Multichannel highly secure wireless communication system with information camouflage capability.

Information metasurface has shown great potential in wireless communications owing to its ability to flexibly control electromagnetic waves. However, it is still a big challenge to achieve high-security and large-channel capacity wireless communications by a simple system. Here, we propose a space-polarization-division multiplexing secure wireless communication system with information camouflage capability based on the information metasurface, which can realize multichannel encrypted wireless communications with different polarization coding strategies independently and simultaneously. A polarization mask key is introduced to encrypt the target message, and the cipher message is further concealed behind a cover image with steganography and sent to the user by using the polarization modulation strategy. Different polarization mask keys can be adopted in each individual communication by changing the polarization coding strategy to enhance the system security. The proposed scheme integrates computational algorithm encryption and physical layer security together and thus has the advantages of high security, large channel capacity, and strong camouflage ability.

Computer-Vision Based Gesture-Metasurface Interaction System for Beam Manipulation and Wireless Communication.

Hand gesture plays an important role in many circumstances, which is one of the most common interactive methods in daily life, especially for disabled people. Human-machine interaction is another popular research topic to realize direct and efficient control, making machines intelligent and maneuverable. Here, a special human-machine interaction system is proposed and namedas computer-vision (CV) based gesture-metasurface interaction (GMI) system, which can be used for both direct beam manipulations and real-time wireless communications. The GMI system first needs to select its working mode according to the gesture command to determine whether to perform beam manipulations or wireless communications, and then validate the permission for further operation by recognizing unlocking gesture to ensure security. Both beam manipulation and wireless communication functions are validated experimentally, which show that the GMI system can not only realize real-time switching and remote control of different beams through gesture command, but also communicate with a remote computer in real time by translating the gesture language to text message. The proposed non-contact GMI system has the advantages of good interactivity, high flexibility, and multiple functions, which can find potential applications in community security, gesture-command smart home, barrier-free communications, and so on.

A survey of Kansas beef producers and consumers who participate in business-to-consumer marketing of beef.

Following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, producer and consumer interest in business-to-consumer (B2C) beef sales increased. The objective of the current study was to assess current B2C beef producer and consumer attitudes and understandings of the B2C beef marketing process in order to identify knowledge gaps and strategies to improve producer/consumer interactions. Both producers and customers of local beef were recruited using a large online platform (https://shopkansasfarms.com), and descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. In total, 41 B2C beef producers and 174 consumers who had either previously participated in B2C marketing or intended to participate were surveyed. Most producers (69.8%) only produced beef and produced only a small number (1 to 20 head) of animals per year. Many (43.9%) reported selling 100% of beef directly to consumers, while 29.3% reported selling less than 20% through this channel. Almost all (97.3%) of the producers indicated that increased sales directly to consumers would be desirable, with most (87.1%) considering this marketing channel as the most profitable. Marketing beef in smaller portions, including portioned cuts, was popular, reported by more than 62% of producers, while whole carcass sales were lower. Word-of-mouth (91.3%) and social media (65.8%) were the most popular forms of advertisement used by producers and more than one-third of producers (38.9%) reported having trouble with customers regarding a sale. Over 60% of consumers indicated they had purchased B2C beef less than 5 times, with more than 73% indicating that more than 75% of their beef purchased was local. Low take-home weights, portion sizes, and quality were among consumers' most cited troubles. Lack of freezer space (25%), price (24.9%), and quantity of product (41.7%) were reported as the largest barriers to consumer participation in B2C marketing. Both consumers and producers indicated that consumer testimonials would be the most beneficial in improving producer/consumer interactions, with educational materials from government sources viewed as the least beneficial. These results provide a baseline for B2C beef marketing and provide insight into impactful strategies to use to assist in this process.

