[Recognition of the membrane anatomy-based laparoscopic assisted right hemicolectomy].

Although it has become a consensus in the field of colorectal surgery to perform radical tumor treatment and functional protection under the minimally invasive concept, there exist many controversies during clinical practice, including the concept of embryonic development of abdominal organs and membrane anatomy, the principle of membrane anatomy related to right hemicolectomy, D3 resection, and identification of the inner boundary. In this paper, we analyzed recently reported literature with high-level evidence and clinical data from the author's hospital to recognize and review the membrane anatomy-based laparoscopic assisted right hemicolectomy for right colon cancer, emphasizing the importance of priority of surgical dissection planes, vascular orientation, and full understanding of the fascial space, and proposing that the surgical planes should be dissected in the parietal-prerenal fascial space, and the incision should be 1 cm from the descending and horizontal part of the duodenum. The surgery should be performed according to a standard procedure with strict quality control. To identify the resection range of D3 dissection, it is necessary to establish a clinical, imaging, and pathological evaluation model for multiple factors or to apply indocyanine green and nano-carbon lymphatic tracer intraoperatively to guide precise lymph node dissection. We expect more high-level evidence of evidence-based medicine to prove the inner boundary of laparoscopic assisted radical right colectomy and a more rigorous consensus to be established.

Modular characteristics and mechanism of action of herbs for vascular calcification treatment in Chinese medicine: a data mining and network pharmacology-based identification.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the modular characteristics and mechanism of action of Chinese herbs for vascular calcification (VC) treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Network pharmacology coupled with literature data mining was utilized to assess the Chinese herbal clinical performance as well as its similarity, characteristics, ingredient, target, and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, and network construction. RESULTS: The top 15 medications from the literature, according to the usage, and 190 active chemicals, 183 common targets between medication and VC-related targets were weeded out. Analysis of the relationships between the active ingredients, pharmacological targets, and signaling pathways helped to clearly define the therapeutic effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Importantly, we discovered seven most hub proteins (AKT1, CTNNB1, TNF, EGFR, TP53, JUN and IL-6) and two of the herbs' most fundamental ingredients (Formononetin and Luteolin) in TCM-mediated VC suppression. Mechanistically, the metabolic pathways [AGE-RAGE pathway, interleukin-17 (IL-17) pathway, and p53 pathway] as well as smooth muscle adaptation (functional remodeling) and oxidoreductase activity (redox homeostasis modulating) are also crucially implicated. CONCLUSIONS: Our work, accomplished by network pharmacology and data mining, increases our understanding of TCM in VC therapy and may offer insightful information for future drug discovery investigations.

[Investigation of ABO and RhD blood groups in childbearing age people in rural areas of Yunnan Province].

The participants in this study were 20-49 years old rural childbearing age people who received the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project (NFPHEP) in Yunnan Province during 2013 to 2019. The proportion of ABO and RhD blood groups among different ethnic groups and different areas were calculated. The proportion of 2 748 131 participants with blood group A phenotype was highest (32.60%), followed by O (30.60%), B (27.33%) and AB (9.47%). In the RhD blood system, the proportion of the RhD positivity (RhD+) and RhD negativity (RhD-) group were 99.29% and 0.71% respectively. The proportions blood groups were significantly different among ethnic groups and areas (all P<0.001). Among 18 ethnic groups with more than 3 000 participants, Yao (42.75%), Bouyei (40.58%) and Dai (40.37%) ethnic groups had higher proportion of blood group O phenotype than other ethnic groups. Wa ethnic groups had highest proportion of the A (40.15%) and AB phenotypes (11.23%). Miao ethnic group (34.70%) and Lahu ethnic group (34.42%) had higher proportion of blood group B phenotype than other ethnic groups. Wa ethnic group had the highest proportion of RhD-group (1.88%). In all 16 prefectures of Yunnan, the proportion of blood group O phenotype was highest in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture (40.27%). Baoshan city (36.39%), Lincang city (36.22%) and Dali Bai autonomous prefecture (36.06%) had higher proportion of blood group A phenotype than other regions. Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (30.83%) and Qujing city (30.48%) had higher proportion of blood group B phenotype than other areas, while Zhaotong city had a highest proportion of blood group AB phenotype (11.19%). The proportion of RhD-group was highest in Honghe hani and Yi nationality autonomous prefecture(1.37%). The A RhD+(39.36%), A RhD-(0.78%), AB RhD+(11.03%), AB RhD-(0.20%) and O RhD-(0.48%) blood groups were higher proportion in Wa ethnic group than in other ethnic groups (P<0.001).

