Ultrafast Response in Nonenzymatic Electrochemical Glucose Sensing with Ni(II)-MOFs by Dimensional Manipulation.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are emerging as promising candidates for electrochemical glucose sensing owing to their ordered channels, tunable chemistry, and atom-precision metal sites. Herein, the efficient nonenzymatic electrochemical glucose sensing is achieved by taking advantage of Ni(II)-based metal-organic frameworks (Ni(II)-MOFs) and acquiring the ever-reported fastest response time. Three Ni(II)-MOFs ({[Ni6L2(H2O)26]4H2O}n (CTGU-33), {Ni(bib)1/2(H2L)1/2(H2O)3}n (CTGU-34), {Ni(phen)(H2L)1/2(H2O)2}n (CTGU-35)) have been synthesized for the first time, which use benzene-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexacarboxylic acid (H6L) as an organic ligand and introduce 1,4-bis(1-imidazoly)benzene (bib) or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) as spatially auxiliary ligands. Bib and phen convert the coordination mode of CTGU-33, affording structural dimensions from 2D of CTGU-33 to 3D of CTGU-34 or 1D of CTGU-35. By tuning the dimension of the skeleton, CTGU-34 with 3D interconnected channels exhibits an ultrafast response of less than 0.4 s, which is superior to the existing nonenzymatic electrochemical sensors. Additionally, a low detection limit of 0.12 µM (S/N = 3) and a high sensitivity of 1705 µA mM-1 cm-2 are simultaneously achieved. CTGU-34 further showcases desirable anti-interference and cycling stability, which demonstrates a promising application prospect in the real-time detection of glucose.

[Diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with convolutional neural network on narrowband imaging].

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the convolutional neural network（CNN） in diagnosing nasopharyngeal carcinoma using endoscopic narrowband imaging. Methods:A total of 834 cases with nasopharyngeal lesions were collected from the People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region between 2014 and 2016. We trained the DenseNet201 model to classify the endoscopic images, evaluated its performance using the test dataset, and compared the results with those of two independent endoscopic experts. Results:The area under the ROC curve of the CNN in diagnosing nasopharyngeal carcinoma was 0.98. The sensitivity and specificity of the CNN were 91.90% and 94.69%, respectively. The sensitivity of the two expert-based assessment was 92.08% and 91.06%, respectively, and the specificity was 95.58% and 92.79%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the diagnostic accuracy of CNN and the expert-based assessment （P=0.282, P=0.085）. Moreover, there was no significant difference in the accuracy in discriminating early-stage and late-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma（P=0.382）. The CNN model could rapidly distinguish nasopharyngeal carcinoma from benign lesions, with an image recognition time of 0.1 s/piece. Conclusion:The CNN model can quickly distinguish nasopharyngeal carcinoma from benign nasopharyngeal lesions, which can aid endoscopists in diagnosing nasopharyngeal lesions and reduce the rate of nasopharyngeal biopsy.

Ar plasma assists in enhanced oxygen evolution kinetics of MOG-derived multicomponent transition metal sulfides.

Transition metal sulfides are low-cost oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts that can potentially substitute noble metal catalysts. However, the adsorption process of their OER is impeded by their intrinsic poor catalytic activity. Constructing heterojunction and vacancy defects in transition metal sulfides is an efficient method to promote the process of oxygen evolution. Herein, a facile approach based on in situ sulfurization of metal-organic gels (MOGs) and a short-time plasma treatment was developed to fabricate vacancy-modified polymetallic sulfides heterojunction. The synergistic effect of the multi-component heterojunction and sulfur vacancy contributed greatly to improving the electron migration efficiency and OER ability of the electrocatalyst. As a result, the optimum oxygen evolution activity was achieved with appropriate surface vacancy concentrations by regulating the plasma radio frequency powers. The plasma-treated catalyst under 400 W showed the best OER performance (lower overpotential of 235 mV in 1 M KOH solution with the Tafel slope of 31 mV dec-1) and good durability over 11 h of chronopotentiometry testing. This work sheds new light on constructing multimetal-based heterojunction electrocatalysts with rich vacancy defects for oxygen evolution reactions.