Predictive value of multi-parameter model incorporating PET-based radiomics features for survival of older patients(≥60 years) with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma / 中华核医学与分子影像杂志

Objective:To explore the prognostic value of 18F-FDG PET-based radiomics features by machine learning in older patients(≥60 years) with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Methods:A total of 166 older patients (88 males, 78 females, age: 60-93 years) with DLBCL who underwent pre-therapy 18F-FDG PET/CT from March 2011 to November 2019 were enrolled in the retrospective study. There were 115 patients in training cohort and 51 patients in validation cohort. The lesions in PET images were manually drawn and the obtained radiomics features from patients in training cohort were selected by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), random forest (RF), and extreme gradient boosting (Xgboost), and then classified by support vector machine (SVM) to build radiomics signatures (RS) for predicting overall survival (OS). A multi-parameter model was constructed by using Cox proportional hazard model and assessed by concordance index (C-index). Results:A total of 1 421 PET radiomics features were extracted and 10 features were selected to build RS. The univariate Cox regression analysis showed that RS was a predictor of OS (hazard ratio ( HR)=5.685, 95% CI: 2.955-10.939; P<0.001). The multi-parameter model that incorporated RS, metabolic metrics, and clinical risk factors, exhibited significant prognostic superiority over the clinical model, PET-based model, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network International Prognostic Index (NCCN-IPI) in terms of OS (training cohort: C-index: 0.752 vs 0.737 vs 0.739 vs 0.688; validation cohort: C-index: 0.845 vs 0.798 vs 0.844 vs 0.775). Conclusions:RS can be used as a survival predictor for older patients(≥60 years) with DLBCL. Furthermore, the multi-parameter model incorporating RS is able to successfully predict prognosis.

Prognostic value of metabolic parameters measured by 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with primary advanced cutaneous malignant melanoma / 中华核医学与分子影像杂志

Objective:To investigate the prognostic value of metabolic parameters measured by 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with primary advanced cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM). Methods:A retrospective analysis was comprised of 42 patients with advanced CMM (15 males and 27 females; median age: 60.0 years) from Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School between June 2014 and December 2019. All patients were initially diagnosed by pathology, and underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging. 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters including SUV max, SUV mean, total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) of metastatic lesions were measured. ROC curve analysis was performed to obtain the optimal cut-off values of those metabolic parameters for predicting progression-free survival (PFS) and over-all survival (OS). Patients were divided into different groups based on their metabolic parameters (≥cut-off values or <cut-off values), and Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test were used to analyze the OS/PFS differences between 2 groups. The independent prognostic risk factors of PFS and OS were screened by univariate analysis and Cox proportional risk model. Results:The median follow-up time of 42 patients with advanced CMM was 26.3 months, with 32 patients suffered from disease progression and 21 patients died, and the median survival was 33.1 months. The optimal cut-off values for PFS/OS were 4.63/4.77 for SUV max, 3.31/3.31 for SUV mean, 8.22 cm 3/22.32 cm 3 for TMTV, and 18.22 g/51.37 g for TLG, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test showed that patients with SUV max ≥4.63 or SUV mean ≥3.31 suffered from poorer PFS ( χ2 values: 7.12, 5.42, P values: 0.008, 0.020), meanwhile, patients with SUV max ≥4.77 or TMTV≥22.32 cm 3 or TLG≥51.37 g suffered from poorer OS ( χ2 value: 4.73, 5.60, 6.31, P values: 0.030, 0.018, 0.012). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that SUV max was significant predictor for both PFS (hazard risk ( HR)=3.03(95% CI: 1.23-7.45), P=0.016) and OS ( HR=3.62(95% CI: 1.19-11.00), P=0.023), while TMTV and TLG were significant predictors for OS ( HR: 2.87(95% CI: 1.20-6.87), 3.34(95% CI: 1.39-8.05); P values: 0.018, 0.007). Conclusions:Baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters have certain value in prediction of prognosis in patients with advanced CMM. SUV max of metastatic lesions is an independent prognostic risk factor for both PFS and OS, and TMTV and TLG are independent prognostic risk factors for OS in patients with advanced CMM.

Prognostic value of pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with metastatic melanoma treated with anti-PD1 immunotherapy / 中华核医学与分子影像杂志

