Heavy Burden Research Articles

Myct1 Alleviates Hypoxia-Induced Dysfunction by Regulating Pericyte Reprogramming

As one of the main causes of death from cardiovascular diseases, myocardial infarction has brought a heavy burden to society. However, its underlying mechanism has not been elucidated. Irreversible contraction of pericytes will cause capillary contraction, resulting in microcirculatory disorder, which finally lead to no-reflow after myocardial infarction. In the current study, we used hypoxia to simulate the environment of myocardial infarction in vitro, and found that under hypoxia conditions, the contractility of pericytes was significantly enhanced, the apoptosis rate and the content of angiogenic factors was increased. Besides, a target gene of c-Myc, Myct1, could regulate pericytes reprogramming into endothelial cells. After reprogramming of pericytes, the contractile ability was reduced, and the ability to promote angiogenesis was also inhibited. Moreover, pericyte reprogramming significantly reduced the expressions of myocardial enzymes CK-MB and LDH, troponin TnT and inflammatory cytokine IL-6. In conclusion, the reprogramming of pericytes regulated by Myct1 could alleviate the dysfunction of pericytes, thereby inhibiting the expression of myocardial infarction markers, which was conducive to improving the phenomenon of no-reflow after myocardial infarction.

The “Son of Providence” – Some Background to the Episcopal Consecration of Áron Márton in the Transylvanian Press of the Time

The consecration of Áron Márton as bishop was an unusual event in the life of the parish of Cluj-Napoca. His attachment to the parish and the organization of the ecclesiastical infrastructure of Cluj-Napoca led Áron Márton to be consecrated Bishop of Alba Iulia (Gyulafehérvár) on 12 February 1939 in the Church of St Michael in Cluj-Napoca. Áron Márton’s appointment as bishop was preceded by his appointment as apostolic administrator. He had to take over the governance of the Diocese of Alba Iulia under difficult circumstances, as the Dutch loan was a heavy burden on the parish of St Michael in Cluj-Napoca. The press releases preceding and accompanying the consecration of a bishop carefully cover the events leading up to, during, and following the consecration. In the first part of my short study, I will focus on some of the interesting press releases that preceded the consecration of Áron Márton as bishop, as well as on the major events of the days immediately preceding the consecration, and then briefly describe the consecration and the receptions and greetings that followed. Keywords: Áron Márton, episcopal ordination, press, Cluj-Napoca, St Michael parish

Heavy Metal Contamination Risks in Environmental and Vegetable Samples around a Metal Workshop in Kofar Marusa, Katsina Metropolis

Study’s Novelty/Excerpt This study focuses on the health risks associated with heavy metal contamination in vegetables irrigated near a metal workshop in Kofar Marusa, Katsina Metropolis. By quantifying the concentrations of various heavy metals in commonly consumed vegetables, the research shows significant variations in metal uptake among different vegetable types, with cress and spinach posing the highest health risks. The study uses Health Risk Index (HRI) and Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) calculations to show the potential health hazards, particularly for children, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to mitigate these risks in affected communities. Full Abstract Heavy metal contamination from Metal workshop activities poses health risks by accumulating in crops and entering the food chain. This study quantified heavy metal concentrations and health risks in commonly consumed vegetables irrigated near a metal workshop in Kofar Marusa, Katsina Metropolis. Samples from the cultivation areas of Cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, spinach, and cress were analyzed. After acid digestion, the amounts of heavy metals were measured by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Copper (0.123 mg/kg), manganese (0.431 mg/kg), and nickel (0.539 mg/kg) were greatest in spinach. Manganese (0.374 mg/kg) and cobalt (1.474 mg/kg) levels were higher in cress. Lettuce had the highest iron concentration (6.028 mg/kg) and the lowest metal levels. Lead (11.68 mg/kg) and chromium (2.276 mg/kg) were both high in Cabbage, and nickel (0.526 mg/kg) and lead (4.24 mg/kg) were noteworthy in tomatoes. Among the Health Risk Index (HRI) calculated, cress reached 17.967 for adults. Children's exposure to heavy metals for Cobalt (Co) and Lead (Pb) through cabbage consumption showed the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) values for Co (0.089) and Pb (0.036), significantly higher than those for adults. The Cumulative Lifetime Cancer Risks showed that Cress posed the highest risk for both adults and children, followed by spinach. The study revealed significant variations in heavy metal concentrations taken up among different types of vegetables, portraying potential health risks associated with its consumption. It also suggested that the consumption of vegetables cultivated through irrigation near the metal artisanal site may contribute to the bioaccumulation of heavy metals burden among the population. The study brought to light the wide range of heavy metal uptake in vegetables as well as the possible health hazards associated with eating produce grown close to the metal workshop.

