Facile Preparation of Cellulose Beads with Tunable Graded Pores and High Mechanical Strength.

Cellulose-based hierarchical porous beads exhibit significant application potential in adsorption and separation systems due to their degradation and biocompatibility. However, the current fabrications of cellulose beads show poor mechanical properties and a difficult-to-regulate hierarchical porous structure, reducing their lifespan of use and limiting their application in fine separation. Here, we reported the facile creep-drop method to prepare cellulose beads that enabled systemic regulation of the macro-size, micropore structures, and mechanical properties by optimizing injection nozzle diameter, the composition of the coagulation bath, the temperature of the coagulation bath, and cellulose concentration. Notably, during the molding process, the H2SO4-Na2SO4 composite solidification bath endowed cellulose beads with a dense shell layer and a loose core layer, which achieved the integration of mechanical properties and high porosity. The cellulose beads exhibited high porosity (93.38-96.18%) and high sphericity (86.78-94.44%) by modulating the shell thickness of the cellulose beads. In particular, the cellulose beads exhibited excellent mechanical properties with a high compressive strength of 544.24 kPa at a 5% cellulose concentration. It is expected that these cellulose beads with tunable microstructures can realize their potential for applications in the fields of wastewater treatment, chemical engineering, bioengineering, medicine, and pharmaceuticals.

The Impact of high-performance work system perceived by medical staff on job satisfaction: the mediating role of self-efficacy.

As the mainstay of healthcare, the job satisfaction of medical staff deserves attention. This study aimed to explore the correlation between the perception of the high-performance work system (P-HPWS) and job satisfaction of medical staff in public hospitals and to further investigate the mediating effect of self-efficacy. From November 2019 to January 2020, a cross-sectional survey on working doctors and nurses was conducted in five tertiary public hospitals in China. A total of 520 participants were surveyed. The P-HPWS, job satisfaction, and self-efficacy were assessed using the 25-item self-administered scale, six-item job satisfaction questionnaire, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale, respectively. Linear regression and mediation effects models were used to identify the associations between primary variables. The results showed a significant positive correlation between P-HPWS and job satisfaction (P < 0.01), while self-efficacy played a mediating role between P-HPWS and job satisfaction. This finding reveals the benefits of improving employees' P-HPWS and self-efficacy on their job satisfaction, and that hospitals can improve their management systems by implementing and refining HPWS.

Survey on occupational injury among workers in a steel enterprise / 预防医学

Objective @#To investigate the prevalence of occupational injury and identify its influencing factors among workers in a steel enterprise in Gansu Province, so as to provide insights into prevention of occupational injury among steel workers. @*Methods@#Workers were sampled from a steel enterprise in Gansu Province using a cluster sampling method from January to March 2022, and participants' demographics, occupational history and occupational injury were collected using questionnaire surveys. The type of job and site and type of injury were analyzed among workers with occupational injuries, and factors affecting workers' occupational injuries were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model. @*Results@#A total of 12 089 questionnaires were allocated and 10 725 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 88.71%. The respondents included 9 412 males (87.77%) and 1 312 females (12.23%), and had a median age of 36.00 (interquartile range, 15.00) years. Junior college and above was the predominant educational level (6 056 workers, 56.47%), and the respondents had a median length of service of 10 (interquartile range, 11) years. The prevalence of occupational injury was 5.25% among respondents. Overhaul worker was the main type of job (11.90%), and object strike was the predominant type of occupational injury (18.25%), while the lower limb was the predominant site of injury (27.82%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified men (OR=2.464, 95%CI: 1.580-3.843), age (30 to 39 years, OR=2.561, 95%CI: 1.643-3.993; 40 to 49 years, OR=5.197, 95%CI: 2.679-10.079; 50 years and older, OR=10.620, 95%CI: 6.788-16.615), exposure to high temperature (OR=1.400, 95%CI: 1.165-1.683), operating equipment failure (OR=1.291, 95%CI: 1.048-1.591), absence of personal safety protection equipment (OR=1.555, 95%CI: 1.064-2.273) and safety behavior scores (OR=0.967, 95%CI: 0.937-0.996) as factors affecting occupational injuries among workers in a steel enterprise. @*Conclusions@#Men and overhaul workers are at a high risk of occupational injuries in this steel enterprise. Objectstrike is the predominant type of injury and lower limb is the main site of injury. The risk of occupational injuries is affected by gender, age, working environments, equipment status and safety behaviors.

