Evaluation of PVC and PTFE filters for direct-on-filter crystalline silica quantification by FTIR.

Direct-on-Filter (DoF) analysis of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a useful tool for assessing exposure risks. With the RCS exposure limits becoming lower, it is important to characterize and reduce measurement uncertainties. This study systematically evaluated two filter types (i.e., polyvinyl chloride [PVC] and polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE]) for RCS measurements by DoF FTIR spectroscopy, including the filter-to-filter and day-to-day variability of blank filter FTIR reference spectra, particle deposition patterns, filtration efficiencies, and pressure drops. For PVC filters sampled at a flow rate of 2.5 L/min for 8 h, the RCS limit of detection (LOD) was 7.4 µg/m3 when a designated laboratory reference filter was used to correct the absorption by the filter media. When the spectrum of the pre-sample filter (blank filter before dust sampling) was used for correction, the LOD could be up to 5.9 µg/m3. The PVC absorption increased linearly with reference filter mass, providing a means to correct the absorption differences between the pre-sample and reference filters. For PTFE, the LODs were 12 and 1.2 µg/m3 when a designated laboratory blank or the pre-sample filter spectrum was used for blank correction, respectively, indicating that using the pre-sample blank spectrum will reduce RCS quantification uncertainty. Both filter types exhibited a consistent radially symmetric deposition pattern when particles were collected using 3-piece cassettes, indicating that RCS can be quantified from a single measurement at the filter center. The most penetrating aerodynamic diameters were around 0.1 µm with filtration efficiencies ≥ 98.8% across the measured particle size range with low-pressure drops (0.2-0.3 kPa) at a flow rate of 2.5 L/min. This study concludes that either the PVC or the PTFE filters are suitable for RCS analysis by DoF FTIR, but proper methods are needed to account for the variability of blank absorption among different filters.

Are community oncology practices with/without clinical research programs different? A comparison of patient and practice characteristics.

PURPOSE: Expanding access to clinical trials in community settings is a potential approach to addressing disparities in accrual of historically underrepresented populations. However, little is known about the characteristics of practices that do not participate in research. We investigated differences in patient and practice characteristics of US community oncology practices with high vs low engagement in clinical research. METHODS: We included patients from a real-world, nationwide electronic health record-derived, de-identified database who received active treatment for cancer at community oncology practices between 11/1/17 and 10/31/22. We assessed patient and practice characteristics and their associations with high vs low research engagement using descriptive analyses and logistic regression models. RESULTS: Seventy (39.3%) of 178 practices had high research engagement, treated 57.8% of the overall 568,540 patient cohort, and enrolled 3.25% of their patients on cancer treatment trials during the five-year observation period (v 0.27% enrollment among low engagement practices). Practices with low vs high research engagement treated higher proportions of the following patient groups: ages > =75 (24.2% v 21.8%), non-Latinx Black (12.6% v10.3%) or Latinx (11.6% v 6.1%), were within the lowest socioeconomic status quintile (21.9% v 16.5%), and were uninsured or had no documented insurance (22.2% v 13.6%). CONCLUSION: Patient groups historically underrepresented in oncology clinical trials are more likely to be treated at community practices with limited or no access to trials. These results suggest that investments to expand the clinical research footprint among practices with low research engagement could help address persistent inequities in trial representation.

[Astragaloside IV reduces renal injury in mice with IgA nephropathy by inhibiting TIM-1 signaling pathway and increasing Th1/Th2 cell ratio].

Objective To investigate the effects of astragaloside IV(AS-IV) on the balance of T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th2 cells in mice with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and its possible mechanism. Methods The IgAN model of BALB/c mice was established. Successfully modeled mice were randomly divided into four groups: model, AS-IV low dose, AS-IV medium dose and AS-IV high dose groups, with 10 mice in each group. Another 10 mice served as the control group. Mice in the low, medium and high dose groups were administered 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg AS-IV suspension (prepared in normal saline) by gavage, while the control and model groups were given an equivalent volume of normal saline. The 24-hour urinary protein (24 h UPr) content and urine red blood cell count were measured in each group. The levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr) and albumin (ALB) were determined. Serum interferon γ (IFN-γ), interleukin 4 (IL-4) and IL-10 levels were detected by ELISA. The ratio of Th1/Th2 cells in peripheral blood of mice was detected using flow cytometry. Histopathological changes in the kidney of mice were observed by HE staining. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain gene 1 (TIM-1), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in mouse kidney tissue. Results Compared with the model group, in weeks 12 and 15, the urine red blood cell count, 24 h UPr, BUN, Scr, levels of IL-4 and IL-10, the proportion of Th2 cells, as well as the mRNA and protein expression levels of TIM-1 and TLR4 were significantly decreased in the low, medium and high dose groups of AS-IV, and the levels of ALB, IFN-γ, the proportion of Th1 cells and Th1/Th2 cell ratio were increased, with the high-dose group showing the best effects. Conclusion AS-IV can inhibit TIM-1 signaling pathway, increase the Th1/Th2 cell ratio, inhibit the inflammatory reaction, and alleviate the renal injury in IgAN mice.