[Investigation and analysis on the detection of IgG antibodies against the rubella virus among rural childbearing-age women in preconception period in Yunnan Province from 2013 to 2019].

A study was conducted on rural women of childbearing age aged 20-49 who underwent the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project (NFPHEP)in Yunnan Province from 2013 to 2019. Descriptive analysis was conducted to determine the negative rate of IgG antibodies against the rubella virus and its differences among various socio-demographic characteristics. Among the 1 511 203 study subjects, the negative rate of IgG antibodies against the rubella virus was 24.36%. Only 2.64% of the population had received rubella virus vaccine. The negative rate of IgG antibodies among rural childbearing-age women in the preconception period in Yunnan Province decreased with age and educational level (Ptrend<0.001). The negative rate of IgG antibodies in ethnic minority women of childbearing age in the preconception period (25.19%) was higher than that of Han women (23.88%). Among the 22 ethnic groups with over 1 000 participants, the negative rates of IgG antibodies in women of childbearing age from the Blang (32.85%), Bouyei (31.03%), Zhuang (31.01%), and Miao (30.70%) ethnic groups were higher than those of women from other ethnic groups. Among the 16 states (cities) in Yunnan Province, the negative rate of IgG antibodies in pregnant women of childbearing age in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture (38.06%) and Lincang City (32.63%) was higher than that in other states (cities). The negative rate of serum IgG antibodies in women who reported having received rubella virus vaccine (18.60%) was lower than that in other non-vaccinated populations (24.52%). The proportion of rural women of childbearing age in Yunnan Province who were susceptible to the rubella virus before pregnancy was still high. It is necessary to promote rubella vaccination among people susceptible to rubella, especially pregnant women, to prevent rubella virus infection and reduce the incidence rate and disease burden of rubella people.

[A nationalsurveyandresults analysisof seizure prophylaxis after aneurismal subarachnoid hemorrhage].

Investigate theclinical practice of seizure prophylaxis after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in Chinese neurosurgeons.Aquestionnaire for this theme was designed and was sent to respondents through the internet.From July 2021 to October 2021, atotal of forty-three eligible questionnaires were collected. All responders come from affiliated hospitals of medical schools in China. Each of these hospitals admitted more than one hundred patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage per year. Only 9.3% (4/43) of responders disagree with the prophylactic use of anticonvulsants. 86.04% (37/43) of responders perform seizure prophylaxis in clinical practice. Sodium valproate is the most commonly used regimen; 94.59% (35/37) of responders who perform prophylaxis chose this drug. The medication period differs sharply fromlessthan 3 daystolongerthan 14 daysamong different hospitals. The use of EEG was insufficient in Chinese patients. A low seizure rate was reported according to the feedback from Chinese neurosurgeons.In China, seizure prophylaxis after subarachnoid hemorrhage was not yet standardized. Clinicians' mastery of relevant knowledge is still not enough. Carrying out high-quality clinical research can help justify the use of anticonvulsants, which could also positively impact rational drug use.

[Screening and analysis of Treponema pallidum specific antibody among childbearing age people in rural areas of Yunnan province, 2013-2017].

