Background The sense of touch plays a crucial role in interactive behavior within virtual spaces,particularly when visual attention is absent.Although haptic feedback has been widely used to compensate for the lack of...Background The sense of touch plays a crucial role in interactive behavior within virtual spaces,particularly when visual attention is absent.Although haptic feedback has been widely used to compensate for the lack of visual cues,the use of tactile information as a predictive feedforward cue to guide hand movements remains unexplored and lacks theoretical understanding.Methods This study introduces a fingertip aero-haptic rendering method to investigate its effectiveness in directing hand movements during eyes-free spatial interactions.The wearable device incorporates a multichannel micro-airflow chamber to deliver adjustable tactile effects on the fingertips.Results The first study verified that tactile directional feedforward cues significantly improve user capabilities in eyes-free target acquisition and that users rely heavily on haptic indications rather than spatial memory to control their hands.A subsequent study examined the impact of enriched tactile feedforward cues on assisting users in determining precise target positions during eyes-free interactions,and assessed the required learning efforts.Conclusions The haptic feedforward effect holds great practical promise in eyeless design for virtual reality.We aim to integrate cognitive models and tactile feedforward cues in the future,and apply richer tactile feedforward information to alleviate users'perceptual deficiencies.展开更多
BACKGROUND The combination of atezolizumab(ATZ)and bevacizumab(BVZ)was approved as first-line systemic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)owing to its superior rates of response and patient survival.How...BACKGROUND The combination of atezolizumab(ATZ)and bevacizumab(BVZ)was approved as first-line systemic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)owing to its superior rates of response and patient survival.However,ATZ+BVZ is associated with increased risk of upper gastrointestinal(GI)bleeding,including arterial bleeding,which is rare and potentially fatal.We present a case of massive upper GI bleeding from a gastric pseudoaneurysm in a patient with advanced HCC who had been treated with ATZ+BVZ.CASE SUMMARY A 67-year-old man presented with severe upper GI bleeding after atezolizumab(ATZ)+bevacizumab(BVZ)therapy for HCC.Endoscopy failed to detect the bleeding site.Digital subtraction angiography revealed a gastric artery pseudoaneurysm and contrast extravasation from the inferior splenic artery and a branch of the left gastric artery.Successful hemostasis was achieved with embolization.CONCLUSION HCC patients who have been treated with ATZ+BVZ should be followed for 3 to 6 mo to monitor for development of massive GI bleeding.Diagnosis may require angiography.Embolization is an effective treatment.展开更多
BACKGROUND Precleaning is a key step in endoscopic reprocessing.AIM To develop an effective and economic endoscope cleaning method by using a disposable endoscope bedside precleaning kit.METHODS Altogether,228 used ga...BACKGROUND Precleaning is a key step in endoscopic reprocessing.AIM To develop an effective and economic endoscope cleaning method by using a disposable endoscope bedside precleaning kit.METHODS Altogether,228 used gastrointestinal endoscopes were selected from five high-volume endoscopy units and precleaned by a traditional precleaning bucket(group T)or a disposable endoscope bedside precleaning kit(group D).Each group was further subdivided based on the replacement frequency of the cleaning solution,which was replaced every time in subgroups T1 and D1 and every several times in subgroups Ts and Ds.The adenosine triphosphate(ATP)level and residual proteins were measured three times:Before and after precleaning and after manual cleaning.RESULTS After precleaning,the precleaning kit significantly reduced the ATP levels(P=0.034)and has a more stable ATP clearance rate than the traditional precleaning bucket.The precleaning kit also saved a quarter of the cost of enzymatic detergent used during the precleaning process.After manual cleaning,the ATP levels were also significantly lower in the precleaning kit group than in the traditional precleaning bucket group(P<0.05).Meanwhile,the number of uses of the cleaning solution(up to four times)has no significant impact on the cleaning effect(P>0.05).CONCLUSION Considering its economic cost and cleaning effect,the use of a disposable endoscope bedside precleaning kit can be an optimal option in the precleaning stage with the cleaning solution being replaced several times in the manual cleaning stage.展开更多
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)has a poor prognosis,with a 5-year survival rate of less than 10%,owing to its late-stage diagnosis.Early detection of pancreatic cancer(PC)can significantly increase s...BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)has a poor prognosis,with a 5-year survival rate of less than 10%,owing to its late-stage diagnosis.Early detection of pancreatic cancer(PC)can significantly increase survival rates.AIM To identify the serum biomarker signatures associated with early-stage PDAC by serum N-glycan analysis.METHODS An extensive patient cohort was used to determine a biomarker signature,in-cluding patients with PDAC that was well-defined at an early stage(stages I and II).The biomarker signature was derived from a case-control study using a case-cohort design consisting of 29 patients with stage I,22 with stage II,4 with stage III,16 with stage IV PDAC,and 88 controls.We used multiparametric analysis to identify early-stage PDAC N-glycan signatures and developed an N-glycan sig-nature-based diagnosis model called the“Glyco-model”.RESULTS The biomarker signature was created to discriminate samples derived from patients with PC from those of controls,with a receiver operating characteristic area under the curve of 0.86.In addition,the biomarker signature combined with cancer antigen 19-9 could discriminate patients with PDAC from controls,with a receiver operating characteristic area under the curve of 0.919.Glyco-model demonstrated favorable diagnostic performance in all stages of PC.The diagnostic sensitivity for stage I PDAC was 89.66%.Core Tip:This study employed a patient cohort to investigate the N-glycan signature of early-stage pancreatic cancer(PC).Serum N-glycans analysis was conducted to identify the serum biomarker signature associated with early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC),resulting in the identification of nine early-stage PDAC N-glycan signatures.Subsequently,utilizing these biosignatures,a diagnostic model named the“Glyco-model”was developed,demonstrating promising diagnostic performance across all stages of PC.The study revealed that the diagnostic sensitivity for stage I PDAC was determined to be 89.66%.Consequently,this diagnostic model exhibits potential as a prospective strategy for the early detection of PDAC.展开更多
