Integrating Alcohol Biosensors With Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) for Alcohol Use: a Synthesis of the Latest Literature and Directions for Future Research.

Purpose of Review: Excessive alcohol use is a major public health concern. With increasing access to mobile technology, novel mHealth approaches for alcohol misuse, such as ecological momentary intervention (EMI), can be implemented widely to deliver treatment content in real time to diverse populations. This review summarizes the state of research in this area with an emphasis on the potential role of wearable alcohol biosensors in future EMI/just-in-time adaptive interventions (JITAI) for alcohol use. Recent Findings: JITAI emerged as an intervention design to optimize the delivery of EMI for various health behaviors including substance use. Alcohol biosensors present an opportunity to augment JITAI/EMI for alcohol use with objective information on drinking behavior captured passively and continuously in participants' daily lives, but no prior published studies have incorporated wearable alcohol biosensors into JITAI for alcohol-related problems. Several methodological advances are needed to accomplish this goal and advance the field. Future research should focus on developing standardized data processing, analysis, and interpretation methods for wrist-worn biosensor data. Machine learning algorithms could be used to identify risk factors (e.g., stress, craving, physical locations) for high-risk drinking and develop decision rules for interpreting biosensor-derived transdermal alcohol concentration (TAC) data. Finally, advanced trial design such as micro-randomized trials (MRT) could facilitate the development of biosensor-augmented JITAI. Summary: Wrist-worn alcohol biosensors are a promising potential addition to improve mHealth and JITAI for alcohol use. Additional research is needed to improve biosensor data analysis and interpretation, build new machine learning models to facilitate integration of alcohol biosensors into novel intervention strategies, and test and refine biosensor-augmented JITAI using advanced trial design.

ITM2A inhibits the progression of bladder cancer by downregulating the phosphorylation of STAT3.

Bladder cancer stands as one of the prevalent malignancies in urological clinics, highlighting the pressing need to uncover prognostic or therapeutic avenues. ITM2A, a transmembrane protein, has been identified as a suppressor in tumor progression recently. Our study underscored a significant correlation between low ITM2A expression in bladder cancer tissues and high tumor grade, AJCC stage, and poor overall survival time. Additionally, our findings demonstrated that reinstating ITM2A expression impeded cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while conversely, its suppression enhanced these malignant behaviors. Furthermore, we elucidated that ITM2A could suppress malignant phenotypes of bladder cancer cells via inhibiting activation of the STAT3 induced by IL-6. In conclusion, our research unveiled the mechanistic role of ITM2A in inhibiting tumor progression, shedding light on its potential as a prognostic predictor and therapeutic target in bladder cancer management.

Critical Threshold for Bubble-like Nucleation during Pseudoboiling at Supercritical Pressures.

Supercritical pseudoboiling was proposed in the 1950s-1960s. Recently, evaporation-like and boiling-like heat transfer have been directly observed in macroscopic scales, and the contribution of pseudoboiling to the total heat transfer rate has been quantitatively characterized experimentally. Here, we explore the critical threshold to generate a bubble-like nucleus at supercritical pressure at the atomic scale, characterized by the total energy (Te = Ke + Pe, where Ke and Pe are kinetic energy and potential energy, respectively). Molecular dynamics simulations are performed, including an argon fluid box heated by a solid wall having its temperature above the fluid temperature. The fluid pressure is controlled by a movable piston wall opposite the heating wall. The effects of pressure, nonuniform heating, and surface wettability on pseudoboiling are investigated. It is found that the criterion Te > 0 should be satisfied for subcritical boiling, matching that reported previously. The criterion for supercritical pseudoboiling was newly obtained such that Te > 0.012 eV at 8 MPa for argon, but the threshold increases as pressure increases. Nonuniform heating and surface wettability do not affect the critical threshold of Te for bubble-like nucleation but affect the location of the initially generated bubble-like nucleus and the stabilized pseudofilm or pseudonucleate heat transfer modes, where the former is similar to (vapor) film boiling and the latter is similar to nucleate boiling at subcritical pressure. Because pseudoboiling occurs without surface tension at supercritical pressure, we observe that the bubble-like structure may not display a perfectly smooth gas-liquid interface but may display an irregular pattern instead. Our work explains pseudoboiling from the viewpoint of the competition between kinetic energy and potential energy and presents a link regarding boiling in the two domains of subcritical pressure and supercritical pressure.