Effects of exergaming in older individuals with mild cognitive impairment and dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Non-pharmaceutical interventions have been implemented for people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Researchers have used exergaming in dementia to alleviate cognitive decline in patients with dementia. AIMS: We assessed the effects of exergaming interventions on MCI and dementia. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO [CRD42022347399]). PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Embase electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The impact of exergaming on cognitive function, physical performance, and quality of life in patients with MCI and dementia was investigated. RESULTS: Ten RCTs met the eligibility criteria and were included in our systematic review. The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated a statistically significant difference in the Mini-mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Trail Making Test, Chinese version of the Verbal Learning Test, Berg Balance Scale, Short Physical Performance Battery, and Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly in people with dementia and MCI who participated in exergaming. However, there were no significant improvements in the Activities of Daily Living, Instrumental Activity of Daily Living or Quality of Life. CONCLUSION: Although there were significant differences in cognitive and physical functions, these results should be interpreted with caution because of heterogeneity. The additional benefits of exergaming remain to be confirmed in future studies.

The comparative analysis of gastrointestinal toxicity of azithromycin and 3'-decladinosyl azithromycin on zebrafish larvae.

The most commonly reported side effect of azithromycin is gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, and the main acid degradation product is 3'-Decladinosyl azithromycin (impurity J). We aimed to compare the GI toxicity of azithromycin and impurity J on zebrafish larvae and investigate the mechanism causing the differential GI toxicity. Results of our study showed that the GI toxicity induced by impurity J was higher than that of azithromycin in zebrafish larvae, and the effects of impurity J on transcription in the digestive system of zebrafish larvae were significantly stronger than those of azithromycin. Additionally, impurity J exerts stronger cytotoxic effects on GES-1 cells than azithromycin. Simultaneously, impurity J significantly increased ghsrb levels in the zebrafish intestinal tract and ghsr levels in human GES-1 cells compared to azithromycin, and ghsr overexpression significantly reduced cell viability, indicating that GI toxicity induced by azithromycin and impurity J may be correlated with ghsr overexpression induced by the two compounds. Meanwhile, molecular docking analysis showed that the highest -CDOCKER interaction energy scores with the zebrafish GHSRb or human GHSR protein might reflect the effect of azithromycin and impurity J on the expression of zebrafish ghsrb or human ghsr. Thus, our results suggest that impurity J has higher GI toxicity than azithromycin due to its greater ability to elevate ghsrb expression in zebrafish intestinal tract.

A Deep-Sea Bacterium Is Capable of Degrading Polyurethane.

Plastic wastes have been recognized as the most common and durable marine contaminants, which are not only found in the shallow water, but also on the sea floor. However, whether deep-sea microorganisms have evolved the capability of degrading plastic remains elusive. In this study, a deep-sea bacterium Bacillus velezensis GUIA was found to be capable of degrading waterborne polyurethane. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the supplement of waterborne polyurethane upregulated the expression of many genes related to spore germination, indicating that the presence of plastic had effects on the growth of strain GUIA. In addition, the supplement of waterborne polyurethane also evidently upregulated the expressions of many genes encoding lipase, protease, and oxidoreductase. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) results showed that potential enzymes responsible for plastic degradation in strain GUIA were identified as oxidoreductase, protease, and lipase, which was consistent with the transcriptomic analysis. In combination of in vitro expression and degradation assays as well as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, we demonstrated that the oxidoreductase Oxr-1 of strain GUIA was the key degradation enzyme toward waterborne polyurethane. Moreover, the oxidoreductase Oxr-1 was also shown to degrade the biodegradable polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) film indicating its wide application potential. IMPORTANCE The widespread and indiscriminate disposal of plastics inevitably leads to environmental pollution. The secondary pollution by current landfill and incineration methods causes serious damage to the atmosphere, land, and rivers. Therefore, microbial degradation is an ideal way to solve plastic pollution. Recently, the marine environment is becoming a hot spot to screen microorganisms possessing potential plastic degradation capabilities. In this study, a deep-sea Bacillus strain was shown to degrade both waterborne polyurethane and biodegradable PBAT film. The FAD-binding oxidoreductase Oxr-1 was demonstrated to be the key enzyme mediating plastic degradation. Our study not only provided a good candidate for developing bio-products toward plastic degradation but also paved a way to investigate the carbon cycle mediated by plastic degradation in deep-sea microorganisms.