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the main reasons of tumor-related deaths worldwide.At present,the main treatment is surgery,but the results are unsatisfactory,and the prognosis is poor.The majority of patients die d...Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the main reasons of tumor-related deaths worldwide.At present,the main treatment is surgery,but the results are unsatisfactory,and the prognosis is poor.The majority of patients die due to liver or lung metastasis or recurrence.In recent years,great progress has been made in the field of tumor gene therapy,providing a new treatment for combating CRC.As oncolytic viruses selectively replicate almost exclusively in the cytoplasm of tumor cells and do not require integration into the host genome,they are safer,more effective and more attractive as oncolytic agents.Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is a natural RNA oncolytic virus.After NDV selectively infects tumor cells,the immune response induced by NDV’s envelope protein and intracellular factors can effectively kill the tumor without affecting normal cells.Reverse genetic techniques make NDV a vector for gene therapy.Arming the virus by inserting various exogenous genes or using NDV in combination with immunotherapy can also improve the anti-CRC capacity of NDV,and good results have been achieved in animal models and clinical treatment trials.This article reviews the molecular biological characteristics and oncolytic mechanism of NDV and discusses in vitro and in vivo experiments on NDV anti-CRC capacity and clinical treatment.In conclusion,NDV is an excellent candidate for cancer treatment,but more preclinical studies and clinical trials are needed to ensure its safety and efficacy.展开更多
AIM:To investigate the potential of serum peptides as a diagnostic tool for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)with bone metastasis.METHODS:Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-...AIM:To investigate the potential of serum peptides as a diagnostic tool for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)with bone metastasis.METHODS:Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF-MS)was used to characterize the serum peptide profile of HCC patients with bone metastasis.Serum samples from 138 HCC patients(66 cases with and 72 cases without bone metastasis)were randomly assigned into a training set(n=76)and a test set(n=62).Differential serum peptides were examined using ClinProt magnetic bead-based purification followed by MALDITOF-MS.The sequences of differentially expressed serum peptides were identified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.A diagnostic model was established using a learning algorithm of radial basis function neural network verified by a single blind trial.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic power of the established model.RESULTS:Ten peptide peaks were significantly different between HCC patients with or without bone metastasis(P<0.001).Sequences of seven peptides with mass to charge ratios(m/z)of 1780.7,1866.5,2131.6,2880.4,1532.4,2489.8,and 2234.3 were successfully identified.These seven peptides were derived from alpha-fetoprotein,prothrombin,serglycin,isoform2 of inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H4,isoform 1 of autophagy-related protein 16-2,and transthyretin and fibrinogen beta chains,respectively.The recognition rate and predictive power of a diagnostic model established on the basis of six significant peptides(m/z for these six peptides were 1535.4,1780.7,1866.5,2131.6,2880.4,and 2901.9)were 89.47%and82.89%,respectively.The sensitivity and specificity of this model based upon a single blind trial were 85.29%and 85.71%,respectively.ROC analysis found that the AUC(area under the ROC curve)value was 0.911.CONCLUSION:Our study suggested that serum peptides may serve as a diagnosis tool for HCC bone metastasis.展开更多
Aim Dental biofilms are complex communities composed largely of harmless bacteria. Certain pathogenic species including Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) can become predominant when host factors such as dietary sucrose...Aim Dental biofilms are complex communities composed largely of harmless bacteria. Certain pathogenic species including Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) can become predominant when host factors such as dietary sucrose intake imbalance the biofilm ecology. Current approaches to control S. mutans infection are not pathogen-specific and eliminate the entire oral community along with any protective benefits provided. Here, we tested the hypothesis that removal of S. mutans from the oral community through targeted antimicrobial therapy achieves protection against subsequent S. mutans colonization. Methodology Controlled amounts of S. mutans were mixed with S. mutans-free saliva, grown into biofilms and visualized by antibody staining and cfu quantization. Two specifically-targeted antimicrobial peptides (STAMPs) against S. mutans were tested for their ability to reduce S. mutans biofilm incorporation upon treatment of the inocula. The resulting biofilms were also evaluated for their ability to resist subsequent exogenous S. mutans colonization. Results S. mutans colonization was considerably reduced (9 ± 0.4 fold reduction, P=0.01) when the surface was preoccupied with saliva-derived biofilms. Furthermore, treatment with S. mutans-specific STAMPs yielded S. mutans-deficient biofilms with significant protection against further S. mutans colonization (5 minutes treatment: 38 ± 13 fold reduction P=0.01; 16 hours treatment: 96 ± 28 fold reduction P=0.07). Conclusion S. mutans infection is reduced by the pre- sence of existing biofilms. Thus maintaining a healthy or "normal" biofilm through targeted antimicrobial therapy (such as the STAMPs) could represent an effective strategy for the treatment and prevention of S. mutans colonization in the oral cavity and caries progression.展开更多
Dental caries (tooth decay) is caused by a specific group of cariogenic bacteria, like Streptococcus mutans, which convert dietary sugars into acids that dissolve the mineral in tooth structure. Killing cariogenic bac...Dental caries (tooth decay) is caused by a specific group of cariogenic bacteria, like Streptococcus mutans, which convert dietary sugars into acids that dissolve the mineral in tooth structure. Killing cariogenic bacteria is an effective way to control or prevent tooth decay. In a previous study, we discovered a novel compound (Glycyrrhizol A), from the extraction of licorice roots, with strong antimicrobial activity against cariogenic bacteria. In the current study, we developed a method to produce these specific herbal extracts in large quantities, and then used these extracts to develop a sugar-free lollipop that effectively kills cariogenic bacteria like Streptococcus mutans. Further studies showed that these sugar-free lollipops are safe and their antimicrobial activity is stable. Two pilot human studies indicate that a brief application of these lollipops (twice a day for ten days) led to a marked reduction of cariogenic bacteria in oral cavity among most human subjects tested. This herbal lollipop could be a novel tool to promote oral health through functional foods.展开更多
