Application of network pharmacology in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of digestive system diseases.

With the general improvement in living standards in recent years, people's living habits, including their dietary habits, have changed. More people around the world do not follow a healthy diet, leading to an increase in morbidity and even mortality due to digestive system diseases, which shows an increasing trend every year. The advantage of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in treating digestive system diseases is evident. Consequently, the mechanisms of action of single Chinese herbs and compound Chinese medicines have become the focus of research. The research method of the network pharmacology system was highly consistent with the holistic concept of TCM, and provided a new perspective and theoretical basis for basic research on digestive system diseases. This article summarizes the common databases currently used in research on TCM. It also briefly introduces the basic methods and technologies of network pharmacology studies. It also summarizes the advancements of network pharmacology technology through a comprehensive literature search on PubMed. Based on this analysis, we further explored the role of TCM in treating digestive system diseases, including chronic gastritis, gastric cancer, ulcerative colitis, and liver cirrhosis. This study provides new ideas and references for treating digestive system diseases with TCM in the future and serves as a reference for relevant researchers.

Multilayer stacked crystalline silicon switch with nanosecond-order switching time.

To realize compact and denser photonic integrated circuits, three-dimensional integration has been widely accepted and researched. In this article, we demonstrate the operation of a 3D integrated silicon photonic platform fabricated through wafer bonding. Benefiting from the wafer bonding process, the material of all layers is c-Si, which ensures that the mobility is high enough to achieve a nanosecond response via the p-i-n diode shifter. Optical components, including multimode interferences (MMIs), waveguide crossing, and Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI)-based switch, are fabricated in different layers and exhibit great performance. The interlayer coupler and crossing achieve a 0.98 dB coupling loss and <-43.58 dB cross talk, while the crossing fabricated in the same layer shows <-36.00 dB cross talk. A nanosecond-order switch response is measured in different layers.

GATIS score for predicting the prognosis of rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms: A Chinese multicenter study of 12-year experience.

BACKGROUND: There is currently a shortage of accurate, efficient, and precise predictive instruments for rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs). AIM: To develop a predictive model for individuals with rectal NENs (R-NENs) using data from a large cohort. METHODS: Data from patients with primary R-NENs were retrospectively collected from 17 large-scale referral medical centers in China. Random forest and Cox proportional hazard models were used to identify the risk factors for overall survival and progression-free survival, and two nomograms were constructed. RESULTS: A total of 1408 patients with R-NENs were included. Tumor grade, T stage, tumor size, age, and a prognostic nutritional index were important risk factors for prognosis. The GATIS score was calculated based on these five indicators. For overall survival prediction, the respective C-indexes in the training set were 0.915 (95% confidence interval: 0.866-0.964) for overall survival prediction and 0.908 (95% confidence interval: 0.872-0.944) for progression-free survival prediction. According to decision curve analysis, net benefit of the GATIS score was higher than that of a single factor. The time-dependent area under the receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the predictive power of the GATIS score was higher than that of the TNM stage and pathological grade at all time periods. CONCLUSION: The GATIS score had a good predictive effect on the prognosis of patients with R-NENs, with efficacy superior to that of the World Health Organization grade and TNM stage.

Two nickel-added poly(polyoxometalate)s built of Keggin-type {Ni6PW9} and Anderson-type NiW6O24via WO4/Sb2O bridges and Ni-O-W linkages with efficient hydrogen evolution activity.

