Group S1 Research Articles

SIRT6 pharmacological inhibition delays skin cancer progression in the squamous cell carcinoma

Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) has a critical role in cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC): SIRT6 silencing in skin SCC cells has pro-differentiating effects and SIRT6 deletion abrogated DMBA-TPA-induced skin tumorigenesis in mice. On the other hand, SIRT6 acts as tumor suppressor in SCC by enhancing glycolysis in tumor propagating cells. Herein, pharmacological modulation of SIRT6 deacetylase activity was investigated in cSCC, with S6 (inhibitor) or MDL-800 (activator). In cSCC cells, S6 recreated the pro-differentiating effects of SIRT6 silencing, as the levels of Keratin 1, Keratin 10 and Loricrin were upregulated compared to controls. Next, the effects of SIRT6 pharmacological modulation were evaluated in a DMBA-TPA-induced skin cancer mouse model. Mice treated with the inhibitor S6 in a preventive approach, i.e. at the beginning of the promotion stage, presented reduced number and size of papillomas, compared to the controls. The epidermal hyperproliferation marker Keratin 6 and the cSCC marker Keratin 8 were less abundant when SIRT6 was inhibited. In S6-treated lesions, the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) markers Zeb1 and Vimentin were less expressed compared to untreated lesions. In a therapeutic approach, i.e. treatment starting after papilloma appearance, the S6 group presented reduced papillomas (number and size), whereas MDL-800-treated mice displayed an opposite trend. In S6-treated lesions, Keratin 6 and Keratin 8 were less expressed, EMT was less advanced, with a higher E-cadherin/Vimentin ratio, indicating a delayed carcinogenesis when SIRT6 was inhibited. Our results confirm that SIRT6 plays a role in skin carcinogenesis and suggest SIRT6 pharmacological inhibition as a promising strategy in cSCC.

Viscoelastic Characteristics in Mouse Model of Hepatic Steatosis With Inflammation by Kelvin-Voigt Fractional Derivative Modeling.

The aim of the work described here was to measure the characteristics of viscoelasticity and fluidity in a mouse model of hepatic steatosis and inflammation using a nano-indentation test and the Kelvin-Voigt fractional derivative (KVFD) model and to explore the viscoelasticity and fluidity characteristics in mice with different degrees of hepatic steatosis with inflammation. Twenty-five ApoE mice were randomly divided into an experimental high-fat diet group (n=15) and an ordinary-food control group (n=10), then subdivided into four subgroups based on pathological degree of hepatic steatosis: S0 (normal), S1 (mild), S2 (moderate) and S3 (severe). The 25 liver specimens from these mice were evaluated by a slope-keeping relaxation nano-indentation test. Elasticity (E0) was significantly higher in the S3 group than in the S1 and S2 groups, while fluidity (α) and viscosity (τ) were significantly lower in S3 than in S1 and S2 (all p values < 0.05). The following cutoff values for the diagnosis of hepatic steatosis >33% with inflammation were also determined: E0 > 85.01 Pa (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.917, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.735-0.989), α ≤ 0.38 (AUC: 0.885, 95% CI: 0.695-0.977),\ and τ ≤ 3.92 (AUC: 0.813, 95% CI: 0.607-0.939). Increases in the degree of hepatic steatosis with inflammation in mice paralleled gradual increases in the stiffness of the liver and gradual decreases in the fluidity and viscosity of the liver.

Examples of surfaces with canonical maps of degree 12, 13, 15, 16 and 18

In this note, we present examples of complex algebraic surfaces with canonical maps of degree 12, 13, 15, 16 and 18. They are constructed as quotients of a product of two curves of genus 10 and 19 using certain non-free actions of the group S3×Z32\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$S_3\ imes {\\mathbb {Z}}_3^2$$\\end{document}. To our knowledge, there are no other examples in the literature of surfaces with canonical map of degree 13, 15 and 18.

Absorption and Distribution of Imidacloprid and Its Metabolites in Goldfish (Carassius auratus Linnaeus).

