The network of DPC on the key stage was illustrated by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Among the 36 constructed modules, the top positive correlated module, at the stage of six days post spraying DPC, was sienna3. Notably, Stf0 sulfotransferase, cyclin-like F-box, and HOX12 were the hub genes in sienna3 that had high correlation with other genes in this module. Furthermore, the qPCR validated the high accuracy of the RNA-seq results.

Taken together, we have demonstrated the key role of these genes in DPC-induced growth inhibition in sugarcane.

Taken together, we have demonstrated the key role of these genes in DPC-induced growth inhibition in sugarcane.

Almost one patient with cancer in two is anemic. About 40 to 64% of cervical cancer patients are anemic at time of presentation. The rate of anemia increases with the use of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and associated with poorer treatment outcome and quality of life. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess prevalence and associated factors of baseline anemia among cervical cancer patients in Tikur Anbesa Specialized Hospital (TASH), Ethiopia.

Institutional based cross-sectional study was done from March to April 2019 at TASH cancer center. Data were collected from patient’s chart using structured checklist and analyzed using Stata14.2. Binary logistic regression model was used to identify covariates which affected the outcome variable.

This is a 3-years retrospective study from 2014 to 2016. The prevalence of baseline anemia among cervical cancer patients was 50.95%. Being stage IV [AOR = 2.38, 95% CI (1.21-4.67)], having comorbidity [AOR = 3.32, 95% CI (2.25-4.90)] and using subt it is better to give special attention to those patients with the stated factors that could interfere treatment outcome.

There is limited real-world safety information on palbociclib for treatment of advanced stage HR+/HER2- breast cancer.

We conducted a cohort study of breast cancer patients initiating palbociclib and fulvestrant from February 2015 to September 2017 using the HealthCore Integrated Research Database (HIRD), a longitudinal claims database of commercial health plan members in the United States. The historical comparator cohort comprised patients initiating fulvestrant monotherapy from January 2011 to January 2015. Propensity score matching and Cox regression were used to estimate hazard ratios for various safety events. For acute liver injury (ALI), additional analyses and medical record validation were conducted.

There were 2445 patients who initiated palbociclib including 566 new users of palbociclib-fulvestrant, and 2316 historical new users of fulvestrant monotherapy. Compared to these historical new users of fulvestrant monotherapy, new users of palbociclib-fulvestrant had a greater than 2-fold elevateevents identified in clinical trials, including neutropenia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia, but no increased risk of serious infections or pulmonary embolism when comparing new users of palbociclib-fulvestrant to fulvestrant monotherapy. We observed an increased risk of ALI, extending clinical trial findings of significant imbalances in grade 3/4 elevations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT).

Postpartum maternal functioning has the potential to affect the quality of interaction between mother and child. A proper assessment of maternal functioning requires a comprehensive and accurate tool. The objective of this study was to prepare a Persian version of the Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning (BIMF) and evaluate its psychometric properties in order to determine its applicability in Iranian mothers.

The BIMF was translated into Persian and then culturally adapted for Iranian women. After evaluating face and content validity, to perform factor analysis, a cross-sectional study was conducted using the Persian version of BIMF. The data was collected from two unique groups of 250 mothers (in all 500 mothers) who had infants 2 to 12-months old and who were selected using a two-stage cluster sampling method. Factor analysis, Pearson’s correlation, intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC), composite reliability (CR) and Cronbach’s alpha were employed in order to evaluate structural validity and reliability.

Exploratory factor analysis resulted in a five-factor structure consisting of 20 items. Subsequently, confirmatory factor analysis (X

/ df = 1.61, RMSEA = 0.050, GFI = 0.91, CFI = 0.91) confirmed that the Persian version had satisfactory goodness of fit. Reliability and internal consistency were confirmed with a CR of 0.77, an ICC of 0.87 and a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.81.

The findings indicated that the Persian version of the BIMF is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing maternal functioning among Iranian mothers.

The findings indicated that the Persian version of the BIMF is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing maternal functioning among Iranian mothers.

Diagnosis of Group A Streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis in children is hindered by variable sensitivity of clinical criteria and rapid Strep A tests (SAT), resulting in reliance on throat cultures as the gold standard for diagnosis. Delays while awaiting culture reports result in unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions among children, contributing to the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Diagnostic accuracy study of an automated SAT (A-SAT) in children up to 16 years of age presenting to an emergency room with signs and symptoms of pharyngitis between March and June 2019. Paired throat swabs for A-SAT and culture were collected. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for A-SAT were calculated.

Two hundred and ninety-one children were included in this study. 168 (57.7%) were boys and the mean age was 4.2 years. A-SAT was positive in 94 (32.3%) and throat culture was positive in 90 (30.9%) children. A-SAT and throat culture results showed a high level of consistency in our cohort. Only 6 (2%) children had inconsistent results, demonstrating that the A-SAT has a high sensitivity (98.9%), specificity (97.5%), PPV (94.7%) and NPV (99.5%) for the diagnosis of GAS pharyngitis in children. Only 92 (32%) children were prescribed antibiotics while the vast majority (68%) were not.