Non-Pharmacological Interventions in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of non-pharmacologic interventions and the additional benefits of their combination in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). DATA SOURCES: We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Clinical Trials Register from the date of database inception to April 22, 2023. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized controlled trials involving non-pharmacologic interventions conducted in patients with HFrEF were included. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted by 2 independent reviewers based on a pre-tested data extraction form. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation method. DATA SYNTHESIS: A total of 82 eligible studies (4574 participants) were included. We performed a random-effects model within a Bayesian framework to calculate weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% credibility intervals. High or moderate certainty evidence indicated that high-intensity aerobic interval training (HIAIT) was best on improving 6-minute walk distance (6MWD; 68.55 m [36.41, 100.47]) and left ventricular ejection fraction (6.28% [3.88, 8.77]), while high-intensity aerobic continuous training (HIACT) is best on improving peak oxygen consumption (Peak VO2; 3.48 mL/kg•min [2.84, 4.12]), quality of life (QOL; -17.26 [-29.99, -7.80]), resting heart rate (-8.20 bpm [-13.32, -3.05]), and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (-600.96 pg/mL [-902.93, -404.52]). Moderate certainty evidence supported the effectiveness of inspiratory muscle training to improve peak oxygen consumption and functional electrical stimulation to improve QOL. Moderate-intensity aerobic continuous training (MIACT) plus moderate-intensity resistance training (MIRT) had additional benefits in Peak VO2, 6MWD, and QOL. This review did not provide a comprehensive evaluation of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Both HIAIT and HIACT are the most effective single non-pharmacologic interventions for HFrEF. MIACT plus MIRT had additional benefits in improving peak oxygen consumption, 6MWD, and QOL.

Farnesane sesquiterpenoids from Rubus delavayi and their anti-Trichinella spiralis activities.

Two new farnesane sesquiterpenoid glycosides, rubusdelosides A and B (1 and 4), together with five known farnesane sesquiterpenoids (2, 3, and 5-7), and two known meroterpenoids (8 and 9), were isolated from water extract of the herbs of R. delavayi. Their structures were identified by the comprehensive analyses of physicochemical properties and spectroscopic data (NMR and HR-ESI-MS). Compounds 1-8 showed moderate in vivo anti-T. spiralis activities.

Non-pharmacological interventions for older patients with hypertension: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the most effective non-pharmacological interventions to control the blood pressure variation in older hypertensive patients. METHODS: Primary endpoints were office systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The quality of evidence was assessed using the "risk of bias 2″ tool and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) method. We performed a Bayesian network meta-analysis using R-4.0.2 software to compare the efficacy of interventions. RESULTS: 36 eligible studies (3,531 patients) with a median follow-up of 12 weeks, assessing 18 non-pharmacological interventions, were included. The percentages of high, moderate, low, and very low certainty evidence were 16.7%, 38.9%, 33.3%, and 11.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: High certainty evidence suggests that self-management education is most effective in lowering SBP and DBP in older patients with hypertension, followed by moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. Moderate-intensity resistance training is the most effective exercise for lowering SBP. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO, #CRD42020209850.

