Abstract Background Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and troponin have a close relationship with cardiogenic cerebral embolism (CCE), but their relationship with noncardiogenic patients with anterior circulation ischemia (ACI) and posterior circulation ischemia (PCI) is not clear. Objective To explore the predictive value of serum initial BNP and troponin on the functional prognosis of patients with noncardiogenic ACI and PCI. Methods Consecutive patients with first-episode cerebral infarction within 12 hours of symptom onset were enrolled in the present 1-year prospective cohort study. Serum levels of BNP and troponin were collected within 12 hours of onset. Infarction location was classified as ACI and PCI by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). According to the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 90 days after onset, ACI and PCI cases were respectively divided into a good prognosis group (mRS score between 0 and 2) and a poor prognosis group (mRS score between 3 and 6). The general state of health and results of laboratory examinations and other auxiliary examinations of all patients were recorded. Single-factor analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to assess the relationship between serum levels of BNP, troponin, and functional outcome. Results The multivariate logistic regression found that higher levels of initial BNP (odds ratio [OR] = 1.024; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.006–1.041; p = 0.007) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (OR = 1.184; 95%CI: 1.024–1.369; p = 0.022) were independent predictors of poor functional prognosis of noncardiogenic PCI at 90 days after onset after adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, history of hypertension and of diabetes. Conclusions The levels of initial BNP and CRP were related to poor functional outcomes in noncardiogenic PCI patients at 3 months, independent of troponin.

Resumo Antecedentes O peptídeo natriurético cerebral (BNP, na sigla em inglês) e a troponina estão intimamente relacionados com a embolia cerebral cardiogênica (CCE, na sigla em inglês), mas a relação com pacientes não cardioembólicos com isquemia de circulação anterior (ICA) e isquemia de circulação posterior (ICP) não é clara. Objetivo Investigar o valor preditivo dos níveis séricos iniciais do BNP e da troponina no prognóstico de pacientes com AVC isquêmico não cardiogênico. Métodos Os níveis séricos de BNP e de troponina foram recolhidos de pacientes com primeiro episódio de acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) isquêmico dentro de 12 horas após o início dos sintomas, com localização classificada como ICA e ICP de acordo com exame de ressonância magnética (RM). De acordo com a pontuação modificada da escala de Rankin (mRS), aos 90 dias após o início dos sintomas, ICA e ICP foram divididas respectivamente em um grupo de bom prognóstico (mRS entre 0 e2) e em um grupo de mau prognóstico (mRS entre 3 e 6). Foram registrados exames laboratoriais e outros exames complementares de todos os pacientes. Foram utilizadas análise fatorial única e análise de regressão logística multivariada para investigar a relação entre os níveis séricos de BNP e de troponina e o resultado funcional. Resultados A regressão logística multivariada evidenciou que os níveis mais altos de BNP inicial (odds ratio [OR] = 1,024, intervalo de confiança [IC] de 95%: 1,006–1,041; p = 0,007) e proteína C reativa (CRP, na sigla em inglês) (OR = 1,184; 95%CI: 1,024–1,369; p = 0,022) foram preditores independentes de mau prognóstico funcional da ICP não cardiogênica aos 90 dias após o início dos sintomas. Conclusões Os níveis iniciais de BNP e CRP se associaram a maus resultados funcionais em pacientes com ICP não cardiogênica aos três meses, independentemente da troponina.

Abstract Purpose: to evaluate the protective effect of omega-3 long-chain unsaturated fatty acids on the progression of wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD). Methods: this meta-analysis was designed, implemented, and analyzed in accordance with the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) protocol and is reported following PRISMA guidelines. Results: in this study we included 5 observational trials, including 2 cross-sectional studies, 2 case-control studies, and 1 confrontation study. These tests are conducted in the U.S., Europe and Japan, and are of high quality. In general, people with high dietary long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 LCPUFAs) have a lower risk of progression to advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (effect size, ES: 0.51, 95 % CI [0.34, 0.75], I2 = 70 %, p = 0.01). When assessing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) intake and wAMD risk a total of the three above studies were included, which also produced similar results. Conclusions: the highest DHA consumption reduced the risk of disease by 39 % (effect size: 0.61, 95 % CI [0.50, 0.74], I2 = 14 %, p = 0.31); compared with the lowest EPA consumption, the highest EPA consumption reduced the risk of wAMD by 32 % (ES: 0.68, 95 % CI [0.57, 0.82], I2 = 39 %, p = 0.20).