A-SAT is a quick and reliable test with diagnostic accuracy comparable to throat culture. Its widespread clinical use can help limit antibiotic prescriptions to children presenting with pharyngitis, thus limiting the spread of AMR.

A-SAT is a quick and reliable test with diagnostic accuracy comparable to throat culture. Its widespread clinical use can help limit antibiotic prescriptions to children presenting with pharyngitis, thus limiting the spread of AMR.

To summarize the characteristics of solitary necrotic nodules (SNN) in the liver observed under contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS).

Conventional ultrasonography (US) and CEUS were performed in 24 patients who were confirmed to have SNN by pathological assessment. The US data and dynamic enhancement patterns of CEUS were recorded and retrospectively analyzed.

Ten of 24 patients underwent surgical resection, while the other 14 patients underwent a puncture biopsy to be confirmed as SNN. Among the 24 patients, 13 patients had a single lesion and 11 patients had multiple lesions. The largest lesion was selected for CEUS examination for patients with multiple lesions. Eleven patients presented no enhancement in all three phases, while the other 13 patients presented with a peripheral thin rim-like enhancement in the arterial phase, an iso-enhancement in the portal phase and delayed phase. However, no enhancement in the interior of the lesions was detected during three phases of CEUS.

SNN has characteristic findings on the CEUS, which play an important role in the differential diagnoses of liver focal lesions.

SNN has characteristic findings on the CEUS, which play an important role in the differential diagnoses of liver focal lesions.

Challenges with engaging in postnatal physical activity can negatively affect the health of women and their families. This study investigated women’s physical activity decision-making processes and strategies to support their physical activity as part of a healthy postpartum transition.

Thirty healthy women with infants aged 2.5-12 months completed 3-day activity diaries and an individual interview. Using Glaser and Charmaz’s grounded theory methodology, the core category, reconciling relationships with physical activity, was constructed, which explained women’s processes of postnatal physical activity decision-making.

Through reconciling relationships with physical activity, women discerned the types of physical activity they were comfortable pursuing at various points in the postpartum transition. Based on the meaning physical activity held for participants and their views about risks, supports, and resources, women gauged their capacity and the workability of their physical activity desires. Most womaccess and the safe return to physical activity following birth.

Mexico is considered the diversification center for chili species, but these crops are susceptible to infection by pathogens such as Colletotrichum spp., which causes anthracnose disease and postharvest decay in general. Studies have been carried out with isolated strains of Colletotrichum in Capsicum plants; however, under growing conditions, microorganisms generally interact with others, resulting in an increase or decrease of their ability to infect the roots of C. chinense seedlings and thus, cause disease.

Morphological changes were evident 24 h after inoculation (hai) with the microbial consortium, which consisted primarily of C. ignotum. High levels of diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP) and phosphatidic acid (PA) were found around 6 hai. These metabolic changes could be correlated with high transcription levels of diacylglycerol-kinase (CchDGK1 and CchDG31) at 3, 6 and 12 hai and also to pathogen gene markers, such as CchPR1 and CchPR5.

Our data constitute the first evidence for the phospholipids signalling events, specifically DGPP and PA participation in the phospholipase C/DGK (PI-PLC/DGK) pathway, in the response of Capsicum to the consortium, offering new insights on chilis’ defense responses to damping-off diseases.

Our data constitute the first evidence for the phospholipids signalling events, specifically DGPP and PA participation in the phospholipase C/DGK (PI-PLC/DGK) pathway, in the response of Capsicum to the consortium, offering new insights on chilis’ defense responses to damping-off diseases.

To investigate the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) administration to hypertension patients with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) induced pneumonia.

We recorded the recovery status of 67 inpatients with hypertension and COVID-19 induced pneumonia in the Raytheon Mountain Hospital in Wuhan during February 12, 2020 and March 30, 2020. Patients treated with ACEI or ARBs were categorized in group A (n = 22), while patients who were not administered either ACEI or ARBs were categorized into group B (n = 45). We did a comparative analysis of various parameters such as the pneumonia progression, length-of-stay in the hospital, and the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum creatinine (Cr), and creatine kinase (CK) between the day when these patients were admitted to the hospital and the day when the treatment ended.

These 67 hypertension cases counted for 33.17% of the total COVID-19 patients. There was no significant difference itients.

To treat the hypertension patients with COVID-19 caused pneumonia, anti-hypertensive drugs (ACEs and ARBs) may be used according to the relative guidelines. The treatment regimen with these drugs does not need to be altered for the COVID-19 patients.

The intrapartum period is a time of high mortality risk for newborns and mothers. Numerous interventions exist to minimize risk during this period. Data on intervention coverage are needed for health system improvement. Maternal report of intrapartum interventions through surveys is the primary source of coverage data, but they may be invalid or unreliable.

We assessed the reliability of maternal report of delivery and immediate newborn care for a sample of home and health facility births in Sarlahi, Nepal. Mothers were visited as soon as possible following delivery (< 72 h) and asked to report circumstances of labor and delivery. A subset was revisited 1-24 months after delivery and asked to recall interventions received using standard household survey questions. We assessed the reliability of each indicator by comparing what mothers reported immediately after delivery against what they reported at the follow-up survey. We assessed potential variation in reliability of maternal report by characteristion many interventions within the peripartum period. Household surveys which rely on maternal report, therefore, may not be an appropriate method for collecting data on coverage of many interventions during the peripartum period. This is particularly true among facility births, where many interventions may occur without the mother’s full knowledge.