Objective: To determine the prevalence, epidemiological characteristics, and related factors of syphilis infection among rural childbearing age people to promote medical interventions on pre-pregnancy aristogenesis and syphilis infection in Yunnan province. Methods: The subjects in this study were 18-49-year-old rural couples of childbearing age from the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project in Yunnan province during 2013-2017. The descriptive study was carried out to determine the positive rate of Treponema pallidum specific antibody (TPsAb) and related sociodemographic characteristics. Results: The overall positive rate of TPsAb was 0.38% (8 204/2 160 455) in 2 160 455 rural childbearing age people in Yunnan. The positive rate of TPsAb was 0.39% (4 019/1 040 981) in men,higher than that in women (0.37%,4 185/1 119 474). The positive rate of TPsAb was highest in the age group 45-49 years (0.70%,158/22 511). The positive rate of TP antibody in the minority ethnic groups and Han ethnic groups appeared the same (0.38%). However,the highest positive rate of TPsAb was 0.77% (461/60 153) in Hani ethnic group among all the 17 minority ethnic groups. People with education level of primary education had the highest anti-TP positive rate (0.54%,2 327/431 275). The positive rate of TPsAb appeared the highest in Zhaotong (0.73%, 2 049/281 614) area among all the 16 prefectures of the province. The positive rate of TPsAb in the population from the impoverished regions (0.50%,2 963/590 039) was higher than in other disadvantaged areas (0.34%, 3 115/929 368) or areas with average income (0.33%,2 126/641 048). Significant differences appeared in the positive rate of TPsAb among populations of different ages, ethnic, education level, and economic level groups (trend χ2 test, P<0.001). Conclusions: The positive rate of TP antibody in rural childbearing age people in Yunnan was related to multi factors,including sex,age,ethnic group,education level,area, residence, and local economic situation. The positive rate of TPsAb was higher in men than in women. And people with elder age, lower education level, being Hani or Lahu ethnic group, and Zhaotong areas had higher TPsAb positive rates and higher syphilis infection risk.

Conversion efficiency of multi-keV L-shell-band X-ray emission.

This study explored the influence of foil thickness, laser pulse width, and laser intensity to optimize the multi-keV X-ray conversion efficiency of a sandwiched (CH/Sn/CH) planar target under laser irradiation at the Shenguang II laser facility. The X-ray photon field values were measured using a set of elliptically bent crystal spectrometers and the conversion efficiencies (ξx) of photon energies were in the range of 3.7-4.3 keV. The experimental results indicate that the X-ray yields of 3.7 to 4.3 keV radiation strongly depend on the laser pulse width, target thickness, and laser intensity. The results also demonstrate that three-layer thin foils can provide an efficient multi-keV X-ray source because they can change the distribution of emitted multi-keV X-rays and target dynamics versus nanosecond laser pulses to produce large, hot, and underdense plasma. However, the underdense plasma produced as a rarefaction wave causes the overdense plasma generated by the laser pulse to expand. Therefore, the laser parameters and foil thickness must be carefully optimized to produce an efficient 3.7 to 4.3 keV X-ray source. Otherwise, the rarefaction waves from both sides of the thin foil may suppress multi-keV X-ray emission. This study represents an important advancement in the development of an efficient multi-keV L-shell-band X-ray source.

[Application of superficial inferior epigastric artery flaps to repair oral and maxillofacial defects with the aid of digital three-dimensional reconstruction technique].

Objective: To explore the application value of digital three-dimensional(3D) reconstruction technology in the repair of oral and maxillofacial defects with superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) flap. Methods: Twelve cases of oral cancer patients, including 8 males and 4 females; aged (57.4±12.6) years, were selected from the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College from January 2018 to October 2019 and were proposed to repair with SIEA flap. There were 10 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, one case of adenoid cystic carcinoma and 1 case of mucinous epidermal carcinoma. The data were imported into AW4.7 software for post-processing. The left or right dominant donor area was selected to clarify the origin, diameter, alignment, and location of penetration point of the flap blood supply, and digital 3D reconstruction technology was used to guide the flap preoperative design. Results: Eleven cases were repaired by SIEA flap in 12 patients, one case was repaired by superficial iliac artery flap because the source artery was undiscovered, one case had venous vascular crisis after surgery, and the rest of the flap survived. In 11 patients repaired with SIEA flap, there was no significant difference between the preoperative SIEA diameter measured by CTA [(1.0±0.3) mm] and the actual measured value [(1.1±0.3) mm] (P>0.05). The follow-up was 6 to 12 months, with an average of 10 months, and the donor-receiver areas were all healed in phase Ⅰ. No obvious complications occurred, and the abdominal scar was hidden. Conclusions: In the SIEA flap repair oral and maxillofacial defect reconstruction surgery, the use of digital 3D reconstruction technology can objectively reflect the diameter and the location of the superficial artery of the abdominal wall before surgery, effectively reduce the difficulty and risk of flap surgery.

[Study on the hydrodynamic mechanisms of the radial arterial blood pressure variation in response to arm elevation].

