention in China, and their number is also on the rise. This article explores the methods for the development of PVG, introduces and compares different development methods, and incorporates case studies for interpretation, with the aim of providing reference for the developers of PVG and further promoting the development of PVG in China.

Objective To evaluate the methodological quality of systematic review/meta analysis (SR/MA) published in Chinese Science Citation Database (CSCD) journals in 2020, with the aim of providing suggestions for researchers in China to develop SR/MA and reference for editors and reviewers to review SR/MA. Methods The list of journals was formed with a sample of journals published by the Chinese Medical Association Publishing House and included in CSCD. Four researchers working in pairs conducted independently manual searches on the official websites of the journals to include SR/MA published in 2020, and one researcher conducted a supplementary search on China National Knowledge Infrastructure. After identifying the included literature, the researchers worked in pairs to extract information independently, evaluated methodological quality by using AMSTAR 2(A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2) and performed statistical analysis of the results. Results A total of 79 journals from the Chinese Medical Association Publishing House were included in CSCD, 46 of which published SR/MA in 2020, and 126 SR/MA were included for analysis after screening according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. AMSTAR 2 evaluation results showed that the average score of SR/MA was 10.38±1.91. The scored proportion of 9 items was more than 70%. SR/MA met partially/met a minimum of 5 AMSTAR 2 items and a maximum of 12 items. Before the key items were adjusted, over 90% of SR/MA's credibility rating was critically low. After adjusting the key items according to the actual Chinese situation, about 40% of SR/MA's credibility rating was medium and low, respectively. The results of the stratified analysis showed that the use of GRADE, adherence to the PRISMA statement, the number of authors greater than 5, the language of publication, the type of included studies including RCTs, and the reporting of funding were not factors that influenced the methodological quality of SR/MA. Conclusions The methodological quality of SR/MA published in CSCD journals in 2020 need to improve. Attention should be paid to the registration, retrieval, inclusion and exclusion criteria of SR/MA as well as financial support, so as to effectively improve the quality of SR/MA.

To study the effect of host genetics on gut microbiome composition, the MiBioGen consortium curated and analyzed genome-wide genotypes and 16S fecal microbiome data from 18,340 individuals (24 cohorts). Microbial composition showed high variability across cohorts: only 9 of 410 genera were detected in more than 95% of samples. A genome-wide association study of host genetic variation regarding microbial taxa identified 31 loci affecting the microbiome at a genome-wide significant (P

Objective To investigate the reporting of research gaps in Chinese clinical practice guidelines published in medical journals in 2019 and to make targeted suggestions for standardising and clearly reporting research gaps. Methods We systematically reviewed Chinese clinical practice guidelines published in medical journals in 2019, extracted and analyzed information relevant to research gaps. Results Of the 226 guidelines published in 2019, 27 guidelines (11.9%) reported a total of 78 research gaps, and the median number of reports was 2(range: 1 to 10). Of these guidelines, 11 guidelines presented research gaps in separate sections such as 'problems to be solved' 'priority suggestions for future research 'or' suggestions for future research ', while 16 guidelines integrated research gaps into other sections, such as' summary' 'discussion' or 'epilogue'. In terms of content, the main focuses are on efficacy (15.4%, 12/78), safety (12.8%, 10/78), new methods/solutions/technologies/products (10.3%, 8/78) and biomarkers (9.0%, 7/78). In terms of clarity, only 45 research gaps (57.7%, 45/78) were deconstructed to include 2 or more of these elements according to the PICO (P, population; I, intervention; C, comparison; O, outcomes) principles. Conclusions The reporting rate and the clarity of research gaps in the 2019 Chinese guidelines need to be improved, and the location of research gaps is not fixed. It is recommended that guideline developers independently report on research gaps in the guideline and aim to make it standard, comprehensive and clear, so as to provide direction for future researches.

