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Baokun Liu,1,2,&ast; Lujun Shen,3,4,&ast; Wen Liu,5 Zhiyong Zhang,1,2 Jieqiong Lei,1,2 Zhengguo Li,1,2 Qinquan Tan,6 Hengfei Huang,7 Xingdong Wang,1,2 Weijun Fan3,4 1Department of Minimally Invasive Interventional Therapy, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center Gansu Hospital, Lanzhou, 730050, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Minimally Invasive Interventional Therapy, Gansu Provincial Cancer Hospital, Lanzhou, 730050, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Minimally Invasive Interventional Therapy, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, People’s Republic of China; 4State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Radiotherapy, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, 730030,People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Oncology, Dongguan People’s Hospital, Dongguan, 523000, People’s Republic of China; 7Department of General Surgery, Chongzuo People’s Hospital, Chongzuo, 523000, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xingdong Wang; Weijun Fan, Email wxd101027@163.com; fanwj@sysucc.org.cnPurpose: The majority of new diagnoses of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) still pertain to unresectable cases. Currently, the combination therapy of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitors has become the mainstream treatment. According to multiple clinical guidelines, it is strongly advised to consider local therapy as the primary treatment choice for uHCC. This research was conducted to examine the safety and effectiveness of combining hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) with TKIs and PD-1 inhibitors for the treatment of uHCC.Methods: Between 2015 and 2020, 208 HCC patients received HAIC alone or HAIC in combination with TKIs and PD-1 inhibitors. The overall survival(OS), and progression-free survival(PFS) and the best treatment response were compared between the two treatment groups. Propensity score matching (PSM)was used to minimize confounding bias.Results: Among the enrolled patients, 116 patients (55.8%) received combination therapy, while 92 patients (44.2%) received HAIC alone. The baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. After PSM, 82 pairs of well-matched liver cancer patients were selected; the overall response rate in the combination group trended better than that in the HAIC alone group. The hazard ratios (HRs) for OS and PFS of the combination approach compared to the HAIC-alone approach were 0.47 (95% CI, 0.322– 0.687; p< 0.001) and 0.58 (95% CI, 0.397– 0.848; p=0.005), respectively.Conclusion: For uHCC patients, combination therapy can provide better OS and PFS compared to HAIC alone.Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, TKIs, PD-1, HAIC, combination therapy

Lin Shen,1,&ast; Zixuan Chen,1,&ast; Zhi Zhang,2,&ast; Yunjiang Wu,3 Yue Ren,1 Ying Li,1 Yue Li,1 Xudong Yin,1 Fang Han,1 Yong Chen1 1Department of Radio-Chemotherapy, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Medical Oncology, Baoying Clinical College, Medical College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Thoracic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yong Chen, Department of Radio-Chemotherapy, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Hanjiang Middle Road No. 368, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-18051062926, Email chenyong_jsyz@sina.comPurpose: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with chemotherapy have become the first-line standard treatment for locally advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The evidence also demonstrates improved synergistic effects of chemotherapy when combined with delayed administration of ICIs. In this study, we conducted a retrospective investigation into the treatment efficacy of taxol plus platinum (TP) chemotherapy combined with delayed administration of PD-1 inhibitors for ESCC patients.Patients and Methods: Clinical data of ESCC patients who received PD-1 inhibitors 3– 5 days after TP chemotherapy as first-line treatment was retrospectively reviewed between January 2019 and April 2023. Clinical outcomes and treatment safety were analyzed. The potential roles of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV) were investigated.Results: A total of 34 locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic ESCC patients received PD-1 inhibitors 3– 5 days following TP chemotherapy were included. The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 85.3% and 97.1% respectively. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 13.2 and 19.1 month respectively. Seven patients received radical surgery, 1 patient achieved pathologic complete response (pCR) and 3 patients achieved major pathologic response (MPR). Among the 27 patients without surgery, the median PFS and OS were 9.7 and 19.1 month respectively. A more favorable prognosis was correlated with NLR less than 3 at the 3rd and 4th cycle of immunochemotherapy. No significant correlations between other parameters (PLR, MLR and PIV) and prognosis were observed. A total of 22 patients developed grade 3– 4 toxicity events.Conclusion: The optimized sequence of PD-1 inhibitors administered 3– 5 days after TP chemotherapy as the first-line treatment of ESCC demonstrated favorable treatment efficacy. Pretreatment NLR of less than 3 at the 3rd and 4th cycle of immunochemotherapy is associated with a better prognosis.Keywords: immune checkpoint inhibitors, chemotherapy, rational sequence, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, peripheral blood parameters