Objective: To analyze the mechanism of invasive blood pressure change in radial artery caused by arm elevation by observing pressure, velocity and diameter of radial artery. Methods: Twenty-six hemodynamically stable hepatobiliary surgery patients admitted to the intensive care unit from June to December 2018 after general anesthesia in Tsinghua Changgung Hospital were selected. When the arm was raised, the invasive blood pressure was recorded, and the inner diameter and blood flow velocity of the radial artery were measured by Doppler ultrasound. The data following a normal distribution were compared with paired t test. Results: After arm elevation for 30 s, systolic blood pressure of radial artery decreased and diastolic blood pressure increased significantly((107±16) mmHg vs (120±17) mmHg, (75±6) mmHg vs (71±9) mmHg, t=25.0, -12.6, both P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in mean arterial pressure ((87±10) mmHg vs (87±11) mmHg, t=1.1, P>0.05). The peak velocity, end-diastolic velocity and resistance index of the radial artery increased significantly, and the transverse and longitudinal inner diameters of the radial artery decreased significantly after the arm was elevated for 30 s (t=-63.4, -14.6, -22.5, 31.4, 25.3, all P<0.01). Conclusions: Kinetic pressure compensation and vascular resistance compensation may be the main mechanism of radial artery pressure change when the arm is elevated. Arm elevation can be used as a vascular resistance response test clinically.

[Analysis of HBsAg screening among rural childbearing age people in Yunnan province during 2013-2017].

Objective: To explore the current status of HBV infection before pregnancy among rural childbearing age people in Yunnan province, find out the population at high risk and areas with high incidence and provide evidence for promoting pre-pregnancy aristogenesis and medical interventions for prevention of HBV infection. Methods: The subjects in the study were rural childbearing age people aged 18-49 who received the national free pre pregnancy eugenic health examination in Yunnan province during 2013-2017. Descriptive analysis was conducted for HBsAg positive rate and its difference among various characteristics. The SPSS 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 2 180 841 rural childbearing age people were surveyed, the HBsAg positive rate before pregnancy was 3.13%(68 314/2 180 841) in Yunnan. And the HBsAg positive rate was 3.56% (37 694/1 057 376) in men, higher than that in women (2.73%, 30 620/1 123 465). The HBsAg positive rate was highest in age group 41-49 years (3.77%, 3 126/82 931). The HBsAg positive rate was higher in minority ethnic group (3.77%, 27 974/742 518) than in Han ethnicity group (2.81%, 40 024/1 425 870). Moreover, the highest HBsAg positive rate of was 8.20%(851/10 378) in Yao ethnic group. The people with education level of primary education had the highest HBsAg positive rate (3.97%, 17 294/435 219). The HBsAg positive rate was highest in Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture (6.65%, 3 875/58 232) in Yunnan. Moreover, the HBsAg positive population in severe poor area (3.32%, 19 755/595 665) was higher than those in less poor area (3.17%, 29 750/939 101) or normal areas (2.91%, 18 809/646 075). There was significant difference in HBsAg positive rate among populations in different age groups, ethnic groups, education level groups, areas and economic level groups (P<0.001). Conclusions: The HBsAg positive rate in rural childbearing age people in Yunnan was related to multi factors, including sex, age, ethnic group, education level, area and economic development level. The HBsAg positive rate was higher in men, older age and lower education level, minority ethnic group (especially in Yao ethnic group), from Xishuangbanna prefecture and the poor living conditions in childbearing age population.

[Mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes / myoclonus epilepsy with ragged-red fibers /Leigh overlap syndrome caused by mitochondrial DNA 8344A>G mutation].

