A syrup containing L-arabinose and D-xylose appears superior to PEG-4000 as a bowel cleansing agent.

Adequate bowel cleansing is crucial for endoscopic diagnosis and treatment, and the recovery of gut microbiota after intestinal cleansing is also important. A hypertonic syrup predominantly comprising L-arabinose and D-xylose (20% xylo-oligosaccharides) can be extracted from the hemicellulose of corn husks and cobs. L-Arabinose and xylo-oligosaccharides have been reported to relieve constipation and improve the gut microbial environment. This study evaluated the bowel cleansing effect of the aforementioned syrup and its influence on the organism and intestinal microbiota after cleansing in comparison with polyethylene glycol-4000 (PEG-4000) in mice. Bowel cleansing was performed using syrup or PEG-4000 in C57BL/6J mice, and the effect of intestinal preparation and its influence on serum electrolytes and gut microbiota after bowel cleansing were evaluated. The volume of intestinal residual feces in the syrup group was significantly lower than that in the PEG-4000 group. Additionally, syrup disturbed serum electrolytes more mildly than PEG-4000. Alpha diversity in the gut microbiota was significantly higher in the syrup group than in the PEG-4000 group on the first day after bowel cleansing. However, no difference in beta diversity was observed between the two groups. Syrup increased the abundance of Bifidobacteria and Christensenella and decreased the abundance of Akkermansia in comparison with PEG-4000 on the first day after bowel cleansing. Thus, this syrup has potential clinical use as a bowel cleansing agent given the above effects, its benefits and safety, and better taste and acceptability.

Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms, bioavailable 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and hepatocellular carcinoma survival.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the role of vitamin D receptor polymorphisms and their interaction with vitamin D status in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prognosis. METHODS: We evaluated the association of TaqI, BsmI, Cdx-2, and ApaI polymorphisms, individually and in combination, with liver cancer-specific (LCSS) and overall survival (OS) among 967 patients with newly diagnosed HCC. Subsequently, we examined whether these polymorphisms modified the association between serum bioavailable 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations and survival. Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 1017 days, 393 deaths occurred, with 360 attributed to HCC. Having TaqI G allele (HRper allele = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.08 to 1.57) or BsmI T allele (HRper allele = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.99) was associated with worse LCSS. Carrying increasing numbers of protective alleles was associated with superior LCSS (HR6-8 vs 0-3 = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.34 to 0.80). The inverse association of bioavailable 25OHD with LCSS was only significant in patients with TaqI AA (HRQuartile 4 vs Quartile 1 = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.44 to 0.92), BsmI CC (HRQuartile 4 vs Quartile 1 = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.44 to 0.88), and 6 to 8 protective alleles (HRQuartile 4 vs Quartile 1 = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.23 to 0.87). Similar associations were observed for OS. CONCLUSIONS: Patients carrying wild-type TaqI, BsmI, or more protective alleles had improved survival and might benefit from optimizing bioavailable 25OHD status.

Distinct profiles of cerebral oxygenation in focal vs. secondarily generalized EEG seizures in children undergoing cardiac surgery.

Objectives: Seizures are common in children undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Cerebral oxygen saturation (ScO2) by near-infrared spectroscopy is routinely monitored in many centers, but the relations between the levels and changes of ScO2 and brain injuries remain incompletely understood. We aimed to analyze the postoperative profiles of ScO2 and cerebral blood flow velocity in different types of EEG seizures in relation to brain injuries on MRI. Methods: We monitored continuous EEG and ScO2 in 337 children during the first 48 h after CPB, which were analyzed in 3 h periods. Cerebral blood flow peak systolic velocity (PSV) in the middle cerebral artery was measured daily by transcranial Doppler. Postoperative cerebral MRI was performed before hospital discharge. Results: Based on the occurrence and spreading types of seizures, patients were divided into three groups as patients without seizures (Group N; n = 309), those with focal seizures (Group F; n = 13), or with secondarily generalized seizures (Group G; n = 15). There were no significant differences in the onset time and duration of seizures and incidence of status epilepticus between the two seizures groups (Ps ≥ 0.27). ScO2 increased significantly faster across Group N, Group G, and Group F during the 48 h (p < 0.0001) but its overall levels were not significantly different among the three groups (p = 0.30). PSV was significantly lower (p = 0.003) but increased significantly faster (p = 0.0003) across Group N, Group G, and Group F. Group F had the most severe brain injuries and the highest incidence of white matter injuries on MRI among the three groups (Ps ≤ 0.002). Conclusion: Postoperative cerebral oxygenation showed distinct profiles in secondarily generalized and particularly focal types of EEG seizures in children after CPB. A state of 'overshooting' ScO2 with persistently low PSV was more frequently seen in those with focal seizures and more severe brain injury. Information from this study may have important clinical implications in detecting brain injuries when monitoring cerebral oxygenation in this vulnerable group of children after CPB.