Objective:To assess the prognostic value of pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma treated with anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD1) immunotherapy. Methods:A retrospective analysis of 29 patients (15 males, 14 females, age (59.1±13.0) years) with pathologically diagnosed metastatic malignant melanoma in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between June 2017 and October 2020 was conducted. Anti-PD1 immunotherapy were performed in all patients after 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging. 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters including SUV max, bone marrow-to-liver SUV max ratio (BLR), spleen-to-liver SUV max ratio (SLR) were obtained. Total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) of primary lesions were measured automatically using the thresholds of 40%SUV max. The median value of each PET parameter was regarded as the threshold value and was used to divide patients into 2 groups (≥ and < the median value, respectively). Kaplan-Meier survival curve and Cox proportional risk model were used to analyze the overall survival (OS) differences between groups. Results:The median follow-up time was 15.0 months and 13 patients died. The median OS was 26.0(95% CI: 20.4-31.6) months. The median SUV max, TMTV, TLG, BLR and SLR were 6.2, 8.2 cm 3, 38.6 g, 0.82 and 0.84 respectively. Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test showed that differences of OS between SUV max≥6.2 and <6.2 groups, TLG≥38.6 g and <38.6 g groups, BLR≥0.82 and <0.82 groups, SLR≥0.84 and <0.84 groups were not significant ( χ2 values: 0.01-0.35, P values: 0.061-0.929), while patients with TMTV≥8.2 cm 3 suffered from poorer OS compared with those with TMTV<8.2 cm 3 ( χ2=5.90, P=0.015). Cox multivariate analysis showed that TMTV (hazard risk ( HR)=6.347, 95% CI: 1.039-38.789) was a significant predictor of OS ( P=0.045). Conclusion:18F-FDG PET/CT parameter TMTV is the independent predictive factor of OS in metastatic melanoma treated with anti-PD1 immunotherapy.

Detection of aqueous humor cytokines in diabetic retinopathy and its clinical significance / 中华实验眼科杂志

Objective:To detect the concentration of various cytokines in aqueous humor of patients with diabetes retinopathy (DR) with Luminex liquid chip, and analyze the relationship between the cytokines and the occurrence and development of DR.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted.Sixty-three DR patients (97 eyes) treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from March 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019 were enrolled as DR group, including 38 nonproliferative DR (NPDR) eyes in NPDR group and 59 proliferative DR (PDR) eyes in PDR group, 39 eyes in photocoagulation group and 58 eyes in non-photocoagulation group.Twenty-seven patients (31 eyes) hospitalized for cataract surgery at the same time were collected as the control group.Aqueous humor was extracted during the operation, and Luminex liquid chip was used to detect the concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), placental growth factor (PLGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AA, PDGF-BB, angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-1β, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in aqueous humor.The concentrations of various cytokines of different groups were compared, and the correlation among various aqueous humor cytokines was analyzed by Spearman rank correlation analysis.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (No.Y[2019]230). Written informed consent was obtained from each patient.Results:The concentrations of VEGF-A, PLGF, PDGF-AA, ANGPTL4, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1 and ICAM-1 in DR group were significantly higher and the concentration of IL-1β was significantly lower than those of control group ( Z=-4.747, -5.164, -3.373, -8.062, -4.535, -5.954, -5.098, -3.228, -5.954, all at P<0.01). The concentrations of VEGF-A, PLGF, PDGF-AA, ANGPTL4, IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1 of the photocoagulation and non-photocoagulation groups were higher and the concentration of IL-1β was significantly lower than those in the control group (all at P<0.017). The concentration of ICAM-1 in the photocoagulation group was significantly higher than that in the control group ( P<0.017). The concentrations of PLGF, PDGF-AA and ANGPTL4 of PDR group were higher than those of NPDR group, and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=-2.291, -3.396, -2.276, all at P<0.05). VEGF-A was positively correlated with the other cytokines except ICAM-1 ( rs=0.237-0.540, all at P<0.05). ANGPTL4 was positively correlated with the other cytokines except IL-1β ( rs=0.361-0.733, all at P<0.01). Conclusions:The occurrence and development of DR are closely related to VEGF family, PDGF family, ANGPTL family and inflammatory factors.The concentrations of PLGF, PDGF-AA and ANGPTL4 are higher in PDR eyes.There are close and complex relationships among a variety of cytokines in the eyes of DR patients.

Textual research classic decoction Danggui Yinzi by ancient and modern literatures / 国际中医中药杂志

The Danggui Yinzi, as one of the classic prescriptions, was first recorded in Yan's Jisheng Prescription and is mainly used to treat various skin diseases with blood deficiency and wind dryness. By referring to ancient books and modern literature researches, this study analyzed and summarized the literature of Danggui Yinzi from the aspects of prescription origin, composition, addition and subtractive changes of flavor, dosage and decocting and taking method, discrimination of prescription and efficacy, raw material and processing of medicinal materials, and modern clinical application. Textual researches explored more than 80 ancient literature and 170 modern literature and showed its content included Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Paeoniae Radix Alba, Chuanxiong Rhizoma, Rehmannia Radix, Tribuli Fructus, Saposhnikoviae Radix, Schizonepetae Spica, Polygoni Multiflora Radix, Astragali Radix, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. It was cooked by water. It was used for the patients with skin diseases and Chinese pattern of blood deficiency wind drying. It has showed a wide range of applications, and similar application in ancient and modern time. This paper provides a more comprehensive reference for the research and development of compound preparation of Danggui Yinzi.

