[Standardization of spirometry updated in China and international: comparison and interpretation of the key updates].

Standardization of spirometry was jointly updated by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) in 2019. Similar technical standards for spirometry recommended by the Chinese Thoracic Society (CTS) and/or the Chinese Association of Chest Physicians (CACP) are widely used in China. We compared the key similarities and differences of these recommendations and interpreted the key updates.

UPLC-MS/MS assay for the simultaneous determination of catecholamines and their metabolites at low pg/mg in rat/mouse striatum.

Catecholamines and their metabolites act as neurotransmitters in the brain and are important for nervous system function. In the current work, a highly selective and sensitive UPLC-MS/MS assay was developed for quantitation of six catecholamines and their metabolites, including dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovanillic acid and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid from rat and mouse striatum as pharmacodynamic biomarkers to support neuroscience and pharmaceutical research. A fit-for-purpose strategy for method development, assay qualification and study support were adopted for this assay.

Effect of PINK1 and Parkin gene silencing on sodium arsenite-induced mitophagy in normal rat liver cells (BRL-3A).

NaAsO-induced liver damage leads to autophagy, which plays an important role in cell quality control. Mitophagy plays an important role in hepatocyte damage, and PINK1 and Parkin constitute an important pathway in mitophagy. PINK1 selectively degrades abnormal mitochondria, and Parkin can recognize damaged mitochondria.

Voice-based control system for smart hospital wards: a pilot study of patient acceptance.

Background: The smart hospital's concept of using the Internet of Things (IoT) to reduce human resources demand has become more popular in the aging society.

Objective: To implement the voice smart care (VSC) system in hospital wards and explore patient acceptance via the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM).

Methods: A structured questionnaire based on TAM was developed and validated as a research tool.

Deep Learning-Based Analytic Models Based on Flow-Volume Curves for Identifying Ventilatory Patterns.

Introduction: Spirometry, a pulmonary function test, is being increasingly applied across healthcare tiers, particularly in primary care settings. According to the guidelines set by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS), identifying normal, obstructive, restrictive, and mixed ventilatory patterns requires spirometry and lung volume assessments. The aim of the present study was to explore the accuracy of deep learning-based analytic models based on flow-volume curves in identifying the ventilatory patterns.

Phosphorylation at Ser 727 Increases STAT3 Interaction with PKC Regulating Neuron-Glia Crosstalk via IL-6-Mediated Hyperalgesia In Vivo and In Vitro.

Methods: A rat hyperalgesia model was induced using an intraplantar injection of Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) or an intrathecal injection of IL-6. Mechanical allodynia was evaluated using von Frey filament tests after intrathecal injections of T-5224 (c-Fos/AP-1 inhibitor), minocycline (Mino, a specific microglia inhibitor), L-2-aminoadipic acid (LAA, an astroglial toxin), PKC inhibitor peptide, APTSTAT3-9R (STAT3 inhibitor), or anti-IL-6 antibody. The c-Fos, GFAP, Iba-1, PKC, STAT3, pSTAT3 and pSTAT3, and IL-6 expression at the spinal cord level was assessed by Western blot analysis.

Correlation Between Previous Caesarean Section and Adverse Maternal Outcomes Accordingly With Robson Classification: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The increasing rates of Caesarean section (CS) beyond the WHO standards (10-15%) pose a significant global health concern. Systematic review and meta-analysis to identify an association between CS history and maternal adverse outcomes for the subsequent pregnancy and delivery among women classified in Robson classification (RC). PubMed/Medline, EbscoHost, ProQuest, Embase, Web of Science, BIOSIS, MEDLINE, and Russian Science Citation Index databases were searched from 2008 to 2018.

Enzymatic Hydrolysis Lignin-Derived Porous Carbons through Ammonia Activation: Activation Mechanism and Charge Storage Mechanism.

The low energy density and low cost performance of electrochemical capacitors (ECs) are the principal factors that limit the wide applications of ECs. In this work, we used enzymatic hydrolysis lignin as the carbon source and an ammonia activation methodology to prepare nitrogen-doped lignin-derived porous carbon (NLPC) electrode materials with high specific surface areas. We elucidated the free radical mechanism of ammonia activation and the relationship between nitrogen doping configurations, doping levels, and preparation temperatures.

Constructing High Efficiency CoZn Mn O Electrocatalyst by Regulating the Electronic Structure and Surface Reconstruction.

It is an effective strategy to develop novel electrocatalysts with controllable defects to enhance their electrocatalytic activity and stability. However, how to precisely design these catalysts on the atom scale remains very difficult. Herein, several vacancy-dependent CoZn Mn O catalysts are prepared through tailoring the concentration of Zn ions.

Dynamic changes of pulmonary diffusion capacity in survivors of non-critical COVID-19 during the first six months.

Background: The dynamic trends of pulmonary function in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors since discharge have been rarely described. We aimed to describe the changes of lung function and identify risk factors for impaired diffusion capacity.

Methods: Non-critical COVID-19 patients admitted to the Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital, China, were enrolled from March to June 2020.

Unequal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric cancer care: a population-based cohort study in China.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had widespread adverse collateral effects on health care delivery for non-COVID-19 disease conditions. Paediatric oncology care is reliant on prompt testing and diagnosis and on timely and coordinated multimodal treatment, all of which have been impacted by the pandemic. This study aimed to quantify the initial and enduring effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the utilization of paediatric cancer care and to examine whether the pandemic differentially impacted specific demographic groups.

Long-Term Follow-Up of Accelerated Transepithelial Corneal Crosslinking for Post-LASIK Ectasia: A Pilot Prospective Observational Study.

