Anxiolytic effect of an extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen) in mice.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen), a traditional Chinese medicine, has demonstrated in modern studies for its pharmacological activities in treatments of CNS disorders like insomnia, dysphoria. However, its application on anxiolytic effect from the ethanol extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (SM) has not yet been reported.

Materials And Methods: This study investigated the anxiolytic effect of the SM using the elevated plus-maze test (EPM) and the hole-board test (HBT) with diazepam and buspirone as positive controls.

Ilimaquinone Induces Apoptosis and Autophagy in Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells.

In this study, the anti-tumor activity of ilimaquinone (IQ), a sesquiterpene quinone isolated from marine sponge sp., in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells, was investigated. IQ suppressed the viability of the OSCC cell lines SCC4 and SCC2095 with IC values of 7.

Progression of Aortic Arch Calcification Is Associated with Overall and Cardiovascular Mortality in Hemodialysis.

Background: Vascular calcification is common and associated with unfavorable outcomes among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Nevertheless, little is known whether the progression of vascular calcification outweighs the baseline calcification in association with overall and cardiovascular (CV) mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Methods: This study included 140 maintenance HD patients.

Clinical validation and utility of Chinese Eppendorf Itch Questionnaire in adults with chronic pruritus symptoms.

Background: Pruritus, or itch, is a prevalent symptom causing profound health burden in many dermatological and non-dermatological disorders. Several itch questionnaires have been created to assess itch. Particularly, Eppendorf Itch Questionnaire (EIQ) is widely accepted since it encompasses various aspects of itch, including intensity, affects, coping behavior, and motivation to scratch.

Termite's Twisted Mandible Presents Fast, Powerful, and Precise Strikes.

The asymmetric mandibles of termites are hypothetically more efficient, rapid, and powerful than the symmetric mandibles of snap-jaw ants or termites. We investigated the velocity, force, precision, and defensive performance of the asymmetric mandibular snaps of a termite species, Pericapritermes nitobei. Ultrahigh-speed recordings of termites revealed a new record in biological movement, with a peak linear velocity of 89.

Association between Geriatric Nutrition Risk Index and Skeletal Muscle Mass Index with Bone Mineral Density in Post-Menopausal Women Who Have Undergone Total Thyroidectomy.

Background: Osteoporosis is highly prevalent in postmenopausal women and may result in fractures and disabilities. Total thyroidectomy has also been associated with loss of bone mass. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate associations among nutritional status, skeletal muscle index and markers of bone turnover to bone mineral density in postmenopausal women who had undergone total thyroidectomy.

Acute complicated type B aortic dissection during the New York City COVID-19 surge.

The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in New York City (NYC) is dramatic. COVID-19 cases surged, hospitals expanded to meet capacity, and NYC remains the global epicenter of this pandemic. During this unprecedented time, a young woman with known Marfan syndrome presented with an acute complicated type B aortic dissection to our Aortic Center.

Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Treated with Endovascular Repair in a Patient with Active COVID-19 Infection during the Pandemic.

We report a patient who presented with acute abdominal pain during the COVID-19 pandemic. His work-up revealed rupture of a 5.8 cm abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Generation of Multiply Charged Protein Anions from Multiply Charged Protein Cations via Gas-Phase Ion/Ion Reactions.

We report a novel charge inversion ion/ion reaction that converts multiply charged protein cations to multiply charged protein anions via a single ion/ion collision using highly charged anions derived from nanoelectrospray ionization (nESI) of hyaluronic acids (HAs). This type of charge inversion reaction is demonstrated with cations derived from cytochrome , apo-myoglobin, and carbonic anhydrase (CA) cations. For example, the reaction has been demonstrated to convert the [CA+22H] carbonic anhydrase cation to a distribution of anions as high in absolute charge as [CA-19H].

High Circular Polarized Nanolaser with Chiral Gammadion Metal Cavity.

We demonstrate a circularly polarized laser with the metal-gallium-nitride gammadion nanocavities. The ultraviolet lasing signal was observed with the high circular dichroism at room temperature under pulsed optical pump conditions. Without external magnetism which breaks the time-reversal symmetry to favor optical transitions of a chosen handedness, the coherent outputs of these chiral nanolasers show a dissymmetry factor as high as 1.

Infrared Spectroscopic and Kinetic Characterization on the Photolysis of Nitrite in Alcohol-Containing Aqueous Solutions.

