Prognostic Implications of Cardiac Geometry in Cirrhosis: Findings From a Large Cohort.

Background And Aims: Cirrhosis is characterised by hyperdynamic circulation, which contributes to cirrhotic cardiomyopathy (CCM). However, the expert consensus on CCM did not initially include cardiac structure because of scant evidence. Therefore, this study investigated the associations of cardiac chamber geometry with mortality and CCM.

Early mNGS testing for diagnose and prognostic prediction of early onset pneumonia among in-hospital cardiac arrest patients undergoing extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Objectives: Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is emerging as a novel diagnostic technology for various infectious diseases; however, limited studies have investigated its application in etiological diagnosis of early onset pneumonia (EOP) among patients undergoing extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) following in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA), The clinical significance of early mNGS in predicting short-term prognosis of IHCA patients after ECPR remains unclear.

Methods: This retrospective study included 76 patients with IHCA who underwent ECPR at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2018 to December 2022. Baseline characteristics and etiological data of all patients during their hospitalization were collected and statistically analyzed.

Goal-directed Perfusion to Reduce Acute Kidney Injury After Pediatric Cardiac Operation.

Background: Although goal-directed perfusion (GDP) during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has been discussed extensively in adult studies, no pediatric indexed oxygen delivery (Doi) thresholds are universally accepted, and no pediatric randomized controlled trial has been reported. This study aimed to determine whether the GDP initiative (maintaining Doi ≥360 mL/min/m during CPB) could reduce the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) after pediatric cardiac operation and improve clinical outcomes.

Methods: This single-center randomized controlled trial enrolled 312 pediatric patients, who were randomized to receive either the GDP strategy or a conventional perfusion strategy during CPB.

Enhanced osteogenic and antibacterial properties of titanium implant surface modified with Zn-incorporated nanowires: Preclinical in vitro and in vivo investigations.

Objective: This study aimed to synthesize zinc-incorporated nanowires structure modified titanium implant surface (Zn-NW-Ti) and explore its superior osteogenic and antibacterial properties in vitro and in vivo.

Materials And Methods: Zn-NW-Ti was synthesized via displacement reactions between zinc sulfate solutions and the titanium (Ti) surface, which was pretreated by hydrofluoric acid etching and hyperthermal alkalinization. The physicochemical properties of the Zn-NW-Ti surface were examined.

Surface characteristics and in vitro biocompatibility of titanium preserved in a vitamin C-containing saline storage solution.

The purpose of this study is to explore a storage solution for titanium implants and investigate its osteogenic properties. The commercial pure titanium (cp-Ti) surface and double-etched (SLA) titanium surface specimens were preserved in air, saline, 10 mM Vitamin C (VitC)-containing saline and 100 mM VitC-containing saline storage solutions for 2 weeks. The surface microtopography of titanium was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the surface elemental compositions of the specimens were analyzed by Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and water contact angle and surface roughness of the specimens were tested.

[Investigation and analysis of the current situation of dental technical professionals in Shanghai medical institutions].

Purpose: To investigate the current situation of dental technical personnel team in medical institutions in Shanghai, and to provide reference for the construction of dental technical discipline and development of dental personnel team in the National Center for Stomatology (Shanghai).

Methods: Random sample questionnaire and expert interviews were used to find out the awareness, satisfaction and improvement suggestions of dental technicians among physicians, nursing and medical technicians in medical institutions in Shanghai.

Results: Among the positions engaged in by dental technicians, dental prosthetic technician, dental radiology technician and laboratory technician were the three most important positions at present, 62.

Osteogenic and anti-inflammatory effects of SLA titanium substrates doped with chitosan-stabilized selenium nanoparticles via a covalent coupling strategy.

Osseointegration is a prerequisite for the function of dental implants, and macrophage-dominated immune responses triggered by implantation determine the outcome of ultimate bone healing mediated by osteogenic cells. The present study aimed to develop a modified titanium (Ti) surface by covalently immobilizing chitosan-stabilized selenium nanoparticles (CS-SeNPs) to sandblasted, large grit, and acid-etched (SLA) Ti substrates and further explore its surface characteristics as well as osteogenic and anti-inflammatory activities in vitro. CS-SeNPs were successfully prepared by chemical synthesis and characterized their morphology, elemental composition, particle size, and Zeta potential.

The Association of Midday Napping With Hypertension Among Chinese Adults Older Than 45 Years: Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Hypertension is one of the main public health issues around worldwide, and midday napping is a popular habit. The association between the two remains to be explored.

Objective: The goal of the research was to explore the association of midday napping with hypertension.

miR-497 promotes the migration and invasion of human medulloblast Daoy cell line through targeted regulation of ARHGDIA in vitro.

