Identification of the primary pollution sources and dominant influencing factors of soil heavy metals using a random forest model optimized by genetic algorithm coupled with geodetector.

Identifying and quantifying the dominant factors influencing heavy metal (HM) pollution sources are essential for maintaining soil ecological health and implementing effective pollution control measures. This study analyzed soil HM samples from 53 different land use types in Jiaozuo City, Henan Province, China. Pollution sources were identified using Absolute Principal Component Score (APCS), with 8 anthropogenic factors, 9 natural factors, and 4 soil physicochemical properties mapped using Geographic Information System (GIS) kernel density estimation.

Dementia and Emergency Department Use in Older Adults With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: An Administrative Claims Data Analysis of Medicare Beneficiaries.

Background/objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with increased dementia risk. Whether this association is present among older adults with SLE is unclear. Further, whether individuals with concomitant SLE and dementia are at increased risk of emergency department (ED) use has not been explored.

Response to induction chemotherapy modifies the effect of conventional prognostic factors in high-risk neuroblastoma: A report from the Children's Oncology Group.

Background: Response to induction chemotherapy has been shown to predict outcome in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NB), with those achieving a complete response (CR) having superior outcomes.

Methods: We evaluated whether conventional prognostic factors remain prognostic in subsets of patients defined by response to induction. 1244 Patients from four COG high-risk trials were included.

Influence of blood transfusion during induction chemotherapy on treatment outcomes in acute myeloid leukemia.

Background: Transfusion is an integral part of supportive care in patients undergoing aggressive chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). As transfusion induces immune modulation, the objective of the study was to assess whether the intensity of red blood cell (RBC) and platelet (PLT) transfusion during induction chemotherapy influences complete remission (CR) and overall survival (OS) in newly diagnosed AML patients.

Methods: Details of the number of RBC units and PLT events transfused from diagnosis till completion of induction chemotherapy were collected.

Clinical efficacy of dexmedetomidine preemptive analgesia in breast tumor resection.

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of dexmedetomidine preemptive analgesia in patients undergoing mastectomy.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted, including 236 patients who underwent breast tumor resection. Of these, 131 patients in the control group received routine postoperative intravenous patient-controlled analgesia, while 105 patients in the preemptive analgesia group received dexmedetomidine preemptive analgesia during surgery.

Clinical superiority of 3D-assisted percutaneous nephrolithotomy in treating complex upper urinary tract calculi: a single-center study.

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of three-dimensional (3D) visualization technology assisted percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in the treatment of complex upper urinary tract calculi.

Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 127 patients with complex upper urinary tract stones admitted to Yongchuan Hospital, Chongqing Medical University from January 2020 to January 2023. According to the treatment methods, the patients were divided into an observation group (3D visualization technology assisted PCNL, n = 69) and a control group (conventional PCNL, n = 58).

Exploring the relationship between melanopsin gene variants, sleep, and markers of brain health.

Introduction: Melanopsin is a photopigment with roles in mediating sleep and circadian-related processes, which are often disrupted in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Melanopsin also impacts cognition and synaptogenesis. This study investigated the associations between melanopsin genetic variants, sleep, and markers of brain health.

Solar-based technologies for removing potentially toxic metals from water sources: a review.

Technological advances have led to a proportional increase in the deposition of contaminants across various environmental compartments, including water sources. Heavy metals, also known as potentially toxic metals, are of particular concern due to their significant harmful impacts on environmental and human health. Among the available methods for mitigating the threat of these metals in water, solar radiation-based technologies stand out for their cleanliness, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency in removing or reducing the toxicity of heavy metals.

Indication of air pollution based on the comparison of mercury and other elements in the faeces of marmots from the Western Carpathians and the Dzungarian Alatau.

The Dzungarian Alatau in Central Asia and the Western Carpathians in Central Europe are exposed to anthropogenic sources of pollution that are impacting high-altitude mountain systems through long-range transport of emissions. Based on analyses of the autumn faeces of two species of marmots (Marmota baibacina from the alpine habitats of Zhongar Alatau National Park, Marmota marmota latirostris from the alpine habitats of the Western Tatras), we determined the environmental load of mercury and other chemical elements. Our results show significantly higher levels of total mercury amounts (p < 0.

Optimizing the hyperbaric chamber pressurization profile during standard hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Middle ear barotrauma (MEBT) is the most common complication in providing hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO). This study explored the impact of altering the shape of the time-pressure curve with the aim of reducing the occurrence of MEBT and optimizing the HBO experience during the pressurization process. Four distinct mathematically derived protocols-Constant Pressure Difference (CPD), Constant Volume Difference (CVD), Constant Ratio (CR), and Inverted Constant Ratio (ICR)-were investigated using computer simulations on a simple ear model.

Emotion regulation strategy and its relationship with emotional dysregulation in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: behavioral and brain findings.

Important associations between emotional dysregulation (ED) and ADHD have been identified in adults, with a key manifestation of this being differential use of emotion regulation strategies: reduced use of cognitive reappraisal (CR), but elevated expressive suppression (ES). These associations have been observed at both behavioral and neuroimaging levels. The present study aims to explore the use of CR and ES in children with ADHD, and their relationship to ED.

Relationship between additional mutations at diagnosis and treatment response in patients with essential thrombocythemia.

Patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) have a chronic evolution with a risk of hematological transformation associated with a dismal outcome. Since patients with resistance or intolerance have an adverse prognosis, it is important to identify which patient will respond to first-line treatment. We therefore aim to describe the association between additional mutations and response to first-line treatment in patients with ET.

TP53 Mutations are Associated with CD19 Negative Relapse and Inferior Outcomes after Blinatumomab in Adults with ALL.