Effect of supraglottic jet oxygenation and ventilation on hypoxemia in patients undergoing endoscopic surgery with sedation: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Nasal cannulas and face masks are common oxygenation tools used in conventional oxygen therapy for patients undergoing endoscopic surgery with sedation. However, as a novel supraglottic ventilation technique, the application of supraglottic jet oxygenation and ventilation (SJOV) in endoscopic surgery has not been well established. METHOD: We searched six electronic databases from inception to January 16, 2024, to assess the oxygenation/ventilation efficacy and side effects of the of SJOV in endoscopic surgery. The primary outcome was the incidence of hypoxemia. The secondary outcomes were the incidence of respiratory depression and adverse effects (nasal bleeding, sore throat, and dry mouth). RESULTS: Nine trials involving 2017 patients were included. The results demonstrated that the incidence of hypoxemia was lower in the SJOV group compared with the conventional oxygen therapy (COT) group [9 trails; 2017 patients; risk ratio (RR) = 0.18; 95% confidence interval (CI), (0.11-0.28)]. Subgroup analyses showed that SJOV reduced the incidence of hypoxemia in the high-risk group but had no effect on the low-risk group. The incidence of respiratory depression is lower in SJOV than in COT, but has increased side effects such as dry mouth. There was no statistically significant difference in nose bleeding or sore throat between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Compared with the COT, the SJOV decreased the incidence of hypoxemia in high-risk patients during endoscopic surgery with sedation. There was an increased risk of dry mouth, but not of nose bleeding or sore throat, during endoscopic surgery under sedation.

Numerical Simulation of Electromagnetic-Thermal-Fluid Coupling for the Deformation Behavior of Titanium-Aluminum Alloy under Electromagnetic Levitation.

Electromagnetic levitation (EML) is a good method for high-temperature processing of reactive materials such as titanium-aluminum (Ti-Al) alloys. In this study, the oscillation and deformation processes of Ti-48Al-2Cr alloy specimens at different high-frequency currents during the EML process were simulated using the Finite Element Method and Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) methods. The data of oscillation, stabilization time, deformation, and distribution of electromagnetic-thermal-fluid fields were finally obtained. The accuracy of the simulation results was verified by EML experiments. The results show the following: the strength and distribution of the induced magnetic field inside the molten droplet are determined by the high-frequency current; under the coupling effect of the electromagnetic field, thermal field, and fluid field, the temperature rise of electromagnetic heating is rapid, and accompanied by strong stirring, resulting in a uniform distribution of the internal temperature and a small temperature difference. Under the joint action of gravity and Lorentz force, the molten droplets are first within a damped oscillation and then tend to stabilize with time, and finally maintain the "near rhombus" shape.

Changes in productivity partitioning induced by precipitation extremes increase inaccuracy of grassland carbon estimation.

The fraction of net primary productivity (NPP) allocated to belowground organs (fBNPP) in grasslands is a critical parameter in global carbon cycle models; moreover, understanding the effect of precipitation changes on this parameter is vital to accurately estimating carbon sequestration in grassland ecosystems. However, how fBNPP responds to temporal precipitation changes along a gradient from extreme drought to extreme wetness, remains unclear, mainly due to the lack of long-term data of belowground net primary productivity (BNPP) and the fact that most precipitation experiments did not have a gradient from extreme drought to extreme wetness. Here, by conducting both a precipitation gradient experiment (100-500 mm) and a long-term observational study (34 years) in the Inner Mongolia grassland, we showed that fBNPP decreased linearly along the precipitation gradient from extreme drought to extreme wetness due to stronger responses in aboveground NPP to drought and wet conditions than those of BNPP. Our further meta-analysis in grasslands worldwide also indicated that fBNPP increased when precipitation decreased, and the vice versa. Such a consistent pattern of fBNPP response suggests that plants increase the belowground allocation with decreasing precipitation, while increase the aboveground allocation with increasing precipitation. Thus, the linearly decreasing response pattern in fBNPP should be incorporated into models that forecast carbon sequestration in grassland ecosystems; failure to do so will lead to underestimation of the carbon stock in drought years and overestimation of the carbon stock in wet years in grasslands.

