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Postoperative pneumonia is a serious complication in elderly patients with hip fracture. It is necessary to identify the influencing factors of postoperative pneumonia in patients with hip fracture. Elderly patients with hip fractures admitted to a tertiary hospital in China from January 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021 were included. The characteristics of patients with and without postoperative pneumonia were evaluated and compared. Logistic multivariate regression analyses were conducted to assess the risk factors of postoperative pneumonia. 267 patients with hip fracture were included, the incidence of postoperative pneumonia in patients with hip fracture was 13.11%. There were significant differences in the age, diabetes mellitus, anemia, hypoalbuminemia, anesthesia method and duration of surgery between infection and no infection group, no significant differences in the gender, BMI, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, type of fracture, preoperative oxygen saturation, white blood cell count, platelet count, red blood cell count, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, estimated blood loss during surgery were detected between infection and no infection group. Logistic regression analysis showed that age≥70y (OR2.326, 95%CI1.248~3.129), diabetes mellitus (OR2.123, 95%CI1.021~3.551), anemia (OR3.199,95%CI1.943~5.024), hypoalbuminemia (OR2.377, 95%CI1.211~3.398), general anesthesia (OR1.947, 95%CI1.115~3.038), duration of surgery≥120min (OR1.621, 95%CI1.488~2.534) were the risk factors of postoperative pneumonia in elderly patients with hip fracture (all p<0.05). Escherichia Coli (33.33%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (28.57%), Staphylococcus aureus (21.43%) were the most common bacteria of pulmonary infection. There are many risk factors for postoperative pneumonia in elderly patients with hip fractures after surgery. In clinical practice, medical workers should take targeted interventions for those risk factors to reduce postoperative pneumonia.

Background The aim of this study was to quantitatively summarize the available evidence on the association of breastfeeding with the risk of childhood cancer. Methods A literature search of PubMed and Embase databases was performed to identify eligible observational studies published from inception to July 17, 2020. The categorical and dose-response meta-analysis was conducted by pooling relative risk (RR) or odds ratio (OR) estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Potential sources of heterogeneity were detected by meta-regression and stratification analysis. Sensitivity analysis and publication bias test were also carried out. Results Forty-five articles involving 475,579 individuals were included in the meta-analysis. Among the thirty-three studies on the association between breastfeeding and risk of childhood leukemia, the pooled risk estimates were 0.77 (95% CI, 0.65–0.91) and 0.77 (95% CI 0.63–0.94) for ever versus non/occasional breastfeeding and longest versus shortest breastfeeding duration group, respectively. There was clear indication for non-linear dose-response relationship between breastfeeding duration and the risk of childhood leukemia ( P non-linear < 0.001). The most protective effect (OR, 0.66, 95% CI 0.62–0.70) was observed at a breastfeeding duration of 9.6 months. Four studies examined, the association between breastfeeding and risk of childhood neuroblastoma, and significant inverse associations were consistently observed in both the comparisons of ever breastfeeding versus non/occasional breastfeeding (OR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.44–0.81) and longest versus shortest breastfeeding (OR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.44–0.83). However, no associations of breastfeeding with risk of other cancers were found. Conclusions Our study supports a protective role of breastfeeding on the risk of childhood leukemia, also suggesting a non-linear dose-response relationship. Further studies are warranted to confirm the association between breastfeeding and risk of childhood neuroblastoma.

Metal exposure is an emerging factor affecting the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This study aimed to explore the association between multiple metals (calcium [Ca], copper [Cu], iron [Fe], zinc [Zn], magnesium [Mg], and lead [Pb]) during early pregnancy and the risk of GDM using four statistical methods and further identify the critical metals within the mixture associated with GDM. A total of 763 pregnant women were included in this prospective cohort study. Blood samples were collected before 14 gestational weeks, and metal concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. An oral glucose tolerance test was conducted at 24–28 gestational weeks to diagnose GDM. Binary logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were applied to assess the association between individual metal concentration and GDM. Quantile g-computation (QGC) analysis and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were used to evaluate the associations between metal mixture exposure and GDM. The mean concentrations of Zn and Pb were significantly higher in the GDM group than in the non-GDM group. In the logistic regression analyses, maternal blood Zn, Fe, and Pb were associated with an increased risk of GDM. RCS analysis showed that Zn and Pb were linearly and positively associated with the risk of GDM. According to QGC analysis and the BKMR models, the mixture of six metals was significantly and positively associated with the risk of GDM. Pb, Fe, and Zn made the major contributions. These findings underscore the importance of considering multiple metal exposures in understanding the risk factors for GDM.

