Inflammatory responses are associated with the development of vascular dementia (VaD). Circulating cytokines modulate the inflammatory response and are important for the immune system. To further ...elucidate the role of the immune system in VaD, we used Mendelian randomization (MR) to comprehensively and bi-directionally assess the role of circulating cytokines in VaD.
Using state-of-the-art genome-wide association studies, we primarily assessed whether different genetic levels of 41 circulating cytokines affect the risk of developing VaD and, in turn, whether the genetic risk of VaD affects these circulating cytokines. We used inverse variance weighting (IVW) and several other MR methods to assess the bidirectional causality between circulating cytokines and VaD, and performed sensitivity analyses.
Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) was inversely associated with VaD risk odds ratio (OR): 0.74, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.60–0.92, P = 0.007, 0.007. VaD was associated with seven circulating cytokines: macrophage inflammatory protein 1b (MIP-1 beta) OR: 1.05, 95 % CI: 1.01–1.08, P = 0.009, Interleukin-12p70 (IL-12) OR: 1.04, 95 % CI: 1.00–1.08, P = 0.047, Interleukin-17 (IL-17) OR: 1.04, 95 % CI: 1.00–1.07, P = 0.038, Interleukin-7 (IL-7) OR: 1.07, 95 % CI: 1.02–1.12, P = 0.009, Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) OR: 1.03, 95 % CI: 1.00–1.07, P = 0.046, Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (GCSF) OR: 1.06, 95 % CI: 1.02–1.09, P = 0.001, Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) P = 0.001, and Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) P = 0.001. Fibroblast growth factor basic (FGF-Basic) OR: 1.04, 95 % CI: 1.01–1.08, P = 0.02 were positively correlated.
Circulating cytokines are associated with VaD, and further studies are needed to determine whether they are effective targets for intervention to prevent or treat VaD.
Trace copper ion (Cu(II)) in water and wastewater can trigger peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation to oxidize organic compounds, but it only works under alkaline conditions. In this work, we found that ...the presence of chloride could significantly accelerate the oxidation of Acid Orange 7 (AO7) by the Cu(II)/PMS process at a wide pH range (4.0–9.0). The observed pseudo-first-order rate constant
k
for AO7 oxidation was linearly correlated with the increased Cl
−
concentration (0–300 mM). An increase in mineralization rate was observed in the presence of Cl
−
, while the overall mineralization was quite low. Decomposition of PMS facilitated when Cl
−
concentration or pH value increased. Based on the scavenger experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurement, the mechanism of Cu(II)-catalyzed PMS oxidation process in the presence of Cl
−
was proposed as both the radical and non-radical pathway, and
1
O
2
was the reactive oxygen species in the Cu(II)/PMS system. Finally, a possible degradation pathway of AO7 was elucidated. The feasibility of in situ utilizing high salinity and trace cupric species to accelerate the degradation of organic pollutants by the Cu(II)/PMS process in water and wastewater was demonstrated. However, the identification of undesired chlorinated by-products reminds us of cautiousness in assessing the application of Cu(II)/PMS system under chloride-rich environment. The findings of this work provide a simple and efficient approach to apply PMS in the remediation of refractory organic contaminants in the presence of trace cupric species under a high salinity environment with a wide range of pH.
Background
Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide and a major cause of long-term neurological disability, imposing an enormous financial burden on families and society. This study ...aimed to identify the predictors in stroke patients and construct a nomogram prediction model based on these predictors.
Methods
This retrospective study included 11,435 participants aged >20 years who were selected from the NHANES 2011–2018. Randomly selected subjects (
n
= 8531; 75%) and the remaining subjects comprised the development and validation groups, respectively. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) binomial and logistic regression models were used to select the optimal predictive variables. The stroke probability was calculated using a predictor-based nomogram. Nomogram performance was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and the calibration curve with 1000 bootstrap resample validations. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was performed to evaluate the clinical utility of the nomogram.
Results
According to the minimum criteria of non-zero coefficients of Lasso and logistic regression screening, older age, lower education level, lower family income, hypertension, depression status, diabetes, heavy smoking, heavy drinking, trouble sleeping, congestive heart failure (CHF), coronary heart disease (CHD), angina pectoris and myocardial infarction were independently associated with a higher stroke risk. A nomogram model for stroke patient risk was established based on these predictors. The AUC (C statistic) of the nomogram was 0.843 (95% CI: 0.8186–0.8430) in the development group and 0.826 (95% CI: 0.7811, 0.8716) in the validation group. The calibration curves after 1000 bootstraps displayed a good fit between the actual and predicted probabilities in both the development and validation groups. DCA showed that the model in the development and validation groups had a net benefit when the risk thresholds were 0–0.2 and 0–0.25, respectively.
