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Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Jun 2024Ferroptosis is a lipid peroxidation-driven and iron-dependent form of programmed cell death, which is involved in a variety of physical processes and multiple diseases.... (Review)
Review
Ferroptosis is a lipid peroxidation-driven and iron-dependent form of programmed cell death, which is involved in a variety of physical processes and multiple diseases. Numerous reports have demonstrated that ferroptosis is closely related to the pathophysiological processes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) infection and is characterized by the accumulation of excess lipid peroxides on the cell membrane. In this study, the various functions of ferroptosis, and the therapeutic strategies and diagnostic biomarkers of tuberculosis, were summarized. Notably, this review provides insights into the molecular mechanisms and functions of M. tuberculosis-induced ferroptosis, suggesting potential future therapeutic and diagnostic markers for tuberculosis.
PubMed: 38917759
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.117030 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Evaluating physical properties and mechanical parameters of rock slopes and their spatial variability is challenging, particularly at locations inaccessible for...
Evaluating physical properties and mechanical parameters of rock slopes and their spatial variability is challenging, particularly at locations inaccessible for fieldwork. This obstacle can be bypassed by acquiring spatially-distributed field data indirectly. InfraRed Thermography (IRT) has emerged as a promising technology to statistically infer rock properties and inform slope stability models. Here, we explore the use of Cooling Rate Indices (CRIs) to quantify the thermal response of a granodiorite rock wall within the recently established Požáry Test Site in Czechia. We observe distinct cooling patterns across different segments of the wall, compatible with the different degrees of weathering evaluated in the laboratory and suggested by IRT observations of cored samples. Our findings support previous examinations of the efficacy of this method and unveil correlations between cooling phases in the field and in the laboratory. We discuss the scale-dependency of the Informative Time Window (ITW) of the CRIs, noting that it may serve as a reference for conducting systematic IRT field surveys. We contend that our approach not only represents a viable and scientifically robust strategy for characterising rock slopes but also holds the potential for identifying unstable areas.
PubMed: 38918559
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65527-x -
Advances in Experimental Medicine and... 2024Humans have the capability to make judgments about the relative duration of time intervals with accuracy (correct perceived duration) and precision (low variability).... (Review)
Review
Humans have the capability to make judgments about the relative duration of time intervals with accuracy (correct perceived duration) and precision (low variability). However, this capability has limitations, some of which are discussed in the present chapter. These limitations, either in terms of accuracy or precision, are obvious when there are changes in the physical characteristics of the stimuli used to mark the intervals to be judged. The characteristics are the structure (filled vs. empty) of the intervals and the sensory origin of the stimuli used to mark them. The variability of time estimates also depends on the use of single intervals by opposition to the use of sequences of intervals, and on the duration range under investigation. In addition to the effect caused by the physical characteristics of the stimuli, the perceived duration also relies on the way of presenting successive stimuli and on whether the intervals are marked by a single source or by different sources with distance (spatial effect) between them.
Topics: Humans; Time Perception; Time Factors
PubMed: 38918345
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-60183-5_3 -
The Journal of Physical Chemistry... Jun 2024The emergent nanofluidic memristor provides a promising way of emulating neuromorphic functions in the brain. The conical-shaped nanopore showed promising features for a...
The emergent nanofluidic memristor provides a promising way of emulating neuromorphic functions in the brain. The conical-shaped nanopore showed promising features for a nanofluidic memristor, inspiring us to investigate the memory effects in asymmetrically charged nanochannels due to their high current rectification, which may result in good memory effects. Here, the memory effects of an asymmetrically charged nanofluidic channel were numerically simulated by Poisson-Nernst-Planck equations. Our results showed that the - curves represented a diode in low scanning frequency and then became a memristor and finally a resistor as frequency increased. We successfully replicated the learning behavior in our system with history-dependent ion redistribution in the nanochannel. Some critical factors were quantitatively analyzed for the memory effects including voltage amplitude, optimal frequency, and Dukhin number. Experimental characterizations were also carried out. Our findings are useful for the design of nanofluidic memristors by the principle of enrichment and depletion as well as the determination of the best memory settings.
PubMed: 38917304
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c00488 -
Journal of Robotic Surgery Jun 2024Despite the paucity of evidence on robotic ventral hernia repair (RVHR) in patients with obesity, the robotic platform is being used more frequently in hernia surgery.... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Comparison of short-term outcomes following robotic ventral hernia repair in patients with obesity: a review of 9742 patients from the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative database.
