Curcumin-loaded keratin-chitosan hydrogels for enhanced peripheral nerve regeneration.

Peripheral nerve injury often leads to symptoms of motor and sensory impairment, and slow recovery of nerves after injury and limited treatment methods will aggravate symptoms or even lead to lifelong disability. Curcumin can promote peripheral nerve regeneration, but how to accurately deliver the appropriate concentration of curcumin in the local peripheral nerve remains to be solved. In this study, we designed a human hair keratin/chitosan (C/K) hydrogel with sodium tripolyphosphate ions crosslinked to deliver curcumin topically.

Recent developments in wearable piezoelectric energy harvesters.

Wearable piezoelectric energy harvesters (WPEHs) have gained popularity and made significant development in recent decades. The harvester is logically built by the movement patterns of various portions of the human body to harvest the movement energy and immediately convert it into usable electrical energy. To directly power different microelectronic devices on the human body, a self-powered device that does not require an additional power supply is being created.

The role of the plasmid-mediated fluoroquinolone resistance genes as resistance mechanisms in pediatric infections due to Enterobacterales.

Introduction: Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are not commonly prescribed in children, yet the increasing incidence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacterales (Ent) infections in this population often reveals FQ resistance. We sought to define the role of FQ resistance in the epidemiology of MDR Ent in children, with an overall goal to devise treatment and prevention strategies.

Methods: A case-control study of children (0-18 years) at three Chicago hospitals was performed.

Design and research of piezoelectric energy harvesting device applicable to wireless mouse.

This paper presents a piezoelectric energy harvesting device applicable to wireless mouse (WM-PEH). Adding magnetic force to the excitation piezoelectric generating unit makes the impact better and more pronounced. The polygonal roller can increase the excitation frequency of the piezoelectric generating unit and broaden the energy collection range and capability of the WM-PEH.

The evidence framework of traditional Chinese medicine injection (Aidi injection) in controlling malignant pleural effusion: A clustered systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Aidi injection (Aidi), a traditional Chinese medicine injection, is often practiced to control malignant pleural effusion (MPE).

Objectives: We performed a registered systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO: CRD42022337611) to clarify the clinical role of Aidi in MPE, reveal optimal combinations of Aidi and chemical agents, their indications, therapeutic route and usage, and demonstrate their clinical effectiveness and safety.

Methodology: All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about Aidi in controlling MPE were collected from Chinese and English databases (up to October 2022).

Research on a rotary piezoelectric wind energy harvester with bilateral excitation.

This paper describes a rotary piezoelectric wind energy harvester with bilateral excitation (B-RPWEH) that improves power generation performance. The power generating unit in the current piezoelectric cantilever wind energy harvester was primarily subjected to a periodic force in a single direction. The B-RPWEH adopted a reasonable bilateral magnet arrangement, thus avoiding the drawbacks of limited piezoelectric cantilever beam deformation and unstable power generation due to unidirectional excitation force.

Single-cell RNA datasets and bulk RNA datasets analysis demonstrated + tumor-associated macrophage as a major and antitumor immune cell population in osteosarcoma.

Background: Osteosarcoma is the most frequent primary bone tumor with a poor prognosis. Immune infiltration proved to have a strong impact on prognosis. We analyzed single-cell datasets and bulk datasets to confirm the main immune cell populations and their properties in osteosarcoma.

Renal-friendly Li-doped carbonized polymer dots activate Schwann cell autophagy for promoting peripheral nerve regeneration.

Activation of autophagy in Schwann cells (SCs) has emerged as a powerful trigger for peripheral nerve injury (PNI) repair. Lithium ion (Li) is a classical autophagy activator that plays an important role in promoting axonal extension and remyelination. However, the therapeutic window of existing lithium drugs is extremely narrow, and the adverse side effects, especially nephrotoxicity, severely limit their therapeutic value.

Working capital management of SMEs in COVID-19: role of managerial personality traits and overconfidence behavior.