Objectives: To further investigate the effects of miR-497 on the biological behavior of human medulloblastoma cell line in vitro.

Methods: Human medulloblastoma cell lines, Daoy and D341, were used in this study, and the miR-497 expression in the cells was measured by Quantitative PCR with fluorescence. The Daoy cells were divided into the mimics group (Daoy cells treated with mimics), inhibitor group (Daoy cells treated with inhibitor), normal Daoy cells, ARHGDIA siRNA group (Daoy cells transfected with ARHGDIA siRNA), ARHGDIA control group (Daoy cells did not receive any treatment), and negative control group (normal cells transfected with ARHGDIA siRNA).

Pt Decorated TiCT MXene with NIR-II Light Amplified Nanozyme Catalytic Activity for Efficient Phototheranostics.

The clinical application of photothermal therapy (PTT) is severely limited by the tissue penetration depth of excitation light, and enzyme therapy is hampered by its low therapeutic efficiency. As a two-dimensional ultrathin nanosheet with high absorbance in the near-infrared-II (NIR-II) region, the titanium carbide (TiC) nanosheet can be used as a substrate to anchor functional components, like nanozymes and nanodrugs. Here, we decorate Pt artificial nanozymes on the TiC nanosheets to synthesize Ti-based MXene nanocomposites (TiCT-Pt-PEG).

Emergence and molecular characterization of multidrug-resistant isolates harboring extended-spectrum β-lactamases causing ventilator-associated pneumonia in China.

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common nosocomial infection associated with high morbidity due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. The purpose of this study was to determine the occurrence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) genes, especially , in ()-associated VAP and to investigate the antimicrobial resistance patterns and molecular epidemiological characteristics of strains.

Materials And Methods: From January 2013 to December 2015, we retrospectively collected 89 VAP-causing isolates from tertiary-care hospitals in China, among which ESBL-producing strains were assessed for antimicrobial susceptibility.

Author Correction: Cascaded Kerr photon-blockade sources and applications in quantum key distribution.

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.

Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution via quantum blockade.

Efficiency in measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution(MDI-QKD) can be improved not only by the protocol, but also single-photon sources. We study the behavior of MDI-QKD with statistical fluctuation using quantum blockade source. Numerical simulation for a type of 4-intensity protocol shows that, after parameter optimization, this source can improve the final key rate by 100 times compared with traditional weak coherent state sources.

Cascaded Kerr photon-blockade soruces and applications in quantum key distribution.

To raise the repetition rate, a single-photon source based on Kerr quantum blockade in a cascaded quantum system is studied. Using the quantum trajectory method, we calculate and simulate the photon number distributions out of a two-cavity system. A high quality single-photon source can be achieved through optimizing parameters.

Measurement-Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution Over a 404 km Optical Fiber.

Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDIQKD) with the decoy-state method negates security threats of both the imperfect single-photon source and detection losses. Lengthening the distance and improving the key rate of quantum key distribution (QKD) are vital issues in practical applications of QKD. Herein, we report the results of MDIQKD over 404 km of ultralow-loss optical fiber and 311 km of a standard optical fiber while employing an optimized four-intensity decoy-state method.

Emergence and characterization of tigecycline resistance in multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from blood samples of patients in intensive care units in northern China.

Serious infections in intensive care unit patients caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae represent a major threat worldwide owing to increased mortality and limited treatment options. With the application of tigecycline for MDR pathogens, tigecycline-non-susceptible K. pneumoniae isolates have recently emerged in China.

Tigecycline Susceptibility and Molecular Resistance Mechanisms Among Clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae Strains Isolated During Non-Tigecycline Treatment.

Tigecycline is one of the few therapeutic options that are available for treating serious clinical infections. However, tigecycline nonsusceptible Enterobacteriaceae has emerged recently in China. In this study, a total of 28 clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates that were not previously exposed to tigecycline were collected and confirmed for tigecycline minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) using standard broth microdilution tests.

On-demand single-photon sources via quantum blockade and applications in decoy-state quantum key distribution.

Quantum blockades as a nonlinear quantum optical process have been well studied in recent years. Using the quantum trajectory method, we calculate and discuss the output photon number distributions of a single-photon blockade process in a Kerr nonlinear dissipative resonator, revealing that the probability of the single-photon state can be optimized. Then we show through numerical simulations that such a quasi-single-photon source can drastically raise the key rate in the decoy-state quantum key distribution.

MGMT promoter methylation and glioblastoma prognosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: We undertook this study to comprehensively summarize the associations between MGMT promoter methylation and prognosis of glioblastoma (GBM).

Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases (from January 2003 to November 1, 2011) and the references of the relevant articles in English with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Two reviewers independently extracted data using a standardized form.