Background: Patients with rheumatic diseases have profound alterations in the immune system as a result of underlying diseases and the treatments used, which increases the risk of occurrence and severity of infections...Background: Patients with rheumatic diseases have profound alterations in the immune system as a result of underlying diseases and the treatments used, which increases the risk of occurrence and severity of infections, including enteroparasitosis. The current treatment for rheumatoid arthritis involves immunosuppressive therapies powerfully needed for screening infectious processes. The prevalence of parasitic infections in rheumatoid arthritis patients is not currently documented in literature. The objective of the current study was to determine the prevalence of parasitic diseases in a population with RA. Methods: We collected demographic and socioeconomic data from 67 patients at the Hospital Universitário de Brasília from July 2015 to April 2016. All patients underwent a parasitological examination of their stool and multiple variables were analyzed using Poisson regression method. Results: The mean age of patients was 53.9 years. They were predominantly in women (94%) and caucasian (47.8%). The mean disease duration was 9.2 years and most patients had the disease in remission or light activity. The prevalence of parasitic infections in these patients was 11.9%, all cases being that of protozoa of the following species: Endolimax nana, Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba coli. The final multivariate analysis indicated that the presence of disease had a significant statistical relationship between the presence of enteroparasitosis and rheumatoid arthritis with no fatigue by VAS (p = 0.0488) and best current health index by VAS (p = 0.0012). Conclusion: This study indicates that the prevalence of enteroparasitoses in a population with Rheumatoid Arthritis was 11.9% and all cases were found of protozoa.展开更多
Non-human primates(NHPs)serve as necessary reservoir hosts of parasites that create diseases to human.A close interaction between human and NHP can make a pathway for transmission of zoonotic diseases.To prevent zoono...Non-human primates(NHPs)serve as necessary reservoir hosts of parasites that create diseases to human.A close interaction between human and NHP can make a pathway for transmission of zoonotic diseases.To prevent zoonotic infection of zoo keepers,park visitors as well as keeping the captive NHPs in healthy state,it is necessary to carry out regular parasitological examination and treatment.A total of 72 fecal samples of Olive Baboon(n=39)and Common Langur(n=33)irrespective of their age and sex were collected from two zoological gardens of Bangladesh.Eggs and oocysts of seven gastrointestinal(GI)parasites were observed and identified in samples of both host species.The prevalence of GI parasites recorded was 100%.In case of Olive Baboon,the protozoan prevalence was higher(53.83%)than that of helminths,but opposite scenario was seen in case of Common Langur.Besides,higher intensity of coccidian oocysts in both hosts was recorded in the study.展开更多
The aim of this work was to improve the thermal conductivity and electromagnetic shielding of the leakage proof phase change materials(PCMs),in which a polyrotaxane(PLR)was used as a support material to encapsulate PE...The aim of this work was to improve the thermal conductivity and electromagnetic shielding of the leakage proof phase change materials(PCMs),in which a polyrotaxane(PLR)was used as a support material to encapsulate PEG 1k or PEG 6k and MXene as multi-functional filler.The PCMs can be processed conveniently by a hot press and the PEG 1k containing samples showed excellent flexibility.We conducted a systematic evaluation of the phase transition behavior of the material,thermal conductivity and electromagnetic shielding performance tests.Notably,the PCMs achieved a high enthalpy values(123.9–159.6 J/g).The PCMs exhibited an increase of 44.3%,and 137.5%in thermal conductivity values with higher MXene content(5 wt%)for PLR-PEG6k and PLR-PEG1k,respectively,and show high shape stability and no leakage during and after phase transition.The introduction of MXene can significantly improve the electromagnetic shielding performance of PCM composites.Typically,higher conductive samples(samples which contain high MXene contents)offer a higher EMI SE shielding,reaching a maximum of 4.67 dB at 5.6 GHz for PLR-1K-MX5.These improvements solve the main problems of organic PEG based PCMs,thus making PLR-PEG-MXene based PCMs good candidates for thermoregulators of both solid-state disks and smart phone.It is worth pointing out that the sample PLR-1k-MX5 can decrease 4.3C of the reference temperature during cellphone running.Moreover,the temperature of the protecting sheet in the simulated solid state disk with PCM was significantly lower(showing a decreasing of 7.9℃)compared with the blank sample.展开更多
Research on fires at the wildland-urban inter-face(WUI)has generated significant insights and advance-ments across various fields of study.Environmental,agri-culture,and social sciences have played prominent roles in ...Research on fires at the wildland-urban inter-face(WUI)has generated significant insights and advance-ments across various fields of study.Environmental,agri-culture,and social sciences have played prominent roles in understanding the impacts of fires in the environment,in protecting communities,and addressing management challenges.This study aimed to create a database using a text mining technique for global researchers interested in WUI-projects and highlighting the interest of countries in this field.Author’s-Keywords analysis emphasized the dominance of fire science-related terms,especially related to WUI,and identified keyword clusters related to the WUI fire-risk-assessment-system-“exposure”,“danger”,and“vulnerability”within wildfire research.Trends over the past decade showcase shifting research interests with a growing focus on WUI fires,while regional variations highlighted that the“exposure”keyword cluster received greater atten-tion in the southern Europe and South America.However,vulnerability keywords have relatively a lower representation across all regions.The analysis underscores the interdisci-plinary nature of WUI research and emphasizes the need for targeted approaches to address the unique challenges of the wildland-urban interface.Overall,this study provides valu-able insights for researchers and serves as a foundation for further collaboration in this field through the understanding of the trends over recent years and in different regions.展开更多
Background:The benefits of exercise are well known;however,many of the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood.Skeletal muscle secretes myokines,which mediate muscleorgan crosstalk.Myokines regulate s...Background:The benefits of exercise are well known;however,many of the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood.Skeletal muscle secretes myokines,which mediate muscleorgan crosstalk.Myokines regulate satellite-cell proliferation and migration,inflammatory cascade,insulin secretion,angiogenesis,fatty oxidation,and cancer suppression.To date,the effects of different exercise modes(namely,aerobic and resistance exercise)on myokine response remain to be elucidated.This is crucial considering the clinical implementation of exercise to enhance general health and wellbeing and as a medical treatment.Methods:A systematic search was undertaken in PubMed,MEDLINE,CINAHL,Embase,SPORTDiscus,andWeb of Science in April 2023.Eligible studies examining the effects of a single bout of exercise on interleukin15(IL-15),irisin,secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine(SPARC),oncostatinM(OSM),and decorin were included.A random-effects meta-analysis was also undertaken to quantify the magnitude of change.Results:Sixty-two studies were included(n=1193).Overall,exercise appeared to induce small to large increases in myokine expression,with effects observed immediately after to 60 min post-exercise,although these were mostly not statistically significant.Both aerobic and resistance exercise resulted in changes in myokine levels,without any significant difference between training modes,and with the magnitude of change differing across myokines.Myokine levels returned to baseline levels within 180 min to 24 h post-exercise.However,owing to potential sources of heterogeneity,most changes were not statistically significant,indicating that precise conclusions cannot be drawn.Conclusion:Knowledge is limited but expanding with respect to the impact of overall and specific effects of exercise on myokine expression at different time points in the systemic circulation.Further research is required to investigate the effects of different exercise modes at multiple time points on myokine response.展开更多
