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Three different crystal morphologies of α-Fe 2 O 3 , including uniform hexagonal, square, and rhombic shapes, were prepared according to the aqueous-thermal reaction. The hexagonal-shaped α-Fe 2 O 3 was enclosed by the 104 plane, while the square and rhombic structures were enclosed by the 110 plane. Two absorption peaks at 455 and 532 cm -1 were found for the perpendicular (⊥) modes, and one absorption peak at 650 cm -1 appeared for the parallel (||) mode for hexagon-shaped α-Fe 2 O 3 during analysis by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. However, the peaks of square- and rhombic-shaped α-Fe 2 O 3 for perpendicular (⊥) mode blueshifted, and the former two peaks merged together forming a broad band at approximately 480 cm -1 . For Raman spectra determination, the peaks arose from the Brillouin zone center, and two additional peaks were observed at 660 and 1320 cm -1 , belonging to 1 longitudinal optical (1LO) and 2 longitudinal optical (2LO) modes. All three materials exhibited higher intensities when excited at a wavelength of 633 cm -1 . Furthermore, in the polarization state, the centers of all peak positions slightly shifted for hexagon-shaped α-Fe 2 O 3 , but all peak positions for square-shaped and rhombic-shaped α-Fe 2 O 3 exhibited a significant blueshift. The structure of hexagon-shaped α-Fe 2 O 3 was relatively tolerant regarding the polarization properties of vibration modes; however, the symmetry of crystal square-shaped and rhombic-shaped α-Fe 2 O 3 changed, subsequently revealing different optical properties. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: The hexagon-shaped, square-shaped, and rhombic-shaped α-Fe 2 O 3 enclosed by different planes were synthesized. The Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer peaks of α-Fe 2 O 3 depended on their hexagon, square and rhombic shapes. Compared with hexagon-shaped α-Fe 2 O 3 , the Raman peaks for square and rhombi ones significantly shifted. The hexagon-shaped α-Fe 2 O 3 is relatively tolerant regarding the polarization properties., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice, and it is associated with an increased risk of mortality, stroke, and peripheral embolism. The risk of stroke in AF is heterogeneous and dependent on underlying clinical conditions included in current risk stratification schemes. Recently, the CHA2DS2-VASc score has been incorporated into guidelines to encompass common stroke risk factors observed in routine clinical practice. The aim of this study was to study the predictive value of CHA2DS2-VASc score on the prognosis of patients with AF to determine the correlation of major complications including cerebral infarction and intracranial hemorrhage in patients with AF with oral anticoagulant and antiplatelet aggregation drugs and to identify the risk factors for all-cause mortality., Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 181 patients with AF who underwent physical examinations at Hai'an Qutang Central Hospital from January 2020 to December 2020. The patient's general condition, chronic disease history, CHA2DS2-VASc [congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years (doubled), diabetes, stroke (doubled), vascular disease, age 65 to 74 years, and sex category (female)] score, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), lipid metabolism, and oral anticoagulant and antiplatelet aggregation medication during physical examination were recorded. By using telephone meetings to complete the follow-up, we tracked the patient's cerebral infarction, intracranial hemorrhage, and survival status within 2 years of follow-up, statistically analyzed the relationship between AF complications and medication, and grouped patients with AF based on the CHA2DS2-VASc score to evaluate its predictive ability for mortality outcomes in these patients., Results: The patients were divided into four groups according to the medication situation, and the incidence of cerebral infarction in the combination group was significantly lower than that in the non-medication group (0.0% vs. 19.2%; P<0.01). The incidence of intracranial hemorrhage in the combination group was significantly higher than that in the non-drug group (13.8% vs. 0.0%; P<0.01). The logistic regression model indicated that patients with a history of cerebral infarction had an increased risk of death compared to those without a history of cerebral infarction [odds ratio (OR) =7.404; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.255-24.309]. After grouping according to the CHA2DS2-VASc score, we found that there was a significant difference in the 2-year survival rate between patients with CHA2DS2-VASc score <5 and those with a score ≥5 (P<0.01). The characteristic curve analysis of the participants showed that the CHA2DS2-VASc score had good predictive ability for all-cause mortality in patients with AF (area under the curve =0.754), with a cutoff value of 4, a sensitivity of 62.50%, a specificity of 86.06%, and a 95% CI of 0.684-0.815., Conclusions: The CHA2DS2-VASc score demonstrated high predictive value for all-cause mortality in patients with AF., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://jtd.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/jtd-24-737/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2024 Journal of Thoracic Disease. All rights reserved.)

