Mediation effect of metabolic factors and inflammation on the association of serum uric acid with serum proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 levels.

Background: The association between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and serum PCSK9 levels has not yet been uncovered. This study aimed to explore the potential link between SUA levels and serum PCSK9 levels and quantify the mediating effect of metabolic factors and inflammation in Chinese adults. Furthermore, assessed whether gender differences modified this association.

Chemotherapy plus therapeutic plasmapheresis with 4% human albumin solution in multiple myeloma patients with acute kidney injury: a prospective, open-label, proof-of-concept study.

As no unified treatment protocol or evidence yet exists for plasmapheresis without plasma, this study explored the outcomes of using 4% human albumin (ALB) solution as a replacement solution in patients undergoing plasma exchange for multiple myeloma (MM) patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). This study was prospectively registered (ChiCTR2000030640 and NCT05251896). Bortezomib-based chemotherapy plus therapeutic plasmapheresis (TPP) with 4% human ALB solution was assessed for three years in patients with MM aged >18 years, with AKI according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria, and without previous renal impairment from other causes.

Adaptive Fourier single pixel imaging based on the radial correlation in the Fourier domain.

Fourier single-pixel imaging (FSI) can directly measure the Fourier coefficients of an object and reconstruct its image, and the technique has attracted attention recently. However, with the current spectrum sampling methods of FSI it is difficult to balance image details and noise suppression within a limited sampling number and a short reconstruction time. To address this problem, the method of adaptive Fourier single-pixel imaging (A-FSI) is proposed to measure the coefficients of the key spectra adaptively.

Binocular stereo matching algorithm based on MST cost aggregation.

For common binocular stereo matching algorithms in computer vision, it is not easy to obtain high precision and high matching speed at the same time. In this paper, an improved binocular stereo matching algorithm based on Minimum Spanning Tree (MST) cost aggregation is proposed. Firstly, the performance of the parallel algorithm can be improved by reducing the height of the tree.

The Psychological Pressures of Breast Cancer Patients During the COVID-19 Outbreak in China-A Comparison With Frontline Female Nurses.

During the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic in China, breast cancer (BC) patients and healthcare workers faced several challenges, resulting in great psychological stress. We measured the psychological status of BC patients and female nurses and compared the severity within the two groups at the peak time-point of the COVID-19 outbreak. A total of 207 BC patients and 684 female nurses were recruited from Wuhan.

Nurses endured high risks of psychological problems under the epidemic of COVID-19 in a longitudinal study in Wuhan China.

Background: Health care workers, especially frontline nurses, faced great challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

Aims: To assess the magnitude of the psychological status and associated risk factors among nurses in the pandemic center in Wuhan, China.

Methods: In this study, we enrolled nurses from Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University.

Clinical characteristics of a group of deaths with COVID-19 pneumonia in Wuhan, China: a retrospective case series.

Background: With the widespread outbreak of novel coronavirus diseases 2019(COVID-19), more and more death cases were reported, however, limited data are available for the patients who died. We aimed to explore the clinical characteristics of deaths with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Methods: We abstracted and analyzed epidemiological, demographic, clinical, and laboratory data from 83 death cases with COVID-19 pneumonia in East Hospital of Wuhan University Renmin Hospital, between January 26, 2020, and February 28, 2020.

Association between fasting blood glucose and outcomes and mortality in acute ischaemic stroke patients with diabetes mellitus: a retrospective observational study in Wuhan, China.

Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of fasting blood glucose (FBG) on unfavourable outcomes and mortality in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients after acute ischaemic stroke (AIS).

Study Design: A hospital-based observational cohort study was conducted. Clinical data, including sex, age, body mass index, vascular risk factors and systolic/diastolic blood pressure, were routinely collected.

Rediscovering Tocophersolan: A Renaissance for Nano-Based Drug Delivery and Nanotheranostic Applications.

A unique and pleiotropic polymer, d-alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (Tocophersolan), is a polymeric, synthetic version of vitamin E. Tocophersolan has attracted enormous attention as a versatile excipient in different biomedical applications including drug delivery systems and nutraceuticals. The multiple inherent properties of Tocophersolan allow it to play flexible roles in drug delivery system design, including excipients with outstanding biocompatibility, solubilizer with the ability to promote drug dissolution, drug permeation enhancer, P-glycoprotein inhibitor, and anticancer compound.

Small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is strongly associated with NIHSS score and intracranial arterial calcification in acute ischemic stroke subjects.

Intracranial artery calcification (IAC) is an important risk factor for cerebral infarction and a key biomarker for intracranial artery stenosis. Small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sd-LDL-c) was independently associated with increased cardiovascular events and coronary calcification. Our study assessed whether sd-LDL-c is an independent factor for IAC in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients.

Modified Glucose-Insulin-Potassium Regimen Provides Cardioprotection With Improved Tissue Perfusion in Patients Undergoing Cardiopulmonary Bypass Surgery.

Background Laboratory studies demonstrate glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) as a potent cardioprotective intervention, but clinical trials have yielded mixed results, likely because of varying formulas and timing of GIK treatment and different clinical settings. This study sought to evaluate the effects of modified GIK regimen given perioperatively with an insulin-glucose ratio of 1:3 in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Methods and Results In this prospective, randomized, double-blinded trial with 930 patients referred for cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, GIK (200 g/L glucose, 66.

Association between Serum Gamma-glutamyl transferase and Intracranial Arterial Calcification in Acute Ischemic Stroke Subjects.

Intracranial artery calcification (IAC) is an important risk factor for cerebral infarction and a key biomarker for intracranial artery stenosis. Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) has been independently associated with increased cardiovascular events and coronary calcification. Our study assessed whether GGT is an independent factor for IAC in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients.

