Association of systemic corticosteroid use with prognosis of patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the intensive care unit: a propensity score-matched cohort study.

Background: Systemic corticosteroid has been recommended for the treatment of severe acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Little is known about the use of systemic corticosteroid in patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) since most of previous trials excluded these critically ill patients.

Methods: We conducted a matched cohort study based on the Medical Information Mart in Intensive Care-IV database.

Integrated analysis to identify biological features and molecular markers of poorly cohesive gastric carcinoma (PCC).

As one of the two main histologic subtypes of gastric cancer (GC), diffuse-type gastric cancer (DGC) containing poorly cohesive gastric carcinoma (PCC) components has a worse prognosis and does not respond well to typical therapies. Despite the large number of studies revealing the complex pathogenic network of DGC, the molecular heterogeneity of DGC is still not fully understood. We obtained single-cell RNA-seq data and bulk data from the tumor immune single cell hub, the public gene expression omnibus, and the cancer genome atlas databases.

The causal relationship between genetically predicted blood metabolites and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Numerous metabolomic studies have confirmed the pivotal role of metabolic abnormalities in the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Nevertheless, there is a lack of evidence on the causal relationship between circulating metabolites and the risk of IPF.

Methods: The potential causality between 486 blood metabolites and IPF was determined through a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR) analysis.

Clinical efficacy and potential mechanism of ginseng polysaccharides in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer based on meta-analysis associated with network pharmacology.

Background: The ginseng polysaccharide injection is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine often employed as a supplementary treatment for cancer. This treatment can not only alleviate the adverse effects caused by tumor radiotherapy and chemotherapy but also enhance the immune system of individuals diagnosed with lung cancer. It is important to acknowledge the efficacy of ginseng polysaccharide injection in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

[Protective effect and mechanism of Maiwei Yangfei Decoction on pulmonary fibrosis mice based on Nrf2 regulation of oxidative stress].

This study explored the effect and mechanism of Maiwei Yangfei Decoction(MWYF) on pulmonary fibrosis(PF) mice. MWYF was prepared, and its main components were detected by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS). Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a pirfenidone(PFD) group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose MWYF groups, with 10 mice in each group.

Correlation between telomere shortening in maternal peripheral blood and fetal aneuploidy.

Background: This study aimed to assess whether maternal telomere length is a more accurate predictor of trisomy 21 than maternal age while also exploring the factors influencing maternal and fetal telomere length.

Methods: Forty mothers with fetuses carrying extra maternal copies of chromosome 21 were defined as trisomy 21 cases, and 18 mothers with normal karyotype fetuses were defined as controls. Telomere lengths of maternal blood lymphocytes and amniotic fluid cells were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Dietary nitrate supplementation to enhance exercise capacity in patients with COPD: Evidence from a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and a network pharmacological analysis.

Objective: The potential effects of nitrate in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have attracted increased research interest. However, previous clinical trials have reported inconsistent results, and consecutive meta-analyses have failed to reach a consensus. Since some randomized controlled trials have recently been conducted that can provide more evidence, we performed an updated meta-analysis.

Genetics of congenital heart disease.

During embryonic development, the cardiovascular system and the central nervous system exhibit a coordinated developmental process through intricate interactions. Congenital heart disease (CHD) refers to structural or functional abnormalities that occur during embryonic or prenatal heart development and is the most common congenital disorder. One of the most common complications in CHD patients is neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD).

Molecular mechanism of quercetin in treating RA-ILD based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that is associated with systemic complications. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the most common pulmonary complication and second leading cause of death in patients with RA. In this study, we used network pharmacology and experimental validation to identify the targets and pathways of quercetin (Que) in the treatment of RA-associated ILD (RA-ILD).

Effect of Cinobufacini plus platinum-based chemotherapy regimen on the immune function of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer: A meta-analysis.

Background: Cinobufacini is a Chinese medicinal preparation extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine toad skin and is commonly used clinically as an adjuvant treatment for malignant tumours.

Purpose: To systematically evaluate the effects of Cinobufacini combined with a first-line platinum-based chemotherapy regimen in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), especially in terms of immune function.

Materials And Methods: Eight electronic databases were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating Cinobufacini in conjunction with platinum-based chemotherapy for NSCLC (stage III-IV) published from 2012 to the present.

Association of body mass index with mortality of sepsis or septic shock: an updated meta-analysis.

Background: The effects of body mass index (BMI) on mortality of sepsis remain unknown, since previous meta-analyses have reported conflicting results. Several observational studies published recently have provided new evidence. Thus, we performed this updated meta-analysis.

Epigenetic regulation of IPF fibroblast phenotype by glutaminolysis.

Objective: Excessive extra-cellular-matrix production and uncontrolled proliferation of the fibroblasts are characteristics of many fibrotic diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The fibroblasts have enhanced glutaminolysis with up-regulated glutaminase, GLS1, which converts glutamine to glutamate. Here, we investigated the role of glutaminolysis and glutaminolysis-derived metabolite α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) on IPF fibroblast phenotype and gene expression.

Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists and Risk of Neuropsychiatric Entities: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

Background: Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) are commonly prescribed to patients with allergic diseases. Several case reports and pharmacovigilance studies have indicated that LTRAs might increase the risk of neuropsychiatric (NP) entities. However, the results are mixed in observational studies.

Simultaneous Passivation of Bulk and Interface Defects with Gradient 2D/3D Heterojunction Engineering for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells.