Two Ni-added poly(polyoxometalate)s built of Keggin-type {Ni6PW9} and Anderson-type NiW6O24 units via WO4/Sb2O bridges and Ni-O-W linkages, Na4H8[Ni(enMe)2][(Sb2O)2(NiW6O24)-{Ni12O2(OH)4(enMe)4(H2O)3(WO4)2(B-α-PW9O34)2}2]·39H2O (1) and H9[Ni(en)2(H2O)][Ni0.5(en)2(H2O)][Ni-(enMe)2(H2O)][(Sb2O)2(NiW6O24){Ni12O2(OH)4(en)2(enMe)2(H2O)3(WO4)2}-{Ni12O2(OH)4(en)4(H2O)3(WO4)2}(B-α-PW9O34)4]·45H2O (2), have been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized, in which the {Ni12(WO4)2(PW9)2} subunit was obtained by the synergistic directing effect of 2 lacunary PW9O34 (PW9) fragments and further linked by a central Anderson-type (Sb2O)2(NiW6O24) bridge. Both compounds represent the first example of Ni-added polyoxometalates (POMs) simultaneously based on Keggin-type and Anderson-type POM components. Photocatalytic studies revealed that 2 can work as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst towards a light-driven H2 evolution reaction, achieving a hydrogen evolution rate of as high as 19 214 µmol g-1 h-1 (TON = 1500), which is superior to most of the reported POM-based heterogeneous catalysts.

A Comprehensive Overview of the Stellate Ganglion Block Throughout the Past Three Decades: A Bibliometric Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Over the past 3 decades, clinicians and scholars have used and studied the stellate ganglion block (SGB) extensively, making this field a highly anticipated research hot spot. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no bibliometric analysis of the SGB until now. OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to complete multiple tasks regarding SGB research: identify the collaboration and impact of countries, institutions, journals, and authors, evaluate the knowledge base, trace the trends in hot spots, and explore the emerging topics relevant to the field. STUDY DESIGN: A bibliometric analysis. METHODS: Publications that were associated with the SGB and published between the years of 1993 and 2022 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection on September 21st, 2023. CiteSpace 6.1.R6 and VOSviewer 1.6.18 were used to perform bibliometric and knowledge-map analyses. RESULTS: This study found a total of 837 publications originating from 51 countries and 1006 institutions. These articles were published in 393 journals. The United States was the country that produced the most articles focused on SGB, and the University of California, Los Angeles was the institution associated with the greatest number of publications. The anesthesiology and cardiology journals surveyed for this study published the most articles and received the most citations. Among the authors whose works were examined, Kitajima T had the greatest number of published articles, and Lipov E was the most frequently cited co-author. Five main domains of SGB research included electrical storm and refractory ventricular arrhythmia, breast cancer and climacteric medicine, post-traumatic stress disorder, pain management, and cerebrovascular diseases. The latest hot topics involving this field focused on SGB's anti-arrhythmic and anti-cerebral vasospasm effects and its treatment of long COVID syndrome. LIMITATIONS: Data were retrieved only from the WoSCC; therefore, publications in other databases might have been missed. CONCLUSION: This comprehensive bibliometric analysis conducted a complete overview of SGB research, which was helpful in furthering our understanding of research trends and locating research hot spots and gaps in this domain. This field is developing rapidly and will garner significant and continuous attention from future scholars.

Ozone priming enhanced low temperature tolerance of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) based on physiological, biochemical and transcriptional analyses.

Low temperature significantly inhibits the plant growth in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), prompting the exploration of effective strategies to mitigate low temperature stress. Several priming methods enhance low temperature stress tolerant, however, the role of ozone priming remains unclear in wheat. Here we found ozone priming alleviated low temperature stress in wheat. Transcriptome analysis showed that ozone priming positively modulated 'photosynthesis-antenna proteins' pathway in wheat under low temperature. Which was confirmed by the results of the ozone-primed plants had higher trapped energy flux and electron transport flux per reaction, and less damage to chloroplasts than non-primed plants under low temperature. Ozone priming also mitigated the overstimulation of glutathione metabolism and induced the accumulation of total ascorbic acid and glutathione, maintained redox homeostasis in wheat under low temperature. Moreover, gene expressions and enzyme activities in glycolysis pathways were upregulated in ozone priming comparing with non-priming after the low temperature stress. Furthermore, exogenous antibiotics significantly increased low temperature tolerance, which further proved that the inhibition of ribosome biogenesis by ozone priming was involved in low temperature tolerance in wheat. In conclusion, ozone priming enhanced wheat low temperature tolerance through promoting light-harvesting capacity, redox homeostasis, and carbohydrate metabolism, as well as inhibiting ribosome biogenesis.

