Quantum Phase Transitions in a Generalized Dicke Model.

We investigate a generalized Dicke model by introducing two interacting spin ensembles coupled with a single-mode bosonic field. Apart from the normal to superradiant phase transition induced by the strong spin-boson coupling, interactions between the two spin ensembles enrich the phase diagram by introducing ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases. The mean-field approach reveals a phase diagram comprising three phases: paramagnetic-normal phase, ferromagnetic-superradiant phase, and antiferromagnetic-normal phase.

α-Lipoic acid alleviates dextran sulfate sodium salt-induced ulcerative colitis via modulating the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway and inhibiting ferroptosis.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronically relapsing inflammatory disease with severe diarrhea, fatigue and weight loss. α-Lipoic acid (LA), a well-known antioxidant, is able to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and maintain a healthy cellular redox state. However, the role of LA in protecting IBD is still unclear.

Research progress of biomaterials and innovative technologies in urinary tissue engineering.

Substantial interests have been attracted to multiple bioactive and biomimetic biomaterials in recent decades because of their ability in presenting a structural and functional reconstruction of urinary tissues. Some innovative technologies have also been surging in urinary tissue engineering and urological regeneration by providing insights into the physiological behavior of the urinary system. As such, the hierarchical structure and tissue function of the bladder, urethra, and ureter can be reproduced similarly to the native urinary tissues.

Third-order square-root topological insulators on decorated diamond sonic crystals.

The square-root operation can generate novel topological phases, whose nontrivial topological properties are inherited from the parent Hamiltonian. Here we report the acoustic realization of third-order square-root topological insulators by adding additional resonators between the site resonators of original diamond lattice. Due to the square-root operation, multiple acoustic localized modes appear in doubled bulk gaps.

[Research progress on healthcare-associated infection in patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation].

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), as an effecitive life support technique, is widely used in patients with respiratory and/or cardiac failure. Infection, with a prevalence of approximately 21% in adult patients with ECMO, is one of the most common complications and has a significant impact on mortality. Early identification of infections, and accurate prevention and anti-infective therapies for ECMO patients can improve their survival, but there is a lack of standardized protocols for recognition, diagnosis, management, prevention and treatment of the infections.

Rapidly progressive Guillain-Barré syndrome following amitriptyline overdose and severe infection: A case report and literature review.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a potentially life-threatening post-infectious autoimmune disease characterized by rapidly progressive symmetrical weakness of the extremities. Herein, we report a case of GBS associated with drug poisoning complicated by infection. A 38-year-old woman was admitted to the intensive care unit after taking an overdose of amitriptyline and was later diagnosed with coma, infection, and septic shock.

Corrigendum: Potential clinical impact of metagenomic next-generation sequencing of plasma for cervical spine injury with sepsis in ICU: A retrospective study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.

Role of a mixed probiotic product, VSL#3, in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a multifactorial disease. The incidence of this type of cancer in younger patients has increased in recent years, and more strategies are needed to prevent and delay the progression of CRC. Probiotics play an adjunctive role in the prevention and treatment of CRC and can not only prevent the onset and delay the progression of disease but also reduce the side effects after the application of anti-cancer drugs.

Mapping theme trends and recognizing hot spots in viral pneumonia: a bibliometric analysis of global research.

Background: The challenges that viral pneumonia poses to the global public health system remain daunting. In this study, an analysis of publications on viral pneumonia over the past two decades was conducted. Through this work, we hope to provide inspiration for future research on viral pneumonia.

Ulinastatin Ameliorates IL-1-Induced Cell Dysfunction in Human Nucleus Pulposus Cells via Nrf2/NF-B Pathway.

Low back pain (LBP) has been a wide public health concern worldwide. Among the pathogenic factors, intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) has been one of the primary contributors to LBP. IDD correlates closely with inflammatory response and oxidative stress, involving a variety of inflammation-related cytokines, such as interleukin 1 beta (IL-1), which could result in local inflammatory environment.

Effects of viral infection and microbial diversity on patients with sepsis: A retrospective study based on metagenomic next-generation sequencing.

Background: The study aims to investigate the performance of a metagenomic next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based diagnostic technique for the identification of potential bacterial and viral infections and effects of concomitant viral infection on the survival rate of intensive care unit (ICU) sepsis patients.

Methods: A total of 74 ICU patients with sepsis who were admitted to our institution from February 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 were enrolled. Separate blood samples were collected from patients for blood cultures and metagenomic NGS when the patients' body temperature was higher than 38 °C.

