A Miniaturized In Situ Tensile Platform under Microscope

Aiming at the mechanical testing of three-dimensional specimens with feature size of centimeter level, a miniaturized tensile platform, which presents compatibility with scanning electron microscope (SEM) and metallographic microscope, was designed and built. The platform could accurately evaluate the parameters such as elastic modulus, elongation and yield limit, etc. The calibration experiments of load sensor and displacement sensor showed the two kinds of sensors had high linearity. Testing of transmission error and modal parameters showed that the platform presented good following behaviors and separation of resonance region. Comparison tests based on stress-strain curve were carried out between the self-made platform and the commercial tensile instrument (Instron) to verify the feasibility of the platform. Furthermore, the in situ tensile experiment under metallographic microscope was carried out on a kind of manganese steel

Apigenin C-glycosides of Microcos paniculata protects lipopolysaccharide induced apoptosis and inflammation in acute lung injury through TLR4 signaling pathway

Acute lung injury (ALI) and its more severe form acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are life-threatening conditions with high morbility and mortality, underscoring the urgent need for novel treatments. Leaves of the medicinal herb Microcos paniculata have been traditionally used for treating upper airway infections, by virtue of its content of flavonoids such as apigenin C-glycosides (ACGs). C-glycosides have been shown to exert strong anti-inflammatory properties, although their mechanism of action remains unknown. Herein, hypothesizing that ACGs from M. paniculata inhibit progression of ALI, we used the experimental model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI in BALB/c mice to evaluate the therapeutic potential of purified ACGs. Our results showed that M. paniculata ACGs inhibited lung inflammation in animals undergoing ALI. The protective effects of ACGs were assessed by determination of cytokine levels and in situ analysis of lung inflammation. ACGs reduced the pulmonary edema and microvascular permeability, demonstrating a dose-dependent down-regulation of LPS-induced TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β expression in lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, along with reduced apoptosis. Moreover, metabolic profiling of mice serum and subsequent Ingenuity Pathway Analysis suggested that ACGs activated protective protein networks and pathways involving inflammatory regulators and apoptosis-related factors, such as JNK, ERK1/2 and caspase-3/7, suggesting that ACGs-dependent effects were related to MAPKs and mitochondrial apoptosis pathways. These results were further supported by evaluation of protein expression, showing that ACGs blocked LPS-activated phosphorylation of p38, ERK1/2 and JNK on the MAPKs signaling, and significantly upregulated the expression of Bcl-2 whilst down-regulated Bax and cleaved caspase-3. Remarkably, ACGs inhibited the LPS-dependent TLR4 and TRPC6 upregulation observed during ALI. Our study shows for the first time that ACGs inhibit acute inflammation and apoptosis by suppressing activation of TLR4/TRPC6 signaling pathway in a murine model of ALI. Our findings provide new evidence for better understanding the anti-inflammatory effects of ACGs. In this regard, ACGs could be exploited in the development of novel therapeutics for ALI and ARDS

A high-accuracy, low-cost blood test for Alzheimer’s disease: validating P-tau181/Aβ42 in real-world cohorts

ObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic performance of plasma P-tau181/Aβ42 measured via flow cytometry as a cost-effective tool for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) diagnosis.MethodsA cohort study involved 123 healthy controls, 60 AD/mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients, 34 subcortical ischemic vascular disease (SIVD) patients, and 34 frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patients. Plasma P-tau181 and Aβ42 levels were measured using flow cytometry and cross-validated with Single-molecule Array (SIMOA). Publicly available Chinese cohort data were reanalyzed for comparative performance.ResultsThe P-tau181/Aβ42 ratio revealed significant differences between groups. A reference interval (0–0.109) achieved 96.2% diagnostic accuracy (95.0% sensitivity, 96.7% specificity) for AD versus controls, distinguishing AD from SIVD (88.3% accuracy) and FTD (86.2% accuracy). Flow cytometry-based P-tau181/Aβ42 showed 88.3% consistency with SIMOA-based P-tau217, while SIMOA-based P-tau181/Aβ42 achieved 92.3% accuracy.ConclusionFlow cytometry-based P-tau181/Aβ42 offers a cost-effective and accurate diagnostic method for AD, with performance comparable to SIMOA. This biomarker supports scalable AD screening in secondary healthcare settings, overcoming accessibility and cost barriers in resource-limited environments. This biomarker supports scalable AD screening in secondary healthcare settings, overcoming accessibility and cost barriers in resource-limited environments

Safety and efficacy of a novel double-lumen tracheal tube in neonates with RDS: A prospective cohort study