Role of Na/K-ATPase α1 caveolin-binding motif in adipogenesis.

Deficiencies in mice and in humans have brought to the fore the importance of the caveolar network in key aspects of adipocyte biology. The conserved N-terminal caveolin-binding motif (CBM) of the ubiquitous Na/K-ATPase (NKA) α1 isoform, which allows NKA/caveolin-1 (Cav1) interaction, influences NKA signaling and caveolar distribution. It has been shown to be critical for animal development and ontogenesis, as well as lineage-specific differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). However, its role in postnatal adipogenesis has not been fully examined. Using a genetic approach to alter CBM in hiPSC-derived adipocytes (iAdi-mCBM) and in mice (mCBM), we investigated the regulatory function of NKA CBM signaling in adipogenesis. Seahorse XF cell metabolism analyses revealed impaired glycolysis and decreased ATP synthesis-coupled respiration in iAdi-mCBM. These metabolic dysfunctions were accompanied by evidence of extensive remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM), including increased collagen staining, overexpression of ECM marker genes, and heightened TGF-ß signaling uncovered by RNAseq analysis. Rescue of mCBM by lentiviral delivery of WT NKA α1 or treatment of mCBM hiPSCs with the TGF-ß inhibitor SB431542 normalized ECM, suggesting that NKA CBM signaling integrity is required for adequate control of TGF-ß signaling and ECM stiffness during adipogenesis. The physiological impact was revealed in mCBM male mice with reduced fat mass accompanied by histological and transcriptional evidence of elevated adipose fibrosis and decreased adipocyte size. Based on these findings, we propose that the genetic alteration of the NKA/Cav1 regulatory path uncovered in human iAdi leads to lipodystrophy in mice.NEW & NOTEWORTHY A Na/K-ATPase α1 caveolin-binding motif regulates adipogenesis. Mutation of this binding motif in the mouse leads to reduced fat with increased extracellular matrix production and inflammation. RNA-seq analysis and pharmacological interventions in human iPSC-derived adipocytes revealed that TGF-ß signal, rather than Na/K-ATPase-mediated ion transport, is a key mediator of NKA regulation of adipogenesis.

Systemic Anticancer Therapy and Overall Survival in Patients With Very Advanced Solid Tumors.

Importance: Two prominent organizations, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the National Quality Forum (NQF), have developed a cancer quality metric aimed at reducing systemic anticancer therapy administration at the end of life. This metric, NQF 0210 (patients receiving chemotherapy in the last 14 days of life), has been critiqued for focusing only on care for decedents and not including the broader population of patients who may benefit from treatment. Objective: To evaluate whether the overall population of patients with metastatic cancer receiving care at practices with higher rates of oncologic therapy for very advanced disease experience longer survival. Design, Setting, and Participants: This nationwide population-based cohort study used Flatiron Health, a deidentified electronic health record database of patients diagnosed with metastatic or advanced disease, to identify adult patients (aged ≥18 years) with 1 of 6 common cancers (breast cancer, colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer [NSCLC], pancreatic cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and urothelial cancer) treated at health care practices from 2015 to 2019. Practices were stratified into quintiles based on retrospectively measured rates of NQF 0210, and overall survival was compared by disease type among all patients treated in each practice quintile from time of metastatic diagnosis using multivariable Cox proportional hazard models with a Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Data were analyzed from July 2021 to July 2023. Exposure: Practice-level NQF 0210 quintiles. Main Outcome and Measure: Overall survival. Results: Of 78 446 patients (mean [SD] age, 67.3 [11.1] years; 52.2% female) across 144 practices, the most common cancer types were NSCLC (34 201 patients [43.6%]) and colorectal cancer (15 804 patients [20.1%]). Practice-level NQF 0210 rates varied from 10.9% (quintile 1) to 32.3% (quintile 5) for NSCLC and 6.8% (quintile 1) to 28.4% (quintile 5) for colorectal cancer. No statistically significant differences in survival were observed between patients treated at the highest and the lowest NQF 0210 quintiles. Compared with patients seen at practices in the lowest NQF 0210 quintiles, the hazard ratio for death among patients seen at the highest quintiles varied from 0.74 (95% CI, 0.55-0.99) for those with renal cell carcinoma to 1.41 (95% CI, 0.98-2.02) for those with urothelial cancer. These differences were not statistically significant after applying the Bonferroni-adjusted critical P = .008. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, patients with metastatic or advanced cancer treated at practices with higher NQF 0210 rates did not have improved survival. Future efforts should focus on helping oncologists identify when additional therapy is futile, developing goals of care communication skills, and aligning payment incentives with improved end-of-life care.