Pancreatic fluid collections(PFCs)result from injury to the pancreas from acute or chronic pancreatitis,surgery,or trauma.Management of these collections has evolved over the last 2 decades.The choice of interventions...Pancreatic fluid collections(PFCs)result from injury to the pancreas from acute or chronic pancreatitis,surgery,or trauma.Management of these collections has evolved over the last 2 decades.The choice of interventions includes percu-taneous,endoscopic,minimally invasive surgery,or a combined approach.Endoscopic drainage is the drainage of PFCs by creating an artificial communication between the collection and gastrointestinal lumen that is maintained by placing a stent across the fistulous tract.In this editorial,we endeavored to update the current status of endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage of PFCs.展开更多
Effective calcium(Ca)management is crucial for optimizing oil palm cultivation and enhancing crop yield.This study aimed to gain insights into the dynamics of Ca concentration,accumulation,exportation,immobilization,a...Effective calcium(Ca)management is crucial for optimizing oil palm cultivation and enhancing crop yield.This study aimed to gain insights into the dynamics of Ca concentration,accumulation,exportation,immobilization,and recycling in various oil palm organs relative to plant age.The experiment was conducted at the Agropalma enterprise site in the northeastern region of Para State,Brazil,evaluating seven plant age treatments:2,3,4,5,6,7,and 8 years old.Employing a completely randomized design with four replications.The results demonstrated an age-related increase in Ca concentration in petioles,rachis,arrows,male inflorescences,peduncles,and fruits.Furthermore,Ca accumulation exhibited an upward trend in all organs with progressing plant age.Notably,the study revealed an enhanced Ca use efficiency across all plant organs in correlation with the age of oil palm cultivation.These findings underscore the dynamic nutritional demands of oil palm,influencing Ca immobilization,cycling,and export throughout its developmental stages.展开更多
Purpose – The vibration of the rails is a significant source of railway rolling noise, often forming the dominantcomponent of noise in the important frequency region between 400 and 2000 Hz. The purpose of the paper ...Purpose – The vibration of the rails is a significant source of railway rolling noise, often forming the dominantcomponent of noise in the important frequency region between 400 and 2000 Hz. The purpose of the paper is toinvestigate the influence of the ground profile and the presence of the train body on the sound radiation fromthe rail.Design/methodology/approach – Two-dimensional boundary element calculations are used, in which therail vibration is the source. The ground profile and various different shapes of train body are introduced in themodel, and results are observed in terms of sound power and sound pressure. Comparisons are also made withvibro-acoustic measurements performed with and without a train present.Findings – The sound radiated by the rail in the absence of the train body is strongly attenuated by shieldingdue to the ballast shoulder. When the train body is present, the sound from the vertical rail motion is reflectedback down toward the track where it is partly absorbed by the ballast. Nevertheless, the sound pressure at thetrackside is increased by typically 0–5 dB. For the lateral vibration of the rail, the effects are much smaller. Oncethe sound power is known, the sound pressure with the train present can be approximated reasonably well withsimple line source directivities.Originality/value – Numerical models used to predict the sound radiation from railway rails have generallyneglected the influence of the ground profile and reflections from the underside of the train body on the soundpower and directivity of the rail. These effects are studied in a systematic way including comparisons with measurements.展开更多
In Saudi Arabia,drones are increasingly used in different sensitive domains like military,health,and agriculture to name a few.Typically,drone cameras capture aerial images of objects and convert them into crucial dat...In Saudi Arabia,drones are increasingly used in different sensitive domains like military,health,and agriculture to name a few.Typically,drone cameras capture aerial images of objects and convert them into crucial data,alongside collecting data from distributed sensors supplemented by location data.The interception of the data sent from the drone to the station can lead to substantial threats.To address this issue,highly confidential protection methods must be employed.This paper introduces a novel steganography approach called the Shuffling Steganography Approach(SSA).SSA encompasses five fundamental stages and three proposed algorithms,designed to enhance security through strategic encryption and data hiding techniques.Notably,this method introduces advanced resistance to brute force attacks by employing predefined patterns across a wide array of images,complicating unauthorized access.The initial stage involves encryption,dividing,and disassembling the encrypted data.A small portion of the encrypted data is concealed within the text(Algorithm 1)in the third stage.Subsequently,the parts are merged and mixed(Algorithm 2),and finally,the composed text is hidden within an image(Algorithm 3).Through meticulous investigation and comparative analysis with existing methodologies,the proposed approach demonstrates superiority across various pertinent criteria,including robustness,secret message size capacity,resistance to multiple attacks,and multilingual support.展开更多
Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established treatment for patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD). Reports show continued patient satisfaction after surgery despite not maintaining clinical imp...Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established treatment for patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD). Reports show continued patient satisfaction after surgery despite not maintaining clinical improvement as measured by evolution scales. Objectives: The present study sought to explore expectations and level of satisfaction in patients after DBS surgery with a semi-structured questionnaire and subsequent correlation with functional scales, Quality of Life (QoL), and motor and non-motor symptoms. Methods: We performed descriptive statistics to represent demographic data, Wilcoxon rank tests to determine significant differences, and Spearman correlation between the applied scales. Results: We evaluated 20 patients with a history of DBS surgery. 45% were female, with a mean age of 55.7 ± 14.15 years, a mean disease duration of 13.42 ± 8.3 years, and a mean time after surgery of 3.18 ± 1.86 years. Patients reported surgery meeting expectations in 85.5% and continued satisfaction in 92%. These two variables showed a significant correlation. Conclusions: This sample of patients remained satisfied after DBS surgery, although we found no differences in motor and non-motor clinimetric scales. Further studies are needed to confirm the importance of assessing quality of life in patients with DBS.展开更多
