Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding arteriovenous fistulas among uremic patients undergoing haemodialysis in China: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) regarding arteriovenous fistula (AVF) care in uremic patients undergoing haemodialysis (HD).

Design: A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among uremic patients receiving HD at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between April 2023 and June 2023.

Setting: The study took place at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University.

IL-12 family cytokines and autoimmune diseases: A potential therapeutic target?

In recent years, the discovery of IL-12 family cytokines, which includes IL-12, IL-23, IL-27, IL-35, and IL-39, whose biological functions directly or indirectly affect various autoimmune diseases. In autoimmune diseases, IL-12 family cytokines are aberrantly expressed to varying degrees. These cytokines utilize shared subunits to influence T-cell activation and differentiation, thereby regulating the balance of T-cell subsets, which profoundly impacts the onset and progression of autoimmune diseases.

Innovative integration of the "W + Flipped Classroom" and "B + BOPPPS" teaching models for enhanced learning outcomes.

Background: With the demand for more effective and engaging teaching strategies in higher education, there is an imperative to blend traditional and innovative methods to optimize student learning outcomes. To address this educational need, this study sets out to design and evaluate a hybrid learning approach that integrates a flipped classroom based on working process systematization (termed "W + flipped classroom") teaching design with blended online and offline methods based on the BOPPPS (bridge-in, objective/outcome, preassessment, participatory learning, post assessment, summary, termed "B + BOPPPS") teaching model and explore its application effects in the field of biological separation engineering.

Methods: The undergraduate class of 2020 majoring in biomedical engineering from Huanghuai University was designated the control group (n = 74), while the undergraduate class of 2021 was chosen as the experimental group (n = 79).

Impacts of continuous quality improvement on wound pain in the puncture site of arteriovenous fistula in haemodialysis patient.

This study analyses the effects of a continuous quality improvement nursing model on wound pain at the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) puncture site in patients undergoing haemodialysis. Forty haemodialysis patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, from September 2020 to December 2022, were selected as study subjects. They were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group.

Load-bearing columns inspired fabrication of ductile and mechanically enhanced BSA hydrogels.

Currently, protein-based hydrogels are widely applied in soft materials, tissue engineering and implantable scaffolds owing to their excellent biocompatibility, and degradability. However, most protein-based hydrogels are soft brittle. In this study, a ductile and mechanically enhanced bovine serum albumin (BSA) hydrogel is fabricated by soaking the a 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride/N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS) induced BSA hydrogel in (NH)SO solution.

Rheological behavior of xanthan gum suspensions with Fe-based nanoparticles: the effect of nanoparticles and the mechanism.

The rheological behavior of a xanthan gum (XG) suspension with Fe-based nanoparticles (Fe-NPs), , nanoparticles of zerovalent iron (nZVI) and FeO (nFeO), needs to be understood for better injection of Fe-NPs for groundwater remediation. In this study, the rheological behavior of a XG suspension of nZVI and nFeO was investigated at different particle concentrations. The Ostwald, Sisko, Williamson, and Cross models were employed to fit the rheological behavior of the suspensions for quantitatively describing the effect of the particles.

Solid-like Slippery Surface with Excellent Comprehensive Performance.

Slippery surfaces with outstanding slippery performances have shown application prospects in various fields, including anti-icing, antifouling, droplet transportation, and fog collection. However, practical application of the existing slippery surfaces is limited by lubricating oil loss, low water-slippery ability, low surface robustness, complex processes, and high costs. To overcome these limitations, we propose a facile, low-cost method to create a solid-like slippery Al surface (SSS-Al) by mixing hydrophobic nano-ceramic coating, silicone oil, and nano-SiO, which shows excellent comprehensive performance.

Functional extreme learning machine.

Introduction: Extreme learning machine (ELM) is a training algorithm for single hidden layer feedforward neural network (SLFN), which converges much faster than traditional methods and yields promising performance. However, the ELM also has some shortcomings, such as structure selection, overfitting and low generalization performance.