OBJECTIVE: Mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (mtDNA) 8344 A>G (m.8344A>G) mutation is the common mutation associated with mitochondrial myoclonus epilepsy with ragged-red fibers (MERRF) syndrome. Herein we report a rare case with mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes/MERRF/Leigh (MELAS/MERRF/Leigh) overlap syndrome caused by m.8344A>G mutation. METHODS: The clinical and imaging data of the patient were collected and an open muscle biopsy was carried out. We further employed molecular genetic analyses to detect mtDNA mutation in the proband and his mother. And then a clinical and neuroimaging follow-up was performed. RESULTS: This patient was a 25-year-old male, who developed exercise intolerance since the age of 6. At age 10, he suffered from acute episodes of hemianopia, and cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed occipital stroke-like lesions and cranial magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) revealed a lactate peak corresponding to the lesion. After that the patient presented slowly progressive psychomotor decline. He had myoclonic seizures and cerebellar ataxia since the age of 12. At age 21, he was admitted to our hospital because of confusion and cranial MRI revealed symmetrical lesions in bilateral posterior putamen, thalami and midbrain. Then repeated MRI showed progression of original lesions and new frontal multiple stroke-like lesions. Symptomatic and rehabilitation treatment relieved his condition. Follow-up cranial MRI at age 24 showed the lesions in basal ganglia and thalami diminished, and the midbrain lesions even completely vanished. Muscle pathology indicated the presence of numerous scattered ragged-red fibers (RRF), suggestive of a mitochondrial disorder. Polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) detected the m.8344A>G mutation of the MT-TK gene encoding mitochondrial transfer RNA for lysine in the patient's blood. Next generation sequencing (NGS) of the whole mitochondrial genome identified that the proportion of m.8344A>G was 90%, and no other mtDNA mutation was detected. Sanger sequencing further identified this mutation both in the proband and his mother's blood, although the mutation load was much lower in his mother's blood with approximately 10% heteroplasmy. CONCLUSION: The present study is the first to describe a patient with m.8344A>G mutation in association with the MELAS/MERRF/Leigh overlap syndrome, which expands the phenotypic spectrum of the m.8344A>G mutation.

Critical properties of the two-dimensional q-state clock model.

We perform the state-of-the-art tensor network simulations directly in the thermodynamic limit to clarify the critical properties of the q-state clock model on the square lattice. We determine accurately the two phase transition temperatures through the singularity of the classical analog of the entanglement entropy, and provide extensive numerical evidences to show that both transitions are of the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) type for q≥5 and that the low-energy physics of this model is well described by the Z_{q}-deformed sine-Gordon theory. We also determine the characteristic conformal parameters, especially the compactification radius, that govern the critical properties of the intermediate BKT phase.

Identification of Vibrio alginolyticus virulent strain-specific DNA regions by suppression subtractive hybridization and PCR.

AIMS: Vibrio alginolyticus was frequently isolated from diseased farmed fish in the coaster waters of Hainan Island over the past two decades. In this study, we attempted to identify candidates of virulent strain-specific DNA regions for this pathogen. METHODS AND RESULTS: Suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) and PCR were successively performed between the typical virulent strain and avirulent strain of V. alginolyticus, in which they shared 99·54% homology of 16S rDNAs. Out of 2873 subtracted clones, nine clones were finally indicated to harbour virulent strain-specific DNA fragments. The receivable functions of the major fragments in the nine clones were believed to encode methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein (n = 1), type VI secretion system-associated FHA domain protein TagH (n = 1), diguanylate cyclase (n = 1), AraC family transcriptional regulator (n = 1), ABC-type uncharacterized transport system permease component (n = 1) and hypothetical proteins (n = 4). Two hypothetical proteins contain several disordered regions. CONCLUSIONS: Some specific DNA regions existed in the virulent strain of V. alginolyticus, and the SSH assay could be a highly sensitive method for identifying virulent regions in pathogens. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This report is the first to describe the identification of virulent strain-specific DNA regions in the V. alginolyticus genome, which is helpful in developing virulent strain-specific rapid detection methods and is a pivotal precondition for clarifying the molecular virulence mechanism of V. alginolyticus.

[Risk factors of postoperative acute kidney injury and the impact on outcome in non-senile patients undergoing cardiac valvular surgery].