Imidacloprid (IMI) is the first-generation neonicotinoid insecticide. But, the long-term use of IMI as a pesticide has caused severe water pollution. Recently, the toxicity of IMI to aquatic organisms has received increasing attention. This study aimed to investigate the absorption and distribution of IMI in various tissues (gills, intestine, liver, muscle, brain and gonads) of goldfish through short-term and continuous exposure tests over 28 days. The results of short-term exposure indicated that the concentration of IMI and its metabolites in tissues at the transfer stage decreased steadily after 1 day of 40 mg/L IMI water treatment and was below the detection limit after 3 days. Continuous exposure for 28 days at various treatment concentrations showed that the concentrations of IMI and its metabolites differed significantly among the different tissues of the goldfish. In the 20 mg/L treatment group (S1), the highest concentration of IMI was found in the liver (12.04 μg/gtissue), followed by the intestine (9.91 μg/gtissue), muscle (6.20 μg/gtissue), gill (6.11 μg/gtissue), gonads (5.22 μg/gtissue) and brain (2.87 μg/gtissue). In the 40 mg/L treatment group (S2), the order of the tissue concentrations was similar to that of the S1 group, with the highest concentration observed in the liver (12.04 μg/gtissue), followed by the intestine (9.91 μg/gtissue), muscle (6.20 μg/gtissue), gill (6.11 μg/gtissue), gonads (5.22 μg/gtissue) and brain (2.87 μg/gtissue). Furthermore, the study detected 5-hydroxy-IMI, IMI urea and 6-chloronicotinic acid in IMI metabolites in all tissues, while IMI was detected only in the intestine and liver. Overall, the results of this study contribute to a better understanding of the metabolic behavior of IMI in organisms and provide new data to support the assessment of IMI toxicity in fish.

Study the Effect of Selenium Supplementations on the Liver, Kidney and Thyroid Gland Activities in Male Rats

The liver, kidney, and thyroid glands are main vital in biochemical and physiological activities in animals and humans. In this study, we examined the effects of adding selenium supplementation on the improvement activity of many glands such as the liver, kidney, and thyroid after cadmium chloride administration (induced toxicity) in male rabbits. This study included 16 male rabbits divided into four groups, the 1st group (CON) was control and administration normal fed and drinking water, the 2nd group (NC ) was negative control group that administration of 1ml of cadmium chloride (100ppm) with normal fed, the 3rd group (S1) was administration of 1ml of sodium selenite, and 4th group (S2) was administration of 5ml of selenium and all groups continuous for same style up to 8th week of experiment. Antioxidant and oxidative stress status was investigated by measuring the levels of T-AOC and MDA. The liver was assessed by estimation of ALT, AST, TP, and TB while kidney was assessed by calculation of blood CRI and UR and the thyroid gland assessed by measurement of serum T3 and T4. The levels of selenoprotein (SeP) mg/l were assessed by HPLC for standard and S2 group. The results of present study shows highly statistical differences between four group when compare the mean±SD of the levels of ALT,AST,TP,TB,CRI,UR,T3, and T4 (p-value &lt;0.005). In conclusion, this study showing highly ability of selenium supplementation to lowering the levels of the markers of liver, kidney, and thyroid gland and work as protective factor from toxicity induced by cadmium in male rabbits.

A diagnostic model of nerve root compression localization in lower lumbar disc herniation based on random forest algorithm and surface electromyography.

This study aimed to investigate the muscle activation of patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) during walking by surface electromyography (SEMG) and establish a diagnostic model based on SEMG parameters using random forest (RF) algorithm for localization diagnosis of compressed nerve root in LDH patients. Fifty-eight patients with LDH and thirty healthy subjects were recruited. The SEMG of tibialis anterior (TA) and lateral gastrocnemius (LG) were collected bilaterally during walking. The peak root mean square (RMS-peak), RMS-peak time, mean power frequency (MPF), and median frequency (MF) were analyzed. A diagnostic model based on SEMG parameters using RF algorithm was established to locate compressed nerve root, and repeated reservation experiments were conducted for verification. The study evaluated the diagnostic efficiency of the model using accuracy, precision, recall rate, F1-score, Kappa value, and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The results showed that delayed activation of TA and decreased activation of LG were observed in the L5 group, while decreased activation of LG and earlier activation of LG were observed in the S1 group. The RF model based on eight SEMG parameters showed an average accuracy of 84%, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.93. The RMS peak time of TA was identified as the most important SEMG parameter. These findings suggest that the RF model can assist in the localization diagnosis of compressed nerve roots in LDH patients, and the SEMG parameters can provide further references for optimizing the diagnosis model in the future.