2-(4-Methylthiazol-5-yl) Ethyl Nitrate Hydrochloride Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment via Modulation of Oxidative Stress and Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB) Signaling Pathway in Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion-Associated Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Hypertension reduces the bioavailability of vascular nitric oxide (NO) and contributes to the onset of vascular dementia (VaD). A loss of NO bioavailability increases inflammation and oxidative stress. 2-(4-Methylthiazol-5-yl) ethyl nitrate hydrochloride (W1302) is a novel nitric oxide donor (NOD) which is undergoing phase I clinical trials in China for the treatment of VaD. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of W1302 in VaD rats induced by the permanent occlusion of a bilateral common carotid arteries model related to spontaneous hypertension (SHR-2VO), and we further explored the underlying mechanisms. Nimodipine was used as a positive control. Our results showed that W1302 treatment for 4 weeks (10 mg/Kg/day) exhibited stronger improvement in the spatial learning and memory deficits in SHR-2VO rats compared with nimodipine with slightly lower systolic blood pressure (SBP). Meanwhile, W1302 treatment significantly increased NO and cGMP production, restored mitochondrial membrane potential and attenuated oxidative stress as evidenced by increasing ATP production and reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the brain. Furthermore, W1302 treatment markedly inhibited the iNOS activity and decreased TNF-α expression via inhibiting the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Nimodipine treatment also restored these aberrant changes, but its ATP production was weaker than that of W1302, and there was no significant effect on NO release. Taken together, W1302 exhibited beneficial effects on complications in VaD with hypertension, which is involved in suppressing oxidative damage, and the inflammatory reaction might be mediated by an increase in NO release. Therefore, W1302 has therapeutic potential for the treatment of VaD caused by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion-associated spontaneous hypertension.

Application of concentrated growth factor in mandibular third molar extraction: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: We will perform the systematic review to evaluate the effect of applying concentrated growth factor (CGF) on relieving postoperative complications and promoting wound healing following mandibular third molar extraction. METHODS: The PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, China Biology Medicine Disc (CBM), and VIP Databases will be comprehensively searched up to May 31, 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the application of CGF after mandibular third molar extraction will be included. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO, and the registration ID was CRD42023463234. Two reviewers will conduct the literature search, eligible study selection, data extraction, and bias risk assessment (using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool). Data analysis will be performed with RevMan software (version 5.4). RESULTS: The results of this study will be available in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSION: Our study will provide scientific evidence regarding the efficacy of applying CGF in mandibular third molar extraction.

Surface-phonon-polariton-enhanced photoinduced dipole force for nanoscale infrared imaging.

The photoinduced dipole force (PiDF) is an attractive force arising from the Coulombic interaction between the light-induced dipoles on the illuminated tip and the sample. It shows extreme sample-tip distance and refractive index dependence, which is promising for nanoscale infrared (IR) imaging of ultrathin samples. However, the existence of PiDF in the mid-IR region has not been experimentally demonstrated due to the coexistence of photoinduced thermal force (PiTF), typically one to two orders of magnitude higher than PiDF. In this study, we demonstrate that, with the assistance of surface phonon polaritons, the PiDF of c-quartz can be enhanced to surpass its PiTF, enabling a clear observation of PiDF spectra reflecting the properties of the real part of permittivity. Leveraging the detection of the PiDF of phonon polaritonic substrate, we propose a strategy to enhance the sensitivity and contrast of photoinduced force responses in transmission images, facilitating the precise differentiation of the heterogeneous distribution of ultrathin samples.

Biocompatible Tough Ionogels with Reversible Supramolecular Adhesion.