Discussion
This study effectively established a nomogram including demographic characteristics, vascular risk factors, emotional factors and lifestyle behaviors to predict stroke risk. This nomogram is helpful for screening high-risk stroke individuals and could assist physicians in making better treatment decisions to reduce stroke occurrence.
Qihuang needle therapy is a newly developed acupuncture therapy to treat tic disorders in clinical practice. However, the mechanism to reduce tic severity remains unknown. Changes in intestinal flora ...and circulation metabolites are perhaps the potential pathogenesis of tic disorders. As a result, we present a protocol for a controlled clinical trial using multi-omics analysis to probe the mechanism of the Qihuang needle in managing tic disorders.
This is a matched-pairs design, controlled, clinical trial for patients with tic disorders. Participants will be allocated to either an experimental group or a healthy control group. The main acupoints are Baihui (GV20), Yintang (EX-HN3), and Jueyinshu (BL14). The experimental group will receive Qihuang needle therapy for a month, while the control group will receive no interventions.
The change in the severity of the tic disorder is set as the main outcome. Secondary outcomes include gastrointestinal severity index and recurrence rate, which will be calculated after a 12-week follow-up. Gut microbiota, measured by 16S rRNA gene sequencing; serum metabolomics, assessed
LC/MS; and serum zonulin, assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), will be used as biological specimen analysis outcomes. The present study will investigate the possible interactions between intestinal flora and serum metabolites and the improvement of clinical profiles, which may elucidate the mechanism of Qihuang needle therapy for tic disorders.
This trial is registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn/). Registration number: ChiCTR2200057723, Date: 2022-04-14.
To mitigate the environmental impact of heavy metal sludge and enhance its resource utilization, it undergoes pre-treatment involving high-temperature sintering and fine grinding into powder (GP). ...Recognizing the strengths and water resistance of modified magnesium oxysulfate (MMOS) cementitious materials, this research employs them for GP resource utilization. This study explores the effects of GP on the properties and microstructures of MMOS cementitious materials and investigates the underlying mechanisms using a multi-scale microscopic testing method. Results indicated that with an increase in GP content, the fluidity of the material initially declined before improving due to GP's morphological and filling properties. GP weakened the mechanical properties of MMOS cementitious materials by inhibiting hydration products and degrading pore structures. A higher GP content exacerbated the material's self-expansion during the later hydration stages. The MMOS cement system proved to be environmentally friendly in utilizing GP resources, markedly lowering the leaching concentrations of Cr, Zn, Ni, and Cu. The main mechanism of influence was the ionic substitution of the 5–1–7 phase by heavy metals. This study introduces a novel method for the resource utilization of heavy metal sludge.
BackgroundRandomised controlled trials (RCTs) are the predominant type in acupuncture clinical research, and the publications have increased rapidly in recent years, but there is a prevalence of the ...high risk of bias and poor methodological design in acupuncture RCTs. Clinical trial registration can improve the transparency and credibility of studies by disclosing key information in advance. However, the registration in acupuncture RCTs is not satisfactory, as there is widespread of the under-registration, inconsistency with published studies and insufficient disclosure of key methodological information. Whether registration can reduce the risk of bias in acupuncture RCTs and improve data transparency has not been fully explored. Therefore, we constructed this study to investigate the association between registration and risk of bias and data sharing level in acupuncture RCTs.MethodsSeven databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CBM, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP databases will be systematically searched between 1 January 2014 and 31 March 2024, for acupuncture RCTs. Two reviewers will independently extract data using a predefined standardised format and perform secondary validation. The characteristics and data sharing level of the included studies will be summarised. The risk of bias of included RCTs will be assessed by the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomised trials. The risk of bias and registration in acupuncture RCTs will be analysed by logistic or quantile regression analyses (depending on the number of minimum events). The data sharing level and registration will be analysed by quantile regression analyses.Ethics and disseminationAs the systematic review aims to consolidate info from published sources, ethical approval is not necessary for this study. The study’s findings will be submitted to a peer-reviewed academic journal and disseminated via conference presentations. This protocol has been registered in Open Science Framework Registries.