Methods: This article a new functional neuron (FN) model is proposed, we takes functional neurons as the basic unit, and uses functional equation solving theory to guide the modeling process of FELM, a new functional extreme learning machine (FELM) model theory is proposed.

γ-glutamylcysteine alleviates insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis by regulating adenylate cyclase and IGF-1R/IRS1/PI3K/Akt signaling pathways.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a complex metabolism disease, which was characterized by metabolic disorders including hyperglycemia, has become a major health problem due to the increasing prevalence worldwide. γ-glutamylcysteine (γ-GC) as an immediate precursor of glutathione (GSH) was originally used for the treatment of sepsis, inflammation bowel disease, and senescence. Here, we evaluated the capacity of γ-GC on diabetes-related metabolic parameters in db/db mice and insulin resistance (IR) amelioration in cells induced by palmitic acid (PA).

Enhancement of Energy Storage Performance of PMMA/PVDF Composites by Changing the Crystalline Phase through Heat Treatment.

In today's contemporary civilization, there is a growing need for clean energy focused on preserving the environment; thus, dielectric capacitors are crucial equipment in energy conversion. On the other hand, the energy storage performance of commercial BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene) dielectric capacitors is relatively poor; hence, enhancing their performance has drawn the attention of an increasing number of researchers. This study used heat treatment to boost the performance of the composite made from PMAA and PVDF, combined in various ratios with good compatibility.

Tetrastigma polysaccharide reprogramming of tumor-associated macrophages via PPARγ signaling pathway to play antitumor activity in breast cancer.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Tetrastigma Hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg (SYQ) is a typical She ethnomedicine that has been used in anti-tumor treatment in Chinese folklore. The polysaccharide of SYQ (SYQ-PA) has been reported to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, but the effect and mechanism on antitumor is still unclear.

Aim Of The Study: To investigate the activity and mechanism of SYQ-PA against breast cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Fabricating Oxidized Cellulose Sponge for Hemorrhage Control and Wound Healing.

Uncontrolled hemorrhage and infection are the main reasons for many trauma-related deaths in both clinic and battlefield. However, most hemostatic materials have various defects and side effects, such as low hemostatic efficiency, poor biocompatibility, weak degradation ability, and lack of antimicrobial properties. Herein, an oxidized cellulose (OC) sponge with antibacterial properties and biosafety was fabricated for hemorrhage control and wound healing.

Analysis of heavy metals in the conversion of lake sediment and restaurant waste by black soldier fly ().

The risk posed by heavy metals makes it difficult to dispose of sediment contaminants from dredging lakes in China. Black soldier fly () can convert organic waste, such as restaurant waste and lake sediment, to high-value-added protein feed and fertilizer. Experimental groups were formed in this study to explore the conversion of heavy metals present in the mixture of restaurant waste and lake sediment by black soldier fly larvae (BSFL).

Panax notoginseng saponins normalises tumour blood vessels by inhibiting EphA2 gene expression to modulate the tumour microenvironment of breast cancer.

Background: Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS), the main active component of Panax notoginseng, can promote vascular microcirculation. PNS exhibits antitumor effects in various cancers. However, the molecular basis of the relationship between PNS and tumor blood vessels remains unclear.

Functional extreme learning machine for regression and classification.

Although Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) can learn thousands of times faster than traditional slow gradient algorithms for training neural networks, ELM fitting accuracy is limited. This paper develops Functional Extreme Learning Machine (FELM), which is a novel regression and classifier. It takes functional neurons as the basic computing units and uses functional equation-solving theory to guide the modeling process of functional extreme learning machines.

Research on the application of the blended BOPPPS based on an online and offline mixed teaching model in the course of fermentation engineering in applied universities.

This study aimed to investigate the teaching effect of the blended BOPPPS based on an online and offline mixed teaching model ("B + BOPPPS") in the course of fermentation engineering in applied universities. The participants were 142 undergraduates majoring from the course of fermentation engineering in Food Science and Engineering in 2019 and 2020 in Huanghuai University, Zhumadian city, Henan province, China. The students in the control group (68 students) were taught in 2019, and the students in the experimental group (74 students) were taught in 2020.