Complex S3-symmetric 3HDM

CP violation plays a very important role in nature with implications both for Particle Physics and for Cosmology. Accounting for the observed matter-antimatter asymmetry of the Universe requires the existence of new sources of CP violation beyond the Standard Model. In models with an extended scalar sector CP violation can emerge either explicitly, i.e., at the Lagrangian level, or spontaneously. Spontaneous CP violation occurs in the framework of the electroweak symmetry breaking whenever the Lagrangian conserves CP and the vacuum breaks it. This requires that not all vacuum expectation values be real. In the context of multi-Higgs extensions of the Standard Model imposing the existence of a scalar basis where all couplings are real is a sufficient condition for CP to be explicitly conserved. We discuss a three-Higgs-doublet model with an underlying S3 symmetry, allowing in principle for complex couplings. In this framework it is possible to have either spontaneous or explicit CP violation in the scalar sector, depending on the regions of parameter space corresponding to the different possible vacua of the S3 symmetric potential. We list all possible vacuum structures allowing for CP violation in the scalar sector specifying whether it can be explicit or spontaneous. It is by now established that CP is violated in the flavour sector and that the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix is complex. In order to understand what are the possible sources of CP violation in the Yukawa sector we analyse the implications of the different available choices of representations for the quarks under the S3 group. This classification is based strictly on the exact S3-symmetric scalar potential with no soft symmetry breaking terms. The scalar sector of one such model was explored numerically. After applying the theoretical and the most important experimental constraints the available parameter space is shown to be able to give rise to light neutral scalars at the mathcal{O} (MeV) scale.

Clinical and radiological efficacy of spino-pelvic fixation in the treatment of neuromuscular scoliosis

Pelvic fixation is performed to obtain proper coronal and sagittal alignment when the pelvic obliquity is more than 15º in patients with neuromuscular scoliosis (NMS). Since many NMS patients were wheelchair or bed-ridden status, there has been controversy on the effect of pelvic fixation. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of pelvic fixation on correction of spinal deformity and quality of life (QoL) in NMS patients. A total of 77 NMS patients who underwent deformity correction were divided into three groups and retrospectively analyzed preoperatively, postoperatively, and at 2-year follow-up: pelvic fixation group (Group A, n = 16), fixed to S1 (Group B, n = 33), and fixed to L5 (Group C, n = 28). The correction rate of scoliosis was 60.0%, 58.0%, and 56.7% in groups A, B, and C, respectively, with no statistical difference (P > 0.05). The correction rate of pelvic obliquity was 61.3%, 42.8%, and 57.5% in respective groups A, B, and C, with no significance (P > 0.05). The correction loss of scoliosis and pelvic obliquity showed no statistical significance between three groups for 2-year follow-up (all Ps > 0.05). There were no significant differences regarding clinical outcomes and postoperative complications among the three groups (all Ps > 0.05). Therefore, pelvic fixation using iliac screws is not substantially influencing radiological and clinical outcomes in the patients with NMS.

Metabolic Pathway Pairwise-Based Signature as a Potential Non-Invasive Diagnostic Marker in Alzheimer's Disease Patients.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder. Early screening, particularly in blood plasma, has been demonstrated as a promising approach to the diagnosis and prevention of AD. In addition, metabolic dysfunction has been demonstrated to be closely related to AD, which might be reflected in the whole blood transcriptome. Hence, we hypothesized that the establishment of a diagnostic model based on the metabolic signatures of blood is a workable strategy. To that end, we initially constructed metabolic pathway pairwise (MPP) signatures to characterize the interplay among metabolic pathways. Then, a series of bioinformatic methodologies, e.g., differential expression analysis, functional enrichment analysis, network analysis, etc., were used to investigate the molecular mechanism behind AD. Moreover, an unsupervised clustering analysis based on the MPP signature profile via the Non-Negative Matrix Factorization (NMF) algorithm was utilized to stratify AD patients. Finally, aimed at distinguishing AD patients from non-AD groups, a metabolic pathway-pairwise scoring system (MPPSS) was established using multi-machine learning methods. As a result, many metabolic pathways correlated to AD were disclosed, including oxidative phosphorylation, fatty acid biosynthesis, etc. NMF clustering analysis divided AD patients into two subgroups (S1 and S2), which exhibit distinct activities of metabolism and immunity. Typically, oxidative phosphorylation in S2 exhibits a lower activity than that in S1 and non-AD group, suggesting the patients in S2 might possess a more compromised brain metabolism. Additionally, immune infiltration analysis showed that the patients in S2 might have phenomena of immune suppression compared with S1 and the non-AD group. These findings indicated that S2 probably has a more severe progression of AD. Finally, MPPSS could achieve an AUC of 0.73 (95%CI: 0.70, 0.77) in the training dataset, 0.71 (95%CI: 0.65, 0.77) in the testing dataset, and an AUC of 0.99 (95%CI: 0.96, 1.00) in one external validation dataset. Overall, our study successfully established a novel metabolism-based scoring system for AD diagnosis using the blood transcriptome and provided new insight into the molecular mechanism of metabolic dysfunction implicated in AD.