Low compliance and proliferation of IQOS purchase cues at points-of-sale: a comparative study before and after Israel's display ban.

INTRODUCTION: It is unclear how tobacco companies respond to increasing restrictions on points-of-sale (POS) (eg, advertisement ban, display ban), especially regarding newer products, such as IQOS, a heated tobacco product. This study compared POS marketing strategies for IQOS (and HEETS tobacco sticks) before and after Israel implemented a display ban and plain packaging. METHODS: Audits of stores selling IQOS (n=87) in four Israeli cities were conducted, 16-20 months post display ban and plain packaging introduction, including previously audited stores (n=60) (prior to the implementation of these measures). Descriptive analyses and matched pre-post comparisons were conducted to assess regulatory compliance and marketing strategies over time. RESULTS: Almost all stores (90.8%) were non-compliant with the display ban; but most were compliant with plain packaging (81.6%) and advertisement ban (83.5%) regulations. Following the display ban, there was a significant increase in the number of IQOS/HEETS internal advertisements (21.7% vs 41.7%, p=0.023). These were mostly compliant with the advertisement ban (ie, did not mention the brand name explicitly), and appeared in the form of generic signs or flags and/or special displays. The percentage of stores featuring the IQOS device increased (1.7% to 20.0%, p=0.003), as did the percentage carrying at least four HEETS flavours (36.7% to 63.3%, p=0.006). CONCLUSION: This sample of Israeli stores selling IQOS showed low compliance with the display ban. The increase in signs/special displays, mostly compliant with the advertisement ban, could serve as purchase cues circumventing the intent of the legislation. Regulatory efforts should consider more specific legislative language and comprehensive enforcement plans.

Identification of mitophagy and ferroptosis-related hub genes associated with intracerebral haemorrhage through bioinformatics analysis.

BACKGROUND: Mitophagy and ferroptosis occur in intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) but our understanding of mitophagy and ferroptosis-related genes remains incomplete. AIM: This study aims to identify shared ICH genes for both processes. METHODS: ICH differentially expressed mitophagy and ferroptosis-related genes (DEMFRGs) were sourced from the GEO database and literature. Enrichment analysis elucidated functions. Hub genes were selected via STRING, MCODE, and MCC algorithms in Cytoscape. miRNAs targeting hubs were predicted using miRWalk 3.0, forming a miRNA-hub gene network. Immune microenvironment variances were assessed with MCP and TIMER. Potential small molecules for ICH were forecasted via CMap database. RESULTS: 64 DEMFRGs and ten hub genes potentially involved in various processes like ferroptosis, TNF signalling pathway, MAPK signalling pathway, and NF-kappa B signalling pathway were discovered. Several miRNAs were identified as shared targets of hub genes. The ICH group showed increased infiltration of monocytic lineage and myeloid dendritic cells compared to the Healthy group. Ten potential small molecule drugs (e.g. Zebularine, TWS-119, CG-930) were predicted via CMap. CONCLUSION: Several shared genes between mitophagy and ferroptosis potentially drive ICH progression via TNF, MAPK, and NF-kappa B pathways. These results offer valuable insights for further exploring the connection between mitophagy, ferroptosis, and ICH.

Hierarchical Bilayer Polyelectrolyte Ion Paper Conductor for Moisture-Induced Power Generation.