Yue Han,1,&ast; Chao Guo,2,&ast; Qianmei Zhu,1 Zijia Liu,1 Yuelun Zhang,3 Shanqing Li,2 Le Shen1 1Department of Anesthesiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Thoracic Surgery, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Medical Research Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zijia Liu, Department of Anesthesiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100730, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +861069155580, Email liu-zj02@126.comBackground: Atrial fibrillation (AF) has become the most common postoperative arrhythmia of thoracic surgery. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors and complications of perioperative atrial fibrillation (PoAF) in elderly patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).Methods: Data were collected from patients who underwent VATS between January 2013 and December 2022 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH). Univariable analyses and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine the factors correlated with PoAF. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the discrimination of the indicators to predict PoAF.Results: The study enrolled 2920 patients, with a PoAF incidence of 5.2% (95% CI 4.4%-6.0%). In the logistic regression analyses, male sex (OR=1.496, 95% CI 1.056– 2.129, P=0.024), left atrial anteroposterior dimension (LAD) ≥ 40 mm (OR=2.154, 95% CI 1.235– 3.578, P=0.004), hypertension (HTN) without regular treatment (OR=2.044, 95% CI 0.961– 3.921, P=0.044), a history of hyperthyroidism (OR=4.443, 95% CI 0.947– 15.306, P=0.030), surgery of the left upper lobe (compared to other lung lobes) (OR=1.625, 95% CI 1.139– 2.297, P=0.007), postoperative high blood glucose (BG) (OR=2.482, 95% CI 0.912– 5.688, P=0.048), and the time of chest tube removal (per day postoperatively) (OR=1.116, 95% CI 1.038– 1.195, P=0.002) were found to be significantly associated with PoAF. The area under the ROC curve was 0.707 (95% CI 0.519– 0.799). 86.9% patients were successfully converted to sinus rhythm. Compared with the non-PoAF group, the PoAF group had significantly greater risks of prolonged air leakage, postoperative acute coronary syndrome, longer ICU stays, and longer hospital stays.Conclusion: Male sex, LAD≥ 40 mm, HTN without regular treatment, a history of hyperthyroidism, surgery of the left upper lobe, postoperative BG, and the time of chest tube removal were associated with PoAF. These findings may help clinicians identify high-risk patients and take preventive measures to minimize the incidence and adverse prognosis of PoAF.Keywords: video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, aged, atrial fibrillation, risk factor

Min Wang,1,&ast; Lin Yang,1,&ast; Suhan Zhang,2 Meng Wu,1 Zhenfeng Sun,3 Liu Shen,1 Xiaowei Xu,1 Liangkun Ma,2 Jiao Li1 1Institute of Medical Information/Library, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100020, People’s Republic of China; 2Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, People’s Republic of China; 3Daxing District Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Beijing, 102699, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jiao Li, Institute of Medical Information & Library Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100020, People’s Republic of China, Tel +8618618461596, Email li.jiao@imicams.ac.cnBackground: Maternity health management has always been the area of concern and considering, and considering its complexity and multidisciplinary, it is necessary to provide effective training for healthcare workers.Purpose: To evaluate the impact of a multidisciplinary experiential training model on the knowledge, attitude, and practice of healthcare workers in maternity health management.Patients and Methods: We conducted a novel educational model, Multidisciplinary Maternity Health Experiential Training based on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (MMHET), which combined theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and human-centred humanistic care, offering a comprehensive offline education program supported by online teaching materials structured around knowledge graphs. Pre- and post-test surveys were used to assess the changes in participants’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices.Results: From May to July 2023, a total of 322 participants attended the course, and only a small percentage had participated in experiential training. For all topics, the vast majority of participants endorsed the course, and the attitude content had the highest percentage of participants who said they agreed. Among the groups with different years of working life, the highest percentage of participants in the > 20 years group strongly endorsed the course.Conclusion: The preliminary findings indicate that the MMHET model is well-received and feasible, demonstrating its potential to enhance maternity health management education.Keywords: continuing education, pregnancy health, assessment, healthcare, medical education

Weihua Han,1,&ast; Peiyao Zhou,2,&ast; Chun Chen,3,&ast; Chunyang Wu,2 Li Shen,1 Cailing Wan,4 Yanghua Xiao,4 Jiao Zhang,2 Bingjie Wang,1 Junhong Shi,1 Xinru Yuan,1 Haojin Gao,1 Hongxiu Wang,1 Ying Zhou,1 Fangyou Yu1 1Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Cancer Center, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 4School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Ying Zhou; Fangyou Yu, Email 18702195157@163.com; wzjxyfy@163.comBackground: Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) infections are a great threat to public health worldwide. Ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA) is an effective β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors against CRKP. However, reports of resistance to CZA, mainly caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) variants, have increased in recent years. In this study, we aimed to describe the resistance characteristics of KPC-12, a novel KPC variant identified from a CZA resistant K. pneumoniae.Methods: The K. pneumoniae YFKP-97 collected from a patient with respiratory tract infection was performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) on the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform. Genomic characteristics were analyzed using bioinformatics methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted by the broth microdilution method. Induction of resistant strain was carried out in vitro as previously described. The G. mellonella killing assay was used to evaluate the pathogenicity of strains, and the conjugation experiment was performed to evaluate plasmid transfer ability.Results: Strain YFKP-97 was a multidrug-resistant clinical ST11-KL47 K. pneumoniae confers high-level resistance to CZA (16/4 μg/mL). WGS revealed that a KPC variant, KPC-12, was carried by the IncFII (pHN7A8) plasmids (pYFKP-97_a and pYFKP-97_b) and showed significantly decreased activity against carbapenems. In addition, there was a dose-dependent effect of blaKPC-12 on its activity against ceftazidime. In vitro inducible resistance assay results demonstrated that the KPC-12 variant was more likely to confer resistance to CZA than the KPC-2 and KPC-3 variants.Discussion: Our study revealed that patients who was not treated with CZA are also possible to be infected with CZA-resistant strains harbored a novel KPC variant. Given that the transformant carrying blaKPC-12 was more likely to exhibit a CZA-resistance phenotype. Therefore, it is important to accurately identify the KPC variants as early as possible.Keywords: carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, Klebsiella pneumoniae, ceftazidime-avibactam, KPC-12, carbapenemase