Quality assessment of rose tea with different drying methods based on physicochemical properties, HS-SPME-GC-MS, and GC-IMS.

The purpose of this study is to compare the physicochemical properties and volatile flavor compounds of rose tea obtained by the methods of normal temperature drying, hot-air drying (HAD), and vacuum freeze-drying (VFD) and to evaluate the quality of rose tea. The physicochemical results showed that the content of ascorbic acid (VC) and the pH value was the highest in rose tea obtained by HAD. The contents of anthocyanin, proanthocyanidins, and total phenols were highest in rose tea obtained by VFD. However, there was no significant difference in total flavonoids between drying methods. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in rose tea with different drying methods were analyzed by headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and HS GC-ion mobility spectroscopy (HS-GC-IMS), and the flavor fingerprint of rose tea was established by principal component analysis (PCA). The concentration of VOCs in rose tea varied greatly with different drying methods. The main flavor compounds of rose tea were alcohols, esters, aldehydes, and terpenoids. HS-GC-IMS was used for the identification of volatile flavor compounds of rose tea, thereby helping to assess the quality of rose tea. In addition, the rose tea samples with different drying methods were well distinguished by PCA. This study deepens the understanding of the physicochemical properties and volatile flavor compounds of rose tea with different drying methods and provides a reference for the identification of rose tea with different drying methods. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study deepens the understanding of the physicochemical properties and volatile flavor compounds of rose tea with different drying methods and provides a reference for the identification of rose tea with different drying methods. It also provides an effective theoretical basis for consumers to buy rose tea.

Using the teach-back method to improve postpartum maternal-infant health among women with limited maternal health literacy: a randomized controlled study.

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of using the teach-back method among women with limited maternal health literacy (LMHL) on maternal health literacy(MHL), postpartum health behaviours and maternal-infant health outcomes. METHODS: A randomized controlled study was conducted in the obstetrics department of Anhui Provincial Hospital, China. A total of 258 pregnant women with LMHL were recruited at the point of admission to the hospital for birth and randomly assigned to the control group (n = 130), where women received routine education sessions, and the teach-back group (n = 128), where women received routine education sessions plus a teach-back intervention. The two groups were assessed in terms of MHL before and after the intervention, breastfeeding execution, uptake of 42-day postpartum check-ups, complete uptake of one-time recommended vaccines, and physical health outcomes. Statistical tests were employed for data analysis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of MHL and other social, demographic, and medical status at baseline. After the intervention, the teach-back group had a higher level of MHL (p < 0.001), better postpartum health behaviours in terms of exclusive breastfeeding within 24 hours postpartum (x2 = 22.853, p<0.001), exclusive breastfeeding within 42 days postpartum (x2 = 47.735, p<0.001), uptake of 42-day postpartum check-ups (x2 = 9.050, p = 0.003) and vaccination (x2 = 5.586, p = 0.018) and better maternal-infant health outcomes in terms of the incidence of subinvolution of the uterus (x2 = 6.499, p = 0.011), acute mastitis (x2 = 4.884, p = 0.027), postpartum constipation (x2 = 5.986, p = 0.014), overweight (x2 = 4.531, p = 0.033) and diaper dermatitis (x2 = 10.896, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the teach-back method is effective for enhancing MHL, leading to positive postpartum health behaviours, and improving postpartum maternal-infant health outcomes among women with LMHL. The teach-back method may play an important role in improving postpartum maternal-infant health and could be considered in maternal health education. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Our trial has been prospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Ref. No.: NCT04858945) and the enrollment date was 26/04/2021.

Efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy combined with nimotuzumab in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with cervical lymph node metastasis.

