Browse Articles
Discover research articles across all indexed journals
Association between estimated pulse wave velocity and stroke in middle-aged and elderly Chinese: A nationwide cohort study
Background Research on the relationship between estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV) and stroke risk remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between ePWV and the risk of stroke in middle-aged and older adults in China. Methods This cohort study included 9,190 participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2011, with follow-up assessments in 2013, 2015, and 2018. ePWV values were categorized into tertiles. Stroke was defined as the occurrence of stroke during follow-up. Longitudinal associations between ePWV and stroke risk were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Results In the fully adjusted model, compared to the first tertile, both the second and third tertiles were significantly associated with an increased risk of stroke, with a 40% higher risk for the second tertile (HR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.17–1.76, P = 0.004) and a 42% higher risk for the third tertile (HR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.08–1.86, P = 0.012). Restrictive cubic spline analysis further demonstrated a nonlinear dose-response relationship between ePWV and stroke risk (P nonlinear = 0.001). Conclusions Our findings suggest that elevated ePWV is significantly associated with an increased risk of stroke in middle-aged and elderly Chinese individuals. ePWV can screen individuals at high risk of stroke early in clinical practice and guide personalized prevention and intervention strategies.
Optimized production of dual-isotope sources for gamma detector calibration
Using a dynamic arithmetic optimization approach to improve ridgelet neural network performance in remote sensing scene classification
Safety profile of metformin in adolescents with type 2 diabetes: A pharmacovigilance analysis of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System
Background Although metformin is the first-line medicine for type 2 diabetes (T2D), its safety profile in adolescents remains poorly understood. This study seeks to investigate the adverse events linked to metformin use in adolescents diagnosed with T2D. Methods Data from the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), spanning Q1 2004 to Q2 2024, were retrospectively analyzed in this study. Adverse reactions were standardized using the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities, then significant adverse drug reaction signals were identified through disproportionality analysis employing reporting odds ratio (ROR) and information component (IC) methods. Results Of 17,956,653 FAERS reports, 80,187 involved metformin, including 973 in adolescents (10–19 years), with 174 cases were identified with a T2D indication. Analysis at the system organ class level revealed that congenital, familial, and genetic disorders [ROR: 8.8 (4.0, 19.3); IC: 2.2 (1.1, 2.9)] and pregnancy conditions [ROR: 4.9 (2.5, 9.5); IC: 1.8 (0.8, 2.5)] showed the most significant signals. At the preferred term (PT) level, three signals were identified across all sexes and subgroups: treatment noncompliance [ROR: overall 4.14 (2.44, 7.02), male 4.27 (2.00, 9.12), and female 4.65 (2.22, 9.74); IC: overall 1.67 (0.88, 2.22), male 1.60 (0.46, 2.36), and female 1.74 (0.60, 2.50)], lactic acidosis [IC: overall 2.99 (1.91, 3.72), male 2.53 (0.76, 3.61), and female 2.76 (1.34, 3.67)], and gastrointestinal disorder [ROR: overall 13.09 (4.73, 36.23), male 54.33 (6.05, 487.96), female 5.34 (1.10, 25.84)]. Neurological disorders were observed only in males, while pregnancy-related adverse effects and renal disorders occurred exclusively in females. Additionally, the study identified potential new signals not documented in metformin labeling, including areflexia, muscle weakness, ataxia, decreased vibratory sense, rhabdomyolysis, substance use, and axillary pain. Conclusion The study reveals a complex safety profile of metformin in adolescents with T2D, warranting further research to confirm risks.
Finerenone ameliorates diabetic kidney disease exacerbated by deletion of natriuretic peptide/guanylyl cyclase-A signaling and dietary high-protein load
Effects of a multimodal physical therapy approach on breast cancer-related lymphedema: a retrospective pre-post study
Abstract Despite the availability of numerous lymphedema treatments, integrating physical therapy for breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) management has limited evidence. The objective is to evaluate the effect of a multimodal physical therapy approach in reducing upper limb (UL) lymphedema and improving shoulder range of motion (ROM) in women with BCRL. A retrospective study was conducted with 19 women diagnosed with BCRL. UL circumference and shoulder ROM were assessed before and after four weeks of therapy and showed significant improvement ( p < 0.05). The mean difference between baseline and 4-week intervention was 2.11 cm for UL circumference (95% CI: 1.54, 2.68; Cohen’s d = 1.35), 46.31 o for shoulder flexion (95% CI -57.5, -35.1; Cohen’s d = 1.68), 10 o for shoulder extension (95% CI -13.4, -6.59; Cohen’s d = 1.74), 47.36 o for shoulder abduction (95% CI -60.35, -34.38; Cohen’s d = 1.67), 18.94 o for shoulder internal rotation (95% CI -24.4, -13.4; Cohen’s d = 1.37) and 16.05 o for shoulder external rotation (95% CI -20.03, -12.07; Cohen’s d = 1.51). Women with BCRL showed significant improvements in lymphedema and shoulder mobility following four weeks of therapy. Further, robust randomised clinical trials are required to substantiate these findings in Indian women.