Glucose detection: In-situ colorimetric analysis with double-layer hydrogel microneedle patch based on polyvinyl alcohol and carboxymethyl chitosan.

Skin interstitial fluid (ISF) has emerged as a significant reservoir of biomarkers for disease diagnosis and prevention. Microneedle (MN) patches are regarded as an optimal platform for ISF extraction from the skin due to their non-invasive nature. However, challenges such as prolonged sampling durations and complex detection procedures impede timely metabolic analysis. In this investigation, we amalgamated MN technology with immobilized enzyme technology to fabricate a dual-layer MN patch integrating sampling and detection functionalities, thereby enabling in-situ colorimetric detection of hyperglycemia. The tip layer of the patch, comprising polyvinyl alcohol/carboxymethyl chitosan (PVA/CMCS) MN, was synthesized utilizing a chemical crosslinking approach for the first time, with glucose oxidase (GOx) being incorporated. The hydrophilicity of CMCS expedited the extraction process, facilitating the retrieval of approximately 10 mg of ISF within 10 min. The backing layer consisted of an immobilized polyvinyl alcohol-chitosan-horseradish peroxidase (PVA-CS-HRP) hydrogel film loaded with 3,3', 5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). Incorporating macromolecular polymer PVA and CS for HRP immobilization addressed the issue of poor stability associated with traditional natural enzymes, thereby enhancing the sensitivity of the reaction system. The in-situ colorimetric sensor facilitated minimally invasive ISF extraction and swift conversion of glucose levels into detectable color changes.

ZnIn2Se4 nanoparticles photocatalyst for efficient solar fuel production.

Selecting a suitable photocatalyst to establish the Z-scheme heterojunction which is accompanied by effective photogenerated hole and electron separation, is one of the advantageous strategies for efficient photocatalytic solar energy conversion. Therefore, we prepared a ZnIn2Se4 nanoparticles photocatalyst to build a double Z-scheme heterojunction with mixed-phase TiO2 nanofibers, boosting photocatalytic solar fuel preparation. The result of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the existence of interfacial chemical bonds and internal electric fields. The interfacial Ti-Se bond is regarded as a channel and the internal electric field serves as the driving force for electron transfer. And the composite photocatalyst exhibits a great hydrogen evolution rate of 0.11 mmol g-1 h-1. From a forward-working perspective, this work proposes a ZnIn2Se4 nanoparticles photocatalyst for efficient solar fuel conversion, promoting the application of bimetallic selenide photocatalyst in the field of photocatalysis.

Production of Martian fiber by in-situ resource utilization strategy.

Many countries and commercial organizations have shown great interest in constructing a Martian base. In situ resource utilization (ISRU) provides a cost-effective way to achieve this ambitious goal. In this article, we proposed to use Martian soil simulant to produce a fiber to satisfy material requirement for the construction of Martian base. The composition, melting behavior, and fiber forming process of the soil simulant was studied, and continuous fiber with maximum strength of 1320 MPa and elastic modulus of 99 GPa was obtained on a spinning facility. The findings of this study demonstrate the feasibility of ISRU to prepare Martian fiber from the soil on the Mars, offering a new way to obtain key materials for the construction of a Martian base.

Influence of static cartoons combined with dynamic virtual environments on preoperative anxiety of preschool-aged children undergoing surgery.

