Disinfection Byproducts and Their Precursors in Drinking Water Sources:Origins,Influencing Factors,and Environmental Insights

Tracing the contamination origins in water sources and identifying the impacts of natural and human processes are essential for ecological safety and public health.However,current analysis approaches are not ideal,as they tend to be laborious,time-consuming,or technically difficult.Disinfection byproducts(DBPs)are a family of well-known secondary pollutants formed by the reactions of chemical disinfectants with DBP precursors during water disinfection treatment.Since DBP precursors have various origins(e.g.,natural,domestic,industrial,and agricultural sources),and since the formation of DBPs from different precursors in the presence of specific disinfectants is distinctive,we argue that DBPs and DBP precursors can serve as alternative indicators to assess the contamination in water sources and identify pollution origins.After providing a retrospective of the origins of DBPs and DBP precursors,as well as the specific formation patterns of DBPs from different precursors,this article presents an overview of the impacts of various natural and anthropogenic factors on DBPs and DBP precursors in drinking water sources.In practice,the DBPs(i.e.,their concentration and speciation)originally present in source water and the DBP precursors determined using DBP formation potential tests—in which water samples are dosed with a stoichiometric excess of specific disinfectants in order to maximize DBP formation under certain reaction conditions—can be considered as alternative metrics.When jointly used with other water quality parameters(e.g.,dissolved organic carbon,dissolved organic nitrogen,fluorescence,and molecular weight distribution)and specific contaminants of emerging concern(e.g.,certain pharmaceuticals and personal care products),DBPs and DBP precursors in drinking water sources can provide a more comprehensive picture of water pollution for better managing water resources and ensuring human health.

Risk factors,prognostic factors,and nomograms for distant metastasis in patients with diagnosed duodenal cancer:A population-based study

BACKGROUND Duodenal cancer is one of the most common subtypes of small intestinal cancer,and distant metastasis(DM)in this type of cancer still leads to poor prognosis.Although nomograms have recently been used in tumor areas,no studies have focused on the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of DM in patients with primary duodenal cancer.AIM To develop and evaluate nomograms for predicting the risk of DM and person-alized prognosis in patients with duodenal cancer.METHODS Data on duodenal cancer patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2019 were extracted from the Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results database.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors for DM in patients with duodenal cancer,and univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to determine independent prognostic factors in duodenal cancer patients with DM.Two novel nomograms were established,and the results were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves,calibration curves,and decision curve analysis(DCA).RESULTS A total of 2603 patients with duodenal cancer were included,of whom 457 cases(17.56%)had DM at the time of diagnosis.Logistic analysis revealed independent risk factors for DM in duodenal cancer patients,including gender,grade,tumor size,T stage,and N stage(P<0.05).Univariate and multivariate COX analyses further identified independent prognostic factors for duodenal cancer patients with DM,including age,histological type,T stage,tumor grade,tumor size,bone metastasis,chemotherapy,and surgery(P<0.05).The accuracy of the nomograms was validated in the training set,validation set,and expanded testing set using ROC curves,calibration curves,and DCA curves.The results of Kaplan-Meier survival curves(P<0.001)indicated that both nomograms accurately predicted the occurrence and prognosis of DM in patients with duodenal cancer.CONCLUSION The two nomograms are expected as effective tools for predicting DM risk in duodenal cancer patients and offering personalized prognosis predictions for those with DM,potentially enhancing clinical decision-making.

Facilitating and hindering factors of community nurses'emergency and critical care treatment abilities:A qualitative study

BACKGROUND This study adopts a descriptive phenomenological approach to investigate the facilitators and barriers of community nurses'abilities in managing critical and emergency conditions.With the transition of healthcare systems to the community,the evolution of nursing practices,and the attention from policies and practices,community nurses play a crucial role in the management of critical and emergency conditions.However,there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the factors that promote or hinder their capabilities in this area.AIM To understand the facilitators and barriers of community nurses in managing critical and emergency conditions,exploring the fundamental reasons and driving forces influencing their treatment capabilities.METHODS This study utilized the destination sampling method between May 2023 and July 2023.It employed a descriptive phenomenological approach within qualitative research methodologies.Through objective sampling,17 community nurses from 7 communities in Changning District,Shanghai,were selected as the study subjects.Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather data,which were subsequently organized and analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step analysis method,leading to the extraction of final themes.RESULTS The barrier factors identified from the interviews encompassed three topics:resource allocation,professional factors,and personal literacy.The facilitators comprised three themes:professionalism,management attention,and training and continuing education.We identified that the root causes of the barriers included the lack of practical treatment experience among community nurses,insufficient awareness of self-directed learning,and limited knowledge and technical proficiency.The professional quality of community nurses and management attention serve as motivation for them to enhance their treatment abilities.CONCLUSION To enhance the capability of community nurses in treating acute and critical patients,it is recommended to bolster training specifically tailored to acute and critical care,raise awareness of first aid practices,and elevate knowledge and skill levels.