Background:Guidelines recommend that adolescents should accumulate an average of 60 min per day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity(MVPA).However,using only this cut-off could hide important information.For inst...Background:Guidelines recommend that adolescents should accumulate an average of 60 min per day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity(MVPA).However,using only this cut-off could hide important information.For instance,from a population-level point of view,increasing physical activity for those with no or low physical activity could provide more health benefits than increasing physical activity for those with intermediate levels.Also,including a more sensitive cut-point of≥1 days per week could be an additional strategy for identifying those with low access/opportunities for physical activity practice.Thus,the current study aims to estimate the prevalence of≥60 min of MVPA≥1 days per week among adolescents globally,and to describe any relevant gender inequalities.Methods:We used representative datasets from 146 countries/territories collected between 2003 and 2019.MVPA was self-reported.Participants were grouped into younger(≤14 years old)and older(>14 years old)adolescents.Crude Poisson regression models were used to identify the relative differences in≥60 min of MVPA≥1 days per week between boys and girls,and random-effects meta-analysis models were used to identify the pooled estimates.Analyses were stratified by country and region.Results:Approximately 80%of both younger and older adolescents reported≥60 min of MVPA≥1 days per week.This prevalence was≥94%in Europe and Central Asia and North America,while the estimates for the other regions were<77%.The prevalence of≥60 min of MVPA≥1 days per week was higher among boys than girls,with the largest differences occurring among the oldest adolescents(Prevalence ratio_(≤14y)=1.04(95%confidence interval(95%CI)):1.03-1.04)vs.Prevalence ratio_(>14y)=1.09(95%CI:1.08-1.10)).Conclusion:Approximately 8 out of 10 adolescents reported accumulating≥60 min of MVPA≥1 days per week,with notable differences between regions.Gender differences were observed in several countries,especially among the oldest adolescents.Priorities for physical activity promotion among adolescents should include increasing access/opportunities for physical activity among those who do not achieve≥60 min of MVPA≥1 days per week and reducing gender inequalities.展开更多
Purpose: The primary aim of this paper is to design, create, and improve functional and artificial Bruch’s membranes (BM) using bioengineering techniques, which can be applied in the treatment of maculopathies by sup...Purpose: The primary aim of this paper is to design, create, and improve functional and artificial Bruch’s membranes (BM) using bioengineering techniques, which can be applied in the treatment of maculopathies by supporting the growth and maintenance of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, thereby potentially enabling subretinal implantation in patients. Methods: We fabricated by electrospinning ultrathin 3D nanofibrous membranes from Polycaprolactone (PCL), and different concentrations of gelatin (5%, 15% and 30%). ARPE-19 cells were seeded onto these artificial membranes. MTT assays were performed in order to evaluate ARPE-19 cell viability and cytotoxicity. IF assays were realized to observe the ARPE-19 cells onto each membrane. Ultrastructure of the modified Bruch’s membrane and ARPE-19 morphology after 25 days of culture were studied with transmission and scanning electron microscopy. To evaluate expression changes in markers of ARPE-19 (RPE65 and ZO-1) qRT-PCR assays were realized. Data from three independent experiments were pooled and expressed as the mean SD. A confidence level of P 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results ARPE-19 cells grew on PCL/Gelatin membranes mainly in PCL/30% gelatin combination, which had not cytotoxic effect. RPE65/cytokeratin-18/ and actin-positive ARPE-19 cells formed a correctly orientated monolayer of polygonal cells with morphological polarity. The apical cell surfaces exhibited abundant protruding microfolds. Moreover, zones of polygonal border look as if ARPE-19 cells fused among, suggesting the presence of tight junctions. The expression of RPE65 and ZO-1 was unchanged. Conclusions: PCL/30% Gelatine membranes may imitate the natural BM to such extent that they support RPE-cells and exhibited RPE-like morphology. The engineering of a human RPE monolayer with these artificial BM, emulating the in vivo retina, arouse their potential subretinal implantation in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) where there is a rupture of the Bruch’s membrane.展开更多
Parkinsonism by unilateral,intranigralβ-sitosterolβ-D-glucoside administration in rats is distinguished in that theα-synuclein insult begins unilaterally but spreads bilaterally and increases in severity over time,...Parkinsonism by unilateral,intranigralβ-sitosterolβ-D-glucoside administration in rats is distinguished in that theα-synuclein insult begins unilaterally but spreads bilaterally and increases in severity over time,thus replicating several clinical features of Parkinson’s disease,a typicalα-synucleinopathy.As Nurr1 repressesα-synuclein,we evaluated whether unilateral transfected of rNurr1-V5 transgene via neurotensin-polyplex to the substantia nigra on day 30 after unilateralβ-sitosterolβ-D-glucoside lesion could affect bilateral neuropathology and sensorimotor deficits on day 30 post-transfection.This study found that rNurr1-V5 expression but not that of the green fluorescent protein(the negative control)reducedβ-sitosterolβ-D-glucoside-induced neuropathology.Accordingly,a bilateral increase in tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells and arborization occurred in the substantia nigra and increased tyrosine hydroxylase-positive ramifications in the striatum.In addition,tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells displayed less senescence markerβ-galactosidase and more neuron-cytoskeleton markerβIII-tubulin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor.A significant decrease in activated microglia(positive to ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1)and neurotoxic astrocytes(positive to glial fibrillary acidic protein and complement component 3)and increased neurotrophic astrocytes(positive to glial fibrillary acidic protein and S100 calcium-binding protein A10)also occurred in the substantia nigra.These effects followed the bilateral reduction inα-synuclein aggregates in the nigrostriatal system,improving sensorimotor behavior.Our results show that unilateral rNurr1-V5 transgene expression in nigral dopaminergic neurons mitigates bilateral neurodegeneration(senescence and loss of neuron-cytoskeleton and tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells),neuroinflammation(activated microglia,neurotoxic astrocytes),α-synuclein aggregation,and sensorimotor deficits.Increased neurotrophic astrocytes and brain-derived neurotrophic factor can mediate the rNurr1-V5 effect,supporting its potential clinical use in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.展开更多
Gastric cancer(GC)remains among the most common cancers worldwide with a high mortality-to-incidence ratio.Accumulated evidence suggests that long noncoding RNAs(lncRNAs)are involved in gastric carcinogenesis.These tr...Gastric cancer(GC)remains among the most common cancers worldwide with a high mortality-to-incidence ratio.Accumulated evidence suggests that long noncoding RNAs(lncRNAs)are involved in gastric carcinogenesis.These transcripts are longer than 200 nucleotides and modulate gene expression at multiple molecular levels,inducing or inhibiting biological processes and diseases.Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1(MALAT1)is one of the best-studied lncRNAs with comprehensive actions contributing to cancer progression.This lncRNA regulates gene expression at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels through interactions with microRNAs and proteins.In the present review,we discussed the molecular mechanism of MALAT1 and summarized the current knowledge of its expression in GC.Moreover,we highlighted the potential use of MALAT1 as a biomarker,including liquid biopsy.展开更多