OBJECTIVES: First, we retrospectively compared the clinical efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy combined with nimotuzumab vs. chemoradiotherapy alone in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and cervical lymph node metastasis. Second, we analyzed the value of Ki-67 as a predictor of nimotuzumab efficacy. METHODS: From January 2012 to December 2019, 1250 patients with cervical lymph node metastasis eligible for enrollment were included, of whom 383 were treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy combined with nimotuzumab (targeted therapy group), and 867 were treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT group). A total of 381 pairs of patients were matched using 1:1 propensity score matching, and differences in clinical prognosis were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Overall survival (OS) (P = 0.028), disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.040), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) (P = 0.040) were better in the targeted therapy compared to the CRT group. Multivariate analysis revealed that clinical staging, chemotherapy, and nimotuzumab therapy were predictors of OS and DFS. In the targeted therapy group, patients with ≥ 50% Ki-67 positivity had better OS and DFS rates than those with < 50% Ki-67 positivity. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with stage N1-3 NPC and lymph node metastasis, the addition of nimotuzumab to concurrent chemoradiotherapy may provide additional survival benefits. Ki-67 is a potential biomarker with clinical predictive value for the efficacy of nimotuzumab combined with chemoradiotherapy.

Effects of different seasons on bacterial community structure in rose rhizosphere soil.

TO explore the changes of rhizosphere soil bacterial community of Rosa rugosa "Fenghua", Rosa rugosa cv. Plena and Rosa rugosa "Zizhi" in different seasons, the Illumina Miseq sequencing and the correlation network analysis of dominant flora was used. The results showed that the bacterial communities were mainly composed of Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria, with Sphingomonas, GP6, GP4, Novosphingobium, Wps-1_genera_incertae_sedis, and Massilia as the dominant genera. The correlation network analysis showed that, as the dominant group with the highest relative abundance, Sphingomonas had a significant positive correlation with Gemmatimonas, Aridibacter, GP3, GP4, and Flavisolibacter, and a significant negative correlation with Solirubrobacter, indicating that it could work synergistically with a variety of microorganisms to contribute to soil metabolism and the growth and development of roses. The results revealed the diversity of microbial structures in the rhizosphere soil of Rosa rugosa "Fenghua", Rosa rugosa cv. Plena and Rosa rugosa "Zizhi", and this will provide a theoretical basis for exploring the change rules of microbial communities, screening and utilizing beneficial microorganisms, and maintaining the growth and development of roses. KEY POINTS: • Variations from season to season significantly affected the bacterial community structure. • There was less variability in the bacterial community structure between rose varieties. • Sphingomonas was the dominant bacterium in all seasons.

Atorvastatin ameliorated myocardial fibrosis in db/db mice by inhibiting oxidative stress and modulating macrophage polarization.

BACKGROUND: People with diabetes mellitus (DM) suffer from multiple chronic complications due to sustained hyperglycemia, especially diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Oxidative stress and inflammatory cells play crucial roles in the occurrence and progression of myocardial remodeling. Macrophages polarize to two distinct phenotypes: M1 and M2, and such plasticity in phenotypes provide macrophages various biological functions. AIM: To investigate the effect of atorvastatin on cardiac function of DCM in db/db mice and its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: DCM mouse models were established and randomly divided into DM, atorvastatin, and metformin groups. C57BL/6 mice were used as the control. Cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography. Hematoxylin and eosin and Masson staining was used to examine the morphology and collagen fibers in myocardial tissues. The expression of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 ß (IL-1ß),M1 macrophages (iNOS+), and M2 macrophages (CD206+) were demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining. The levels of TGF-ß1, IL-1ß, and TNF-α were detected by ELISA and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations and superoxide dismutase (SOD) ac-tivities were also measured. RESULTS: Treatment with atorvastatin alleviated cardiac dysfunction and decreased db/db mice. The broken myocardial fibers and deposition of collagen in the myocardial interstitium were relieved especially by atorvastatin treatment. Atorvastatin also reduced the levels of serum lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase isoenzyme, and troponin; lowered the levels of TGF-ß1, TNF-α and IL-1ß in serum and myocardium; decreased the concentration of MDA and increased SOD activity in myocardium of db/db mice; inhibited M1 macrophages; and promoted M2 macrophages. CONCLUSION: Administration of atorvastatin attenuates myocardial fibrosis in db/db mice, which may be associated with the antioxidative stress and anti-inflammatory effects of atorvastatin on diabetic myocardium through modulating macrophage polarization.