Low-rank prior-based Fast-RPCA for clutter filtering and noise suppression in non-contrast ultrasound microvascular imaging

Accurate and real-time separation of blood signal from clutter and noise signals is a critical step in clinical non-contrast ultrasound microvascular imaging. Despite the widespread adoption of singular value decomposition (SVD) and robust principal component analysis (RPCA) for clutter filtering and noise suppression, the SVD’s sensitivity to threshold selection, along with the RPCA’s limitations in undersampling conditions and heavy computational burden often result in suboptimal performance in complex clinical applications. To address those challenges, this study presents a novel low-rank prior-based fast RPCA (LP-fRPCA) approach to enhance the adaptability and robustness of clutter filtering and noise suppression with reduced computational cost. A low-rank prior constraint is integrated into the non-convex RPCA model to achieve a robust and efficient approximation of clutter subspace, while an accelerated alternating projection iterative algorithm is developed to improve convergence speed and computational efficiency. The performance of the LP-fRPCA method was evaluated against SVD with a tissue/blood threshold (SVD1), SVD with both tissue/blood and blood/noise thresholds (SVD2), and the classical RPCA based on the alternating direction method of multipliers algorithm through phantom and in vivo non-contrast experiments on rabbit kidneys. In the slow flow phantom experiment of 0.2 mm/s, LP-fRPCA achieved an average increase in contrast ratio (CR) of 10.68 dB, 9.37 dB, and 8.66 dB compared to SVD1, SVD2, and RPCA, respectively. In the in vivo rabbit kidney experiment, the power Doppler results demonstrate that the LP-fRPCA method achieved a superior balance in the trade-off between insufficient clutter filtering and excessive suppression of blood flow. Additionally, LP-fRPCA significantly reduced the runtime of RPCA by up to 94-fold. Consequently, the LP-fRPCA method promises to be a potential tool for clinical non-contrast ultrasound microvascular imaging.

Bibliometric and visual analyses of advancements in chronic kidney disease management.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by high incidence, prolonged course, significant health damage, and a heavy societal burden. Understanding the history and content of CKD research is crucial to further its recognition and management, in addition to reducing its individual and societal burdens. This study aimed to assess the management history of CKD to provide a foundation for clinical medical staff to systematically understand its evolution. The Web of Science Core Collection database was screened for CKD management studies published between January 1, 1948, and December 31, 2021. From the search results, we performed statistical descriptions of the publication date, volume, and type. Using VOS-viewer 1.6.19, variables from the included articles were obtained for keyword co-occurrence clustering and sequence analyses to determine research themes, segment phases based on publication volumes over varied timeframes, assess the dynamic progression of CKD management, and anticipate future research trends. In total, 26,133 articles met the inclusion criteria. The analysis revealed 3 stages of CKD management research: the slow development stage (1948-1998), which was initiated by epidemiological studies without ideal clustering; the steady growth stage (1999-2010), which was focused on CKD complication management and quality-of-life research; and the rapid development stage (2011-2022), which was dominated by 7 major clusters, mainly regarding the treatment and management of severe conditions and management patterns. The CKD research journey is comprised of 3 stages, the contents of which form an interconnected research model. Future research should focus on the establishment of management models and the application of intelligent management tools. Furthermore, this work can serve as a reference for the further expansion of research in this field and in improving its management.