Boyong Qiu,1,2,&ast; Siyu Qiao,2,&ast; Xiujuan Shi,2 Lin Shen,2 Bing Deng,2 Zilin Ma,2 Duan Zhou,2 Yihong Wei2 1Heart Center/National Regional (Traditional Chinese Medicine) Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Treatment Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of CM, Zhengzhou, Henan, People’s Republic of China; 2Cardiovascular Department, Longhua Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yihong Wei; Duan Zhou, Email weiyihong2022@shutcm.edu.cn; zhouduan@126.comBackground: In China, Shen’ge formula (SGF), a Traditional Chinese Medicine blend crafted from ginseng and gecko, holds a revered place in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, despite its prevalent use, the precise cardioprotective mechanisms of SGF remain largely uncharted. This study aims to fill this gap by delving deeper into SGF’s therapeutic potential and underlying action mechanism, thus giving its traditional use a solid scientific grounding.Methods: In this study, rats were subjected to abdominal aortic constriction (AAC) to generate pressure overload. Following AAC, we administered SGF and bisoprolol intragastrically at specified doses for two distinct durations: 8 and 24 weeks. The cardiac function post-treatment was thoroughly analyzed using echocardiography and histological examinations, offering insights into SGF’s influence on vital cardiovascular metrics, and signaling pathways central to cardiac health.Results: SGF exhibited promising results, significantly enhanced cardiac functions over both 8 and 24-week periods, evidenced by improved ejection fraction and fractional shortening while moderating left ventricular parameters. Noteworthy was SGF’s role in the significant mitigation of myocardial hypertrophy and in fostering the expression of vital proteins essential for heart health by the 24-week mark. This intervention markedly altered the dynamics of the Akt/HIF-1α/p53 pathway, inhibiting detrimental processes while promoting protective mechanisms.Conclusion: Our research casts SGF in a promising light as a cardioprotective agent in heart failure conditions induced by pressure overload in rats. Central to this protective shield is the modulation of the Akt/HIF-1α/p53 pathway, pointing to a therapeutic trajectory that leverages HIF-1α promotion and p53 nuclear transport inhibition. Keywords: Shen’ge formula, heart failure, hypertrophy, apoptosis, angiogenesis

Chaoqun Wang,1,&ast; Meng Yang,2,&ast; Guanglin Zhu,3,&ast; Yanyan Hu,1,&ast; Le Shen,1 Jiaona Qiu,1 Yi Huang,2 Libing Wang4 1Department of Endocrinology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Yangpu Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200090, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Libing Wang; Yi Huang, Email doctorwanglibing@126.com; huangliur@163.comPurpose: To explore the influencing factors to predict the negative nucleic acid conversion time and ORF1ab gene CT value changes in patients with asymptomatic and mild COVID-19.Patients and Methods: A total of 73,456 patients with asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 admitted to the Mobile Cabin Hospital in Shanghai from April 3 to April 23, 2022 were selected as the research objects. Epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data were collected. Correlation analysis was performed.Results: In patients < 18 years old and ≥ 65 years old, COVID-19 vaccine can shorten the negative nucleic acid conversion time, which is reflected in the lower median or 75% quantile (P< 0.001, P< 0.05). In patients with underlying diseases, the negative nucleic acid conversion time of booster vaccination and complete vaccination was lower than that of non-vaccinated group (P< 0.001, P< 0.05). In patients ≤ 18 years of age or > 65 years of age, patients with comorbidity and patients with symptoms, compared with patients 18– 65 years of age, patients without comorbidity and patients without symptoms, there was a greater difference in the rate of rise of CT values between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients (P< 0.05).Conclusion: The time of nucleic acid conversion to negative in patients with asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 is affected by age, comorbidity, and first nucleic acid CT value. Vaccination could shorten the negative nucleic acid conversion time of the older population, those with complications or symptoms. The vaccination of older patients does not increase the risk of symptoms.Keywords: COVID-19, nucleic acid detection, CT value, vaccine, older population