Studies on fertilization management of species native to the Amazon for energy plantations contribute to the diversity of species use and reduce biological risk due to the excessive use of clones or hybrids of Eucalyp...Studies on fertilization management of species native to the Amazon for energy plantations contribute to the diversity of species use and reduce biological risk due to the excessive use of clones or hybrids of Eucalyptus.This study evaluates the effect of precipitation seasonality and phosphorus and potassium fertilization on gas exchange in a Tachigali vulgaris plantation.Three levels of P(zero,65.2,130.4 kg ha^(-1))and three of K(zero,100.0,200.0 kg ha^(-1))were applied in a 3×3 factorial randomized block design.Gas exchange measurements were conducted in April and November 2018.In low rainfall,high irradiance period,photo synthetic rates were up to four times higher than in the high rainfall period,reaching 20.3μmol m^(-2)s^(-1)in the treatment with 130.4 g kg^(-1)of P and 100.0 g kg^(-1)of K.Factor analysis and principal component analysis reduced the initial eight gas exchange variables to two and three principal components in periods of high and low rainfall,respectively.The multivariate method used in this study readily identified variations in the variables as a function of rainfall,with high reliability in explaining the data set.展开更多
The Retinoblastoma 1 (RB1) gene, located on chromosome 13q14 and encodes the tumor-suppressor retinoblastoma protein, is the cause of Retinoblastoma. The mutational inactivation of both gene alleles brings on this can...The Retinoblastoma 1 (RB1) gene, located on chromosome 13q14 and encodes the tumor-suppressor retinoblastoma protein, is the cause of Retinoblastoma. The mutational inactivation of both gene alleles brings on this cancer. Retinoblastoma (RB) high-risk histopathological characteristics indicate metastasis or local recurrence with rapid progresses following RB1 inactivation. There is growing interest in regulatory activities unconnected to the coding region of the genome, or exome, in addition to epigenetic control mechanisms. The altered epigenome is significant, though by no means the only, problem in the etiology of Retinoblastoma. After all, cancer development is a multistep process in which numerous dissimilar genetic, epigenetic, and posttranscriptional modifications result in a shared phenotype. This study emphasizes the most recent developments in posttranscriptional change and epigenetics related to retinoblastoma tumor biology. Here, we highlight the novel biomarkers the retinoblastoma tumor has expressed to improve patient survival.展开更多
Isabel grape(IG)products have high contents of phenolic compounds and fiber recognized for their positive impacts on microorganisms associated with health benefits to host.This study evaluated the effects of goat yogu...Isabel grape(IG)products have high contents of phenolic compounds and fiber recognized for their positive impacts on microorganisms associated with health benefits to host.This study evaluated the effects of goat yogurts formulated with ingredients from IG integral valorization on the growth and metabolism of different probiotic strains,as well as on the population of selected bacterial groups and metabolic activity of human colonic microbiota in vitro.Goat yogurts with IG ingredients(IGI)stimulated the growth of tested Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium probiotic strains during a 48-h cultivation,as well as decreased the pH values and enhanced the organic acid production.Goat yogurts with IGI increased the population of Lactobacillus spp.and Bifidobacterium spp.during a 24-h in vitro colonic fermentation.A stable Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes ratio close to 1 was found in media with goat yogurt formulations during the colonic fermentation,being similar to the effect caused by fructooligosaccharides.Goat yogurt formulations with IGI caused increased production of short-chain fatty acids and sugar consumption during colonic fermentation.Goat yogurts with IGI should be a valuable strategy for development of novel added-value foods with beneficial effects on gut microbiota and human health.展开更多
In this article, we study the ability of error-correcting quantum codes to increase the fidelity of quantum states throughout a quantum computation. We analyze arbitrary quantum codes that encode all qubits involved i...In this article, we study the ability of error-correcting quantum codes to increase the fidelity of quantum states throughout a quantum computation. We analyze arbitrary quantum codes that encode all qubits involved in the computation, and we study the evolution of n-qubit fidelity from the end of one application of the correcting circuit to the end of the next application. We assume that the correcting circuit does not introduce new errors, that it does not increase the execution time (i.e. its application takes zero seconds) and that quantum errors are isotropic. We show that the quantum code increases the fidelity of the states perturbed by quantum errors but that this improvement is not enough to justify the use of quantum codes. Namely, we prove that, taking into account that the time interval between the application of the two corrections is multiplied (at least) by the number of qubits n (due to the coding), the best option is not to use quantum codes, since the fidelity of the uncoded state over a time interval n times smaller is greater than that of the state resulting from the quantum code correction.展开更多
BACKGROUND The prevalence of heart failure(HF)increases with age,and it is one of the leading causes of hospitalization and death in older patients.However,there are little data on in-hospital mortality in patients wi...BACKGROUND The prevalence of heart failure(HF)increases with age,and it is one of the leading causes of hospitalization and death in older patients.However,there are little data on in-hospital mortality in patients with HF≥75 years in Spain.METHODS A retrospective analysis of the Spanish Minimum Basic Data Set was performed,including all HF episodes discharged from public hospitals in Spain between 2016 and 2019.Coding was performed using the International Classification of Diseases,10th Revision.Patients≥75 years with HF as the principal diagnosis were selected.We calculated:(1)the crude in-hospital mortality rate and its distribution according to age and sex;(2)the risk-standardized in-hospital mortality ratio;and(3)the association between in-hospital mortality and the availability of an intensive cardiac care unit(ICCU)in the hospital.RESULTS We included 354,792 HF episodes of patients over 75 years.The mean age was 85.2±5.5 years,and 59.2%of patients were women.The most frequent comorbidities were renal failure(46.1%),diabetes mellitus(35.5%),valvular disease(33.9%),cardiorespiratory failure(29.8%),and hypertension(26.9%).In-hospital mortality was 12.7%,and increased with age[odds ratio(OR)=1.07,95%CI:1.07–1.07,P<0.001]and was lower in women(OR=0.96,95%CI:0.92–0.97,P<0.001).The main predictors of mortality were the presence of cardiogenic shock(OR=19.5,95%CI:16.8–22.7,P<0.001),stroke(OR=3.5,95%CI:3.0–4.0,P<0.001)and advanced cancer(OR=2.6,95%CI:2.5–2.8,P<0.001).In hospitals with ICCU,the in-hospital risk-adjusted mortality tended to be lower(OR=0.85,95%CI:0.72–1.00,P=0.053).CONCLUSIONS In-hospital mortality in patients with HF≥75 years between 2016 and 2019 was 12.7%,higher in males and elderly patients.The main predictors of mortality were cardiogenic shock,stroke,and advanced cancer.There was a trend toward lower mortality in centers with an ICCU.展开更多