This study reinforces previous findings that mothers are unable to report reliably on many interventions within the peripartum period. Household surveys which rely on maternal report, therefore, may not be an appropriate method for collecting data on coverage of many interventions during the peripartum period. This is particularly true among facility births, where many interventions may occur without the mother’s full knowledge.

Driven by deep learning, inter-residue contact/distance prediction has been significantly improved and substantially enhanced ab initio protein structure prediction. Currently, most of the distance prediction methods classify inter-residue distances into multiple distance intervals instead of directly predicting real-value distances. The output of the former has to be converted into real-value distances to be used in tertiary structure prediction.

To explore the potentials of predicting real-value inter-residue distances, we develop a multi-task deep learning distance predictor (DeepDist) based on new residual convolutional network architectures to simultaneously predict real-value inter-residue distances and classify them into multiple distance intervals. Tested on 43 CASP13 hard domains, DeepDist achieves comparable performance in real-value distance prediction and multi-class distance prediction. The average mean square error (MSE) of DeepDist’s real-value distance prediction is 0.896 Å

when filterin binary contact prediction over the existing state-of-the-art methods. Moreover, the predicted real-value distances can be directly used to reconstruct protein tertiary structures better than multi-class distance predictions due to the lower MSE. Finally, we demonstrate that predicting the real-value distance map and multi-class distance map at the same time performs better than predicting real-value distances alone.

A validated evidence-based guideline was developed to reduce physical restraint use in home care. However, the implementation of guidelines in home care is challenging. Therefore, this study aims to systematically develop and evaluate a multicomponent program for the implementation of the guideline for reducing the use of physical restraints in home care.

Intervention Mapping was used to develop a multicomponent program. This method contains six steps. Each step comprises several tasks towards the design, implementation and evaluation of an intervention; which is theory and evidence informed, as well as practical. To ensure that the multicomponent program would support the implementation of the guideline in home care, a feasibility study of 8 months was organized in one primary care district in Flanders, Belgium. A concurrent triangulation mixed methods design was used to evaluate the multicomponent program consisting of a knowledge test, focus groups and an online survey.

The Social Cognitive Theory anthe effectiveness of the multicomponent program.

The multicomponent program shows promising results. Prior to future use, further research needs to focus on the last two steps of Intervention Mapping (program implementation plan and developing an evaluation plan), to guide implementation on a larger scale and to formally evaluate the effectiveness of the multicomponent program.

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) and instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) are the two most commonly used coronary indices of physiological stenosis severity based on pressure. To minimize the effect of wedge pressure (P

), FFR is measured during hyperemia conditions, and iFR is calculated as the ratio of distal and aortic pressures (P

/P

) in the wave-free period. The goal of this study was to predict P

using the backward wave (P

) through wave separation analysis (WSA) and to reflect the effect of P

on FFR and iFR to identify the relationship between the two indices.

An in vitro circulation system was constructed to calculate P

. The measurements were performed in cases with stenosis percentages of 48, 71, and 88% and with hydrostatic pressures of 10 and 30mmHg. Then, the correlation between P

by WSA and P

was calculated. In vivo coronary flow and pressure were simultaneously measured for 11 vessels in all patients. The FFR and iFR values were reconstructed as the ratios of forward wave at distal and proximal sites during hyperemia and at rest, respectively.

Based on the in vitro results, the correlation between P

and P

was high (r = 0.990, p < 0.0001). In vivo results showed high correlations between FFR and reconstructed FFR (r = 0.992, p < 0.001) and between iFR and reconstructed iFR (r = 0.930, p < 0.001).

Reconstructed FFR and iFR were in good agreement with conventional FFR and iFR. FFR and iFR can be expressed as the variation of trans-stenotic forward pressure, indicating that the two values are inferred from the same formula under different conditions.

Reconstructed FFR and iFR were in good agreement with conventional FFR and iFR. FFR and iFR can be expressed as the variation of trans-stenotic forward pressure, indicating that the two values are inferred from the same formula under different conditions.

Early stage neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) with non-opticospinal manifestations as initial symptoms are easily misdiagnosed; however, data on the full symptom profile are limited. Moreover, the clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes of these patients remain unknown. We sought to analyze the clinical characteristics, imaging features, and long-term outcomes of NMOSD with non-opticospinal manifestations as initial symptoms.

We retrospectively included relevant patients from our center. Clinical, demographic, magnetic resonance imaging, treatment, and outcome data were compared according to the non-opticospinal vs. opticospinal initial symptoms.

We identified 43 (9.13 %) patients with non-opticospinal initial symptoms among 471 patients with NMOSD. Of these, 88.37 % developed optic neuritis/myelitis during an average follow-up period of 6.33years. All the non-opticospinal symptoms were brain/brainstem symptoms. Most of the symptoms and associated brain lesions were reversible. These patients had a younger onset age (P < 0.001), lower serum aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody titers (P = 0.030), and a lower Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score at onset (P < 0.001) and follow-up (P = 0.041) than NMOSD patients with opticospinal initial symptoms. In addition, EDSS scores reached 3.0 (indicating moderate disability) later than in patients with opticospinal initial symptoms (P = 0.028).