Empagliflozin ameliorates diabetic cardiomyopathy probably via activating AMPK/PGC-1α and inhibiting the RhoA/ROCK pathway.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) increases the risk of hospitalization for heart failure (HF) and mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus. However, no specific therapy to delay the progression of DCM has been identified. Mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, and calcium handling imbalance play a crucial role in the pathological processes of DCM, ultimately leading to cardiomyocyte apoptosis and cardiac dysfunctions. Empagliflozin, a novel glucose-lowering agent, has been confirmed to reduce the risk of hospitalization for HF in diabetic patients. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms by which this agent provides cardioprotection remain unclear. AIM: To investigate the effects of empagliflozin on high glucose (HG)-induced oxidative stress and cardiomyocyte apoptosis and the underlying molecular mechanism. METHODS: Twelve-week-old db/db mice and primary cardiomyocytes from neonatal rats stimulated with HG (30 mmol/L) were separately employed as in vivo and in vitro models. Echocardiography was used to evaluate cardiac function. Flow cytometry and TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling staining were used to assess apoptosis in myocardial cells. Mitochondrial function was assessed by cellular ATP levels and changes in mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, intracellular reactive oxygen species production and superoxide dismutase activity were analyzed. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to analyze Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA expression. Western blot analysis was used to measure the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 (MYPT1), as well as the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) and active caspase-3 protein levels. RESULTS: In the in vivo experiment, db/db mice developed DCM. However, the treatment of db/db mice with empagliflozin (10 mg/kg/d) for 8 wk substantially enhanced cardiac function and significantly reduced myocardial apoptosis, accompanied by an increase in the phosphorylation of AMPK and PGC-1α protein levels, as well as a decrease in the phosphorylation of MYPT1 in the heart. In the in vitro experiment, the findings indicate that treatment of cardiomyocytes with empagliflozin (10 µM) or fasudil (FA) (a ROCK inhibitor, 100 µM) or overexpression of PGC-1α significantly attenuated HG-induced mitochondrial injury, oxidative stress, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. However, the above effects were partly reversed by the addition of compound C (CC). In cells exposed to HG, empagliflozin treatment increased the protein levels of p-AMPK and PGC-1α protein while decreasing phosphorylated MYPT1 levels, and these changes were mitigated by the addition of CC. Adding FA and overexpressing PGC-1α in cells exposed to HG substantially increased PGC-1α protein levels. In addition, no sodium-glucose cotransporter (SGLT)2 protein expression was detected in cardiomyocytes. CONCLUSION: Empagliflozin partially achieves anti-oxidative stress and anti-apoptotic effects on cardiomyocytes under HG conditions by activating AMPK/PGC-1α and suppressing of the RhoA/ROCK pathway independent of SGLT2.

E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF5 attenuates pathological cardiac hypertrophy through STING.

Ring-finger protein 5 (RNF5) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase which is expressed in a variety of human tissues. RNF5 is involved in the regulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress, inflammation, and innate immunity and plays an important role in the occurrence and development of various tumors. However, the role of RNF5 in cardiac hypertrophy has not been reported. In this study, we found the expression of RNF5 was increased in the hearts of mice with pathological cardiac hypertrophy. The loss-of-function research demonstrated that RNF5 deficiency exacerbated cardiac hypertrophy, whereas gain-of-function studies revealed that overexpression of RNF5 had opposite effects. The stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is a signaling molecule that can activate type I interferon immunity, which can meditate inflammation and immune response in many diseases. The protein-protein interaction experiments confirmed that STING interacted with RNF5. Further studies showed that RNF5 inhibited cardiac hypertrophy by promoting STING degradation through K48-linked polyubiquitination. Therefore, we defined RNF5 as importantly regulated signaling for cardiac hypertrophy.