Harvesting energy from air water (atmospheric moisture) promises a sustainable self-powered system without any restrictions from specific environmental requirements (e.g., solar cells, hydroelectric, or thermoelectric devices). However, the present moisture-induced power devices traditionally generate intermittent or bursts of energy, especially for much lower current outputs (generally keeping at nA or µA levels) from the ambient environment, typically suffering from inferior ionic conductivity and poor hierarchical structure design for manipulating sustained air water and ion-charge transport. Here, we demonstrate a universal strategy to design a high-performance bilayer polyelectrolyte ion paper conductor for generating continuous electric power from ambient humidity. The generator can produce a continuous voltage of up to 0.74 V and also an exceptional current of 5.63 mA across a single 1.0 mm-thick ion paper conductor. We discover that the sandwiched LiCl-nanocellulose-engineered paper promises an ion-transport junction between the negatively and positively charged bilayer polyelectrolytes for application in MEGs with both high voltage and high current outputs. Moreover, we demonstrated the universality of this bilayer sandwich nanocellulose-salt engineering strategy with other anions and cations, exhibiting similar power generation ability, indicating that it could be the next generation of sustainable MEGs with low cost, easier operation, and high performance.

Qizhu anticancer prescription enhances immunosurveillance of liver cancer cells by regulating p21-dependent secretory phenotypes.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, largely due to the limitations of available therapeutic strategies. The traditional Chinese medicine Qizhu Anticancer Prescription (QZACP) can improve the quality of life and prolong the survival time of patients with HCC. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer properties of QZACP remain unclear. PURPOSE: This study examined the anti-hepatocarcinogenic properties of QZACP, with a specific focus on its influence on the p21-activated secretory phenotype (PASP)-mediated immune surveillance, to elucidate the underlying molecular pathways involved in HCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cell proliferation was measured using the Cell Counting Kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, and clonogenic assays. The cell cycle was evaluated using flow cytometry, and senescence was identified by staining with senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-ß-gal). A primary liver cancer model produced by diethylnitrosamine was established in C57 BL/6 mice to assess the tumor-inhibitory effect of QZACP. The liver's pathological characteristics were examined using hematoxylin and eosin staining. PASP screening was performed using GeneCards, DisGeNet, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, and The Cancer Genome Atlas databases. Western blot analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence staining, and Transwell migration assays were performed. RESULTS: Serum containing QZACP enhanced p21 expression, triggered cell cycle arrest, accelerated cell senescence, and suppressed cell proliferation in Huh7 and MHCC-97H liver cancer cells. QZACP reduced the quantity and dimensions of liver tumor nodules and enhanced p21 protein expression, SA-ß-Gal staining in tumor lesions, and cytotoxic CD8+ T cell infiltration. Bioinformatic analyses indicated that PASP factors, including hepatocyte growth factor, decorin (DCN), dermatopontin, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 14 (CXCL14), and Wnt family member 2 (WNT2), play an important role in the development of HCC. In addition, these factors are associated with the presence of natural killer cells and CD8+ T cells within tumors. Western blotting and ELISA confirmed that QZACP increased DCN, CXCL14, and WNT2 levels in tumor tissues and peripheral blood. CONCLUSIONS: QZACP's suppression of HCC progression may involve cell senescence mediated via p21 upregulation, DCN, CXCL14, and WNT2 secretion, and reversal of the immunosuppressive microenvironment. This study provides insights that can be used in the development of new treatment strategies for HCC.

Network meta-analysis of four common immunomodulatory therapies for the treatment of patients with thin endometrium.

OBEJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of endometrial receptivity and pregnancy outcomes of four common immunomodulatory therapies for patients with thin endometrium. METHOD: This systematic review and network meta-analysis using a literature search up to January 2024, to identify relevant trials comparing endometrial receptivity and pregnancy outcomes of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), infusion of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (IG-CSF), and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) for patients with thin endometrium. We used surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) to ranked four common immunomodulatory therapies on endometrium thickness, implantation rate (IR), clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), and live birth rate (LBR). RoB2 and ROBINS-I were used to assess the certainty of evidence. RESULTS: The pooled results of 22 studies showed that hCG (mean difference [MD]: 3.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.46-4.64) and PRP (MD: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.20-1.76) significantly increase endometrium thickness. The hCG was the best among the IG-CSF (MD = -2.56, 95% CI = -4.30 to -0.82), PBMC (MD = -2.75, 95% CI = -5.49 to -0.01), and PRP (MD = -2.07, 95% CI = -3.84 to -0.30) in increasing endometrium thickness. However, IG-CSF and PRP significantly improved IR (IG-CSF: risk ratio (RR; IG-CSF: RR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.06-1.67; PRP: RR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.19-2.23), and LBR (IG-CSF: RR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.16-2.02; PRP: RR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.08-2.36). CONCLUSIONS: Available evidence reveals that hCG and subcutaneous or intrauterine CSF (SG-CSF) may be the best treatment options for current thin endometrium patients. However, future high-quality and large-scale studies are necessary to validate our findings.