A novel temperature‐controlled device with standardized manipulation improves chronic back pain mediated by modulating deep muscle thickness: A multicenter randomized controlled trial

AbstractBackgroundChronic back pain affected 619 million people globally in 2020 which accounts for a heavy disease burden causing tremendous productivity losses. Current therapies including ibuprofen, duloxetine, and opioids might cause side effects and even severe drug use disorders. Therefore, a non‐pharmacologic therapy with better or equivalent efficacy and fewer side effects is needed.MethodsWe did a multi‐center, single‐blinded, randomized, positive drug controlled, clinical trial. Patients with chronic back pain in moderate severity were randomized into receiving hot stone massage or flurbiprofen plaster group. Both interventions were 2 weeks with a follow‐up of 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in the score of the Global Pain Scale (GPS) from baseline to week 2. Secondary outcomes included Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ), Pain Self‐Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Short Form‐36 (SF36) from baseline to week 2 and week 6. Exploratory outcome assessment included the muscle thickness measured by ultrasound. Any adverse event was monitored throughout the study period.ResultsA total of 120 patients were enrolled in this trial. At 2 weeks GPS decreased significantly in the hot stone massage group compared to the flurbiprofen group (difference between groups = ‐8.1 points, 95% confidence interval [CI] ‐15.8 to ‐0.3, p = 0.047). Moreover, hot stone massage also showed more improvement at 2 weeks compared to flurbiprofen, including NRS (‐0.5 points, 95% CI ‐1.0 to ‐0.1, p = 0.029), PSEQ (5.4 points, 95% CI 0.5 to 10.2, p = 0.030), and mental component of Short Form‐36 (SF‐36) (1.7 points, 95% CI 0.4 to 2.9, p = 0.010), but not in CPAQ (p = 0.131), HADS (p = 0.303 for depression, p = 0.399 for anxiety), or SF‐36 (p = 0.129 for physical component, p = 0.246 for social component, p = 0.076 for fatigue component). A total of two participants in the hot stone massage group reported mild pain on skin surface when receiving the procedure at the first intervention session.

A comparative analysis of risk factors influencing crash severity between full-time and part-time riding-hailing drivers in China

ABSTRACT Ride-hailing is increasingly important in urban public transportation, yet research on its traffic safety remains limited. This study examined risk factors for crash severity among ride-hailing drivers, including demographics, financial burden, phone usage, fatigue, and risky driving behaviors. Data were collected from 2,182 drivers via a self-reported survey. Recognizing potential differences between full-time and part-time drivers, the data were divided accordingly, and two Bayesian network models were generated. The results indicated that both types of drivers suffer from heavy financial burdens and severe fatigue, with certain factors related to risky behaviors or phone usage increasing the likelihood of serious crashes. However, the specific risk factors leading to severe crashes varied between the two groups. Furthermore, the study confirmed that several combinations of risk factors exhibit nonlinear amplification effects on crash severity across different driver groups. These findings may support the design of evidence-based interventions to mitigate crash severity among ride-hailing drivers.

The Cardiovascular Benefits of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists as Novel Diabetes Drugs Are Mediated via the Suppression of miR-203a-3p and miR-429 Expression.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is associated with a high fatality rate and a heavy global health care burden. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) exerts positive cardiovascular effects, although the molecular mechanisms are unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to verify whether the cardioprotective effects of GLP-1 are mediated through the regulation of micro-RNA (miRNA) expression. Follow-up assessments were conducted for 116 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) alone (controls) and 123 patients with both T2DM and CAD. After matching, each group comprised 63 patients, and age, body mass index, and serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), triglycerides (TG), and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) were compared. Subsequently, the expression profiles of four circulating miRNAs (miR-203a-3p, miR-429, miR-205-5p, and miR-203b-5p) were assessed via quantitative reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction in the 63 patients with diabetes and CAD between 6 months (baseline) and 12 months after the initiation of GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) therapy. As expected, the metabolic factors were significantly improved after 6 months of treatment with GLP-1R compared with pre-treatment values, and the expression levels of two of the miRNAs (miR-203a-3p and miR-429) decreased from baseline levels in those with diabetes and CAD. The results suggest that the cardiovascular benefits induced by GLP-1R are mediated via suppressed expression of two miRNAs: miR-203a-3p and miR-429.