Assessment of early factors for identification or prediction severe acute pancreatitis in pregnancy

BACKGROUND Acute pancreatitis in pregnancy(APIP)is a rare and serious condition,and severe APIP(SAPIP)can lead to pancreatic necrosis,abscess,multiple organ dysfunction,and other adverse maternal and infant outcomes.Therefore,early identification or prediction of SAPIP is important.AIM To assess factors for early identification or prediction of SAPIP.METHODS The clinical data of patients with APIP were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were classified with mild acute pancreatitis or severe acute pancreatitis,and the clinical characteristics and laboratory biochemical indexes were compared between the two groups.Logical regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were performed to assess the efficacy of the factors for identification or prediction of SAPIP.RESULTS A total of 45 APIP patients were enrolled.Compared with the mild acute pancreatitis group,the severe acute pancreatitis group had significantly increased(P<0.01)heart rate(HR),hemoglobin,neutrophil ratio(NEUT%),and neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio(NLR),while lymphocytes were significantly decreased(P<0.01).Logical regression analysis showed that HR,NEUT%,NLR,and lymphocyte count differed significantly(P<0.01)between the groups.These may be factors for early identification or prediction of SAPIP.The area under the curve of HR,NEUT%,NLR,and lymphocyte count in the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was 0.748,0.732,0.821,and 0.774,respectively.The combined analysis showed that the area under the curve,sensitivity,and specificity were 0.869,90.5%,and 70.8%,respectively.CONCLUSION HR,NEUT%,NLR,and lymphocyte count can be used for early identification or prediction of SAPIP,and the combination of the four factors is expected to improve identification or prediction of SAPIP.

The Impact of Lifestyle Factors on Migraine Frequency and Severity in Neurology

Objective: This systematic review examines the impact of lifestyle factors on migraine frequency and severity through a comprehensive analysis of lifestyle factors such as diet, physical activity, sleep patterns, stress, mental health, and environmental influences. Methods: We thoroughly searched Google Scholar, PUBMED, Scopus, and Web of Science databases using keywords related to migraines and lifestyle factors. Keywords incorporated the Boolean operator “and” to narrow search results. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we identified, screened, and evaluated studies for inclusion, resulting in nine studies meeting the eligibility criteria. Results: A total of 4917 records were initially identified from Scopus (2786), PubMed (854), and Web of Science (1277). Following deduplication, 3657 records underwent title screening, with 382 additionally screened by abstract. Ultimately, 88 full-text articles were assessed, resulting in 9 studies meeting eligibility for qualitative synthesis: 7 prospective and 2 retrospective studies. Our findings highlight the multifaceted role of lifestyle factors in migraine pathophysiology and management. Dietary habits, such as high-calorie, high-fat, and gluten-containing diets were linked to migraine triggers. Moderate physical activity showed beneficial effects on migraine management, while intense exercise could exacerbate symptoms. Poor sleep hygiene and insomnia were strongly associated with increased migraine frequency and severity. Chronic stress and poor mental health significantly contributed to migraine exacerbation, with stress management techniques proving beneficial. Environmental factors, including light, sound, weather changes, and allergens, were also identified as significant migraine triggers. Conclusions: Personalized lifestyle modifications, tailored to individual patient profiles, are crucial in managing migraines. Evidence-based recommendations include balanced diets, moderate physical activity, improved sleep hygiene, stress management techniques, and environmental adaptations.