Rapid increase in erythropoiesis-stimulating agent resistance is a risk factor for poor renal prognosis in patients with chronic kidney disease pre-dialysis: A BRIGHTEN study sub-analysis
Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) resistance is reported in approximately 10% of patients on hemodialysis and is a risk factor for mortality. The BRIGHTEN study conducted on 1,724 non-dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) reported an ESA resistance prevalence of 13.3% and was associated with a risk factor for poor cardiovascular and renal prognoses. ESA resistance at 12 weeks after ESA administration can also indicate renal prognoses; however, a single-point estimate is insufficient because ESA resistance increases with CKD progression. We used the BRIGHTEN data for a sub-analysis and found that the ESA resistance index (ERI) (darbepoetin alpha dose/hemoglobin level) transition pattern might be more appropriate for predicting renal prognoses than an initial single-point ERI value. This BRIGHTEN study sub-analysis included 1,625 patients with complete data, comprising 518 dialysis initiations and 18 renal transplants, with a mean follow-up of 1.79 years. The relationship between disease progression and ESA resistance was analyzed using the joint latent class model of longitudinal and time-to-event data. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to estimate the cumulative incidence for the three classes according to the transition pattern of the ERIs. The patient background characteristics in each class were compared. The ERI transition pattern was classified into 3 classes: ERI unchanged, Class A (1,237 patients); moderately increased, Class B (274 patients); and rapidly increased, Class C (114 patients). Class C showed a significantly worse renal survival curve than the other groups, while Class B showed an intermediate survival curve (P < 0.0001). The median renal survival times were 1.09 and 0.61 years in Classes B and C, respectively. Patients in Classes B and C were significantly more often male and had diabetic nephropathy, smoking, hypertension, and more proteinuria than those in Class A. Rapidly increasing ESA resistance patterns predict poor renal prognoses in patients with non-dialysis CKD.
Changes in microbiota associated with the use of intragastric balloons
Enhancing psychological resilience and decision-making in basketball players through emerging technologies
Comparison of the efficacy of two hand decontamination methods: Alcoholic septicidine and povidone–iodine solutions
Background and aim Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a critical concern in ophthalmic surgical settings, where rigorous hand hygiene is essential to prevent postoperative complications. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of two antiseptic agents, Septicidine and Betadine, in reducing bacterial contamination on the hands of surgical staff. Methods Thirty ophthalmic surgeons and operating room personnel participated in the study. The participants scrubbed their hands with either Septicidine (alcohol-based antiseptic) or Betadine (iodine-based antiseptic). Bacterial cultures were obtained before and after hand scrubbing. The presence of bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains, was assessed and compared between the two groups over a four-month period at Sina Hospital in Hamadan. Results A total of 120 hand culture samples were collected. Both antiseptics significantly reduced bacterial contamination. However, residual bacterial growth was observed in 8 out of 120 Septicidine samples and 10 out of 120 Betadine samples. Although Septicidine showed a slightly lower rate of residual contamination, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.624). The most commonly isolated organisms were Staphylococcus species, some of which exhibited resistance to antibiotics such as cotrimoxazole, clindamycin, and vancomycin. Conclusion Both Septicidine and Betadine were effective in reducing hand bacterial load, although neither achieved complete sterilization. Alcohol-based solutions such as Septicidine may offer benefits in terms of ease of use and skin compatibility. Improving iodine-based solutions such as Betadine application techniques may enhance its efficacy. Further research is warranted to optimize hand hygiene protocols in surgical environments.
Unbiased assessment of 2-arachidonoylglycerol in cardiovascular inflammation
Abstract 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is an endogenous modulator of inflammatory processes. Recent studies demonstrate its key role in inflammatory cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis and left ventricular remodelling. However, whether 2-AG acts as a pro- or anti-inflammatory agent in cardiovascular inflammation is a matter of controversial debate. CD14 + primary human monocytes were treated with 2-AG. Differentially expressed genes were determined by mRNA sequencing and used for bioinformatics analysis of changes in myeloid cell functions and cell signalling pathways. Additionally, we quantified cytokines and mediators involved in cardiac remodelling by multiplexing assays. Human monocytes responded to the treatment with 2-AG by inducing a pro-inflammatory cellular program. The top upregulated hallmark pathways were TNFα signalling via the NF-κB pathway, the inflammatory response and IL-6 signalling, illustrating the pro-inflammatory mode of action of 2-AG. These data were validated at the protein level in the supernatants of stimulated cells using multiplexing assays. Based on these in-vitro results, we examined blood samples from patients during acute and chronic coronary syndromes. By sampling blood from both the periphery and the culprit coronary artery, we observed a trend towards higher local concentrations of the cardiac remodelling factors Galectin-3, Osteopontin, and IP-10 in the coronary arteries of patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome compared with other groups. The levels of these remodelling factors correlate positively with 2-AG levels. Taken together, our data suggest that 2-AG acts as a pro-inflammatory agent in myocardial infarction and LV remodelling.