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of a new double-lumen tracheal tube for neonates, with a conventional tracheal tube as a control.MethodNewborns with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) requiring endotracheal intubation admitted to the tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Qujing Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital in Yunnan Province between March 2021 and May 2022 were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Outcome indicators related to effectiveness included mainly the number of intubations, duration of ventilation, duration of oxygenation, and length of stay; safety indicators included any clinical adverse effects during and after intubation. Appropriate stratified and subgroup analyses were performed according to the purpose of intubation, gestational age, and whether the drug was administered via endotracheal tube.ResultA total of 101 neonates were included and divided into two groups based on the choice of tracheal tube: the conventional (n = 50) and new (n = 51) tracheal tube groups. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of adverse effects during and after intubation (p > 0.05). In neonates who were mechanically ventilated without endotracheal surfactant therapy or newborns receiving InSurE technique followed by non-invasive ventilation, no significant differences were found between the two groups regarding any of the efficacy indicators (p > 0.05). However, for neonates on invasive mechanical ventilation, the new tracheal tube allowed for a significant reduction in the duration of mechanical ventilation (96.50[74.00, 144.00] vs. 121.00[96.00, 196.50] hours, p = 0.037) and total ventilation (205.71 ± 80.24 vs. 277.56 ± 117.84 h, p = 0.027), when used as a route for endotracheal drug delivery. Further analysis was performed according to gestational age for newborns requiring intratracheal surfactant administration during mechanical ventilation, and the data showed that for preterm infants, the new tracheal tube not only shortened the duration of mechanical ventilation (101.75 ± 39.72 vs. 155.50 ± 51.49 h, p = 0.026) and total ventilation (216.00 ± 81.60 vs. 351.50 ± 113.79 h, p = 0.010), but also demonstrated significant advantages in reducing the duration of oxygen therapy (9.75 ± 6.02 vs. 17.33 ± 8.43 days, p = 0.042); however, there was no statistical difference in efficacy outcomes between the two groups in full-term infants (p > 0.05).ConclusionThe efficacy and safety of this new tracheal tube are promising in neonates with RDS, especially those requiring surfactant administration via a tracheal tube during mechanical ventilation. Given the limitations of this study, however, the clinical feasibility of this catheter needs to be further confirmed in prospective randomized trials with larger sample sizes.Clinical Trial Registrationhttp://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=12207

Comparison of falls and risk factors among older adults in urban villages, urban and rural areas of Shantou, China

Objective: To investigate and compare the differences between the incidence of falls, balance and living environment among older persons in urban villages and other types of residential areas. Methods: We surveyed 580 older adults living in different types of residential areas in Shantou, China, surveying basic information, fall incidence, balance ability testing of older persons, home environment safety assessment. Results: The incidence of falls among older people in urban villages (19.54 %) was between urban areas(26.63 %) and rural areas(16.91 %). The influencing factors of falls in different residential types were different. Near-fall, abnormal bowel movement, and impaired balance ability were the risk factors of falls among older persons in urban villages. Divorce/single, fair and poor hearing loss and near-fall were the risk factors of falls in urban older adults. Frailty and impaired balance ability were the risk factors of falls in rural older people. Conclusions: Risk factors for falls in older people vary according to the characteristics of their living areas and relevant interventions should be targeted according to the characteristics of falls occurring in different residential areas

Prostate cryoablation: A mini review

In recent years, cryotherapy has gained increasing acceptance as a treatment for prostate cancer, offering complementary therapeutic benefits when combined with radical surgery and radiotherapy. Despite the potential for surgical complications, it stands as a safe and viable therapeutic modality. Cryotherapy provides an efficient approach for elderly patients, especially those with compromised physical conditions and individuals experiencing recurrence after initial treatment. It has shown promise in extending survival periods and improving the overall quality of life for these patients. This article aims to comprehensively examine the developmental trajectory, surgical techniques, indications, therapeutic outcomes, and potential complications associated within prostate cancer treatment

Psychological Burden and Experiences Following Exposure to COVID-19: A Qualitative and Quantitative Study of Chinese Medical Student Volunteers

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, some medical students devoted themselves to volunteer activities, but it was the first time that they had been exposed to such an infectious disease and they might have experienced fear in the face of the epidemic. We aimed to conduct a timely assessment of the psychological burden and experience on medical student volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We used the 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scales to survey the psychology burden of students in April 2020. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine medical students who signed up for volunteer activities in Chinese from February to April 2020. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to analyze the data. Results: The detection of depression, anxiety and stress of medical student volunteers were 26.8%, 20.2% and 11.1%, respectively. The volunteer’s negative emotions were more pronounced before work and diminished gradually. Most participants expressed no concern about being infected themselves, but worry about family infection. Participant’s motivations for volunteering were primarily their duties as medical students and encouragement from their families/teachers. The vast majority of medical students said they would be willing to work as medical assistants again and this experience would not affect their career choice. Conclusions: Chinese medical student volunteers tended to show negative emotions at the beginning of their work, and then gradually declined, while positive emotions emerged. Most medical students were willing to volunteer as medical assistants when their country needed them due to their sense of responsibility as medical students. This study on the psychological and experiential aspects were derived from Chinese medical student volunteers and might have a significant impact on future public health emergencies in similar settings.</jats:p