Patients with NMOSD with non-opticospinal initial symptoms have a younger onset age, lower serum AQP4 antibody titers, and better clinical outcomes.

Patients with NMOSD with non-opticospinal initial symptoms have a younger onset age, lower serum AQP4 antibody titers, and better clinical outcomes.

The burden of cardiovascular (CV) complications in patients hospitalised for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is still uncertain. Available studies used different designs and different criteria to define CV complications. We assessed the cumulative incidence of acute of CV complications during hospitalisation for CAP in Internal Medicine Units (IMUs).

This was a prospective study carried out in 26 IMUs, enrolling patients consecutively hospitalised for CAP. Defined CV complications were newly diagnosed heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, new onset of supraventricular or ventricular arrhythmias, new onset hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack. Outcome measures were in-hospital and 30-day mortality, length of hospital stay and rate of 30-day re-hospitalisation.

A total of 1266 patients were enrolled, of these 23.8% experienced at least a CV event, the majority (15.5%) represented by newly diagnosed decompensated heart failure, and 75% occurring within 3 days. Female gender, a history of CV disease, and more severe pneumonia were predictors of CV events. In-hospital (12.2% vs 4.7%, p < 0.0001) and 30-day (16.3% vs 8.9%, p = 0.0001) mortality was higher in patients with CV events, as well as the re-hospitalisation rate (13.3% vs 9.3%, p = 0.002), and mean hospital stay was 11.4 ± 6.9 vs 9.5 ± 5.6 days (p < 0.0001). The occurrence of CV events during hospitalisation significantly increased the risk of 30-day mortality (HR 1.69, 95% CI 1.14-2.51; p = 0.009).

Cardiovascular events are frequent in CAP, and their occurrence adversely affects outcome. A strict monitoring might be useful to intercept in-hospital CV complications for those patients with higher risk profile.

NCT03798457 Registered 10 January 2019 – Retrospectively registered.

NCT03798457 Registered 10 January 2019 – Retrospectively registered.

To examine the clinical characteristics and identify independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia.

A total of 156 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia at the Central Hospital of Wuhan from January 29, 2020, to March 20, 2020, and 20 healthy individuals were enrolled in this single-centered retrospective study. The epidemiological parameters, clinical presentations, underlying diseases, laboratory test results, and disease outcomes were collected and analyzed.

The median age of all enrolled patients was 66 years. At least one underlying disease was identified in 101 COVID-19 patients, with hypertension being the most common one, followed by cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The most common symptoms identified upon admission were fever, cough, dyspnea, and fatigue. Compared to survival cases, patients who died during hospitalization had higher plasma levels of D-dimer, creatinine, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, lactate, and lower perceprognosis.

In this study, we discovered that age, duration from onset to admission, LYM (%), and lactate level upon admission were independent factors that affecting the in-hospital mortality rate.

In this study, we discovered that age, duration from onset to admission, LYM (%), and lactate level upon admission were independent factors that affecting the in-hospital mortality rate.

Routine preoperative methods to assess airway such as the interincisor distance (IID), Mallampati classification, and upper lip bite test (ULBT) have a certain risk of upper respiratory tract exposure and virus spread. Condyle-tragus maximal distance(C-TMD) can be used to assess the airway, and does not require the patient to expose the upper respiratory tract, but its value in predicting difficult laryngoscopy compared to other indicators (Mallampati classification, IID, and ULBT) remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to observe the value of C-TMD to predict difficult laryngoscopy and the influence on intubation time and intubation attempts, and provide a new idea for preoperative airway assessment during epidemic.

Adult patients undergoing general anesthesia and tracheal intubation were enrolled. IID, Mallampati classification, ULBT, and C-TMD of each patient were evaluated before the initiation of anesthesia. The primary outcome was intubation time. The secondary outcomes were difficult laryngI 0.825-0.865).

Compared with the IID, Mallampati classification and ULBT, C-TMD has higher value in predicting difficult laryngoscopy and does not require the exposure of upper respiratory tract.

The study was registered on October 21, 2019 in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( ChiCTR1900026775 ).

The study was registered on October 21, 2019 in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( ChiCTR1900026775 ).

Pain assessment and management are important in postoperative circumstances as overdosing of opioids can induce respiratory depression and critical consequences. We aimed this study to check the reliability of commonly used pain scales in a postoperative setting among Korean adults. We also intended to determine cut-off points of pain scores between mild and moderate pain and between moderate and severe pain by which can help to decide to use pain medication.

A total of 180 adult patients undergoing elective non-cardiac surgery were included. Postoperative pain intensity was rated with a visual analog scale (VAS), numeric rating scale (NRS), faces pain scale revised (FPS-R), and verbal rating scale (VRS). The VRS rated pain according to four grades none, mild, moderate, and severe. Pain assessments were performed twice when the patients were alert enough to communicate after arrival at the postoperative care unit (PACU) and 30 min after arrival at the PACU. The levels of agreement among the scores were evround five on 10-point scales, and it corresponded to the cut-off point of analgesic request. Healthcare providers should consider VRS and other patient-specific signs to avoid undertreatment of pain or overdosing of pain medication.