Therapeutic Applications of Nanomedicine: Recent Developments and Future Perspectives.

The concept of nanomedicine has evolved significantly in recent decades, leveraging the unique phenomenon known as the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. This has facilitated major advancements in targeted drug delivery, imaging, and individualized therapy through the integration of nanotechnology principles into medicine. Numerous nanomedicines have been developed and applied for disease treatment, with a particular focus on cancer therapy. Recently, nanomedicine has been utilized in various advanced fields, including diagnosis, vaccines, immunotherapy, gene delivery, and tissue engineering. Multifunctional nanomedicines facilitate concurrent medication delivery, therapeutic monitoring, and imaging, allowing for immediate responses and personalized treatment plans. This review concerns the major advancement of nanomaterials and their potential applications in the biological and medical fields. Along with this, we also mention the various clinical translations of nanomedicine and the major challenges that nanomedicine is currently facing to overcome the clinical translation barrier.

Dual-phase nano-glass-hydrides overcome the strength-ductility trade-off and magnetocaloric bottlenecks of rare earth based amorphous alloys.

Metal-hydrogen systems have attracted intense interest for diverse energy-related applications. However, metals usually reduce their ductility after hydrogenation. Here, we show that hydrogen can take the form of nano-sized ordered hydrides (NOH) homogeneously dispersed in a stable glassy shell, leading to remarkable enhancement in both strength and ductility. The yield strength is enhanced by 44% and the plastic strain is substantially improved from almost zero to over 70%, which is attributed to the created NOH and their interplay with the glassy shell. Moreover, the hydride-glass composite GdCoAlH possesses a giant magnetic entropy change (-ΔSM) of 18.7 J kg-1K-1 under a field change of 5 T, which is 105.5% larger than the hydrogen-free sample and is the largest value among amorphous alloys and related composites. The prominent ΔSM-ductility combination overcomes the bottlenecks of amorphous alloys as magnetic refrigerants. These results provide a promising strategy for property breakthrough of structural-functional alloys.

AIDA-1/ANKS1B Binds to the SynGAP Family RasGAPs with High Affinity and Specificity.

AIDA-1, encoded by ANKS1B, is an abundant postsynaptic scaffold protein essential for brain development. Mutations of ANKS1B are closely associated with various psychiatric disorders. However, very little is known regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying AIDA-1's involvements under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Here, we discovered an interaction between AIDA-1 and the SynGAP family Ras-GTPase activating protein (GAP) via affinity purification using AIDA-1d as the bait. Biochemical studies showed that the PTB domain of AIDA-1 binds to an extended NPx[F/Y]-motif of the SynGAP family proteins with high affinities. The high-resolution crystal structure of AIDA-1 PTB domain in complex with the SynGAP NPxF-motif revealed the molecular mechanism governing the specific interaction between AIDA-1 and SynGAP. Our study not only explains why patients with ANKS1B or SYNGAP1 mutations share overlapping clinical phenotypes, but also allows identification of new AIDA-1 binding targets such as Ras and Rab interactors.

Demixing is a default process for biological condensates formed via phase separation.