BACKGROUND: Preschoolers become anxious when they are about to undergo anesthesia and surgery, warranting the development of more appropriate and effective interventions. AIM: To explore the effect of static cartoons combined with dynamic virtual environments on preoperative anxiety and anesthesia induction compliance in preschool-aged children undergoing surgery. METHODS: One hundred and sixteen preschool-aged children were selected and assigned to the drug (n = 37), intervention (n = 40), and control (n = 39) groups. All the children received routine preoperative checkups and nursing before being transferred to the preoperative preparation room on the day of the operation. The drug group received 0.5 mg/kg midazolam and the intervention group treatment consisting of static cartoons combined with dynamic virtual environments. The control group received no intervention. The modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale was used to evaluate the children's anxiety level on the day before surgery (T0), before leaving the preoperative preparation room (T1), when entering the operating room (T2), and at anesthesia induction (T3). Compliance during anesthesia induction (T3) was evaluated using the Induction Compliance Checklist (ICC). Changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and respiratory rate (RR) were also recorded at each time point. RESULTS: The anxiety scores of the three groups increased variously at T1 and T2. At T3, both the drug and intervention groups had similar anxiety scores, both of which were lower than those in the control group. At T1 and T2, MAP, HR, and RR of the three groups increased. The drug and control groups had significantly higher MAP and RR than the intervention group at T2. At T3, the MAP, HR, and RR of the drug group decreased and were significantly lower than those in the control group but were comparable to those in the intervention group. Both the drug and intervention groups had similar ICC scores and duration of anesthesia induction (T3), both of which were higher than those of the control group. CONCLUSION: Combining static cartoons with dynamic virtual environments as effective as medication, specifically midazolam, in reducing preoperative anxiety and fear in preschool-aged children. This approach also improve their compliance during anesthesia induction and helped maintain their stable vital signs.

Single-atom alloy structure and unique bonding properties of Au104Ag40(PET)60 nanoclusters.

The detailed characterization of AuAg alloy nanoclusters is essential to guide the discovery of species ideal for applications in various fields including catalysis and biomedicine. This work presents structural analysis of the Au104Ag40(PET)60 species through X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). First, XAS fitting is utilized to model the distribution of Au and Ag atoms within the structure. Our proposed model assigns Ag atoms to the vertex sites of the second shell of the metal core, as well as the outermost staple sites. This distribution reveals Au104Ag40(PET)60 to be a Ag single-atom alloy. The proposed model shows outstanding agreement with the coordination number values derived from XAS. XAS near-edge analysis is employed to investigate the alloy bonding interactions between Au and Ag. Substantial d-electron transfer from Au to Ag is observed in this sample, beyond the magnitude of previously studied AuAg NCs. This work enhances the understanding of the structure-property relationship of AuAg alloy NCs, offering insights which can be applied to other large NCs and even NPs. These insights will in turn aid the discovery of new materials for use in various applications.

New Insights into the ORR Catalysis on Pt Alloy Nanoparticles from an Element Specific d-Band Analysis.

Bolstered by their unique atomic structures and tailored compositions, nanoalloys exhibit extraordinary properties making them ideal materials to solve challenges in energy storage and conversion catalysis. However, a quantitative description of the structure-property relationships using an accurate descriptor-based model for nanoalloys, ranging from bimetallic to multimetallic compositions, is needed to drive efficient material design toward high-performance catalysis. In this work, we highlight the electronic property and catalytic activity relationship from an element specific d-band analysis of Pt-based alloy catalysts using X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES). Using a series of L10-MPt/Pt (M = Fe, Co, Ni) core/shell alloy catalysts with well-defined atomic structures, we quantified subtle differences in the Pt d-electron states and correlated the Pt d-band structure to their superior catalytic activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Our analysis used the upper d-band edge position as a predictive descriptor for the mass activity toward the ORR instead of the commonly used d-band center position. Together with density functional theory calculations and Nørskov d-band theory, the upper d-band edge position for the Pt states, derived from experimental measurements, elucidates new physical insights into the ORR performance of the L10-MPt/Pt core/shell catalysts. An element specific Pt d-band analysis using XANES overcomes challenges in traditional X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy-based valence d-band analysis, which cannot distinguish signals from independent elements in nanoalloys. Thus, the insights from the element specific d-band analysis presented in this work are a promising approach to determine structure-property relationships in a variety of transition metal nanoalloys and will be useful in the design of future high-performance catalysts.

