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Background and aims The pathogenic mechanism of sedentary behavior involves chronic inflammation, which can be affected by dietary inflammation. This study aimed to determine the association between dietary inflammation, sedentary behavior, and risk of death. Methods Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–2018) were analyzed. Sedentary behavior was evaluated using self-reported sitting hours in a day, and dietary inflammation was assessed using dietary inflammatory index (DII). Deaths were ascertained through the National Death Index until December 31, 2019. The interaction between dietary inflammation and sedentary behavior was evaluated through multivariable Cox regression analysis. Results 18,425 participants (mean age: 48.2 years; female proportion, 51.7%) were involved for analysis. During a median follow-up of 7.7 years, we confirmed 1,960 all-cause and 488 cardiovascular deaths. After adjustment for confounders, both pro-inflammatory diets and sitting for 6 h/d or more were risk factors for all-cause and cardiovascular deaths ( P  < 0.05). Of note, we found that dietary inflammation modified the association between sitting time and the risk of all-cause deaths (P for interaction = 0.03). Compared with shorter sitting time (< 6 h/d), prolonged sitting time (≥ 6 h/d) was correlated with an elevated risk of all-cause deaths among participants with pro-inflammatory diets (DII ≥ 0) (HR: 1.50, 95%CI: 1.35–1.66, P  < 0.001), but not among participants with anti-inflammatory diets (DII < 0) (HR: 1.20, 95%CI: 0.98–1.46, P  = 0.08). Conclusions Dietary inflammation modified the association between sedentary behavior and the risk of all-cause deaths. Anti-inflammatory diets might mitigate the detrimental effects of sedentary behavior on survival in US adults.

Inherent conductivity and high redox activity endow polyaniline (PANI) with great potential to serve as a cathode material for aqueous zinc-ion batteries. However, compared with traditional strongly acidic electrolytes (pH < 1), its electrochemical performances are moderated in weakly acidic zinc salt electrolytes (pH > 3) because of spontaneous deprotonation. Herein, a carboxyl-modified PANI was designed and synthesized by introducing carboxyl groups at the para-position of the terminal benzene rings within the polymer chains. In this conjugated system, the electron density in the polymer chains was redistributed with a higher one around the substituent due to the electron-withdrawing effect of carboxyl groups and meanwhile carboxyl groups characterized by a proton donor render PANI achieve a proton-involved electrochemical reaction. Consequently, the carboxyl-modified PANI cathode, in a Zn//PANI cell, delivers an impressive specific capacity of 226 mAh g−1 along with excellent rata capability and cycling stability. This work presented some new insights into the molecule structure design of PANI-based polymers applied in advanced aqueous batteries.

Background High morbidity and mortality due to carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (CR-GNB) has led to the resurgence of polymyxin B (PMB) use in the last decade. The aim of our multicenter, real-world study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of PMB in the treatment of CR-GNB infections. Methods The real-world study included patients treated with intravenous PMB for at least 7 days during the period of October 2018 through June 2019. Associations between these clinical features and 28-day mortality or all-cause hospital mortality were explored through univariate analyses and multivariable logistic regression. Results The study included 100 patients. Many patients presented with combined chronic conditions, septic shock, mechanical ventilation, and the presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae . The mean duration of PMB therapy was 11 days (range 7–38 days). Temperature (38 °C vs 37.1 °C), white blood cells (14.13 × 10 9 /l vs 9.28 × 10 9 /l), C-reactive protein (103.55 ug/l vs 47.60 ug/l), procalcitonin (3.89 ng/ml vs 1.70 ng/ml) and APACHE II levels (17.75 ± 7.69 vs 15.98 ± 7.95) were significantly decreased after PMB treatment. The bacteria eradication rate was 77.65%. The overall mortality at discharge was 15%, and 28-day mortality was 40%. Major adverse reactions occurred in 16 patients. Nephrotoxicity was observed in 7 patients (7%). Conclusions Our results provide positive clinical and safety outcomes for PMB in the treatment of CR-GNB. Timely and appropriate use of PMB may be particularly useful in treating patients with sepsis in CR-GNB infections.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening lung condition with high morbidity and mortality. We analyzed publicly available single-cell transcriptomic and microarray datasets from murine ARDS models to characterize AT2 cell differentiation trajectories following lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced injury. Computational mapping of cell \"trajectories\" revealed distinct gene expression signatures associated with divergent repair outcomes. These findings were validated in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples from ARDS patients and in an LPS-induced AT2-fibroblast co-culture model. Gene expression changes were examined at both the RNA and protein levels, and pathway enrichment analysis was used to explore underlying mechanisms. Trajectory analysis revealed two major differentiation branches of AT2 cells: one enriched for fibrotic programs (Igfbp6, Gstm1, Mgp, and Lgals1) and the other linked to epithelial repair (Tgm2, Anxa1, Ankrd1, and F3). Both branches exhibited distinct gene expression patterns in patient BALF, which was consistent with scRNA-seq findings. Functional enrichment highlighted the Wnt signaling pathway as a key regulator in the injury group, which was validated at protein levels . The co-culture models showed that prolonged LPS exposure induced AT2 cell apoptosis, fibroblast activation, and extracellular matrix protein upregulation. This study highlights the important role of AT2 cell differentiation in shaping disease progression in ARDS and identifies potential molecular markers and signaling pathways involved in divergent repair outcomes. Our findings provide new insight into AT2 cell-driven lung repair and potential therapeutic targets.