Cohesive and interfacial adhesion energies are difficult to balance to obtain reversible adhesives with both high mechanical strength and high adhesion strength, although various methods have been extensively investigated. Here, a biocompatible citric acid/L-(-)-carnitine (CAC)-based ionic liquid was developed as a solvent to prepare tough and high adhesion strength ionogels for reversible engineered and biological adhesives. The prepared ionogels exhibited good mechanical properties, including tensile strength (14.4 MPa), Young's modulus (48.1 MPa), toughness (115.2 MJ m-3), and high adhesion strength on the glass substrate (24.4 MPa). Furthermore, the ionogels can form mechanically matched tough adhesion at the interface of wet biological tissues (interfacial toughness about 191 J m-2) and can be detached by saline solution on demand, thus extending potential applications in various clinical scenarios such as wound adhesion and nondestructive transfer of organs.

Sex Differences in Odds of Brain Metastasis and Outcomes by Brain Metastasis Status after Advanced Melanoma Diagnosis.

Sex differences in cancer are well-established. However, less is known about sex differences in diagnosis of brain metastasis and outcomes among patients with advanced melanoma. Using a United States nationwide electronic health record-derived de-identified database, we evaluated patients diagnosed with advanced melanoma from 1 January 2011-30 July 2022 who received an oncologist-defined rule-based first line of therapy (n = 7969, 33% female according to EHR, 35% w/documentation of brain metastases). The odds of documented brain metastasis diagnosis were calculated using multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, practice type, diagnosis period (pre/post-2017), ECOG performance status, anatomic site of melanoma, group stage, documentation of non-brain metastases prior to first-line of treatment, and BRAF positive status. Real-world overall survival (rwOS) and progression-free survival (rwPFS) starting from first-line initiation were assessed by sex, accounting for brain metastasis diagnosis as a time-varying covariate using the Cox proportional hazards model, with the same adjustments as the logistic model, excluding group stage, while also adjusting for race, socioeconomic status, and insurance status. Adjusted analysis revealed males with advanced melanoma were 22% more likely to receive a brain metastasis diagnosis compared to females (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09, 1.36). Males with brain metastases had worse rwOS (aHR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.28) but not worse rwPFS (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.04, 95% CI: 0.95, 1.14) following first-line treatment initiation. Among patients with advanced melanoma who were not diagnosed with brain metastases, survival was not different by sex (rwOS aHR: 1.06 [95% CI: 0.97, 1.16], rwPFS aHR: 1.02 [95% CI: 0.94, 1.1]). This study showed that males had greater odds of brain metastasis and, among those with brain metastasis, poorer rwOS compared to females, while there were no sex differences in clinical outcomes for those with advanced melanoma without brain metastasis.

Sex Differences in Personality Disorder and Childhood Maltreatment of Patients with Schizophrenia.

Introduction: Despite numerous studies investigating personality disorder (PD) and childhood maltreatment (CM) characteristics in individuals with schizophrenia (SZ), there remains a scarcity of research focusing on sex differences in PD and CM within large samples of SZ patients. Methods: A total of 592 participants (257 males, 335 females) were consecutively sampled from patients diagnosed with SZ at the psychiatric and psycho-counseling clinics at Shanghai Mental Health Center. PDs were assessed using a self-reported personality diagnostic questionnaire and a structured clinical interview, while CMs were evaluated using the Chinese version of the Child Trauma Questionnaire Short Form. Results: Male patients exhibited a prominent self-reported trait of antisocial PD (t=1.972, p=0.049), while female patients demonstrated a notable emphasis on histrionic PD traits (t=-2.057, p=0.040). Structured interviews for PD diagnoses further indicated a higher comorbidity of schizotypal (χ2=4.805, p=0.028) and schizoid (χ2=6.957, p=0.008) PDs among male patients compared to female patients. Additionally, male patients reported a higher degree (t=2.957, p=0.003) and proportion (χ2=5.277, p=0.022) of experiences of physical abuse in their self-reported CM. Logistic regression analyses highlight distinct factors: higher antisocial PD traits and physical abuse are associated with male patients, while histrionic PD traits and emotional abuse are associated with female patients. Discussion: These findings underscore the importance of recognizing and addressing sex-specific manifestations of personality pathology and the nuanced impact of CM in the clinical management of individuals with SZ. The study advocates for tailored interventions that consider the distinct needs associated with sex differences in both personality traits and CM experiences among SZ patients.