An intelligent YOLO and CNN-BiGRU framework for road infrastructure based anomaly assessment
Clinical characteristics and predictive models for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 combined with bacterial pneumonia
Background This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 combined with bacterial pneumonia and establish a predictive model to assist clinicians in the differential diagnosis and evaluation of the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment. Methods In this retrospective study, we collected clinical, biochemical, imaging, and microbiological data from hospitalized patients with COVID-19 admitted to our hospital between December 1, 2022, and February 7, 2023. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed independent risk factors for bacterial pneumonia in COVID-19 patients. Model performance was assessed via the area under the curve (AUC). Results A total of 5358 COVID-19 patients were screened, and data from 1794 patients were ultimately included; 1386 patients had concomitant bacterial pneumonia (77.3%), whereas 408 patients served as controls (22.7%). Among COVID-19 patients, those with concomitant bacterial pneumonia had lower levels of albumin, hemoglobin, and lymphocyte ratio, along with higher levels of procalcitonin, globulin, glucose, urea, white blood cell count, and neutrophil ratio, than patients without bacterial pneumonia. Sputum cultures identified Acinetobacter baumanii , Klebsiella pneumoniae , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as the top three bacterial species. A predictive model for the early detection of concomitant bacterial pneumonia in COVID-19 patients was developed via multivariate regression analysis, with an AUC of 0.850 (p < 0.001). Conclusion These findings provide valuable insights for clinicians in the early diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia in COVID-19 patients, which may facilitate timely intervention and treatment.
Computational analysis of tandem floating wind turbines under coupled pitch surge motion comparing NREL 5 MW And IEA 22 MW
Randomized controlled trial of Shikani optical stylet’s one-person technique in nasotracheal intubation for children undergoing dental treatment
A mathematical model assuming frequency-dependent cost for analyzing the influence of cell competition on radiation effects
High dose-rate ionizing radiation exposure increases the risk of cancer; however, the health effects of low dose-rate exposure remain controversial. Stem cell competition entails stem cells with lower fitness being eliminated from the stem cell pool when interacting with neighboring stem cells with higher fitness. It is hypothesized that this phenomenon reduces radiation damage under very low dose-rate conditions rather than high dose-rate irradiation conditions. If cell-cell interactions exist, the frequency of cells in a population affects the fitness of cells. However, they have not been adequately considered in discussions of radiation damage accumulation. We developed a mathematical model to analyze the influence of radiation-induced stem cell competition on the accumulation of radiation damages. Two cell types were assumed: intact and damaged. An intact cell can be damaged by a hit of radiation track. Cell division and elimination follow the Moran process, wherein the probability of cell elimination depends on the frequency-dependent cost. Under low dose-rate irradiation conditions, the size of the cell pool can determine whether competition promotes or suppresses the accumulation of damaged cells, even when the cost parameters are the same. In addition, the presence or absence of spatial structure can qualitatively alter the effect of competition on damage accumulation. If cells had a higher cost when interacting with different cell types, the results were qualitatively different compared to scenarios with no spatial structure. Thus, considering the spatial structure is essential for an in-depth understanding of the effects of stem cell competition.
Comprehensive assessment of land degradation in the Sanjiangyuan region based on multi-source indicators
Periodontitis and renal function decline in type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study
The impact of migrant work experience on rural households’ participation in digital finance: Evidence from China
Currently, the development of digital finance in China’s rural areas remains in its early stages. The proportion of rural households participating in digital finance and the types of participation are relatively low. This hinders the realization of digital finance’s inclusive effects. This paper examines the influence of migrant work experience on participation in digital financial of rural households using data from the China Household Finance Survey (CHFS). The findings suggest that migrant work experience significantly increases the probability of rural households’ digital financial participation and increases the breadth of participation. Heterogeneity analysis finds that migrant work experience promotes digital financial participation more for rural households with migrant formal work experience, migrant entrepreneurial experience, completion of compulsory education, and long-tail groups. Mechanism analysis finds that migrant work experience can influence rural households’ digital financial participation by improving their financial literacy and broadening their social networks.