Ethyl Lactate Ameliorates Hepatic Steatosis and Acute-on-Chronic Liver Injury in Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease by Inducing Fibroblast Growth Factor 21.

Aberrant upregulation of hepatic lipogenesis induced by chronic and excessive alcohol consumption is a critical driver of the progression of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), however, no effective approaches inhibiting lipogenesis are currently available for treating ALD patients. Moreover, little is known about whether and how nonethanol ingredients in alcoholic beverages regulate the pathogenesis of ALD. Here the discovery of a small molecule that activates the production and secretion of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is reported.

Tunable Folding Assembly Strategy for Soft Pneumatic Actuators.

With intrinsic compliance, soft pneumatic actuators are widely utilized in delicate tasks. However, complex fabrication approaches and limited tunability are still problems. Here, we propose a tunable folding assembly strategy to design and fabricate soft pneumatic actuators called FASPAs (folding assembly soft pneumatic actuators).

[Identification of fresh and old vertebral compression fractures by MRI].

Objective: To analyze and explore the value of MRI in distinguishing fresh from old vertebral compression fractures.

Methods: The features of MRI in 43 cases with compression fractures of thoracic or lumbar vertebral bodies were analyzed. MRI sequences included T1WI, T2WI and STIR.

[Replacement of humeral head prosthesis for four-part proximal humeral fractures or fracture-dislocations].

Objective: To evaluate the short-term results of humeral head replacement for the treatment of four-part proximal humeral fractures or fracture-dislocations.

Methods: Twenty-five patients (11 male and 14 female)with four-part proximal humeral fractures or fracture-dislocations underwent humeral head replacement. The average age was 68.

[Effectiveness of preoperative autologous plateletpheresis combined with intraoperative autotransfusion on the blood coagulation in orthopaedic patients].

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of preoperative plateletpheresis combined with intraoperative autotransfusion on the blood coagulation of orthopaedic patients.

Methods: Sixty patients (ASA I-II) undergoing selective orthopaedic surgery were randomized into three groups (n = 20), that is, preoperative plateletpheresis combined with intraoperative autotransfusion for group I, intraoperative autotransfusion for group II, and group III without any managements of blood conservation. Coagulation parameters (prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen), hemoglobin and hematocrit values, platelet counts and aggregability were evaluated before the anaesthesia, 10 minutes after plateletpheresis, 10 minutes before the infusion of platelet rich plasma or autologous blood, 10 minutes after infusion, 24 and 48 hours postoperation.