Genome-Wide Methylation Analysis Reveals a KCNK3-Prominent Causal Cascade on Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in understanding hypertension's genetic structure, how noncoding genetic variants influence it remains unclear. Studying their interaction with DNA methylation is crucial to deciphering this complex disease's genetic mechanisms. METHODS: We investigated the genetic and epigenetic interplay in hypertension using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing. Methylation profiling in 918 males revealed allele-specific methylation and methylation quantitative trait loci. We engineered rs1275988T/C mutant mice using CRISPR/Cas9, bred them for homozygosity, and subjected them to a high-salt diet. Telemetry captured their cardiovascular metrics. Protein-DNA interactions were elucidated using DNA pull-downs, mass spectrometry, and Western blots. A wire myograph assessed vascular function, and analysis of the Kcnk3 gene methylation highlighted the mutation's role in hypertension. RESULTS: We discovered that DNA methylation-associated genetic effects, especially in non-CpG island and noncoding distal regulatory regions, significantly contribute to hypertension predisposition. We identified distinct methylation quantitative trait locus patterns in the hypertensive population and observed that the onset of hypertension is influenced by the transmission of genetic effects through the demethylation process. By evidence-driven prioritization and in vivo experiments, we unearthed rs1275988 in a cell type-specific enhancer as a notable hypertension causal variant, intensifying hypertension through the modulation of local DNA methylation and consequential alterations in Kcnk3 gene expression and vascular remodeling. When exposed to a high-salt diet, mice with the rs1275988C/C genotype exhibited exacerbated hypertension and significant vascular remodeling, underscored by increased aortic wall thickness. The C allele of rs1275988 was associated with elevated DNA methylation levels, driving down the expression of the Kcnk3 gene by attenuating Nr2f2 binding at the enhancer locus. CONCLUSIONS: Our research reveals new insights into the complex interplay between genetic variations and DNA methylation in hypertension. We underscore hypomethylation's potential in hypertension onset and identify rs1275988 as a causal variant in vascular remodeling. This work advances our understanding of hypertension's molecular mechanisms and encourages personalized health care strategies.

Operating point control method for the Mach-Zehnder modulator in a phase-shift laser range finder.

An operating point control method is proposed for the Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) based on a dual-cascaded MZM structure. Unlike traditional methods with dither signals, the proposed method is advantageous because the components monitored in the control process are not masked by the spectrum noise floor and the drift direction is clearly determined at the quadrature point, thus imparting greater control stability. Additionally, the proposed control method is suitable for phase-shift laser range finders (PSLRFs). Compared with traditional methods, experimental results reveal that the proposed method increases the operating point stability of MZM from ±0.59° to ±0.36° within 2 h, resulting in better ranging stability than 17 µm in 1 min and 39 µm in 1 h in a PSLRF with a 200 MHz modulation frequency.

Entanglement signatures for quantum synchronization with single-ion phonon laser.

The entanglement properties of quantum synchronization, based on a single-ion phonon laser subjected to an external drive, have been studied. It is found that the maximum value of steady-state entanglement between the ion's internal and external states occurs near the noiseless boundary from synchronization to unsynchronization, accompanied by noticeable oscillatory behaviors during the corresponding time evolution of entanglement. In addition, the later time dynamics of entanglement also indicates the occurrence of frequency entrainment, as evidenced by the strong consistency between the bending of the observed frequency and the emergence of Liouvillian exceptional points (LEPs) in the first two eigenvalues of the Liouvillian eigenspectrum. Moreover, the emergence of LEPs, which is intimately associated with frequency entrainment, should be widely observed in quantum synchronization and can be explored in LEPs-based applications.