Jing Li,1,&ast; Yanhong Zhao,2,&ast; Youli Jiang,3 Ying Zhang,4 Peize Zhang,1 Lingjun Shen,2 Zijiao Chen1 1Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Tuberculosis, the Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Tuberculosis, the Third People’s Hospital of Kunming, Kunming, Yunnan, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Neurology, People’s Hospital of Longhua, Shenzhen, 518109, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Endocrinology, the Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zijiao Chen; Lingjun Shen, Email 785863383@qq.com; m18608770202@163.comBackground: Tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes mellitus (DM) present a dual burden to public health. The screening of DM in TB patients may aid in the early detection and management of diabetes, ultimately improving treatment outcomes for those with the comorbidity of TB-DM. We aim to examine the prevalence and identify risk factors of diabetes in individuals with active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in financially affluent China cities.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in adult patients with highly suspected TB in two cities of China, spanning from May 9, 2023, to June 30, 2023. We compare the clinical characteristics, nutrition status, fasting blood glucose (FBG) level, living style, and knowledge of TB and DM at admission between patients with and without DM. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to identify risk factors associated with TB-DM comorbidities.Results: Of the 322 patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), 54 individuals (16.8%) had comorbid diabetes mellitus (DM). This included 43 males (13.4%) and 11 females (3.4%). The average age was 55.44 ± 12.36 in DM patients and 46.09 ± 16.87 in non-DM patients. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that male (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=3.29, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05– 10.30), age older than 47 years (aOR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01– 1.07), having a family history of diabetes (aOR = 5.09, 95% CI: 1.28– 20.32), and an elevated random blood glucose level (aOR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.38– 1.86) were risk factors for DM in patients with PTB. Furthermore, it was found that diabetes awareness (aOR = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.03– 0.21) and zero, light to moderate alcohol consumption were associated with a lower risk of diabetes.Conclusion: Diabetes is prevalent in patients with active PTB. Screening and raising awareness of DM are recommended, particularly in men after middle age with a family history of diabetes and elevated random blood glucose. Early diagnosis of diabetes and effective diabetes prevention may reduce the dual burden of TB–DM comorbidity.Keywords: tuberculosis, diabetes, risk factors, diabetes awareness, waist-to-hip ratio, alcohol consumption

Shujie Wang,1,2 Chunyan Shao,2 Xingkai Zhao,1 Yizhe Guo,1 Houhui Song,2 Lida Shen,3 Zhenlei Zhou,1 Zhen Li4,5 1College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, People’s Republic of China; 2College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, People’s Republic of China; 3College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210016, People’s Republic of China; 4College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, People’s Republic of China; 5State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology and Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Zhenlei Zhou, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 (25) 84395505, Email zhouzl@njau.edu.cn Zhen Li, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86 (25) 84399827, Email lizhen@njau.edu.cnIntroduction: Hydroxylapatite (HAp) is a biodegradable bone graft material with high biocompatibility. However, the clinical application of HAp has been limited due to the poor absorption rate in vivo.Methods: In this study, carbonated hydroxylapatite (CHAp) with a chemical composition similar to natural bone was synthesized. HAp and CHAp scaffolds were fabricated by 3D printing. Each material was designed by two types of scaffold model with a maximum width of 8 mm and a thickness of 2 mm, ie, structure I (round shape) and structure II (grid shape). Then, the HAp scaffolds were loaded with lutein. These scaffolds were implanted into the 8 mm bone defect on the top of the rabbit skull within 3 hours in the morning. The curative effects of the scaffolds were assessed two months after implantation.Results: The 3D printed scaffolds did not cause severe inflammation or rejection after implantation. It showed that the porous structures allow bone cells to enter into the scaffolds. Furthermore, CHAp scaffolds were more biocompatible than HAp scaffolds, and showed a higher level of degradation and new bone formation after implantation. Structure II scaffolds with a smaller mineral content degraded faster than structure I, while structure I had better osteoconductive properties than structure II. Besides, the addition of lutein significantly enhanced the rate of new bone formation.Discussion: The uniqueness of this study lies in the synthesis of 3D printed CHAp scaffolds and the implantation of CHAp in rabbit bone defects. The incorporation of suitable carbonate and lutein into HAp can enhance the osteoinductivity of the graft, and CHAp has a faster degradation rate in vivo, all of which provide a new reference for the research and application of apatite-based composites.Keywords: bone, 3D printing, hydroxylapatite, lutein, repair

Jing Zhou, Chunsong Yang, Qichen Xv, Liyun Wang, Liangjun Shen, Qingwei Lv Department of Neurosurgery, Shengzhou People’s Hospital (the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University Shengzhou Branch), Shengzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Chunsong Yang, Department of Neurosurgery, Shengzhou People’s Hospital (the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University Shengzhou Branch), Shengzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China, Email ycs821005@163.comBackground: Translocator protein (TSPO) is a biomarker of neuroinflammation and brain injury. This study aimed to ascertain the potential of serum TSPO as a predictor of cognitive impairment after acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).Methods: In this prospective observational cohort study, 276 patients with supratentorial ICH were randomly assigned to two groups (184 patients in the study group and 92 in the validation group) in a 2:1 ratio. Serum TSPO levels were gauged at admission, and cognitive status was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) post-stroke 3 months. A MoCA score of < 26 was considered indicative of cognitive impairment.Results: Serum TSPO levels were inversely correlated with MoCA scores (ρ=− 0.592; P< 0.001). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that serum TSPO levels were independently associated with MoCA scores (β, − 0.934; 95% confidence interval (CI), − 1.412--0.455; VIF, 1.473; P< 0.001). Serum TSPO levels were substantially higher in patients with cognitive impairment than in the remaining patients (median, 2.7 versus 1.6 ng/mL; P< 0.001). Serum TSPO levels were linearly correlated with the risk of cognitive impairment under a restricted cubic spline (P=0.325) and independently predicted cognitive impairment (odds ratio, 1.589; 95% CI, 1.139– 2.216; P=0.016). Subgroup analysis showed that the relationship between serum TSPO levels and cognitive impairment was not markedly influenced by other parameters, such as age, sex, drinking, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, and dyslipidemia (all P for interaction > 0.05). The model, which contained serum TSPO, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores and hematoma volume, performed well under the receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration curve and decision curve, and using the Hosmer–Lemeshow test. This model was validated in the validation group.Conclusion: Serum TSPO level upon admission after ICH was independently associated with cognitive impairment, substantializing serum TSPO as a reliable predictor of post-ICH cognitive impairment.Keywords: translocator protein, intracerebral hemorrhage, cognitive impairment, biomarkers