Genetic predisposition to papillary thyroid carcinoma is mediated by a long non-coding RNA TINCR enhancer polymorphism.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the enhancer region have been demonstrated to confer to altered enhancer activities, aberrant gene expression, and cancer susceptibility. In this study, we aimed to examine the association between an SNP, rs8101923, within terminal differentiation-induced non-coding RNA (TINCR) and the risk of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Blood samples from 559 patients with PTC and 445 healthy individuals were collected. The rs8101923 was genotyped by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. The impact of the rs8101923 on TINCR expression and enhancer activity was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR and dual-luciferase reporter assay. The binding of AP-2α to TINCR enhancer was determined by chromatin immunoprecipitation. The rs8101923 G allele was significantly associated with a higher risk of PTC (adjusted OR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.15-1.64). Mechanistically, the rs8101923 was related to increased transcriptional levels and enhancer activities (P < 0.05). Transcription factor AP-2α binds to the enhancer region of TINCR containing the rs8101923 locus, and promotes cell proliferation in PTC. These findings suggest the rs8101923 as a risk factor in the pathogenesis of PTC, which provides evidence for explaining the mechanism of the rs8101923 risk allele predisposing to PTC.

Adipsin of the Alternative Complement Pathway Is a Potential Predictor for Preeclampsia in Early Pregnancy.

Objective: The concentrations of complement proteins (adipsin, C3a, and C5a) and soluble endoglin (sENG) in the plasma were measured in this study, and their value as early-pregnancy predictors and potential diagnostic marker of preeclampsia was assessed, respectively. Experimental Design: Plasma samples were obtained from healthy and preeclampsia pregnant women before delivery for a cross-sectional study. Plasma samples were collected from healthy and preeclampsia pregnant women throughout pregnancy and postpartum for a follow-up study. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to detect plasma levels of several complement proteins (adipsin, C3a, and C5a) and sENG. Results: The plasma levels of adipsin, C5a, and sENG were significantly increased before delivery in pregnant women with preeclampsia. During pregnancy, the plasma adipsin, C5a, and sENG levels were increased from the third trimester in healthy pregnant women; plasma adipsin levels remained stable after delivery, while C3a levels increased in the second trimester and remained stable afterward. Furthermore, levels of adipsin, C5a, and sENG were higher in preeclampsia patients at different stages of pregnancy; the C3a level presents a similar change and no difference was found in the third trimester. In the first trimester, receiver-operating curve (ROC) curve analysis showed that adipsin (AUC, 0.83 ± 0.06, P=0.001) and sENG (AUC, 0.74 ± 0.09, P=0.021) presented high value as predictors of early pregnancy. Conclusions: Adipsin is likely a novel plasma biomarker to monitor the increased risk of preeclampsia in early pregnancy. Moreover, the increased plasma levels of adipsin, C5a, and sENG before delivery may be associated with preeclampsia.

N6-methyladenosine RNA modification: A promising regulator in central nervous system injury.

In addition to DNA methylation, reversible epigenetic modification occurring in RNA has been discovered recently. The most abundant type of RNA methylation is N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, which is dynamically regulated by methylases ("writers"), demethylases ("erasers") and m6A-binding proteins ("readers"). As an essential posttranscriptional regulator, m6A can control mRNA splicing, processing, stability, export and translation. Recent studies have revealed that m6A modification has the strongest tissue specificity for brain tissue and plays crucial roles in central nervous system (CNS) injures by affecting its downstream target genes or non-coding RNAs. This review focuses on the expression and function of m6A regulatory proteins in CNS trauma in vitro and in vivo. We also highlight the latest insights into the molecular mechanisms of pathological damage in the CNS. Understanding m6A dynamics, functions, and machinery will yield an opportunity for designing and developing novel therapeutic agents for CNS injuries.

A new prenylated coumestan from the roots of Campylotropis hirtella.