Preparation of an aqueous zinc ion rGH/V2O5 photorechargeable supercapacitor.

A photorechargeable supercapacitor was constructed using vanadium pentoxide (V2O5), reduced graphene oxide hydrogel (rGH), and zinc trifluoromethanesulfonate (Zn(CF3SO3)2) as the photoanode, cathode, and electrolyte, respectively. The phase composition, microstructure, chemical structure, light absorption, and specific surface area of the synthesized products and the electrochemical performance of the rGH/V2O5 supercapacitor were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method, and an electrochemical workstation, respectively. The results show that the device has a specific capacity of 164 F g-1 at 0.5 A g-1 under illumination with 95 mW cm-2 light intensity, which is 20.5% higher than that under normal electrical charging. The supercapacitor has a 75% capacity retention rate and 100% coulombic efficiency, respectively, after 10 000 testing cycles under photoelectric synergistic charging and discharging. The as-constructed rGH/V2O5 photorechargeable supercapacitor exhibits promising application potential in electric vehicles and wearable electronics.

Evaluation of the novel endophytic fungus Chaetomium ascotrichoides 1-24-2 from Pinus massoniana as a biocontrol agent against pine wilt disease caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus.

BACKGROUND: Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the causative agent of pine wilt disease (PWD), is an ever-increasing threat to Pinus forests worldwide. This study aimed to develop biological control of PWD by the application of endophytic fungi isolated from healthy pine trees. RESULTS: We successfully isolated a novel endophytic fungal strain 1-24-2 from branches of healthy Pinus massoniana. The culture filtrates (CFs) of strain 1-24-2 exhibited strong nematicidal activity against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, with a corrected mortality rate of 99.00%. Based on the morphological and molecular characteristics, the isolated strain 1-24-2 was identified as Chaetomium ascotrichoides. In the in-planta assay, pine seedlings (2-years-old) treated with 1-24-2 CFs + pine wood nematode (T2) showed a significant control effect of 80%. A total of 24 toxic compounds were first identified from 1-24-2 CFs through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, from which O-methylisourea, 2-chlorobenzothiazole, and 4,5,6-trihydroxy-7-methylphthalide showed robust binding sites at Tyr119 against phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase (PMT) protein of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus by molecular docking approach and could be used as potential compounds for developing effective nematicides. Interestingly, strain 1-24-2 produces toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which disturb the natural development process of B. xylophilus, whose total number decreased by up to 83.32% in the treatment group as compared to control and also reduced Botrytis cinerea growth by up to 71.01%. CONCLUSION: Our results highlight the potential of C. ascotrichoides 1-24-2 as a promising biocontrol agent with solid nematicidal activity against B. xylophilus. This is the first report of C. ascotrichoides isolated from P. massoniana exhibiting strong biocontrol potential against B. xylophilus in the world. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Three New Polyphenol Derivatives from the Fruits of Macaranga Monandra and their Antioxidant Potential.

Phytochemical investigation of the methanol extract from the fruits of Macaranga monandra (Euphorbiaceae Muell. et Arg.) afforded one new geranylated 1',2'-dihydrophenanthrene and two new flavonoid derivatives, named macamondrin (1), macamondrione A (2) and B (3) respectively. The structures of these compounds were elucidated mainly by NMR, mass spectral data and in comparison with data from the literature. Along with compounds 1-3, nine known compounds among which oleanolic acid (4); daucosterol (5); 3ß-acetoxy-11α,12α-epoxytaraxerol (6); 3,3',4-tri-O-methylellagic acid (7); 3,3',4,4'-tetra-O-methylellagic acid (8); 4'-O-methyl-6-isoprenylapigenin (9); 4'-O-methyl-8 isoprenylkaempférol (10); 4'-O-methyl-6-isoprénylkaempférol (11); 6-isoprénylkaempférol (12), were also isolated. Crude extracts as well as isolated compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant activity using the ABTS, DPPH and FRAP methods. It appears that the 50 % radical scavenging concentrations ranging from 6.26 to 11.7 µg/ml on the ABTS radical, from 1.77 to 48.22 µg/ml on the DPPH radical, and from 1.54 to 67.97 µg/ml with the FRAP method. For the compounds tested, very good antioxidant activities were observed, which clearly shows that these molecules can have an anti oxidative stress potentiel.