Objective:According to the World Health Organization,the number of infected people with human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)in 2019 was about 38 million.Using combinational antiretroviral therapy in recent years has incr...Objective:According to the World Health Organization,the number of infected people with human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)in 2019 was about 38 million.Using combinational antiretroviral therapy in recent years has increased life expectancy in these people and HIV has been changed from a deadly disease to a chronic one.HIV-associated neurological disorders(HAND)include asymptomatic neurological disorders,Motor neurological disorders,and HIV-associated dementia.Methods:We searched 3 databases(PubMed,Science Direct and Scopus databases)from January 2015 to March 2021 for the keywords;HIV associated with a neurocognitive disorder,HAND and combinational antiretroviral therapy to provide careful consideration of various aspects of these disorders,including;risk factors,their diagnostic methods,their epidemiology,and finally the treatment of HAND.Results:In the initial search,we came across 1351 articles.Three authors did the title-abstract screening,and 270 articles were entered into full-text screening from the previous step.Four authors did the full-text screening,and the screening outcome was 21 articles.We categorized the results of our study into sub-categories,including:risk factors,pathogenicity,clinical manifestations,diagnosis,and epidemiology of HAND.Conclusions:Although the HAND subheading has made great strides,many questions about the disease remain unanswered,and many of the diagnosing established methods are not 100%accurate and as a result of that,this epidemy can’t be fully endured yet.We hope to find and apply further advances and more definitive solutions in the coming decades.展开更多
文摘Background: Patients with rheumatic diseases have profound alterations in the immune system as a result of underlying diseases and the treatments used, which increases the risk of occurrence and severity of infections, including enteroparasitosis. The current treatment for rheumatoid arthritis involves immunosuppressive therapies powerfully needed for screening infectious processes. The prevalence of parasitic infections in rheumatoid arthritis patients is not currently documented in literature. The objective of the current study was to determine the prevalence of parasitic diseases in a population with RA. Methods: We collected demographic and socioeconomic data from 67 patients at the Hospital Universitário de Brasília from July 2015 to April 2016. All patients underwent a parasitological examination of their stool and multiple variables were analyzed using Poisson regression method. Results: The mean age of patients was 53.9 years. They were predominantly in women (94%) and caucasian (47.8%). The mean disease duration was 9.2 years and most patients had the disease in remission or light activity. The prevalence of parasitic infections in these patients was 11.9%, all cases being that of protozoa of the following species: Endolimax nana, Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba coli. The final multivariate analysis indicated that the presence of disease had a significant statistical relationship between the presence of enteroparasitosis and rheumatoid arthritis with no fatigue by VAS (p = 0.0488) and best current health index by VAS (p = 0.0012). Conclusion: This study indicates that the prevalence of enteroparasitoses in a population with Rheumatoid Arthritis was 11.9% and all cases were found of protozoa.
基金Ministry of Science and Technology,Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
文摘Non-human primates(NHPs)serve as necessary reservoir hosts of parasites that create diseases to human.A close interaction between human and NHP can make a pathway for transmission of zoonotic diseases.To prevent zoonotic infection of zoo keepers,park visitors as well as keeping the captive NHPs in healthy state,it is necessary to carry out regular parasitological examination and treatment.A total of 72 fecal samples of Olive Baboon(n=39)and Common Langur(n=33)irrespective of their age and sex were collected from two zoological gardens of Bangladesh.Eggs and oocysts of seven gastrointestinal(GI)parasites were observed and identified in samples of both host species.The prevalence of GI parasites recorded was 100%.In case of Olive Baboon,the protozoan prevalence was higher(53.83%)than that of helminths,but opposite scenario was seen in case of Common Langur.Besides,higher intensity of coccidian oocysts in both hosts was recorded in the study.
基金supported by both BIOFIRESAFE(No.:PID2020-117274RB-I00)and NEWSAFE(No.:PID2022-143324NA-I00)Projects funded by Ministerio De Ciencia E Innovacion(MINECO,Spain)supported by the Agencia Estatal de Investigacion of Spanish Government[PROJECTS TED2021-131102B-C21 and PID2022-138496OB-I00].
文摘The aim of this work was to improve the thermal conductivity and electromagnetic shielding of the leakage proof phase change materials(PCMs),in which a polyrotaxane(PLR)was used as a support material to encapsulate PEG 1k or PEG 6k and MXene as multi-functional filler.The PCMs can be processed conveniently by a hot press and the PEG 1k containing samples showed excellent flexibility.We conducted a systematic evaluation of the phase transition behavior of the material,thermal conductivity and electromagnetic shielding performance tests.Notably,the PCMs achieved a high enthalpy values(123.9–159.6 J/g).The PCMs exhibited an increase of 44.3%,and 137.5%in thermal conductivity values with higher MXene content(5 wt%)for PLR-PEG6k and PLR-PEG1k,respectively,and show high shape stability and no leakage during and after phase transition.The introduction of MXene can significantly improve the electromagnetic shielding performance of PCM composites.Typically,higher conductive samples(samples which contain high MXene contents)offer a higher EMI SE shielding,reaching a maximum of 4.67 dB at 5.6 GHz for PLR-1K-MX5.These improvements solve the main problems of organic PEG based PCMs,thus making PLR-PEG-MXene based PCMs good candidates for thermoregulators of both solid-state disks and smart phone.It is worth pointing out that the sample PLR-1k-MX5 can decrease 4.3C of the reference temperature during cellphone running.Moreover,the temperature of the protecting sheet in the simulated solid state disk with PCM was significantly lower(showing a decreasing of 7.9℃)compared with the blank sample.
基金The funding of this research was provided by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology(FCT)in the framework of the House Refuge Project(PCIF/AGT/0109/2018).
文摘Research on fires at the wildland-urban inter-face(WUI)has generated significant insights and advance-ments across various fields of study.Environmental,agri-culture,and social sciences have played prominent roles in understanding the impacts of fires in the environment,in protecting communities,and addressing management challenges.This study aimed to create a database using a text mining technique for global researchers interested in WUI-projects and highlighting the interest of countries in this field.Author’s-Keywords analysis emphasized the dominance of fire science-related terms,especially related to WUI,and identified keyword clusters related to the WUI fire-risk-assessment-system-“exposure”,“danger”,and“vulnerability”within wildfire research.Trends over the past decade showcase shifting research interests with a growing focus on WUI fires,while regional variations highlighted that the“exposure”keyword cluster received greater atten-tion in the southern Europe and South America.However,vulnerability keywords have relatively a lower representation across all regions.The analysis underscores the interdisci-plinary nature of WUI research and emphasizes the need for targeted approaches to address the unique challenges of the wildland-urban interface.Overall,this study provides valu-able insights for researchers and serves as a foundation for further collaboration in this field through the understanding of the trends over recent years and in different regions.