Apoptosis is an important process for an organism’s innate immune system to respond to pathogens, while also allowing for cell differentiation and other essential life functions. Caspases are one of the key protease enzymes involved in the apoptotic process, however there is currently a very limited understanding of bivalve caspase diversity and function.

In this work, we investigated the presence of caspase homologues using a combination of bioinformatics and phylogenetic analyses. We blasted the Crassostrea gigas genome for caspase homologues and identified 35 potential homologues in the addition to the already cloned 23 bivalve caspases. As such, we present information about the phylogenetic relationship of all identified bivalve caspases in relation to their homology to well-established vertebrate and invertebrate caspases. Our results reveal unexpected novelty and complexity in the bivalve caspase family. Notably, we were unable to identify direct homologues to the initiator caspase-9, a key-caspase thogens or regulation of developmental processes.

Our analysis provides the first overview of caspases across different bivalve species with essential new insights into caspase diversity, knowledge that can be used for further investigations into immune response to pathogens or regulation of developmental processes.

Early rehabilitation can reduce ventilation duration and improve functional outcomes in critically ill patients. Upper limb strength is associated with ventilator weaning. Passive muscle loading may preserve muscle fibre function, help recover peripheral muscle strength and improve longer term, post-hospital discharge function capacity. The physiological effects of initiating rehabilitation soon after physiological stabilisation of these patients can be concerning for clinicians. This study investigated the feasibility of measuring metabolic demand and the safety and feasibility of early upper limb passive ergometry. An additional comparison of results, achieved from simultaneous application of the methods, is reported.

This was an observational feasibility study undertaken in an acute teaching hospital’s General Intensive Care Unit in the United Kingdom. Twelve haemodynamically stable, mechanically ventilated patients underwent 30 minutes of arm ergometry. Cardiovascular and respiratory parameters were mrt the feasibility of using the reverse Fick method and indirect calorimetry to measure metabolic demand during early physical rehabilitation of critically ill patients. More research is needed to ascertain the most reliable method. Minimal change in metabolic demand supports the safety and feasibility of upper limb ergometry. These results will inform future study designs for further research into exercise response in critically ill patients.

Clinicaltrials.gov No. NCT04383171. Registered on 06 May 2020 – Retrospectively registered. http//www.clinicaltrials.gov .

Clinicaltrials.gov No. NCT04383171. Registered on 06 May 2020 – Retrospectively registered. http//www.clinicaltrials.gov .

Hospital volume is known to be associated with outcomes of patients requiring complicated medical care. However, the relationship between hospital volume and prognosis of hospitalized patients with heart failure (HF) remains not fully understood. We aimed to clarify the impact of hospital volume on clinical outcomes of hospitalized HF patients using a nationwide inpatient database.

We studied 447,818 hospitalized HF patients who were admitted from January 2010 and discharged until March 2018 included in the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database. According to the number of patients, patients were categorized into three groups; those treated in low-, medium-, and high-volume centers. The median age was 81years and 238,192 patients (53%) were men. Patients who had New York Heart Association class IV symptom and requiring inotropic agent within two days were more common in high volume centers than in low volume centers. Respiratory support, hemodialysis, and intra-aortic balloon pumping were more frequently performed in high volume centers. As a result, length of hospital stay was shorter, and in-hospital mortality was lower in high volume centers. Lower in-hospital mortality was associated with higher hospital volume. Multivariable logistic regression analysis fitted with generalized estimating equation indicated that medium-volume group (Odds ratio 0.91, p = 0.035) and high-volume group (Odds ratio 0.86, p = 0.004) had lower in-hospital mortality compared to the low-volume group. Subgroup analysis showed that this association between hospital volume and in-hospital mortality among overall population was seen in all subgroups according to age, presence of chronic renal failure, and New York Heart Association class.

Hospital volume was independently associated with ameliorated clinical outcomes of hospitalized patients with HF.

Hospital volume was independently associated with ameliorated clinical outcomes of hospitalized patients with HF.

Shoot architecture is fundamentally crucial to crop growth and productivity. As a key component of shoot architecture, plant height is known to be controlled by both genetic and environmental factors, though specific details remain scarce.

In this study, 308 representative soybean lines from a core collection and 168 F

soybean progeny were planted at distinct field sites. The results demonstrated the presence of significant genotype × environment interaction (G × E) effects on traits associated with plant height in a natural soybean population. In total, 19 loci containing 51 QTLs (quantitative trait locus) for plant height were identified across four environments, with 23, 13 and 15 being QTLs for SH (shoot height), SNN (stem node number) and AIL (average internode length), respectively. Significant LOD ranging from 2.50 to 16.46 explained 2.80-26.10% of phenotypic variation. Intriguingly, only two loci, Loc11 and Loc19-1, containing 20 QTLs, were simultaneously detected across all environments. Resultybean genotypes and QTLs in effects on plant height opens new avenues to explore in work aiming to increase soybean yield through improvements in shoot architecture.