Despite the paucity of evidence on robotic ventral hernia repair (RVHR) in patients with obesity, the robotic platform is being used more frequently in hernia surgery. The impact of obesity on RVHR outcomes has not been thoroughly studied. Obesity is considered a major risk factor for the development of recurrent ventral hernias and postoperative complications; however, we hypothesize that patients undergoing robotic repairs will have similar complication profiles despite their body mass index (BMI). We performed a retrospective analysis of patients aged 18-90 years who underwent RVHR between 2013 and 2023 using data from the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative registry. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative characteristics were compared in non-obese and obese groups, determined using a univariate and logistic regression analysis to compare short-term outcomes. The registry identified 9742 patients; 3666 were non-obese; 6076 were classified as obese (BMI > 30 kg/m). There was an increased odds of surgical site occurrence in patients with obesity, mostly seroma formation; however, obesity was not a significant factor for a complication requiring a procedural intervention after RVHR. In contrast, the hernia-specific quality-of-life scores significantly improved following surgery for all patients, with those with obesity having more substantial improvement from baseline. Obesity does increase the risk of certain complications following RVHR in a BMI-dependent fashion; however, the odds of requiring a procedural intervention are not significantly increased by BMI. Patients with obesity have a significant improvement in their quality of life, and RVHR should be carefully considered in this population.
Topics: Humans; Hernia, Ventral; Robotic Surgical Procedures; Herniorrhaphy; Obesity; Middle Aged; Female; Aged; Male; Adult; Retrospective Studies; Postoperative Complications; Treatment Outcome; Aged, 80 and over; Body Mass Index; Adolescent; Young Adult; Quality of Life; Databases, Factual
PubMed: 38916797
DOI: 10.1007/s11701-024-02021-6 -
Nanoscale Jun 2024The chemical and physical properties of nanomaterials ultimately rely on their crystal structures, chemical compositions and distributions. In this paper, a series of...
The chemical and physical properties of nanomaterials ultimately rely on their crystal structures, chemical compositions and distributions. In this paper, a series of AuCu bimetallic nanoparticles with well-defined architectures and variable compositions has been addressed to explore their thermal stability and thermally driven behavior by molecular dynamics simulations. By combination of energy and Lindemann criteria, the solid-liquid transition and its critical temperature were accurately identified. Meanwhile, atomic diffusion, bond order, and particle morphology were examined to shed light on thermodynamic evolution of the particles. Our results reveal that composition-dependent melting point of AuCu nanoparticles significantly departs from the Vegard's law prediction. Especially, chemically disordered (ordered) alloy nanoparticles exhibited markedly low (high) melting points in comparison with their unary counterparts, which should be attributed to enhancing (decreasing) atomic diffusivity in alloys. Furthermore, core-shell structures and heterostructures demonstrated a mode transition between the ordinary melting and the two-stage melting with varying Au content. AuCu alloyed nanoparticles presented the evolution tendency of chemical ordering from disorder to order before melting and then to disorder during melting. Additionally, as the temperature increases, the shape transformation was observed in AuCu nanoparticles with heterostructure or L1 structure owing to the difference in thermal expansion coefficients of elements and/or of crystalline orientations. Our findings advance the fundamental understanding on thermodynamic behavior and stability of metallic nanoparticles, offering theoretical insights for design and application of nanosized particles with tunable properties.
PubMed: 38916453
DOI: 10.1039/d4nr01778a -
The Journal of Head Trauma... Jun 2024We investigated the acoustic startle reflex in recently concussed adolescent athletes compared to healthy controls and those with concussion history (>1 year prior) but...
OBJECTIVES
We investigated the acoustic startle reflex in recently concussed adolescent athletes compared to healthy controls and those with concussion history (>1 year prior) but no current symptoms. We hypothesized that individuals with recent concussion would have a suppressed startle response compared to healthy controls.
METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional study on 49 adolescent athletes with a recent concussion (n = 20; age: 14.6 ± 1.6 years; 60% female), a concussion history > 1 year prior (n = 16; age: 14.8 ± 2.0 years; 44% female), and healthy controls (n = 13; age: 13.3 ± 2.8 years; 54% female). We measured the eyeblink of the general startle reflex via electromyography activity of the orbicularis oculi muscle using electrodes placed under the right eye. Measurement sessions included twelve 103 decibel acoustic startle probes ~50 milliseconds in duration delivered ~15-25 seconds apart. The primary dependent variable was mean startle magnitude (µV), and group was the primary independent variable. We used a one-way analysis of variance followed by a Tukey post hoc test to compare mean startle magnitude between groups.