Yunxiang Zhou,1,2,&ast; Xianan Guo,1,2,&ast; Lu Shen,1,2 Kexin Liu,1,2 Qunan Sun,3 Yali Wang,4 Hui Wang,5 Wenyu Fu,6 Yihan Yao,7 Shijie Wu,2 Huihui Chen,1 Jili Qiu,1 Tao Pan,1 Yongchuan Deng1 1Department of Breast Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Breast Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Science (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Surgery, Hangzhou Fuyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 7Institute of Immunology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yongchuan Deng; Tao Pan, Email dyc001@zju.edu.cn; 2311318@zju.edu.cnBackground: Peripheral blood inflammation indices, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), have become research hotspots in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis prediction of breast cancer, whereas existing research findings remain controversial.Methods: Data pertaining to 1808 breast cancer patients were collected retrospectively to analyze the predictive value of NLR/PLR/SII for breast cancer clinicopathological characteristics, chemotherapy response, and relapse. 1489, 258, and 53 eligible breast cancer patients entered into the three analyses, respectively. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the correlation between these indices and poor response to chemotherapy. A predictive scoring model was established to predict chemotherapeutic responses based upon the odds ratio values of significant variables identified in logistic regression analyses.Results: Higher pretherapeutic NLR/PLR/SII values were significantly correlated with higher tumor stage, triple-negative breast cancer, premenopausal status, and younger age. Logistic regression analyses indicated that pretherapeutic high SII (as a continuous variable or with a cut-off value of 586.40) and HER2-negative status were independent predictors of poor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A first-in-class SII-based predictive scoring model well distinguished patients who might not benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy, with an area under the curve of 0.751. In HR-positive cancers, SII was more strongly associated with clinicopathological features and chemotherapy response. In addition, a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the specificity of follow-up SII in identifying cancer relapse was greater than 98.0% at a cut-off value of 900.Conclusion: As a predictor of breast cancer, especially in the HR-positive subtype, SII may eclipse NLR/PLR. SII-high patients are more likely to have a worse chemotherapy response and a higher risk of recurrence.Keywords: breast cancer, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, systemic immune-inflammation index, chemotherapy response, predictor

Xiaohan Xu,1,&ast; Zhilong Lu,1,&ast; Zijia Liu,1 Yue Han,1 Yuelun Zhang,2 Le Shen1 1Department of Anesthesiology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, People’s Republic of China; 2Medical Research Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zijia Liu; Le Shen, Department of Anesthesiology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 10 6915 2020, Fax +86 10 6915 5580, Email liu-zj02@126.com; shenle@pumch.cnBackground: It is important for anesthesiologists to leave good impressions and build rapport with patients during preoperative visits. However, patient preferences for anesthesiologist attire have not been well studied in China.Purpose: To characterize patient perceptions of anesthesiologist attire during preoperative visits.Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, we included adult patients who underwent elective operations in various surgical departments. We presented photographs of both male and female models wearing six combinations of attire (formal in a white coat buttoned, formal in a white coat unbuttoned, casual in a white coat buttoned, casual in a white coat unbuttoned, scrubs in a white coat buttoned, and scrubs in a coat of the same green color buttoned) in a randomized sequence. Participants were asked to rate each attire combination in five domains, including professionalism, experience, attitude, approachability, and caring.Results: Of the 541 surveys distributed, 516 (95.4%) were completed and included in the analysis. The majority of respondents were female [389 (75.4%)] and aged 31– 45 years [234 (45.3%)]. The combination of scrubs in a buttoned coat of the same color had the highest composite rating score [median (interquartile range): 50 (45, 50), adjusted P< 0.001 compared with the other five combinations]. There was no significant difference in preference for standardized disposable or personalized cloth operating caps. Respondents’ age was independently associated with the perceived importance of anesthesiologist attire (46– 60 years vs 18– 35 years: odds ratio 2.17, 95% confidence interval 1.12– 4.18, P=0.021).Conclusion: Patients prefer anesthesiologists wearing scrubs in coats of the same color. Standardizing anesthesiologist attire based on these findings may improve patient satisfaction.Keywords: dressing, scrubs, color, patient satisfaction, preoperative anesthesia visit

