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Background: Early recognition and prediction of stroke mimics (SM) can avoid inappropriate recanalization therapy and delay in the management of SM etiology. The purpose of this study is to screen the predictors for SM and develop a novel predictive nomogram model for predicting SM. Meanwhile, the diagnostic performance of the nomogram model was evaluated and validated. The diagnostic efficacy of the nomogram model was also compared with four other SM structured scales. Methods: The clinical data of eligible patients were retrospectively enrolled as training datasets from January 2020 to December 2021; and the clinical data of eligible patients were prospectively enrolled as validation datasets from February to December 2022 in stroke center, Shengjing hospital, respectively. Univariate analysis and Lasso regression were used to select the optimal predictors for the training set, and a nomogram model was constructed by multivariate logistics regression, predictive scoring based on nomogram model is performed for each subject suffering from suspected acute ischemic stroke. Area under the curve (AUC), Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test, Calibration curve, decision curve analysis (DCA), clinical impact curve (CIC) analysis and bootstrap sampling were performed to assess and validate the predictive performance and clinical utility of the nomogram model, and the DeLong test was used to compare the overall diagnostic performance of the nomogram model with the other four structured SM scales. The Delong test was also conducted to assess the external reliability of the SM nomogram model by comparing the predictive diagnostic performance of the validation set with the training set. Additionally, the Calibration curve was utilized to evaluate the diagnostic calibration capability of the SM nomogram model in the validation set. Results: 703 eligible patients (68 with SM, accounting for 9.7 %) were assigned to the training set, while 301 patients (26 with SM, accounting for 8.6 %) were assigned to the validation set. A nomogram model was then developed using these six parameters (SBP, history of epilepsy, isolated dizziness, isolated sensory impairment, headache, and absence of speech impairment symptoms), a dynamic web-based version of the nomogram was subsequently created. Comparing with four other scales, the nomogram model showed the highest overall diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.929, 95%CI = 0.908–0.947). The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test was conducted to assess the agreement between the predicted SM values from the model and the observed SM values. The results of the test indicated a favorable consistency (χ2 = 9.299, P = 0.3177) between the predicted and observed SM. The results obtained from the analysis of the Calibration curve, DCA curve, and CIC analysis suggested that the nomogram possesses a favorable predictive capacity and superior clinical usefulness. Furthermore, the external validation demonstrated that there is no significant difference in the overall predictive diagnostic performance between the validation set and training set (0.929 vs 0.910, P > 0.05), thereby confirming the favorable stability of the nomogram model. Conclusion: Our study firstly proposed a nomogram prediction approach based on the clinical features of SM, which could effectively predict the occurrence of SM. The utilization of the nomogram in stroke center proves advantageous for the identification and evaluation of SM, thereby enhancing diagnostic decision-making and strategies employed for suspected acute stroke patients.

Abstract Background The breeding of layers emphasizes the continual selection of egg-related traits, such as egg production, egg quality and eggshell, which enhance their productivity and meet the demand of market. As the breeding process continued, the genomic homozygosity of layers gradually increased, resulting in the emergence of runs of homozygosity (ROH). Therefore, ROH analysis can be used in conjunction with other methods to detect selection signatures and identify candidate genes associated with various important traits in layer breeding. Results In this study, we generated whole-genome sequencing data from 686 hens in a Rhode Island Red population that had undergone fifteen consecutive generations of intensive artificial selection. We performed a genome-wide ROH analysis and utilized multiple methods to detect signatures of selection. A total of 141,720 ROH segments were discovered in whole population, and most of them (97.35%) were less than 3 Mb in length. Twenty-three ROH islands were identified, and they overlapped with some regions bearing selection signatures, which were detected by the De-correlated composite of multiple signals methods (DCMS). Sixty genes were discovered and functional annotation analysis revealed the possible roles of them in growth, development, immunity and signaling in layers. Additionally, two-tailed analyses including DCMS and ROH for 44 phenotypes of layers were conducted to find out the genomic differences between subgroups of top and bottom 10% phenotype of individuals. Combining the results of GWAS, we observed that regions significantly associated with traits also exhibited selection signatures between the high and low subgroups. We identified a region significantly associated with egg weight near the 25 Mb region of GGA 1, which exhibited selection signatures and has higher genomic homozygosity in the low egg weight subpopulation. This suggests that the region may be play a role in the decline in egg weight. Conclusions In summary, through the combined analysis of ROH, selection signatures, and GWAS, we identified several genomic regions that associated with the production traits of layers, providing reference for the study of layer genome.