A case study to investigate the effects of Chlorhexidine mouthwash on serum cytokines levels in children with Asthma

Asthma is an airways inflammatory disease and the most common chronic disease of childhood, which causes most hospital visits and placing a heavy financial burden on families and communities. Interleukins 4, 5 and 13, play a central role in the pathogenesis of asthma. Given the importance of oral hygiene in asthmatic patients and IL-4 and 5 are involved in the inflammatory process of periodontitis, the effect of chlorhexidine as mouthwash on asthma attacks in children on serum cytokines is necessary. In this study, 375 children with asthma were divided into two groups using or non-using chlorhexidine. Blood samples were taken and cytokines were measured by ELISA. From 375 patients, 17 patients were excluded. In this study, 171 males and 187 females participated and there were 180 patients in asthma group and 178 patients in asthma/Chlorhexidine group. The levels of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 had no significant difference (p > 0.05) between Asthma and Asthma/Chlorhexidine groups. Using chlorhexidine as mouthwash in children with asthma had no effect on the type 2 cytokines and may not trigger an asthma attack via allergo-inflammatory mechanism.

Between a rock and a hard place: A geosocial approach to water insecurity in Kabul

Approximately 50% of the global population currently experiences severe water scarcity, a situation likely to intensify due to climate change. At the same time, the poorest population segments bear the greatest burden of water insecurity. This intersection of geophysical, geochemical, and socio-economic dimensions of water (in)security challenges requires a geosocial perspective, one that attends simultaneously to geophysical, geochemical, and socio-economic dimensions. Our qualitative study, conducted through 68 semi-structured interviews across two distinct sub-basins in Kabul, revealed disparities in groundwater levels, water quality, water prices, and lived experiences of water insecurity. While environmental stressors like drought and groundwater contamination contribute to water insecurity, socio-economic factors such as gender and property ownership exacerbate these impacts: Women and children bear a heavy burden of securing water, with children’s involvement in water-fetching leading to instances of violence. Furthermore, trucked water costs 33 times that of piped water, echoing alarming global trends where less privileged communities endure disproportionately greater challenges of water inaccessibility. We outline policy implications for monitoring groundwater abstraction and underscore the need for tailored strategies to combat water scarcity, such as pro-poor water strategies. Additionally, our work draws attention to the role of local gatekeepers who have informally regulated water usage in response to drought-induced scarcity, particularly in the absence of functioning government policies, underscoring the importance of collaboration with local stakeholders to ensure sustainable access to water. We argue that a geosocial approach to water (in)security can provide high-resolution findings and reveal critical gaps between common metrics and the realities of water (in)security, which also underlines the need for integrated approaches incorporating both quantitative and qualitative research.

Serum Exosomal MicroRNAs as Potential Biomarkers for Centrally Mediated Abdominal Pain Syndrome

Centrally mediated abdominal pain syndrome (CAPS) has generated a heavy disease burden worldwide. This study aimed to explore the serum exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) as potential diagnostic biomarkers for CAPS. From September 2022 to October 2023, 97 patients with CAPS and 96 healthy subjects were enrolled. Differentially expressed serum exosomal miRNAs between patients with CAPS and healthy controls were identified by high-throughput sequencing and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The receiver operating characteristic curves and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the diagnostic value of the serum exosomal miRNAs. MiR-6850-5p, miR-194-5p, miR-199a-3p, and miR-4525 were significantly downregulated in serum exomes of CAPS patients compared with healthy controls, which yielded the area under curve (AUC) values of .914 (95% confidence interval (CI), .873–.954), .767 (95% CI, .695–.839), .617 (95% CI, .527–.708), and .561 (95% CI, .465–.656), respectively, to distinguish CAPS patients from healthy subjects. And AUC of the integration of the above 4 miRNAs was .931 (95% CI, .896–.966). Multivariate logistic regression indicated that hsa-miR-6850-5p (odds ratio (OR) = .046, P < .001), anxiety (OR = 7.670, P = .025), and depression (OR = 22.967, P = .008) were the independent predictors of CAPS. Serum exosomal miR-6850-5p is a promising diagnostic biomarker for CAPS. PerspectiveThis study may be the first to explore serum exosomal miRNAs as new diagnostic biomarkers for CAPS, and the findings may help clinicians to access comprehensive understanding and accurate diagnosis of CAPS.