Objective: To investigate the risk factors of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients aged between 40 and 50 years old undergoing cardiac valvular surgery and the impact on outcome. Methods: The clinical data of 286 patients aged between 40 and 50 years old undergoing cardiac valve surgery in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from January 2012 to December 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. Preoperative coronary angiography was performed in all patients. All patients enrolled were divided into AKI group and non-AKI group according to the existence or not of postoperative AKI. Patients with AKI were further divided into AKI stage 1, stage 2, and stage 3 groups according to KDIGO guideline. Demographic characteristics, preoperative clinical data including serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate, hemoglobin, uric acid, urinary protein, presence or absence of chronic kidney disease, left ventricular ejection fraction, pulmonary artery pressure, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, preoperative co-morbidity (hypertension, diabetes, anemia, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral artery disease), preoperative medication(vasoactive drugs, diuretic, renin-angiotensin system inhibitor (RASI), surgical data (contrast dosage in coronary angiography, type of cardiac valve surgery) were recorded and analyzed in this retrospective study. The risk factors for postoperative AKI and its impact on clinical outcomes (mortality, hospitalization expenses and Intensive Care Unit stay duration) were evaluated. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors for postoperative AKI and the adjusted variables with P<0.2 were selected for the multivariate logistic regression analysis to define the independent determinants for AKI. Results: AKI was defined in 106 out of 286 enrolled patients, including 96 patients with AKI stage 1, 10 patients with AKI stage 2 and no patients with AKI stage 3. The proportion of coexisting cerebrovascular diseases was higher in AKI group than in non-AKI group (9(8.49%) and 5(2.78%), χ(2)=4.677, P=0.031), while there was no difference among other baseline data between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative complications of cerebral vascular disease was an independent risk factor of postoperative AKI (OR=3.578, 95%CI 1.139-11.242, P=0.029). Five out of 106 AKI patients died during hospitalization while there was only 1 patient died among 180 patients without AKI. Patients with AKI after cardiac valve operation experienced higher mortality than patients without AKI (χ(2)=5.625, P=0.028). Further analysis showed that there was no difference in hospitalization mortality between patients with AKI stage 2 and stage (χ(2)=0.686, P=0.408) while the hospitalization mortality in patients with AKI stage 2 was higher than those without AKI (χ(2)=8.113, P=0.004). The hospitalization expenses in patients with AKI were 10.38(8.59,12.54) ×10(4) RMB, significantly higher than that in patients without AKI (9.72(8.03,11.93) ×10(4) RMB)(P=0.043). There was no difference in hospitalization expenses between patients with AKI stage 1 and without AKI (P=0.635). The hospitalization expenses in patients with AKI stage 2 was higher than those without AKI (P=0.023). Intensive Care Unit stay duration in patients with AKI was 3(1,4) days, significantly higher than those without AKI (P=0.044). There was no difference in Intensive Care Unit stay duration in patients with AKI stage 1 and without AKI (P=0.978), while Intensive Care Unit stay duration in patients with AKI stage 2 was significantly longer than those without AKI (P=0.006). Conclusions: Preoperative complications of cerebral vascular disease is an independent risk factor of postoperative AKI. Non-senile patients with AKI after cardiac valvular surgery is associated with a higher proportion of mortality, hospitalization expenses and Intensive Care Unit stay duration as compared patients without postoperative AKI.

Role of flow of information in the speedup of quantum evolution.

Quantum evolution can be accelerated in a non-Markovian environment. Previous results show that the formation of a system-environment bound state governs the quantum speedup. Although a stronger bound state in the system-environment spectrum may seem like it should cause greater speed of evolution, this seemingly intuitive thinking may not always be correct. We illustrate this by investigating a classical-driven qubit interacting with a photonic crystal waveguide in the presence of a mirror, resulting in non-Markovian dynamics for the system. Within the considered model, we show the influence of the mirror and the classical field on the evolution speed of the system. In particular, we find that the formation of a bound state is not the essential reason for the acceleration of evolution. The quantum speedup is attributed to the flow of information, regardless of the direction in which the information flows. Our conclusion can also be used in other non-Markovian environments.

Elliptically bent crystal x-ray spectrometer for time-resolved laser plasma experiments.

Measuring time-resolved spectra is crucial in inertial confinement fusion and radiation source development experiments. An elliptically bent crystal spectrometer is designed to measure X-rays in the range of 2.5-11.0 keV, which was achieved using four different lattice spacings of 0.8512, 0.6687, 0.4246, and 0.2749 nm with spectral resolution E/δE of ∼500. The X-rays emitted from a source at one focus of the ellipse undergo Bragg reflection off a crystal and pass through the second focus of the ellipse to a streak camera slit with 18-mm length and 80-µm width to generate a time-resolved spectrum. An alignment method for the time-resolved spectrometer was developed with the straight line connecting the centers of the two small holes on the fabricated substrate being the axis of the ellipse, thus allowing the spacing between the source and the elliptical crystal to be tuned to couple with the streak camera. The time-resolved spectrometer's performance was experimentally tested at the Shenguang II laser facility. The results indicate that its performance is close to that predicted theoretically.

The embryonic and evolutionary boundaries between notochord and cartilage: a new look at nucleus pulposus-specific markers.