Abstract Objective There is a growing body of evidence indicating that pyroptosis, a programmed cell death mechanism, plays a crucial role in the exacerbation of inflammation and fibrosis in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Circular RNAs (circRNAs), functioning as vital regulators within NAFLD, have been shown to mediate the process of cell pyroptosis. This study aims to elucidate the roles and mechanisms of circRNAs in NAFLD. Methods Utilizing a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced rat model for in vivo experimentation and hepatocytes treated with palmitic acid (PA) for in vitro models, we identified circular RNA SOD2 (circSOD2) as our circRNA of interest through analysis with the circMine database. The expression levels of associated genes and pyroptosis-related proteins were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, alongside immunohistochemistry. Serum liver function markers, cellular inflammatory cytokines, malondialdehyde, lactate dehydrogenase levels, and mitochondrial membrane potential, were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, standard assay kits, or JC-1 staining. Flow cytometry was employed to detect pyroptotic cells, and lipid deposition in liver tissues was observed via Oil Red O staining. The interactions between miR-532-3p/circSOD2 and miR-532-3p/Thioredoxin Interacting Protein (TXNIP) were validated through dual-luciferase reporter assays and RNA immunoprecipitation experiments. Results Our findings demonstrate that, in both in vivo and in vitro NAFLD models, there was an upregulation of circSOD2 and TXNIP, alongside a downregulation of miR-532-3p. Mechanistically, miR-532-3p directly bound to the 3'-UTR of TXNIP, thereby mediating inflammation and cell pyroptosis through targeting the TXNIP/NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome signaling pathway. circSOD2 directly interacted with miR-532-3p, relieving the suppression on the TXNIP/NLRP3 signaling pathway. Functionally, the knockdown of circSOD2 or TXNIP improved hepatocyte pyroptosis; the deletion of miR-532-3p reversed the effects of circSOD2 knockdown, and the deletion of TXNIP reversed the effects of circSOD2 overexpression. Furthermore, the knockdown of circSOD2 significantly mitigated the progression of NAFLD in vivo. Conclusion circSOD2 competitively sponges miR-532-3p to activate the TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway, promoting pyroptosis in NAFLD.

ABSTRACT: The industry of egg-type chicken has shown a trend of extending the rearing period, with the goal of breeding chicken breeds capable of producing 500 qualified eggs by 700 d of age. However, the rapid decline in eggshell quality during the late laying period is one of the major challenges. In this study, a total of 3,261 Rhode Island Red chickens were used to measure eggshell quality traits including eggshell strength (ESS), eggshell thickness (EST), eggshell color (ESC) and eggshell gloss (ESG) at seven age points ranging from 36 to 90 wk of age. Phenotypic variations increased with the aging process, especially during the late laying period (> 55 wk), and the heritability during this period decreased by 22.7 to 81.4% compared to the initial and peak laying periods. Then we performed genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify the genomic variants that associated with eggshell quality, with a custom Illumina 50K BeadChip, named PhenoixChip-I. The results indicated that 2 genomic regions on GGA1(23.24-25.15Mb; 175.95-176.05 Mb) were significantly (P < 4.48E-06) or suggestively (P < 8.97E-05) associated with ESS, which can explain 9.59% and 0.48% of the phenotypic variations of ESS46 and ESS36, respectively. Three genes, FRY, PCNX2, and ENSGALG00000052468, were considered to be the candidate genes for ESS. For other traits, the genome-wide suggestive SNPs were identified at each age point, exhibiting a certain trend with aging process. Additionally, SNP enrichment analysis and functional annotation of cross-tissue regulatory elements to ESS36 revealed a high concentration of enhancer elements specific to shell gland and kidney tissues. This study, deepened our knowledge of eggshells and laying a valued scientific foundation for chicken molecular breeding.