A new prenylated coumestan, campylohirtin A (1), along with fifteen phenolic known compounds (2‒16) and four other known compounds (17‒20), was obtained from the 95% ethanol extract of roots of Campylotropis hirtella. Their structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic analysis (1 D and 2 D-NMR, MS, UV and IR). In vitro antimalarial activities of compounds 1-3, 5-14 and 16 were evaluated by ß-hematin formation inhibition assay. Compared with the positive control chloroquine diphosphate, compounds 8, 11 and 16 exhibited strong antimalarial activity with the IC50 values of 69.9, 33.2 and 75.4 µM, respectively. Compounds 1-3, 5-7 and 12 showed moderate antimalarial activities with IC50 values ranging from 134.6 µM to 578.6 µM.[Formula: see text].

Association between interleukin-32 polymorphisms and ovarian cancer in the Chinese Han population.

Interleukin-32 (IL-32) as a pro-inflammatory cytokine participates in the progression of inflammation and cancer. Ovarian cancer (OC) accounts for a considerable mortality rate, but research on IL-32 and OC is almost nil. Our study aims to explore the association between IL-32 and the progression as well as prognosis of OC initially. This hospital-based case-control study enrolled 147 OC patients and 337 healthy controls, and we used the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method to distribute the genotypes. The results showed that the homozygous genotype (TT) of rs28372698 SNP was significantly higher in patients compared to controls (12.9% vs. 6.2%, P = 0.018, OR (95% CI) = 2.23 (1.16-4.29)). This revealed that TT genotype might be a risk factor in OC progression. This present study indicates that IL-32 gene polymorphism relates to an increased OC susceptibility, and IL-32 may be a marker for OC progression.

A New Antimalarial Noreudesmane Sesquiterpenoid from Dobinea delavayi.

One previously undescribed angeloylated noreudesmane sesquiterpenoid, dobinin O (1), along with four known eudesmane sesquiterpenoids (2-5) were isolated from the peeled roots of Dobinea delavayi. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data analyses. In addition, compound 1 exhibited moderate antimalarial activity against Plasmodium yoelii BY265RFP with the inhibition ratio of 17.8 ± 13.3% at the dose of 30 mg/kg/day.

Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis for the Identification of Key Molecules and Pathways in the Hippocampus of Rats After Traumatic Brain Injury.

High-throughput and bioinformatics technology have been broadly applied to demonstrate the key molecules involved in traumatic brain injury (TBI), while no study has integrated the available TBI-related datasets for analysis. In this study, four available expression datasets of fluid percussion injury (FPI) and sham samples from the hippocampus of rats were analysed. A total of 248 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 10 differentially expressed microRNAs (DEMIs) were identified. Then, functional annotation was performed using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses. Most of the DEGs were enriched for the term inflammatory immune response. The MCODE plug-in in the Cytoscape software was applied to build a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and 18 hub genes were demonstrated to be enriched in the cell cycle pathway. Besides, time sequence (3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h) profile analysis was performed using short time-series expression miner (STEM). The significantly expressed genes were assigned into 24 pattern clusters with four significant uptrend clusters. Four DEGs, Fcgr2a, Bcl2a1, Cxcl16, and Gbp2, were found to be differentially expressed at all time-points. Fifty-three DEGs and eight DEMIs were identified to form a miRNA-mRNA negative regulatory network using miRWalk3.0 and Cytoscape. Moreover, the mRNA levels of eight hub genes were validated by qRT-PCR. These DEGs, DEMIs, and time-dependent expression patterns facilitate our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying the process of TBI in the hippocampus of rats and have the potential to improve the diagnosis and treatment of TBI.

Robust, sustainable cellulose composite aerogels with outstanding flame retardancy and thermal insulation.

Robust and sustainable cellulose composite aerogels were prepared by incorporating MgAl-layered double hydroxide (MgAl-LDH) as green nanofillers and flame retardants. Two series of aerogels combining MgAl-CO3 LDH (MA-C) and MgAl-H2PO4 LDH (MA-P) were achieved, in which both MA-C and MA-P were uniformly dispersed in cellulose substances. The cellulose composite aerogels with 1.8 wt% of MA-C (denoted as CAC) and MA-P (denoted as CAP) displayed excellent mechanical properties, increased by 2.6 and 2.8 times compared with neat cellulose aerogels (CA), respectively. The peak of heat release rate (PHRR) of CAC and CAP reduced by 41 % and 50 % compared with the neat one, respectively, demonstrating the outstanding flame retardancy. The reduction in smoke production ratio (SPR) was 79 % for CAC and 75 % for CAP, respectively, indicating enhanced smoke suppression performance. Therefore, the high performance flame-retardant cellulose composite aerogels exhibit an application prospect in green advanced engineering field.