Fang-Hong Shi,1,&ast; Bin-Bin Yu,2,&ast; Long Shen,3,&ast; Li Xu,3 Yi-Hong Jiang,4 Zhi-Chun Gu,1 Hou-Wen Lin,1 Hao Li5 1Department of Pharmacy, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pharmacy, Huangyan Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou First People’s Hospital, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Cardiology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Endocrinology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 5Clinical Research Ward, Clinical Research Center, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zhi-Chun Gu, Department of Pharmacy, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, Email guzhichun213@163.com Hao Li, Clinical Research Ward, Clinical Research Center, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, Email lihao19880810@hotmail.comPurpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether intervention by clinical pharmacists can improve blood glucose and lipid levels in diabetic patients with complex medical conditions.Methods: The retrospective database included 138 patients with diabetes who had presented with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) between January 2019 and October 2021. Blood glucose and lipid levels were measured within 12 weeks and 78 weeks of follow-up. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance the confounding effects of patients’ characteristics.Results: A total of 138 eligible patients were assigned to either the intervention group (n = 47) or the usual care group (n = 91). After the intervention, there were significant improvements in blood glucose (glycosylated hemoglobin-HbA1C % from 9.0 to 8.3; fasting blood glucose-FBG mmol/L from 11.3 to 7.1; postprandial blood glucose-PBG mmol/L from 17.0 to 12.1; p < 0.001) and lipid levels (total cholesterol-TC from 4.9 to 3.5, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-LDL-C from 3.0 to 1.8, p < 0.001, mmol/L) in both follow-up periods. The blood glucose effects were most pronounced in the PBG control rate (76.9% vs 54.0%) before PSM, while HbA1C% and PBG control rate after PSM were significantly higher in the intervention group (HbA1C% rate: 65.6% vs 38.5%; PBG rate: 79.2% vs 45.8%; p < 0.05, intervention vs non-intervention). Subgroup analysis further confirmed the improvement of blood glucose and lipid mainly in patients with higher baseline FBG (≧10mmol/L) and moderate follow-up duration (4– 12 weeks).Conclusion: The intervention of clinical pharmacists in multidisciplinary team can significantly improve blood glucose and lipid levels in complex type 2 diabetic patients, especially those with high baseline FBG and moderate follow-up durations.Keywords: blood glucose, blood lipid, clinical pharmacist’s intervention, propensity score matching, complex diabetes

Superconductivity and charge density waves (CDWs) are competitive, yet coexisting, orders in cuprate superconductors. To understand their microscopic interdependence, a probe capable of discerning their interaction on its natural length and time scale is necessary. We use ultrafast resonant soft x-ray scattering to track the transient evolution of CDW correlations in YBa2Cu3O6+x after the quench of superconductivity by an infrared laser pulse. We observe a nonthermal response of the CDW order characterized by a near doubling of the correlation length within ≈1 picosecond of the superconducting quench. Our results are consistent with a model in which the interaction between superconductivity and CDWs manifests inhomogeneously through disruption of spatial coherence, with superconductivity playing the dominant role in stabilizing CDW topological defects, such as discommensurations.

Runqi Cheng,1 Tiansheng Wang,1 Yuankun Cai,1 Songshan Chai,1 Lei Shen,1 Dongyuan Xu,1 Jingyi Yang,1 Chuqiao Yue,1 Jianzhang Pu,2 Nanxiang Xiong1 1Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Shunyi District Hospital, Shunyi Teaching Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Nanxiang Xiong, Email mozhuoxiong@163.comObjective: To predict the volume and shape of the balloon before PBC by reconstructing the Meckel’s cave (MC) and establishing a volumetric measurement model, supporting preoperative preparation and intraoperative decisions.Methods: The clinical data of 31 patients with good therapeutic effects who underwent PBC are retrospectively collected, including preoperative MRI, the volume of contrast agent injected into the balloon, and intraoperative lateral X-ray images. The MC on the affected side of the 31 patients is reconstructed based on MRI using 3D Slicer, while the volume of the MC is calculated to compare with the volume of contrast agent. The width (W) and length (L) of the model of the MC in lateral view are measured and used to classify the shape of the MC based on W/L. The consistency between the W/L of the model of the MC and the W/L of the intraoperative balloon is evaluated.Results: For volume, the mean value of the models of the MC (V1) in 31 patients is 399.77± 155.13 mm³, while the mean value of the contrast agent injected during PBC (V2) is 539.03± 111.93 mm³. The formula obtained by linear regression is V2= 392.1 + 0.3676×V1. Based on the value of W/L, the shape of the MC is classified into thin “pear” in 5 patients (16.13%), standard “pear” in 22 patients (70.97%), and square “pear” in 4 patients (12.90%). There is no significant difference in W/L between the models of the MC and the intraoperative balloons in 31 patients (P=0.221).Conclusion: In 31 patients with good efficacy, it is verified that the prediction of the MC before PBC by 3D Slicer is consistent with the actual situation of the intraoperative balloon. This method can provide certain basis for preoperative preparation and intraoperative judgment.Keywords: trigeminal neuralgia, percutaneous balloon compression, Meckel’s cave, 3D Slicer, reconstruction