Minimizing bulk and interfacial nonradiative recombination losses is key to further improving the photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells (PSC) but very challenging. Herein, we report a gradient dimensionality engineering to simultaneously passivate the bulk and interface defects of perovskite films. The 2D/3D heterojunction is skillfully constructed by the diffusion of an amphiphilic spacer cation from the interface to the bulk.

LC-MS Based Metabolomics Study of the Effects of EGCG on A549 Cells.

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the main bioactive catechin in green tea. The antitumor activity of EGCG has been confirmed in various types of cancer, including lung cancer. However, the precise underlying mechanisms are still largely unclear.

Efficacy and Safety of Tripterygium Wilfordii Hook. F for Connective Tissue Disease-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease:A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F (TwHF), a Chinese herbal medicine used to treat CTD-ILD patients in China, has been previously found to have immunoinhibitory, antifibrotic and anti inflammatory effects. It has also shown good results in treating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Crystal Orientation Modulation and Defect Passivation for Efficient and Stable Methylammonium-Free Dion-Jacobson Quasi-2D Perovskite Solar Cells.

Dion-Jacobson (DJ) quasi-2D perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have received increasing attention due to their greater potentials in realizing efficient and stable quasi-2D PSCs relative to their Ruddlesden-Popper counterpart. The substitution of methylammonium (MA) with formamidinium is expected to be able to further increase the stability and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of DJ quasi-2D PSCs. Herein, we report a multifunctional additive strategy for preparing high-quality MA-free DJ quasi-2D perovskite films, where 1,1'-carbonyldi(1,2,4-triazole) (CDTA) molecules are incorporated into the perovskite precursor solution.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic diffuse interstitial lung disease, of which the etiology has been poorly understood. Several studies have focused on the relationship between IPF and diabetes mellitus (DM) in the past years but have failed to reach a consensus. This meta-analysis aimed to examine the association between diabetes to IPF.

Multi-Field Interference Simultaneously Imaging on Single Image for Dynamic Surface Measurement.

To obtain the dynamic surface of high-frequency vibrating mirrors (VMs), a novel method involving multi-field interference (MFI) pattern imaging on a single image is proposed in this paper. Using multiple reflections and refractions, the proposed method generates three interference patterns at the same time, which improves the traditional time-series methods where a single interference pattern can be obtained at one time. Experimental results show that a series of MFI patterns can be obtained on a single image, with the laser repetition frequency (LRF) ranging from 200 Hz to 10 Hz, and the frame rate of the camera at 10 Hz.

Long Exposure Short Pulse Synchronous Phase Lock Method for Capturing High Dynamic Surface Shape.

In infrared weak target detection systems, high-frequency vibrating mirrors (VMs) are a core component. The dynamic surface shape of the VM has a direct impact on imaging quality and the optical modulation effect, so its measurement is necessary but also very difficult. Measurement of the dynamic surface shape of VMs requires a transiently acquired image series, but traditional methods cannot perform this task, as, when the VM is vibrating at a frequency of 3033 Hz, using high-speed cameras to acquire the images would result in frame rates exceeding 1.

Apolipoprotein M Serum Levels Correlate with IgA Vasculitis and IgA Vasculitis Nephritis.

Objective: IgA vasculitis (lgAV) is the most frequent vessel vasculitis in children, and the prognosis is related to the children's age and degree of nephritis. This study is aimed at investigating serum apolipoprotein M (apoM) levels in patients with lgAV patients and at evaluating the association between apoM and disease severity.

Methods: A total of 109 lgAV patients and 76 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included.

Preliminary clinical results for PET/MR compared with PET/CT in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The present study aimed to assess the performance of positron emission tomography‑magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MR) for the visualization and characterization of lesions. In addition, the present study investigated whether the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and intravoxel incoherent motion parameters exhibited any significant correlation with standardized uptake values (SUV) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). A total of 35 patients with NPC underwent whole body PET‑computed tomography (CT) and head and neck MR imaging (MRI) scans using the PET/CT‑MRI system.

Australian vegetated coastal ecosystems as global hotspots for climate change mitigation.

Policies aiming to preserve vegetated coastal ecosystems (VCE; tidal marshes, mangroves and seagrasses) to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions require national assessments of blue carbon resources. Here, we present organic carbon (C) storage in VCE across Australian climate regions and estimate potential annual CO emission benefits of VCE conservation and restoration. Australia contributes 5-11% of the C stored in VCE globally (70-185 Tg C in aboveground biomass, and 1,055-1,540 Tg C in the upper 1 m of soils).

Comparative analysis of intestinal bacteria among venom secretion and non-secrection snakes.

To further investigate the bacterial community and identify the bacterial biomarkers between venom secretion and non-venom secretion snakes, 50 intestinal samples (25 large intestine, 25 small intestine) were obtained from 29 snakes (13 gut samples from Deinagkistrodon, 26 from Naja and 11 from Ptyas mucosa). 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing results showed that 29 bacterial phyla, 545 bacterial genera, and 1,725 OTUs (operational taxonomic units) were identified in these samples. OTU numbers and the Ace, Chao, Shannon, and Simpson indexes were very similar among the three breeds of snakes included in this study.

Antifungal activity of spider venom-derived peptide lycosin-I against Candida tropicalis.

Candida species are a major cause of human mucosal and deep tissue fungal infections, but few antifungal treatments are available. Here, we showed that lycosin-I, a peptide isolated from venom of the spider Lycosa singoriensis, acted as a potent antifungal inhibitor against Candida species. The MIC values of lycosin-I reached 8 μg/mL to treat fluconazole-susceptible and fluconazole-resistant C.