文摘Background:The benefits of exercise are well known;however,many of the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood.Skeletal muscle secretes myokines,which mediate muscleorgan crosstalk.Myokines regulate satellite-cell proliferation and migration,inflammatory cascade,insulin secretion,angiogenesis,fatty oxidation,and cancer suppression.To date,the effects of different exercise modes(namely,aerobic and resistance exercise)on myokine response remain to be elucidated.This is crucial considering the clinical implementation of exercise to enhance general health and wellbeing and as a medical treatment.Methods:A systematic search was undertaken in PubMed,MEDLINE,CINAHL,Embase,SPORTDiscus,andWeb of Science in April 2023.Eligible studies examining the effects of a single bout of exercise on interleukin15(IL-15),irisin,secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine(SPARC),oncostatinM(OSM),and decorin were included.A random-effects meta-analysis was also undertaken to quantify the magnitude of change.Results:Sixty-two studies were included(n=1193).Overall,exercise appeared to induce small to large increases in myokine expression,with effects observed immediately after to 60 min post-exercise,although these were mostly not statistically significant.Both aerobic and resistance exercise resulted in changes in myokine levels,without any significant difference between training modes,and with the magnitude of change differing across myokines.Myokine levels returned to baseline levels within 180 min to 24 h post-exercise.However,owing to potential sources of heterogeneity,most changes were not statistically significant,indicating that precise conclusions cannot be drawn.Conclusion:Knowledge is limited but expanding with respect to the impact of overall and specific effects of exercise on myokine expression at different time points in the systemic circulation.Further research is required to investigate the effects of different exercise modes at multiple time points on myokine response.
文摘Pancreatic fluid collections(PFCs)result from injury to the pancreas from acute or chronic pancreatitis,surgery,or trauma.Management of these collections has evolved over the last 2 decades.The choice of interventions includes percu-taneous,endoscopic,minimally invasive surgery,or a combined approach.Endoscopic drainage is the drainage of PFCs by creating an artificial communication between the collection and gastrointestinal lumen that is maintained by placing a stent across the fistulous tract.In this editorial,we endeavored to update the current status of endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage of PFCs.
文摘Effective calcium(Ca)management is crucial for optimizing oil palm cultivation and enhancing crop yield.This study aimed to gain insights into the dynamics of Ca concentration,accumulation,exportation,immobilization,and recycling in various oil palm organs relative to plant age.The experiment was conducted at the Agropalma enterprise site in the northeastern region of Para State,Brazil,evaluating seven plant age treatments:2,3,4,5,6,7,and 8 years old.Employing a completely randomized design with four replications.The results demonstrated an age-related increase in Ca concentration in petioles,rachis,arrows,male inflorescences,peduncles,and fruits.Furthermore,Ca accumulation exhibited an upward trend in all organs with progressing plant age.Notably,the study revealed an enhanced Ca use efficiency across all plant organs in correlation with the age of oil palm cultivation.These findings underscore the dynamic nutritional demands of oil palm,influencing Ca immobilization,cycling,and export throughout its developmental stages.
基金supported by the TRANSIT project(funded by EU Horizon 2020 and the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking under Grant Agreement 881771).
文摘Purpose – The vibration of the rails is a significant source of railway rolling noise, often forming the dominantcomponent of noise in the important frequency region between 400 and 2000 Hz. The purpose of the paper is toinvestigate the influence of the ground profile and the presence of the train body on the sound radiation fromthe rail.Design/methodology/approach – Two-dimensional boundary element calculations are used, in which therail vibration is the source. The ground profile and various different shapes of train body are introduced in themodel, and results are observed in terms of sound power and sound pressure. Comparisons are also made withvibro-acoustic measurements performed with and without a train present.Findings – The sound radiated by the rail in the absence of the train body is strongly attenuated by shieldingdue to the ballast shoulder. When the train body is present, the sound from the vertical rail motion is reflectedback down toward the track where it is partly absorbed by the ballast. Nevertheless, the sound pressure at thetrackside is increased by typically 0–5 dB. For the lateral vibration of the rail, the effects are much smaller. Oncethe sound power is known, the sound pressure with the train present can be approximated reasonably well withsimple line source directivities.Originality/value – Numerical models used to predict the sound radiation from railway rails have generallyneglected the influence of the ground profile and reflections from the underside of the train body on the soundpower and directivity of the rail. These effects are studied in a systematic way including comparisons with measurements.
基金funded by the Research Deanship of the Islamic University of Madinah under grant number 966.
文摘In Saudi Arabia,drones are increasingly used in different sensitive domains like military,health,and agriculture to name a few.Typically,drone cameras capture aerial images of objects and convert them into crucial data,alongside collecting data from distributed sensors supplemented by location data.The interception of the data sent from the drone to the station can lead to substantial threats.To address this issue,highly confidential protection methods must be employed.This paper introduces a novel steganography approach called the Shuffling Steganography Approach(SSA).SSA encompasses five fundamental stages and three proposed algorithms,designed to enhance security through strategic encryption and data hiding techniques.Notably,this method introduces advanced resistance to brute force attacks by employing predefined patterns across a wide array of images,complicating unauthorized access.The initial stage involves encryption,dividing,and disassembling the encrypted data.A small portion of the encrypted data is concealed within the text(Algorithm 1)in the third stage.Subsequently,the parts are merged and mixed(Algorithm 2),and finally,the composed text is hidden within an image(Algorithm 3).Through meticulous investigation and comparative analysis with existing methodologies,the proposed approach demonstrates superiority across various pertinent criteria,including robustness,secret message size capacity,resistance to multiple attacks,and multilingual support.
文摘Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established treatment for patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD). Reports show continued patient satisfaction after surgery despite not maintaining clinical improvement as measured by evolution scales. Objectives: The present study sought to explore expectations and level of satisfaction in patients after DBS surgery with a semi-structured questionnaire and subsequent correlation with functional scales, Quality of Life (QoL), and motor and non-motor symptoms. Methods: We performed descriptive statistics to represent demographic data, Wilcoxon rank tests to determine significant differences, and Spearman correlation between the applied scales. Results: We evaluated 20 patients with a history of DBS surgery. 45% were female, with a mean age of 55.7 ± 14.15 years, a mean disease duration of 13.42 ± 8.3 years, and a mean time after surgery of 3.18 ± 1.86 years. Patients reported surgery meeting expectations in 85.5% and continued satisfaction in 92%. These two variables showed a significant correlation. Conclusions: This sample of patients remained satisfied after DBS surgery, although we found no differences in motor and non-motor clinimetric scales. Further studies are needed to confirm the importance of assessing quality of life in patients with DBS.