One of the most common mental disorders in the perinatal period is depression, which is associated with impaired emotional functioning due to alterations in different cognitive aspects including thought and facial emotion recognition. These functional impairment may affect emerging maternal sensitivity and have lasting consequences for the dyadic relationship. The current study aimed to investigate the impact of depressive symptoms on the attention bias of infant stimuli during pregnancy. Eighty-six pregnant women completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and an eye-tracking task comprising infant-related emotion images. All participants showed biased attention to infant-related images. First, compared to healthy pregnant women, pregnant women with depression symptoms initially directed their attention to infant-related stimuli more quickly ( (1, 84) = 6.175,  = 0.015,  = 0.068). Second, the two groups of pregnant women paid attention to the positive infant stimuli faster than the neutral infant stimuli, and the first fixation latency bias score was significantly smaller than that of the infant-related negative stimulus (  = 0.007). Third, compared with the neutral stimulus, the non-depression group showed a longer first gaze duration to the negative stimulus of infants (  = 0.019), while the depressive symptoms group did not show this difference. We speculate that structural and functional changes in affective motivation and cognitive-attention brain areas may induce these attentional bias patterns. These results provide suggestions for the implementation of clinical intervention programs to correct the attention bias of antenatal depressed women.

This dissertation describes research carried out in the area of siloxane polymers, which refers to a group of polymers based on alternating silicon-oxygen backbones. The inexpensive starting materials and extraordinary thermal, mechanical and optical properties make siloxane polymers promising materials in a lot of applications, such as lithography, optical devices, self-healing materials and ion conducting membranes. Four projects are described after the introduction section. In the first project, extremely crosslinked silicone networks with novel structure are prepared by hydrosilylation of two tetra-functional cyclic monomers, 1,3,5,7-tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4H) and 1,3,5,7-tetravinyl-1,3,5,7-tetramethylcyclotetrasilxane (D4V). By introducing cyclic structures into the network and increasing the crosslink density, the thermal stability is improved, the Young's modulus and hardness of these siloxane networks are also be enhanced. In addition, some traditional properties of PDMS have been reserved, such as UV transparency, low surface tension and being reaction injection moldable. The second project involves using the extremely crosslinked silicone network from the first project as a replica material for both nanoimprint lithography (NIL) and capillary force lithography (CFL). Because the advantageous properties of D4H-D4V networks meet all the requirements of NIL and CFL, such as UV transparency for photo nanoimprint lithography, thermal stability for high printing temperatures, high modulus for high printing pressures, low surface energy for easy demolding and molecular smoothness for achieving small scale features, this material was tested to fabricate sub-25 nm scale patterns from blu-ray discs and sub-9 nm scale patterns from anodized aluminum templates. The third chapter describes a study on thermal reconstruction of oxygen plasma-treated poly(dimethylsiloxane) networks with controlled crosslink density. Instead of using a commercial product, e.g. Dow Corning Sylgard 184, pure silicone networks were prepared by hydrosilylation of various monomers and/or precursors. The relationship of reconstruction rate versus crosslink density is described. The fourth project involves in surface modification of extremely crosslinked silicones using a chemical method. A stable hydrophilic surface was prepared by peroxide oxidation. After incorporating silanol groups on the surface, subsequent modifications with various reactive silanes were conducted and control of surface properties was demonstrated. The hydrophilic surfaces show similar reactivity to that of oxidized silicon wafers. The last chapter describes a \"living\" siloxane network which has been used as a self-healing material. Through ring opening polymerization of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and bis(heptamethylcyclotetrasiloxanyl)-ethane (bis-D 4) in the presence of a quaternary ammonium catalyst, \"living\" siloxane networks with controlled crosslink density were prepared. Based on the equilibrium of cyclic and linear species, the \"living\" networks exhibit \"self-healing\" abilities and can be \"reshaped\" via chemical stress relaxation upon application of external mechanical stress. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