Small cell lung cancer: emerging subtypes, signaling pathways, and therapeutic vulnerabilities.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a recalcitrant cancer characterized by early metastasis, rapid tumor growth and poor prognosis. In recent decades, the epidemiology, initiation and mutation characteristics of SCLC, as well as abnormal signaling pathways contributing to its progression, have been widely studied. Despite extensive investigation, fewer drugs have been approved for SCLC. Recent advancements in multi-omics studies have revealed diverse classifications of SCLC that are featured by distinct characteristics and therapeutic vulnerabilities. With the accumulation of SCLC samples, different subtypes of SCLC and specific treatments for these subtypes were further explored. The identification of different molecular subtypes has opened up novel avenues for the treatment of SCLC; however, the inconsistent and uncertain classification of SCLC has hindered the translation from basic research to clinical applications. Therefore, a comprehensives review is essential to conclude these emerging subtypes and related drugs targeting specific therapeutic vulnerabilities within abnormal signaling pathways. In this current review, we summarized the epidemiology, risk factors, mutation characteristics of and classification, related molecular pathways and treatments for SCLC. We hope that this review will facilitate the translation of molecular subtyping of SCLC from theory to clinical application.

Investigating the properties of ortho-positronium in liquid scintillators under oxygen quenching.

Investigating the mechanism of positron annihilation in liquid-scintillator based neutrino experiments could be helpful for positron reconstruction algorithms and positron-electron discrimination analysis. Based on this, we utilize a novel positron annihilation lifetime spectrometer to characterize a series of liquid scintillator samples without direct contact with the positron source by applying the anti-coincidence method, which facilitates the measurement of liquids with high accuracy and low background. We obtain an ortho-positronium (o-Ps) lifetime value of 3.02 ns for liquid scintillators composed of linear alkylbenzene and two solutes, and we also measure liquid scintillator samples by bubbling different gases to study the interaction of oxygen dissolved with positronium. The discussion of the annihilation behavior of o-Ps in liquid scintillators further clarify the factors affecting the lifetime and intensity of o-Ps, and the calculation of annihilation rate and free volume radius within the samples has potential applications in characterizing gas solubility and free volume in liquids with o-Ps as probe.

Untargeted metabolomics analysis reveals the potential mechanism of imatinib-induced skin rash in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

Imatinib-induced skin rash poses a significant challenge for patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor, often resulting in treatment interruption or discontinuation and subsequent treatment failure. However, the underlying mechanism of imatinib-induced skin rashes in gastrointestinal stromal tumor patients remains unclear. A total of 51 patients (27 with rash and 24 without rash) were enrolled in our study. Blood samples were collected concomitantly with the onset of clinical manifestations of rashes, and simultaneously collecting clinical relevant information. The imatinib concentration and untargeted metabolomics were performed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. There were no significant differences in age, gender, imatinib concentration and white blood cells count between the rash group and the control group. However, the rash group exhibited a higher eosinophil count (P<0.05) and lower lymphocyte count (P<0.05) compared to the control group. Untargeted metabolomics analysis found that 105 metabolites were significantly differentially abundant. The univariate analysis highlighted erucamide, linoleoylcarnitine, and valine betaine as potential predictive markers (AUC≥0.80). Further enriched pathway analysis revealed primary metabolic pathways, including sphingolipid signaling pathway, sphingolipid metabolism, cysteine and methionine metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, arginine and proline metabolism, and biosynthesis of amino acids. These findings suggest that the selected differential metabolites could serve as a foundation for the prediction and management of imatinib-induced skin rash in gastrointestinal stromal tumor patients.

Directional long-distance electron transfer from reduced to oxidized zones in the subsurface.