Abstract Background Hydrogen-rich water (HRW) has been shown to prevent cognitive impairment caused by ionizing radiation. This study aimed to investigate the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of HRW on ionizing radiation by coupling the brain metabolomics and biological target network methods. Methods and results HRW significantly improves the cognitive impairment in rats exposed to ionizing radiation. Based on metabolomics and biological network results, we identified 54 differential metabolites and 93 target genes. The KEGG pathway indicates that glutathione metabolism, ascorbic acid and aldehyde acid metabolism, pentose and glucuronic acid interconversion, and glycerophospholipid metabolism play important roles in ionizing radiation therapy. Conclusion Our study has systematically elucidated the molecular mechanism of HRW against ionizing radiation, which can be mediated by modulating targets, pathways and metabolite levels. This provides a new perspective for identifying the underlying pharmacological mechanism of HRW.

This review explores the mechanisms of chronic radiation-induced skin injury fibrosis, focusing on the transition from acute radiation damage to a chronic fibrotic state. It reviewed the cellular and molecular responses of the skin to radiation, highlighting the role of myofibroblasts and the significant impact of Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β) in promoting fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transformation. The review delves into the epigenetic regulation of fibrotic gene expression, the contribution of extracellular matrix proteins to the fibrotic microenvironment, and the regulation of the immune system in the context of fibrosis. Additionally, it discusses the potential of biomaterials and artificial intelligence in medical research to advance the understanding and treatment of radiation-induced skin fibrosis, suggesting future directions involving bioinformatics and personalized therapeutic strategies to enhance patient quality of life.

BackgroundAt present, radiation therapy is widely used in clinical treatment of tumors. However, while radiation therapy damages tumor cells, it also injures surrounding normal tissues. Studies have shown that hydrogen is a potential radiation-protective agent. ObjectiveTo investigate the neuroprotective mechanisms of hydrogen-rich water activating phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/cysteinyl aspartate specificproteinase-9 (Caspase-9) signaling pathway in acute radiation-induced brain injury. MethodsForty male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group, irradiation only group (IR), high-dose hydrogen-rich water intervention group (IR+HHRW), and low-dose hydrogen-rich water intervention group (IR+LHRW), 10 rats in each group. Except for the control group, animals in each group received a single 20 Gy whole brain irradiation. Animals in all groups were gavaged once a day from 3 d before irradiation to 7 d after irradiation, pure water (20 mL·kg−1) was given to the control and the IR groups, and hydrogen-rich water (20 mL·kg−1, 10 mL·kg−1) was given to the IR+HHRW and the IR+LHRW groups. After 7 d of intervention, 5 rats in each group were selected for the Morris water maze experiment for behavioral evaluation. Autopsies were conducted after anesthesia for the remaining animals and blood samples were collected for hematological analysis. Rat brains were harvested for TUNEL staining to observe neuronal apoptosis. HE staining was performed to observe histopathological changes, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was adopted to detect oxidative stress-related indicators, and real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to measure the expressions of PI3K/AKT/Caspase-9 pathway-related genes and proteins. ResultsThe body weight of rats receiving irradiation decreased after 7 d of irradiation compared with the control group (P