* The resistance of phage PhiX174 to nZVI was much stronger than that of MS2. * The nZVI damaged the surface proteins of both bacteriophages. * The nZVI could destroy the nucleic acid of MS2, but not that of PhiX174. *The phage inactivation was mainly attributed to the damage of the nucleic acid. Pathogenic enteric viruses pose a significant risk to human health. Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI), a novel material for environmental remediation, has been shown to be a promising tool for disinfection. However, the existing research has typically utilized MS2 or f2 bacteriophages to investigate the antimicrobial properties of nZVI, and the resistance difference between bacteriophages, which is important for the application of disinfection technologies, is not yet understood. Here, MS2 and PhiX174 containing RNA and DNA, respectively, were used as model viruses to investigate the resistances to nZVI. The bacteriophage inactivation mechanisms were also discussed using TEM images, protein, and nucleic acid analysis. The results showed that an initial concentration of 10 6 PFU/mL of MS2 could be completely inactivated within 240 min by 40 mg/L nZVI at pH 7, whereas the complete inactivation of PhiX174 could not be achieved by extending the reaction time, increasing the nZVI dosage, or changing the dosing means. This indicates that the resistance of phage PhiX174 to nZVI was much stronger than that of MS2. TEM images indicated that the viral particle shape was distorted, and the capsid shell was ruptured by nZVI. The damage to viral surface proteins in both phages was examined by three-dimensional fluorescence spectrum and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). However, the nucleic acid analysis demonstrated that the nucleic acid of MS2, but not PhiX174, was destroyed. It indicated that bacteriophage inactivation was mainly attributed to the damage of nucleic acids.

SARS-CoV-2 is the underlying cause for the COVID-19 pandemic. Like most enveloped RNA viruses, SARS-CoV-2 uses a homotrimeric surface antigen to gain entry into host cells. Here we describe S-Trimer, a native-like trimeric subunit vaccine candidate for COVID-19 based on Trimer-Tag technology. Immunization of S-Trimer with either AS03 (oil-in-water emulsion) or CpG 1018 (TLR9 agonist) plus alum adjuvants induced high-level of neutralizing antibodies and Th1-biased cellular immune responses in animal models. Moreover, rhesus macaques immunized with adjuvanted S-Trimer were protected from SARS-CoV-2 challenge compared to vehicle controls, based on clinical observations and reduction of viral loads in lungs. Trimer-Tag may be an important platform technology for scalable production and rapid development of safe and effective subunit vaccines against current and future emerging RNA viruses. Vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 are needed to fight the pandemic. Here the authors show immunogenicity of an adjuvanted subunit vaccine, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein trimerized with trimer-tag technology, in small animal models and protection from SARS-CoV-2 challenge in non-human primates.

Plants face various abiotic stresses in their natural environments that trigger the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to oxidative stress and potential cellular damage. This comprehensive review examines the interplay between plant antioxidant defense systems and ROS under abiotic stress conditions. We discuss the major enzymatic antioxidants, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, reductases, and peroxidases, as well as non-enzymatic antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid, glutathione, polyphenols, and flavonoids, which play crucial roles in ROS detoxification. This review elaborates on different types of ROS, their production sites within plant cells, and their dual role as both damaging oxidants and key signaling molecules. We discuss how various abiotic stresses—including heat, cold, drought, flooding, salinity, and heavy metal toxicity—induce oxidative stress and trigger specific antioxidant responses in plants. Additionally, the mechanisms of ROS generation under these abiotic stress conditions and the corresponding activation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic scavenging systems are discussed in detail. This review also discusses recent advances in understanding ROS signaling networks and their integration with other stress-response pathways. This knowledge provides valuable insights into plant stress-tolerance mechanisms and suggests potential strategies for developing stress-resistant crops by enhancing antioxidant defense systems. Moreover, the strategic ROS modulation through priming, exogenous antioxidants, nanoparticles, or genetic tools can enhance plant resilience. Integrating these methods with agronomic practices (e.g., irrigation management) offers a sustainable path to climate-smart agriculture. Our review reveals that ROS accumulation can be detrimental; however, the coordinated action of various antioxidant systems helps plants maintain redox homeostasis and adapt to environmental stress.

