Abstract Background Visits to the emergency department (ED) are inflection points in patients’ illness trajectories and are an underutilized setting to engage seriously ill patients in conversations about their goals of care. We developed an intervention (ED GOAL) that primes seriously ill patients to discuss their goals of care with their outpatient clinicians after leaving the ED. The aims of this study are (i) to test the impact of ED GOAL administered by trained nurses...

BackgroundGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common pregnancy complication that negatively impacts the health of both the mother and child. Early prediction of the risk of GDM may permit prompt and effective interventions. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the study characteristics, methodological quality, and model performance of first-trimester prediction model studies for GDM.MethodsFive electronic databases, one clinical trial register, and gray literature were searched from the inception date to March 19, 2022....

Abstract Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) were the priority group for influenza vaccination, in China during the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 influenza seasons. However, vaccination rates in HCWs have always been low. This study investigated influenza vaccination status among Chinese HCWs and analyzed the factors driving vaccination. Methods We provided electronic questionnaires to HCWs from January 27, 2022 to February 21, 2022, using the WeChat platform "Breath Circles". HCWs who received the link could also forward it...

Abstract Background Limb salvage reconstruction for pelvic tumors, especially periacetabular tumors, is challenging. We combined the use of dual mobility bearing and 3D-printed hemipelvic prosthesis to improve function and reduce the probability of complications after hemi-pelvic resection in patients with primary acetabular malignancy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this combination. Methods Between October 2011 and May 2021, 11 patients with malignancies involving the acetabulum received hemipelvic replacement...

This paper presents an approach that combines the generalized multimode nonlinear Schrodinger equation with a transmission model to analyze spatiotemporal characteristics of multimode interference in single mode/large mode area fiber–graded-index multimode fiber–single-mode fiber (SMF/LMA-GIMF-SMF) structures for the first time. Approximated self-imaging (ASIM) behavior in GIMF and the study of the latter structure used in spatiotemporal mode-locked fiber lasers are first demonstrated. Simulations show that these structures can work as saturable absorbers enabling high-energy pulse output...

Computational ghost imaging (CGI) using stereo vision is able to achieve three-dimensional (3D) imaging by using multiple projection units or multiple bucket detectors which are separated spatially. We present a compact 3D CGI system that consists of Risley prisms, a stationary projection unit and a bucket detector. By rotating double prisms to various angles, speckle patterns appear to be projected by a dynamic virtual projection unit at different positions and the multi-view ghost images are...

Abstract Background Maize rough dwarf disease (MRDD), caused by rice black-streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV) belonging to the Fijivirus genus, seriously threatens maize production worldwide. Three susceptible varieties (Ye478, Zheng 58, and Zhengdan 958) and two resistant varieties (P138 and Chang7–2) were used in our study. Results A set of ATP-binding cassette subfamily B (ABCB) transporter genes were screened to evaluate their possible involvements in RBSDV resistance. In the present study, ZmABCB15, an ABCB transporter family...

Abstract Background The functional alterations of eRNAs have been reported to be correlated with tumorigenesis. However, the roles of eRNAs in thyroid cancer (THCA) remain still unclear. This study aimed to construct an immune-related eRNA prognostic signature that could effectively predict the survival and prognosis for THCA. Methods The Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was performed to identify THCA-specific immune-related hub genes and immune-related eRNAs were obtained using Pearson correlation analysis. Univariate and least...

Abstract Background Dengue is the fastest spreading arboviral disease, posing great challenges on global public health. A reproduceable and comparable global genotyping framework for contextualizing spatiotemporal epidemiological data of dengue virus (DENV) is essential for research studies and collaborative surveillance. Methods Targeting DENV-1 spreading prominently in recent decades, by reconciling all qualified complete E gene sequences of 5003 DENV-1 strains with epidemiological information from 78 epidemic countries/areas ranging from 1944 to 2018, we established and...

Automated fine-grained diabetic retinopathy (DR) grading was of great significance for assisting ophthalmologists in monitoring DR and designing tailored treatments for patients. Nevertheless, it is a challenging task as a result of high intra-class variations, high inter-class similarities, small lesions, and imbalanced data distributions. The pivotal factor for the success in fine-grained DR grading is to discern more subtle associated lesion features, such as microaneurysms (MA), Hemorrhages (HM), soft exudates (SE), and hard exudates (HE)....

In general, 𝑘 lenses with different materials can achieve at most (𝑘+1)-color correction (𝑘≥2). In this paper, a superachromat containing three lenses is designed to achieve five-color correction in the 600 - 1600 nm waveband, where the maximum chromatic focal shift is controlled within 1/100,000 of the focal length, achieving an almost unprecedented result. Conditions for lens power combination of three thin lenses in contact are firstly derived based on the Buchdahl dispersion equation, then...

Abstract Background Oxidative stress plays an important role in the progression of various types of tumors. However, its role in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has seldom been explored. This study aimed to discover prognostic markers associated with oxidative stress in ESCC to improve the prediction of prognosis and help in the selection of effective immunotherapy for patients. Results A consensus cluster was constructed using 14 prognostic differentially expressed oxidative stress-related genes (DEOSGs) that were...