Inhibiting the activation of enteric glial cells alleviates intestinal inflammation and comorbid anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors in the ulcerative colitis mice.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a common inflammatory bowel disease with a complex origin in clinical settings. It is frequently accompanied by negative emotional responses, including anxiety and depression. Enteric glial cells (EGCs) are important components of the gut-brain axis and are involved in the development of the enteric nervous system (ENS), intestinal neuroimmune, and regulation of intestinal motor functions. Since there is limited research encompassing the regulatory function of EGCs in anxiety- and depression-like behaviors induced by UC, this study aims to reveal their regulatory role in such behaviors and associated intestinal inflammation. This study applied morphological, molecular biological, and behavioral methods to observe the morphological and functional changes of EGCs in UC mice. The results indicated a significant activation of EGCs in the ENS of dextran sodium sulfate -induced UC mice. This activation was evidenced by morphological alterations, such as elongation or terminal swelling of processes. Besides EGCs activation, UC mice exhibited significantly elevated expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the peripheral blood, accompanied by anxiety- and depression-like behaviors. The inhibition of EGCs activity within the ENS can ameliorate the anxiety- and depression-like behaviors caused by UC. Our data suggest that UC and its resulting behaviors may be related to the activation of EGCs within the ENS. Moreover, the modulation of intestinal inflammation through inhibition of EGCs activation emerges as a promising clinical approach for alleviating UC-induced anxiety- and depression-like behaviors.

Antibody responses to respiratory syncytial virus: A population-based cross-sectional serological study in southern China, 2021.

OBJECTIVES: With remarkable progress in the field of RSV prophylaxis, it is critical to understand population immunity against RSV. We aim to describe the RSV pre-F immunoglobin G (IgG) antibodies across all age groups in southern China and evaluate the risk factors associated with lower antibody levels. METHODS: We conducted a community-based cross-sectional sero-epidemiological study in Anhua County, Hunan Province, southern China, from July to November 2021. Serum samples were tested for IgG antibodies against the RSV prefusion F (pre-F) protein using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We estimated the geometric mean titres (GMTs) and seropositivity rates across all age groups. Generalized linear models (GLMs) were built to identify factors associated with antibody levels. RESULTS: A total of 890 participants aged 4 months to >89 years were enrolled. The lowest RSV pre-F IgG GMTs were observed in infants and toddlers aged 4 months to <2 years (3.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.6-3.5). With increasing age, RSV pre-F IgG GMT increased to 4.3 (95% CI: 4.1-4.4) between the ages of 2 and <5 years and then stabilized at high levels throughout life. All the children had serological evidence of RSV infection by the age of 5 years. Age was associated with RSV pre-F antibody levels in children, with an estimated 1.8-fold (95% CI: 1.1-2.9) increase in titre per year before 5 years of age, while it was not significantly associated with antibody levels in adults aged >60 years. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings could provide a comprehensive understanding of the gaps in RSV immunity at the population level and inform the prioritization of immunization platforms.

Analysis of radiologic parameters and clinical outcomes in supramalleolar osteotomy for varus ankle osteoarthritis: A novel method for evaluating ankle alignment.