Electron transfer (ET) is the fundamental redox process of life and element cycling. The ET distance is normally as short as nanometers or micrometers in the subsurface. However, the redox gradient in the subsurface is as long as centimeters or even meters. This gap triggers an intriguing question whether directional long-distance ET from reduced to oxidized zones exists along the redox gradient. By using electron-donating capacity variation as a proxy of ET, we show that ET can last over 10 cm along the redox gradient in sediment columns, through a directional long-distance ET chain from reduced to oxidized zones constituted by a series of short-distance electron hopping reactions. Microbial and chemical processes synergistically mediate the long-distance ET chain, with an estimated flux of 6.73 µmol e-/cm2 per day. This directional long-distance ET represents an overlooked but important "remote" source of electrons for local biogeochemical and environmental processes.

Association between glucose-lowering drugs and circulating insulin antibodies induced by insulin therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Insulin antibodies (IAs) affect blood glucose control in patients receiving insulin therapy. AIM: To investigate the relationship between different hypoglycemic treatments and IAs in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: This cross-sectional, retrospective study included 1863 patients with T2DM who were receiving exogenous insulin therapy. All patients received stable antidiabetic therapy in the last 3 months and IA levels were measured using an iodine-125 array. RESULTS: A total of 1863 patients were enrolled. There were 902 (48.4%) patients who had positive IAs (IA level > 5%), with a mean IA level of 11.06% (10.39%-11.72%). IA levels were positively correlated with high fasting blood glucose (odds ratio = 1.069, P < 0.001). The proportion of positive IAs was lowest in patients using glargine only (31.9%) and highest in patients using human insulin only (70.3%), P < 0.001. The IA levels in patients using sulfonylureas/glinides (8.3%), metformin (9.6%), and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (8.2%) were all lower than in patients without these drugs (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Nearly half of patients on insulin therapy have positive IA antibodies, and IA antibody levels are associated with blood glucose control. Insulin glargine and a combination of oral glucose-lowering drugs were correlated with lower IA levels.

Corrigendum: Material basis and molecular mechanisms of Chaihuang Qingyi Huoxue Granule in the treatment of acute pancreatitis based on network pharmacology and molecular docking-based strategy.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1353695.].

Cost-effectiveness of sotorasib as a second-line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer with KRASG12C mutation in China and the United States.

Purpose: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of sotorasib versus docetaxel in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with KRASG12C mutation from the China and United States'social perspective. Materials and Methods: A Markov model that included three states (progression-free survival, post-progression survival, and death) was developed. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), quality-adjusted life-year (QALY), and incremental QALY were calculated for the two treatment strategies. One-way sensitivity analysis was used to investigate the factors that had a greater impact on the model results, and tornado diagrams were used to present the results. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis was performed with 1,000 Monte Carlo simulations. Assume distributions based on parameter types and randomly sample all parameter distributions each time., The results were presented as cost-effectiveness acceptable curves. Results: This economic evaluation of data from the CodeBreak 200 randomized clinical trial. In China, sotorasib generated 0.44 QAYL with a total cost of $84372.59. Compared with docetaxel, the ICER value of sotorasib was $102701.84/QALY, which was higher than willingness to pay (WTP), so sotorasib had no economic advantage. In the US, sotorasib obtained 0.35 QALY more than docetaxel, ICER was $15,976.50/QALY, which was more than 1 WTP but less than 3 WTP, indicating that the increased cost of sotorasib was acceptable. One-way sensitivity analysis showed that the probability of sotorasib having economic benefits gradually increased when the cost of follow-up examination was reduced in China. And there was no influence on the conclusions within the range of changes in China. When the willingness to pay (WTP) exceeds $102,500, the probability of sotorasib having cost effect increases from 0% to 49%. Conclusion: Sotorasib had a cost effect from the perspective in the United States. However, sotorasib had no cost effect from the perspective in China, and only when the WTP exceeds $102,500, the probability of sotorasib having cost effect increases from 0% to 49%.