Changes of Macular Microcirculation After Near Work in Myopic Patients / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ObjectiveTo compare the changes of retinal microcirculation indexes in the anterior and posterior macular areas of the eyes used at close range and to explore the possible causes of myopia affected by near work. MethodsWatching mobile phone video for 1 hour at close range was used as the method of defining near work. The OCTA technology was used to measure the superficial retinal microcirculation indexes within 6 by 6 mm macular area before and after near work， including the superficial retinal VLD from the nerve fiber layer to the inner boundary of the outer plexiform layer， the VPD， nonperfusion area of FAZ， FAZ-P and FAZ circulation，. The FAZ was divided int center， inner layer， outer layer and overall according to the region， and 11 microcirculation indexes were obtained to compare the differences between before and after near work. ResultsThe indexes of superficial retinal microcirculation in the macular area generally decreased after near work， except for FAZ-A and FAZ-P（P = 0.148， 0.975）. The largest differences among both VLD and VPD occurred between the central and inner layer（Difference = 1.00， 0.80， 0.02， 0.02，P = 0.001， 0.008， 0.001， 0.008）. No differences in microcirculation indexs were observed in the macular area after near work with different diopters and axial lengths. ConclusionNear work may affect the occurrence and development of myopia by affecting the changes of retinal microcirculation in the superficial layer of macula， leading to ischemia and hypoxia.

Capsaicin ameliorates intermittent high glucose-mediated endothelial senescence via the TRPV1/SIRT1 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Patients with diabetes have accelerated vascular aging when compared with healthy individuals. Hyperglycemia, especially intermittent high glucose (IHG), is the main cause of vascular endothelial senescence. Capsaicin, a major component of chili pepper is thought to contribute to cardiovascular protection by spicy food. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pathway related with the effects of capsaicin on endothelial cell senescence induced by IHG. METHODS: HUVECs were exposed to IHG (5 mM or 33 mM glucose, alternating every 12 hours for 3 days) and treated with capsaicin at 0.3, 1 and 3 µM. To determine endothelial cell senescence, we examined the senescence-related ß-galactosidase staining, cell cycle arrest, cell viability, as well as production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). To evaluate the involvement of TRPV1/[Ca2+]i/CaMKII/AMPK/SIRT1 pathway in anti- senescence effects of capsaicin, HUVECs were treated with CAPZ (a TRPV1 antagonist), BAPTA-AM (an intracellular calcium chelator), KN62 (a CaMKII antagonist), compound C (an AMPK inhibitor), or EX527 (a SIRT1 inhibitor). To knockdown TRPV1, HUVECs were transfected with shRNA lentivirus targeting TRPV1. The levels of SIRT1, p21, TRPV1, AMPK and phospho-AMPK were evaluated by western blotting. RESULTS: IHG suppressed the levels of SIRT1 and enhanced endothelial senescence. Capsaicin upregulated SIRT1 expression and downregulated the senescence marker, p21, thereby protecting endothelial cells from IHG-induced senescence as indicated by relieved G0/G1 phase arrest, improved cell viabilities, and reduced counts of senescent cells and ROS production. Pre-treatment with CAPZ, BAPTA-AM, KN62 or compound C abrogated the anti-senescence effects of capsaicin. Capsaicin restored AMPK phosphorylation and IHG-inhibited TRPV1 expression. Moreover, TRPV1 silencing suppressed SIRT1 expression and abolished the anti-senescence effects of capsaicin. CONCLUSION: Capsaicin elevates SIRT1 levels through TRPV1/[Ca2+]i/CaMKII/AMPK pathway and suppresses IHG-mediated endothelial cell senescence. This study provides initial evidence that capsaicin is a potential candidate for the prevention of vascular aging in diabetes.