Resumen Propósito: evaluar el efecto protector de los AGPICL omega-3 sobre la degeneración macular húmeda asociada a la edad (DMAE). Métodos: este metaanálisis fue diseñado, implementado y analizado de acuerdo con el protocolo de Metaanálisis de Estudios Observacionales en Epidemiología (MOOSE) y se informa siguiendo las directrices de PRISMA. Resultados: en este estudio se incluyeron 5 ensayos observacionales, entre ellos 2 estudios transversales, 2 estudios de casos y controles y 1 estudio de confrontación. Estos ensayos se realizan en Estados Unidos, Europa y Japón y son de alta calidad. En general, las personas con una dieta alta en ácidos grasos poliinsaturados de cadena larga (AGPICL omega-3) tienen un menor riesgo de progresión hacia la degeneración macular avanzada relacionada con la edad (DMAE) (tamaño del efecto, ES: 0,51, IC 95 % [0,34, 0,75], I2 = 70 %, p = 0,01). Al evaluar la ingesta de ácido docosahexaenoico (DHA) y ácido eicosapentaenoico (EPA) y el riesgo de DMAE se incluyeron en total tres de los estudios anteriores, que también arrojaron resultados similares. Conclusiones: el mayor consumo de DHA redujo el riesgo de enfermedad en un 39 % (tamaño del efecto: 0,61, IC del 95 % [0,50, 0,74], I2 = 14 %, p = 0,31); en comparación con el menor consumo de EPA, el mayor consumo de EPA redujo el riesgo de wAMD en un 32 % (ES: 0,68, IC del 95 % [0,57, 0,82], I2 = 39 %, p = 0,20).

Abstract In this study, lotus root polysaccharide was taken as raw material. The preparation technology of its polysaccharide selenium was established by response surface design, and its antioxidant activity in vitro was studied. Selenium content was taken as the detection index, and the effects of reaction time, the ratio of sodium selenite to the polysaccharide, and the volume fraction of nitric acid on selenium content were investigated. Through the response surface method, the optimal synthesis conditions of lotus root polysaccharide selenium were obtained as follows: reaction time of 5.36h, the ratio of sodium selenite and lotus root polysaccharide is 0.78, the volume fraction of nitric acid 0.47%, the selenium content of lotus root polysaccharide selenium 0.1106%. Selenium, a polysaccharide from lotus root, had a scavenging effect on ABTS radical and superoxide ion, and the maximum scavenging rate was 52.17% and 85.23%, respectively. Aa shows that the synthesized lotus root polysaccharide selenium can be used as an antioxidant or functional food.

Abstract Frailty is a geriatric syndrome that predicts the onset of disability, morbidity and mortality in elderly people; it is a state of pre-disability and is reversible. This review aimed to assess the impact of dietary supplementation interventions in frail older adults. A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases was performed to collect randomized controlled trials of dietary supplements for the treatment of frailty in the elderly published before March 2022. The frailty score, muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance of the frail elderly were extracted for analysis. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager Version 5.4 and Stata version 15.0. Totally, 18 studies met the inclusion criteria, with 1204 participants (603 experiment group vs. 601 control group). Compared to control group, multi-nutrient nutrition intervention can significantly improve the frailty score of the elderly (MD = -0.19, 95% CI: -0.38 to -0.01, P = 0.04, I2 = 0). Protein supplementation intervention significantly improved body weight (MD = 4.86, 95% CI: 1.21 to 8.52, P = 0.009), muscle mass [lean mass (MD = 2.73, 95% CI:1.26 to 4.20, P = 0.0003)], muscle strength (MD = 1.90, 95% CI: 0.68 to 3.12, P = 0.002), and physical performance [chair stand test (MD = -2.15, 95% CI: -3.21 to -1.10, P < 0.0001)] in frail older adults compared to control. This meta-analysis and systematic review suggests that dietary supplements interventions positively influence in older people with frailty.