The adult nucleus pulposus (NP) and articular cartilage are similar in terms of their histocytological components and biomechanical functionalities, requiring a deep understanding of NP-specific markers to better evaluate stem-cell-based NP regeneration. Here, we seek to distinguish NP cells from articular chondrocytes (ACs), focusing on differences in their embryonic formation and evolutionary origin. Embryonically, NP cells are conservatively derived from the axial notochord, whereas ACs originate in a diversified manner from paraxial mesoderm and neural crest cells. Evolutionarily, although the origins of vertebrate NP and AC cells can be traced to similar structures within protostomia-like bilaterian ancestors, the distant phylogenetic relationship between the two groups of animals and the differences in the bodily origins of the tissues suggest that the tissues may in fact have undergone parallel evolution within the protostomia and deuterostomia. The numbers of supposedly NP-specific markers are increasing gradually as microarray studies proceed, but no final consensus has been attained on the specificity and physiology of "exclusive" NP markers because of innate variations among species; intrinsic expression of genes that destabilize the circadian clock; and cooperation by, and crosstalk among, different genes in terms of physiology-related phenotypes. We highlight the embryonic and evolutionary boundaries between NP and AC cells, to aid in recognition of the challenges associated with evaluation of the role played by nucleopulpogenic differentiation during stem-cell-based intervertebral disc regeneration.

[Preliminary study of the arm equilibrium pressure to predict the effect of fluid challenge on urine output in oliguric intensive care unit patients].

Objective: To evaluate whether arm equilibrium pressure (Parm) is helpful to predict the effect of fluid load in improving oliguria in intensive care unit(ICU) patients. Methods: Hemodynamically stable patients [mean artery pressure (MAP)>65 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), heart rate (HR)<120 beats/min, lactic acid<2 mmol/L] with urine output (UO)<0.5 ml·kg(-1)·h(-1) for 3 consecutive hours were enrolled. The fluid loading was performed by infusion of ringer's lactate 500 ml within 30 minute after baseline hemodynamic data were recorded. The positive renal response was defined as UO increased more than 0.5 ml·kg(-1)·h(-1) 1 hour after fluid challenge, otherwise was negative. Results: A total of 30 oliguric ICU patients were enrolled including 17 males and 13 females with median age (54.2±16.3) years. After fluid load, patients' HR decreased[(84±13)beat/min vs. (80±10) beat/min, P<0.01], central venous pressure (CVP) increased[(7.0±2.4)mmHg vs. (8.8±2.6) mmHg, P<0.01], 30s Parm [(33.4±5.3) mmHg vs. (35.4±5.8) mmHg, P<0.01] and 60s Parm [(26.9±4.5) mmHg vs. (28.7±5.0) mmHg, P<0.01] increased, and UO [(18.5±8.8)ml/h vs. (64.1±38.3)ml/h, P<0.01] increased significantly, while MAP and lactic acid did not change (P>0.05). There were eighteen renal responders and 12 patients did not response. In responding group, MAP[(78.1±10.7) mmHg vs. (91.2±11.7) mmHg, P<0.01], 30s Parm[(30.4±3.8) mmHg vs. (38.0±3.7) mmHg, P<0.01] and 60s Parm [(24.3±2.5) mmHg vs. (30.8±4.0) mmHg, P<0.01] before fluid load were lower than those in negative group. HR, CVP, lactic acid, age and body weight were comparable between two groups (P>0.05). After volume loading, MAP, 30s and 60s Parm in positive group were still lower than those in negative group (P<0.05), while HR, CVP and lactic acid were similar (P>0.05). Correlation analysis showed that baseline 30s Parm (r=-0.75, P<0.01), 60s Parm (r=-0.69, P<0.01), and MAP (r=-0.46, P<0.05) were negatively correlated with 1 h UO after fluid load, but HR and CVP were not (P>0.05). The receiver operating curve (ROC) showed that 30s Parm had the largest area under curve (AUC) of 0.94 (95% CI 0.84-1.05, P<0.01), which 35.5 mmHg was the best threshold with sensitivity 94.4% and specificity 91.7%(likelihood ratio 11.37). Conclusion: In hemodynamically stable oliguric ICU patients, if Parm is lower than normal reference value, volume expansion is more likely to increase UO. Thus Parm can be used to predict the effect of fluid loadon UO.