Standard prehospital management for Acute respiratory failure (ARF) involves controlled oxygen therapy. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a potentially beneficial alternative treatment, however, it is uncertain whether this could improve outcomes and provide value for money. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of prehospital CPAP in ARF.

A cost-utility economic evaluation was performed using a probabilistic decision tree model synthesising available evidence. The model consisted of a hypothetical cohort of patients in a representative ambulance service with undifferentiated ARF, receiving standard oxygen therapy or prehospital CPAP. Costs and quality adjusted life years (QALYs) were estimated using methods recommended by NICE.

In the base case analysis, using CPAP effectiveness estimates form the ACUTE trial, the mean expected costs of standard care and prehospital CPAP were £15,201 and £14,850 respectively and the corresponding mean expected QALYs were 1.190 and 1.128, respeffectiveness trial, providing feasibility and plausibility conditions are met.

Cost-effectiveness of prehospital CPAP depends upon the estimate of effectiveness. When based on a small pragmatic feasibility trial, standard oxygen therapy is cost-effective. When based on meta-analysis of heterogeneous trials, CPAP is cost-effective. Value of information analyses support commissioning of a large pragmatic effectiveness trial, providing feasibility and plausibility conditions are met.

Numerous studies have concentrated on high-dose radiation exposed accidentally or through therapy, and few involve low-dose occupational exposure, to investigate the correlation between low-dose ionizing radiation and changing hematological parameters among medical workers.

Using a prospective cohort study design, we collected health examination reports and personal dose monitoring data from medical workers and used Poisson regression and restricted cubic spline models to assess the correlation between changing hematological parameters and cumulative radiation dose and determine the dose-response relationship.

We observed that changing platelet of 1265 medical workers followed up was statistically different among the cumulative dose groups (P = 0.010). Although the linear trend tested was not statistically significant (P

= 0.258), the non-linear trend tested was statistically significant (P

= 0.007). Overall, there was a correlation between changing platelets and cumulative radiation dose (a change ation for a short period of time might have increased first and then decreased platelets, and there was a dose-response relationship between the cumulative radiation dose and platelets changing.

Due to continued advances in sequencing technology, the limitation in understanding biological systems through an „-omics” lens is no longer the generation of data, but the ability to analyze it. Importantly, much of this rich -omics data is publicly available waiting to be further investigated. Although many code-based pipelines exist, there is a lack of user-friendly and accessible applications that enable rapid analysis or visualization of data.

GECO (Gene Expression Clustering Optimization; http//www.theGECOapp.com ) is a minimalistic GUI app that utilizes non-linear reduction techniques to rapidly visualize expression trends in many types of biological data matrices (such as bulk RNA-seq or proteomics). The required input is a data matrix with samples and any type of expression level of genes/protein/other with a unique ID. The output is an interactive t-SNE or UMAP analysis that clusters genes (or proteins/other unique IDs) based on their expression patterns across the multiple samples enabling visueb browser app enables investigation of any -omic data matrix in a rapid and code-independent manner. With the continued growth of available -omic data, the ability to quickly evaluate a dataset, including specific genes of interest, is more important than ever. GECO is intended to supplement traditional statistical analysis methods and is particularly useful when visualizing clusters of genes with similar trajectories across many samples (ex multiple cell types, time course, dose response). Users will be empowered to investigate -omic data with a new lens of visualization and analysis that has the potential to uncover genes of interest, cohorts of co-regulated genes programs, and previously undetected patterns of expression.

Radiotherapy is used as one of the most effective regimens for cancer treatment, while radioresistance is a major drawback in cancer treatment.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitizing effect of olanzapine (OLA) with X-ray on glioblastoma (U-87 MG) cells death.

The synergistic killing effect of OLA with ionizing radiation (IR) on glioma was evaluated by colony formation assay. The generations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and protein carbonyl (PC) as oxidized protein were determined in OLA and irradiated cells.

The results of this study showed that OLA reduced the number of colonies in irradiated glioma cells. OLA elevated ROS and PC levels in irradiated cells. The synergistic killing effect of OLA with IR in U-87 MG cell was observed at concentrations 1 µM and 20 µM of OLA. The maximum radiosensitizing effect of OLA was observed at concentration of 20 µM.

The present study demonstrates that OLA has radiosensitizing effect on cell death induced by IR in glioma cells.

The present study demonstrates that OLA has radiosensitizing effect on cell death induced by IR in glioma cells.

Olanzapine belongs to a new class of dual spectrum antipsychotic agents. It is known to show promise in managing both the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Drug delivery systems based on nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) are expected to provide rapid nose-to-brain transport of this drug and improved distribution into and within the brain.

The present study deals with the preparation and evaluation of olanzapine loaded NLC via the intranasal route for schizophrenia.

Olanzapine-NLC were formulated through the solvent injection method using isopropyl alcohol as the solvent, stearic acid as solid lipid, and oleic acid as liquid lipid, chitosan as a coating agent, and Poloxamer 407 as a surfactant. NLC were characterized for particle size, polydispersity index, entrapment efficiency, pH, viscosity, X-ray diffraction studies, in-vitro mucoadhesion study, in- vitro release and ex-vivo permeation studies. The shape and surface morphology of the prepared NLC was determined through transmission electron microscopy. To detect the interaction of the drug with carriers, compatibility studies were also carried out.

