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Berberine (BBR) is a natural alkaloid with multiple biotical effects that has potential as a treatment for fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS). However, the mechanism underlying the protective effect of BBR against FLHS remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of BBR on FLHS induced by a high-energy, low-protein (HELP) diet and explore the involvement of the gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism in the protective effects. A total of 90 healthy 140-day-old Hy-line laying hens were randomly divided into three groups, including a control group (fed a basic diet), a HELP group (fed a HELP diet), and a HELP+BBR group (high-energy, high-protein diet supplemented with BBR instead of maize). Our results show that BBR supplementation alleviated liver injury and hepatic steatosis in laying hens. Moreover, BBR supplementation could significantly regulate the gut's microbial composition, increasing the abundance of Actinobacteria and Romboutsia. In addition, the BBR supplement altered the profile of bile acid. Furthermore, the gut microbiota participates in bile acid metabolism, especially taurochenodeoxycholic acid and α-muricholic acid. BBR supplementation could regulate the expression of genes and proteins related to glucose metabolism, lipid synthesis (FAS, SREBP-1c), and bile acid synthesis (FXR, CYP27a1). Collectively, our findings demonstrate that BBR might be a potential feed additive for preventing FLHS by regulating the gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For adolescents, high levels of aggression are often associated with suicide, physical injury, worsened academic performance, and crime. Therefore, there is a need for the early identification of and intervention for highly aggressive adolescents. The Buss–Warren Aggression Questionnaire (BWAQ) is one of the most widely used offensive measurement tools. It consists of 34 items, and the longer the scale, the more likely participants are to make an insufficient effort response (IER), which reduces the credibility of the results and increases the cost of implementation. This study aimed to develop a shorter BWAQ using machine learning (ML) techniques to reduce the frequency of IER and simultaneously decrease implementation costs. First, an initial version of the short-form questionnaire was created using stepwise regression and an ANOVA F-test. Then, a machine learning algorithm was used to create the optimal short-form questionnaire (BWAQ-ML). Finally, the reliability and validity of the optimal short-form questionnaire were tested using independent samples. The BWAQ-ML contains only four items, thirty items less than the BWAQ, and its AUC, accuracy, recall, precision, and F1 score are 0.85, 0.85, 0.89, 0.83, and 0.86, respectively. BWAQ-ML has a Cronbach's alpha of 0.84, a correlation with RPQ of 0.514, and a correlation with PTM of −0.042, suggesting good measurement performance. The BWAQ-ML can effectively measure individual aggression, and its smaller number of items improves the measurement efficiency for large samples and reduces the frequency of IER occurrence. It can be used as a convenient tool for early adolescent aggression identification and intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dense structure of silicon nitride ceramic was fabricated by direct ink writing using aqueous suspensions. The rheology of the suspensions was carefully tailored by the particle chemical state and the ion concentrations, without the use of any organics. The surface chemical states of the Si 3 N 4 powder were modified by calcination at 600 °C at various times. The minimum absolute value of zeta potential, calculated by the DLVO theory, was 19 mV at which the interaction was attractive interaction. Suspensions with solid volume fraction of 25–40 vol% exhibited pseudoplastic behavior with yield stresses ≥55 Pa and equilibrium storage moduli ≥ 104 Pa. These enabled suspensions to flow through the nozzle and retain the shape of the printed parts. The flexural strength of Si 3 N 4 ceramics produced using a 40 vol% suspension was 348 MPa. This strategy provides a simple process for fabricating high-performance ceramics based on the DIW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Clinically, chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is very common. Many CPSP patients may experience depression. Thus far, little is known about the mechanism of the comorbidity of CPSP and depression. Ketamine has been confirmed to possess analgesic and rapid antidepressant effects, but it is unclear whether ketamine can relieve the comorbidity of CPSP and depression. Objectives: The present study evaluated the effects of ketamine in rats with the comorbidity of CPSP and depression. Methods: We induced CPSP in rats by thoracotomy and screened for rats with or without depression-like phenotype by hierarchical cluster analysis based on the results of depression-related behavioral experiments. Subsequently, rats were intraperitoneally injected with ketamine (20 mg/kg) and were evaluated by mechanical withdrawal threshold, cold hyperalgesia test, sucrose preference test, forced swimming test, and open field test. The inflammatory-related cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, nuclear factor-kappaB), oxidative stress parameters (superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, glutathione, catalase), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in rat hippocampus were detected. Results: In the hippocampus of rats with the comorbidity of CPSP and