Impact of Robotic-Assisted Gait Training in Subacute Spinal Cord Injury Patients on Outcome Measure.

The improvement of walking ability is a primary goal for spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. Robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) is an innovative method for its improvement. This study evaluates the influence of RAGT vs. dynamic parapodium training (DPT) in improving gait motor functions in SCI patients. In this single-centre, single-blinded study, we enrolled 105 (39 and 64 with complete and incomplete SCI, respectively) patients. The investigated subjects received gait training with RAGT (experimental S1-group) and DPT (control S0-group), with six training sessions per week over seven weeks. The American Spinal Cord Injury Association Impairment Scale Motor Score (MS), Spinal Cord Independence Measure, version-III (SCIM-III), Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury, version-II (WISCI-II), and Barthel Index (BI) were assessed in each patient before and after sessions. Patients with incomplete SCI assigned to the S1 rehabilitation group achieved more significant improvement in MS [2.58 (SE 1.21, p < 0.05)] and WISCI-II [3.07 (SE 1.02, p < 0.01])] scores in comparison with patients assigned to the S0 group. Despite the described improvement in the MS motor score, no progression between grades of AIS (A to B to C to D) was observed. A nonsignificant improvement between the groups for SCIM-III and BI was found. RAGT significantly improved gait functional parameters in SCI patients in comparison with conventional gait training with DPT. RAGT is a valid treatment option in SCI patients in the subacute phase. DPT should not be recommended for patients with incomplete SCI (AIS-C); in those patients, RAGT rehabilitation programs should be taken into consideration.

Formation evaluation and rock type classification of Asmari Formation based on petrophysical- petrographic data: A case study in one of super fields in Iran southwest

The Oligo-Miocene Asmari Formation is one of the most important hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Middle East. The oilfield under study is one of the largest oilfields in the Zagros basin with the Asmari Formation being the major reservoir rock. In this study, petrographic analyses, petrophysical data and neural network clustering techniques were used for identifying rock types in the Asmari reservoir. Facies analysis of the Asmari Formation in the study area has resulted in the definition of 1 clastic lithofacies and 14 carbonate microfacies types. Using petrophysical logs from 43 wells and their correlation with capillary pressure ( P c ) curves, led to the recognition of 7 electrofacies (EF1-EF7). Microscopic evidence of Electrofacies group C1 and S1 show that the sedimentary facies of these electrofacies are most commonly found in restricted and shoal facies belts zone. Also, petrographic studies show that the sedimentary facies of C2, C3, C4, S2 and S3 were formed in the open marine, Lagoon, and Tidal flat facies belt zone of homoclinal ramp sedimentary environment during the Oligo-Miocene based on relative sea level changes respectively. The link between electrofacies and geological data indicated that both sedimentary and diagenetic processes controlled the reservoir quality of the Asmari Formation. Porosity, permeability and water saturation were used to estimate the reservoir quality of each electrofacies. EFs 1 and 2 with high porosity and permeability, low water saturation is considered as the best reservoir with regard to sedimentary textures (dolowackestone and dolograinstone) and the effect of diagenetic processes such as dolomitization processes. Vuggy, growth framework and interparticle porosities are major in EF-2, while the intercrystalline porosity is the major type in EF-1. EFs 3 and 4 show low values of porosity, permeability and high percentage of water saturations, which characterizes them as poor reservoir rocks. Finally, EF-5 is the only electrofacies in the siliciclastic parts of the Asmari reservoir, which is composed of rounded and well-sorted quartz grains that are slightly cemented. In sandstone electrofacies, electrofacies EF- 5 (S1), is the best type of sandstone reservoir rock and to move towards electrofacies EF-7 (S3), will reduce reservoir quality. In carbonate electrofacies, also, electrofacies no 1, the best type of carbonate reservoir rock can be observed and move towards electrofacie number 4, lower quality of reservoir rocks is seen. • This research can be useful in the development of the field and determining oil production in the future of similar fields.