Background: We investigated the effect of subclinical hyperthyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism on cognitive function in rats and the role of autophagy in this process., Methods: Forty Wistar rats were randomized into normal control (NC), hyperthyroidism (Hyper), hypothyroidism (Hypo), subclinical hyperthyroidism (sHyper), and subclinical hypothyroidism (sHypo) groups. Cognitive function (spatial learning and memory) was tested by the Morris water maze test. Hippocampal histopathology was analyzed by H&E staining, and expression levels of caspase-3 in hippocampal CA1 neurons were measured. In addition, immunoblot analysis was performed to detect hippocampal autophagy-related proteins., Results: Escape latency from day 1 to day 4 was significantly longer in the Hypo, Hyper, and sHyper groups than in the NC group (P < 0.01). In addition, the number of rats crossing the virtual platform was significantly lower in the Hypo, Hyper, and sHyper groups than in the NC group (P < 0.01). Compared with the NC group, all four groups had significantly lower residence time in the target quadrant (P < 0.05). Beclin-1 and LC3-II protein expression in hippocampal tissues was significantly higher in the Hyper and sHyper groups than in the NC group (P < 0.01). Beclin-1 and LC3-II protein expression in hippocampal tissues did not significantly differ between the sHypo group and NC group (P > 0.05)., Conclusions: Subclinical thyroid dysfunction in rats might lead to cognitive impairment. Subclinical hyperthyroidism might be associated with excessive activation of autophagy and hippocampal neuron damage and necrosis.

Sepsis continues to be a leading cause of intensive care unit (ICU) death. Gram-negative bacteria are among the most important pathogens of sepsis and their LPS content is regarded to be an important stimulator that elicits the systemic inflammatory reaction. MD-2 is a small secreted glycoprotein that can bind to both the hydrophobic portion of LPS and to the extracellular domain of TLR4. The interaction between MD-2 and LPS bridges the two TLR4 molecules and induces the dimerization of LPS-MD-2-TLR4, which forms the structural basis for biological functions of TLR4/MD-2 complex. Due to its essential role in mediating the interaction between LPS and TLR4, MD-2 has been extensively explored as a therapeutic target for treatment of inflammatory disorders such as sepsis. Eritoran is a synthetic tetraacylated lipid A that binds directly to MD-2 and antagonizes LPS binding to the same site. Although eritoran showed positive results in phase I and phase II clinical trials of severe sepsis, a phase III clinical study for severe sepsis has failed. More effective therapeutic strategies are in need to treat this devastating clinical disorder.

Objective: To explore the effect of LPS on the expression of CD14 and the activation of Kupffer cells (KCs)., Methods: Rat KCs were isolated and cultured with LPS. Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR methods were employed to determine the changes in the CD14 expression and the concentration of TNFalpha, IL-6 and NO in the supernatant of the cultured KCs with LPS., Results: (1) The expression of CD14mRNA and the synthesis of CD14 protein in the KCs increased evidently when stimulated by various concentrations of LPS, and the CD14mRNA expression was correlated in dose-dependent manner with LPS levels. (2) The expression of CD14mRNA and the synthesis of CD14 protein in KCs induced by LPS (10 micro g/ml) increased significantly and peaked at 3 approximately 6 hours. (3) The expression of CD14mRNA and the synthesis of CD14 protein in freshly cultured KCs were obviously up-regulated by the active mediators produced by KCs after being stimulated by LPS. (4) The release of TNFalpha, IL-6 and NO from cultured KCs was evidently down-regulated by the addition of anti-CD14McAb in the presence of serum or by the addition of LPS in the absence of serum, but up-regulated by the concomitant addition of LPS and LBP., Conclusion: (1) The CD14mRNA expression and the protein synthesis in cultured KCs were closely related to LPS and the active mediators produced from the KCs.The increased CD14 expression was possibly caused by LPS, and the further increase of the expression might be closely correlated to the cytokines released from the KCs. (2) The KC activation by low concentration of LPS was CD14 dependent.

OBJECTIVE: To observe tissue distribution and cell localization of TNF-alpha mRNA and its protein and study their role in the pathogenesis of liver injury in burn rats. METHODS: An animal model of rats subjected to 20% TBSA III degree burns combined with intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used for this experiment. The changes of hepatic morphology and functions and serum TNF-alpha content and expression and localization of liver TNF-alpha and TNF-alpha mRNA were determined with light microscope (LM) and electron microscope (EM), quantitative analysis, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH). RESULTS: It showed that there were sinusoid reaction, KCs activation and degeneration, necrosis of HCs, and platelets aggregation, fibrins deposition and PMNs attachment in sinusoid. The activity of ALT was obviously elevated and ALB content was slightly decreased. The serum content of TNF-alpha showed peak at 3 hours. TNF-alpha was mainly localized in sinusoid endothelial cells (SECs) and Kupffer cells (KCs), and TNF-alpha mRNA was mainly distributed in KCs, polymorphonuclears neutrophils (PMNs) and macrophages (MPs). CONCLUSIONS: It suggests that TNF-alpha mRNA and its protein expression and localization are coincident with the pathological changes of liver injury. TNF-alpha is one of the key cytokines in the pathogenesis of liver injury in burn rats with endotoxemia.