Moringa oleifera Lam and its Therapeutic Effects in Immune Disorders.

Moringa oleifera Lam., a plant native to tropical forests of India, is characterized by its versatile application as a food additive and supplement therapy. Accumulating evidence shows that Moringa plays a critical role in immune-related diseases. In this review, we cover the history, constituents, edibility, and general medicinal value of Moringa. The effects of Moringa in treating immune disorders are discussed in detail. Moringa can not only eliminate pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites, but also inhibit chronic inflammation, such as asthma, ulcerative colitis, and metabolic diseases. Additionally, Moringa can attenuate physical and chemical irritation-induced immune disorders, such as metal intoxication, drug side effects, or even the adverse effect of food additives. Autoimmune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, atopic dermatitis, and multiple sclerosis, can also be inhibited by Moringa. Collectively, Moringa, with its multiple immune regulatory bioactivities and few side effects, has a marked potential to treat immune disorders.

A functional variant in the flanking region of pri-let-7f contributes to colorectal cancer risk in a Chinese population.

Let-7f was reported to be downregulated in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). However, little is known about the role of let-7f in CRC carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between genetic polymorphisms in the flanking region of pri-let-7f and CRC risk, as well as the potential role of let-7f in CRC cell migration and invasion. The pri-let-7f-1 rs10739971 and pri-let-7f-2 rs17276588 were genotyped using TaqMan (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) assay. The luciferase activity was detected using Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay. CRC cell migration and invasion were evaluated using transwell chamber assay. The rs17276588 AG and AG/AA genotypes had a significantly increased CRC risk (AG vs. GG: adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.19-1.83, p < 0.001; AG/AA vs. GG: adjusted OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.17-1.75, p < 0.001). Stratification analyses showed that the increased risk was observed in CRC patients with well-moderately differential status, patients with clinical Stages I-II, and patients without lymph node metastasis. The rs17276588A allele displayed a decreased transcriptional activity and low levels of let-7f. Moreover, let-7f inhibited migration and invasion in Caco-2 and Lovo cells. These findings indicate that the rs17276588 AG/AA genotypes increased CRC risk by reducing the expression of tumor suppressor let-7f.

Soluble ST2, a preeclampsia-related cytokine receptor, is transported bi-directionally across the placenta.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to elucidate whether soluble ST2 (sST2), a preeclampsia (PE)-related cytokine, in the maternal or fetal circulation could be transported to the other circulatory system across the placenta. METHODS: A placental perfusion model in a closed system was established and optimized. HPLC was performed to determine the dynamics of antipyrine levels in the perfusate. Placentas (n = 18) collected from healthy controls and PE patients were perfused without additional treatment or with added sST2 in the maternal or fetal circulation. The concentration of sST2 in the perfusate samples was quantified by ELISA. RESULTS: Monitoring of the antipyrine levels were used as a quality control and showed each placenta established successfully. In the untreated group, sST2 could be produced by the placenta and enter into both the maternal and fetal circulations, and significantly higher levels were detected in the maternal circulation. In placentas perfused with additional sST2 in the maternal circulation, a similar trend was observed as for the untreated placentas. When sST2 was added to the fetal circulation, increased sST2 was detected in the maternal circulation. Compared with the healthy controls, significantly elevated sST2 in the maternal side of PE patients were detected. CONCLUSION: Soluble ST2 could be bi-directionally transported across placentas. It was an active process that maintained a higher level of sST2 in the maternal circulation. Furthermore, the significant increase of sST2 in the maternal blood of PE patients was due to an impaired placental barrier as a result of PE.