[Experts consensus on the management of the right heart function in critically ill patients].

To establish the experts consensus on the right heart function management in critically ill patients. The panel of consensus was composed of 30 experts in critical care medicine who are all members of Critical Hemodynamic Therapy Collaboration Group (CHTC Group). Each statement was assessed based on the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) principle. Then the Delphi method was adopted by 52 experts to reassess all the statements. (1) Right heart function is prone to be affected in critically illness, which will result in a auto-exaggerated vicious cycle. (2) Right heart function management is a key step of the hemodynamic therapy in critically ill patients. (3) Fluid resuscitation means the process of fluid therapy through rapid adjustment of intravascular volume aiming to improve tissue perfusion. Reversed fluid resuscitation means reducing volume. (4) The right ventricle afterload should be taken into consideration when using stroke volume variation (SVV) or pulse pressure variation (PPV) to assess fluid responsiveness.(5)Volume overload alone could lead to septal displacement and damage the diastolic function of the left ventricle. (6) The Starling curve of the right ventricle is not the same as the one applied to the left ventricle,the judgement of the different states for the right ventricle is the key of volume management. (7) The alteration of right heart function has its own characteristics, volume assessment and adjustment is an important part of the treatment of right ventricular dysfunction (8) Right ventricular enlargement is the prerequisite for increased cardiac output during reversed fluid resuscitation; Nonetheless, right heart enlargement does not mandate reversed fluid resuscitation.(9)Increased pulmonary vascular resistance induced by a variety of factors could affect right heart function by obstructing the blood flow. (10) When pulmonary hypertension was detected in clinical scenario, the differentiation of critical care-related pulmonary hypertension should be a priority. (11) Attention should be paid to the change of right heart function before and after implementation of mechanical ventilation and adjustment of ventilator parameter. (12) The pulmonary arterial pressure should be monitored timingly when dealing with critical care-related pulmonary hypertension accompanied with circulatory failure.(13) The elevation of pulmonary aterial pressure should be taken into account in critical patients with acute right heart dysfunction. (14) Prone position ventilation is an important measure to reduce pulmonary vascular resistance when treating acute respiratory distress syndrome patients accompanied with acute cor pulmonale. (15) Attention should be paid to right ventricle-pulmonary artery coupling during the management of right heart function. (16) Right ventricular diastolic function is more prone to be affected in critically ill patients, the application of critical ultrasound is more conducive to quantitative assessment of right ventricular diastolic function. (17) As one of the parameters to assess the filling pressure of right heart, central venous pressure can be used to assess right heart diastolic function. (18). The early and prominent manifestation of non-focal cardiac tamponade is right ventricular diastolic involvement, the elevated right atrial pressure should be noticed. (19) The effect of increased intrathoracic pressure on right heart diastolic function should be valued. (20) Ttricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) is an important parameter that reflects right ventricular systolic function, and it is recommended as a general indicator of critically ill patient. (21) Circulation management with right heart protection as the core strategy is the key point of the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome. (22) Right heart function involvement after cardiac surgery is very common and should be highly valued. (23) Right ventricular dysfunction should not be considered as a routine excuse for maintaining higher central venous pressure. (24) When left ventricular dilation, attention should be paid to the effect of left ventricle on right ventricular diastolic function. (25) The impact of left ventricular function should be excluded when the contractility of the right ventricle is decreased. (26) When the right heart load increases acutely, the shunt between the left and right heart should be monitored. (27) Attention should be paid to the increase of central venous pressure caused by right ventricular dysfunction and its influence on microcirculation blood flow. (28) When the vasoactive drugs was used to reduce the pressure of pulmonary circulation, different effects on pulmonary and systemic circulation should be evaluated. (29) Right atrial pressure is an important factor affecting venous return. Attention should be paid to the influence of the pressure composition of the right atrium on the venous return. (30) Attention should be paid to the role of the right ventricle in the acute pulmonary edema. (31) Monitoring the difference between the mean systemic filling pressure and the right atrial pressure is helpful to determine whether the infusion increases the venous return. (32) Venous return resistance is often considered to be a insignificant factor that affects venous return, but attention should be paid to the effect of the specific pathophysiological status, such as intrathoracic hypertension, intra-abdominal hypertension and so on. Consensus can promote right heart function management in critically ill patients, optimize hemodynamic therapy, and even affect prognosis.