基金supported by the Brazilian Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel(CAPES)with a PhD scholarship(CAPES process:88887.605034/2021-00,88887.605029/2021-00,and 88887.694146/2022-00,respectively)supported by the S?o Paulo Research Foundation(FAPESP)with a PhD scholarship(FAPESP process:2019/24124-7)。
文摘Background:Guidelines recommend that adolescents should accumulate an average of 60 min per day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity(MVPA).However,using only this cut-off could hide important information.For instance,from a population-level point of view,increasing physical activity for those with no or low physical activity could provide more health benefits than increasing physical activity for those with intermediate levels.Also,including a more sensitive cut-point of≥1 days per week could be an additional strategy for identifying those with low access/opportunities for physical activity practice.Thus,the current study aims to estimate the prevalence of≥60 min of MVPA≥1 days per week among adolescents globally,and to describe any relevant gender inequalities.Methods:We used representative datasets from 146 countries/territories collected between 2003 and 2019.MVPA was self-reported.Participants were grouped into younger(≤14 years old)and older(>14 years old)adolescents.Crude Poisson regression models were used to identify the relative differences in≥60 min of MVPA≥1 days per week between boys and girls,and random-effects meta-analysis models were used to identify the pooled estimates.Analyses were stratified by country and region.Results:Approximately 80%of both younger and older adolescents reported≥60 min of MVPA≥1 days per week.This prevalence was≥94%in Europe and Central Asia and North America,while the estimates for the other regions were<77%.The prevalence of≥60 min of MVPA≥1 days per week was higher among boys than girls,with the largest differences occurring among the oldest adolescents(Prevalence ratio_(≤14y)=1.04(95%confidence interval(95%CI)):1.03-1.04)vs.Prevalence ratio_(>14y)=1.09(95%CI:1.08-1.10)).Conclusion:Approximately 8 out of 10 adolescents reported accumulating≥60 min of MVPA≥1 days per week,with notable differences between regions.Gender differences were observed in several countries,especially among the oldest adolescents.Priorities for physical activity promotion among adolescents should include increasing access/opportunities for physical activity among those who do not achieve≥60 min of MVPA≥1 days per week and reducing gender inequalities.
文摘Purpose: The primary aim of this paper is to design, create, and improve functional and artificial Bruch’s membranes (BM) using bioengineering techniques, which can be applied in the treatment of maculopathies by supporting the growth and maintenance of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, thereby potentially enabling subretinal implantation in patients. Methods: We fabricated by electrospinning ultrathin 3D nanofibrous membranes from Polycaprolactone (PCL), and different concentrations of gelatin (5%, 15% and 30%). ARPE-19 cells were seeded onto these artificial membranes. MTT assays were performed in order to evaluate ARPE-19 cell viability and cytotoxicity. IF assays were realized to observe the ARPE-19 cells onto each membrane. Ultrastructure of the modified Bruch’s membrane and ARPE-19 morphology after 25 days of culture were studied with transmission and scanning electron microscopy. To evaluate expression changes in markers of ARPE-19 (RPE65 and ZO-1) qRT-PCR assays were realized. Data from three independent experiments were pooled and expressed as the mean SD. A confidence level of P 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results ARPE-19 cells grew on PCL/Gelatin membranes mainly in PCL/30% gelatin combination, which had not cytotoxic effect. RPE65/cytokeratin-18/ and actin-positive ARPE-19 cells formed a correctly orientated monolayer of polygonal cells with morphological polarity. The apical cell surfaces exhibited abundant protruding microfolds. Moreover, zones of polygonal border look as if ARPE-19 cells fused among, suggesting the presence of tight junctions. The expression of RPE65 and ZO-1 was unchanged. Conclusions: PCL/30% Gelatine membranes may imitate the natural BM to such extent that they support RPE-cells and exhibited RPE-like morphology. The engineering of a human RPE monolayer with these artificial BM, emulating the in vivo retina, arouse their potential subretinal implantation in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) where there is a rupture of the Bruch’s membrane.
文摘Parkinsonism by unilateral,intranigralβ-sitosterolβ-D-glucoside administration in rats is distinguished in that theα-synuclein insult begins unilaterally but spreads bilaterally and increases in severity over time,thus replicating several clinical features of Parkinson’s disease,a typicalα-synucleinopathy.As Nurr1 repressesα-synuclein,we evaluated whether unilateral transfected of rNurr1-V5 transgene via neurotensin-polyplex to the substantia nigra on day 30 after unilateralβ-sitosterolβ-D-glucoside lesion could affect bilateral neuropathology and sensorimotor deficits on day 30 post-transfection.This study found that rNurr1-V5 expression but not that of the green fluorescent protein(the negative control)reducedβ-sitosterolβ-D-glucoside-induced neuropathology.Accordingly,a bilateral increase in tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells and arborization occurred in the substantia nigra and increased tyrosine hydroxylase-positive ramifications in the striatum.In addition,tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells displayed less senescence markerβ-galactosidase and more neuron-cytoskeleton markerβIII-tubulin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor.A significant decrease in activated microglia(positive to ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1)and neurotoxic astrocytes(positive to glial fibrillary acidic protein and complement component 3)and increased neurotrophic astrocytes(positive to glial fibrillary acidic protein and S100 calcium-binding protein A10)also occurred in the substantia nigra.These effects followed the bilateral reduction inα-synuclein aggregates in the nigrostriatal system,improving sensorimotor behavior.Our results show that unilateral rNurr1-V5 transgene expression in nigral dopaminergic neurons mitigates bilateral neurodegeneration(senescence and loss of neuron-cytoskeleton and tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells),neuroinflammation(activated microglia,neurotoxic astrocytes),α-synuclein aggregation,and sensorimotor deficits.Increased neurotrophic astrocytes and brain-derived neurotrophic factor can mediate the rNurr1-V5 effect,supporting its potential clinical use in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
文摘Gastric cancer(GC)remains among the most common cancers worldwide with a high mortality-to-incidence ratio.Accumulated evidence suggests that long noncoding RNAs(lncRNAs)are involved in gastric carcinogenesis.These transcripts are longer than 200 nucleotides and modulate gene expression at multiple molecular levels,inducing or inhibiting biological processes and diseases.Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1(MALAT1)is one of the best-studied lncRNAs with comprehensive actions contributing to cancer progression.This lncRNA regulates gene expression at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels through interactions with microRNAs and proteins.In the present review,we discussed the molecular mechanism of MALAT1 and summarized the current knowledge of its expression in GC.Moreover,we highlighted the potential use of MALAT1 as a biomarker,including liquid biopsy.
