Intumescent flame retardant (IFR) has received the considerable attention ascribed to the inherent advantages including non‐halogen, low toxicity, low smoke release and environmentally friendly. In ...this work, a novel charring agent poly (piperazine phenylaminophosphamide) named as PPTA was successfully synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Then, a series of flame‐retardant EP samples were prepared by blending with ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and PPTA. Combustion tests include oxygen Index (LOI), vertical Burning Test (UL‐94) and cone calorimeter testing，these test results showed that PPTA greatly enhances the flame retardancy of EP/APP. According to detailed results, EP containing 10 wt% APP had a LOI value of 30.2%，but had no enhancement on UL‐94 rating. However, after both 7.5 wt% APP and 2.5 wt% PPTA were added, EP‐7 passed UL‐94 V‐0 rating with a LOI value of 33.0%. Moreover, the peak heat release rate (PHRR) and peak of smoke product rate (PSPR) of EP‐7 were greatly decreased. Meanwhile, the flame‐retardant mechanism of EP‐7 was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis/infrared spectrometry (TG‐IR) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The corresponding results presented PPTA significantly increased the density of char layer, resulting in the good flame retardancy.
What is known and Objective
It is estimated that 60% of children undergoing anaesthesia develop severe preoperative anxiety. The anxiety is associated with adverse reactions. Sedatives such as ...dexmedetomidine, midazolam, clonidine, ketamine, and melatonin can be used as premedication against preoperative anxiety. However, no consensus has been reached on the choice of pre‐anaesthetic sedatives in children before selective surgery. Therefore, the current network meta‐analysis (NMA) was carried out to evaluate different sedatives in children aged between 1 and 7 before general anaesthesia for selective surgery.
Methods
Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were retrieved from Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Web of Science databases from inception to October 22, 2021. Primary outcomes showed satisfactory sedation at parent separation and also at induction or mask acceptance. Secondary outcomes were those related to added benefits and side effects. The present NMA was conducted using the R software. Results of the study were reported as Relative Risk (RR) or Mean Difference (MD) at a 95% credible intervals (CrIs).
Results and Discussion
A total of 48 trials were included in the present study. It was found that the effectiveness of dexmedetomidine, midazolam, clonidine, and ketamine were superior to that of placebo in satisfactory sedation at parent separation and induction or mask acceptance. There was no significant difference between melatonin and placebo in satisfactory sedation at induction or mask acceptance. Dexmedetomidine, ketamine, clonidine, and melatonin were superior to placebo in reducing emergence delirium (ED). In addition, midazolam prolonged the length of stay in the post anaesthesia care unit (PACU) as compared with placebo. Dexmedetomidine caused a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR). Nevertheless, it was noted that the hemodynamic changes were roughly within safety limits.
What is New and Conclusion
It was evident that the studied drugs can provide effective sedation with exception of melatonin and placebo. However, it was found that midazolam, ketamine, and clonidine lead to several side effects. The findings of the present study supported that dexmedetomidine, especially intranasal administration, has potential in the optimal selection of the sedatives for premedication in children. This is because the drug has effective sedation, reduced incidence of ED, side effects, and onset time.
This is a systematic review with network meta‐analysis of different sedatives as premedication in children before general anaesthesia for selective surgery. Nine outcomes were evaluated in the study. Results indicated that dexmedetomidine has the potential for the optimal selection for premedication, considering the lower incidence of emergence delirium, and side effect.
Background
The left-sided and right-sided colon cancer (LCCs and RCCs, respectively) have unique molecular features and clinical heterogeneity. This study aimed to identify the characteristics of ...immune cell infiltration (ICI) subtypes for evaluating prognosis and therapeutic benefits.
Methods
The independent gene datasets, corresponding somatic mutation and clinical information were collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus. The ICI contents were evaluated by “ESTIMATE” and “CIBERSORT.” We performed two computational algorithms to identify the ICI landscape related to prognosis and found the unique infiltration characteristics. Next, principal component analysis was conducted to construct ICI score based on three ICI patterns. We analyzed the correlation between ICI score and tumor mutation burden (TMB), and stratified patients into prognostic-related high- and low- ICI score groups (HSG and LSG, respectively). The role of ICI scores in the prediction of therapeutic benefits was investigated by "pRRophetic" and verified by Immunophenoscores (IPS) (TCIA database) and an independent immunotherapy cohort (IMvigor210). The key genes were preliminary screened by weighted gene co-expression network analysis based on ICI scores. And they were further identified at various levels, including single cell, protein and immunotherapy response. The predictive ability of ICI score for prognosis was also verified in IMvigor210 cohort.
Results
The ICI features with a better prognosis were marked by high plasma cells, dendritic cells and mast cells, low memory CD4
+
T cells, M0 macrophages, M1 macrophages, as well as M2 macrophages. A high ICI score was characterized by an increased TMB and genomic instability related signaling pathways. The prognosis, sensitivities of targeted inhibitors and immunotherapy, IPS and expression of immune checkpoints were significantly different in HSG and LSG. The genes identified by ICI scores and various levels included CA2 and TSPAN1.