Average size and polydispersity index of developed formulation S6 was 227.0±6.3 nm and 0.460 respectively. The encapsulation efficiency of formulation S6 was found to be 87.25 %. The pH, viscosity, in-vitro mucoadhesion study, and in- vitro release of optimized olanzapine loaded NLC were recorded as 5.7 ± 0.05, 78 centipoise, 15±2 min, and 91.96 % respectively. In ex-vivo permeation studies, the percent drug permeated after 210 min was found to be 84.03%.

These results reveal potential application of novel olanzapine-NLC in intranasal drug delivery system for treatment of schizophrenia.

These results reveal potential application of novel olanzapine-NLC in intranasal drug delivery system for treatment of schizophrenia.Hypoxia is an integral part of tumor microenvironment, caused primarily due to rapidly multiplying tumor cells and a lack of proper blood supply. Among the major hypoxic pathways, HIF-1 transcription factor activation is one of the widely investigated pathways in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME). HIF-1 is known to activate several adaptive reactions in response to oxygen deficiency in tumor cells. HIF-1 has two subunits, HIF-1β (constitutive) and HIF-1α (inducible). The HIF-1α expression is largely regulated via various cytokines (through PI3K-ACT-mTOR signals), which involves the cascading of several growth factors and oncogenic cascades. These events lead to the loss of cellular tumor suppressant activity through changes in the level of oxygen via oxygen-dependent and oxygen-independent pathways. The significant and crucial role of HIF in cancer progression and its underlying mechanisms have gained much attention lately among the translational researchers in the fields of cancer and biological sciences, which have enabled them to correlate these mchanisms with various other disease modalities. In the present review, we have summarized the key findings related to the role of HIF in the progression of tumors.Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Breast cancer cells demonstrate uncontrolled proliferation, and high metastatic capacity. They can obtain resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This has resulted in troublesome problems in its treatment. Nature as a rich source of plant derived-natural products with anti-tumor activity can be of interest in breast cancer therapy. Ginsenosides are triterpenoid saponins and considered as secondary metabolites exclusively found in Panax species. From immemorial times, ginsenosides have been applied in treatment of various disorders such as diabetes, inflammatory diseases, neurological disorders, and particularly, cancer. In the present review, we highlight anti-tumor activity of ginsenosides against breast cancer cells. Ginsenosides are able to induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. They interfere with breast cancer metastasis via inhibiting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, matrix metalloproteinase proteins and angiogenesis. Ginsenosides can promote efficacy of chemotherapy via suppressing migration and proliferation. Molecular pathways such as phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt), insulin-like growth factor-1, Wnt, microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs are affected by ginsenosides in suppressing breast cancer malignancy. Consequently, ginsenosides are versatile compounds in breast cancer therapy by suppressing growth, and invasion, as well as promoting their sensitivity to chemotherapy.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the prominent forms of cancer in developed countries. Incidence of HCC is well correlated with fatty liver disease and cirrhosis; the underlying chronic inflammation and lipotoxicity are thought to drive the process of HCC. Several biochemical cycles and molecular pathways are associated with the carcinogenesis of the liver, of which the PI3K/Akt signaling is a common converging point.

The review aims to provide a summary on the role of PI3K/Akt signaling and its downstream effectors in the development of HCC and its progression. Further, the emphasis has been given to the role of natural inhibitors of the PI3K/Akt pathway in HCC prevention, which are under various levels of drug discovery.

The required literature were collected from PubMed/Medline databases, as well as Scopus or Web of science.

It is evident that various signaling pathways activated by growth factors together with detoxification machinery and biochemical cycles converge to the PI3K/Akt signaling. The pathway plays a key role in the carcinogenesis, metastasis and drug resistance events of HCC cells and provides the growth and survival advantage. Natural products belonging to various classes such as terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins and stilbenoids are proven inhibitors of PI3K signaling and also found to inhibit HCC progression.

PI3K/mTOR pathway inhibitors, especially, the different phytochemicals are emerged as promising as antiHCC agents. These molecules are shown to interfere with the PI3K signaling at various stages and therefore the PI3K targeted drugs may be a future for the chemotherapeutic arena.

PI3K/mTOR pathway inhibitors, especially, the different phytochemicals are emerged as promising as antiHCC agents. These molecules are shown to interfere with the PI3K signaling at various stages and therefore the PI3K targeted drugs may be a future for the chemotherapeutic arena.

Alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD), a leading chronic hepatic disease, affects an increasing number of people, and no effective drugs for the treatment of AFLD are available. Antrodia cinnamomea (AC) can inhibit AFLD, but its mechanisms and the effective compound in AC are unknown.

We aimed to explore the anti-AFLD mechanism of AC and the active compound within AC.

Wild-type (WT) C57BL/6J mice underwent 4 weeks of daily ethanol (EtOH) feeding to induce AFLD. AC or dehydroeburicoic acid 32 (DEA32), a compound in AC, was given to the mice. Parallel experiments to assess the effect of AC were conducted in aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2)-knockout (KO) mice. Primary mouse hepatocytes were incubated with ethanol and Alda-1 (an ALDH2 agonist), AC or DEA32.