Fangfang Xu,1,&ast; Lijun Shen,2,&ast; Yongguang Yang,2 Limin Kong,3 Wufan Zu,4 Dandan Tian,5 Xuanchao Cao,1 Gairong Huang1 1Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Institute of Geriatrics, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Clinical Medical Research Center, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of General Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, the Sixth People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Hypertension, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Gairong Huang; Fangfang Xu, Email gaironghuang163@163.com; xffxff0924@163.omBackground: ANGPTL3, 4 and 8 have been reported to be involved in the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of ANGPTL3, 4, 8 in hypertensive patients with or without overweight/obesity, T2D, and hyperlipidemia, and the possible association between their expression and the status of the aforementioned comorbidities.Methods: Plasma levels of ANGPTL3, 4, and 8 in 87 hospitalized patients with hypertension were measured using ELISA kits. Associations between circulating ANGPTLs levels and the most common additional cardiovascular risk factors were assessed using multivariate linear regression analyses. Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to examine the association between ANGPTLs and clinical parameters.Results: In the context of hypertension, (1) although not statistically significant, circulating ANGPTL3 levels were higher in the overweight/obese group than in the normal weight group; (2) circulating levels of ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL8 were significantly lower in patients with T2D than in non-diabetic patients; (3) circulating ANGPTL3 levels were significantly higher in the hyperlipidemic group than in the non-hyperlipidemic group. ANGPTL3 was associated with T2D and hyperlipidemia status, whereas ANGPTL8 was independently associated with T2D status. In addition, circulating ANGPTL3 levels were positively correlated with TC, TG, LDL-C, HCY, and ANGPTL8, and circulating ANGPTL4 levels were positively correlated with UACR and BNP.Conclusion: Changes in circulating ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL8 levels have been observed in hypertensive patients with the most common additional cardiovascular risk factors, suggesting a role in the common comorbidities of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Hypertensive patients with overweight/obesity or hyperlipidemia may benefit from therapies targeting ANGPTL3.Keywords: angiopoietin-like proteins, hypertension, cardiovascular risk factors, overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia

Qingqing Sun,1,&ast; Lixin Shen,1,&ast; Bai-Ling Zhang,2 Jiaoyang Yu,1,3 Fu Wei,1 Yanmei Sun,1 Wei Chen,3,4 Shiwei Wang1 1Key Laboratory of Resources Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Shaanxi Province, the College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an, 710069, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People’s Republic of China; 3Clinical Research Center, the Second Hospital of Nanjing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210003, People’s Republic of China; 4The Clinical Infectious Disease Center of Nanjing, Nanjing, 210003, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Wei Chen; Shiwei Wang, Email njyy039@njucm.edu.cn; wangsw@nwu.edu.cnAbstract: Since bacteriophages (phages) were firstly reported at the beginning of the 20th century, the study on them experiences booming-fading-emerging with discovery and overuse of antibiotics. Although they are the hotspots for therapy of antibiotic-resistant strains nowadays, natural phage applications encounter some challenges such as limited host range and bacterial resistance to phages. Synthetic biology, one of the most dramatic directions in the recent 20-years study of microbiology, has generated numerous methods and tools and has contributed a lot to understanding phage evolution, engineering modification, and controlling phage-bacteria interactions. In order to better modify and apply phages by using synthetic biology techniques in the future, in this review, we comprehensively introduce various strategies on engineering or modification of phage genome and rebooting of recombinant phages, summarize the recent researches and potential directions of phage synthetic biology, and outline the current application of engineered phages in practice.Keywords: phage, synthetic biology, engineering, rebooting, phage therapy, phage application

Liping Shen,1,&ast; Linping Chen,1,&ast; Hongbo Chi,1 Lifei Luo,1 Jinsu Ruan,1 Xinzhuan Zhao,1 Yi Jiang,1 Tao-Hsin Tung,2 Hongguo Zhu,1 Kai Zhou,1 Bo Shen,1 Jiaqin Xu1 1Department of Clinical Laboratory, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Evidence-Based Medicine Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jiaqin Xu; Bo Shen, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-13968607148 ; +86 13586121278, Email xujq@enzemed.com; shenb@enzemed.comPurpose: Information about dynamic changes occurring in the parameters and morphology of erythrocytes and platelets during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and convalescence is scarce. To explore potential associations between dynamic erythrocyte and platelet parameters, morphological changes, and the course or severity of the disease is essential.Patients and Methods: From January 17th, 2020, to February 20th, 2022, we followed up on 35 patients with non-severe and 11 patients with severe COVID-19 following their discharge. We collected clinical features, dynamic complete blood count (CBC), and peripheral blood smears (PBS) and analyzed parameter and morphological changes of erythrocytes and platelets depending on the course or severity of the disease. The course of the disease included four periods, namely onset (T1), discharge (T2), 1-year follow-up (T3), and 2-year follow-up (T4).Results: Red blood cell (RBC) counts and hemoglobin were the lowest in T2, followed by T1, and lower in T1 and T2 than in T3 and T4. Inversely, the red blood cell distribution width (RDW) was the highest in T2, followed by T1, and higher than in T3 and T4. Compared to non-severe patients, the platelet of severe patients was lower in T1 and T2. In contrast, the mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) tended to be higher in severe patients. Similarly, anisocytosis was more common in peripheral blood smears at early stages and in severe patients. Finally, large platelets were more common in severe patients.Conclusion: Anisocytosis of erythrocytes and large platelets are found in patients with severe COVID-19, these changes may help primary hospitals to identify patients with a high risk of severe COVID-19 at an early stage.Keywords: erythrocytes, blood platelets, COVID-19