Abstract Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor in women. A previous genome-wide association study reports that rs72755295, a SNP locating at intron of EXO1 (exonuclease 1), is associated with breast cancer. Due to the complete linkage disequilibrium between rs72755295 and rs4149909, a nonsynonymous mutation for EXO1, rs4149909 is supposed to be the causal SNP. Since EXO1 is overexpressed in breast carcinoma samples, we hypothesized that the genetic variations in this locus might confer breast cancer risk by regulating EXO1 expression. To substantiate this, a functional genomics study was performed. The dual luciferase assay indicated that G of rs72755295 presents significantly higher relative enhancer activity than A, thus verifying that this SNP can influence gene expression in breast cell. Through chromosome conformation capture it was disclosed that the enhancer containing rs72755295 can interact with the EXO1 promoter. RNA-seq analysis indicated that EXO1 expression is dependent on the rs72755295 genotype. By chromatin immunoprecipitation, the transcription factor PAX6 (paired box 6) was recognized to bind the region spanning rs72755295. In electrophoretic mobility shift assay, G of rs72755295 displays obviously higher binding affinity with nuclear protein than A. Our results indicated that rs72755295 is a cis-regulatory variation for EXO1 and might confer breast cancer risk besides rs4149909.

The baseline drift artifact (BDA), namely, the baseline bias between the Hadamard transform (HT) spectrum and the signal averaging (SA) spectrum was unfortunately found in the HT pulsed separation techniques, which makes the HT analytical chemistry face the challenge of non-stability and unreliability. In order to find out the origin and eliminate the BDA phenomenon, the multiplexing mechanism of Hadamard transform ion mobility spectrometry (HT-IMS) has been analyzed in this research. Through simulation and experimental comparisons, the non-ideal overlap defect in Hadamard multiplexing process was suggested as the cause for the BDA phenomenon. Eventually, with a correction method, the BDA phenomenon could be well addressed, which guarantees the reliability and stability of HT techniques without increasing the hardware complexity.

This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics, prognosis, and factors for survival of patients who underwent early-start peritoneal dialysis (PD) within 24 h after catheter insertion three years after PD. This study was conducted from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2017. All adult patients who were diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and underwent PD for the first time within 24 h after catheter insertion in our hospital were included. All patients with PD were followed-up until they withdrew from PD, switching to hemodialysis, were transferred to other medical centers, underwent renal transplantation, died or were lost to follow-up, or continued to undergo dialysis until the end of the study period. The follow-up observation lasted three years. The number of eligible patients was 110, and switching to hemodialysis and death were the main reasons for patients to withdraw from PD. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year technical survival rates of patients were 89.1, 79.1, and 79.1% respectively, while the 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates were 90, 81.8, and 81.8%, respectively. The Charlson comorbidity index, age, hemoglobin, serum albumin, diabetic nephropathy, chronic glomerulonephritis, and hypertensive renal damage were independent risk factors that affected the prognosis of PD patients. Under the condition of ensuring the quality of the PD catheter insertion, early-start PD within 24 h after catheter insertion is a safe treatment approach for ESRD patients.

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the impact of different hypoxia reoxygenation (HR) times on autophagy of rat cardiomyocytes (H9C2). Methods: Rat cardiomyocytes were randomly divided into normal control group (group A), hypoxia group (group B), 2 h HR group (group C), 12 h HR group (group D), and 24 h HR group (group E). LC3 II/LC3 I was determined via western blotting, and cell viabilities of cardiomyocytes were measured using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Results: Cell viabilities in HR model groups were significantly lower than those of group A (P<0.05). LC3 II/LC3 I levels in groups B to D were significantly higher than those of group A (P<0.05), and group D showed the highest LC3 II/LC3 I levels. Cell viabilities in groups B to D were significantly lower than those of group A (P<0.05), with group D showing the lowest cell viabilities (P<0.05). Conclusions: Hypoxia can induce autophagy in rat cardiomyocytes, which can be further activated by reoxygenation; most notable after 12 h. Hypoxia-induced cell injury can be aggravated by reoxygenation. The lowest cell viability was observed at 12 h after reoxygenation; however, cell viability can be recovered after 24 h.

ResumenEn este artículo, nvestigamos el problema de unicidad sobre una conjetura de R. Brück que concierne una función meromórfica que comparte un conjunto de pequeñas funciones con su derivada, y obtenemos algunos resultados que mejoran los teoremas dados por Zhang y Yang.

AbstractIn this paper, we investigate the uniqueness problem on a conjecture of R. Brück concerning meromorphic function sharing the set of small functions with its derivative, and obtain some results which improve the theorems given by Zhang and Yang.

ResumenEn este artículo, se estudia la unicidad de dos polinomios de diferencias de funciones enteras que comparten una función pequeña y polinomial. Nuestros resultados mejoran teoremas previos dados por Chen y Chen 2, Liu, Liu y Cao 22, y Li et al. 19.