Amyloid cross-seeding of different amyloid proteins is considered as a highly possible mechanism for exacerbating the transmissible pathogenesis of protein misfolding disease(PMDs)and for explaining a molecular link b...Amyloid cross-seeding of different amyloid proteins is considered as a highly possible mechanism for exacerbating the transmissible pathogenesis of protein misfolding disease(PMDs)and for explaining a molecular link between different PMDs,including Alzheimer disease(AD)and type 2 diabetes(T2D),AD and Parkinson disease(PD),and AD and prion disease.Among them,AD and T2D are the most prevalent PMDs,affecting millions of people globally,while Ab and hIAPP are the causative peptides responsible for AD and T2D,respectively.Increasing clinical and epidemiological evidences lead to a hypothesis that the cross-seeding of Ab and hIAPP is more biologically responsible for a pathological link between AD and T2D.In this review,we particularly focus on(i)the most recent and important findings of amyloid cross-seeding between Ab and hIAPP from in vitro,in vivo,and in silico studies,(ii)a mechanistic role of structural compatibility and sequence similarity of amyloid proteins(beyond Ab and hIAPP)in amyloid cross-seeding,and(iii)several current challenges and future research directions in this lessstudied field.Review of amyloid cross-seeding hopefully provides some mechanistic understanding of amyloidogenesis and inspires more efforts for the better design of next-generation drugs/strategies to treat different PMDs simultaneously.展开更多
According to the requirement of natural human-computer interaction for Ambient Intelligence (AmI), a Bluetooth- based authentication technique is provided. An authentication network combining advantages of Bluetooth a...According to the requirement of natural human-computer interaction for Ambient Intelligence (AmI), a Bluetooth- based authentication technique is provided. An authentication network combining advantages of Bluetooth ad hoc network with the Ethernet is introduced first in detail. Then we propose a Bluetooth badge for storing the user's identification information. Finally, the authentication system based on Bluetooth badge and authentication network is introduced. It is demonstrated ex- perimentally that the Bluetooth-based authentication technique can authenticate the user automatically.展开更多
Thermoelectric devices enable direct conversion between thermal and electrical energy.Recent studies have indicated that the thin film/substrate heterostructure is effective in achieving high thermoelectric performanc...Thermoelectric devices enable direct conversion between thermal and electrical energy.Recent studies have indicated that the thin film/substrate heterostructure is effective in achieving high thermoelectric performance via decoupling the Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity otherwise adversely inter-dependent in homogenous bulk materials.However,the mechanism underlying the thin film/substrate heterostructure thermoelectricity remains unclear.In addition,the power output of the thin film/substrate heterostructure is limited to the nanowatt scale to date,falling short of the practical application requirement.Here,we fabricated the CrN/SrTiO_(3-x) heterostructures with high thermoelectric output power and outstanding thermal stability.By varying the CrN film thickness and the reduction degree of CrN/SrTiO_(3-x) substrate,the optimized power output and the power density have respectively reached 276μWand 10^(8) mW/cm^(2) for the 30 nm CrN film on a highly reduced surface of CrN/SrTiO_(3-x) under a temperature difference of 300 K.The performance enhancement is attributed to the CrN/CrN/SrTiO_(3-x) heterointerface,corroborated by the band bending as revealed by the scanning Kelvin probe microscopy.These results will stimulate further research efforts towards interface thermoelectrics.展开更多
BACKGROUND Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia(HHT)is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disease.Very few patients suffering from HHT present with associated pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH),which may result in a...BACKGROUND Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia(HHT)is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disease.Very few patients suffering from HHT present with associated pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH),which may result in a poor prognosis.Here,we report a case of HHT with PAH.The patient’s clinical manifestations and treatment as well as genetic analysis of family members are reviewed,in order to raise awareness of this multimorbidity.CASE SUMMARY A 45-year-old Chinese woman was admitted to the hospital to address a complaint of intermittent shortness of breath,which had lasted over the past 2 years.She also had a 30-year history of recurrent epistaxis and 5-year history of anemia.She reported that the shortness of breath had aggravated gradually over the 2 years.Physical examination discovered anemia and detected gallop rhythm in the precordium.Chest computerized tomography and cardiac ultrasound demonstrated PAH and hepatic arteriovenous malformation.The formal clinical diagnosis was HHT combined with PAH.The patient was treated with ambrisentan and her condition improved for a time.She died half a year after the diagnosis.Genetic testing revealed the patient and some family members to carry an activin A receptor-like type 1 mutation(c.1232G>A,p.Arg411Gln);the family was thus identified as an HHT family.CONCLUSION We report a novel gene mutation(c.1232G>A,p.Arg411Gln)in a Chinese HHT patient with PAH.展开更多
Although great achievements have been made in the past decades in medicine,cancer remains a worldwide public health issue.Surgery is usually accompanied by shortcomings such as residual lesions and poor treatment effe...Although great achievements have been made in the past decades in medicine,cancer remains a worldwide public health issue.Surgery is usually accompanied by shortcomings such as residual lesions and poor treatment effects,and the successive appearance of other treatment methods,such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy,has not changed the postoperative recurrence rate,toxicity,and side effects.However,the advent of photodynamic therapy has greatly improved this situation.Photodynamic therapy is an emerging tumor diagnosis and treatment technology with good application prospects,photodynamic therapy uses a specific wavelength of light to excite a photosensitizer to generate reactive oxygen species,damage tumor blood vessels and promote tumor cell apoptosis,exerting an anti-tumor effect.Photodynamic therapy has become a new clinical anti-tumor therapy due to its clear efficacy,few side effects,and easy use in combination with other therapies.In this review,we summarized the main mechanism,current challenges,and advancements of photodynamic therapy.展开更多