Excitatory and inhibitory synapses do not overlap even when formed on one submicron-sized dendritic protrusion. How excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic cytomatrices or densities (e/iPSDs) are segregated is not understood. Broadly, why membraneless organelles are naturally segregated in cellular subcompartments is unclear. Using biochemical reconstitutions in vitro and in cells, we demonstrate that ePSDs and iPSDs spontaneously segregate into distinct condensed molecular assemblies through phase separation. Tagging iPSD scaffold gephyrin with a PSD-95 intrabody (dissociation constant ~4 nM) leads to mistargeting of gephyrin to ePSD condensates. Unexpectedly, formation of iPSD condensates forces the intrabody-tagged gephyrin out of ePSD condensates. Thus, instead of diffusion-governed spontaneous mixing, demixing is a default process for biomolecules in condensates. Phase separation can generate biomolecular compartmentalization specificities that cannot occur in dilute solutions.

Geochemical Characteristics of Trace Elements and Mineralization Model of the Ediacaran-Early Cambrian Phosphorites, South China.

As a nonrenewable resource, phosphate rock is an important support for the development and survival of the national economy. The regional distribution and output of phosphate rock in China are extremely uneven, and the amount of high-quality ore resources is relatively poor, which seriously restricts the development and utilization of phosphate rock resources in China. This paper briefly summarizes the distribution characteristics of phosphate rock resources and summarizes the characteristics and research progress of Ediacaran-early Cambrian phosphorus mineralization types, geological characteristics, and deposit genesis of the Yangtze platform in South China. The Ediacaran-early Cambrian sedimentary phosphorite deposits in China are mainly distributed in Yunnan, Guizhou, Hubei, Sichuan and Hunan provinces of the Yangtze platform, in which the early Cambrian phosphate deposits are also rich in rare earth elements, associated with uranium, nickel, molybdenum, vanadium, and other beneficial metal elements. The increase of atmospheric oxygen content at the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary may have promoted the extensive oxygenation of the late Neoproterozoic oceans, so the Ediacaran-early Cambrian oceans generally showed a reductive environment, and there may be dynamic chemical stratification of the oxidation zone-sulfide zone-iron zone. Up to the early Cambrian, the redox stratified structure of Precambrian seawater may still be inherited, showing that the surface water is an oxidizing environment, changing to a reduction environment, and even wedge-shaped sulfide water is developed at the bottom of the deep basin. The main phosphorus sources are deep phosphorus-rich seawater, continental weathering, and deep hydrothermal activity of Ediacaran-early Cambrian marine sedimentary phosphorite deposits in South China. The genetic mechanisms of phosphorite deposits in the Yangtze platform in South China are mainly biogenic, upwelling phosphorus-forming theory, mechanical mineralization, and syn-sedimentary hot water mixed genesis. In the future, it is still necessary to further explore the internal relationship between phosphorus deposits and major geological events, the in situ analysis of microstructure of phosphate rock ores, and the genetic mechanism of phosphate deposits and the reconstruction of paleo-marine environment.

Rimegepant orally disintegrating tablet 75 mg for acute treatment of migraine in adults from China: a subgroup analysis of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Rimegepant orally disintegrating tablet (ODT), an oral small-molecule calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist, is indicated for acute and preventive treatment of migraine in the United States and other countries. Previously, a large clinical trial assessed the efficacy and safety of rimegepant ODT 75 mg for the acute treatment of migraine in adults living in China or South Korea. A post hoc subgroup analysis of this trial was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rimegepant for acute treatment of migraine in adults living in China. METHODS: Eligible participants were ≥ 18 years of age and had a ≥ 1-year history of migraine, with 2 to 8 attacks of moderate or severe pain intensity per month and < 15 headache days per month during the 3 months before screening. Participants self-administered rimegepant ODT 75 mg or matching placebo to treat a single migraine attack of moderate or severe pain intensity. The co-primary endpoints were pain freedom and freedom from the most bothersome symptom (MBS) at 2 h post-dose. Key secondary endpoints included pain relief at 2 h post-dose, ability to function normally at 2 h post-dose, use of rescue medication within 24 h post-dose, and sustained pain freedom from 2 to 24 h and 2 to 48 h post-dose. All p values were nominal. Safety was assessed via treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), electrocardiograms, vital signs, and routine laboratory tests. RESULTS: Overall, 1075 participants (rimegepant, n = 538; placebo, n = 537) were included in the subgroup analysis. Rimegepant was more effective than placebo for the co-primary endpoints of pain freedom (18.2% vs. 10.6%, p = 0.0004) and freedom from the MBS (48.0% vs. 31.8%, p <  0.0001), as well as all key secondary endpoints. The incidence of TEAEs was comparable between the rimegepant (15.2%) and placebo (16.4%) groups. No signal of drug-induced liver injury was observed, and no study drug-related serious TEAEs were reported in the rimegepant group. CONCLUSIONS: A single dose of rimegepant 75 mg rimegepant was effective for the acute treatment of migraine in adults living in China, with safety and tolerability similar to placebo. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04574362 Date registered: 2020-10-05.