IntroductionPatient-reported outcomes (PROs) are health reports that come directly from the patients themselves and represented the experience and insights of the patient’s perspective on the impact ...of the intervention. PROs were increasingly emphasised in acupuncture randomised controlled trials (RCTs). However, the reporting quality of PROs in acupuncture RCTs has not been investigated to date. Therefore, we constructed this study to reveal the basic characteristics and reporting quality of PROs in acupuncture RCTs, and explore the relationship between concealment, blinding and RROs. We hope our findings can provide guidance for the reporting standards and future development of PROs in acupuncture RCTs in reverse.Methods and analysisRCTs using acupuncture treatment as the intervention and PROs as primary outcomes or secondary outcomes will be systematically searched through seven databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CBM, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP between 1 January 2012 and 15 October 2022. The basic characteristics, concealment, blinding design and the characteristics of PROs in included RCTs will be summarised. The reporting quality of PROs will be assessed based on the CONSORT PRO extension. Logistic analysis will be performed to identify the association between concealment, blinding and RROs.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required for this study. This protocol has been registered in Open Science Framework (OSF) Registries. The findings of this study will be submitted to a peer-reviewed academic journal.
IntroductionRandomised controlled trials (RCTs) play an important role in evidence-based medicine. However, an article with low reporting quality may mislead both experts and the general public into ...an erroneous decision. Data sharing can contribute to the truthfulness and transparency of trials. Acupuncture RCTs have been increasing rapidly these years, but the reporting quality and data-sharing level of acupuncture RCTs are not clear. Thus, this study will provide the current status of the reporting quality and data-sharing level of acupuncture RCTs.Methods and analysisA cross-sectional study will be conducted. The seven databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CBM, CNKI, Wanfang Database and VIP will be searched between 1 January 2012 and 15 October 2022 to identify acupuncture RCTs. The basic characteristics of included trials will be summarised. The reporting quality for included RCTs will be assessed by the Consolidated Standards for Reporting Trials 2010 statement and the Standards for Reporting Interventions in Controlled Trials of Acupuncture. The data-sharing level will be assessed by open science practices.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required for this study. This protocol has been registered in Open Science Framework Registries. The findings of this study will be submitted to a peer-reviewed academic journal.
In recent decades, cuffless blood pressure monitoring technology has been a point of research in the field of health monitoring and public media. Based on the web of science database, this paper ...evaluated the publications in the field from 1990 to 2020 using bibliometric analysis, described the developments in recent years, and presented future research prospects in the field. Through the comparative analysis of keywords, citations, H-index, journals, research institutions, national authors and reviews, this paper identified research hotspots and future research trends in the field of cuffless blood pressure monitoring. From the results of the bibliometric analysis, innovative methods such as machine learning technologies related to pulse transmit time and pulse wave analysis have been widely applied in blood pressure monitoring. The 2091 articles related to cuffless blood pressure monitoring technology were published in 1131 journals. In the future, improving the accuracy of monitoring to meet the international medical blood pressure standards, and achieving portability and miniaturization will remain the development goals of cuffless blood pressure measurement technology. The application of flexible electronics and machine learning strategy in the field will be two major development directions to guide the practical applications of cuffless blood pressure monitoring technology.
Reprocessable thermally conductive polymer composites with excellent thermal management performance have become the research hotspot in order to solve the heat dissipation problem of electronic ...devices and reduce waste of resources. Herein, efficiently reprocessable PDMS/hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) composites with excellent mechanical properties, thermal stability and desirable thermal conductivity were designed and prepared based on dynamic silyl ether linkages. The tensile strength and toughness of the composites with h-BN content of 28.6 wt% can reach 4.79 MPa and 23.3 MJ/m3, respectively. Moreover, the thermal conductivity of this composites increased by 4.63 times to 0.659 W m−1 K−1 with respect to that without h-BN. More importantly, the reprocessing efficiency of PDMS elastomer can be as high as 100% and is capable of achieving over 94% at containing 28.6 wt% h-BN, mainly due to the intramolecular catalysis of tertiary amine group at the γ-position of silyl ether. Further, the intrinsic excellent heat resistance of matrix is successfully retained and the composites show good adhesion properties on different substrate materials and insulating properties. In a word, the composites with excellent comprehensive performance pave the way for the development of thermal management materials in the modern electronics industry.
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•Thermally conductivity PDMS composites with excellent overall properties were prepared based on dynamic silyl ether linkages.•Intramolecular catalysis of tertiary amine group at γ-position of silyl ether was adopted instead of external catalysts.•The PDMS composites with h-BN content of 28.6 wt% can reach 4.79 MPa and 23.3 MJ/m3 of tensile strength and toughness.•The reprocessing efficiency of PDMS elastomers can be 100% and is able to achieve over 94% at containing 28.6 wt% h-BN.•The PDMS composites are endowed with excellent reprocessability while retaining inherent thermal stability.