Molecular Epidemiology of Na+-Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide Deficiency in Guangdong Province, China: A Pilot Study by Screening for Four Prevalent Variants of the Causative Gene SLC10A1.

Na+-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide deficiency (NTCPD) is an autosomal recessive disorder arising from biallelic SLC10A1 mutations. As a newly-described inborn error of bile acid metabolism, the epidemiology of this condition remains largely unclear in Chinese population so far. In this study, a total of 2,828 peripheral blood samples were collected from 12 cities in Guangdong, a province with the largest population in China, and the four prevalent SLC10A1 variants c.800C > T (p.Ser267Phe), c.263T > C (p.Ile88Thr), c.595A > C (p.Ser199Arg) and c.665T > C (p.Leu222Ser) were screened for by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)- restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). As a result, 663 mutated SLC10A1 alleles were detected, and the mutated allele frequency was calculated to be 11.72% (663/5,656), with a carrier frequency 20.69% (1/5) and a theoretical morbidity rate 1.37% (1/73) of NTCPD in Guangdong province. The variant c.800C > T (p.Ser267Phe) exhibited highest allele frequency among the four prevalent variants (χ2 = 1501.27, p < 0.0001) as well as higher allele frequency in the peripheral region than that within the Pearl River Delta (χ2 = 4.834, p < 0.05). The results suggested that NTCPD might be a disorder rather common in Guangdong province. The findings depicted the molecular epidemiologic features of NTCPD, providing preliminary but significant laboratory evidences for the subsequent NTCPD diagnosis and management in Guangdong population.

Promoting Effect of Horticultural Therapy on College Students' Positive Psychological Quality.

To explore the effect of horticultural therapy on cultivating College Students' positive psychological quality and to provide reference for college students' mental health education, 176 college students were randomly divided into experimental group (n = 88) and control group (n = 88). The experimental group was intervened by horticulture therapy, and the Chinese college students' mental health evaluation system and Chinese college students' positive psychological quality scale were used to test the experimental group and the control group. There was no difference in the six dimensions of positive psychological quality between the experimental group and the control group in the pre-test. After 9 weeks of intervention, the differences between the experimental group and the control group in the "cognitive dimension" and "emotional dimension" were significant. The scores of emotional dimension and transcendental dimension in the experimental group were higher than those in the pre-test (all p < 0.05); meanwhile, there is no difference in the other four dimensions. Horticultural therapy can promote the positive psychological quality of college students.

Epidemiological and Microbiome Characterization of Black Tooth Stain in Preschool Children.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the epidemiologic attributes and microbial variations associated with extrinsic black tooth stain (BTS) among Chinese preschool children. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 250 preschool children (3-4 years) from three kindergartens in Shanghai, China. Following clinical examination, and using a case-control design, saliva and dental plaque specimens were collected from caries-free participants with (n = 21, BTS group) and without (n = 48, control group) BTS. The chi-square test and logistic regression model were used to evaluate factors associated with BTS. 16S rRNA sequencing were used to characterize the associated microbial communities. RESULTS: BTS was detected in 12.4% of participants, with a mean of 13.7 black-stained teeth. Participants with BTS had a lower caries burden and better oral hygiene (P = 0.003). Children with less frequent intake of marmalade or honey (P = 0.033) and regular application of fluoride (P = 0.007) had a lower likelihood of having BTS. Microbiota analysis revealed 14 phyla, 35 classes, 63 orders, 113 families, 221 genera, 452 species, and 1,771 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). In terms of microbial diversity, no significant differences were observed in the saliva of the two groups (P > 0.05). Dental plaque from the BTS group exhibited higher OTU richness but lower evenness than that from the control group (Chao P = 0.006, Shannon P = 0.007, respectively) and showed a significant difference in ß diversity (P = 0.002). The microbiome in the two groups was characterized by various microbial biomarkers, such as Pseudomonas fluorescens, Leptotrichia sp._HMT_212, Actinomyces sp._HMT_169, and Aggregatibacter sp._HMT_898 in plaques from the BTS group. Functional analysis of the microbial species suggested the existence of a hyperactive metabolic state on teeth surfaces with BTS plaques and revealed that ferric iron, the iron complex transport system, and the iron (III) transport system were more abundant in BTS plaque samples. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insights into the epidemiologic and microbial features of BTS in preschool children. The microbiome in BTS is characterized by various microbial biomarkers, which can serve as indicators for BTS diagnosis and prognosis.