Simulation of Dispersion and Explosion Characteristics of LiFePO4 Lithium-Ion Battery Thermal Runaway Gases.

In recent years, as the installed scale of battery energy storage systems (BESS) continues to expand, energy storage system safety incidents have been a fast-growing trend, sparking widespread concern from all walks of life. During the thermal runaway (TR) process of lithium-ion batteries, a large amount of combustible gas is released. In this paper, the 105 Ah lithium iron phosphate battery TR test was conducted, and the flammable gas components released from the battery TR were detected. The simulation tests of the diffusion and explosion characteristics of lithium iron phosphate battery's (LFP) TR gases with different numbers and positions in the BESS were carried out using FLACS simulation software. It was found that the more batteries TR simultaneously, the shorter the time for the combustible gas concentration in the energy storage cabin to reach the explosion limit. When 48 batteries were in TR simultaneously in the energy storage cabin, the shortest time was 9.8 s, and the further the location of the fire is from the hatch, the largest explosion overpressure is generated to the hatch, up to 583 kPa. When the gas generated by the TR of 48 batteries explodes, the maximum explosion overpressure at 5 m outside the energy storage cabin hatch is more significant than 40 kPa, which will cause serious injury to humans. The causes of TR of batteries in prefabricated chambers are complex, and the location and amount of thermal runaway of batteries as well as the diffusion of combustible fumes can have different effects on the external environment. The research results can provide support for the safety design of BESS.

Artificial Intelligence-Driven Platform: Unveiling Critical Hepatic Molecular Alterations in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development.

Since most Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) typically arises as a consequence of long-term liver damage, the hepatic molecular characteristics are closely related to the occurrence of HCC. Gaining comprehensive information about the location, morphology, and hepatic molecular alterations related to HCC is essential for accurate diagnosis. However, there is a dearth of technological advancements capable of concurrently providing precise HCC diagnosis and discerning the accompanying hepatic molecular alterations. In this study, an integrated information system is developed for the pathological-level diagnosis of HCC and the revelation of critical molecular alterations in the liver. This system utilizes computed tomography/Surface-enhanced Raman scattering combined with an artificial intelligence strategy to establish connections between the occurrence of HCC and alterations in hepatic biomolecules. Employing artificial intelligence techniques, the SERS spectra from both healthy and HCC groups are successfully classified into two distinct categories with a remarkable accuracy rate of 91.38%. Based on molecular profiling, it is identified that the nucleotide-to-lipid signal ratio holds significant potential as a reliable indicator for the occurrence of HCC, thereby serving as a promising tool for prevention and therapeutic surveillance.

Association between Body Mass Index and Medication-Overuse Headache among Individuals with Migraine: A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is a secondary chronic headache disorder that occurs in individuals with a pre-existing primary headache disorder, particularly migraine disorder. Obesity is often combined with chronic daily headaches and is considered a risk factor for the transformation of episodic headaches into chronic headaches. However, the association between obesity and MOH among individuals with migraine has rarely been studied. The present study explored the association between body mass index (BMI) and MOH in people living with migraine. METHODS: This cross-sectional study is a secondary analysis of data from the Survey of Fibromyalgia Comorbidity with Headache study. Migraine and MOH were diagnosed using the criteria of the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd Edition. BMI (kg/m2) is calculated by dividing the weight (kg) by the square of the height (m). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between BMI and MOH. RESULTS: A total of 2,251 individuals with migraine were included, of whom 8.7% (195/2,251) had a concomitant MOH. Multivariable logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age, sex, education level, headache duration, pain intensity, headache family history, chronic migraine, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and fibromyalgia, demonstrated there was an association between BMI (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.11; p = 0.031) and MOH. The results remained when the BMI was transformed into a category. Compared to individuals with Q2 (18.5 kg/m2 ≤ BMI ≤23.9 kg/m2), those with Q4 (BMI ≥28 kg/m2) had an adjusted OR for MOH of 1.81 (95% CI, 1.04-3.17; p = 0.037). In the subgroup analyses, BMI was associated with MOH among aged more than 50 years (OR, 1.13; 95%, 1.03-1.24), less than high school (OR, 1.08; 95%, 1.01-1.15), without depression (OR, 1.06; 95%, 1.01-1.12), and without anxiety (OR, 1.06; 95%, 1.01-1.12). An association between BMI and MOH was found in a sensitivity analysis that BMI was classified into four categories according to the World Health Organization guidelines. CONCLUSION: In this cross-sectional study, BMI was associated with MOH in Chinese individuals with migraine.