The study intends to investigate the role of managerial personality traits on working capital management of Chinese SMEs with the mediating role of overconfidence behavior. Data from the Chinese SMEs managers is collected through a close-ended survey questionnaire using multi-stage cluster sampling and structural equation modeling is applied for empirical analysis. The results shown that extroversion, openness to experience, and agreeableness traits determines overconfidence behavior among the managers.

Intrapleural Administration With Rh-Endostatin and Chemical Irritants in the Control of Malignant Pleural Effusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: A modified and recombinant human endostatin (Rh-endostatin) is often used in the control of malignant pleural effusion (MPE) through intrapleural infusion.

Objectives: To demonstrate the clinical response, survival, and safety of Rh-endostatin plus chemical irritants, their optimal combinations, treatment threshold, and optimal usage, we performed a new systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methodology: All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were collected from Chinese and English electronic databases (from inception until August 2020).

Comparison of seven heterophile antibody assays for laboratory diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis in pediatric patients.

Heterophile antibody assays have been used to aid the diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. Seven commercially available assays currently widely utilized in clinical laboratories were compared in this study. Variable performance characteristics and assay times are observed, and these pieces of data may assist clinical laboratories in assay selection and result interpretation.

The Optimal Adjuvant Strategy of Aidi Injection With Gemcitabine and Cisplatin in Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Meta-analysis of 70 Randomized Controlled Trials.

Aidi injection (Aidi) is composed of cantharidin, astragaloside, ginsenoside, and elentheroside E. As an important adjuvant therapy, Aidi in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin (GP) is often used in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We performed a new evaluation to demonstrate the clinical efficacy and safety of the Aidi and GP combination and further explored an optimal strategy for achieving an ideal response and safety level in advanced NSCLC.

Comparison of Upper Respiratory Viral Load Distributions in Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Children Diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Pediatric Hospital Testing Programs.

The distribution of upper respiratory viral loads (VL) in asymptomatic children infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is unknown. We assessed PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values and estimated VL in infected asymptomatic children diagnosed in nine pediatric hospital testing programs. Records for asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with positive clinical SARS-CoV-2 tests were reviewed.

A Multicentered Study of the Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology of TEM- and SHV-type Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Producing Enterobacterales Infections in Children.

Background: Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales-(Ent) infections are increasing in pediatrics. Before CTX-M ESBL emerged, the most common infection-associated ESBL genes were TEM and SHV-type ESBLs. We sought to define the current epidemiology of Ent infections in children due to blaTEM and blaSHV (TEM-SHV-Ent).

Clinical Performance and Impact of Accelerate Pheno for Gram-negative Bacteremia in Hospitalized Children.

Purpose: Accelerate Pheno provides rapid identification and antimicrobial susceptibility tests (ASTs) of pathogens that cause blood stream infections (BSIs). The study objective was to assess the accuracy of the Accelerate Pheno platform and its impact on antimicrobial modification in children with gram-negative BSIs.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of patients at a children's hospital with gram-negative BSIs from November 2018 to November 2019.

Age-Related Differences in Nasopharyngeal Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Levels in Patients With Mild to Moderate Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

This cohort study investigates age-related differences in nasopharyngeal severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) levels in patients with mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Intrathoracic infusion therapy with Lentinan and chemical irritants for malignant pleural effusion: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 65 randomized controlled trials.

Background: Aderivative of Shiitake mushrooms, Lentinan is used to control malignant pleural effusion (MPE) through intrathoracic infusion.

Purpose: To determine the clinical response, survival and safety of Lentinan plus chemical irritants, and the optimal combinations with chemical irritants, indication, threshold and optimal regimen for achieving the desired responses.

Study Design: We performed a new systematic review and meta-analysis following the PRISMA guidelines.

Detailed Phenotypic and Functional Characterization of a Rare, Antibody-Dependent SLAM-Associated Protein Expression Pattern.