Metabolomic evidence for the therapeutic effect of gentiopicroside in a corticosterone-induced model of depression.

Background: Depression is a disease that seriously threatens the quality of human life. To explore the effect of gentiopicroside on depression, this study investigated the therapeutic effect of gentiopicroside on corticosterone-induced depressionin vivo and in vitro by using metabolomic methods.

Methods: A total of 36 rats were randomly assigned to three groups: a normal group, model group (depression), and treatment group (depression + gentiopicroside).

Elevated plasma D-dimer levels are associated with short-term poor outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke: a prospective, observational study.

Background: Elevated levels of plasma D-dimer increase the risk of ischemic stroke, stroke severity, and the progression of stroke status, but the association between plasma D-dimer level and functional outcome is unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate whether plasma D-dimer level is a determinant of short-term poor functional outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Methods: This prospective study included 877 Chinese patients with AIS admitted to Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University within 72 h of symptom onset.

Collaborative Learning in Higher Nursing Education: A Systematic Review.

Background: Collaborative learning has been used in nursing education for more than two decades. However, little is known about its relationship to quality of nursing education, its implementation process as well as what factors likely influence the effectiveness of the teaching approach.

Methods: Previous relevant literature had been searched and located from three electronic databases including CINAIL, PubMed, and Google Scholar.

A hospital based retrospective study of factors influencing therapeutic leukapheresis in patients presenting with hyperleukocytic leukaemia.

Therapeutic leukapheresis is a rapid and effective method to reduce early mortality of patients with hyperleukocytic leukaemia (HLL). However, few studies on factors influencing the efficiency have been reported. In this study, 67 cases who underwent leukapheresis were retrospectively analysed and factors related to the collection efficiency of leukapheresis (CE) were also evaluated.

NRF2-regulated metabolic gene signature as a prognostic biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer.

Mutations in Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) cause the aberrant activation of nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (NRF2), which leads to oncogenesis and drug resistance in lung cancer cells. Our study was designed to identify the genes involved in lung cancer progression targeted by NRF2. A series of microarray experiments in normal and cancer cells, as well as in animal models, have revealed regulatory genes downstream of NRF2 that are involved in wide variety of pathways.

High-power and high-efficiency diode-pumped Nd:LuYAG mixed crystal lasers operating at 939 and 946 nm.

We report on high-performance infrared lasers at 0.94 μm based on quasi-three-level transition of F4→I4 in Nd:LuYAG mixed crystal, for the first time to our knowledge. The maximum output power was achieved to 5.

Direct Evidence that Myocardial Insulin Resistance following Myocardial Ischemia Contributes to Post-Ischemic Heart Failure.

A close link between heart failure (HF) and systemic insulin resistance has been well documented, whereas myocardial insulin resistance and its association with HF are inadequately investigated. This study aims to determine the role of myocardial insulin resistance in ischemic HF and its underlying mechanisms. Male Sprague-Dawley rats subjected to myocardial infarction (MI) developed progressive left ventricular dilation with dysfunction and HF at 4 wk post-MI.

The effects of estrogen on serum level and hepatocyte expression of PCSK9.

Objective: We previously reported that serum PCSK9 levels are higher in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women in a Han Chinese population. Whether this difference is related to estrogen has not been well-characterized. This study aims to examine if the alteration in estrogen level is responsible for the changes of serum PCSK9 concentration.

Spectroscopic studies on interaction of BSA and Eu(III) complexes with H5ph-dtpa and H5dtpa ligands.

An novel aromatic aminopolycarboxylic acid ligand, N-(2-N,N-Dicarboxymethylaminophenyl) ethylenediamine-N,N',N'-triacetic acid (H5ph-dtpa), was synthesized by improving experimental method and its corresponding Eu(III) complex, Na2[EuIII(ph-dtpa)(H2O)]·6H2O, was successfully prepared through heat-refluxing method. As a comparison, the Eu(III) complex with diethylenetriamine-N,N,N',N',N″-pentaacetic acid (H5dtpa) ligand, Na2[Eu(III)(dtpa)(H2O)]·6H2O, was also prepared by the same method. And then, the interaction between prepared Eu(III) complexes ([EuIII(dtpa)(H2O)]2- and [EuIII(ph-dtpa)(H2O)]2-) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) in aqueous solution were studied by the combination of ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopies.

Inhibition of AMPK accentuates prolonged caloric restriction-induced change in cardiac contractile function through disruption of compensatory autophagy.

Prolonged caloric restriction often results in alteration in heart geometry and function although the underlying mechanism remains poorly defined. Autophagy, a conserved pathway for bulk degradation of intracellular proteins and organelles, preserves energy and nutrient in the face of caloric insufficiency. This study was designed to examine the role of AMPK in prolonged caloric restriction-induced change in cardiac homeostasis and the underlying mechanism(s) involved with a focus on autophagy.

Integrated DNA-based/biochemical screening for early diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A).

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A), a subtype of MEN2, is characterized by medullary thyroid cancer, pheochromocytoma, and primary hyperparathyroidism. A Han Chinese pedigree with MEN2A was investigated following confirmation of the proband's diagnosis by pathological findings and DNA/biochemical screening. DNA samples from 4 other family members were collected and exon 5, 8, 10, 11, 13, 16 and 18 of the RET proto-oncogene were sequenced and then analyzed.

Effects of high-dose mucosolvin on lung functions in infant patients with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Background: Cardiopulmonary bypass may cause serious impairment of lung function. It has been reported that administration of mucosolvin can prevent acute respiratory insufficiency through the improvement of pulmonary surfactant.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the effects of high-dose mucosolvin on infant lungs following cardiopulmonary bypass.