Analysis of Factors Associated with the Abandonment of Nutritional Recovery among Parents of Severely Malnourished Children Aged 6 to 59 Months in the Health District of Titao, Burkina Faso

Introduction: In Burkina Faso, undernutrition is a public health problem associated with more than 40% of infant and child mortality. Undernutrition management is complex, and there is often a risk of treatment abandonment. Studies on this topic have not explored the influence of environmental and therapeutic factors on parental compliance. This study proposes an analysis of factors influencing the abandonment of nutritional recovery by parents of malnourished children aged 6 to 59 months in ambulatory care. Methods: This was a descriptive and exploratory qualitative study. Data collection took place in February 2020. Data were collected from seventeen (17) participants via in-depth interviews (IDI) and direct observation. The IDIs were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed using Nvivo software. Results: The results revealed that factors related to the physical environment, such as geographical inaccessibility, pastoral occupation, displacement at auriferous sites, and insecurity, are important causes of nutritional recovery abandonment. They also prove that factors related to the social environment, such as lack of family and social support, feelings of shame, stigmatization, occupation of the mother, and social events, lead to this abandonment. In addition, therapeutic factors such as interruptions of supplies of Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), feeling of improvement or worsening of the state of health, recourse to traditional medicine, and ignorance of undernutrition are also associated with this issue. Conclusion: This study highlighted barriers to the abandonment of nutritional recovery among parents of severely malnourished children aged 6 to 59 months in the health district of Titao, Burkina Faso. It is more important to consider these different factors when evaluating care protocols so that policies to reduce child undernutrition can considerably impact the targets.

Contractor-Related Factors and Performance of Bridge Construction Projects Implemented by Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) Kenya

The performance of bridge projects in Kenya is poor in terms of completion by schedule, cost, and quality (scope). Yet, there is less evidence of empirical research on what factors contribute to this outcome. This study aimed to bridge this gap by examining the effects of contractor-related factors on the performance of bridge construction projects in Kenya through a case study of the Bridge projects Implemented by the Kenya National Highway Agency (KeNHA). The theory of constraints (TOC) was adopted as its theoretical framework. Descriptive research was used, and the target population was 18 bridge construction projects, which were the units of analysis from 2012 to 2022. In each of these projects, 18 respondents, namely clients, consultants, contractors, engineers, environment and social guards, project managers, stakeholders, subcontractors, technical advisors, and inspectors, were included in a target population of 144 respondents. A census was conducted and a structured questionnaire was administered from which a response rate of 68% was achieved. The information was analyzed using descriptive, correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis. The contractor-related factors considered in the study were staff and management factors. The findings indicated that staff and management factors had a positive and significant outcome on performance of bridge construction projects. The study recommends continuous training and a safe learning environment for staff to improve their skills and performance in future projects. The study also recommends that a special category for bridge contractors be created in Kenya’s National Construction Authority rankings to ensure that only qualified contractors implement the Bridge projects.

Significant risk factors for intensive care unit-acquired weakness:A processing strategy based on repeated machine learning

BACKGROUND Intensive care unit-acquired weakness(ICU-AW)is a common complication that significantly impacts the patient's recovery process,even leading to adverse outcomes.Currently,there is a lack of effective preventive measures.AIM To identify significant risk factors for ICU-AW through iterative machine learning techniques and offer recommendations for its prevention and treatment.METHODS Patients were categorized into ICU-AW and non-ICU-AW groups on the 14th day post-ICU admission.Relevant data from the initial 14 d of ICU stay,such as age,comorbidities,sedative dosage,vasopressor dosage,duration of mechanical ventilation,length of ICU stay,and rehabilitation therapy,were gathered.The relationships between these variables and ICU-AW were examined.Utilizing iterative machine learning techniques,a multilayer perceptron neural network model was developed,and its predictive performance for ICU-AW was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic curve.RESULTS Within the ICU-AW group,age,duration of mechanical ventilation,lorazepam dosage,adrenaline dosage,and length of ICU stay were significantly higher than in the non-ICU-AW group.Additionally,sepsis,multiple organ dysfunction syndrome,hypoalbuminemia,acute heart failure,respiratory failure,acute kidney injury,anemia,stress-related gastrointestinal bleeding,shock,hypertension,coronary artery disease,malignant tumors,and rehabilitation therapy ratios were significantly higher in the ICU-AW group,demonstrating statistical significance.The most influential factors contributing to ICU-AW were identified as the length of ICU stay(100.0%)and the duration of mechanical ventilation(54.9%).The neural network model predicted ICU-AW with an area under the curve of 0.941,sensitivity of 92.2%,and specificity of 82.7%.CONCLUSION The main factors influencing ICU-AW are the length of ICU stay and the duration of mechanical ventilation.A primary preventive strategy,when feasible,involves minimizing both ICU stay and mechanical ventilation duration.

