Formation and crystalline structure of spherulites from pea and high amylose maize starches.

Starch spherulite is a unique form of resistant starch characterized by a spherical structure with crystalline lamellae that are radially oriented and may find applications in delivery of nutrients and bioactives to the lower gastrointestinal tract. Formation of starch spherulites generally requires heating to a high temperature followed by quenching and long crystallization time. The objectives of this study were to gain a deeper understanding of the factors influencing spherulite formation from pea starch (PS) and high-amylose maize starch (HAMS) and investigate if spherulites could be formed by a slow cooling rate and determine the crystalline structure and morphology of the spherulites formed.

Analysis of clinical characteristics in 1940 patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Background: The clinical characteristics of acute pulmonary embolism (APE) according to mortality risk has been partly explored. Further research is required in light of the latest guide update on risk stratification for APE.

Methods: We collected the data from hospitalized patients with APE.

White blood cell-to-haemoglobin ratio as a predictor of 30-day mortality in ICU patients with pulmonary hypertension: a MIMIC-IV database study.

Background And Objective: The white blood cell-to-haemoglobin ratio (WHR) is a comprehensive indicator of inflammation and anaemia status. However, the relationship between the WHR and the risk of 30-day mortality among intensive care unit (ICU) patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the WHR and 30-day mortality in critically ill patients with PH.

Microbial signatures predictive of short-term prognosis in severe pneumonia.

Objective: This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the composition and diversity of lung microbiota in patients with severe pneumonia and explore its association with short-term prognosis.

Methods: A total of 301 patients diagnosed with severe pneumonia underwent bronchoalveolar lavage fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) testing from February 2022 to January 2024. After applying exclusion criteria, 236 patients were included in the study.

Drug-induced liver injury in children: A nationwide cohort study from China.

Background & Aims: Currently, there is limited knowledge on the clinical profile of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in Chinese children. We aimed to assess the clinical characteristics, suspected drugs, and outcomes associated with pediatric DILI in China.

Methods: This nationwide, multicenter, retrospective study, conducted between 2012 and 2014, analyzed 25,927 cases of suspected DILI at 308 medical centers using the inpatient medical register system.

Association between coronary artery stenosis and myocardial injury in patients with acute pulmonary embolism: A case-control study.

Background: The potential impact of pre-existing coronary artery stenosis (CAS) on acute pulmonary embolism (PE) episodes remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the association between pre-existing CAS and the elevation of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) levels in patients with PE.

Methods: In this multicenter, prospective case-control study, 88 cases and 163 controls matched for age, sex, and study center were enrolled.

Jmjd2c maintains the ALDH cancer stemness with transcription factor SOX2 in lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a deadly cancer in the world. Histone demethylase Jmjd2c is a key epigenetic regulator in various tumors, while the molecular mechanism underlying Jmjd2c regulatory in LSCC is still unclear. We used the aldehyde dehydrogenasebright (ALDH) subtype as a research model for cancer stem cells (CSCs) in LSCC and detected the sphere formation ability and the proportion of ALDH CSCs with Jmjd2c interference and caffeic acid (CA) treatment.

Coronary stent implantation links to the occurrence of eosinophilia and interstitial pneumonia: a case report and systematic review.

Background: Rapamycin has been extensively utilized for coating coronary artery stents to reduce the occurrence of restenosis, yet there has been limited research on the potential harms of rapamycin-eluting stents. Herein, We report a case of eosinophilia and interstitial pneumonia caused by a cobalt-based alloy stent eluted with rapamycin.

Case Presentation: The patient was admitted due to fever, cough, and expectoration symptoms.

A global survey on the use of the international classification of diseases codes for metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease.

Background: With the implementation of the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) and the publication of the metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) nomenclature in 2020, it is important to establish consensus for the coding of MAFLD in ICD-11. This will inform subsequent revisions of ICD-11.

Methods: Using the Qualtrics XM and WJX platforms, questionnaires were sent online to MAFLD-ICD-11 coding collaborators, authors of papers, and relevant association members.

Chitin Nanofibers Enable the Colloidal Dispersion of Carbon Nanomaterials in Aqueous Phase and Hybrid Material Coassembly.

Chitin nanofibrils (ChNF) sourced from discarded marine biomass are shown as effective stabilizers of carbon nanomaterials in aqueous media. Such stabilization is evaluated for carbon nanotubes (CNT) considering spatial and temporal perspectives by using experimental (small-angle X-ray scattering, among others) and theoretical (atomistic simulation) approaches. We reveal that the coassembly of ChNF and CNT is governed by hydrophobic interactions, while electrostatic repulsion drives the colloidal stabilization of the hybrid ChNF/CNT system.