Prognostic role of baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters and relevant clinical factors in peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified / 中华核医学与分子影像杂志

Objective:To explore the prognostic role of baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters for patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS). Methods:From February 2010 to January 2019, 47 PTCL-NOS patients (29 males, 18 females, age: (59.7±13.6) years) from Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital were retrospectively enrolled. Each patient underwent baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging before treatment. The total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were computed by using the margin threshold of 41% SUV max. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to evaluate progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results:Over the follow-up of 5-119 months, 25 patients had disease progression, including 24 deaths. SUV max (hazard ratio ( HR)=8.581, 95% CI: 1.950-37.764, P=0.004), TMTV( HR=9.677, 95% CI: 3.521-26.593, P<0.001), TLG( HR=3.647, 95% CI: 1.245-10.682, P<0.001) and prognostic index for T-cell lymphoma (PIT; HR=4.593, 95% CI: 1.792-11.773, P=0.002) were significant predictors of PFS and OS( HR=8.720, 95% CI: 1.982-83.354, P=0.004; HR=9.325, 95% CI: 3.423-25.408, P<0.001; HR=3.439, 95% CI: 1.170-10.110, P<0.001; HR=4.437, 95% CI: 1.728-11.393, P=0.002). After multivariate analysis, TMTV was the independent predictor of PFS ( HR=4.371, 95% CI: 1.066-16.541, P<0.001) and OS ( HR=4.978, 95% CI: 1.123-21.329, P<0.001). The substratification analysis showed that patients with high TMTV(≥168.3 cm 3) had worse prognosis than those with low TMTV (<168.3 cm 3) for PFS ( χ2=14.60, P<0.001) and OS ( χ2=16.81, P<0.001) in low PIT (0-1) group, while patients with high TMTV had worse prognosis than those with low TMTV for PFS ( χ2=4.09, P=0.043) in high PIT (≥2) group. Conclusions:Baseline PET/CT metabolic parameters including SUV max, TMTV, TLG and PIT are able to predict survival in PTCL-NOS patients. TMTV is the independent predictor of PFS and OS, which can substratify PTCL-NOS patients in PIT group.

Prognostic value of pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with primary malignant melanoma / 中华核医学与分子影像杂志

Objective:To assess the prognostic value of pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters in patients with primary melanoma. Methods:A retrospective analysis comprised of 35 patients (21 males, 14 females, age: 35-85 years; from January 2014 to August 2019; Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School) who were newly-diagnosed primary melanoma with preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT was conducted. 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters including SUV max, SUV mean, peak of SUV (SUV peak) were obtained. Metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) of primary focus were measured automatically using the threshold of 40%SUV max. The optimal thresholds of PET parameters were obtained by using ROC curve analysis. The associations between melanoma-specific survival (MSS), progression-free survival (PFS) and PET/CT metabolic parameters were assessed using Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model. Results:The median follow-up was 15.4 months, and 20 patients showed disease progression and 7 died. The cut-off values for SUV max, SUV mean, SUV peak, MTV and TLG were 3.95, 2.45, 2.65, 3.60 cm 3 and 14.85 g, respectively (AUCs: 0.742, 0.790, 0.728, 0.655, 0.693; P values: 0.016, 0.004, 0.022, 0.121, 0.053). Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test showed that SUV max, SUV mean, SUV peak, MTV and TLG were predictors of PFS ( χ2 values: 4.06-8.35, all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that MTV (hazard ratio ( HR)=3.09, 95% CI: 1.08-8.86, P=0.036) and TLG ( HR=3.36, 95% CI: 1.11-10.14, P=0.031) were significant predictors of PFS but not for MSS ( HR=5.14, P=0.080). Conclusions:SUV max, SUV mean and SUV peak of primary focus may help for predicting PFS of patients with primary melanoma. MTV and TLG of primary focus may be the best to predict PFS of primary melanoma.