Risk of major mental disorders in the offspring of parents with migraine

BackgroundMigraine has been associated with mental disorders, however whether parental migraine is associated with an increased risk of major mental disorders (MMDs) in offspring has not been investigated. We aimed to examine the risk of the development of MMDs in the offspring of parents with migraine compared with those of parents without migraine.MethodsThis study used data derived from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Offspring of parents with migraine and a control group consisting of offspring of parents without migraine matched for demographic and parental mental disorders were included. Cox regression was used to estimate the risk of MMDs, including schizophrenia, depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Sub-analyses stratified by the fathers and mothers were further performed to separately clarify the risks of MMDs among the offspring.ResultsWe included 22,747 offspring of parents with migraine and 227,470 offspring of parents without migraine as the controls. Parental migraine was significantly associated with an increased risk of ADHD (reported as hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals: 1.37, 1.25–1.50), bipolar disorder (1.35, 1.06–1.71), and depressive disorder (1.33, 1.21–1.47) compared to the offspring of parents without migraine. Importantly, sub-analyses showed that only maternal migraine was significantly associated with these risks.ConclusionsDue to the heavy burden of MMDs, healthcare workers should be aware of the risk of MMDs in the offspring of parents with migraine, particular in mothers.

Recent Review on Potentials of Saponins in the Regulation of Inflammation in Colon Cancer: Current Progress and Future Prospects

Abstract: Many common herbal medicines, including astragalus, ginseng, and bupleurum, contain saponins, which are surface-active glycosides found in nature. Saponins have recently been proven to have potent anti-inflammatory properties and to produce immunological homeostasis in patients with a wide range of illnesses. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IIRI), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and radiation proctitis are all diseases of the digestive tract related to intestinal inflammation. Intestinal inflammation is another potential side effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. In addition to chronic diseases' emotional and physical burden on patients, they often exact a heavy financial burden on individual persons and the larger community. Because the causes of these diseases are so poorly known, there is a lack of information regarding the etiology of these conditions. On the other hand, saponins may help reduce this risk by lowering inflammation, enhancing the repair of the intestinal barrier, preserving the diversity of the intestinal flora, and maintaining the healthy and balanced state of the flora themselves. There is a correlation between inflammation of the intestines and an increased risk of colon cancer. In this article, we look at the most recent research regarding the effect that saponins have on diseases linked to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.

An information fusion-based meta transfer learning method for few-shot fault diagnosis under varying operating conditions

In recent years, meta-learning has gained increasing attention in the field of fault diagnosis due to its advantages of handling small samples and exhibiting fast adaptation across different diagnostic tasks. However, the scenario of sharply varying operating conditions and the heavy computation burden still limit the effective application of meta-learning in the field of transfer fault diagnosis. To address the above challenges, a few-shot meta transfer diagnosis method is proposed based on information fusion-based model agnostic meta-learning (IFMAML). Firstly, the information enhancement method based on sparse principal component analysis is introduced to enhance the domain invariant features and reduce data redundancy. Subsequently, the information fusion strategy of multiple sensor data is proposed to form the red, green, and blue (RGB) channel information of images, which can enrich the diversity of domain invariant features and mine the spatial information of multiple sensors. Then, the IFMAML, with its enhanced potential for diagnostic performance and computational efficiency, is developed to address the challenging few-shot cross-domain transfer diagnosis under varying operating conditions. Finally, two case studies for gearbox fault diagnostics considering sharply varying speed conditions and unknown health conditions have been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method. Experimental results have indicated that the proposed IFMAML method can achieve superior diagnostic accuracy and can be quickly adapted to new transfer diagnosis scenarios under varying operating conditions, when compared with several mainstream meta-learning methods.

Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Influenza Vaccination Among the Adolescents in the United States

Influenza is a common respiratory virus that could cause death. Vaccination of influenza was recommended in many countries to reduce the heavy disease burden in every flu season. In this study, we applied a simulation model to estimate the economic outcomes of influenza vaccination among adolescents in the United States in 2024. In this study, we use the competing choice method to compare the costeffectiveness of vaccination and no vaccination. We divide the cohort group into the younger age group (10-14) and the elder age group (15- 19). We use the estimation of net cost and net quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) to calculate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) of influenza vaccination in three different coverage of 50%, 80%, and 100% in 2024. The result shows the highest cost-effectiveness for 80% coverage and younger age group, and the largest health benefit for 100% coverage among adolescents from 10 to 19 in the US in 2024.

მოსახლეობის მიერ ანტიბიოტიკების თვითნებურად მოხმარების შესწავლის შედეგები

The 20th century witnessed the dawn of the antibiotic revolution and now the world is facing the phenomenon of increasing resistance to antibiotics. In this paper, our goal is to reveal the negative consequences of the arbitrary use of antibiotics by the population and to show the existing reality through research based on the population of Georgia. Arbitrary use of antibiotics is of great importance in the development of resistance and the associated clinical and economic burden increases accordingly. Arbitrary use of antibiotics has been reported in the general population as well as in hospitals and medical facilities. Mostly marked as overuse and inappropriate appointment. Improper dosing regimen and duration of treatment were considered to be major factors associated with antibiotic resistance; The study of the arbitrary use of antibiotics has revealed the widespread use of antibiotics without medical prescription or medical consultation, which underscores the heavy clinical and economic burden of this phenomenon in Georgia.

Integrated analysis of single-cell RNA-seq, bulk RNA-seq, Mendelian randomization, and eQTL reveals T cell-related nomogram model and subtype classification in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease that attacks the joints and causes a heavy economic burden on humans worldwide. T cells regulate RA progression and are considered crucial targets for therapy. Therefore, we aimed to integrate multiple datasets to explore the mechanisms of RA. Moreover, we established a T cell-related diagnostic model to provide a new method for RA immunotherapy. scRNA-seq and bulk-seq datasets for RA were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Various methods were used to analyze and characterize the T cell heterogeneity of RA. Using Mendelian randomization (MR) and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL), we screened for potential pathogenic T cell marker genes in RA. Subsequently, we selected an optimal machine learning approach by comparing the nine types of machine learning in predicting RA to identify T cell-related diagnostic features to construct a nomogram model. Patients with RA were divided into different T cell-related clusters using the consensus clustering method. Finally, we performed immune cell infiltration and clinical correlation analyses of T cell-related diagnostic features. By analyzing the scRNA-seq dataset, we obtained 10,211 cells that were annotated into 7 different subtypes based on specific marker genes. By integrating the eQTL from blood and RA GWAS, combined with XGB machine learning, we identified a total of 8 T cell-related diagnostic features (MIER1, PPP1CB, ICOS, GADD45A, CD3D, SLFN5, PIP4K2A, and IL6ST). Consensus clustering analysis showed that RA could be classified into two different T-cell patterns (Cluster 1 and Cluster 2), with Cluster 2 having a higher T-cell score than Cluster 1. The two clusters involved different pathways and had different immune cell infiltration states. There was no difference in age or sex between the two different T cell patterns. In addition, ICOS and IL6ST were negatively correlated with age in RA patients. Our findings elucidate the heterogeneity of T cells in RA and the communication role of these cells in an RA immune microenvironment. The construction of T cell-related diagnostic models provides a resource for guiding RA immunotherapeutic strategies.