AbstractIn this paper, we study the uniqueness of two difference polynomials of entire functions sharing one value, polynomial and small function. Our results of this paper are improvement of the previous theorems given by Chen and Chen 2, Liu, Liu and Cao 22 and Li et al. 19.

In this paper, a novel method called blown bubble-spinning was employed to produce nanofibers. Compared with the traditional technologies, such as melt blowing and electrospinning, hot airflow is used in blown bubble-electrospinning to overcome the surface tension of the polymer bubbles and to pull multiple jets from the broken bubble into nano scale ones which are solidified to nanofibers after solvent evaporation, the technology requires no electrostatic force. The effect of Nylon6/66 polymer concentration on the morphology of nanofibers is investigated. The results indicate that nanofibers without beads were successfully fabricated under this one-step process and spontaneously aggregated to form superfine fiber assemblies. Besides, average diameters of both fiber assemblies and inner nanofibers increased with polymer concentrations, ranging from 6 micrometers to 34 micrometers and 180nm to 524nm, respectively. This study provides a promising approach to directly generate fiber assemblies composed of nanofibers, which may show great potential in the future applications.

A conservation law is obtained for self-hydrolysis process of aqueous sodium borohydride, which gives an explicit relationship between the concentrations of NaBH4 and hydrogen ions during the global reaction.

This paper studies the effect of airflow direction on morphology of the nanofibers obtained by the blown bubble-spinning, a kind of Bubbfil spinning processes. Regenerated silk fibroin is used in the experiment, and the results indicate that nanofibers with random array structure can be obtained when the blowing air direction is perpendicular to the direction of bubble ejection. While uniform oriented fiber bundles composed of superfine fibers are obverse when the blowing air directs to the bubble ejection. The paper reveals that blowing air direction can be used to control morphology and structure of fibers during the spinning process.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of percutaneous coronary intervention and thrombolysis after restoration of spontaneous circulation in cardiac arrest patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction using meta-analysis. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis of clinical studies indexed in the PUBMED, MEDLINE and EMBASE databases and published between January 1995 and October 2012. In addition, we compared the hospital discharge and neurological recovery rates between the patients who received percutaneous coronary intervention and those who received thrombolysis. RESULTS: Twenty-four studies evaluating the effects of percutaneous coronary intervention or thrombolysis after restoration of spontaneous circulation in cardiac arrest patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction were included. Seventeen of the 24 studies were used in this meta-analysis. All studies were used to compare percutaneous coronary intervention and thrombolysis. The meta-analysis showed that the rate of hospital discharge improved with both percutaneous coronary intervention (p<0.001) and thrombolysis (p<0.001). We also found that cardiac arrest patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction who received thrombolysis after restoration of spontaneous circulation did not have decreased hospital discharge (p = 0.543) or neurological recovery rates (p = 0.165) compared with those who received percutaneous coronary intervention. CONCLUSION: In cardiac arrest patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction who achieved restoration of spontaneous circulation, both percutaneous coronary intervention and thrombolysis improved the hospital discharge rate. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the hospital discharge and neurological recovery rates between the percutaneous coronary intervention-treated group and the thrombolysis-treated group.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have shown that circulating microRNAs might be useful, novel biomarkers for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. The aims of this study were to evaluate the expression of cardiac-specific miRNAs (miR-1, -133a, -208b, and -499) in patients with acute myocardial infarction and to compare the diagnostic values of these miRNAs with that of cardiac troponin T. METHODS: Sixty-seven plasma samples obtained from patients with acute myocardial infarction and 32 plasma specimens collected from healthy volunteers were analyzed in this study. The levels of cardiac-specific miRNAs (miR-1, -133a, -208b, and -499) were measured by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and the concentrations of plasma cardiac troponin T were measured using electrochemiluminescence-based methods and an Elecsys 2010 Immunoassay Analyzer. RESULTS: The levels of plasma miR-1, -133a, -208b, and -499 were significantly higher in acute myocardial infarction patients (all p<0.001) than in healthy volunteers. The expression of the cardiac-specific miRNAs in acute myocardial infarction patients decreased to close to the baseline levels at the time of hospital discharge (all p>0.05). There were no correlations between the levels of the four circulating miRNAs and the clinical characteristics of the study population (all p>0.05). Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic curve analyses showed that the four plasma miRNAs were not superior to cardiac troponin T for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (all p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that circulating miR-1, -133a, -208b, and -499 may be useful biomarkers in acute myocardial infarction patients but that these miRNAs are not superior to cardiac troponin T for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction.