Research on the relation between hydro-chemical and geological characteristics in karst area: Case study in Zhong Liang Mountain, Southwest China.

Karst groundwater, which is one of most important drinking water sources, is vulnerable to be polluted as its closed hydraulic relation with surface water. Thus, it is very important to identify the groundwater source to control groundwater pollution. The Pearson correlation coefficient among major ions (Na + K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3 -, SO4 2-, and Cl-) was employed to deduce the groundwater types in Zhong Liang Mountain, Southwest China. Then, the combined method of principal component analysis and cluster analysis were employed to identify the groundwater sources in a typical karst region of southwest China. The results shown that (1) the high positive correlation between cations and anions indicated the water-rock reaction of Ca-HCO3, Ca-SO4, (Na + K)-Cl, and Mg-SO4. (2) The major two principal components that would represent water-rock reaction of CaSO4 and Ca-HCO3 would, respectively, explain 60.41% and 31.80% of groundwater information. (3) Based on the two principal components, 33 groundwater samples were clustered into eight groups through hierarchical clustering, each group has similar water-rock reaction. The findings would be employed to forecast the surge water, that was an important work for tunnel construction and operation. PRACTITIONER POINTS: The components of groundwater was highly correlated with water-rock reaction. The principal component analysis screens the types of groundwater. The cluster analysis identifies the groundwater sources.

Plasticity in moth mating behavior and ejaculate proteomic diversity induced by male competition.

In male competition, large and costly ejaculates are advantageous. Prior research on male accessory gland secretions in Plutella xylostella left open questions about how males modulate their mating behaviors and ejaculate composition allocation in response to varying levels of competition. The current study aimed to delve deeper into these unexplored facets. A totally of 928 ejaculate proteins were identified across males exposed to different competition conditions. Notably, males courting under non-, low-, and high-competition scenarios exhibited 867, 635, and 858 ejaculate proteins, respectively. Approximately 10% of these ejaculate proteins displayed variations that aligned with changes in competition intensity. Subsequent analyses focused on the proteins transferred to females, revealing that 44% of ejaculate proteins were transferred, with 37 proteins exhibiting differential expression. Functional analyses uncovered their crucial roles in sperm maturation, motility, and capacitation. Our findings reveal adaptive adjustments in ejaculate protein abundance and transmission in P. xylostella as a response to varying competition levels. Moreover, fluorescent sperm labeling indicated higher sperm transfer during low competition correlated with shorter sperm length. Furthermore, evidence suggests that males shorten their courtship duration and extend their mating duration when faced with competition. These results illustrate how competition drives ejaculate investment and behavioral plasticity, offering valuable insights for advancements in assisted reproductive technologies and pest management strategies.

Biopolymer­carbonaceous composites, progress, and adsorptive mitigation of water pollutants.

Chitin is the second most abundant natural biopolymer, which is composed of N-acetyl glucosamine units linked by ß-(1 â†’ 4) Chitosan is an N-deacetylated product of chitin. Properties of chitosan and chitin, such as biocompatibility, non-toxic nature, and biodegradability, make them successful alternatives for energy and environmental applications. However, their low mechanical properties, small surface area, reduced thermal properties, and greater pore volume restrict the potential for adsorption applications. Multiple investigations have demonstrated that these flaws can be prevented by fabricating chitosan and chitin with carbon-based composites. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of the fabrication of chitosan/chitin carbon-based materials. Furthermore, this review examines the prevalent technologies of functionalizing chitosan/chitin biopolymers and applications of chitin and chitosan as well as chitosan/chitin carbon-based composites, in various environmental fields (mitigating diverse water contaminants and developing biosensors). Also, the subsequent regeneration and reuse of adsorbents were also discussed. Finally, we summarize a concise overview of the difficulties and potential opportunities associated with the utilization of chitosan/chitin carbon-based composites as adsorbents to remove water contaminants.

Safety and efficacy of minimal transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a preferred treatment for patients with highly critical aortic stenosis (AS), which is a difficult and complicated procedure, leaving a heavy economical burden on patients and national health insurance. Minimalist TAVR can simplify a part of the operation procedures, but the surgical efficacy and safety are still under debated. OBJECTIVES: Explore the effectiveness and safety of minimalist TAVR in the treatment of patients with aortic stenosis. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases was conducted for studies involving application of minimalist TAVR in patients with severe aortic stenosis, two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data and Meta-analysis was performed using STATA 16.0 software. RESULTS: Nine studies, involving a total of 3,148 AS patients, were included. Minimalist TAVR has similar surgical success rates compared to standardized TAVR, intraoperative fluoroscopy time, dosage of contrast agent, and total operative time were superior to standard TAVR. Regarding surgical complications, the incidence of permanent pacemaker placement and moderate to severe paravalvular leakage were similar for both TAVR, the risk of major vascular complications and major bleeding events in the minimalist TAVR was significantly lower than the standard TAVR. The risk of overall death, stroke, and cardiovascular-related readmission within 30 days was similar in both procedures. CONCLUSION: Patients with severe aortic stenosis treated with minimalist TAVR have similar short-term efficacy as well as 30-day clinical outcomes to standard TAVR, while minimalist TAVR could reduce the risk of major vascular complications and bleeding complications.

Immunomodulation in allergic rhinitis: Insights from Th2 cells and NLRP3/IL-18 pathway.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is characterized by nasal symptoms such as rubbing and sneezing, often triggered by allergen exposure. The purpose of this study is to dissect the roles of NLRP3-mediated immune modulation and macrophage pyroptosis in modulating T cell differentiation within the context of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AR in mice. OVA-induced AR was established in mice, evaluating nasal symptoms, macrophage infiltration, cytokine levels, and T cell differentiation. Manipulations using NLRP3-/-, ASC-/- mice, clodronate liposome treatment, and NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 were performed to assess their impact on AR symptoms and immune responses. Following OVA stimulation, increased nasal symptoms were observed in the OVA group along with augmented GATA3 expression and elevated IL-4 and IL-1b levels, indicative of Th2 polarization and cellular pyroptosis involvement. NLRP3-/- and ASC-/- mice exhibited reduced CD3+ T cells post OVA induction, implicating cellular pyroptosis in AR. Macrophage depletion led to decreased IgE levels, highlighting their involvement in allergic responses. Further investigations revealed enhanced macrophage pyroptosis, influencing Th1/Th2 differentiation in AR models. IL-18 released through NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis induced Th2 differentiation, distinct from IL-1b. Additionally, MCC950 effectively mitigated AR symptoms by modulating Th2 responses and reducing macrophage infiltration. This comprehensive study unravels the pivotal role of NLRP3-mediated immune modulation and macrophage pyroptosis in Th1/Th2 balance regulation in OVA-induced AR. Targeting NLRP3 pathways with MCC950 emerged as a promising strategy to alleviate AR symptoms, providing insights for potential therapeutic interventions in AR management.

Traffic accident duration prediction using multi-mode data and ensemble deep learning.

Predicting the duration of traffic accidents is a critical component of traffic management and emergency response on expressways. Traffic accident information is inherently multi-mode data in terms of data types. However, most existing studies focus on single-mode data, and the influence of multi-mode data on the prediction performances of models has been the subject of only very limited quantitative analysis. The present work addresses these issues by proposing a heterogeneous deep learning architecture employing multi-modal features to improve the accuracy of predictions for traffic accident durations on expressways. Firstly, six unique data modes are obtained based on the structured data and the text data. Secondly, a hybrid deep learning approach is applied to build classification models with reduced prediction error. Finally, a rigorous analysis of the influence for multi-mode data on the accident duration prediction performances is conducted using a variety of deep learning models. The proposed method is evaluated using survey data collected from an expressway monitoring system in Shaanxi Province, China. The experimental results show that Word2Vec-BiGRU-CNN is a suitable and better model using text features for traffic accident duration prediction, as the F1-score is 0.3648. This study confirms that the newly established structured features extracted from text data substantially enhance the prediction effects of deep learning algorithms. However, these new features were a detriment to the prediction effects of conventional machine learning algorithms. Accordingly, these results demonstrate that the processing and extraction of text features is a complex issue in the field of traffic accident duration prediction.

The impact of early in-hospital use of PCSK9 inhibitors on cardiovascular outcomes in acute coronary syndrome patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the safety and assess the cardiovascular impact of early in-hospital administration of PCSK9 inhibitors in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases was conducted for studies involving the use of PCSK9 inhibitors in ACS patients from inception to October 2023. Two independent researchers screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias in the included studies. Meta-analysis was performed using STATA 16.0 software. RESULTS: Nine studies, encompassing a total of 2896 ACS patients, were included in the analysis. When compared to statin monotherapy, early administration of PCSK9 inhibitors during hospitalization for ACS proved effective in reducing the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). This encompassed a decrease in coronary revascularization [Relative Risk (RR) = 0.78, 95% CI (0.62, 0.98), P < 0.05], recurrent ACS [RR = 0.62, 95% CI (0.42, 0.94), P < 0.05], readmissions due to unstable angina [RR = 0.71, 95% CI (0.59, 0.85), P < 0.01], and strokes [RR = 0.31, 95% CI (0.09, 1.04), P = 0.058]. There was no significant difference in the incidence of death between the two groups.The use of PCSK9 inhibitors notably hastened the reduction of LDL-C, TG, and Non HDL-C levels in the short term. Additionally, it increased HDL-C levels and the number of individuals meeting LDL-C compliance criteria. Importantly, the risk of adverse drug events, such as ALT increase >3xULN, allergies, and musculoskeletal pain, did not significantly elevate with PCSK9 inhibitor use. CONCLUSION: The early administration of PCSK9 inhibitors has been found to safely and effectively lower diverse lipid levels in patients with ACS. This reduction is associated with a noteworthy decrease in MACEs, encompassing revascularization, recurrent ACS, and hospital readmissions.

(5R)-5-hydroxytriptolide ameliorates diabetic kidney damage by inhibiting macrophage infiltration and its cross-talk with renal resident cells.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the main cause of end-stage renal disease, and there are no targeted treatment options at present. The efficacy of the new immunosuppressive drug (5R)-5-hydroxytriptolide (LLDT8) in improving kidney inflammation has been demonstrated in multiple studies. The present study was intended to investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects of LLDT8 on DN and to reveal its potential pharmacological mechanisms. METHODS: The effects of LLDT8 on liver and kidney functions, and urine microprotein of Streptozotocin (STZ) induced DN mice were detected. The protective effect of LLDT8 on the kidney tissue was observed by pathological staining and transmission electron microscopy. Cell culture experiments were performed to detect the effects of LLDT8 on the expression of chemokines and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in high glucose-induced TCMK1 cells using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot (WB) techniques and to detect the influence of LLDT8 on the secretion of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic factors in high glucose-induced RAW264.7 cells. RESULTS: In animal experiments, treatment with high-dose LLDT8 (0.25 mg/kg/2d) reduced 24 h urinary albumin excretion, improved structural kidney damage, and delayed fibrosis progression in DN mice. Immunofluorescence results showed that LLDT8 intervention reduced macrophage infiltration in kidney tissues of DN mice. PCR and WB results of kidney tissues showed reduced expressions of chemokines CCL2 and M-CSF1 in the LLDT8 intervention group compared to the DN group. In cellular assays, LLDT8 treatment reduced chemokine secretion in high glucose-induced TCMK1 cells, but had no effect on EMT of TCMK1 cells. LLDT8 treatment reduced the secretion of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic factors in high glucose-induced RAW264.7 cells. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that LLDT8 could effectively inhibit the secretion of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic factors by macrophages, which could alleviate high glucose-induced renal tissue injury and slow down the process of tissue fibrosis and DN.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of small molecule inhibitors of cathepsin L / 药学学报

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute infectious disease caused by the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, which has led to serious worldwide economic burden. Due to the continuous emergence of variants, vaccines and monoclonal antibodies are only partial effective against infections caused by distinct strains of SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, it is still of great importance to call for the development of broad-spectrum and effective small molecule drugs to combat both current and future outbreaks triggered by SARS-CoV-2. Cathepsin L (CatL) cleaves the spike glycoprotein (S) of SARS-CoV-2, playing an indispensable role in enhancing virus entry into host cells. Therefore CatL is one of the ideal targets for the development of pan-coronavirus inhibitor-based drugs. In this study, a CatL enzyme inhibitor screening model was established based on fluorescein labeled substrate. Two CatL inhibitors IMB 6290 and IMB 8014 with low cytotoxicity were obtained through high-throughput screening, the half inhibition concentrations (IC50) of which were 11.53 ± 0.68 and 1.56 ± 1.10 μmol·L-1, respectively. SDS-PAGE and cell-cell fusion experiments confirmed that the compounds inhibited the hydrolysis of S protein by CatL in a concentration-dependent manner. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) detection showed that both compounds exhibited moderate binding affinity with CatL. Molecular docking revealed the binding mode between the compound and the CatL active pocket. The pseudovirus experiment further confirmed the inhibitory effects of IMB 8014 on the S protein mediated entry process. In vitro pharmacokinetic evaluation indicated that the compounds had relatively good drug-likeness properties. Our research suggested that these two compounds have the potential to be further developed as antiviral drugs for COVID-19 treatment.