Conclusion
The identification of ICI subtypes and ICI scores will help gain insights into the heterogeneity in LCC and RCC, and identify patients probably benefiting from treatments. ICI scores and the key genes could serve as an effective biomarker to predict prognosis and the sensitivity of immunotherapy.
Abstract
Aims
Interleukin (IL)-5 mediates the development of eosinophils (EOS) that are essential for tissue post-injury repair. It remains unknown whether IL-5 plays a role in heart repair after ...myocardial infarction (MI). This study aims to test whether IL-5-induced EOS population promotes the healing and repair process post-MI and to reveal the underlying mechanisms.
Methods and results
MI was induced by permanent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery in wild-type C57BL/6 mice. Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed elevated expression of IL-5 in the heart at 5 days post-MI. Immunohistostaining indicated that IL-5 was secreted mainly from macrophages and CD127+ cells in the setting of experimental MI. External supply of recombinant mouse IL-5 (20 min, 1 day, and 2 days after MI surgery) reduced the infarct size and increased ejection fraction and angiogenesis in the border zone. A significant expansion of EOS was detected in both the peripheral blood and infarcted myocardium after IL-5 administration. Pharmacological depletion of EOS by TRFK5 pretreatment muted the beneficial effects of IL-5 in MI mice. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that IL-5 increased the accumulation of CD206+ macrophages in infarcted myocardium at 7 days post-MI. In vitro co-culture experiments showed that EOS shifted bone marrow-derived macrophage polarization towards the CD206+ phenotypes. This activity of EOS was abolished by IL-4 neutralizing antibody, but not IL-10 or IL-13 neutralization. Western blot analyses demonstrated that EOS promoted the macrophage downstream signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) phosphorylation.
Conclusion
IL-5 facilitates the recovery of cardiac dysfunction post-MI by promoting EOS accumulation and subsequent CD206+ macrophage polarization via the IL-4/STAT6 axis.
Dietary and lifestyle factors may play an important role in the increasing prevalence of nephrolithiasis. We aimed to review and quantify the associations between lifestyle factors and incident ...nephrolithiasis and suggest lifestyle changes for the primary prevention of nephrolithiasis.
PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched up to May 2019, for observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed modifiable lifestyle factors and risk of nephrolithiasis in adults. Pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed using a random effects model. The I
statistic was employed to evaluate heterogeneity. Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis and meta-regression were also conducted whenever possible.
Fifty relevant articles with 1,322,133 participants and 21,030 cases in total were identified. Prominent risk factors for incident stones were body mass index (1.39,1.27-1.52), dietary sodium (1.38, 1.21-1.56), fructose, meat, animal protein, and soda. In contrast, protective factors included fluid intake (0.55, 0.51-0.60), a Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) style diet (0.69, 0.64-0.75), alcohol (0.69, 0.56-0.85), water, coffee, tea, vegetables, fruits, dietary fiber, dietary calcium (0.83, 0.76-0.90), and potassium. Vitamin D (1.22, 1.01-1.49) and calcium (1.16, 1.00-1.35) supplementation alone increased the risk of stones in meta-analyses of observational studies, but not in RCTs, where the cosupplementation conferred significant risk.
Several modifiable factors, notably fluid intake, dietary patterns, and obesity, were significantly associated with nephrolithiasis. Long-term RCTs are required to investigate the cost-effectiveness of dietary patterns for stone prevention. The independent and combined effects of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on nephrolithiasis need further elucidation.
Improving both grain yield and resource use efficiencies simultaneously is a major challenge in rice production. However, few studies have focused on integrating dense planting with delayed and ...reduced nitrogen application to enhance grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and radiation use efficiency (RUE) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) in the double rice cropping system in South China. A high-yielding indica hybrid rice cultivar (Yliangyou 143) was grown in field experiments in Guangxi, South China, with three cultivation managements: farmers’ practice (FP), dense planting with equal N input and delayed N application (DPEN) and dense planting with reduced N input and delayed N application (DPRN). The grain yields of DPRN reached 10.6 and 9.78 t ha–1 in the early and late cropping seasons, respectively, which were significantly higher than the corresponding yields of FP by 23.9–29.9%. The grain yields in DPEN and DPRN were comparable. NUE in DPRN reached 65.2–72.9 kg kg–1, which was 61.2–74.1% higher than that in FP and 24.6–30.2% higher than that in DPEN. RUE in DPRN achieved 1.60–1.80 g MJ–1, which was 28.6–37.9% higher than that in FP. The productive tiller percentage in DPRN was 7.9–36.2% higher than that in DPEN. Increases in crop growth rate, leaf area duration, N uptake from panicle initiation to heading and enhancement of the apparent transformation ratio of dry weight from stems and leaf sheaths to panicles all contributed to higher grain yield and higher resource use efficiencies in DPRN. Correlation analysis revealed that the agronomic and physiological traits mentioned above were significantly and positively correlated with grain yield. Comparison trials carried out in Guangdong in 2018 and 2019 also showed that DPRN performed better than DPEN. We conclude that DPRN is a feasible approach for simultaneously increasing grain yield, NUE and RUE in the double rice cropping system in South China.