depression, IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, nuclear factor-kappaB, and malondialdehyde were significantly increased, while superoxide dismutase, glutathione, catalase, and BDNF were significantly decreased. Ketamine relieved depression but did not attenuate hyperalgesia in CPSP rats. Additionally, ketamine reduced proinflammatory cytokines, inhibited oxidative stress, and elevated BDNF levels in rat hippocampus. Conclusions: Ketamine can rapidly relieve CPSP-induced depression in rats, which may be related to the reduction of proinflammatory cytokines, regulating oxidative stress and increasing BDNF in the hippocampus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Methods Results Conclusion Choosing the initial treatment for type 2 diabetes (T2D) is pivotal, requiring consideration of solid clinical evidence and patient characteristics. Despite metformin's historical preference, its efficacy in preventing cerebrovascular events lacked empirical validation. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between first‐line monotherapy (metformin or non‐metformin antidiabetic medications) and cerebrovascular complications in patients with T2D without diabetic complications.We analysed 9090 patients with T2D without complications who were prescribed either metformin or non‐metformin medications as initial therapy. Propensity score matching ensured group comparability. Cox regression analyses, stratified by initial metformin use, assessed cerebrovascular disease risk, adjusting for multiple covariates and using competing risk analysis. Metformin exposure was measured using cumulative defined daily doses.Metformin users had a significantly lower crude incidence of cerebrovascular diseases compared with non‐users (p < .0001). Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) consistently showed an association between metformin use and a lower risk of overall cerebrovascular diseases (aHRs: 0.67‐0.69) and severe events (aHRs: 0.67‐0.69). The association with reduced risk of mild cerebrovascular diseases was significant across all models (aHRs: 0.73‐0.74). Higher cumulative defined daily doses of metformin correlated with reduced cerebrovascular risk (incidence rate ratio: 0.62‐0.94, p < .0001), indicating a dose‐dependent effect.Metformin monotherapy is associated with a reduced risk of cerebrovascular diseases in early‐stage T2D, highlighting its dose‐dependent efficacy. However, the observed benefits might also be influenced by baseline differences and the increased risks associated with other medications, such as sulphonylureas. These findings emphasize the need for personalized diabetes management, particularly in mitigating cerebrovascular risk in early T2D stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zirconium carbide (ZrC) ceramics have a high melting point, low neutron absorption cross section, and excellent resistance to the impact of fission products and are considered to be one of the best candidate materials for fourth-generation nuclear energy systems. ZrC ceramics with a high relative density of 99.1% were successfully prepared via pressureless sintering using a small amount of MoSi2 as an additive. The influence of the MoSi2 content on the densification behavior, microstructure, mechanical properties, and thermal properties of ZrC ceramics was systematically investigated. The results show that the densification of ZrC was significantly enhanced by the introduction of MoSi2 due to the formation of a liquid phase during sintering. In addition, the ZrC grains were refined due to the pinning effect of the generated silicon carbide. The flexural strength and Vickers hardness of ZrC ceramics with 2.5 vol% MoSi2 sintered at 1850 °C were 408 ± 12 MPa and 17.1 GPa, respectively, which were approximately 30% and 10% higher compared to the samples without the addition of MoSi2. The improved mechanical properties were mainly attributed to the high relative density (99.1%) and refined microstructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of Ti doping on the microstructure and properties of SiCp/Al composites fabricated by pressureless infiltration were comprehensively investigated using first-principles calculations and experimental analyses. First-principles calculations revealed that the interface wetting and bonding strength in an Al/SiC system could be significantly enhanced by Ti doping. Subsequently, the Ti element was incorporated into SiC preforms in the form of TiO2 and TiC to verify the influence of Ti doping on the pressureless infiltration performance of SiCp/Al composites. The experimental results demonstrated that the pressureless infiltration of molten Al into SiC preforms was promoted by adding TiC or TiO2 due to the improved wettability. However, incorporating TiO2 leads to the growth of AlN whiskers under a N2 atmosphere, thereby hindering the complete densification of the composites. On the other hand, TiC doping can improve wettability and interface strength without deleterious reactions. As a consequence, the TiC-doped SiCp/Al composites exhibited excellent properties, including a high relative density of 99.4%, a bending strength of 287 ± 18 MPa, and a thermal conductivity of 142 W·m−1·K−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, sevoflurane and isoflurane are the most popular anesthetics in general anesthesia for their safe, rapid onset, and well tolerant. Nevertheless, many studies reported their neurotoxicity among pediatric and aged populations. This effect is usually manifested as cognitive impairment such as perioperative neurocognitive disorders. The wide application