Microbiota of preterm infant develops over time along with the first teeth eruption.

Objective: The temporal growth of the infant microbiome in the early years of life influences short- and long-term infant health. The aim of this longitudinal study was to investigate bacterial dynamics in the microbiome of preterm infants during tooth eruption. Methods: Saliva samples from normally delivered (n = 24) and preterm infants (n = 31) were collected 30 days after birth and after the eruption of two primary mandibular incisors. Based on Illumina MiSeq Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, the dynamic microbial changes of newborns at two-time points were investigated. Meanwhile, the Human Oral Microbiome Database was adopted for assigning taxonomy. Results: Using alpha and beta diversity analyses, different shift patterns of microbiome structures in preterm and healthy participants and bacterial diversity over time were observed. The relative abundance and shifts trend, along with the two lower primary central incisors eruption, of core oral flora varies in full-term and preterm groups, including Gemella spp., Rothia mucilaginosa, Veillonella atypica, etc. Several microorganisms colonize later in the oral microbiome development of premature babies, such as Gemella spp. In addition to teeth eruption, the growth of the saliva microbiome in preterm infants could be influenced by breastfeeding durations and birth weight. Conclusion: This study provided insights into how the oral microbiota changes during tooth eruption in preterm infants and how the colonization of the oral cavity with bacteria in preterm infants differs significantly from that in full-term infants.

Effectiveness of herb-partitioned moxibustion combined with electroacupuncture on polycystic ovary syndrome in patients with symptom pattern of kidney deficiency and phlegm-dampne.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of herb-partitioned moxibustion combined with electroacupuncture on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in patients with symptom pattern of kidney deficiency and phlegm-dampness. METHODS: Totally 62 PCOS patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into intervention group and control group. In the intervention group, acupoints were subjected to (43 ± 1) ℃ herb-partitioned moxibustion and electroacupuncture treatment. In the control group, acupoints were subjected to (37 ± 1) ℃ herb-partitioned moxibustion and sham electroacupuncture treatment. Treatment was provided 3 times per week for 12 weeks, and the treatment was stopped during menstruation. After the treatment, the clinical efficacy, the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) symptom pattern score, basal body temperature (BBT) levels, menstrual cycle, and related sex hormone levels of the two groups were evaluated. RESULTS: Sixty patients were eventually included in the study (30 in the intervention group and 30 in the control group). There were not obvious between-group differences in the baseline efficacy parameters (all P > 0.05). (a) After treatment, the two groups have improved in terms of clinical efficacy, TCM symptom pattern score, menstrual cycle and, BBT (P < 0.01, < 0.05), and the intervention group was better than the control group (P < 0.01, < 0.05). (b) In the intervention group, the estradiol (E2) and P450 aromatase (P450arom) levels were increased (all P < 0.05), the testosterone (T) level was decreased (P < 0.05), and the luteotropic hormone (LH) and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). In the control group, E2 level was increased (P < 0.05), and LH level was decreased (P < 0.05). After treatment, the T, LH, and AMH levels of the intervention group were decreased compared with those of the control group (all P < 0.05), and the P450arom level was increased (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Herb-partitioned moxibustion combined with electroacupuncture can effectively improve the related clinical symptoms of PCOS patients with kidney deficiency and phlegm-dampness. Herb-partitioned moxibustion combined with electroacupuncture may inhibit the overexpression of AMH to increase the expression level of P450arom in ovarian granulosa cells, thereby reconstructing the dependence of follicular development on FSH, and finally improving abnormal follicular development and hyperandrogenism in PCOS patients with kidney deficiency and phlegmdampness. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR1900024182.