Respiratory Variations in Peak Peripheral Artery Velocities and Waveforms for Rapid Assessment of Fluid Responsiveness in Traumatic Shock Patients.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to assess the correlation between the variability of the end-inspiratory and end-expiratory blood flow waveform and fluid responsiveness (FR) in traumatic shock patients who underwent mechanical ventilation by evaluating peripheral arterial blood flow parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cohort of 60 patients with traumatic shock requiring mechanical ventilation-controlled breathing received ultrasound examinations to assess the velocity of carotid artery (CA), femoral artery (FA) and brachial artery (BA). A rehydration test was performed in which of 250 mL of 0.

Analysis of Endoscopy Findings to Identify Early Gastric Cancers with Tumor Budding: A Retrospective Study.

Background: No reliable method has been reported for determining tumor budding with frozen sections during surgical procedures. This study investigated endoscopic features predictive of tumor budding in early gastric cancers (EGC).

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated data from 137 patients diagnosed with EGC who underwent endoscopy, followed by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD); 71 patients underwent a second gastrectomy.

A modified procedure of single-level transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion reduces immediate post-operative symptoms: a prospective case-controlled study based on two hundred and four cases.

Study Design: This is a prospective case-controlled study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of a modified transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) on the immediate post-operative symptoms in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) accompanied with stenosis.

Methods: A total of 204 LDH patients with single-level TLIF were enrolled.

Comprehensive multi-omics analysis identified core molecular processes in esophageal cancer and revealed GNGT2 as a potential prognostic marker.

Background: Esophageal cancer is one of the most poorly diagnosed and fatal cancers in the world. Although a series of studies on esophageal cancer have been reported, the molecular pathogenesis of the disease remains elusive.

Aim: To investigate comprehensively the molecular process of esophageal cancer.

The mixed quantum Rabi model.

The analytical exact solutions to the mixed quantum Rabi model (QRM) including both one- and two-photon terms are found by using Bogoliubov operators. Transcendental functions in terms of 4 × 4 determinants responsible for the exact solutions are derived. These so-called G-functions with pole structures can be reduced to the previous ones in the unmixed QRMs.

Efficacy of High Specific Volume Polysaccharide - A New Type of Dietary Fiber - On Molecular Mechanism of Intestinal Water Metabolism in Rats With Constipation.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a new type of dietary fiber - high specific volume polysaccharide (HSVP) - on fecal properties, serum vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) concentration, intestinal flora count, and expression of the VIP-cAMP-PKA-AQP3 signaling pathway. MATERIAL AND METHODS Compound diphenoxylate was used in 48 healthy Wistar rats to establish a constipation model. Rats were divided into a normal control group, a constipation model group, an HSVP low-dose group, an HSVP medium-dose group, an HSVP high-dose group, and a fructose control group.

Long noncoding RNA/circular noncoding RNA-miRNA-mRNA axes in cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide. Non-coding RNAs including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to participate in pathological developments of CVDs through various mechanisms. Among them, the networks among lncRNAs/circRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs have recently attracted attention.

Management of a Steel Bar Injury Penetrating the Head and Neck: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Background: Nonmissile penetrating injuries to the head and neck caused by a steel bar are rare, and a standard management strategy is lacking.

Case Description: A 42-year-old woman sustained a steel bar injury with penetration of the head and neck. Computed tomography and three-dimensional reconstruction were performed for preoperative evaluation.

Interleukin-32: its role in asthma and potential as a therapeutic agent.

Interleukin (IL)-32, also named natural killer cell transcript 4 (NK4), has increasingly been described as an immunoregulator that controls cell differentiation and cell death and is involved in the stimulation of anti-/pro-inflammatory cytokines. Abnormal presence of IL-32 has been repeatedly noticed during the pathogenesis of allergic, infectious, cancerous, and inflammatory diseases. Of particular note was the observation of the anti-inflammatory property of IL-32 in a murine ovalbumin model of allergic asthma.

Oridonin increases anticancer effects of lentinan in HepG2 human hepatoblastoma cells.

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether oridonin is able to increase the effects of lentinan (LNT) in HepG2 human hepatoblastoma cells by MTT, flow cytometry, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. The results demonstrated that 20 µg/ml of oridonin was a nontoxic concentration for L02 normal liver cells and HepG2 liver cancer cells. Furthermore, treatment with 0-200 µg/ml LNT was only able to decrease the viability of HepG2 liver cancer cells.