Buyang huanwu decoction alleviates stroke-induced immunosuppression in MCAO mice by reducing splenic T cell apoptosis triggered by AIM2 inflammasome

Ethnopharmacological relevanceIschemic stroke is a serious disabling and fatal disease that places a heavy burden on the world. Stroke induces a state of systemic immunosuppression that is strongly associated with an increased risk of infection and severe outcomes. Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD) is an ancient Chinese traditional formula with a good clinical and experimental basis. However, the role of BYHWD on post-stroke immunomodulation, especially immunosuppression, is unclear. Aim of the studyThe aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacological mechanism of BYHWD to alleviate ischemic stroke by analyzing splenic T cells apoptosis triggered by the AIM2 inflammasome activation cascade. Materials and methodsAn ischemic stroke model in C57BL/6 J mice was constructed using the MCAO method. The mNSS test and the hanging wire test were conducted to evaluate neurological impairment in mice. Histopathological damage was visualized by Nissl staining and HE staining. The protective effects of BYHWD on the spleen were determined by splenic index and spleen HE staining. The inhibition of AIM2 inflammasome cascade by BYHWD were explored through immunofluorescence (IF), flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Flow cytometry was used to assess the apoptosis of splenic T cells. ResultsBYHWD significantly reduced infarct size, improved neurological function scores, and alleviated histopathological damage in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mice. At the same time, BYHWD salvaged spleen atrophy. BYHWD significantly ameliorated apoptosis of splenic T lymphocytes. Key proteins and factors in the AIM2/IL-1β/FasL/Fas axis are effectively inhibited from expression after BYHWD treatment. ConclusionIt is the first study to demonstrate that BYHWD can improve stroke-induced immunosuppression by down-regulating Fas-dependent splenic T-cell apoptosis triggered by peripheral AIM2 inflammasome-driven signaling cascade.

Plant-level green transformation strategy in China's cement industry: Considering energy conservation and emission reduction co-benefits

The green transformation strategy is critical for achieving the emission mitigation targets in China's cement study. However, previous studies have focused on the nationwide industry level and overlooked the significant differences in the cement plants, remaining the risk of difficulties in implementing the proposed strategy. To overcome this problem, this study proposes a framework for plant-level green transformation strategy based on the industry-level emission mitigation pathway and a plant-level cement database. The strategy indicates the cement plants that need to be shut down, be retrofitted, and promote technologies. Results show that 1005 clinker and 3706 cement production plants should be shut down or retrofitted, while 60%+ of the plants should take denitrification and dust removal technologies in 2019–2035. The plant-level strategy can achieve energy conservation and CO2, SO2, NOx, and PM reductions by 40.0–79.9%, demonstrating the existence of the co-benefits. As only 4.1%–25.0% of the plants contribute half of the energy conservation and emission reduction effects, the plant-level strategy leads to significant spatial heterogeneity of the co-benefits. For example, the energy conservation and emission reduction potential in the five largest cement producer cities varies from over 30%. In addition, the total fixed investment is 99.6 billion Chinese Yuan (CNY) and the highest cost is 12.8 billion CNY/a, which will not cause heavy economic burdens to the industry. This study bridges the industrial-level planning and plant-level implementation of the green transformation strategy, whose methodology supports the synergic energy conservation and emission reduction in China's cement industry and beyond.

Expert consensus on clinical research methods for musculoskeletal diseases

Musculoskeletal diseases are conditions that affect bones, joints, tendons, ligaments and muscles. As the main causes of disability among the elderly, these diseases can lead to pain and loss of mobility, which brings a heavy burden to patients and society. The clinical research of musculoskeletal diseases is crucial for clarifying the risk factors, as well as standardizing and innovating diagnosis and treatment methods of such diseases. To further promote the standardization of clinical research in musculoskeletal diseases and meet the needs of current clinical research practice, the committee has formulated an expert consensus for clinical research in these conditions based on the clinical practice in China and the international clinical research methods or guidelines for musculoskeletal diseases. This consensus is intended to promote standardized, scientific clinical research on musculoskeletal diseases.