基金financed in part by the Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior–Brasil (CAPES)—Finance Code 001supported by the Fundacoo Amazonia de Amparo a Estudos e Pesquisas—FAPESPA。
文摘Studies on fertilization management of species native to the Amazon for energy plantations contribute to the diversity of species use and reduce biological risk due to the excessive use of clones or hybrids of Eucalyptus.This study evaluates the effect of precipitation seasonality and phosphorus and potassium fertilization on gas exchange in a Tachigali vulgaris plantation.Three levels of P(zero,65.2,130.4 kg ha^(-1))and three of K(zero,100.0,200.0 kg ha^(-1))were applied in a 3×3 factorial randomized block design.Gas exchange measurements were conducted in April and November 2018.In low rainfall,high irradiance period,photo synthetic rates were up to four times higher than in the high rainfall period,reaching 20.3μmol m^(-2)s^(-1)in the treatment with 130.4 g kg^(-1)of P and 100.0 g kg^(-1)of K.Factor analysis and principal component analysis reduced the initial eight gas exchange variables to two and three principal components in periods of high and low rainfall,respectively.The multivariate method used in this study readily identified variations in the variables as a function of rainfall,with high reliability in explaining the data set.
文摘The Retinoblastoma 1 (RB1) gene, located on chromosome 13q14 and encodes the tumor-suppressor retinoblastoma protein, is the cause of Retinoblastoma. The mutational inactivation of both gene alleles brings on this cancer. Retinoblastoma (RB) high-risk histopathological characteristics indicate metastasis or local recurrence with rapid progresses following RB1 inactivation. There is growing interest in regulatory activities unconnected to the coding region of the genome, or exome, in addition to epigenetic control mechanisms. The altered epigenome is significant, though by no means the only, problem in the etiology of Retinoblastoma. After all, cancer development is a multistep process in which numerous dissimilar genetic, epigenetic, and posttranscriptional modifications result in a shared phenotype. This study emphasizes the most recent developments in posttranscriptional change and epigenetics related to retinoblastoma tumor biology. Here, we highlight the novel biomarkers the retinoblastoma tumor has expressed to improve patient survival.
文摘Isabel grape(IG)products have high contents of phenolic compounds and fiber recognized for their positive impacts on microorganisms associated with health benefits to host.This study evaluated the effects of goat yogurts formulated with ingredients from IG integral valorization on the growth and metabolism of different probiotic strains,as well as on the population of selected bacterial groups and metabolic activity of human colonic microbiota in vitro.Goat yogurts with IG ingredients(IGI)stimulated the growth of tested Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium probiotic strains during a 48-h cultivation,as well as decreased the pH values and enhanced the organic acid production.Goat yogurts with IGI increased the population of Lactobacillus spp.and Bifidobacterium spp.during a 24-h in vitro colonic fermentation.A stable Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes ratio close to 1 was found in media with goat yogurt formulations during the colonic fermentation,being similar to the effect caused by fructooligosaccharides.Goat yogurt formulations with IGI caused increased production of short-chain fatty acids and sugar consumption during colonic fermentation.Goat yogurts with IGI should be a valuable strategy for development of novel added-value foods with beneficial effects on gut microbiota and human health.
文摘In this article, we study the ability of error-correcting quantum codes to increase the fidelity of quantum states throughout a quantum computation. We analyze arbitrary quantum codes that encode all qubits involved in the computation, and we study the evolution of n-qubit fidelity from the end of one application of the correcting circuit to the end of the next application. We assume that the correcting circuit does not introduce new errors, that it does not increase the execution time (i.e. its application takes zero seconds) and that quantum errors are isotropic. We show that the quantum code increases the fidelity of the states perturbed by quantum errors but that this improvement is not enough to justify the use of quantum codes. Namely, we prove that, taking into account that the time interval between the application of the two corrections is multiplied (at least) by the number of qubits n (due to the coding), the best option is not to use quantum codes, since the fidelity of the uncoded state over a time interval n times smaller is greater than that of the state resulting from the quantum code correction.
文摘BACKGROUND The prevalence of heart failure(HF)increases with age,and it is one of the leading causes of hospitalization and death in older patients.However,there are little data on in-hospital mortality in patients with HF≥75 years in Spain.METHODS A retrospective analysis of the Spanish Minimum Basic Data Set was performed,including all HF episodes discharged from public hospitals in Spain between 2016 and 2019.Coding was performed using the International Classification of Diseases,10th Revision.Patients≥75 years with HF as the principal diagnosis were selected.We calculated:(1)the crude in-hospital mortality rate and its distribution according to age and sex;(2)the risk-standardized in-hospital mortality ratio;and(3)the association between in-hospital mortality and the availability of an intensive cardiac care unit(ICCU)in the hospital.RESULTS We included 354,792 HF episodes of patients over 75 years.The mean age was 85.2±5.5 years,and 59.2%of patients were women.The most frequent comorbidities were renal failure(46.1%),diabetes mellitus(35.5%),valvular disease(33.9%),cardiorespiratory failure(29.8%),and hypertension(26.9%).In-hospital mortality was 12.7%,and increased with age[odds ratio(OR)=1.07,95%CI:1.07–1.07,P<0.001]and was lower in women(OR=0.96,95%CI:0.92–0.97,P<0.001).The main predictors of mortality were the presence of cardiogenic shock(OR=19.5,95%CI:16.8–22.7,P<0.001),stroke(OR=3.5,95%CI:3.0–4.0,P<0.001)and advanced cancer(OR=2.6,95%CI:2.5–2.8,P<0.001).In hospitals with ICCU,the in-hospital risk-adjusted mortality tended to be lower(OR=0.85,95%CI:0.72–1.00,P=0.053).CONCLUSIONS In-hospital mortality in patients with HF≥75 years between 2016 and 2019 was 12.7%,higher in males and elderly patients.The main predictors of mortality were cardiogenic shock,stroke,and advanced cancer.There was a trend toward lower mortality in centers with an ICCU.
文摘Objective:According to the World Health Organization,the number of infected people with human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)in 2019 was about 38 million.Using combinational antiretroviral therapy in recent years has increased life expectancy in these people and HIV has been changed from a deadly disease to a chronic one.HIV-associated neurological disorders(HAND)include asymptomatic neurological disorders,Motor neurological disorders,and HIV-associated dementia.Methods:We searched 3 databases(PubMed,Science Direct and Scopus databases)from January 2015 to March 2021 for the keywords;HIV associated with a neurocognitive disorder,HAND and combinational antiretroviral therapy to provide careful consideration of various aspects of these disorders,including;risk factors,their diagnostic methods,their epidemiology,and finally the treatment of HAND.Results:In the initial search,we came across 1351 articles.Three authors did the title-abstract screening,and 270 articles were entered into full-text screening from the previous step.Four authors did the full-text screening,and the screening outcome was 21 articles.We categorized the results of our study into sub-categories,including:risk factors,pathogenicity,clinical manifestations,diagnosis,and epidemiology of HAND.Conclusions:Although the HAND subheading has made great strides,many questions about the disease remain unanswered,and many of the diagnosing established methods are not 100%accurate and as a result of that,this epidemy can’t be fully endured yet.We hope to find and apply further advances and more definitive solutions in the coming decades.