SathishKumar Moorthy,1,&ast; Linli Yu,1,&ast; Lin Peng,1 Liangliang Shen,1 Yu Han,1 Zikai Zhang,2 Yanqiao Li,3 Xin Huang1 1Department of Dermatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Science, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Dermatology, Institute of Dermatology and Venereology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610072, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xin Huang, Department of Dermatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, People’s Republic of China, Email alida_huang@163.comBackground: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of androgenetic alopecia patients has become increasingly important, but the influencing factors associated with the different domains are poorly understood.Objective: This study aimed to investigate the influencing factors in HRQoL of androgenetic alopecia patients and identify its strongly associated domains.Patients and Methods: We enrolled 170 androgenetic alopecia patients. HRQoL was measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHO-BREF), and Hairdex.Results: HRQoL was significantly impaired in patients < 30 years, (WHO-BREF: P=0.022, Hairdex: P=0.004), less educated (WHO-BREF: P=0.021, Hairdex: P=0.003), single patients (Hairdex: P=0.023), and urban residence (Hairdex: P=0.043). By domains, those < 30 years were impaired by physical health (P=0.038) and psychological (P=0.030) by WHO-BREF, and symptoms (P=0.002) and emotions (P=0.002) by Hairdex. Singles were impaired by symptoms (P=0.020), and emotions (P=0.009) by Hairdex. Less-educated individuals had impaired all domains in the WHO-BREF and Hairdex, except for physical health. Women had impaired symptoms (P=0.013) and stigmatization (P=0.041) in Hairdex.Conclusion: Androgenetic alopecia is associated with significantly reduced HRQoL in young, less educated, and single patients. Dermatologists should inquire about Quality of Life and appropriately support androgenetic alopecia patients.Keywords: quality of life, androgenetic alopecia, WHO-BREF, Hairdex

Recent zoom-in cosmological simulations have shown that stellar feedback can flatten the inner density profile of the dark matter halo in low-mass galaxies. A correlation between the stellar/gas velocity dispersion (σ star, σ gas) and the specific star formation rate (sSFR) is predicted as an observational test of the role of stellar feedback in re-shaping the dark matter density profile. In this work we test the validity of this prediction by studying a sample of star-forming galaxies at 0.6 < z < 1.0 from the LEGA-C survey, which provides high signal-to-noise measurements of stellar and gas kinematics. We find that a weak but significant correlation between σ star (and σ gas) and sSFR indeed exists for galaxies in the lowest mass bin (M ∗ ∼ 1010 M o˙). This correlation, albeit with a ∼35% scatter, holds for different tracers of star formation, and becomes stronger with redshift. This result generally agrees with the picture that at higher redshifts star formation rate was generally higher, and galaxies at M ∗ ≲ 1010 M o˙ have not yet settled into a disk. As a consequence, they have shallower gravitational potentials more easily perturbed by stellar feedback. The observed correlation between σ star (and σ gas) and sSFR supports the scenario predicted by cosmological simulations, in which feedback-driven outflows cause fluctuations in the gravitation potential that flatten the density profiles of low-mass galaxies.

In the mixed-valence manganites, a near-infrared laser typically melts the orbital and spin order simultaneously, corresponding to the photoinduced d1d0→d0d1 excitations in the Mott-Hubbard bands of manganese. Here, we use ultrafast methods-both femtosecond resonant X-ray diffraction and optical reflectivity-to demonstrate that the orbital response in the layered manganite Nd1-xSr1+xMnO4(x=2/3) does not follow this scheme. At the photoexcitation saturation fluence, the orbital order is only diminished by a few percent in the transient state. Instead of the typical d1d0→d0d1 transition, a near-infrared pump in this compound promotes a fundamentally distinct mechanism of charge transfer, the d0→d1L, where L denotes a hole in the oxygen band. This finding may pave a different avenue for selectively manipulating specific types of order in complex materials of this class.

Magnetic skyrmions are topologically protected spin textures with promising prospects for applications in data storage. They can form a lattice state due to competing magnetic interactions and are commonly found in a small region of the temperature - magnetic field phase diagram. Recent work has demonstrated that these magnetic quasi-particles fluctuate at the μeV energy scale. Here, we use a coherent x-ray correlation method at an x-ray free-electron laser to investigate these fluctuations in a magnetic phase coexistence region near a first-order transition boundary where fluctuations are not expected to play a major role. Surprisingly, we find that the relaxation of the intermediate scattering function at this transition differs significantly compared to that deep in the skyrmion lattice phase. The observation of a compressed exponential behavior suggests solid-like dynamics, often associated with jamming. We assign this behavior to disorder and the phase coexistence observed in a narrow field-window near the transition, which can cause fluctuations that lead to glassy behavior.