Analysis of the influencing factors and clinical related characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND In China,the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)among diabetic patients is estimated to be between 90%-95%.Additionally,China is among the 22 countries burdened by a high number of tuberculosis cases,with approximately 4.5 million individuals affected by active tuberculosis.Notably,T2DM poses a significant risk factor for the development of tuberculosis,as evidenced by the increased incidence of T2DM coexisting with pulmonary tuberculosis(T2DMPTB),which has risen from 19.3%to 24.1%.It is evident that these two diseases are intricately interconnected and mutually reinforcing in nature.AIM To elucidate the clinical features of individuals diagnosed with both T2DM and tuberculosis(T2DM-PTB),as well as to investigate the potential risk factors associated with active tuberculosis in patients with T2DM.METHODS T2DM-PTB patients who visited our hospital between January 2020 and January 2023 were selected as the observation group,Simple DM patients presenting to our hospital in the same period were the control group,Controls and case groups were matched 1:2 according to the principle of the same sex,age difference(±3)years and disease duration difference(±5)years,patients were investigated for general demographic characteristics,diabetes-related characteristics,body immune status,lifestyle and behavioral habits,univariate and multivariate analysis of the data using conditional logistic regression,calculate the odds ratio(OR)values and 95%CI of OR values.RESULTS A total of 315 study subjects were included in this study,including 105 subjects in the observation group and 210 subjects in the control group.Comparison of the results of both anthropometric and biochemical measures showed that the constitution index,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure and lymphocyte count were significantly lower in the case group,while fasting blood glucose and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly higher than those in the control group.The results of univariate analysis showed that poor glucose control,hypoproteinemia,lymphopenia,TB contact history,high infection,smoking and alcohol consumption were positively associated with PTB in T2DM patients;married,history of hypertension,treatment of oral hypoglycemic drugs plus insulin,overweight,obesity and regular exercise were negatively associated with PTB in T2DM patients.Results of multivariate stepwise regression analysis found lymphopenia(OR=17.75,95%CI:3.40-92.74),smoking(OR=12.25,95%CI:2.53-59.37),history of TB contact(OR=6.56,95%CI:1.23-35.03)and poor glycemic control(OR=3.37,95%CI:1.11-10.25)was associated with an increased risk of developing PTB in patients with T2DM,While being overweight(OR=0.23,95%CI:0.08-0.72)and obesity(OR=0.11,95%CI:0.02-0.72)was associated with a reduced risk of developing PTB in patients with T2DM.CONCLUSION T2DM-PTB patients are prone to worse glycemic control,higher infection frequency,and a higher proportion of people smoking,drinking alcohol,and lack of exercise.Lymphopenia,smoking,history of TB exposure,poor glycemic control were independent risk factors for T2DM-PTB,and overweight and obesity were associated with reduced risk of concurrent PTB in patients with T2DM.

Spatial-temporal differentiation and influencing factors of rural settlements in mountainous areas: an example of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Southwestern China

Rural settlement is the basic spatial unit for compact communities in rural area. Scientific exploration of spatial-temporal differentiation and its influencing factors is the premise of spatial layout rationalization. Based on land use data of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture(hereinafter referred to as Liangshan Prefecture) in Sichuan Province, China from 1980 to 2020, compactness index, fractal dimension, imbalance index, location entropy and the optimal parameters-based geographical detector(OPGD) model are used to analyze the spatial-temporal evolution of the morphological characteristics of rural settlements, and to explore the influence of natural geographical factors, socioeconomic factors, and policy factors on the spatial differentiation of rural settlements. The results show that:(1) From 1980 to 2020, the rural settlements area in Liangshan Prefecture increased by 15.96 km^(2). In space, the rural settlements are generally distributed in a local aggregation, dense in the middle and sparse around the periphery. In 2015, the spatial density and expansion index of rural settlements reached the peak.(2) From 1980 to 2020, the compactness index decreased from 0.7636 to 0.7496, the fractal dimension increased from 1.0283 to 1.0314, and the fragmentation index decreased from 0.1183 to 0.1047. The spatial morphological structure of rural settlements tended to be loose, the shape contour tended to be complex, the degree of fragmentation decreased, and the spatial distribution was significantly imbalanced.(3) The results of OPGD detection in 2015 show that the influence of each factor is slope(0.2371) > traffic accessibility(0.2098) > population(0.1403) > regional GDP(0.1325) > elevation(0.0987) > poverty alleviation(0). The results of OPGD detection in 2020 show that the influence of each factor is slope(0.2339) > traffic accessibility(0.2198) > population(0.1432) > regional GDP(0.1219) > poverty alleviation(0.0992) > elevation(0.093). Natural geographical factors(slope and elevation) are the basic factors affecting the spatial distribution of rural settlements, and rural settlements are widely distributed in the river valley plain and the second half mountain area. Socioeconomic factors(traffic accessibility, population, and regional GDP) have a greater impact on the spatial distribution of rural settlements, which is an important factor affecting the spatial distribution of rural settlements. Policy factors such as poverty alleviation relocation have an indispensable impact on the spatial distribution of rural settlements. The research results can provide decisionmaking basis for the spatial arrangement of rural settlements in Liangshan Prefecture, and optimize the implementation of rural revitalization policies.