Given the deleterious health effects associated with indoor air pollution (IAP), this study was conducted to evaluate an IAP intervention in rural areas in Gansu, one of the poorest provinces of China. We selected 371...Given the deleterious health effects associated with indoor air pollution (IAP), this study was conducted to evaluate an IAP intervention in rural areas in Gansu, one of the poorest provinces of China. We selected 371 rural households to take part in intervention measures including stove improvement and health education. Eight of 371 households were selected to conduct IAP sampling. Four hundred and thirteen women in these households completed a questionnaire and 49 women took part in lung function tests. After the intervention, PM4 levels reduced from 455 μg/m3 to 200 μg/m3 and CO reduced from 3.40 ppm to 2.90 ppm in indoor air. The percentage of predicted value of FEV1 and FVC improved to some degree after the intervention, but all the parameters of lung function assessment did not show a significant change. Prevalence rates of several symptoms associated with IAP significantly declined in the study population, compared with baseline levels. Intervention measures combining stove improvement with health education were effective in reducing IAP levels. Women’s health status, including eye and respiratory symptoms, also showed improvement. However, the effect on lung function was not apparent and warranted additional follow-up. Similarly, evaluation of the long term effects of the IAP intervention will require future studies.展开更多
BACKGROUND Anxiety is common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),including those with ulcerative colitis(UC)and Crohn’s disease(CD);however,the causal relationship between IBD and anxiety remains unknown...BACKGROUND Anxiety is common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),including those with ulcerative colitis(UC)and Crohn’s disease(CD);however,the causal relationship between IBD and anxiety remains unknown.AIM To investigate the causal relationship between IBD and anxiety by using bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis.METHODS Single nucleotide polymorphisms retrieved from genome-wide association studies(GWAS)of the European population were identified as genetic instrument variants.GWAS statistics for individuals with UC(6968 patients and 20464 controls;adults)and CD(5956 patients and 14927 controls;adults)were obtained from the International IBD Genetics Consortium.GWAS statistics for individuals with anxiety were obtained from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium(2565 patients and 14745 controls;adults)and FinnGen project(20992 patients and 197800 controls;adults),respectively.Inverse-variance weighted was applied to assess the causal relationship,and the results were strengthened by heterogeneity,pleiotropy and leave-one-out analyses.RESULTS Genetic susceptibility to UC was associated with an increased risk of anxiety[odds ratio:1.071(95%confidence interval:1.009-1.135),P=0.023],while genetic susceptibility to CD was not associated with anxiety.Genetic susceptibility to anxiety was not associated with UC or CD.No heterogeneity or pleiotropy was observed,and the leave-one-out analysis excluded the potential influence of a particular variant.CONCLUSION This study revealed that genetic susceptibility to UC was significantly associated with anxiety and highlighted the importance of early screening for anxiety in patients with UC.展开更多
Petroleum-based materials,such as plastic,are characterized by adverse environmental pollution;as a result,researchers have sought alternative degradable plastics that are environmentally friendly,such as polylactic a...Petroleum-based materials,such as plastic,are characterized by adverse environmental pollution;as a result,researchers have sought alternative degradable plastics that are environmentally friendly,such as polylactic acid(PLA).PLA has shown great potential to replace petroleum-based plastics.In this study,seven different samples of unmodified Pueraria lobata root powder(PRP)with different contents(i.e.,0,5,10,15,20,25,and 30 wt%)and three different modified PRPs(i.e.,treated with NaOH,NaOH-KH-550,and Formic)were used to reinforce polylactic acid(PLA)via solution casting process.These prepared PRP/PLA composite films were characterized using SEM,FTIR,UV-visible spectra analysis,TG,DSC,weight loss measurement(wt%),and mechanical measurements.The results showed that the PRP modified with KH-550(PRPK)intensified the interaction in the interface region between the PRP and the PLA matrix,thus increasing the tensile strength(54.5 MPa),elongation at break(2.8%),and Young’s modulus(3310 MPa)of the PRPK/PLA biofilms.Contact angle measurement showed that the PRP treatments contributed to the hydrophobicity of films.The transparency of PRP-10/PLA film atλ_(800)was 11.09%,and its UVA and UVB transmittance were 3.28 and 1.16,respectively.After blending PLA with PRP,the PRP/PLA composite films exhibited excellent biodegradability.In summary,PRPK improved the mechanical properties of PLA and prevented the films from ultraviolet light,suggesting that PRPK-5/PLA film could be used as packaging materials.展开更多
文摘Background The sense of touch plays a crucial role in interactive behavior within virtual spaces,particularly when visual attention is absent.Although haptic feedback has been widely used to compensate for the lack of visual cues,the use of tactile information as a predictive feedforward cue to guide hand movements remains unexplored and lacks theoretical understanding.Methods This study introduces a fingertip aero-haptic rendering method to investigate its effectiveness in directing hand movements during eyes-free spatial interactions.The wearable device incorporates a multichannel micro-airflow chamber to deliver adjustable tactile effects on the fingertips.Results The first study verified that tactile directional feedforward cues significantly improve user capabilities in eyes-free target acquisition and that users rely heavily on haptic indications rather than spatial memory to control their hands.A subsequent study examined the impact of enriched tactile feedforward cues on assisting users in determining precise target positions during eyes-free interactions,and assessed the required learning efforts.Conclusions The haptic feedforward effect holds great practical promise in eyeless design for virtual reality.We aim to integrate cognitive models and tactile feedforward cues in the future,and apply richer tactile feedforward information to alleviate users'perceptual deficiencies.