BackgroundIn the process of radiotherapy, when radiation kills tumor cells, it inevitably damages normal tissue cells. ObjectiveTo investigate the role of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor−kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway in the improvement of cognitive impairment induced by ionizing radiation by hydrogen-rich water before and after whole brain irradiation in rats. MethodsFifteen male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group, irradiated group (IR group), and hydrogen-rich water intervention group (IR+HRW group), with 5 rats in each group. The control group was not irradiated, but was given purified water (20 mL·kg−1) by gavage every day, while the IR group and the IR+HRW group were irradiated with a single dose of 20 Gy. Three days before, 10 min before, and 30 days after irradiation, purified water/hydrogen-rich water (20 mL·kg−1) was given by continuous gavage every day. The general condition of the rats was observed every day, and the body weight were measured on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 30th days after irradiation. On the 30th day after irradiation, the learning and memory ability of the rats was tested by Morris water maze; the pathological changes of hippocampus were detected by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining after sacrificing the rats; the contents of glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and hydroxyl radicals in brain tissues were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); the mRNA and protein expression levels of TLR4, NF-κB, NOD-like receptor pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3), and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 1 (Caspase 1) were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting in the hippocampus of rats. ResultsAfter irradiation, the rats in the IR group showed symptoms such as head hair removal and salivation, while the symptoms of the rats in the IR+HRW group were milder. No animal died in the control and the IR+HRW groups, while one rat died in the IR group. From day 14 to day 30 after irradiation, the body weight of the rats in the IR+HRW group tended to be higher than that in the IR group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The Morris water maze results showed that the escape latency of the IR+HRW group was shortened compared with that of IR group from day 1 to day 5 except day 3, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). For the rats in the IR+HRW group, it took less time to reach the original location of the platform after removing the platform on day 6 and the number of crossing the platform and the residence time in the original platform quadrant increased (P0.05). The results of qRT-PCR showed that the mRNA expression levels of TLR4 and Caspase 1 in the hippocampus of the IR+HRW group were decreased compared with the IR group (P0.05). The results of Western blotting showed that the expression levels of TLR4 and Caspase 1 protein in the hippocampus of the IR+HRW group were decreased compared with the IR group (P0.05). ConclusionHydrogen-rich water can improve cognitive impairment induced by ionizing radiation in rats, and its mechanism may be related to regulating TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, inhibiting inflammatory factors, and attenuating oxidative stress.

PurposeWe aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of filamentous fungi (FF) carriage in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients in Guangdong province, along with its subsequent incidence of invasive fungal disease (IFD).MethodsSeven hundred and sixteen HIV-infected individuals from the outpatient clinic and 293 sex-matched healthy controls were recruited prospectively from May 1 to August 31, 2017. Fungi were isolated from oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal swabs, then identified by morphological and molecular biological techniques. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors of pathogenic FF carriage. Pathogenic FF carriers were followed up through the end of 2019.ResultsOf the 716 included HIV-infected patients, 602 (84.1%) were male, the median age was 34 (27–42) years, and the median CD4+ count was 385 (254–542) cells/μl. Pathogenic FF were isolated in 119 (16.6%) cases with HIV infection and 40 (13.7%) healthy controls. Mucorales were found in 3 HIV-infected individuals and Talaromyces marneffei in 2 HIV-infected individuals, but not in healthy controls. History of cured opportunistic infections (OIs; OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.23–3.13, p = 0.004), and smoking (OR, 1.55; 95%CI, 1.03–2.32, p = 0.035) were independent risk factors of pathogenic FF carriage in HIV-infected individuals. A total of 119 pathogenic FF carriers with HIV infection were followed. During follow-up, 119 (100%) cases received antiretroviral therapy (ART) for at least 28 months, 107 (90%) cases had CD4+ counts>200 cells/μl, and none developed IFD.DiscussionPathogenic FF carriage is common in HIV-infected individuals but may not develop IFD in those who achieved immune reconstitution. Smoking and cured OIs history increase the risk of pathogenic FF carriage. Smoking abstinence and ART adherence are especially important for these patients.

Abstract Thyroid‐associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is a serious, progressive, vision‐threatening and difficult‐to‐treat organ‐specific autoimmune disease. The course, therapeutic effects and prognosis of moderate to severe TAO vary greatly. High‐dose intravenous glucocorticoid (IVGC) therapy is considered a first‐line treatment for active moderate‐to‐severe TAO, but there is still insufficient evidence regarding the treatment duration. Long‐term IVGC therapy can influence the metabolism of glucose, lipids, and bone. This study was designed to compare changes in metabolic and immunological indexes as well as the magnetic resonance imaging apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the extraocular muscles after 4 and 12 weeks of IVGC therapy. Forty‐eight patients with active moderate‐to‐severe TAO were included in this retrospective cohort study. Metabolism and immunological indexes were measured before and after therapy. The ADC and clinical activity score (CAS) were used to evaluate the efficacy of treatment in these patients. We found that the patients in the 12‐week group had increased fasting plasma glucose (p = 0.004), glycated hemoglobin (p = 0.028), total cholesterol (p