Association between index finger and ring finger length ratios and polymorphism of homeobox A11 gene locus among Ningxia college students / 解剖学报

Objective To investigate the association between the index finger and ring finger length ratio (2D ∶ 4D) and of four loci (rs6461992‚ rs6968828‚ rs7801581‚ rs17427875) polymorphism of homeobox (HOX) A11 gene among Ningxia college students. Methods Digit camera was used to collect frontal hand photos of 667 Han college students (348 males and 319 females) from Ningxia province; Image analysis software was used to mark the anatomical points and measure finger lengths of the index and ring fingers of both hands; multiplex PCR was used to detect each locus polymorphisms of HOXA11 gene; statistical software was used to compare and analyze the differences and associations of 2D ∶4D and gene polymorphisms between different genders. Results Among Ningxia Han college students‚ both left hand and right hand 2D ∶ 4D were significantly higher in females than those of in males (all P< 0. 05)‚ and there were no significant sex differences in right-left hand 2D ∶4D; the genotypes and allele frequencies of rs7801581 locus of HOXA11 gene differed significantly between genders (all P < 0. 05)‚ and none of the other locus polymorphisms showed any significant sex differences; only female left hand 2D ∶4D was significantly associated with rs6461992 locus genotype in the relationship between 2D ∶4D and HOXA11 polymorphisms (P<0. 05). Conclusion There were significant sex differences in 2D ∶ 4D among Han college students in Ningxia‚ and the rs6461992 locus polymorphism of HOXA11 gene may be associated with the formation of 2D ∶4D in females.

Advances in the study of ω-3 PUFA in heart failure / 中国临床药理学与治疗学

Free fatty acids, as important energy metabolism substrates for the heart, play an important role in various cardiovascular diseases; ω-3 PUFA, as an important branch of free fatty acids, has been confirmed by more and more researches to be closely related to cardiovascular diseases. Heart failure, as a common cardiovascular problem, seriously affects people's quality of life. Studies have shown that ω-3 PUFA plays a significant role in the development of heart failure. In this paper, we try to review the metabolism, pathogenesis and therapeutic significance of ω-3 PUFA in heart failure.

The application of positron emission tomography in the research and development of central nervous system drugs / 中国临床药理学与治疗学

Positron emission tomography (PET) now plays an important role in the research and development (R&D) of central nervous system (CNS) drugs. PET could characterize the biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, and receptor binding of CNS drugs quantitatively. The present review summarized the quantitative methods of PET used in the pharmacokinetics and receptor occupancy analysis of CNS drugs. Moreover, the present review listed various applications of PET supporting R&D of CNS drugs, which could provide a new direction for the R&D of CNS drugs.

Function of Cortactin/N-cadherin signal axis in pathological myocardial hypertrophy / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the regulatory effect of Cortaetin on pathological myocardial hypertrophy induced by isoprenaline (ISO) and the underlying mechanism. Methods ISO was used to stimulate neonatal rat cardiomyocytes for 24 h, and myocardial hypertrophy model was established at the cellular level. C57BL/6 mice were injected subcutaneously with ISO for one week to establish myocardial hypertrophy model at animal level. RT-qPCR was used to detect the changes of mRNA and Western blot was used to detect the changes of relative protein content. Immunofluorescence was used to measure the subcellular location of Cortaetin and the change of its expression. The overex-pression of Cortaetin by adenovirus infection and the knockdown of Cortaetin by transfection of small interfering RNA were studied. Results On the cellular and animal levels, ISO-induced myocardial hypertrophy models were successfully established, and it was observed that ISO caused the decrease of Cortaetin and N-cadherin protein levels. Overexpression of Cortaetin could reverse the decrease of N-cadherin protein level and myocardial hypertrophy caused by ISO. Knockdown of Cortaetin showed the opposite effect. Conclusion Cortaetin, in combination with N-cadherin, may play a role in combating myocardial hypertrophy by enhancing the connections between cardiomyocytes.

Mechanism of ellagic acid improving cognitive dysfunction in APP/PS double transgenic mice based on PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the effect of ellagic acid (EA) on cognitive function in APP/PS 1 double- transgenic mice, and to explore the regulatory mechanism of ellagic acid on the level of oxidative stress in the hippocampus of double-transgenic mice based on the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/glycogen synthase kinase-3 (PI3K/AKT/GSK-3 β) signaling pathway. Methods Thirty-two SPF-grade 6-month-old APP/PS 1 double transgenic mice were randomly divided into four groups, namely, APP/PS 1 group, APP/PS1 + EA group, APP/PS1 + LY294002 group, APP/PS 1 + EA + LY294002 group, with eight mice in each group, and eight SPF-grade C57BL/6J wild type mice ( Wild type) were selected as the blank control group. The APP/PS 1 + EA group was given 50 mg · kg