Profile of Chinese Cluster Headache Register Individual Study (CHRIS): Clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment status data of 816 patients in China.

BACKGROUND: The clinical profile of cluster headache may differ among different regions of the world, warranting interest in the data obtained from the initial Chinese Cluster Headache Register Individual Study (CHRIS) for better understanding. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, prospective, longitudinal cohort study on cluster headache across all 31 provinces of China, aiming to gather clinical characteristics, treatment approaches, imaging, electrophysiological and biological samples. RESULTS: In total 816 patients were enrolled with a male-to-female ratio of 4.33:1. The mean age at consultation was 34.98 ± 9.91 years, and 24.89 ± 9.77 years at onset. Only 2.33% were diagnosed with chronic cluster headache, and 6.99% had a family history of the condition. The most common bout was one to two times per year (45.96%), lasting two weeks to one month (44.00%), and occurring frequently in spring (76.23%) and winter (73.04%). Of these, 68.50% experienced one to two attacks per day, with the majority lasting one to two hours (45.59%). The most common time for attacks was between 9 am and 12 pm (75.86%), followed by 1 am and 3 am (43.48%). Lacrimation (78.80%) was the most predominant autonomic symptom reported. Furthermore, 39.22% of patients experienced a delay of 10 years or more in receiving a correct diagnosis. Only 35.67% and 24.26% of patients received common acute and preventive treatments, respectively. CONCLUSION: Due to differences in ethnicity, genetics and lifestyle conditions, CHRIS has provided valuable baseline data from China. By establishing a dynamic cohort with comprehensive multidimensional data, it aims to advance the management system for cluster headache in China.

Urban-canopy airflow dynamics: A numerical investigation of drag forces and distribution for generic neighborhoods, and their relationships with breathability.

Thorough investigations of urban-canopy drag primarily stemming from pressure drag on building surfaces are necessary given the turbulent flows within complex urban areas. Moreover, a gap persists regarding the relationships between canopy drag and breathability. Therefore, this work delves into the canopy-layer airflow dynamics for generic urban neighborhoods by performing three-dimensional Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes simulations. A total of 32 subcases are examined, encompassing uniform- and varying-height and diverse plan area densities (λp, categorized into groups of sparse: 0.0625/0.067, medium: 0.23/0.25, and dense: 0.53/0.56). Results for the drag distribution highlight the windward-row shelter effect for the medium and the dense, local shelter by taller buildings, and distinct shapes of sectional drag forces (F⁎Z). Local velocity and mean age of air are found strongly positively and negatively correlated to F⁎Z, respectively, with distinct slopes in relation to λp. For the uniform-height, the normalized bulk drag (F⁎bulk, referred to as drag coefficient in literature) peaks for the medium with wake-interference regime; F⁎bulk demonstrates a maximum increase of over two times with height variation; moreover, F⁎bulk for varying-height groups exhibits a marked increase from the sparse to the medium, while remaining comparable values for the dense. The frontal area averaged drag (FAf,ave) exhibits a decreasing trend against λp across all cases. Further, FAf,ave exhibits strong correlations with λp and porosity, and with bulk ventilation indices such as spatially averaged velocity, air change rate, and normalized net escape velocity. Throughout the 'suburban-urban-suburban' canopy, medium neighborhoods exerting larger drag cause greater streamwise outdoor pressure drops and flow reductions compared to the sparse. However, dense neighborhoods with lower drag exhibit even larger pressure losses, which should be carefully scrutinized. The findings can inform urban planners in designing more aerodynamically efficient neighborhoods and guide strategies for improving air quality within urban environments.