Abstract Background Acupuncture has been widely applied in the clinic to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Diffuse noxious inhibitory control (DNIC) is deficient in patients with IBS, which attenuates the systemic analgesic effect elicited by noxious stimulation that is remote from pain areas. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at homotopic or heterotopic acupoints on abdominal pain in patients with IBS. Methods/design This study is a randomized, single-blinded, controlled, four-arm parallel trial. A total of 144 patients will be randomly assigned to four groups: a homotopic noxious stimulation group (group A), a homotopic innocuous stimulation group (group B), a heterotopic noxious stimulation group (group C), and a heterotopic innocuous stimulation group (group D). Each patient will receive 14 sessions of treatment, twice per week for 7 weeks. The primary outcome will be pain intensity measured with the visual analog scale. The secondary outcomes will include the IBS Symptom Severity Scale, IBS Quality of Life questionnaire, pain threshold (PT), and the Symptom Checklist-90 for psychological distress. The PT will be measured before and after every treatment. All other outcomes will be evaluated before the 1st treatment, after 7th and 14th treatment, and 3 months later during follow-up. Discussion The aim of this study is to assess the analgesic effect of EA at homotopic (abdomen) acupoints and heterotopic (lower limb) acupoints on abdominal pain in patients with IBS, as well as the difference in analgesic effects between noxious and innocuous stimulation. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-IPR-15006879. Registered on 5 August 2015.

Natural stilbenes have unique physiological effects, such as anti-senile dementia, anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, lowering blood lipid, and other important biological functions, which have attracted great attention from scholars in recent years. In this study, two stilbene compounds, resveratrol (RES) and polydatin (PD), were isolated from Mulberry (Morus alba L.), and their antioxidant activity and mechanism were investigated. The results showed that the contents of RES and PD in mulberry roots were 32.45 and 3.15 μg/g, respectively, significantly higher than those in mulberry fruits (0.48 and 0.0020 μg/g) and mulberry branches (5.70 and 0.33 μg/g). Both RES and PD showed high antioxidant potential by DPPH, ABTS free-scavenging methods, and ORAC assay, and provided protection against oxidative damage in HepG2 cells by increased catalase (CAT) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and Glutathione (GSH) content, and decreasing generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Therefore, RES and PD treatment could be effective for attenuating AAPH-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. This study will promote the development and application of stilbene compounds. Furthermore, the RES and PD could be used as antioxidant supplements in functional foods, cosmetics, or pharmaceuticals, contributing to health improvement.

A composite high manganese structure comprising recovered and recrystallized structures was prepared using a single-phase austenitic Fe-30Mn-0.14C-7Cr-0.26Ni steel by cold rolling and annealing. The yield strength and elongation of the composite increased simultaneously, when the tensile temperature decreased from room temperature (RT) to low temperature (−180°C). The composite structure exhibited a good combination of strength and ductility at RT and −180°C. The notable mechanical properties at low temperature can be attributed to the enhanced strain-hardening capability via introducing multiple deformation mechanisms in the composite structure.

Objective: Type 2 diabetic patients have a higher incidence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and advanced stages of fibrosis, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with impaired bone health. We aimed to investigate whether bone turnover is associated with the probable presence of NASH and fibrosis.Methods: In total, 4,937 diabetic participants from Shanghai, China were enrolled in 2018. Subjects with NAFLD were categorized into simple NAFLD and probable NASH groups based on the presence of a metabolic syndrome. The NAFLD fibrosis score was used to identify patients with a higher likelihood of advanced fibrosis.Results: In postmenopausal women, large N-mid fragment of osteocalcin (N-MID osteocalcin) was negatively associated with probable NASH (P for trend < 0.001). β-C-terminal cross-linked telopeptides of type I collagen (β-CTX) and procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) were positively associated with the probable presence of significant fibrosis in postmenopausal women (P for trend 0.015 and

A 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane (APES) fiber-optic sensor based on a Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) was demonstrated. The MZI was constructed with a core-offset fusion single mode fiber (SMF) structure with a length of 3.0 cm. As APES gradually attaches to the MZI, the external environment of the MZI changes, which in turn causes change in the MZI’s interference. That is the reason why we can obtain the relationships between the APES amount and resonance dip wavelength by measuring the transmission variations of the resonant dip wavelength of the MZI. The optimized amount of 1% APES for 3.0 cm MZI biosensors was 3 mL, whereas the optimized amount of 2% APES was 1.5 mL.