Despite the success of the CD19xCD3 T cell engager blinatumomab in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), treatment failure is common and can manifest with antigen loss and extramedullary disease (EMD) relapse. To understand the impact of leukemia genetics on outcomes, we reviewed 267 adult patients with B-ALL treated with blinatumomab and used next generation sequencing to identify molecular alterations. Patients received blinatumomab for relapsed/refractory (R/R) disease (n=150), minimal residual disease (MRD+) (n=88), upfront as induction (n=10), or as consolidation in MRD- state (n=19).

Population pharmacokinetic model of tranexamic acid in patients who undergo cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Purpose: Tranexamic acid (TXA) is widely used as an antifibrinolytic drug. However, studies to determine the optimal blood concentration of TXA have produced inconsistent results. During cardiac surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has serious effects on drug distribution, elimination, and plasma concentration.

Phase I study of CD19 CAR T-cell therapy harboring a fully human scFv in CAR-naïve adult B-ALL patients.

CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor-engineered (CD19 CAR) T-cell therapy elicits high response rates but fails to induce durable responses in most adults with relapsed or refractory (R/R) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). In a previous clinical trial (NCT01865617), we observed anti-CAR immune responses associated with impaired in vivo CAR T-cell expansion after second infusions. Because these CD8+ T-cell responses were predominantly directed at peptides derived from the murine single chain variable fragment (scFv) in the CAR, we conducted a clinical trial investigating the safety and efficacy of CD19 CAR T-cells engineered with a CAR incorporating a fully human scFv (JCAR021) in adults with R/R B-ALL (NCT03103971).

Uptake and safety of Sotrovimab for prevention of severe COVID-19 in a cohort and self-controlled case series study.

Background: Sotrovimab is a neutralising monoclonal antibody (nMAB) currently available to treat extremely clinically vulnerable COVID-19 patients in England. Trials have shown it to have mild to moderate side effects, however, evidence regarding its safety in real-world settings remains insufficient.

Methods: Descriptive and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate uptake, and a self-controlled case series analysis performed to measure the risk of hospital admission (hospitalisation) associated with 49 pre-specified suspected adverse outcomes in the period 2-28 days post-Sotrovimab treatment among eligible patients treated between December 11, 2021 and May 24, 2022.

Multiple mutations in polyketide synthase led to disruption of Psittacofulvin production across diverse parrot species.

Polyketide synthases (PKSs) are crucial multidomain enzymes in diverse natural product biosynthesis. Parrots use a type I PKS to produce a unique pigment called psittacofulvin in their feathers. In domesticated budgerigars and lovebirds, the same amino acid substitution (R644W) within malonyl/acetyltransferase (MAT) domain of this enzyme has been shown to cause the blue phenotype with no psittacofulvin pigmentation, proposing a strong evolutionary constraint on the mechanism.

Highly efficient and rapid removal of Congo red dye from textile wastewater using facile synthesized Mg/Ni/Al layered double hydroxide.

Layered double hydroxides (LDH) are compounds with unique structures of hydroxide functional groups on their surfaces, and they have the proper arrangement of divalent and trivalent cations to adjust their unique catalytic actions. LDH was synthesized utilizing the co-precipitation technique and was thermally treated at 300 °C. The prepared compounds were chemically and structurally elucidated using FT-IR, XRD, SEM, BET, TG-DTA, and XPS characterization.

A longitudinal analysis of physical exercise in shaping language learners' emotional well-being: a comparative analysis between L1 and L2 students.

Background: Students' psychological wellness is one of the key elements that improve their well-being and shape their academic progress in the realm of language learning. Among various strategies, physical exercise emerges as an effective approach, allowing learners to manage their emotions considerably.

Methods: Employing a quasi-experimental research design, this study examines the impact of a three-month physical running exercise intervention on emotional regulation behaviors among L1 (Arabic language) and L2 (English as a foreign language learning) students.

Chartering Patient Flights for Surgery in a Road Inaccessible Nation: The Samaritan's Purse Cleft Lip Missions Model in South Sudan.

Introduction: Few patients in South Sudan have access to cleft lip repair due to limitations in health care facilities, personnel and road infrastructure. Samaritan's Purse is a non-governmental organization that provides chartered flights from road inaccessible regions to a single central hospital in this nation's capital. This study's purpose was to describe the chartered flight model for conducting nationwide cleft lip mission trips.

Impact of dumpsite compost on heavy metal accumulation in some cultivated plants.

The study examines the concentrations of heavy metals in agricultural soil, compost from landfills, maize plants, and spinach crops. The results show that compost from landfills had levels exceeding EU requirements for Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. However, agricultural soil contained trace amounts of heavy metals.

Orthognathic surgery-related condylar resorption in patients with skeletal class III malocclusion versus class III malocclusion: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Orthodontic-orthognathic treatment is the standard of care for moderate and/or severe skeletal class III (SCIII) malocclusion. Following orthognathic surgery, morphological changes in the temporomandibular joint structures (TMJ) may contribute to condylar resorption (CR).

Objectives: This systematic review aimed to identify the morphological signs of condylar resorption (changes in the condylar head, position, neck, disk, and joint space) following orthognathic surgery in patients with SCIII compared with those with skeletal class II (SCII) malocclusion.

Optimization of a micro-scale air-liquid-interface model of human proximal airway epithelium for moderate throughput drug screening for SARS-CoV-2.

Background: Many respiratory viruses attack the airway epithelium and cause a wide spectrum of diseases for which we have limited therapies. To date, a few primary human stem cell-based models of the proximal airway have been reported for drug discovery but scaling them up to a higher throughput platform remains a significant challenge. As a result, most of the drug screening assays for respiratory viruses are performed on commercial cell line-based 2D cultures that provide limited translational ability.