文摘BACKGROUND The combination of atezolizumab(ATZ)and bevacizumab(BVZ)was approved as first-line systemic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)owing to its superior rates of response and patient survival.However,ATZ+BVZ is associated with increased risk of upper gastrointestinal(GI)bleeding,including arterial bleeding,which is rare and potentially fatal.We present a case of massive upper GI bleeding from a gastric pseudoaneurysm in a patient with advanced HCC who had been treated with ATZ+BVZ.CASE SUMMARY A 67-year-old man presented with severe upper GI bleeding after atezolizumab(ATZ)+bevacizumab(BVZ)therapy for HCC.Endoscopy failed to detect the bleeding site.Digital subtraction angiography revealed a gastric artery pseudoaneurysm and contrast extravasation from the inferior splenic artery and a branch of the left gastric artery.Successful hemostasis was achieved with embolization.CONCLUSION HCC patients who have been treated with ATZ+BVZ should be followed for 3 to 6 mo to monitor for development of massive GI bleeding.Diagnosis may require angiography.Embolization is an effective treatment.
文摘BACKGROUND Precleaning is a key step in endoscopic reprocessing.AIM To develop an effective and economic endoscope cleaning method by using a disposable endoscope bedside precleaning kit.METHODS Altogether,228 used gastrointestinal endoscopes were selected from five high-volume endoscopy units and precleaned by a traditional precleaning bucket(group T)or a disposable endoscope bedside precleaning kit(group D).Each group was further subdivided based on the replacement frequency of the cleaning solution,which was replaced every time in subgroups T1 and D1 and every several times in subgroups Ts and Ds.The adenosine triphosphate(ATP)level and residual proteins were measured three times:Before and after precleaning and after manual cleaning.RESULTS After precleaning,the precleaning kit significantly reduced the ATP levels(P=0.034)and has a more stable ATP clearance rate than the traditional precleaning bucket.The precleaning kit also saved a quarter of the cost of enzymatic detergent used during the precleaning process.After manual cleaning,the ATP levels were also significantly lower in the precleaning kit group than in the traditional precleaning bucket group(P<0.05).Meanwhile,the number of uses of the cleaning solution(up to four times)has no significant impact on the cleaning effect(P>0.05).CONCLUSION Considering its economic cost and cleaning effect,the use of a disposable endoscope bedside precleaning kit can be an optimal option in the precleaning stage with the cleaning solution being replaced several times in the manual cleaning stage.
基金fundings for Clinical Trials from the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital,Medical School of Nanjing University,No.2021-LCYJ-MS-11.
文摘BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)has a poor prognosis,with a 5-year survival rate of less than 10%,owing to its late-stage diagnosis.Early detection of pancreatic cancer(PC)can significantly increase survival rates.AIM To identify the serum biomarker signatures associated with early-stage PDAC by serum N-glycan analysis.METHODS An extensive patient cohort was used to determine a biomarker signature,in-cluding patients with PDAC that was well-defined at an early stage(stages I and II).The biomarker signature was derived from a case-control study using a case-cohort design consisting of 29 patients with stage I,22 with stage II,4 with stage III,16 with stage IV PDAC,and 88 controls.We used multiparametric analysis to identify early-stage PDAC N-glycan signatures and developed an N-glycan sig-nature-based diagnosis model called the“Glyco-model”.RESULTS The biomarker signature was created to discriminate samples derived from patients with PC from those of controls,with a receiver operating characteristic area under the curve of 0.86.In addition,the biomarker signature combined with cancer antigen 19-9 could discriminate patients with PDAC from controls,with a receiver operating characteristic area under the curve of 0.919.Glyco-model demonstrated favorable diagnostic performance in all stages of PC.The diagnostic sensitivity for stage I PDAC was 89.66%.Core Tip:This study employed a patient cohort to investigate the N-glycan signature of early-stage pancreatic cancer(PC).Serum N-glycans analysis was conducted to identify the serum biomarker signature associated with early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC),resulting in the identification of nine early-stage PDAC N-glycan signatures.Subsequently,utilizing these biosignatures,a diagnostic model named the“Glyco-model”was developed,demonstrating promising diagnostic performance across all stages of PC.The study revealed that the diagnostic sensitivity for stage I PDAC was determined to be 89.66%.Consequently,this diagnostic model exhibits potential as a prospective strategy for the early detection of PDAC.