Flash heating process for efficient meat preservation.

Maintaining food safety and quality is critical for public health and food security. Conventional food preservation methods, such as pasteurization and dehydration, often change the overall organoleptic quality of the food products. Herein, we demonstrate a method that affects only a thin surface layer of the food, using beef as a model.

Landslide susceptibility assessment using deep learning considering unbalanced samples distribution.

Landslide susceptibility assessment (LSA) is fundamental for managing landslide geological disasters. This study presents a deep learning approach (DNN-MSFM) designed to enhance LSA modeling, particularly addressing limitations caused by the unbalanced distribution of data samples in applied datasets. DNN-MSFM approach combines a deep neural network (DNN) and a mean squared false misclassification loss function (MSFM) to handle unbalanced samples from the algorithmic perspective.

A Biomimetic "Salting Out-Alignment-Locking" Tactic to Design Strong and Tough Hydrogel.

Recently, hydrogel-based soft materials have demonstrated huge potential in soft robotics, flexible electronics as well as artificial skins. Although various methods are developed to prepare tough and strong hydrogels, it is still challenging to simultaneously enhance the strength and toughness of hydrogels, especially for protein-based hydrogels. Herein, a biomimetic "salting out-alignment-locking" tactic (SALT) is introduced for enhancing mechanical properties through the synergy of alignment and the salting out effect.

Pembrolizumab in patients from China with microsatellite instability-high/mismatch repair deficient tumors: KEYNOTE-158.

To evaluate pembrolizumab in patients of Chinese descent with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H)/deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) tumors enrolled in KEYNOTE-158 (Cohort L). Patients with MSI-H/dMMR advanced tumors received pembrolizumab 200 mg IV Q3W. Primary end point was overall response rate (ORR).

Chinese guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of drug-induced liver injury: an update.

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is an important adverse drug reaction that can lead to acute liver failure or even death in severe cases. Currently, the diagnosis of DILI still follows the strategy of exclusion. Therefore, a detailed history taking and a thorough and careful exclusion of other potential causes of liver injury is the key to correct diagnosis.

Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety of 15 mg-tolvaptan administered orally for 7 consecutive days to Chinese patients with child-Pugh B cirrhosis.

Tolvaptan, a selective vasopressin V-receptor antagonist, can elicit a diuretic effect without significant electrolyte loss. The aims were to evaluate multiple-dose pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety of daily administration of 15 mg tolvaptan in Chinese adult patients with confirmed Child-Pugh Class B cirrhosis accompanied by ascites. This was an open-label, single-center, single- and multiple-dose study.

HIF‑1 and macrophage activation signalling pathways are potential biomarkers of invasive aspergillosis.

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a severe disease, the pathogenesis of which remains unclear. The present study aimed to determine the molecular mechanism of IA and to identify potential biomarkers using bioinformatics analysis. The GSE78000 dataset, which includes data from patients with IA and healthy individuals, was downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus.

Clinical characteristics and mortality predictors among very old patients with pulmonary thromboembolism: a multicenter study report.

Background: Clinical characteristics of patients with pulmonary thromboembolism have been described in previous studies. Although very old patients with pulmonary thromboembolism are a special group based on comorbidities and age, they do not receive special attention.

Objective: This study aims to explore the clinical characteristics and mortality predictors among very old patients with pulmonary thromboembolism in a relatively large population.

Serum Albumin for Short-Term Poor Prognosis in Patients With Acute Pulmonary Embolism: A Clinical Study Based on a Database.

The relationship between serum albumin (ALB) and short-term prognosis in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE) remains unclear. We investigated the predictive value of ALB for short-term prognosis in APE patients using our hospital pulmonary embolism (PE) database (384 patients consecutively collected). Logistic regression analysis and nomograms were applied to construct the predictive model, and validation was assessed.

Azarshahr travertine compression strength prediction based on point-load index (I) data using multilayer perceptron.

Azarshahr County in the northwest of Iran is predominantly covered by Azarshahr travertine, a prevailing sedimentary rock. This geological composition has led to extensive open-pit mining activities, particularly in the western and southwestern parts of the county. The rock's drillability and resistance to excavation play a pivotal role in determining its overall durability and hardness, crucial factors that influence the mining process.