Abstract Background The aim of the study were to analyze the lumbar volumetric bone mineral density (BMD), fat distribution and changes of skeletal muscle with quantitative computed tomography (QCT) in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and to evaluate the relationship between body composition and BMD. Methods One hundred seventy-seven postmenopausal women with T2DM and 136 postmenopausal women without diabetes were included in the study and were divided into two groups according to...

Abstract Background Single-cell transcription data provided unprecedented molecular information, enabling us to directly encode the ecosystem of colorectal cancer (CRC). Characterization of the diversity of epithelial cells and how they cooperate with tumor microenvironment cells (TME) to endow CRC with aggressive characteristics at single-cell resolution is critical for the understanding of tumor progression mechanism. Methods In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the single-cell transcription data, bulk-RNA sequencing data and pathological tissue data. In detail, cellular...

Abstract Background Besides featured glucose consumption, recent studies reveal that cancer cells might prefer “addicting” specific energy substrates from the tumor microenvironment (TME); however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Methods Fibroblast-specific long noncoding RNAs were screened using RNA-seq data of our NJLCC cohort, TCGA, and CCLE datasets. The expression and package of LINC01614 into exosomes were identified using flow cytometric sorting, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The...

Abstract Background As health care cost is taking an increasingly substantial proportion of national wealth, health shocks and the subsequent medical expenditures have become increasingly vital contributions to financial risks. However, the individual or combined effects of social and financial medical insurance on household financial behaviors are poorly understood. This research aims to examine the effect of health shocks on financial asset mobility and portfolio allocation of the household. Also, whether medical insurance positively affects...

Abstract Background Autophagy regulators play important roles in the occurrence and development of a variety of tumors and are involved in immune regulation and drug resistance. However, the modulatory roles and prognostic value of autophagy regulators in pancreatic cancer have not been identified. Methods Transcriptomic data and survival information from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were used to construct a risk score model. Important clinical features were analyzed to...

Abstract RNA methylation modifications, especially m6A mRNA modification, are known to be extensively involved in tumor development. However, the relationship between N3-methylcytidine (m3C) related genes and tumorigenesis has rarely been studied. In this research, we found that m3C-related genes were expressed at different levels and affected patients’ prognosis across multiple cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas and multi-omics levels. Importantly, methyltransferase-like proteins 2A (METTL2A) had a high amplification frequency (~ 7%) in patients with...

Abstract Objective To analyze the characteristics of global β-lactamase-producing Enterobacter cloacae including the distribution of β-lactamase, sequence types (STs) as well as plasmid replicons. Methods All the genomes of the E. cloacae were downloaded from GenBank. The distribution of β-lactamase encoding genes were investigated by genome annotation after the genome quality was checked. The STs of these strains were analyzed by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). The distribution of plasmid replicons was further explored by submitting...

Stepped wedge designs have uni-directional crossovers at randomly assigned time points (steps) where clusters switch from control to intervention condition. Incomplete stepped wedge designs are increasingly used in cluster randomized trials of health care interventions and have periods without data collection due to logistical, resource and patient-centered considerations. The development of sample size formulae for stepped wedge trials has primarily focused on complete designs and continuous responses. Addressing this gap, a general, fast, non-simulation based...

Abstract Background Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related condition that causes high blood pressure and proteinuria after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It is linked to increased maternal mortality, organ malfunction, and foetal development limitation. In this view, there is a need critical to identify biomarkers for the early detection of preeclampsia. The objective of this study is to discover critical genes and explore medications for preeclampsia treatment that may influence these genes. Methods Four datasets, including GSE10588,...

Abstract Background Tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 2 (TNFAIP2), a TNFα-inducible gene, appears to participate in inflammation, immune response, hematopoiesis, and carcinogenesis. However, the potential role of TNFAIP2 in the development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains unknow yet. Therefore, we aimed to study the biological role of TNFAIP2 in leukemogenesis. Methods TNFAIP2 mRNA level, prognostic value, co-expressed genes, differentially expressed genes, DNA methylation, and functional enrichment analysis in AML patients were explored via multiple...

Abstract Background Dual inhibition of PD-1/PD-L1 and TGF-β pathways is a rational therapeutic strategy for malignancies. SHR-1701 is a new bifunctional fusion protein composed of a monoclonal antibody against PD-L1 fused with the extracellular domain of TGF-β receptor II. This first-in-human trial aimed to assess SHR-1701 in pretreated advanced solid tumors and find the population who could benefit from SHR-1701. Methods This was a dose-escalation, dose-expansion, and clinical-expansion phase 1 study. Dose escalation was initiated...

Abstract Background Inorganic nanocomposites especially Au nanostructures have exhibited outstanding physicochemical properties in biomedical fields. For further clinical applications on theranostics, especially drug delivery, numerous explorations of green and facile synthesis methods combining with pharmacoactive natural components have been investigated to construct safe and multifunctional bioactive Au nanoparticles (NPs). Ginsenoside Rh2 is protopanaxadiol type compound isolated from plants of genus Panax, with excellent anticancer effect and antioxidant activity. In this research, we prepared the novel...

Abstract Background Establish a CT-based diagnostic radiomic model for AIDS complicated with pulmonary cryptococcosis and evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of this model. Methods This retrospective study enrolled 98 AIDS patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis and 103 AIDS patients with other infections or neoplastic lesions, comprising a total of 699 lesions. Patients were randomly divided into a training group and test group at a ratio of 2.75:1. Features from all lesions, cavity lesions and solid nodule lesions...