基金The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China （Grant Nos. 51374213 and 51674251）, the State Key Research Development Program of China （Grant No. 2016YFC0600705）, the National Natural Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of China （Grant No. 51125017）, the Fund for Innovative Research and Development Group Program of Jiangsu Province （Grant No. 2014- 27）, the Science Fund for Creative Research Groups of the National Natural Science Foundation of China （Grant No. 51421003）, and the Priority Academic Program Development of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions （PAPD 2014）.
文摘Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the main reasons of tumor-related deaths worldwide.At present,the main treatment is surgery,but the results are unsatisfactory,and the prognosis is poor.The majority of patients die due to liver or lung metastasis or recurrence.In recent years,great progress has been made in the field of tumor gene therapy,providing a new treatment for combating CRC.As oncolytic viruses selectively replicate almost exclusively in the cytoplasm of tumor cells and do not require integration into the host genome,they are safer,more effective and more attractive as oncolytic agents.Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is a natural RNA oncolytic virus.After NDV selectively infects tumor cells,the immune response induced by NDV’s envelope protein and intracellular factors can effectively kill the tumor without affecting normal cells.Reverse genetic techniques make NDV a vector for gene therapy.Arming the virus by inserting various exogenous genes or using NDV in combination with immunotherapy can also improve the anti-CRC capacity of NDV,and good results have been achieved in animal models and clinical treatment trials.This article reviews the molecular biological characteristics and oncolytic mechanism of NDV and discusses in vitro and in vivo experiments on NDV anti-CRC capacity and clinical treatment.In conclusion,NDV is an excellent candidate for cancer treatment,but more preclinical studies and clinical trials are needed to ensure its safety and efficacy.
基金Supported by the Medical Guidance Program of the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality,No.10411962400
文摘AIM:To investigate the potential of serum peptides as a diagnostic tool for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)with bone metastasis.METHODS:Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF-MS)was used to characterize the serum peptide profile of HCC patients with bone metastasis.Serum samples from 138 HCC patients(66 cases with and 72 cases without bone metastasis)were randomly assigned into a training set(n=76)and a test set(n=62).Differential serum peptides were examined using ClinProt magnetic bead-based purification followed by MALDITOF-MS.The sequences of differentially expressed serum peptides were identified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.A diagnostic model was established using a learning algorithm of radial basis function neural network verified by a single blind trial.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic power of the established model.RESULTS:Ten peptide peaks were significantly different between HCC patients with or without bone metastasis(P<0.001).Sequences of seven peptides with mass to charge ratios(m/z)of 1780.7,1866.5,2131.6,2880.4,1532.4,2489.8,and 2234.3 were successfully identified.These seven peptides were derived from alpha-fetoprotein,prothrombin,serglycin,isoform2 of inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H4,isoform 1 of autophagy-related protein 16-2,and transthyretin and fibrinogen beta chains,respectively.The recognition rate and predictive power of a diagnostic model established on the basis of six significant peptides(m/z for these six peptides were 1535.4,1780.7,1866.5,2131.6,2880.4,and 2901.9)were 89.47%and82.89%,respectively.The sensitivity and specificity of this model based upon a single blind trial were 85.29%and 85.71%,respectively.ROC analysis found that the AUC(area under the ROC curve)value was 0.911.CONCLUSION:Our study suggested that serum peptides may serve as a diagnosis tool for HCC bone metastasis.
文摘Aim Dental biofilms are complex communities composed largely of harmless bacteria. Certain pathogenic species including Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) can become predominant when host factors such as dietary sucrose intake imbalance the biofilm ecology. Current approaches to control S. mutans infection are not pathogen-specific and eliminate the entire oral community along with any protective benefits provided. Here, we tested the hypothesis that removal of S. mutans from the oral community through targeted antimicrobial therapy achieves protection against subsequent S. mutans colonization. Methodology Controlled amounts of S. mutans were mixed with S. mutans-free saliva, grown into biofilms and visualized by antibody staining and cfu quantization. Two specifically-targeted antimicrobial peptides (STAMPs) against S. mutans were tested for their ability to reduce S. mutans biofilm incorporation upon treatment of the inocula. The resulting biofilms were also evaluated for their ability to resist subsequent exogenous S. mutans colonization. Results S. mutans colonization was considerably reduced (9 ± 0.4 fold reduction, P=0.01) when the surface was preoccupied with saliva-derived biofilms. Furthermore, treatment with S. mutans-specific STAMPs yielded S. mutans-deficient biofilms with significant protection against further S. mutans colonization (5 minutes treatment: 38 ± 13 fold reduction P=0.01; 16 hours treatment: 96 ± 28 fold reduction P=0.07). Conclusion S. mutans infection is reduced by the pre- sence of existing biofilms. Thus maintaining a healthy or "normal" biofilm through targeted antimicrobial therapy (such as the STAMPs) could represent an effective strategy for the treatment and prevention of S. mutans colonization in the oral cavity and caries progression.