[Preliminary report on partial pressure changes of oxygen and carbon dioxide in umbilical artery and vein before and after the first breath in Chinese neonates II-The personalized analysis of partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide difference between umbilical artery and vein at same time in same newborn].

Objective: In order to explore the mechanism of neonatal spontaneous breathing, the difference of oxygen and carbon dioxide between umbilical cord arteries and veins before the start of spontaneous breathing after birth has been analyzed among people. In this part, the related information is analyzed individually. Methods: After all fetal parents signed the informed consent before birth, and before the newborn was born and did not breathe, the umbilical cord was exposed as quickly as possible, and the heparinized arterial indwelling needle was inserted into the umbilical artery and umbilical vein in the direction of newborn and placenta, and then blood was taken continuously. Although dozens of mothers were selected,but only 3 cases were collected from Pua and Puv blood samplers at the same time for blood gas analysis and determination, and the differences and dynamic changes of umbilical vein and umbilical artery were calculated and analyzed. Results: In all 3 none spontaneous breathing newborns,PuvO2 was significantly higher than PuaO2 at the same time (P<0.01), with an average difference of (24.17±7.09) mmHg; while PuvCO2 was significantly lower than PuaCO2 (all P<0.01), with an average difference of (-7.67±3.70) mmHg.The difference of Puv-uaO2 was significantly higher than those of Puv-uaCO2 (P<0.05). Conclusion: PuaO2 decreases gradually with time (heartbeat frequency) before spontaneous breathing after the delivered fetus as a newborn, and it induces the first inhalation to start spontaneous breathing when it reaches the threshold of triggering breathing.

[The effectiveness of different respiration models to the amplitude of waveform information in arterial blood gas].

Objective: The objective is to find the characteristics of arterial blood sample waveform in different respiration models. Methods: Six post-operative patients with normal heart function and negative Allen test, were 4 male and 2 female, (59.00±16.64)year, (71.67±0.37)kg, left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) (61.33±2.16)%, had been placed the arterial catheterization and central venous catheterization for continuous collecting arterial in 3 different kinds of respiration models: normal breathing, no breathing and deep breathing. We selected two breaths cycles of waveform from each patient for data calculations of magnitudes and time interval. Compare the adjacent highest and lowest values of patients to verify whether there are periodic wave-like signal changes in arterial and venous blood gas in the three breathing states. In addition, statistical t-test analysis was performed on the change amplitude of the periodic wave-like signal of the patient's arterial and venous blood gas to compare whether there is a difference. Results: The heart beat numbers for drawing blood into pipe were 15-16, and all covered more than 2 breathing cycles. There were significant changes of arterial PaO2 (i.e. the highest high values compare to the next lowest values, P<0.05) in three different breathing models(normal, no breathing and high breathing), the magnitudes of which were (9.96±5.18)mmHg, (5.33±1.55)mmHg and (13.13±7.55)mmHg, with (8.09±2.43)%, (5.29±2.19)% and (10.40±2.68)% from their mean respectively. PO2 in venous blood gas did not show wavy changes under normal breathing, 20 s breath holding and high tidal volume ventilation. The amplitudes were (1.63 ± 0.41) mmHg, (1.13 ± 0.41) mmHg and (1.31 ± 0.67) mmHg, which were (3.91 ± 1.22)%, (2.92 ± 1.12)%, (3.33 ± 1.81)%, respectively, which were significantly lower than that of arterial blood gas under the same state, but there was no significant difference between groups. Conclusion: With continuous beat-by-beat arterial blood sampling and ABG analyzing method in three different breathing models, We obtain a clear evidence of the biggest periodic parameters ABG waveform in high breathing models, which followed by normal breathing models, no breathing was the smallest, and the wave variation amplitude of venous oxygen partial pressure was not obvious in the three respiratory states, which implies the oscillatory information of the arterial blood with comes from the gas exchanging in the lung.