Taking the effect of actual surface topography under elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) conditions on the contact state of gear pairs into consideration, a combination model with the analytical sliced method and two-dimensional (2D) EHL model is proposed to characterize the three-dimensional (3D) meshing characteristics of spur gears. Firstly, the surface topology of gears is tested by a surface profiler, which reflects that the topography of tooth surface accords with fractal characteristics. Thus, by adopting the Weierstrass–Mandelbrot (W-M) fractal function, the gear surface is characterized. Secondly, the numerical 2D EHL model with fractal roughness is established, and distributions of oil film pressure (OFP) and oil film thickness (OFT) at different meshing positions are obtained. Finally, considering the different topography distributions in the direction of face width, time-varying mesh stiffness (TVMS) is calculated based on the analytical sliced method. Thus, the influence of 3D surface topography can be considered. The Hertz contact stiffness is substituted by the time-varying lubricating oil film stiffness (OFS). The influences of tooth surface topography and lubricant film characteristics on meshing characteristics are investigated. The results show that the 3D rough tooth surface may be well characterized by a fractal function with random phase. Moreover, there is a great difference in the distribution of OFP and OFT between rough and smooth surfaces, which certainly influences the gear meshing characteristics.

Assembly errors may change contact state of gear pairs, then induce failure and vibration. To reveal the effects of assembly errors and tooth modification on the meshing characteristics, the loaded tooth contact analysis (LTCA) is conducted through an improved algorithm. The time-varying meshing stiffness (TVMS), static transmission error (STE) and contact stress (CS) are calculated considering assembly errors and tooth modification. Then, sensitivity of meshing characteristics to coupling assembly errors are investigated based on the design of orthogonal experiment (DOE). The meshing characteristic analysis results show that assembly errors have a significant effect on mesh characteristics of the gear pair. The results of sensitivity analysis indicate that the meshing characteristic is the most sensitive to axial deviation for the model used in this paper.

Neutrophil elastase (NE) is associated with sepsis occurrence and progression. We hypothesized that the NE inhibitor Sivelestat might modulate abnormal gut microbiota and metabolites during sepsis. Sixty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into sham control (SC), sepsis (CLP), and sepsis+Sivelestat (Sive) groups. The rats' survival status was monitored for 24 hours postoperatively, and feces were collected for microbiome and non-targeted metabolomics analyses. Sivelestat administration significantly improved the survival of septic rats (80% vs 50%, = 0.047). Microbiome analysis showed that the microbiota composition of rats in the CLP group was significantly disturbed, as potential pathogens such as and became dominant, and the beneficial microbiota represented by decreased. These changes were reversed in Sive group, and the overall microbial status was restored to a similar composition to SC group. Differential analysis identified 36 differential operational taxonomic units and 11 metabolites between the Sive and CLP groups, such as 6-Aminopenicillanic acid, gamma-Glutamyl-leucine, and cortisone (variable importance in projection>1and <0.05). These discriminatory metabolites were highly correlated with each other and mainly involved in the phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis pathways. Integrated microbiome and metabolome analyses found that almost all Sivelestat-modulated microbes were associated with differential metabolites ( < 0.05), such as s and some amino acids, suggesting that the Sivelestat-induced metabolic profile differences were in part due to its influence on the gut microbiome. Sivelestat administration in septic rats improved survival, gut microbiota composition and associated metabolites, which could provide new options for sepsis treatment.