Discrete symmetries and efficient counting of operators

We present DECO (“Discrete and Efficient Counting of Operators”), an implementation of the Hilbert series to enumerate subleading operator bases for SMEFT-like EFTs with symmetry groups as typically found in flavour and BSM physics. DECO can accommodate EFTs with arbitrary numbers and combinations of the SM gauge groups, as well as the discrete groups S4, A4, and ℤn, and U(1) groups with residual global charge (and these groups’ most important representations). The program is highly modular and can easily be extended to additional groups and/or representations. We demonstrate the design cases for DECO by using it to cross-check subleading operator bases of EFTs in the literature, which allows us to identify a missing operator in a widely used model for the neutrino masses and discuss said operator’s impact.

Potential of Chinese Yam (Dioscorea polystachya Turczaninow) By-Product as a Feed Additive in Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides): Turning Waste into Valuable Resources.

Chinese yam (Dioscorea polystachya Turczaninow) by-product produced in the water extraction process is commonly directly discarded resulting in a waste of resources and environmental pollution. However, the value of Chinese yam by-product which still contains effective ingredients is far from being fully realized; hence, it has the potential to be a safe and effective feed additive in aquaculture. To investigate the impacts of Chinese yam by-product on growth performance, antioxidant ability, histomorphology, and intestinal microbiota of Micropterus salmoides, juvenile fish (initial weight 13.16 ± 0.05 g) were fed diets supplemented with 0% (control), 0.1% (S1), 0.4% (S2), and 1.6% (S3) of Chinese yam by-product for 60 days. The results showed that no significant difference was found in weight gain, specific growth rate, and survival among all the experimental groups (P > 0.05). Feed conversion ratios of the S1 and S3 groups were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). SOD activity of the S3 group and GSH contents of Chinese yam by-product groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). MDA levels of the S2 and S3 groups were significantly lower than those in the control group and the S1 group (P < 0.05). Besides, Chinese yam by-product could protect liver and intestine health, as well as increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria and decrease the abundance of potential pathogens. This study suggests that Chinese yam by-product has the potential to be used as a functional feed additive in aquaculture, providing a reference for efficient recovery and utilization of by-products from plant sources during processing and culturing high-quality aquatic products.

Some new 3-designs invariant under the groups Sz(8) and S6(2)

In this paper, we determine all simple block-transitive 3-designs on 65 points with block stabilizer of order greater than 2, admitting the 2-transitive action of the group [Formula: see text]. As a result, we find 23 3-designs on 65 points that have [Formula: see text] as an automorphism group. Also we construct four 3-([Formula: see text]) designs for [Formula: see text] and two 3-([Formula: see text]) designs for [Formula: see text]. All of these designs have [Formula: see text] as the full automorphism group. Some of these designs are flag and anti-flag-transitive.

Preparation of drilling cuttings-coal fly ash based ceramic proppants: The roles of barite

This study presents the feasibility of preparing ceramic proppants (CPs) using drilling cuttings (DCs) and coal fly ash (CFA) via high-temperature sintering. The reaction behavior of barite in ceramic proppant precursors originating from DCs during the sintering process was investigated. The breakage ratio of the CPs (optimal group S3) met the requirements of Chinese standard SY/T 5108-2014 (2 K grade). The primary chemical reactions (7–8 in Table 4) between the barite and silica/alumina components resulted in a reduction of the eutectic point of the mixtures and the formation of aluminosilicates containing barium. However, these interactions also released gases (SO2 and O2), which created pores and weakened the CPs strength. The ideal temperature range for sintering is between 1170 and 1200 °C, during which there should be a gradual weight loss and minimal gas generation. This range will also ensure that the appropriate amount of liquid phase is present, which will have a moderate viscosity and aid in the densification of the ceramic proppants, as well as the formation of a dense enamel layer. The composite reactions of barite in the S3 sample follow a one-and-a-half-order chemical reaction mechanism within the temperature range of 950–1200 °C. The average activation energy and pre-exponential factor were 583.304 kJ mol−1 and 5.81 × 1020 min−1, respectively. The kinetic and reaction rate equations for the composite reactions were (1 − α)−1/2–1 = (5.81 × 1020 × e−5.83 × 10^5/RT) × t and dα/dt = (2(1 − α)3/2) × (5.81 × 1020 × e−(5.83 × 10^5)/RT)), respectively. This study provides a theoretical basis and guidelines for large-scale production of CPs using DCs and CFA.