Keratectasia after corneal refractive surgery is a rare but serious postoperative complication, and reports on accelerated transepithelial corneal crosslinking (ATE-CXL)-based treatment of patients with post-laser-assisted keratomileusis (LASIK) ectasia are limited. Therefore, this study evaluated the long-term efficacy and safety of ATE-CXL for progressive post-LASIK ectasia. This prospective observational study was conducted at the Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, and 25 eyes from 25 patients with post-LASIK ectasia undergoing ATE-CXL were examined.

Lesion characteristics and procedural complications of chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with prior bypass surgery: A meta-analysis.

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) accelerates the prevalence of native coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO), and this kind of CTO shows extensive challenging and complex atherosclerotic pathology. As a result, the procedural success rate of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is inferior to another kind of lesions. The present meta-analysis aims to compare the lesion characteristics and procedural complications of CTO-PCI in patients with or without prior CABG.

Predictive factors of the accelerated transepithelial corneal cross-linking outcomes in keratoconus.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes and assess preoperative characteristics that may predict outcomes in keratoconus 1 year after accelerated transepithelial corneal cross-linking (ATE-CXL).

Methods: This prospective study included 93 eyes of 84 consecutive keratoconus patients with 1-year follow-up after ATE-CXL. Preoperative characteristics included corneal astigmatism, anterior chamber depth, anterior chamber volume, radius of curvature, posterior elevation, central corneal thickness (CCT), thinnest corneal thickness, steepest meridian keratometry, flattest meridian keratometry, and the maximum keratometry (Kmax).

Biocontrol Effect and Possible Mechanism of Food-Borne Sulfide 3-Methylthio-1-Propanol Against in Postharvest Tomato.

is one of the most destructive fungal pathogens causing tremendous losses in fresh fruit or vegetables. 3-Methylthio-1-propanol (3-MP) is a naturally occurring food-borne sulfide, which is mainly used to increase the flavor in food. However, the potential application of 3-MP in the postharvest phase to manage fruit fungal diseases has not been explored.

Prognostic value of cartilage intermediate layer protein 1 in chronic heart failure.

Aims: Emerging evidence suggests that cartilage intermediate layer protein 1 (CILP-1) is associated with myocardial remodelling. However, the prognostic value of circulating CILP-1 in patients with heart failure (HF) remains to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate whether circulating CILP-1 can independently predict the outcome of chronic HF.

Lignin Derived Porous Carbons: Synthesis Methods and Supercapacitor Applications.

Lignin, one of the renewable constituents in natural plant biomasses, holds great potential as a sustainable source of functional carbon materials. Tremendous research efforts have been made on lignin-derived carbon electrodes for rechargeable batteries. However, lignin is considered as one of the most promising carbon precursors for the development of high-performance, low-cost porous carbon electrode materials for supercapacitor applications.

Five-Year Follow-Up of Visual Outcomes and Optical Quality After Small Incision Lenticule Extraction for Moderate and High Myopia.

Introduction: This study investigated the long-term visual and optical quality changes after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) for the correction of moderate to high myopia.

Methods: Forty-one eyes of 41 patients with a mean spherical equivalent (SE) of - 6.74 ± 1.

Selective termination of the fetus in multiple pregnancies using ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation.

Background: To evaluate the perinatal outcomes in women with selective termination using ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Methods: Complicated monochorionic (MC) twin pregnancies and multiple pregnancies with an indication for selective termination by ultrasound-guided coagulation of the umbilical cord with RFA under local anesthesia between July 2013 and Jan 2020 were reviewed. We analyzed the indications, gestational age at the time of the procedure, cycles of RFA, duration of the procedure, and perinatal outcome.

Roles of Long Non-coding RNAs in the Development of Chronic Pain.

Chronic pain, a severe public health issue, affects the quality of life of patients and results in a major socioeconomic burden. Only limited drug treatments for chronic pain are available, and they have insufficient efficacy. Recent studies have found that the expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is dysregulated in various chronic pain models, including chronic neuropathic pain, chronic inflammatory pain, and chronic cancer-related pain.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Prescription Practice on Antimicrobials Use Among Physicians: A Cross-Sectional Study in Eastern China.

Over-prescription of antimicrobials for patients is a major driver of bacterial resistance. The aim of the present study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and prescription practices regarding antimicrobials among physicians in the Zhejiang province in China, and identify the determining factors. A total of 600 physicians in public county hospitals and township health institutions were surveyed cross-sectionally using a structured electronic questionnaire.

Effects of grass type on hydraulic response of the three-layer landfill cover system.

Soil column tests were conducted to investigate the effects of grass type on water infiltration in a three-layer landfill cover under drying and wetting conditions. Five soil columns were prepared, including one bare, two Bermuda grass-planted and the other two vetiver-planted. During the drying period, the suction of vetiver-planted soil column was the largest, while that of bare case was the lowest.

Geometric and Dosimetric Evaluation of Deep Learning-Based Automatic Delineation on CBCT-Synthesized CT and Planning CT for Breast Cancer Adaptive Radiotherapy: A Multi-Institutional Study.

Purpose: We developed a deep learning model to achieve automatic multitarget delineation on planning CT (pCT) and synthetic CT (sCT) images generated from cone-beam CT (CBCT) images. The geometric and dosimetric impact of the model was evaluated for breast cancer adaptive radiation therapy.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 1,127 patients treated with radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery from two medical institutions.

Impact of global budget combined with pay-for-performance on the quality of care in county hospitals: a difference-in-differences study design with a propaensity-score-matched control group using data from Guizhou province, China.

Background: Provider payment system has a profound impact on health system performance. In 2016, a number of counties in rural Guizhou, China, implemented global budget (GB) for county hospitals with quality control measures. The aim of this study is to measure the impact of GB combined with pay-for-performance on the quality of care of inpatients in county-level hospitals in China.