Short-distance vesicle transport via phase separation.

In addition to long-distance molecular motor-mediated transport, cellular vesicles also need to be moved at short distances with defined directions to meet functional needs in subcellular compartments but with unknown mechanisms. Such short-distance vesicle transport does not involve molecular motors. Here, we demonstrate, using synaptic vesicle (SV) transport as a paradigm, that phase separation of synaptic proteins with vesicles can facilitate regulated, directional vesicle transport between different presynaptic bouton sub-compartments. Specifically, a large coiled-coil scaffold protein Piccolo, in response to Ca2+ and via its C2A domain-mediated Ca2+ sensing, can extract SVs from the synapsin-clustered reserve pool condensate and deposit the extracted SVs onto the surface of the active zone protein condensate. We further show that the Trk-fused gene, TFG, also participates in COPII vesicle trafficking from ER to the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment via phase separation. Thus, phase separation may play a general role in short-distance, directional vesicle transport in cells.

Three-Dimensional Reconfigurable Optical Singularities in Bilayer Photonic Crystals.

Metasurfaces and photonic crystals have revolutionized classical and quantum manipulation of light and opened the door to studying various optical singularities related to phases and polarization states. However, traditional nanophotonic devices lack reconfigurability, hindering the dynamic switching and optimization of optical singularities. This paper delves into the underexplored concept of tunable bilayer photonic crystals (BPhCs), which offer rich interlayer coupling effects. Utilizing silicon nitride-based BPhCs, we demonstrate tunable bidirectional and unidirectional polarization singularities, along with spatiotemporal phase singularities. Leveraging these tunable singularities, we achieve dynamic modulation of bound-state-in-continuum states, unidirectional guided resonances, and both longitudinal and transverse orbital angular momentum. Our work paves the way for multidimensional control over polarization and phase, inspiring new directions in ultrafast optics, optoelectronics, and quantum optics.

[Network Meta-analysis of Chinese patent medicines in treatment of coronary heart disease complicated with heart failure].

The efficacy and safety of different Chinese patent medicines in the treatment of coronary heart disease complicated with heart failure were evaluated by network Meta-analysis. The randomized controlled trial(RCT) of Chinese patent medicines for coronary heart disease complicated with heart failure was retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Web of Science, EMbase, and Cochrane Library with the time interval from inception to July 5, 2023. The quality of the included RCT was evaluated by the Cochrane's risk of bias assessment tool, and a network Meta-analysis was performed in Stata 16.0. Finally, a total of 82 RCTs were included, involving 9 298 patients and 11 Chinese patent medicines. Network Meta-analysis yielded the following results based on the surface under the cumulative ranking curve(SUCRA).(1)In terms of improving the clinical response rate, the top three interventions were Qishen Yiqi Dripping Pills + conventional western medicine, Zhenyuan Capsules + conventional western medicine, and Tongxinluo Capsules + conventional western medicine.(2) In terms of increasing left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF), the top three interventions were Shexiang Baoxin Pills + conventional western medicine, Compound Danshen Dripping Pills + conventional western medicine, and Tongxinluo Capsules + conventional western medicine.(3) In terms of reducing left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD), the top three interventions were Shexiang Tongxin Dripping Pills + conventional western medicine, Tongxinluo Capsules + conventional western medicine, and Shexiang Baoxin Pills + conventional western medicine.(4) In terms of reducing N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP), the top three interventions were Shexiang Baoxin Pills + conventional western medicine, Qi-shen Yiqi Dripping Pills + conventional western medicine, and Compound Danshen Dripping Pills + conventional western medicine.(5) In terms of reducing hyper-sensitive C-reactive protein(hs-CRP), the top three interventions were Naoxintong Capsules + conventional western medicine, Shexiang Baoxin Pills + conventional western medicine, and Compound Danshen Dripping Pills + conventional western medicine.(6) In terms of increasing the distance of the six-minute walking trail(6MWT), the top three interventions were Zhen-yuan Capsules + conventional western medicine, Qili Qiangxin Capsules + conventional western medicine, and Qishen Yiqi Dripping Pills + conventional western medicine. The results showed that Chinese patent medicines combined with conventional western medicine can effectively improve the clinical response rate, LVEF, and 6MWT and reduce LVEDD, NT-proBNP, and hs-CRP. However, due to the overall low quality of the articles included and the few articles of some Chinese patent medicines, direct comparison between diffe-rent Chinese patent medicines remains to be carried out and the results need to be further verified.