基金supported by C3 Jian Inc, Delta Dental-California and UCLA Oppenheimer Award
文摘Dental caries (tooth decay) is caused by a specific group of cariogenic bacteria, like Streptococcus mutans, which convert dietary sugars into acids that dissolve the mineral in tooth structure. Killing cariogenic bacteria is an effective way to control or prevent tooth decay. In a previous study, we discovered a novel compound (Glycyrrhizol A), from the extraction of licorice roots, with strong antimicrobial activity against cariogenic bacteria. In the current study, we developed a method to produce these specific herbal extracts in large quantities, and then used these extracts to develop a sugar-free lollipop that effectively kills cariogenic bacteria like Streptococcus mutans. Further studies showed that these sugar-free lollipops are safe and their antimicrobial activity is stable. Two pilot human studies indicate that a brief application of these lollipops (twice a day for ten days) led to a marked reduction of cariogenic bacteria in oral cavity among most human subjects tested. This herbal lollipop could be a novel tool to promote oral health through functional foods.
文摘Amyloid cross-seeding of different amyloid proteins is considered as a highly possible mechanism for exacerbating the transmissible pathogenesis of protein misfolding disease(PMDs)and for explaining a molecular link between different PMDs,including Alzheimer disease(AD)and type 2 diabetes(T2D),AD and Parkinson disease(PD),and AD and prion disease.Among them,AD and T2D are the most prevalent PMDs,affecting millions of people globally,while Ab and hIAPP are the causative peptides responsible for AD and T2D,respectively.Increasing clinical and epidemiological evidences lead to a hypothesis that the cross-seeding of Ab and hIAPP is more biologically responsible for a pathological link between AD and T2D.In this review,we particularly focus on(i)the most recent and important findings of amyloid cross-seeding between Ab and hIAPP from in vitro,in vivo,and in silico studies,(ii)a mechanistic role of structural compatibility and sequence similarity of amyloid proteins(beyond Ab and hIAPP)in amyloid cross-seeding,and(iii)several current challenges and future research directions in this lessstudied field.Review of amyloid cross-seeding hopefully provides some mechanistic understanding of amyloidogenesis and inspires more efforts for the better design of next-generation drugs/strategies to treat different PMDs simultaneously.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 60773186)the Science and Technology Research Foundation of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission of China (No. KM200710005018)
文摘According to the requirement of natural human-computer interaction for Ambient Intelligence (AmI), a Bluetooth- based authentication technique is provided. An authentication network combining advantages of Bluetooth ad hoc network with the Ethernet is introduced first in detail. Then we propose a Bluetooth badge for storing the user's identification information. Finally, the authentication system based on Bluetooth badge and authentication network is introduced. It is demonstrated ex- perimentally that the Bluetooth-based authentication technique can authenticate the user automatically.
基金This work was supported by grants from the Guangxi Natural Science Foundation （No. 2015GXNSFAA139217 and 2016GXNSFAA380231）, a grant from The Scientific Research Fund of Guangxi Education Department （No. YB2014057） entitled ＂AU-rich region connecting factor 1 targeted vascular endothelial cells for anti-aging＂, a grant from the Youth Foundation in Guangxi Medical Univer- sity （No. GXMUYSF201328）, a grant from the Undergraduate Innovative plan in Guangxi （No. 201510598012）, and a grant from the Guangxi Education Department Grant entitled ＂Innovation Project of Guangxi Graduate Educa- tion＂.
基金supported by Liaoning Revitalization Talents Program (No. XLYC1807209)Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP I202037)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 21625304, 22022205).
文摘Thermoelectric devices enable direct conversion between thermal and electrical energy.Recent studies have indicated that the thin film/substrate heterostructure is effective in achieving high thermoelectric performance via decoupling the Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity otherwise adversely inter-dependent in homogenous bulk materials.However,the mechanism underlying the thin film/substrate heterostructure thermoelectricity remains unclear.In addition,the power output of the thin film/substrate heterostructure is limited to the nanowatt scale to date,falling short of the practical application requirement.Here,we fabricated the CrN/SrTiO_(3-x) heterostructures with high thermoelectric output power and outstanding thermal stability.By varying the CrN film thickness and the reduction degree of CrN/SrTiO_(3-x) substrate,the optimized power output and the power density have respectively reached 276μWand 10^(8) mW/cm^(2) for the 30 nm CrN film on a highly reduced surface of CrN/SrTiO_(3-x) under a temperature difference of 300 K.The performance enhancement is attributed to the CrN/CrN/SrTiO_(3-x) heterointerface,corroborated by the band bending as revealed by the scanning Kelvin probe microscopy.These results will stimulate further research efforts towards interface thermoelectrics.
文摘BACKGROUND Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia(HHT)is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disease.Very few patients suffering from HHT present with associated pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH),which may result in a poor prognosis.Here,we report a case of HHT with PAH.The patient’s clinical manifestations and treatment as well as genetic analysis of family members are reviewed,in order to raise awareness of this multimorbidity.CASE SUMMARY A 45-year-old Chinese woman was admitted to the hospital to address a complaint of intermittent shortness of breath,which had lasted over the past 2 years.She also had a 30-year history of recurrent epistaxis and 5-year history of anemia.She reported that the shortness of breath had aggravated gradually over the 2 years.Physical examination discovered anemia and detected gallop rhythm in the precordium.Chest computerized tomography and cardiac ultrasound demonstrated PAH and hepatic arteriovenous malformation.The formal clinical diagnosis was HHT combined with PAH.The patient was treated with ambrisentan and her condition improved for a time.She died half a year after the diagnosis.Genetic testing revealed the patient and some family members to carry an activin A receptor-like type 1 mutation(c.1232G>A,p.Arg411Gln);the family was thus identified as an HHT family.CONCLUSION We report a novel gene mutation(c.1232G>A,p.Arg411Gln)in a Chinese HHT patient with PAH.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82072340)the Major National Science and Technology Projects–Major New Drug Creation(2019ZX09301-132)+1 种基金Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University(No.IRT_15R13)Guangxi Science and Technology Base and Talent Special Project(No.AD17129003).