An extension of the conventional dual Schottky diode-based predistortion circuit (PDC) is proposed to linearize directly modulated radio over fiber (RoF) system. The main advantages of the proposed PDC are simple configuration, excellent distortion suppression, and broad bandwidth from dc to 6 GHz. By using the proposed cascaded Schottky diodes-based PDC, the condition of third-order intermodulation nonlinearities suppression can be more easily satisfied and the optimal linearization effect can be achieved due to the fact that it has more circuit adjustment parameters. The experimental results show that by using the proposed PDC, the spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) @2 GHz of the optical transceiver which is designed by ourselves can be improved from 93.8 dB·Hz2/3 to 112.1 dB·Hz4/5 in a 1-Hz bandwidth, corresponding to 7.21% error vector magnitude performance improvement for 20 MHz 64QAM-OFDM @2 GHz signal transmission over 10 km standard single mode fiber. The linearity improvement by using the proposed PDC has also been verified in a commercial optical transceiver based RoF system, and the achieved SFDR @ 2 GHz can be increased from 102.8 dB·Hz2/3 to 121.6 dB·Hz4/5 in a 1-Hz bandwidth.

To explore the optimum condition of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) accumulation in germinated tartary buckwheat, effects of some factors including aeration treatment, physiological indexes, air flow rate, culture temperature, and pH value of cultivating solution under hypoxia on GABA in germinated tartary buckwheat were investigated. The results showed that the dark cultures with distilled water at 30°C, 2 days, and aeration stress with 1.0 L/min air flow rate at 30°C were optimal for GABA accumulation. Under these conditions, the predicted content of GABA was up to 371.98 μg/g DW. The analysis of correlation indicated that there was a significant correlation (P

In this paper, we introduce a strongly quasi-local version of the coarse Novikov conjecture, which states that a certain assembly map from the coarse Khomology of a metric space to the K-theory of its strongly quasi-local algebra is injective. We prove that the conjecture holds for metric spaces with bounded geometry which can be coarsely embedded into Banach spaces with Property (H), as introduced by Kasparov and Yu. We also generalize the notion of strong quasi-locality to proper metric spaces and provide a (strongly) quasi-local picture for K-homology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce a notion of strongly quasi-local algebras. They are defined for each discrete metric space with bounded geometry, and sit between the Roe algebra and the quasilocal algebra. We show that strongly quasi-local algebras are coarse invariants, hence encoding coarse geometric information of the underlying spaces. We prove that for a discrete metric space with bounded geometry which admits a coarse embedding into a Hilbert space, the inclusion of the Roe algebra into the strongly quasi-local algebra induces an isomorphism in K-theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Headache is a common occurrence after endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) for pituitary adenomas and significantly impacts the quality of life of patients. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of nasal irrigation in relieving postoperative headache after EES. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of 101 patients (Cohort I) who underwent EES for pituitary adenomas to explore the risk factors associated with postoperative headache. Another cohort of 72 patients (Cohort II) who received adjuvant nasal irrigation following surgery was enrolled for further analysis. The Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) was used to score the severity of headache, and patients with a HIT score > 55 were classified as having headache. Results In Cohort I, 21.78% of patients experienced headache one month after EES, which decreased to 5.94% at the three-month follow-up. Multivariate analysis revealed that postoperative nasal sinusitis (OR = 3.88, 95%CI 1.16–13.03, p = 0.028) and Hardy’s grade C-D (OR = 10.53, 95%CI 1.02-109.19, p = 0.049) independently predicted the presence of postoperative headache at one month. At the three-month follow-up, patients with sinusitis had higher HIT-6 scores compared to those without sinusitis (44.43 ± 9.78 vs. 39.72 ± 5.25, p = 0.017). In Cohort II, the incidence of sinusitis at three months was significantly lower than that in Cohort I (p = 0.028). Importantly, both the incidence of headache and HIT-6 scores in Cohort II were significantly lower than those in Cohort I at the one- and three-month follow-ups. Conclusions Postoperative sinusitis is an independent risk factor for the development of headache following EES for pituitary adenomas. Prophylactic nasal irrigation helps relieve postoperative headache, possibly by preventing the occurrence of sinusitis.