Objective: The impact of first stage labour duration on maternal outcomes is sparsely investigated. We aimed to study the association between a longer active first stage and maternal complications in the early postpartum period. Design: A population‐based cohort study. Setting: Regions of Stockholm and Gotland, Sweden, 2008–2020. Population: A cohort of 159 459 term, singleton, vertex pregnancies, stratified by parity groups. Methods: The exposure was active first stage duration, categorised in percentiles. Poisson regression analysis was performed to estimate the adjusted relative risk (aRR) and the 95% confidence interval (95% CI). To investigate the effect of second stage duration on the outcome, mediation analysis was performed. Main outcome measures: Severe perineal lacerations (third or fourth degree), postpartum infection, urinary retention and haematoma in the birth canal or ruptured sutures. Results: The risks of severe perineal laceration, postpartum infection and urinary retention increased with a longer active first stage, both overall and stratified by parity group. The aRR increased with a longer active first stage, using duration of <50th percentile as the reference. In the ≥90th percentile category, the aRR for postpartum infection was 1.64 (95% CI 1.46–1.84) in primiparous women, 2.43 (95% CI 1.98–2.98) in parous women with no previous caesarean delivery (CD) and 2.33 (95% CI 1.65–3.28) in parous women with a previous CD. The proportion mediated by second stage duration was 33.4% to 36.9% for the different outcomes in primiparous women. The risk of haematoma or ruptured sutures did not increased with a longer active first stage. Conclusions: Increasing active first stage duration is associated with maternal complications in the early postpartum period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hallmarks of chronic neurodegenerative disease include progressive synaptic loss and neuronal cell death, yet the cellular pathways that underlie these processes remain largely undefined. We provide evidence that dual leucine zipper kinase (DLK) is an essential regulator of the progressive neurodegeneration that occurs in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. We demonstrate that DLK/c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling was increased in mouse models and human patients with these disorders and that genetic deletion of DLK protected against axon degeneration, neuronal loss, and functional decline in vivo. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of DLK activity was sufficient to attenuate the neuronal stress response and to provide functional benefit even in the presence of ongoing disease. These findings demonstrate that pathological activation of DLK is a conserved mechanism that regulates neurodegeneration and suggest that DLK inhibition may be a potential approach to treat multiple neurodegenerative diseases.

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of baicalin on Streptococcus mutans UA159 in vitro.Methods The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of baicalin on Streptococcus mutans UA159 was determined by the liquid multiple dilution method combined with the OD600 value measured by microplate. The OD600 value of Streptococcus mutans UA159 in different concentrations of baicalin was measured by an enzyme mapping instrument. A growth curve was drawn, and the adhesion rate and adhesion inhibition rate were calculated. The effect of baicalin on the formation of Streptococcus mutans UA159 biofilms was observed by the crystal violet quantitative method and scanning electron microscopy. The effect of baicalin on the total number of Streptococcus mutans UA159 bacteria was observed by scanning electron microscopy.Results The MIC of baicalin on Streptococcus mutans UA159 was 12 mg/mL. With increasing baicalin concentration, the growth rate of Streptococcus mutans UA159 was slowed, the adhesion rate of Streptococcus mutans UA159 decreased and the adhesion inhibition rate increased（P < 0.05）. The results of crystal violet quantitative method showed that compared with the bacterial control group, the biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans UA159 was significantly reduced after adding baicalin at 0 h, 6 h and 12 h (P < 0.001). Under a scanning electron microscope, the total number of bacteria decreased significantly after adding baicalin at 0 h, 6 h and 12 h.Conclusion Baicalin can inhibit the growth and reproduction of Streptococcus mutans UA159 in vitro as well as the adhesion and biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans UA159.

