Adipocyte dysfunction promotes lung inflammation and aberrant repair: a potential target of COPD.

Background: Obesity and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are prevailing worldwide, bringing a heavy medical burden. Clinical and pathophysiological relationship between obesity and COPD is paradoxical and elusive. We aim to explore their inherent associations from clinical, genetic, and animal levels.

The Clinical Impact of Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing (mNGS) Test in Hospitalized Patients with Suspected Sepsis: A Multicenter Prospective Study.

Background: Metagenomic Next Generation Sequencing (mNGS) has the potential to detect pathogens rapidly. We aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of mNGS in hospitalized patients with suspected sepsis and evaluate its role in guiding antimicrobial therapy. Methods: A multicenter, prospective cohort study was performed.

ROS induced the Rab26 promoter hypermethylation to promote cigarette smoking-induced airway epithelial inflammation of COPD through activation of MAPK signaling.

Cigarette smoking (CS) exposure-induced airway inflammatory responses drive the occurrence and development of emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, its precise mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we explore the role of Rab26 in CS exposure modulating the inflammatory response of airway epithelium and the novel mechanism of CS exposure regulation Rab26.

Vitrectomy with residual internal limiting membrane covering and autologous blood for a secondary macular hole: A case report.

Background: Myopic foveoschisis (MF) is a common complication of pathological myopia. A macular hole (MH) usually results from the natural progression of MF and is a common complication of vitrectomy. Vitrectomy combined with residual internal limiting membrane (ILM) covering and autologous blood was effective for closing a secondary MH.

Protective effects of progesterone on pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells stimulated with Interleukin 6 via blocking the shuttling and transcriptional function of STAT3.

Background: Sex hormone paradox is a crucial but unresolved issue in the field of pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH), and is thought to be related to different pathogenic factors. Inflammation is one of pathological mechanisms of PAH development. However, effects of sex hormones on the pulmonary vasculature under the condition of inflammation are still elusive.

Comparative effectiveness and tolerability of targeted agents combined with chemotherapy in patients with HER2-positive gastroesophageal cancer: A network meta-analysis.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer with HER2 overexpression is highly invasive, with a poor prognosis. With the development of new targeted agents, which agents have ideal therapeutic effects must be determined. This network meta-analysis analyzed the effectiveness and tolerability of targeted agents combined with chemotherapy in HER2-positive GC/GEJ cancer.

Serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein is decreased in patients with pulmonary hypertension: a potential protective factor.

Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) was a protective factor in the cardiovascular system. Previous studies showed that hypoxia led to decreased COMP in rat models of pulmonary hypertension. However, the expression pattern of COMP in the pulmonary hypertension population was unclear.

Noble Gas in a Ring.

We have designed a new type of molecule with a noble gas (Ng = Kr and Xe) atom in a six-membered ring. Their structures and stability have been studied by density functional theory and by correlated electronic structure calculations. The results showed that the six-membered ring is planar with very short Ng-O and Ng-N polar covalent bonds.

[Distribution of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Lake Chaohu Sediments and Pollution Evaluation].

We investigated the spatial distribution and storage of nitrogen and phosphorus in Lake Chaohu sediments and evaluated the sediment nitrogen and phosphorus pollution index. Results show that the average total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) content in the surface-layer sediments of Lake Chaohu were 1088 mg·kg and 585 mg·kg, respectively, and 666 mg·kg and 509 mg·kg in the bottom-layer sediments, respectively. TN content in the surface layer was significantly higher than in the bottom layer (<0.

Theoretical Prediction on the New Types of Noble Gas Containing Anions OBONgO and OCNNgO (Ng = He, Ar, Kr and Xe).

The fluorine-less noble gas containing anions OBONgO and OCNNgO have been studied by correlated electronic structure calculation and density functional theory. The obtained energetics indicates that for Ng = Kr and Xe, these anions should be kinetically stable at low temperature. The molecular structures and electron density distribution suggests that these anions are stabilized by ion-induced dipole interactions with charges concentrated on the electronegative OBO and OCN groups.

Predictors of acute cardiovascular events following acute exacerbation period for patients with COPD: a nested case-control study.

Background: It has been noted that there is an increase in the incidence of acute cardiovascular events (CVEs) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during an acute exacerbation (AE), thereby causing increased inpatient mortality. Thus, we have tried to identify predictors of acute CVEs in patients with AECOPD via a nested case-control study.

Methods: A total of 496 cases hospitalized for AECOPD were included in this study, and followed-up for up to 6 months after discharge.

Prevention of Acute Exacerbation in Subjects with Moderate-to-very Severe COPD by Modulating Lower Respiratory Microbiome: Protocol of a Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: COPD is a global respiratory disease that has produced a worldwide health care burden. Acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) is the leading cause of death in patients with COPD and accounts for the majority of expenditure of COPD management. The colonization of potential pathogenic bacteria in the lower respiratory tract is an important cause of the acute exacerbation especially in patients with moderate and severe COPD.

Preventive Effects of Qingfei Yihuo Capsules () on Air Pollution Associated Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Single-blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of Qingfei Yihuo Capsules (, QYCs) in preventing the air pollution associated exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: This was a prospective, parallel, single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Sixty patients with stable Group D COPD were randomly allocated to receive either oral QYCs (intervention group) or placebos (control group, 30 cases per group) for 15 days in the presumed high-incidence air pollution season and followed-up for 1 year.

Initial diagnosis and management of adult community-acquired pneumonia: a 5-day prospective study in Shanghai.

Background: Despite the release of a national guideline in 2016, the actual practices with respect to adult community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remain unknown in China. We aimed to investigate CAP patient management practices in Shanghai to identify potential problems and provide evidence for policy making.

Methods: A short-period, 5-day prospective cross-sectional study was performed with sampled pulmonologists from 36 hospitals, encompassing all the administrative districts of Shanghai, during January 8-12, 2018.

Evidence and evolution of Criegee intermediates, hydroperoxides and secondary organic aerosols formed via ozonolysis of α-pinene.

α-Pinene, the most abundant monoterpene in the atmosphere, accounts for more than 50% of global monoterpene emission. Though its reaction with ozone has been generally perceived as a major source of secondary organic aerosols (SOAs), direct evidence of its reaction intermediates (RI) and their evolution remain lacking. Here we study the ozonolysis of α-pinene between 180 and 298 K using a long-path, temperature-variable aerosol cooling chamber coupled to a rapid-scan time-resolved Fourier transform infrared spectrometer.

Experimental and theoretical insight into hydroxyl and sulfate radicals-mediated degradation of carbamazepine.

Carbamazepine (CBZ), a widely detected pharmaceutical in wastewaters, cannot currently be treated by conventional activated sludge technologies, as it is highly resistant to biodegradation. In this study, the degradation kinetics and reaction mechanisms of CBZ by hydroxyl radical (OH) and sulfate radical ()-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) were investigated with a combined experimental/theoretical approach. We first measured the UV absorption spectrum of CBZ and compared it to the theoretical spectrum.

Treating Clinically Node-Negative Insular Thyroid Carcinoma without Prophylactic Central Compartment Neck Dissection Is Associated with Decreased Survival Regardless of Staging and Administration of Radioactive Iodine Therapy: The First Evidence.

For the rare but aggressive insular thyroid carcinoma (ITC), there's no clear evidence to determine whether prophylactic central compartment neck dissection (CCND) is necessary for cN0 disease. This study provides the first evidence that treating cN0 ITC without prophylactic CCND is associated with decreased survival regardless of staging and administration of RAI therapy. .

Elevated serum procalcitonin level in patients with chronic kidney disease without infection: A case-control study.

Background: Inflammation is a necessary component of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that can be attributed to an accumulation of toxins and a reduced clearance of proinflammatory cytokines. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a widely applied biomarker in the diagnosis of infection, and considering the presence of pre-existing inflammation in CKD patients, the PCT level could be high in such a population; however, no reference value for PCT in CKD patients has been available to date.

Methods: During the present study period, 361 CKD patients and 119 healthy controls were included.

Anatomic extent of lymph node metastases as an independent prognosticator in node-positive major salivary gland carcinoma: A study of the US SEER database and a Chinese multicenter cohort.

Background: We aimed to explore whether the anatomic extent of lymph node metastases (AE-LNM) could independently predict prognosis of node-positive major salivary gland carcinoma (MaSGC).

Methods: A total of 376 pathologically node-positive MaSGC patients were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database and constituted the training cohort. Using the X-Tile program, these patients were divided into three groups based on AE-LNM degrees.