A pilot study on a patient with refractory headache: Personalized deep brain stimulation through stereoelectroencephalography.

The integration of stereoelectroencephalography with therapeutic deep brain stimulation (DBS) holds immense promise as a viable approach for precise treatment of refractory disorders, yet it has not been explored in the domain of headache or pain management. Here, we implanted 14 electrodes in a patient with refractory migraine and integrated clinical assessment and electrophysiological data to investigate personalized targets for refractory headache treatment. Using statistical analyses and cross-validated machine-learning models, we identified high-frequency oscillations in the right nucleus accumbens as a critical headache-related biomarker. Through a systematic bipolar stimulation approach and blinded sham-controlled survey, combined with real-time electrophysiological data, we successfully identified the left dorsal anterior cingulate cortex as the optimal target for the best potential treatment. In this pilot study, the concept of the herein-proposed data-driven approach to optimizing precise and personalized treatment strategies for DBS may create a new frontier in the field of refractory headache and even pain disorders.

Levistilide A Exerts a Neuroprotective Effect by Suppressing Glucose Metabolism Reprogramming and Preventing Microglia Polarization Shift: Implications for Parkinson's Disease.

The microglia, displaying diverse phenotypes, play a significant regulatory role in the development, progression, and prognosis of Parkinson's disease. Research has established that glycolytic reprogramming serves as a critical regulator of inflammation initiation in pro-inflammatory macrophages. Furthermore, the modulation of glycolytic reprogramming has the potential to reverse the polarized state of these macrophages. Previous studies have shown that Levistilide A (LA), a phthalide component derived from Angelica sinensis, possesses a range of pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. In our study, we have examined the impact of LA on inflammatory cytokines and glucose metabolism in microglia induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Furthermore, we explored the effects of LA on the AMPK/mTOR pathway and assessed its neuroprotective potential both in vitro and in vivo. The findings revealed that LA notably diminished the expression of M1 pro-inflammatory factors induced by LPS in microglia, while leaving M2 anti-inflammatory factor expression unaltered. Additionally, it reduced ROS production and suppressed IκB-α phosphorylation levels as well as NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation. Notably, LA exhibited the ability to reverse microglial glucose metabolism reprogramming and modulate the phosphorylation levels of AMPK/mTOR. In vivo experiments further corroborated these findings, demonstrating that LA mitigated the death of TH-positive dopaminergic neurons and reduced microglia activation in the ventral SNpc brain region of the midbrain and the striatum. In summary, LA exhibited neuroprotective benefits by modulating the polarization state of microglia and altering glucose metabolism, highlighting its therapeutic potential.

Self-Powered Dual-Band Electrochromic Supercapacitor Devices for Smart Window Based on Ternary Dielectric Triboelectric Nanogenerator.

A dual-band electrochromic supercapacitor device (DESCD) can be driven by an external power supply to modulate solar radiation, which is a promising energy-saving strategy and has broad application prospects in smart windows. However, traditional power supplies, such as batteries, supercapacitors, etc., usually face limited lifetimes and potential environmental issues. Hence, we propose a self-powered DESCD based on TiO2/WO3 dual-band electrochromic material and a ternary dielectric rotating triboelectric nanogenerator (TDR-TENG). The TDR-TENG can convert mechanical energy from the environment into electrical energy to obtain a high output of 840 V, 23.9 µA, and 327 nC. The as-prepared TDR-TENG can drive the TiO2/WO3 film to store energy with a high dual-band modulation amplitude of 41.6% in the visible (VIS) region and 84% in the near-infrared (NIR) region, decreasing the indoor-outdoor light-heat interaction and thereby reducing the building energy consumption. The self-powered DESCD demonstrated in this study has multiple functions of energy harvesting, energy storage, and energy saving, providing a promising strategy for the development of self-powered smart windows.