The use of beta-blockers during hospitalization for acute heart failure (AHF) remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate whether beta-blocker use is associated with a reduced risk of mortality in critically ill patients with AHF and to determine the optimal timing for initiating beta-blocker therapy. Data from critically ill patients with AHF in the MIMIC-IV version 2.2 database were analyzed. Baseline characteristics, laboratory tests, comorbidities, vital signs, and medication usage at admission and during hospitalization were collected to perform inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). IPTW-weighted logistic regression models were then used to examine the relationship between beta-blocker use and mortality. In the IPTW-weighted regression model, patients who newly started beta-blockers or continued their use had a lower risk of in-hospital mortality compared to those not treated with beta-blockers (odds ratio [OR]: 0.45; 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.34 to 0.61, and OR: 0.53; 95 % CI: 0.41 to 0.69, respectively). Conversely, those who had beta-blockers withdrawn showed a higher risk of in-hospital mortality (OR: 2.59; 95 % CI: 1.63 to 4.10). Among beta-blocker users, compared to patients treated before admission and who received their first dose within 48 h of admission, those who were not treated before admission but started after 48 h had a similar mortality risk (OR: 0.82; 95 % CI: 0.60 to 1.11; P = 0.202). However, patients previously treated with beta-blockers who initiated therapy after 48 h and those not treated before admission but started within 48 h had a lower risk of in-hospital mortality (OR: 0.44; 95 % CI: 0.30 to 0.64; P < 0.001, and OR: 0.65; 95 % CI: 0.48 to 0.86; P = 0.003, respectively). The use of beta-blockers during hospitalization for AHF is associated with a reduced risk of in-hospital mortality, and withdrawal was associated with an increased risk of mortality. Initiating beta-blockers within 48 h for beta-blocker-naïve patients and after 48 h for those previously treated with beta-blockers before admission may further decrease mortality risk. •Beta-blocker therapy is associated with reduced in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients with acute heart failure.•Early initiation of beta-blockers within 48h after admission in naïve patients significantly reduces in-hospital mortality.•Continuing beta-blocker in treated is associated with a lower in-hospital mortality, especially if resumed after 48 hours.•Withdrawal of beta-blockers during hospitalization is associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality.•The study suggests the optimal timing of beta-blocker initiation to maximize survival benefits in acute heart failure.

In this paper, the sources of K and Na in vanadium-nitrogen (VN) alloys and their effects on the furnace structure were studied. The results show that K and Na are mainly present as counter-ions of decavanadate and dodecanadate in ammonium polyvanadate (APV) and vanadium trioxide (V2O3). In the production process of VN, the concentration of K in the scab produced in the kiln is 25 times higher than that of the vanadium raw material, the concentration of Na is 15 times higher than that of the raw material, and the degree of enrichment of K is stronger than that of Na. Additionally, in the VN products, K and Na are mainly distributed uniformly in the form of KCN and NaCN. The results also found that the K and Na vapors during the production of VN promoted the formation of VN. However, K, Na steam, KCN, NaCN, K2CO3, Na2CO3 and other potassium-sodium high-temperature corrosive substances cause strong corrosion of the furnace lining, graphite sagger, push plate, and heating elements. Therefore, in the process of synthesizing VN, the raw materials of K and Na content of impurity elements must be reasonably controlled. The results not only analyzed the source of K and Na, but also analyzed the characteristics of their enrichment and the influence on the equipment.

Objective To examine the clinical effects of revision endoscopic frontal sinus surgery (RESS) through modified agger nasi (MAN)–middle turbinate resection on refractory chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Methods We reviewed 156 patients who were treated for refractory CRS from February 2012 to August 2014. These patients had been diagnosed with refractory CRS by computed tomography and endoscopy and had received several surgical and medical treatments in the past, but their condition had not been cured. They were divided into the observation group (RESS through MAN–middle turbinate resection, n = 78) and the control group (endoscopic sinus surgery, n = 78). Complete or partial control of the patient’s symptoms and signs suggested that the treatment was effective, and no improvement in the symptoms and signs indicated that the treatment was ineffective. Results The 6-month treatment efficacy rate was significantly higher in the observation group (91.03%) than in the control group (71.79%). The observation group had a significantly lower complication rate (7.69%) and recurrence rate (3.85%) than the control group (17.95% and 12.82%, respectively). Conclusion RESS through MAN–middle turbinate resection together with adequate perioperative preparation has a significant effect on the outcome of refractory CRS and is worthy of clinical promotion.