Multifunctional Nanocomposite Yield-Stress Fluids for Printable and Stretchable Electronics.

Compliant materials are crucial for stretchable electronics. Stretchable solids and gels have limitations in deformability and durability, whereas active liquids struggle to create complex devices. This study presents multifunctional yield-stress fluids as printable ink materials to construct stretchable electronic devices. Ionic nanocomposites comprise silica nanoparticles and ion liquids, while electrical nanocomposites use the natural oxidation of liquid metals to produce gallium oxide nanoflake additives. These nanocomposite inks can be printed on an elastomer substrate and stay in a solid state for easy encapsulation. However, their transition into a liquid state during stretching allows ultrahigh deformability up to the fracture strain of the elastomer. The ionic inks produce strain sensors with high stretchability and temperature sensors with high sensitivity of 7% °C-1. Smart gloves are further created by integrating these sensors with printed electrical interconnects, demonstrating bimodal detection of temperatures and hand gestures. The nanocomposite yield-stress fluids combine the desirable qualities of solids and liquids for stretchable devices and systems.

Comparison of the therapeutic effects of febuxostat combined with a low-purine diet and allopurinol combined with a low-purine diet on the improvement of gout patients.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of febuxostat combined with a low-purine diet versus allopurinol combined with a low-purine diet in the treatment of gout. METHODS: In this prospective controlled trial, 98 gout patients admitted to our hospital from February 2021 to December 2022 were enrolled as study subjects. Patients were randomly assigned to the study group (febuxostat combined with a low-purine diet) and the control group (allopurinol combined with a low-purine diet), with 49 patients in each group. The therapeutic effect was evaluated based on joint function and serum uric acid levels after treatment, and classified into three levels: markedly effective, effective, and ineffective. The levels of inflammatory factors, including tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß), and interleukin (IL)-18 (IL-18), were collected. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) was used to assess the degree of pain in patients. Clinical indicators before and 6 months after treatment were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in age and gender between the two groups. After 6 months of treatment, the effective rate in the study group (48 cases, 97.96%) was higher than that in the control group (42 cases, 85.71%), with a statistically significant difference (p = .027). At the same time, the study group had significantly lower levels of serum uric acid (162.39 µmol/L ± 17.23 µmol/L vs. S198.32 µmol/L ± 18.34 µmol/L, p < .001), creatinine (87.39 mmol/L ± 9.76 mmol/L vs. 92.18 mmol/L ± 9.27 mmol/L, p = .014), total cholesterol (3.65 mmol/L ± 0.65 mmol/L vs. 4.76 mmol/L ± 0.73 mmol/L, p < .001), and triglycerides (1.76 mmol/L ± 0.32 mmol/L vs. 2.28 mmol/L ± 0.41 mmol/L, p < .001) compared to the control group, with statistically significant differences (p < .05). After treatment, the levels of inflammatory factors and degree of pain in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all p < .05). During the treatment process, the incidence of adverse reactions in the study group (2 cases, 4.08%) was lower than that in the control group (9 cases, 18.37%), with a statistically significant difference (p = .025). CONCLUSION: Febuxostat combined with a low-purine diet can reduce inflammatory factors and alleviate the degree of pain in gout patients, significantly improving their clinical symptoms.

Sortilin-Mediated Inhibition of TREK1/2 Channels in Primary Sensory Neurons Promotes Prediabetic Neuropathic Pain.

Neuropathic pain can occur during the prediabetic stage, even in the absence of hyperglycemia. The presence of prediabetic neuropathic pain (PDNP) poses challenges to the management of individuals with prediabetes. However, the mechanisms underlying this pain remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the underlying mechanism and identify potential therapeutic targets of PDNP. A prediabetic animal model induced by a high-energy diet exhibits both mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. Furthermore, hyperexcitability and decreased potassium currents are observed in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons of these rats. TREK1 and TREK2 channels, which belong to the two-pore-domain K+ channel (K2P) family and play an important role in controlling cellular excitability, are downregulated in DRG neurons. Moreover, this alteration is modulated by Sortilin, a molecular partner that modulates the expression of TREK1. The overexpression of Sortilin negatively affects the expression of TREK1 and TREK2, leading to increased neuronal excitability in the DRG and enhanced peripheral pain sensitivity in rats. Moreover, the downregulation of Sortilin or activation of TREK1 and TREK2 channels by genetic or pharmacological approaches can alleviate PDNP. Therefore, targeting the Sortilin-mediated TREK1/2 pathway may provide a therapeutic approach for ameliorating PDNP.