Diagnostic value of 18F-FDG PET/CT for Richter syndrome of chronic lymphocytic leukemia / 中华核医学与分子影像杂志

Objective:To explore the value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in detecting Richter syndrome (RS) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. Methods:From August 2010 to November 2019, 101 histologically confirmed CLL patients (62 males, 39 females; age (58.0±12.7) years) who underwent PET/CT in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital and the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were retrospectively included. ROI was drawn and PET/CT images were semi-quantitatively examined by estimating SUV max. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the SUV max of RS and non-RS patients. ROC curve analysis was utilized to analyze the optimal cut-off value of SUV max in detecting RS. Results:RS was histologically confirmed in 27 CLL patients. The SUV max of RS patients was 13.7(11.0, 20.1), which was significantly higher than that of non-RS patients (4.1(3.1, 5.8); z=-6.48, P<0.001). ROC curve analysis identified the optimal cut-off value of SUV max was 10.0 and the AUC was 0.923, with accuracy of 94.1%(95/101), sensitivity of 85.2%(23/27), specificity of 97.3%(72/74), positive predictive value of 92.0%(23/25) and negative predictive value of 94.7%(72/76). Conclusion:As the semi-quantitative index measured by 18F-FDG PET/CT, SUV max can help to diagnose RS and provide important information for clinical use.

Long-term outcomes of delayed percutaneous coronary intervention for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: A propensity score-matched retrospective study.

ABSTRACT: The best time window of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is within 12 hours for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, there is limited evidence about the proper time of PCI for delayed STEMI patients.From June 2014 to June 2015, a total of 268 patients receiving PCI with second-generation drug-eluting stent in a Chinese hospital after 3 days of STEMI onset were enrolled in this retrospective study, who were divided into the early group (3-14 days) and the late group (>14 days). A propensity score match was conducted to reduce the baseline difference. The primary endpoint of all-cause death and secondary endpoints of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event (myocardial infarction [MI], stroke, emergent revascularization, and rehospitalization due to heart failure) were compared using survival analysis.At last, 182 cases were matched after propensity score match, with no statistical difference in baseline characteristics and PCI data. Kaplan-Meier survival curve demonstrated no difference in all-cause death of the 2 groups (P = .512). However, the early group presented a higher incidence of MI than the late group (P = .036). The multivariate Cox regression analysis also demonstrated that the early PCI was an independent risk factor for MI compared with late PCI (hazard ratio = 3.83, 95%CI [1.91-8.82], P = .001). There was no statistical difference in other major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event, including stroke, emergent revascularization, and rehospitalization due to heart failure.Using the 2nd drug-eluting stent, early PCI (3-14 days) and late PCI (>14 days) have comparable efficacy and outcomes. However, patients receiving early PCI are subjected to a relatively higher risk of recurrent MI.

[Community Characteristics of Methanogens and Methanogenic Pathways in Salt-tolerant Rice Soil].

It is known that methanogens play a critical role in the carbon cycle in soil, while methanogen community characteristics and their environmental influencing factors in the soil planted with salt-tolerant rice remain unclear. In this study, methanogen abundance, community composition, and relationships with environmental factors in soils planted with the salt-tolerant rice (YC1703) and ordinary rice (Lindao 10) were evaluated in the rice improvement demonstration base of Qingdao Wisdom Agricultural Industry using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Illumina high-throughput sequencing. The results indicated that the abundance and community richness of methanogens in Lindao 10 soil were significantly higher than those in YC1703 soil, and methanogens in YC1703 soil exhibited higher diversity. The combined effects of rice varieties, rice growth period, and environmental factors had impacts on the methanogen community. The hydrogenotrophic methanogens were dominant in the YC1703 and Lindao 10 soils; thus, we speculated that the dominant pathway of methane production in these soils was hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis.

Research progress of bacterial minimal genome.

Bacteria with the smallest genome contain genes necessary for self-sustaining replication only, giving the organisms advantages to serve as a potential industrial production platform. Many strains with reduced genomes have been constructed, owing to the development of high-throughput DNA sequencing and synthesis technology. This review first describes the concept of minimal genomes, summarizes the relevant research progress of bacterial essential genes, then systematically lists the work related to artificial reduction and synthesis of bacterial genomes, finally discusses the technical obstacles and limitations encountered in the process of designing and constructing reduced genomes, hoping to provide a theoretical basis for the experiment and application of artificially synthesized genomes.