In WT mice with AFLD, AC reduced lipid deposition, increased the expression and activity of ALDH2, reduced the acetaldehyde content, and downregulated the expression of lipogenic and inflammatory genes in the liver. These effects of AC disappeared in ALDH2 KO mice. DEA32 was identified as an active compound in AC, as its effects on EtOH-treated WT hepatocytes were similar to those of AC, which were comparable to the effects of Alda-1. These effects of DEA32 disappeared in EtOH-treated ALDH2 KO hepatocytes. Furthermore, in WT mice with AFLD, DEA32 reduced lipid deposition, increased the activity of ALDH2 and reduced the accumulation of acetaldehyde in the liver. DEA32 also downregulated the mRNA expression of genes related to lipogenesis and inflammation.

AC and its constituent compound DEA32 inhibit AFLD by upregulating ALDH2 activity, accelerating acetaldehyde metabolism and suppressing lipogenesis and inflammation in the liver.

AC and its constituent compound DEA32 inhibit AFLD by upregulating ALDH2 activity, accelerating acetaldehyde metabolism and suppressing lipogenesis and inflammation in the liver.The role of mitochondria in apoptosis signaling cell death pathway is regulated by extrinsic and intrinsic pathway, encompassing multiple components like Bcl-2 family of proteins, death receptors, caspases, Smac/DIABLO, IAPs, Omi/HtrA2 and cytochrome c. These entities serve as effective molecular targets for numerous drugs targeting mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, mainly emphasizing on oncology therapeutics. Defective apoptosis is an acquired hallmark of cancer cells, which promotes establishment of apoptosis-targeting anti-cancer drugs in cancer treatment. The review provides an overview of the Bcl-2 inhibiting, IAPs antagonizing, caspase inhibiting and BH3 mimicking actions, mediated by anti-cancer drugs, rendering beneficial outcomes in different forms of cancer. The authors elaborate the significance of synthetic and natural agents, targeting the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, in ameliorating tumor cell growth in the body, and the specificity and effectiveness of these agents, motivating the researchers to explore mitochondrial apoptosis targeting of anti-tumor drugs, of both herbal and synthetic origin. Thus, the review aims to prognosticate this dynamic approach in oncology, simultaneously highlighting the challenges and future prospects, providing an opportunity to the experts, to „go over with a fine tooth comb” in understanding this „programmed cell death pathway”, and establishing reliability and accuracy of this therapeutic paradigm in the upcoming future.

As an emerging carbon nanomaterial, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have shown great potential application in new energy storage devices due to their unique small size effect and abundant edge active sites. This work introduces the main synthesis strategies of GQDs, which includes top-down and bottom-up methods; the application examples of GQDs and GQDs-based composites in energy storage are reviewed, and more, the unique advantages of GQDs are used in supercapacitors, Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and Lithium-sulfur batteries (Li-S batteries) are highlighted. The problems and development prospects in this growing area are also discussed.

We conducted a detailed search of „the application of GQDs in energy storage devices” in the published papers and the public patents based on Web of Science database in the period from 2014 to 2020. The corresponding literature was carefully evaluated and analyzed.

Sixty papers and twenty-eight recent patents were included in this mini-review. The significant advances in the recent years are summarized with comparative and balanced discussion. Thanks to the unique properties of large specific surface area, high conductivity and abundant active sites, GQDs have unparalleled potential application for new energy storage, especially improving the specific capacity and cycle stability of supercapacitors, LIBs and Li-S batteries.

The findings of this mini-review confirm the importance of GQDs, show the enhanced electrochemical performance in supercapacitors, LIBs and Li-S batteries, and also provide a helpful guide to design and fabricate highefficiency electrode materials.

The findings of this mini-review confirm the importance of GQDs, show the enhanced electrochemical performance in supercapacitors, LIBs and Li-S batteries, and also provide a helpful guide to design and fabricate highefficiency electrode materials.

Nanotechnology assures to be the base of the upcoming industrial revolution. The role that nanotechnology plays in electronic devices became a question of concern among the researchers when nanotechnology started to be the focal point of research programs in developed and developing countries of the world. Nanoelectronics, formed by combining nanotechnology and electronics deals with the handling, characterization, engineering, and manufacturing of electronic devices at nanoscale.

By reducing the size of materials, their electronic properties alter, and inter-atomic interactions and quantum effects gain significant importance. The challenge lies in interpreting their electronic properties at nanoscale so that they can be exploited for use in new generation electronic devices. Need to trim downsize and have a higher component density have ushered us into an era of nanoelectronics.

This work presents a detailed review of nanotechnology, its approach towards nanoelectronics, classification and types of nanomaterials used in nanoelectronics, application areas of nanoelectronics and measuring instruments with characterization at nanoscale. Also, the work incorporates latest developments and patents in nanoelectronics.

In this manuscript, the authors have reviewed different aspects of nanotechnology in the field of electronics, recent patents and related advancements.

In this manuscript, the authors have reviewed different aspects of nanotechnology in the field of electronics, recent patents and related advancements.