A Study on the Cultivation Path of Professional Spirit of Medical Students into Ideological and Political Courses in Post-epidemic Era / 中国医学伦理学

In the post-epidemic era, medical workers have more responsibilities and the medical environment is becoming increasingly complex, so more exquisite medical technology and higher-level professionalism are needed. In the post-epidemic era, medical students’ cognition of the value of life itself, their reflection on the ethical relationship between life individuals and their understanding of the ethical relationship between freedom and responsibility make it more significance to strengthen the cultivation of professional spirit. The ideological and political course is the key course to implement the fundamental task of cultivating people with virtue. Integrating the professional principle education of "Life is the highest", highlighting the philosophical thinking education and strengthening the great anti-epidemic spirit education in the ideological and political course is an effective way to cultivate the professionalism of medical students in the post-epidemic era.

The Construction and Improvement of the Protection System for the Rights and Interests of Human Subjects in Trial Institutions from the Ethical Perspective: Taking a Hospital in Anhui Province as an Example / 中国医学伦理学

This paper took a hospital in Anhui province as an example, aimed at the problems existing in the protection of human subjects’ rights and interests in China, and put forward relevant suggestions from the ethical perspective. The suggestions included shaping the international vision, playing the core role of ethics committee, strengthening the construction of legal and regulatory protection mechanism, setting up the human research protection committee and actively promoting the construction of subject protection system. These measures will effectively promote the construction and improvement of the rights and interests protection system of human subjects in China.

Humanistic Care for the Prevention of Perioperative Hypothermia in the Elderly / 中国医学伦理学

The intervention and prevention of perioperative hypothermia is not only reflected in the technical level, but also reveals the important role of humanistic care in the whole intervention work. If perioperative patients have hypothermia, it is likely to cause a series of complications such as postoperative shivering, which seriously threatens the life safety of patients. Prevention and intervention was based on a comprehensive understanding of the causes and hazards of hypothermia, especially the impact on the lives of the elderly. Effective supervision was implemented in the whole process of operation, such as dynamic monitoring of vital signs including body temperature, followed by room temperature regulation, body temperature protection and preoperative and postoperative psychological nursing. At this time, the sense of responsibility, good humanistic care of medical staff are of positive significance to effectively prevent and reduce the probability of perioperative hypothermia and accelerate the postoperative rehabilitation of patients.

Research on the Path of Integrating the Life View of "Human Life is Most Important" in Traditional Chinese Medicine into Medical Ethics Education for Medical Students / 中国医学伦理学

The life view of "human life is the most important" in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) originates from the people-oriented theory of Chinese traditional culture, the benevolence thought of Confucianism, the rebirth thought of Taoism and the compassion thought of Buddhism. Taking the life view of "human life is the most important" as the starting point, it has formed medical ethics thoughts such as the social responsibility of saving the world, the medical practice purpose of treating all patients equally, the meticulous working attitude, the diligent and tireless learning attitude, and the exploration spirit of widely exploring the medical roots, which still has important educational significance. Therefore, the life view of "human life is the most important" should be integrated into the medical ethics education of medical students, and the medical ethics literacy of medical students should be improved through the following ways: strengthen the vocational ideal education of saving the dying and healing the wounded, and enhance the sense of social responsibility of medical students; consolidate the theme of life first classroom education and improve the professional identity of medical students; enrich and innovate the practice forms of protecting life, pay attention to the practicality of medical ethics education.

Research on the Significance and Path of Standardizing Patients’ Obligations from the Perspective of Building the Community of Doctor-patient / 中国医学伦理学

One of the crux of the problem of doctor-patient relationship is the uneven division of rights and obligations between doctors and patients. Among them, it is significantly essential to emphasize the patient’s obligation as a weak point. The reasons cover many aspects. On the one hand, it is of great significance to standardize patient obligations: the definition of patients’ obligations is better health protection for patients; the emphasis on patients’ obligations is the moral support for doctors’ responsibilities; the fulfillment of patients’ obligations promotes the win-win interests of doctors and patients. On the other hand, the current situation of standardizing patients’ obligations is not optimistic: the provisions of patients’ obligations in existing laws and regulations are not ideal; the current ethical discussion on patient obligations also needs to be deepened. Therefore, in order to standardize patients’ obligations, build harmonious doctor-patient relationship and build a community of doctor-patient, this paper put forward specific suggestions from three aspects: improving laws and regulations, standardizing the management of medical institutions and enhancing patients’ literacy.