Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shuxuetong Injection on Random Skin Flap Survival in Rats

Background. A Shuxuetong injection is traditionally used in Chinese medicine to treat “blood stasis and stagnation” (yu xue yu zhi). We investigated the effect of such injection on the survival of random skin flaps.Methods. McFarlane flaps were established in 60 rats divided into two groups. Postoperative celiac injections were given to both groups for 7 days. Shuxuetong was injected into the test group, and saline was injected into controls. On day 7, tissues were stained with H&amp;E (hematoxylin-eosin) stain, immunohistochemically evaluated, and the expression levels of xanthine oxidase were determined.Result. The mean area of flap survival in the test group was significantly higher than in controls. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and superoxide dismutase, and microvessel development, were markedly increased in the test group, and the malondialdehyde level was reduced.Conclusion. Shuxuetong promotes random skin flap survival.</jats:p

In Situ Formation of Gel Electrolyte with Enhanced Diffusion Kinetics and Stability for Achieving Fast‐Charging Li‐Ion Batteries

In situ formation of gel polymer electrolytes (GPE) has been a promising candidate to address individual limitations of liquid/solid electrolytes and interfacial stability. However, the controllable conversion of liquid electrolyte (LE) precursor to GPE remains a great challenge with lower lithium-ion transport, which is far from the demand for fast-charging properties. Herein, a strategy of gradient polymerization of forming GPE is pioneered, stabilizing the electrolyte/electrode interface with an accelerated Li+ migration feature. As demonstrated by theoretical simulations and visualization experiment results, the formation mechanism of GPE via a partial inhibitory mechanism of Lithium nitrate (LiNO3) to control the solvent polymerization is comprehensively investigated, exhibiting the preferential interaction between nitrate anion (NO3−) and the Lewis acidic site in lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI). Consequently, a stable amorphous GPE with high Li+ conductivity (5.10 mS cm−1) and an inorganic solid electrolyte interphase (SEI)-dominate layer derived from spectroscopical measurements are achieved on the graphite electrode surface. The as-prepared lithium iron phosphate (LFP)||graphite pouch cell stabilizes the capacity of 109.80 mAh g−1 (capacity retention: 80.02%) after 715 cycles at 5 C/1 C (charge/discharge), corresponding to the energy density of 277.64 Wh kg−1. This work provides a facile but practical approach to designing a highly stable GPE for fast-charging lithium-ion batteries

Structure and Magnetotransport Properties of Epitaxial Nanocomposite La0.67Ca0.33MnO3:SrTiO3 Thin Films Grown by a Chemical Solution Approach

Epitaxial La0.67Ca0.33MnO3:SrTiO3 (LCMO:STO) composite thin films have been grown on single crystal LaAlO3(001) substrates by a cost effective polymer-assisted deposition method. Both x-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy confirm the growth of epitaxial films with an epitaxial relationship between the films and the substrates as (002)film||(002)sub and [202]film||[202]sub. The transport property measurement shows that the STO phase significantly increases the resistivity and enhances the magnetoresistance (MR) effect of LCMO and moves the metal-insulator transition to lower temperatures. For example, the MR values measured at magnetic fields of 0 and 3 T are −44.6% at 255 K for LCMO, −94.2% at 125 K for LCMO:3% STO, and −99.4% at 100 K for LCMO:5% STO, respectively

Structure and Magnetotransport Properties of Epitaxial Nanocomposite La0.67Ca0.33MnO3:SrTiO3 Thin Films Grown by a Chemical Solution Approach

Epitaxial La0.67Ca0.33MnO3:SrTiO3 (LCMO:STO) composite thin films have been grown on single crystal LaAlO3(001) substrates by a cost effective polymer-assisted deposition method. Both x-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy confirm the growth of epitaxial films with an epitaxial relationship between the films and the substrates as (002)film||(002)sub and [202]film||[202]sub. The transport property measurement shows that the STO phase significantly increases the resistivity and enhances the magnetoresistance (MR) effect of LCMO and moves the metal-insulator transition to lower temperatures. For example, the MR values measured at magnetic fields of 0 and 3 T are −44.6% at 255 K for LCMO, −94.2% at 125 K for LCMO:3% STO, and −99.4% at 100 K for LCMO:5% STO, respectively

A nomogram for prediction of deep venous thrombosis risk in elderly femoral intertrochanteric fracture patients: A dual-center retrospective study

ObjectiveDeep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremity is a common perioperative complication of femoral intertrochanteric fracture. This study aimed to identify the risk factors of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in elderly femoral intertrochanteric fracture patients and establish a nomogram model.MethodsFrom August 2014 to June 2021, a total of 1,652 femoral intertrochanteric fracture patients over the age of 65 were enrolled in our study. We distinguished independent risk factors by univariate and multivariate Cox analyses. A nomogram model was then built, and the discriminative and calibration of the model was evaluated through receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and calibration plots.ResultsA total of 378 patients developed DVT (292 in the training group, 86 in the validation group) while the remaining patients did not. According to the univariate and multivariate Cox analyses results, age (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.04–1.10), fibrinogen (OR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.68–2.60), D-dimer (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.27–1.40), time from injury to admission (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.55–2.05), functional status (OR = 4.21, 95% CI: 2.86–6.20), and diabetes (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.10–2.48) were identified as independent risk factors of DVT. The ROC values for DVT of the training and validation group were 0.862 and 0.912, and the P-value of the Hosmer-Lemeshow calibration test was 0.767.ConclusionThis nomogram model can be used to predict the probability of preoperative DVT in elderly patients with femoral intertrochanteric fracture and guide physician in perioperative thrombosis management