Panax notoginseng (Burk) F.H. Chen is an essential plant in the family of Araliaceae. Its seeds are classified as a type of morphophysiological dormancy (MPD), and are characterized by recalcitrance ...during the after-ripening process. However, it is not clear about the molecular mechanism on the after-ripening in recalcitrant seeds.
In this study, exogenous supply of gibberellic acid (GA
) with different concentrations shortened after-ripening process and promoted the germination of P. notoginseng seeds. Among the identified plant hormone metabolites, exogenous GA
results in an increased level of endogenous hormone GA
through permeation. A total of 2971 and 9827 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in response to 50 mg L
GA
(LG) and 500 mg L
GA
(HG) treatment, respectively, and the plant hormone signal and related metabolic pathways regulated by GA
was significantly enriched. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed that GA
treatment enhances GA biosynthesis and accumulation, while inhibiting the gene expression related to ABA signal transduction. This effect was associated with higher expression of crucial seed embryo development and cell wall loosening genes, Leafy Contyledon1 (LEC1), Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA), expansins (EXP) and Pectinesterase (PME).
Exogenous GA
application promotes germination and shorts the after-ripening process of P. notoginseng seeds by increasing GA
contents through permeation. Furthermore, the altered ratio of GA and ABA contributes to the development of the embryo, breaks the mechanical constraints of the seed coat and promotes the protrusion of the radicle in recalcitrant P. notoginseng seeds. These findings improve our knowledge of the contribution of GA to regulating the dormancy of MPD seeds during the after-ripening process, and provide new theoretical guidance for the application of recalcitrant seeds in agricultural production and storage.
Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant tumor in the skeletal system with high mortality. Phytic acid (PA) is a natural compound extracted from plant seeds, which shows certain antitumor activity ...and good bone targeting ability. To develop a novel theranostics for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and targeting therapy of osteosarcoma, we employed PA to modify manganese dioxide nanoparticles (MnO
2
@PA NPs) for osteosarcoma treatment. The MnO
2
NPs oligomer was formed by PA modification with uniformed size distribution and negative zeta potential. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that PA has been successfully modified on MnO
2
NPs, and the structure of MnO
2
@PA NPs is amorphous. In vitro experiments demonstrated that MnO
2
@PA NPs oligomer can be efficiently internalized by tumor cell, and the internalized NPs can react with H
2
O
2
under acid microenvironment to produce Mn
2+
and O
2
. In vivo experiments demonstrated that MnO
2
@PA NPs oligomer can passively accumulate in tumor tissue, and the accumulated NPs can produce Mn
2+
and O
2
for MRI and targeting therapy of osteosarcoma. In conclusion, we prepared a novel bone-targeting nano theranostics for MRI and therapy of osteosarcoma.
Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria （PGPR） are considered to be the most promising agents for cash crop production via increasing crop yields and decreasing disease occurrence. The Bacillus ...amyloliquefaciens strain W19 can produce secondary metabolites （iturin and bacillomycin D） effectively against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense （FOC）. In this study, the ability of a bio-organic fertilizer （BIO） containing strain W19 to promote plant growth and suppress the Fusarium wilt of banana was evaluated in both pot and field experiments. The results showed that application of BIO significantly promoted the growth and fruit yield of banana while suppressing the banana Fusariurn wilt disease. To further determine the beneficial mechanisms of the strain, the colonization of green fluorescent protein-tagged strain W19 on banana roots was observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The effect of banana root exudates on the formation of biofilm of strain W19 indicated that the banana root exudates may enhance colonization. In addition, the strain W19 was able to produce indole-3-acetic acid （IAA）, a plant growth-promoting hormone. The results of these experiments revealed that the application of strain W19-enriched BIO improved the banana root colonization of strain W19 and growth of banana and suppressed the Fusarium wilt. The PGPR strain W19 can be a useful biocontrol agent for the production of banana under field conditions.
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been reported to disrupt endocrine system and reproduction. However, epidemiological evidence on the association between PFAS and ...preeclampsia is inconsistent. We aimed to investigate the association between prenatal PFAS exposure and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in humans.
PFAS were measured by liquid chromatography system coupled with tandem mass spectrometry in 687 umbilical cord plasma samples collected between 2011 and 2012 in Shanghai, China. Information on HDP including gestational hypertension and preeclampsia was abstracted from medical records. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the association of each PFAS with gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and overall HDP in separate models. Elastic net regression with logit link was used to identify independent associations between exposures and outcomes. Logistic regression was used to obtain the unpenalized estimates of the selected PFAS components for the associations with outcomes, adjusting for age, education level, pre-pregnancy BMI, parity, and mutual adjustment of selected PFAS.
The risk of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia was 3.3% and 2.8% in our subjects, respectively. Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUA) were associated with preeclampsia based on elastic net penalty regression. In the fully adjusted statistical model, women with a higher level of standardized ln-transformed PFBS had an increased odds of preeclampsia adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.81, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-3.17, and overall HDP (AOR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.09-2.47).
Prenatal exposure to PFBS was positively associated with the risk of preeclampsia and overall HDP.
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