Administration of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis strain BB-12® in healthy children: characterization, functional composition, and metabolism of the gut microbiome.

The consumption of probiotics may influence children's gut microbiome and metabolome, which may reflect shifts in gut microbial diversity composition and metabolism. These potential changes might have a beneficial impact on health. However, there is a lack of evidence investigating the effect of probiotics on the gut microbiome and metabolome of children. We aimed to examine the potential impact of a two (Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii; S2) vs. three (S2 + Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis strain BB-12) strain-supplemented yogurt. Included in this study were 59 participants, aged one to five years old, recruited to phase I of a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Fecal samples were collected at baseline, after the intervention, and at twenty days post-intervention discontinuation, and untargeted metabolomics and shotgun metagenomics were performed. Shotgun metagenomics and metabolomic analyses showed no global changes in either intervention group's gut microbiome alpha or beta diversity indices, except for a lower microbial diversity in the S2 + BB12 group at Day 30. The relative abundance of the two and three intervention bacteria increased in the S2 and S2 + BB12 groups, respectively, from Day 0 to Day 10. In the S2 + BB12 group, the abundance of several fecal metabolites increased at Day 10, including alanine, glycine, lysine, phenylalanine, serine, and valine. These fecal metabolite changes did not occur in the S2 group. In conclusion, there were were no significant differences in the global metagenomic or metabolomic profiles between healthy children receiving two (S2) vs. three (S2 + BB12) probiotic strains for 10 days. Nevertheless, we observed a significant increase (Day 0 to Day 10) in the relative abundance of the two and three probiotics administered in the S2 and S2 + BB12 groups, respectively, indicating the intervention had a measurable impact on the bacteria of interest in the gut microbiome. Future research using longer probiotic intervention durations and in children at risk for gastrointestinal disorders may elucidate if functional metabolite changes confer a protective gastrointestinal effect.

An investigation on the respiratory mechanics of mechanically ventilated patients during spontaneous breathing trials with enhanced low-level pressure support ventilation.

Low-level pressure support ventilation (PSV) is most commonly adopted in spontaneous breathing trials (SBTs), and some have proposed setting the positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) to 0cmH2 O in order to shorten the observation time of SBTs. This study aims to investigate the effects of two PSV protocols on the patients' respiratory mechanics. A prospective randomized self-controlled crossover design was adopted in this study, which involved enrolling 30 difficult-to-wean patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University between July 2019 and September 2021. Patients were subjected to the S group (pressure support: 8cmH2 O, PEEP: 5cmH2 O) and S1 group (PS: 8cmH2 O, PEEP: 0cmH2 O) for 30 min in a random order, and respiratory mechanics indices were dynamically monitored via a four-lumen multi-functional catheter with an integrated gastric tube. Among the 30 enrolled patients, 27 were successfully weaned. The S group showed higher airway pressure (Paw), intragastric pressure (Pga) and airway pressure-time product (PTP) than the S1 group. The S group also showed a shorter inspiratory trigger delay, (93.80 ± 47.85) versus (137.33 ± 85.66) ms (P = 0.004); and fewer abnormal triggers, (0.97 ± 2.65) versus (2.67 ± 4.48) (P = 0.042) compared with the S1 group. Stratification based on the causes of mechanical ventilation revealed that under the S1 protocol, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had a longer inspiratory trigger delay compared to both post-thoracic surgery (PTS) patients and patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Despite providing greater respiratory support, S group led to significant reductions in inspiratory trigger delay and less abnormal triggers compared to S1 group, especially among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These findings suggest that the zero PEEP group was more likely to induce a higher number of patient-ventilator asynchronies in difficult-to-wean patients.

Effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on growth indicators and physiological characteristics of Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn leaves

ABSTRACT As a kind of medicinal plant, Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn has been over-harvested in the wild population, which leads to its artificial cultivation. The present study aims to analyze the effects of different plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on the growth and physiological characteristics of P. Praeruptorum leaves. Compared with the CK, the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was drastically reduced in the leaves of P. Praeruptorum in different treatment groups (P < 0.05), and with S6 showing the most significant reduction in MDA content (content was only about 1/3 that of the CK). The indicators of leaf area, length and width were found to be the highest in group S9, reaching a level that is 3.75, 3.08 and 1.48 times higher than those in group CK, respectively. Group S8 has the largest plant height, which is 1.22 times higher than that in group CK. S2 has the largest stem diameter, which is 1.69 times higher than that in group CK. Group S1 has the largest petiole length, which is 1.74 times higher than that in group CK. Group S6 has the largest chlorophyll content, which is 1.63 times higher than that in group CK. Group S2 has the highest content of soluble sugar and soluble protein, which are 2.02 times and 3.82 times higher than those in group CK. Group S9 exhibits the strongest CAT activity, which is 3.71 times higher than that in group CK. S5 exhibits the strongest SOD activity, which is 2.32 times higher than group CK. Group S1 exhibits the strongest POD activity, which is 5.94 times higher than that in group CK. In conclusion, the inoculation with PGPR is effective in improving the growth of P. Praeruptorum leaves and their physiological indicators, which provides guidance on the application of PGPR to achieve the high quality and yield of P. Praeruptorum.

One-year outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation with the latest-generation SAPIEN balloon-expandable valve: the S3U registry.

Initial data about the performance of the new-generation SAPIEN 3 Ultra (S3U) valve are highly promising. However, evidence about the longer-term performance and safety of the S3U is scarce. We aimed to investigate the 1-year clinical and echocardiographic outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) using the S3U compared with its predecessor, the SAPIEN 3 valve (S3). The SAPIEN 3 Ultra registry included consecutive patients who underwent transfemoral TAVI at 12 European centres with the S3U or S3 between October 2016 and December 2020. One-to-one propensity score (PS) matching was performed to account for differences in baseline characteristics. The primary outcomes of interest were all-cause death and the composite of all-cause death, disabling stroke and hospitalisation for heart failure at 1 year. The overall study cohort encompassed 1,692 patients treated with either the S3U (n=519) or S3 (n=1,173). The PS-matched population had a total of 992 patients (496 per group). At 1 year, the rate of death from any cause was 4.9% in the S3U group and 6.3% in the S3 group (p=0.743). Similarly, there were no significant differences in the rates of the primary composite outcome (9.5% in the S3 group and 6.6% in the S3U group; p=0.162). The S3U was associated with lower rates of mild paravalvular leak (PVL) compared with the S3 (odds ratio 0.63, 95% confidence interval: 0.44 to 0.88; p<0.01). No significant differences in transprosthetic gradients were observed between the two groups. Compared with the S3, the S3U transcatheter heart valve was associated with similar 1-year clinical outcomes but reduced rates of mild PVL.

Is lactational Sertraline exposure safe for maternal health and the reproductive/neurobehavioral development of the descendants? A study in rats.

Although sertraline is considered one of the safest antidepressants in the lactation period, there are still few studies that assess its impact on child development. Therefore, this experimental study aimed to clarify the effect of sertraline on the neurobehavioral and reproductive development of male rats. Thus, 30 lactating rats were divided into 3 experimental groups (n=10/group): CO- received filtered water, S10 and S20 groups that received, respectively, 10 and 20mg/kg/day of sertraline. Treatment was performed by gavage, from postnatal days (PND) 1 to 20. During this period, the reflex and somatic development of rats were observed, as well as maternal behavior. On PND 21, mothers were euthanized and the organs were weighed. On PND 21, 45, and 100, one male from each litter was euthanized for histological and immunohistochemical (PCNA and WT1) analysis of the reproductive organs. The growth of body weight, the anogenital distance (AGD), the time to puberty, sperm quality, sexual behavior, neurobehavior, and natural fertility were also verified. Statistical analysis: One-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test (p≤0.05). The results showed that mothers in the S20 group had an increase in thyroid weight. The male offspring exposed to sertraline had lower body weight (PND 7), lower AGD (PND 7 and 14), and delay in reflex development, in addition to histological alterations in the testis (PND 21). In adulthood, sperm quality was altered, without compromising natural fertility. Therefore, the present study found important alterations in the reflex and reproductive development of male rats exposed to sertraline during lactation.