SLAM-associated protein (SAP) is an adaptor molecule that facilitates critical effector functions in immune cells, and its deficiency causes X-linked lymphoproliferative disease type 1 in which effector responses directed against EBV are severely compromised. The primary objective of this study was to phenotypically and functionally characterize a rare, CD8 T cell-restricted bimodal SAP expression pattern observed in healthy, human donors with the widely used 1C9-SAP mAb clone. We initially observed this pattern during the clinical validation of our flow cytometry-based assay to diagnose X-linked lymphoproliferative disease type 1 in our laboratory.

Evaluation of Commercial Molecular Diagnostic Methods for Detection and Determination of Macrolide Resistance in Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

We evaluated six commercial molecular tests targeting , namely, the BioFire FilmArray respiratory panel (RP), the Meridian Alethia Mycoplasma Direct, the GenMark ePlex respiratory pathogen panel (RPP), the Luminex NxTAG RPP, the ELITech ELITe InGenius MGB research use only (RUO) PCR, and the SpeeDx MP assays. Laboratory-developed PCR assays at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were used as reference standards. Among 428 specimens, 212 were designated confirmed positives for The highest clinical sensitivities were found with the InGenius PCR (99.

Association Between Children's Hospital Visitor Restrictions and Healthcare-Associated Viral Respiratory Infections: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

We investigated the effect of annual winter visitor restrictions on hospital respiratory virus transmission. The healthcare-associated (HA) viral respiratory infection (VRI) transmission index (number of HA VRIs per 100 inpatient community-associated VRIs) was 59% lower during the months in which visitor restrictions were implemented. These data prompt consideration for instituting year-round visitor restrictions.

The Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology of CTX-M-9 Group Producing Enterobacteriaceae Infections in Children.

Introduction: The pandemic of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-(ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae (Ent) is strongly linked to the dissemination of CTX-M-type-ESBL-Ent. We sought to define the epidemiology of infections in children due to an emerging resistance type, CTX-M-9-group-producing-Ent (CTX-M-9-grp-Ent).

Methods: A retrospective matched case-control analysis of children with CTX-M-9-grp-Ent infections who received medical care at three Chicago area hospitals was performed.

Laboratory Diagnosis of Neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus Infections.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a common and often benign infection in humans; although it less commonly affects newborns, infection in this age group can be devastating. Newborns often present with nonspecific clinical findings, making timely and accurate diagnosis of infection critical. A wide variety of tests are available for detecting herpes simplex virus infection, but only a subset are useful and validated in the newborn population.

Utilizing the electronic health record to construct antibiograms for previously healthy children with urinary tract infections.

Traditional antibiograms can guide empiric antibiotic therapy, but they may miss differences in resistance across patient subpopulations. In this retrospective descriptive study, we constructed and validated antibiograms using International Classification of Disease, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes and other discrete data elements to define a cohort of previously healthy children with urinary tract infections. Our results demonstrate increased antibiotic susceptibility.

Community Origins and Regional Differences Highlight Risk of Plasmid-mediated Fluoroquinolone Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Infections in Children.

Background: Fluoroquinolones are uncommonly prescribed in children, yet pediatric multidrug resistant (MDR) enterobacteriaceae (Ent) infections often reveal fluoroquinolone resistance (FQR). We sought to define the molecular epidemiology of FQR and MDR-Ent in children.

Methods: A case-control analysis of children with MDR-Ent infections at 3 Chicago hospitals was performed.

A Multi-Centered Case-Case-Control Study of Factors Associated With Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae Infections in Children and Young Adults.

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Enterobacteriaceae (KPC-CRE) are multidrug-resistant organisms causing morbidity and mortality worldwide. KPC-CRE prevalence is increasing in pediatric populations, though multi-centered data are lacking. Identifying risk factors for KPC-CRE infection in children and classifying genotypes is a priority in this vulnerable population.