of sevoflurane and isoflurane during general anesthesia makes their safety a major health concern. Evidence indicates that iron dyshomeostasis and ferroptosis may establish a role in neurotoxicity of sevoflurane and isoflurane. However, the mechanisms of sevoflurane‐ and isoflurane‐induced neuronal injury were not fully understood, which poses a barrier to the treatment of its neurotoxicity. We, therefore, reviewed the current knowledge on mechanisms of iron dyshomeostasis and ferroptosis and aimed to promote a better understanding of their roles in sevoflurane‐ and isoflurane‐induced neurotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current existing predictive tools have limitations in predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in elderly patients. We will build a new prediction model to predict MACEs in elderly patients undergoing noncardiac surgery by using traditional statistical methods and machine learning algorithms. MACEs were defined as acute myocardial infarction (AMI), ischemic stroke, heart failure and death within 30 days after surgery. Clinical data from 45,102 elderly patients (≥65 years old), who underwent noncardiac surgery from two independent cohorts, were used to develop and validate the prediction models. A traditional logistic regression and five machine learning models (decision tree, random forest, LGBM, AdaBoost, and XGBoost) were compared by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). In the traditional prediction model, the calibration was assessed using the calibration curve and the patients' net benefit was measured by decision curve analysis (DCA). Among 45,102 elderly patients, 346 (0.76%) developed MACEs. The AUC of this traditional model was 0.800 (95% CI, 0.708–0.831) in the internal validation set, and 0.768 (95% CI, 0.702–0.835) in the external validation set. In the best machine learning prediction model-AdaBoost model, the AUC in the internal and external validation set was 0.778 and 0.732, respectively. Besides, for the traditional prediction model, the calibration curve of model performance accurately predicted the risk of MACEs (Hosmer and Lemeshow, p = 0.573), the DCA results showed that the nomogram had a high net benefit for predicting postoperative MACEs. This prediction model based on the traditional method could accurately predict the risk of MACEs after noncardiac surgery in elderly patients. [Display omitted] • We reported the incidence of MACEs in Chinese elderly noncardiac surgery patients in two independent cohorts. • We established a practical and effective prediction model for MACEs in elderly patients. • The new prediction model compensated for the deficiencies of the pre-existing models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emergence delirium (ED) usually occurs in children after surgery with an incidence of 10−80%. Though ED is mostly self-limited, its potential injuries cannot be ignored. Whether electroencephalography (EEG)-parameter-guided anesthesia could reduce the incidence of ED in pediatric surgery has not been fully discussed to date. Methods: Fifty-four boys aged 2–12 years undergoing elective hypospadias surgery under sevoflurane anesthesia were selected. In the EEG-parameter-guided group (E group), sevoflurane was used for anesthesia induction and was maintained by titrating the spectral edge frequency (SEF) to 10–15 and combining the monitoring of density spectral array (DSA) power spectra and raw EEG. While in the control group (C group), anesthesiologists were blinded to the SedLine screen (including SEF, DSA, and raw EEG) and adjusted the intraoperative drug usage according to their experience. Patients with a Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) score > 10 were diagnosed with ED, while patients with a PAED score > 2 were diagnosed with emergence agitation (EA). Results: Finally, a total of 37 patients were included in this trial. The incidence of ED in the E group was lower than in the C group (5.6% vs. 36.8%; p = 0.04), while the incidence of EA was similar in the two groups (61% vs. 78.9%; p = 0.48). Intraoperative parameters including remifentanil dosage and the decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP) were not different between the two groups (p > 0.05), but the mean end-tidal sevoflurane concentration (EtSevo) was lower in the E group than in the C group (p > 0.05). Moreover, during PACU stay, the extubation time and discharge time of the groups were similar, while the PAED scores within 5 min from extubation and the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability (FLACC) scores within 30 min from extubation were lower in the E group than in the C group. Conclusion: EEG-parameter-guided anesthesia management reduced the incidence of ED in children. Studies with larger sample sizes are needed to obtain more convincing results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The effect of sulodexide (SLX) on obstructive jaundice- (OJ-) induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats was examined in this study. Methods. In this study, 48 rats were randomly assigned to one of six groups: sham, OJ, OJ+saline, OJ+SLX (0.5 mg/ml/d), OJ+SLX (1 mg/ml/d), and OJ+SLX (2 mg/ml/d). The pathological lung injury was assessed by histological analysis and lung injury grading. ELISA kits were used to evaluate the expression of IL-6, IL-1, TNF-α, and syndecan-1 (SDC-1) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALFs). Commercial assay kits were performed to evaluate malondialdehyde (MDA) production and catalase (CAT) activity in lung tissues. The apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL assay. The lung microvascular permeability was investigated using Evans blue leakage, lung wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio, and lung permeability index (LPI). SDC-1, claudin-5, ZO-1, and VE cadherin expression levels in lung tissues were measured using Western blot. Results. The OJ-induced ALI rats showed severe lung injury. The value of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and SDC-1 in BALFs was remarkedly increased in the OJ group. MDA content, apoptotic area, apoptotic molecules, and SDC-1 level were all higher in the OJ group's lung tissues than in the sham group. CAT activity, Evans blue leakage, W/D ratio, LPI, and expression of claudin-5, ZO-1, and VE cadherin were all lower in the OJ group compared to the sham group. The degenerative alterations in lung tissue improved after 7 days of treatment with 2 mg/ml SLX. The BALFs had lower amounts of IL-6, IL-1, TNF-α, and SDC-1. The SLX therapy reduced MDA levels while restoring CAT activity. In lung tissues, SLX reduced apoptotic area and SDC-1 expression. SLX reduced lung microvascular permeability by raising the expression of Claudin-5, ZO-1, and VE-cadherin in lung tissue when compared to the OJ group. Conclusion. The results suggested that SLX attenuates OJ-induced ALI in rats by protecting the pulmonary microvascular endothelial barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• SiC p /Al composites were prepared based on Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) • Higher SiC volume fraction were obtained compared to other additive manufacturing methods. • complex-structure composites were prepared with excellent properties. SiC p /Al composites are widely used in space vehicles, electronic packaging, automobiles, rail vehicles and other fields due to their excellent mechanical and thermal properties. Complex-shaped SiC p /Al parts are usually manufactured by mechanical processing, which is expensive and time-consuming due to the high hardness of SiC phase. As a highly effective 3D molding method, Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) of the complex-structure SiC p /Al composites was reported for the first time in this paper. SiC p /Al composites was densified by pressureless infiltration after FDM, and as-acquired bulk possessed high densification of 92.67 % and the SiC volume fraction of 43.2 %. Moreover, excellent performances were also presented, including flexural strength of 211 MPa, thermal conductivity of 112(W/m·K), and the thermal expansion coefficient of 8.67 × 10-6K−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are conflicting results as to the effect of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) therapy on the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis to assess the updated data. We systematically searched Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Wanfang, and PubMed for relevant randomized control trials between database inception and 9/07/2020. Relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) predicting the risk of AKI were extracted to obtain summary estimates using fixed-effects models. The Trim and Fill method was used to evaluate the sensitivity of the results and adjust for publication bias in meta-analysis. 15 randomized controlled studies from 14 articles involving 1853 patients were included in the study. Analyzing the eligible studies we found: (1) iNO therapy significantly increased the risk of AKI in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients (RR 1.55, 95% CI 1.15–2.10, p = 0.004; I2 for heterogeneity 0%; Phet = 0.649). (2) The use of iNO was associated with reduced AKI risk in patients undergoing cardiac surgery (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.64–0.99, p = 0.037; I2 for heterogeneity 0%; Phet = 0.528). (3) For organ transplantation recipients, there was no effect of iNO administration on the risk of AKI (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.16–1.56, p = 0.233; I2 for heterogeneity 0%; Phet = 0.842). The Trim and Fill analysis showed that the overall effect of this meta-analysis was stable. The effect of iNO on AKI risk might be disease-specific. Future RCTs with larger patient populations should aim to validate our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat dissipation material with programmable anisotropic property is very challenging, yet can realize the controllable thermal diffusion for heating device. In this work, anisotropic Si3N4 ceramics with oriented grains are prepared to adjust and improve the mechanical and thermal properties under the applied stress field by rolling film forming technology. Through the design of the sintering aids in the process of liquid‐phase sintering, the orientation degree of the Si3N4 grains is programmable as well as the mechanical property and the thermal property of the Si3N4 ceramics. As a consequence, the obtained Si3N4 ceramics show significant anisotropy in mechanical properties and thermal conductivity. The typical fracture toughness and thermal conductivity along the grain orientation direction are 10.6 MPa⋅m1/2 and 45.45 W/(m⋅K) while they are 4.5 MPa⋅m1/2 and 66.42 W/(m⋅K) in the direction perpendicular to the oriented grain, respectively. This grain orientation method paves the way for the thermal performance design and the production of programmable heat dissipation material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of depolarizing activation of Na+-Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) by oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPC) in the effect of