Nitrite is regarded as a potential OH and NO precursor in aqueous solution upon ultraviolet photolysis. A step-scan Fourier-transform interferometer was employed to collect the transient infrared difference spectra upon excitation of the sodium nitrite aqueous solution in the presence of methanol and ethanol upon 355 nm pulsed excitation. The photolytic intermediates were proposed to be NO and NO via the direct dissociation from NO and the rapid reaction of OH and NO, respectively.

Clinical manifestations and risk factors for mortality of patients with severe influenza during the 2016-2018 season.

Objectives: Influenza remains a crucial transmissible disease from community. We aim to identify risk factors associated with mortality among hospitalized patients with severe influenza.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of adult patients with laboratory-confirmed severe influenza at a medical center between January 2016 and December 2018.

Active Volcanism Revealed from a Seismicity Conduit in the Long-resting Tatun Volcano Group of Northern Taiwan.

Abundant earthquakes clustered within a particular zone often reflect an active geological feature, such as clustering seismicity along a fault zone and a huge number of volcanic-earthquakes around the erupting conduit. Herein we perform a double-difference tomographic inversion and relocate the seismicity at the long-resting Tatun volcano group (TVG) in northern Taiwan. A dramatic improvement of the earthquake location model surprisingly show that, from 2014 to 2017, two clustered seismic zones are identified in the TVG.

Tungsten Diselenide Top-gate Transistors with Multilayer Antimonene Electrodes: Gate Stacks and Epitaxially Grown 2D Material Heterostructures.

We have demonstrated that with e-beam deposition of a thin AlO layer before atomic layer deposition, a uniform AlO film can be obtained on WSe/sapphire samples. Device performances are observed for WSe top-gate transistors by using oxide stacks as the gate dielectric. By using thermal evaporation, epitaxially grown multilayer antimonene can be prepared on both MoS and WSe surfaces.

Photonic Crystal Circular Nanobeam Cavity Laser with Type-II GaSb/GaAs Quantum Rings as Gain Material.

The optical emission from type-II semiconductor nanostructures is influenced by the long carrier lifetime and can exhibit remarkable thermal stability. In this study, utilizing a high quality photonic crystal circular nanobeam cavity with a high quality factor and a sub-micrometer mode volume, we demonstrated an ultra-compact semiconductor laser with type-II gallium antimonide/gallium arsenide quantum rings (GaSb/GaAs QRs) as the gain medium. The lasing mode localized around the defect region of the nanobeam had a small modal volume and significant coupling with the photons emitted by QRs.

Fasting glucose-to-HbA1c ratio is a good indicator of G6PD deficiency, but not thalassemia, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aims: Patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency or thalassemia have a shorter red blood cell lifespan; therefore, HbA1c is underestimated in these patients. To address these issues, we sought an early indicator for G6PD deficiency or thalassemia in DM patients.

Methods: A total of 4908 patients with DM and 1848 subjects without DM were included in this study.

Prognostic Value of Lymph Node-To-Primary Tumor Standardized Uptake Value Ratio in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated with Definitive Chemoradiotherapy.

We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the relative maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) of metastatic lymph node (LN) compared with that of primary tumor (SUV / SUV) based on a pretreatment [F]-FDG PET/CT scan in patients with clinically node-positive esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (cN+ ESCC) treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT). We retrospectively evaluated cN+ ESCC patients who underwent a PET/CT scan before dCRT. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristics analysis was performed to identify the optimal cutoff value for SUV / SUV.

Metabolic flux analysis of secondary metabolism in plants.

Numerous secondary metabolites from plants are important for their medicinal, nutraceutical or sensory properties. Recently, significant progress has been made in the identification of the genes and enzymes of plant secondary metabolic pathways. Hence, there is interest in using synthetic biology to enhance the production of targeted valuable metabolites in plants.

False-positive Aspergillus galactomannan immunoassays associated with intravenous human immunoglobulin administration.

Objectives: Evidence of false-positive galactomannan enzyme immunoassay (GM-EIA) results associated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) administration is scarce. Here, we aimed to determine the false-positive rate of GM-EIA after IVIG administration and to identify the related factors.

Methods: Standard GM-EIA was performed using diluted and pure human IVIG samples with and without heat treatment.

Lemierre's syndrome caused by in an elderly woman.

Lemierre's syndrome is characterized by septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein. It typically presents in healthy adolescents or young adults, usually preceded by an oropharyngeal infection, with the most common offending pathogen being . We present a case of Lemierre's syndrome in an elderly woman without antecedent oropharyngeal infection, caused by .