Heavy metal (HM) contamination caused by mining and smelting activities can be harmful to soil microbiota, which are highly sensitive to HM stress. Here, we explore the effects of HM contamination on the taxonomic composition, predicted function, and co‐occurrence patterns of soil bacterial communities in two agricultural fields with contrasting levels of soil HMs (i.e., contaminated and uncontaminated natural areas). Our results indicate that HM contamination does not significantly influence soil bacterial α diversity but changes the bacterial community composition by enriching the phyla Gemmatimonadetes, Planctomycetes, and Parcubacteria and reducing the relative abundance of Actinobacteria. Our results further demonstrate that HM contamination can strengthen the complexity and modularity of the bacterial co‐occurrence network but weaken positive interactions between keystone taxa, leading to the gradual disappearance of some taxa that originally played an important role in healthy soil, thereby possibly reducing the resistance of bacterial communities to HM toxicity. The predicted functions of bacterial communities are related to membrane transport, amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism. Among these, functions related to HM detoxification and antioxidation are enriched in uncontaminated soils, while HM contamination enriches functions related to metal resistance. This study demonstrated that microorganisms adapt to the stress of HM pollution by adjusting their composition and enhancing their network complexity and potential ecological functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Kombucha is a popular fermented drink with therapeutic benefits. The present study aimed to examine the fermentation of turmeric‐infused kombucha and evaluate its biological activities and functional properties. RESULTS: The study of pH dynamics during fermentation found that turmeric kombucha has a lower pH decrease than standard kombucha, with the lowest pH of 3.1 being observed in 0.1% turmeric kombucha and the maximum pH of 3.8 found in 1% turmeric kombucha. The research shows that the symbiotic consortia of bacteria and yeast alters during the fermentation process with turmeric. Gas chromatogrphy‐mass spectrometry analysis revealed that turmeric kombucha is abundant in terpenes, ketones, alcohols, aldehydes, phenols and fatty acids, with higher levels of active ingredients than regular kombucha. The kombucha with 0.6% turmeric had the highest overall acceptance score (9.0) in sensory evaluation. The total phenolic content after fermentation was in the range 0.2–0.8 mg gallic acid equivalents mL−1. Increasing turmeric concentrations increased the antioxidant, cytotoxic and antibacterial activity of kombucha analogs, with the highest antioxidant activity (89%) observed at 0.8% turmeric, and the maximum cytotoxicity (74%) and antibacterial activity (zones of inhibition of 17.7 and 15.9 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively) observed at 1% turmeric. CONCLUSION: The fermentation of kombucha infused with turmeric enhanced its biological activities, making it a healthier alternative to traditional kombucha and presenting new opportunities in the field of functional foods. Further investigations into the mechanisms underlying these effects and in vivo studies are warranted to fully comprehend the impact of turmeric kombucha consumption on human health. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives/Hypothesis: The co‐occurrence of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and congenital heart disease (CHD) is a rare condition with complex etiologies. The purpose of this study is to assess the etiologies, clinical features, and outcomes of cochlear implant (CI) in this patient population. Study Design: Case series and literature review. Methods: Clinical data of children who were diagnosed with SNHL and CHD and received CIs at a tertiary hospital from 2016 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. A literature review was performed to identify patients with SNHL and CHD. Findings: Of the 382 children who underwent cochlear implantation at our center, eight (2.1%) were diagnosed with SNHL and CHD. A literature review identified 1525 patients from 254 studies; the database therefore consisted of 1533 patients. The most common genetic etiologies of co‐occurring SNHL and CHD were CHARGE syndrome (36.3%), Turner syndrome (8.4%), 22q11.2 deletion (3.0%), Noonan syndrome (2.9%), and Down syndrome (2.5%), whereas the most common non‐genetic etiologies were congenital rubella syndrome (22.9%) and SNHL after early cardiac surgery (5.5%). Most of the patients presented with congenital, bilateral, severe‐profound SNHL requiring early rehabilitation. Of the 126 children who received CIs at a median age of 2.5 years, half showed delayed speech development at last follow‐up. Conclusions: Co‐occurring SNHL and CHD is a rare condition with complex etiologies. Timely hearing intervention with long‐term follow‐up and proper timing of heart surgery is essential for these children. Level of Evidence: 4, case series Laryngoscope, 134:400–409, 2024 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction joint is the weak part of engineering structure and is prone to damage like leakage and steel corrosion. In this paper, a novel polymer modified joint mortar was designed, and the influence of joint mortar on the adhesive splitting tensile strength and chloride ion penetration performance between new and old concrete under different pouring time intervals and different interface states was studied. The results showed that the compressive strength and flexible strength of mortar gradually decreased with the increase of pure propyl emulsion. And the ratio of compressive strength to flexible strength gradually decreased indicating the addition of pure propyl emulsion could improve the toughness of mortar. The roughness of joint interface and the pouring time interval between new and old concrete had great influence on the adhesive splitting tensile strength and chloride ion permeability coefficient. Under the same conditions, the adhesive splitting tensile strength and chloride ion penetration resistance of construction joint interface could be significantly improved by using joint mortar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]