Clinical Outcome of Twice-Weekly Hemodialysis Patients with Long-Term Dialysis Vintage

Background/Aims: Twice-weekly hemodialysis(HD) is prevalent in the developing countries, scarce data are available for this treatment in patients with long-term dialysis vintage. Methods: 106 patients with more than 5 years HD vintage undergoing twice-weekly HD or thrice-weekly HD in a hemodialysis center in Shanghai between December 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013 were enrolled into the cohort study with 3 years follow-up. Kaplan–Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare patient survival between the two groups. Subgroup analysis of 62 patients more than 10 years HD vintage was also performed according to their different dialysis frequency. Results: Compared with patients on thrice-weekly HD, twice-weekly HD patients had significantly longer HD session time and higher single-pool Kt/V (spKt/V) (session time, 4.59±0.45 vs 4.14±0.31 hours/per session, P&#x3c; 0.001; spKt/V, 2.12±0.31 vs 1.83±0.30, P&#x3c; 0.001). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis indicated that the two groups had similar survival (P=0.983). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age and time-dependent serum albumin were predictors of patient mortality. Subgroup analysis of 62 patients more than 10 years HD vintage also indicated that the two groups had similar survival. During the follow-up, 4 patients dropped out from the twice-weekly HD group and transferred to thrice-weekly HD. Conclusion: The similar survival between twice-weekly HD and thrice-weekly HD in patients with long-term dialysis vintage is likely relating to patient selection, individualized treatment for dialysis patients based on clinical features and socioeconomic factors remains a tough task for the clinicians

Cell-Mediated Immunity Generated in Response to a Purified Inactivated Vaccine for Dengue Virus Type 1

Dengue is the most prevalent arboviral disease afflicting humans, and a vaccine appears to be the most rational means of control. Dengue vaccine development is in a critical phase, with the first vaccine licensed in some countries where dengue is endemic but demonstrating insufficient efficacy in immunologically naive populations. Since virus-neutralizing antibodies do not invariably correlate with vaccine efficacy, other markers that may predict protection, including cell-mediated immunity, are urgently needed. Previously, the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research developed a monovalent purified inactivated virus (PIV) vaccine candidate against dengue virus serotype 1 (DENV-1) adjuvanted with alum. The PIV vaccine was safe and immunogenic in a phase I dose escalation trial in healthy, flavivirus-naive adults in the United States. From that trial, peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained at various time points pre- and postvaccination were used to measure DENV-1-specific T cell responses. After vaccination, a predominant CD4+ T cell-mediated response to peptide pools covering the DENV-1 structural proteins was observed. Over half (13/20) of the subjects produced interleukin-2 (IL-2) in response to DENV peptides, and the majority (17/20) demonstrated peptide-specific CD4+ T cell proliferation. In addition, analysis of postvaccination cell culture supernatants demonstrated an increased rate of production of cytokines, including gamma interferon (IFN-γ), IL-5, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Overall, the vaccine was found to have elicited DENV-specific CD4+ T cell responses as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot), intracellular cytokine staining (ICS), lymphocyte proliferation, and cytokine production assays. Thus, together with antibody readouts, the use of a multifaceted measurement of cell-mediated immune responses after vaccination is a useful strategy for more comprehensively characterizing immunity generated by dengue vaccines

Molecular Basis for the Recognition of Adenomatous Polyposis Coli by the Discs Large 1 Protein

The human Discs Large 1 (DLG1) protein uses two of its three PDZ domains to interact with the C-terminal peptide of the Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC) tumor suppressor protein. The DLG1/APC complex inhibits the cell cycle progression from the G0/G1 to the S phase, regulates epithelial cell migration and morphogenesis, and is required for polarization of the microtubule cytoskeleton. However, the molecular details of how DLG1 recognizes APC is not clear. In this study, we performed biochemical and biophysical assays to investigate the interactions between PDZ domains of DLG1 and the C-terminal peptide of APC. In addition, we determined the crystal structures of the PDZ1 and PDZ2 domains of DLG1 each in complex with the C-terminal 11-residue peptide of APC. Our biochemical, biophysical, and structural results revealed structural elements and residues on PDZ1 and PDZ2 domains of DLG1 and on APC crucial for their mutual interaction. In particular, our results show that the β2/β3 loops of PDZ1 and PDZ2 play important roles in contributing to the binding affinities between PDZ domains and APC, through interacting with the residues upstream of the canonical PDZ-binding S/T-X-V motif. The results provide new insights into the binding mode of a defined C-terminal segment of APC by the PDZ domains of DLG1

DeepSeek-V2: A Strong, Economical, and Efficient Mixture-of-Experts Language Model

We present DeepSeek-V2, a strong Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) language model characterized by economical training and efficient inference. It comprises 236B total parameters, of which 21B are activated for each token, and supports a context length of 128K tokens. DeepSeek-V2 adopts innovative architectures including Multi-head Latent Attention (MLA) and DeepSeekMoE. MLA guarantees efficient inference through significantly compressing the Key-Value (KV) cache into a latent vector, while DeepSeekMoE enables training strong models at an economical cost through sparse computation. Compared with DeepSeek 67B, DeepSeek-V2 achieves significantly stronger performance, and meanwhile saves 42.5% of training costs, reduces the KV cache by 93.3%, and boosts the maximum generation throughput to 5.76 times. We pretrain DeepSeek-V2 on a high-quality and multi-source corpus consisting of 8.1T tokens, and further perform Supervised Fine-Tuning (SFT) and Reinforcement Learning (RL) to fully unlock its potential. Evaluation results show that, even with only 21B activated parameters, DeepSeek-V2 and its chat versions still achieve top-tier performance among open-source models