BACKGROUND: Solely relying on the tibial ankle surface (TAS) angle for determining the mechanical ankle axis might be insufficient. We introduce a novel method to determine the distance from the center of the talus to the tibial axis (TTD). This study aimed to investigate the association between clinical outcomes and radiological changes before and after supramalleolar osteotomy (SMO), including TAS angle, talar tilt (TT) angle, tibiotalar surface (TTS) angle and TTD. METHODS: Seventy patients who received SMO were enrolled. Radiological changes were measured using weight-bearing anteroposterior imaging. The percentage of talar center displacement (TTDP) was calculated as the difference between postoperative and preoperative TTD, divided by talar width (TW). Clinical assessments were performed using the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot (AOFAS) scale. Differences in the aforementioned indicators before and after the operation were analyzed. We defined ΔAOFAS, ΔTAS, ΔTT and ΔTTS as the difference between postoperative and preoperative values. RESULTS: ΔTTS correlated with ΔAOFAS (r = 0.40, p = 0.008), as did TTDP (r = 0.32, p = 0.035). No correlation was observed between ΔAOFAS and ΔTAS. In the comparison between groups, patients with a TTDP greater than 26.19 exhibited a significantly greater ΔAOFAS. The high intraclass correlation coefficient indicated good reliability of the novel method. CONCLUSION: Solely relying on the TAS angle for tibial correction was insufficient. We found TTD as a novel method to evaluate mechanical ankle joint axis. TTDP and ΔTTS both positively correlated with ΔAOFAS, indicating the usefulness of these radiologic parameters.

Stop Ischemic Event to the Brain: Screening Risk Factors of Cerebrovascular Stenosis in Coronary Artery Disease Patients.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we investigated the difference in risk factors between the 2 diseases, aiming to further clarify who needs to do ischemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD)-related screening among coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. METHODS: Clinical data of 326 patients with first-episode CAD from June 1, 2017, to July 31, 2020, in the Chinese PLA General Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Outcomes, including clinical features and laboratory examination, were taken. Features related to ICVD including the extension of intracranial arterial (internal carotid artery intracranial segment, middle cerebral artery M1 segment, anterior cerebral A1 segment, vertebrobasilar artery intracranial segment, posterior cerebral artery P1 segment) and carotid arterial (internal carotid artery extracranial segment, common carotid artery, subclavian artery) stenosis were detected. Risk factors for the occurrence of ICVD in patients with CAD were analyzed. RESULTS: Among patients with the onset of CAD, in comparison of the nonstenosis and stenosis of intracranial artery subgroups, there were statistical differences in the onset age, hypertension, and duration of hypertension as well as the biochemical indicators, including high-density lipoprotein and glycosylated hemoglobin. In addition, statistical differences were detected in the onset age as well as the biochemical indicators, including glycosylated hemoglobin and blood glucose serum protein, along with the difference in the degree of cardiovascular stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: The onset age of CAD was shown to serve as a vital risk factor for ICVD. The primary prevention of ICVD in patients with CAD should lay more emphasis on the management of hypertension and diabetes.

Visualization analysis of research frontiers and trends in the treatment of sciatic nerve injury.

Objective: To visualize and analyze the literature related to sciatic nerve injury treatment from January 2019 to December 2023, and summarize the current status, hotspots, and development trends of research in this field. Methods: Using CiteSpace and VOSviewer software, we searched the Web of Science database for literature related to the treatment of sciatic nerve injury. Then we analyzed and plotted visualization maps to show the number of publications, countries, institutions, authors, keywords, references, and journals. Results: A total of 2,653 articles were included in the English database. The annual number of publications exceeded 230, and the citation frequency increased yearly. The United States and China were identified as high-influence nations in this field. Nantong University was the leading institution in terms of close cooperation among institutions. The authors Wang Yu had the highest number of publications and were highly influential in this field. Keyword analysis and reference Burst revealed a research focus on nerve regeneration and neuropathic pain, which involve regenerative medicine and neural tissue engineering. Chronic pain resulting from sciatic nerve injury often manifests alongside anxiety, depression, cognitive-behavioral disorders, and other issues. Interventions such as stem cells, electrical stimulation, electroacupuncture, total joint replacement, pharmacological interventions, gene therapy, nerve conduits, chitosan scaffolds, and exercise promote nerve repair and alleviate pain. Schwann cells have been the focus of much attention in nerve repair and regeneration. Improving the outcome of sciatic nerve injury is a current research challenge and focus in this field. Based on keyword Burst, nerve conduits and grafts may become a potential research hotspot in the treatment of sciatic nerve injury. Conclusion: This visual analysis summarizes research trends and developments of sciatic nerve injury treatment and predicts potential research frontiers and hot directions.