RESULTS
Mean startle magnitude significantly differed (F = 5.49, P = .007) among the groups. Mean startle magnitude was significantly suppressed for the concussion (P = .01) and concussion history groups (P = .02) compared to healthy controls. There was no significant difference between the recent concussion and concussion history groups (P = 1.00).
CONCLUSION
Our results provide novel evidence for startle suppression in adolescent athletes following concussion. The concussion history group had an attenuated startle response beyond resolution of their recovery, suggesting there may be lingering physiological dysfunction.
PubMed: 38916433
DOI: 10.1097/HTR.0000000000000979 -
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces... Jun 2024In this paper, building upon the numerical discovery of asymmetric rectified electric fields (AREFs), we explore the generation of AREF by applying a sawtooth-like...
In this paper, building upon the numerical discovery of asymmetric rectified electric fields (AREFs), we explore the generation of AREF by applying a sawtooth-like voltage to 1:1 electrolytes with equal diffusion coefficients confined between two planar blocking electrodes. This differs from an earlier approach based on a sinusoidal AC voltage applied to 1:1 electrolytes with unequal diffusion coefficients. By numerically solving the full Poisson-Nernst-Planck equations, we demonstrate that AREF can be generated by a slow rise and a fast drop of the potential (or vice versa), even for electrolytes with equal diffusion coefficients of the cations and anions. We employ an analytically constructed equivalent electric circuit to explain the underlying physical mechanism. Importantly, we find that the strength of AREF can be effectively tuned from zero to its maximal value by only manipulating the time dependence of the driving voltage, eliminating the necessity to modify the electrolyte composition between experiments. This provides valuable insights to control the manipulation of AREF, which facilitates enhanced applications in diverse electrochemical systems.
PubMed: 38916199
DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c01516 -
Physiotherapy Theory and Practice Jun 2024To develop a clinical prediction model (CPM) to predict independence in activities of daily living (ADLs) in patients with heart failure.
Development and internal validation of a clinical prediction model to predict independence in daily living at discharge for patients with heart failure: analysis using a Japanese national inpatient database real-world dataset.
PURPOSE
To develop a clinical prediction model (CPM) to predict independence in activities of daily living (ADLs) in patients with heart failure.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
We collected the data of the individuals who were admitted and rehabilitated for heart failure from January 2017 to June 2022 from Japan's Diagnosis Procedure Combination database. We assessed the subjects' ADLs at discharge using the Barthel Index and classified them into independence, partial-independence, and total-dependence groups based on their ADLs at discharge. Two CPMs (an independence model and a partial-independence model) were developed by a binomial logistic regression analysis. The predictors included subject characteristics, treatment, and post-hospitalization disease onset. The CPMs' accuracy was validated by the area under the curve (AUC). Internal validation was performed using the bootstrap method. The final CPM is presented in a nomogram.
RESULTS
We included 96,753 patients whose ADLs could be traced at discharge. The independence model had a 0.73 mean AUC and a 1.0 slope at bootstrapping. We thus developed a simplified model using nomograms, which also showed adequate predictive accuracy in the independence model. The partial-independence model had a 0.65 AUC and inadequate predictive accuracy.
CONCLUSIONS
The independence model of ADLs in patients with heart failure is a useful CPM.
PubMed: 38916151
DOI: 10.1080/09593985.2024.2371027 -
Cureus May 2024This case report details the diagnostic challenge and management of an 88-year-old man who presented to a rural Japanese community hospital with sepsis-like symptoms,...
This case report details the diagnostic challenge and management of an 88-year-old man who presented to a rural Japanese community hospital with sepsis-like symptoms, initially suspected of acute bacterial cholangitis based on his physical and laboratory findings. Despite the antibiotic treatment of tazobactam and piperacillin, the patient's symptoms persisted, leading to further investigations that revealed no signs of infection but notable aortic arch wall thickening on contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans. These findings, combined with the patient's clinical presentation and lack of antibiotic response, redirected the diagnosis toward giant cell arteritis (GCA). The administration of prednisolone of 60 mg daily significantly alleviated symptoms and prevented potential severe complications such as blindness and irreversible neurological damage. This case underscores the importance of considering GCA in elderly patients presenting with systemic inflammatory symptoms and the necessity of timely intervention. It also highlights the challenges in managing high-dose steroid therapy in elderly patients and suggests the potential benefits of integrating immunosuppressants to reduce steroid dependency. This report emphasizes the need for heightened awareness and a comprehensive diagnostic approach in atypical presentations of GCA, particularly in geriatric populations within resource-limited healthcare settings.
PubMed: 38915961
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61074