Relationship between sodium level and in-hospital mortality in traumatic brain injury patients of MIMIC IV database.

Background: An association between prognosis and high sodium levels in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) patients in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) has been noted, but limited research exists on the ideal sodium level in these patients or the impact on early mortality, using the MIMIC-IV database. Methods: A retrospective survey was conducted on TBI patients from the MIMIC-IV database. Patients were divided into two categories based on their highest serum sodium level within 24 h of admission exceeding 145 mmol/L: those with hypernatremia, and those with moderate-to-low sodium levels. Collected covariates encompasses demographic, clinical, laboratory, and intervention variables. A multivariate logistic regression model was implemented to forecast in-hospital mortality. Results: The study included 1749 TBI patients, with 209 (11.5%) experiencing in-hospital deaths. A non-linear test exposed an L-shaped correlation between sodium level and in-hospital mortality, with mortality rates increasing after a turning point at 144.1 mmol/L. Compared to the moderate-to-low group's 9.3% mortality rate, the hypernatremia group had a significantly higher mortality rate of 25.3% (crude odds ratio = 3.32, 95% confidence interval: 2.37 ~ 4.64, p < 0.001). After adjusting for all covariates, the hypernatremia group continued to show a significant correlation with higher mortality risk (adjusted odds ratio = 2.19, 95% confidence interval: 1.38 ~ 3.47, p = 0.001). This trend remained consistent regardless of the analyses stratification. Conclusion: The study reveals an L-shaped relationship between sodium levels and in-hospital deaths, with a pivotal point at 144.1 mmol/L. TBI patients displaying hypernatremia were independently linked to higher in-hospital mortality, underlining the need for further studies into targeted management of sodium levels in these patients.

Simulation and Experimental Study on the Effect of Superheat on Solidification Microstructure Evolution of Billet in Continuous Casting.

The control of the solidification structure of a casting billet is directly correlated with the quality of steel. Variations in superheat can influence the transition from columnar crystals to equiaxed crystals during the solidification process, subsequently impacting the final solidification structure of the billet. In this study, a model of microstructure evolution during billet solidification was established by combining simulation and experiment, and the dendrite growth microstructure evolution during billet solidification under different superheat was studied. The results show that when the superheat is 60 K, the complete solidification time of the casting billet from the end of the 50 mm section is 252 s, when the superheat is 40 K, the complete solidification time of the casting billet is 250 s, and when the superheat is 20 K, the complete solidification time of the casting billet is 245 s. When the superheat is 20 K, the proportion of the equiaxed crystal region is higher-the highest value is 53.35%-and the average grain radius is 0.84556 mm. The proportion of the equiaxed crystal region decreases with the increase of superheat. When the superheat is 60 K, the proportion of the equiaxed crystal region is the lowest-the lowest value is 46.27%-and the average grain radius is 1.07653 mm. Proper reduction of superheat can obviously reduce the size of equiaxed crystal, expand the area of equiaxed crystal and improve the quality of casting billet.

Programmable Water Sorption through Linker Installation into a Zirconium Metal-Organic Framework.

Hydrolytically stable materials exhibiting a wide range of programmable water sorption behaviors are crucial for on-demand water sorption systems. While notable advancements in employing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as promising water adsorbents have been made, developing a robust yet easily tailorable MOF scaffold for specific operational conditions remains a challenge. To address this demand, we employed a topology-guided linker installation strategy using NU-600, which is a zirconium-based MOF (Zr-MOF) that contains three vacant crystallographically defined coordination sites. Through a judicious selection of three N-heterocyclic auxiliary linkers of specific lengths, we installed them into designated sites, giving rise to six new MOFs bearing different combinations of linkers in predetermined positions. The resulting MOFs, denoted as NU-606 to NU-611, demonstrate enhanced structural stability against capillary force-driven channel collapse during water desorption due to the increased connectivity of the Zr6 clusters in the resulting MOFs. Furthermore, incorporating these auxiliary linkers with various hydrophilic N sites enables the systematic modulation of the pore-filling pressure from about 55% relative humidity (RH) for the parent NU-600 down to below 40% RH. This topology-driven linker installation strategy offers precise control of water sorption properties for MOFs, highlighting a facile route to design MOF adsorbents for use in water sorption applications.