sevoflurane on myelination. On postnatal days 7, 8, and 9, mice were exposed to 3 % sevoflurane for 2 h per day. The proliferation, differentiation, and myelin sheath of OPC were observed with immunofluorescence, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) at various time points. The open field, Y maze, and new object recognition tests were used to measure spatial learning and memory. siRNA was used for the knockdown NCX1 in human OPC (HOPC) before sevoflurane exposure; the Transwell migration assay was used to measure cell migration ability and Fluo 4-AM was used to measure intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Pretreatment with an NCX inhibitor attenuated the proliferation and differentiation of OPC induced by sevoflurane and induced a remarkable increase in platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha (PDGFRα), 2, 3-cyclic nucleotide 3-phosphodiesterase (CNPase), oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 (Olig2), and homeodomain protein NK2 homeobox 2 (NKX2.2) levels. Pretreatment with an NCX inhibitor alleviated the sevoflurane-induced myelination disorder and cognitive impairment. The decreased cell migration and increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration observed in the siRNA-negative control group was reversed in the sevoflurane plus siRNA-NCX1 group. This study suggests that repeated sevoflurane exposure in newborn mice leads to depolarization of OPC, which leads to Ca2+ influx through NCX and affects OPC proliferation, migration, differentiation, and myelination, ultimately leading to cognitive impairment. [Display omitted] • Sevoflurane causes dysmyelination in neonatal mice. • Sevoflurane causes cognitive disorder in neonatal mice. • Abnormal myelination is one of the influencing factors of cognitive disorder. • NCX inhibitor ameliorates cognitive disorder induced by sevoflurane. • NCX may play an important role in sevoflurane induced cognitive disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is widely accepted that mitochondria have a direct impact on neuronal function and survival. Oxidative stress caused by mitochondrial abnormalities play an important role in the pathophysiology of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced memory impairment. Elamipretide (SS-31) is a novel mitochondrion-targeted antioxidant. However, the impact of elamipretide on the cognitive sequelae of inflammatory and oxidative stress is unknown.Methods: We utilized MWM and contextual fear conditioning test to assess hippocampus-related learning and memory performance. Molecular biology techniques and ELISA were used to examine mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, and the inflammatory response. TUNEL and Golgi-staining was used to detect neural cell apoptosis and the density of dendritic spines in the mouse hippocampus.Results: Mice treated with LPS exhibited mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, an inflammatory response, neural cell apoptosis, and loss of dendritic spines in the hippocampus, leading to impaired hippocampus-related learning and memory performance in the MWM and contextual fear conditioning test. Treatment with elamipretide significantly ameliorated LPS-induced learning and memory impairment during behavioral tests. Notably, elamipretide not only provided protective effects against mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress but also facilitated the regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling, including the reversal of important synaptic-signaling proteins and increased synaptic structural complexity.Conclusion: These findings indicate that LPS-induced memory impairment can be attenuated by the mitochondrion-targeted antioxidant elamipretide. Consequently, elamipretide may have a therapeutic potential in preventing damage from the oxidative stress and neuroinflammation that contribute to perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND), which makes mitochondria a potential target for treatment strategies for PND. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chicken gout resulting from nephropathogenic infectious bronchitis virus (NIBV) has become a serious kidney disease problem in chicken worldwide with alterations of the metabolic phenotypes in multiple metabolic pathways. To investigate the mechanisms in chicken responding to NIBV infection, we examined the global transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles of the chicken's kidney using RNA-seq and GC–TOF/MS, respectively. Furthermore, we analyzed the alterations in cecal microorganism composition in chickens using 16S rRNA-seq. Integrated analysis of these three phenotypic datasets further managed to create correlations between the altered kidney transcriptomes and metabolome, and between kidney metabolome and gut microbiome. We found that 2868 genes and 160 metabolites were deferentially expressed or accumulated in the kidney during NIBV infection processes. These genes and metabolites were linked to NIBV-infection related processes, including immune response, signal transduction, peroxisome, purine, and amino acid metabolism. In addition, the comprehensive correlations between the kidney metabolome and cecal microbial community showed contributions of gut microbiota in the progression of NIBV-infection. Taken together, our research comprehensively describes the host responses during NIBV infection and provides new clues for further dissection of specific gene functions, metabolite affections, and the role of gut microbiota during chicken gout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]