A novel tricyclic BTK inhibitor suppresses B cell responses and osteoclastic bone erosion in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by joint leukocyte infiltration, synovial inflammation and bone damage result from osteoclastogenesis. Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a key regulator of B cell receptor (BCR) and Fc gamma receptor (FcγR) signaling involved in the pathobiology of RA and other autoimmune disorders. SOMCL-17-016 is a potent and selective tricyclic BTK inhibitor, structurally distinct from other known BTK inhibitors. In present study we investigated the therapeutic efficacy of SOMCL-17-016 in a mouse collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model and underlying mechanisms. CIA mice were administered SOMCL-17-016 (6.25, 12.5, 25 mg·kg-1·d-1, ig), or ibrutinib (25 mg·kg-1·d-1, ig) or acalabrutinib (25 mg·kg-1·d-1, ig) for 15 days. We showed that oral administration of SOMCL-17-016 dose-dependently ameliorated arthritis severity and bone damage in CIA mice; it displayed a higher in vivo efficacy than ibrutinib and acalabrutinib at the corresponding dosage. We found that SOMCL-17-016 administration dose-dependently inhibited anti-IgM-induced proliferation and activation of B cells from CIA mice, and significantly decreased anti-IgM/anti-CD40-stimulated RANKL expression in memory B cells from RA patients. In RANKL/M-CSF-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, SOMCL-17-016 prevented osteoclast differentiation and abolished RANK-BTK-PLCγ2-NFATc1 signaling. In summary, this study demonstrates that SOMCL-17-016 presents distinguished therapeutic effects in the CIA model. SOMCL-17-016 exerts a dual inhibition of B cell function and osteoclastogenesis, suggesting that it to be a promising drug candidate for RA treatment.

Anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities of pregnane glycosides from the root bark of Periploca sepium Bunge.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Periploca sepium Bunge (P. sepium) is used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, particularly rheumatoid arthritis. Periploca sepium periplosides (PePs), isolated from the root bark of P. sepium, characterized as the cardiac glycosides-free pregnane glycosides fraction, is expected to possess therapeutic potential on inflammatory arthritis. AIM OF THE STUDY: The current study is designed to evaluate the anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities effects of the PePs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anti-nociceptive activity of PePs was examined in the writhing test and hot-plate test in mice. The anti-inflammatory activity of PePs was determined by the 2, 4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced ear edema model and the carrageenan induced paw edema model in mice. The anti-arthritic activity of PePs was investigated by evaluating the joint inflammation and arthritis pathology in rat adjuvant induced arthritis (AIA) and murine collagen induced arthritis (CIA). Phytohaemagglutinin M (PHA-M) -elicited human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were further applied to assess the suppressive activity of PePs on IFN-γ and IL-17 production. RESULTS: PePs treatment markedly decreased the acetic acid-induced visceral nociceptive response and increased the hot-plate pain threshold. Further, oral administration of PePs exhibited anti-inflammatory activity by decreasing DNFB-induced ear edema in mice and carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats. Moreover, oral treatment of PePs ameliorated joint swelling and attenuated bone erosion in rodent arthritis, and the therapeutic benefits were partially attributed to the suppression of proinflammatory cytokines such IFN-γ and IL-17. Moreover, PePs suppressed the proliferation as well as IFN-γ and IL-17 secretion in PHA-M-elicited human PBMCs in a concentration dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our results justified the traditional use of Periploca sepium Bunge for the treatment of diseases associated with inflammation and pain.

The current status and future prospects of DNA computing / 生物工程学报

As the demand for high-performance computing continues to grow, traditional computing models are facing unprecedented challenges. Among the many emerging computing technologies, DNA computing has attracted much attention due to its low energy consumption and parallelism. The DNA circuit, which is the basis for DNA computing, is an important technology for the regulation and processing of the molecular information. This review highlights the basic principles of DNA computing, summarizes the latest research progress, and concludes with a discussion of the challenges of DNA computing. Such integrated molecular computing systems are expected to be widely used in the fields of aerospace, information security and defense system.

Operation effect analysis of regional remote image diagnosis network platform / 中华医院管理杂志

Objective:To evaluate the operation effect of remote imaging network platform in a regional medical center.Methods:The workload data of remote imaging network in a regional medical center from 2017 to 2019 were analyzed.Results:137 medical institutions were connected to the remote imaging diagnosis network platform, and the number of imaging examinations in grass-roots medical institutions increased significantly. Part of the imaging examination in the superior medical center was gradually diverted to the subordinate medical institutions. However, limited by the ability of image diagnosis, grass-roots medical institutions relied on remote diagnosis of higher-level hospitals.Conclusions:Remote image diagnosis network is an important platform support for Internet plus medical health service, which can rapidly and effectively enhance the ability and level of imaging diagnosis in primary medical institutions.