Over the past two decades, enormous progress has been made in designing fluorescent sensors or probes for divalent metal ions. In contrast, the development of fluorescent sensors for monovalent metal ions, such as sodium (Na ⁺), has remained underdeveloped, even though Na ⁺ is one the most abundant metal ions in biological systems and plays a critical role in many biological processes. Here, we report the in vitro selection of the first (to our knowledge) Na ⁺-specific, RNA-cleaving deoxyribozyme (DNAzyme) with a fast catalytic rate [observed rate constant ( k ₒbₛ) ∼0.1 min ⁻¹], and the transformation of this DNAzyme into a fluorescent sensor for Na ⁺ by labeling the enzyme strand with a quencher at the 3′ end, and the DNA substrate strand with a fluorophore and a quencher at the 5′ and 3′ ends, respectively. The presence of Na ⁺ catalyzed cleavage of the substrate strand at an internal ribonucleotide adenosine (rA) site, resulting in release of the fluorophore from its quenchers and thus a significant increase in fluorescence signal. The sensor displays a remarkable selectivity (>10,000-fold) for Na ⁺ over competing metal ions and has a detection limit of 135 µM (3.1 ppm). Furthermore, we demonstrate that this DNAzyme-based sensor can readily enter cells with the aid of α-helical cationic polypeptides. Finally, by protecting the cleavage site of the Na ⁺-specific DNAzyme with a photolabile o -nitrobenzyl group, we achieved controlled activation of the sensor after DNAzyme delivery into cells. Together, these results demonstrate that such a DNAzyme-based sensor provides a promising platform for detection and quantification of Na ⁺ in living cells. Significance Monovalent ions, such as Na ⁺, play important roles in biology, yet few sensors that image intracellular Na ⁺ have been reported. Although deoxyribozymes (DNAzymes) have been shown to be a promising platform for detection of metal ions, most reported DNAzymes require multivalent metal ions for catalytic activity. Existing monovalent ion-responsive DNAzymes have poor selectivity for Na ⁺, low catalytic rate, and require high ion concentrations for function. Here, we report in vitro selection of the first (to our knowledge) highly selective, sensitive, and efficient Na ⁺-specific, RNA-cleaving DNAzyme and its conversion into a catalytic beacon sensor for imaging Na ⁺ in living cells, using an efficient cationic polypeptide delivery method, together with a photocaging strategy, to allow controllable activation of the DNAzyme probe inside cells.

This study employed RNA-seq technology and meta-analysis to unveil the molecular mechanisms of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) within the central nervous system. Downloaded transcriptomic data on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and analyzed differential genes in peripheral blood samples of NPSLE patients and healthy individuals. Employed WGCNA to identify key genes related to cognitive impairment and validated findings via RNA-seq. Conducted GO, KEGG, and GSEA analyses, and integrated PPI networks to explore gene regulatory mechanisms. Assessed gene impacts on dendritic cells and blood-brain barrier using RT-qPCR, ELISA, and models. Public databases and RNA-seq data have revealed a significant upregulation of CCL2 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 2) in the peripheral blood of both SLE and NPSLE patients, primarily secreted by mature dendritic cells. Furthermore, the secretion of CCL2 by mature dendritic cells may act through the RSAD2-ISG15 axis and is associated with the activation of the NLRs (Nod Like Receptor Signaling Pathway) signaling pathway in vascular endothelial cells. Subsequent cell experiments confirmed the high expression of CCL2 in peripheral blood dendritic cells of NPSLE patients, with its secretion being regulated by the RSAD2-ISG15 axis and inducing vascular endothelial cell pyroptosis through the activation of the NLRs signaling pathway. Clinical trial results ultimately confirmed that NPSLE patients exhibiting elevated CCL2 expression also experienced cognitive decline. The secretion of CCL2 by dendritic cells induces pyroptosis in vascular endothelial cells, thereby promoting blood-brain barrier damage and triggering cognitive impairment in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.