文摘Although great achievements have been made in the past decades in medicine,cancer remains a worldwide public health issue.Surgery is usually accompanied by shortcomings such as residual lesions and poor treatment effects,and the successive appearance of other treatment methods,such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy,has not changed the postoperative recurrence rate,toxicity,and side effects.However,the advent of photodynamic therapy has greatly improved this situation.Photodynamic therapy is an emerging tumor diagnosis and treatment technology with good application prospects,photodynamic therapy uses a specific wavelength of light to excite a photosensitizer to generate reactive oxygen species,damage tumor blood vessels and promote tumor cell apoptosis,exerting an anti-tumor effect.Photodynamic therapy has become a new clinical anti-tumor therapy due to its clear efficacy,few side effects,and easy use in combination with other therapies.In this review,we summarized the main mechanism,current challenges,and advancements of photodynamic therapy.
文摘Given the deleterious health effects associated with indoor air pollution (IAP), this study was conducted to evaluate an IAP intervention in rural areas in Gansu, one of the poorest provinces of China. We selected 371 rural households to take part in intervention measures including stove improvement and health education. Eight of 371 households were selected to conduct IAP sampling. Four hundred and thirteen women in these households completed a questionnaire and 49 women took part in lung function tests. After the intervention, PM4 levels reduced from 455 μg/m3 to 200 μg/m3 and CO reduced from 3.40 ppm to 2.90 ppm in indoor air. The percentage of predicted value of FEV1 and FVC improved to some degree after the intervention, but all the parameters of lung function assessment did not show a significant change. Prevalence rates of several symptoms associated with IAP significantly declined in the study population, compared with baseline levels. Intervention measures combining stove improvement with health education were effective in reducing IAP levels. Women’s health status, including eye and respiratory symptoms, also showed improvement. However, the effect on lung function was not apparent and warranted additional follow-up. Similarly, evaluation of the long term effects of the IAP intervention will require future studies.
基金Supported by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation,No.2021M701614Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation,No.2022A1515111063,No.2022A1515111045Foundation of Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital,No.8200010545。
文摘BACKGROUND Anxiety is common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),including those with ulcerative colitis(UC)and Crohn’s disease(CD);however,the causal relationship between IBD and anxiety remains unknown.AIM To investigate the causal relationship between IBD and anxiety by using bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis.METHODS Single nucleotide polymorphisms retrieved from genome-wide association studies(GWAS)of the European population were identified as genetic instrument variants.GWAS statistics for individuals with UC(6968 patients and 20464 controls;adults)and CD(5956 patients and 14927 controls;adults)were obtained from the International IBD Genetics Consortium.GWAS statistics for individuals with anxiety were obtained from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium(2565 patients and 14745 controls;adults)and FinnGen project(20992 patients and 197800 controls;adults),respectively.Inverse-variance weighted was applied to assess the causal relationship,and the results were strengthened by heterogeneity,pleiotropy and leave-one-out analyses.RESULTS Genetic susceptibility to UC was associated with an increased risk of anxiety[odds ratio:1.071(95%confidence interval:1.009-1.135),P=0.023],while genetic susceptibility to CD was not associated with anxiety.Genetic susceptibility to anxiety was not associated with UC or CD.No heterogeneity or pleiotropy was observed,and the leave-one-out analysis excluded the potential influence of a particular variant.CONCLUSION This study revealed that genetic susceptibility to UC was significantly associated with anxiety and highlighted the importance of early screening for anxiety in patients with UC.
基金This research was funded by the Xiaohe Talent Project of Zhangjiajie City(No.2022xhrc01)the Research Foundation of Hunan Provincial Education Department(Nos.20A412+1 种基金19C1541)the Natural Science Research Project of Jishou University(No.Jd19005).
文摘Petroleum-based materials,such as plastic,are characterized by adverse environmental pollution;as a result,researchers have sought alternative degradable plastics that are environmentally friendly,such as polylactic acid(PLA).PLA has shown great potential to replace petroleum-based plastics.In this study,seven different samples of unmodified Pueraria lobata root powder(PRP)with different contents(i.e.,0,5,10,15,20,25,and 30 wt%)and three different modified PRPs(i.e.,treated with NaOH,NaOH-KH-550,and Formic)were used to reinforce polylactic acid(PLA)via solution casting process.These prepared PRP/PLA composite films were characterized using SEM,FTIR,UV-visible spectra analysis,TG,DSC,weight loss measurement(wt%),and mechanical measurements.The results showed that the PRP modified with KH-550(PRPK)intensified the interaction in the interface region between the PRP and the PLA matrix,thus increasing the tensile strength(54.5 MPa),elongation at break(2.8%),and Young’s modulus(3310 MPa)of the PRPK/PLA biofilms.Contact angle measurement showed that the PRP treatments contributed to the hydrophobicity of films.The transparency of PRP-10/PLA film atλ_(800)was 11.09%,and its UVA and UVB transmittance were 3.28 and 1.16,respectively.After blending PLA with PRP,the PRP/PLA composite films exhibited excellent biodegradability.In summary,PRPK improved the mechanical properties of PLA and prevented the films from ultraviolet light,suggesting that PRPK-5/PLA film could be used as packaging materials.