Tight Junction Protein Occludin Is a Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Entry Factor.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), the causative agent of porcine epidemic diarrhea, has caused huge economic losses in pig-producing countries. Although PEDV was long believed to replicate in the intestinal epithelium by using aminopeptidase N as a receptor, the mechanisms of PEDV infection are not fully characterized. In this study, we found that PEDV infection of epithelial cells results in disruption of the tight junctional distribution of occludin to its intracellular location. Overexpression of occludin in target cells makes them more susceptible to PEDV infection, whereas ablation of occludin expression by use of small interfering RNA (siRNA) in target cells significantly reduces their susceptibility to virus infection. However, the results observed with occludin siRNA indicate that occludin is not required for virus attachment. We conclude that occludin plays an essential role in PEDV infection at the postbinding stages. Furthermore, we observed that macropinocytosis inhibitors blocked occludin internalization and virus entry, indicating that virus entry and occludin internalization are closely coupled. However, the macropinocytosis inhibitors could not impede virus replication once the virus had entered host cells. This suggests that occludin internalization by macropinocytosis or a macropinocytosis-like process is involved in the virus entry events. Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy showed that PEDV was trapped at cellular junctional regions upon macropinocytosis inhibitor treatment, indicating that occludin may serve as a scaffold in the vicinity of virus entry. Collectively, these data show that occludin plays an essential role in PEDV infection during late entry events. Our observation may provide novel insights into PEDV infection and related pathogenesis.IMPORTANCE Tight junctions are highly specialized membrane domains whose main function is to attach adjacent cells to each other, thereby forming intercellular seals. Here we investigate, for the first time, the role of the tight junction protein occludin in PEDV infection. We observed that PEDV infection induced the internalization of occludin. By using genetic modification methods, we demonstrate that occludin plays an essential role in PEDV infection. Moreover, PEDV entry and occludin internalization seem to be closely coupled. Our findings reveal a new mechanism of PEDV infection.

Prevalence of programmed death-1 ligand-1 (PD-L1) and infiltrating lymphocytes in human gastric carcinogenesis.

OBJECTIVE: The PD-1/PD-L1 pathway plays a key role in the immune evasion of tumor cells from the host immune system. This study aimed to examine PD-L1 expression and prevalence of infiltrating T cellin gastric diseases, and elucidate the relevance of PD-L1 and prevalence of infiltrating T cell in the pathogenesis of gastric carcinoma. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry and HE staining were used to investigate the in situ expression of PD-L1, CD4 and CD8 in paraffin-embedded gastric tissues from patients with gastric ulcer (n=21), intestinal metaplasia/atrophic gastritis (n=26) and gastric carcinoma tissues (n=38). RESULTS: The expression of PD-L1 was found to be most prevalent in gastric carcinoma and, by comparison, decreased in gastric tissues from patients with gastric ulcer or intestinal metaplasia/atrophic gastritis. The overexpression of PD-L1 was notably more prevalent in cancer tissues and tissues from cases of intestinal metaplasia/atrophic gastritis, with the highest prevalence observed in intestinal metaplasia/atrophic gastritis. Meanwhile, decreasing prevalence was observed for CD4 and CD8 expression in gastric carcinoma. Therefore, PD-L1 expression in gastric carcinoma appeared to be inversely correlated with prevalence of infiltrating T cell. CONCLUSION: PD-L1 expression was more prevalent while CD4 and CD8 expression were decreased in gastric carcinoma compared with gastric ulcer and intestinal metaplasia/atrophic gastritis. As the activated immunological status in gastric ulcerappears to switch to one of immunological suppression in intestinal metaplasia/atrophic gastritis and gastric carcinoma, this may suggest that the immune evasion associated with the PD-L1 pathway may be triggered in the pathogenesis of human gastric carcinoma.