Insights into Nitrogen-doped Carbon for Oxygen Reduction: The Role of Graphitic and Pyridinic Nitrogen Species.

Nitrogen-doped carbons (N/Cs) manifest good catalytic performance for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for fuel cell systems. However, to date, controversies remain on the role of active sites in N/Cs. In the present study, ORR test was conducted on three N/Cs in O -saturated 0.

γ-Glutamylcysteine rescues mice from TNBS-driven inflammatory bowel disease through regulating macrophages polarization.

Objective: To explore the molecular mechanism of γ-glutamylcysteine (γ-GC) in response to inflammation in vivo and in vitro on regulating the polarization of macrophages.

Methods: The expressions of gene or protein were assessed by qPCR and Western blot assays, respectively. Cell viability was investigated by CCK-8 assay.

Pollution Characteristics and Human Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Street Dust from a Typical Industrial Zone in Wuhan City, Central China.

This study aimed to assess the pollution levels, sources, and human health risks of heavy metals in street dust from a typical industrial district in Wuhan City, Central China. In total, 47 street dust samples were collected from the major traffic arteries and streets around Wuhan Iron and Steel (Group) Company (WISC) in Qingshan District, Wuhan. The concentrations of heavy metals (Cr, Mn, Ni, Zn, Fe, Cu, and Cd) in street dust were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy.

Substantial transition to clean household energy mix in rural China.

The household energy mix has significant impacts on human health and climate, as it contributes greatly to many health- and climate-relevant air pollutants. Compared to the well-established urban energy statistical system, the rural household energy statistical system is incomplete and is often associated with high biases. Via a nationwide investigation, this study revealed high contributions to energy supply from coal and biomass fuels in the rural household energy sector, while electricity comprised ∼20%.

γ-Glutamylcysteine ameliorates D-gal-induced senescence in PC12 cells and mice activating AMPK and SIRT1.

Aging is a natural process accompanied by inflammation and oxidative stress and is closely associated with age-related diseases. As a direct precursor of glutathione, γ-glutamylcysteine (γ-GC) possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; however, whether γ-GC plays an important role in anti-aging remains unknown. Here, we investigated the protective effects and mechanisms of γ-GC in D-galactose (D-gal)-induced senescence in PC12 cells and aging mice.

Roles of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway related microRNAs in esophageal cancer.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, noncoding, single-stranded small RNAs that regulate expression of tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes and are involved in almost all tumor-related processes. MiRNA dysregulation plays an important role in the occurrence and development of esophageal cancer through specific signal pathways, including the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and is closely related to the malignant characteristics of esophageal cancer. The interaction between miRNAs and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which is specifically expressed in esophageal cancer tissues, shows potential as a new biomarker and therapeutic target.

L-theanine prevents progression of nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis by regulating hepatocyte lipid metabolic pathways via the CaMKKβ-AMPK signaling pathway.

Background: L-theanine, a non-protein amino acid was found principally in the green tea, has been previously shown to exhibit potent anti-obesity property and hepatoprotective effect. Herein, we investigated the effects of L-theanine on alleviating nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis in vitro and in vivo, and explored the underlying molecular mechanism.

Methods: In vitro, HepG2 and AML12 cells were treated with 500 μM oleic acid (OA) or treated with OA accompanied by L-theanine.

Endovascular stent-graft treatment for aortoesophageal fistula induced by an esophageal fishbone: Two cases report.

Background: Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) induced by esophageal fishbones is a rare complication of esophageal foreign bodies and is very difficult to treat. Although the current view suggests that endovascular stent-graft treatment is useful for AEF, whether a subsequent thoracic operation is necessary remains controversial. The purpose of this report is to describe our experience using endovascular stent-graft treatment without combined thoracic operations for the treatment of AEF in two specific cases.