Coupled multiphysical model for investigation of influence factors in the application of microbially induced calcite precipitation

The study presents a comprehensive coupled thermo-bio-chemo-hydraulic(T-BCH)modeling framework for stabilizing soils using microbially induced calcite precipitation(MICP).The numerical model considers relevant multiphysics involved in MICP,such as bacterial ureolytic activities,biochemical reactions,multiphase and multicomponent transport,and alteration of the porosity and permeability.The model incorporates multiphysical coupling effects through well-established constitutive relations that connect parameters and variables from different physical fields.It was implemented in the open-source finite element code OpenGeoSys(OGS),and a semi-staggered solution strategy was designed to solve the couplings,allowing for flexible model settings.Therefore,the developed model can be easily adapted to simulate MICP applications in different scenarios.The numerical model was employed to analyze the effect of various factors,including temperature,injection strategies,and application scales.Besides,a TBCH modeling study was conducted on the laboratory-scale domain to analyze the effects of temperature on urease activity and precipitated calcium carbonate.To understand the scale dependency of MICP treatment,a large-scale heterogeneous domain was subjected to variable biochemical injection strategies.The simulations conducted at the field-scale guided the selection of an injection strategy to achieve the desired type and amount of precipitation.Additionally,the study emphasized the potential of numerical models as reliable tools for optimizing future developments in field-scale MICP treatment.The present study demonstrates the potential of this numerical framework for designing and optimizing the MICP applications in laboratory-,prototype-,and field-scale scenarios.

Assessment of Dependent Performance Shaping Factors in SPAR-H Based on Pearson Correlation Coefficient

With the improvement of equipment reliability,human factors have become the most uncertain part in the system.The standardized Plant Analysis of Risk-Human Reliability Analysis(SPAR-H)method is a reliable method in the field of human reliability analysis(HRA)to evaluate human reliability and assess risk in large complex systems.However,the classical SPAR-H method does not consider the dependencies among performance shaping factors(PSFs),whichmay cause overestimation or underestimation of the risk of the actual situation.To address this issue,this paper proposes a new method to deal with the dependencies among PSFs in SPAR-H based on the Pearson correlation coefficient.First,the dependence between every two PSFs is measured by the Pearson correlation coefficient.Second,the weights of the PSFs are obtained by considering the total dependence degree.Finally,PSFs’multipliers are modified based on the weights of corresponding PSFs,and then used in the calculating of human error probability(HEP).A case study is used to illustrate the procedure and effectiveness of the proposed method.

Prevalence and risk factors of diabetes mellitus among elderly patients in the Lugu community

BACKGROUND Age is a significant risk factor of diabetes mellitus(DM).With the develop of population aging,the incidence of DM remains increasing.Understanding the epidemiology of DM among elderly individuals in a certain area contributes to the DM interventions for the local elderly individuals with high risk of DM.AIM To explore the prevalence of DM among elderly individuals in the Lugu community and analyze the related risk factors to provide a valid scientific basis for the health management of elderly individuals.METHODS A total of 4816 elderly people who came to the community for physical examination were retrospectively analyzed.The prevalence of DM among the elderly was calculated.The individuals were divided into a DM group and a non-DM group according to the diagnosis of DM to compare the differences in diastolic blood pressure(DBP)and systolic blood pressure(SBP),fasting blood glucose,body mass index(BMI),waist-to-hip ratio(WHR)and incidence of hypertension(HT),coronary heart disease(CHD),and chronic kidney disease(CKD).RESULTS DM was diagnosed in 32.70%of the 4816 elderly people.The BMI of the DM group(25.16±3.35)was greater than that of the non-DM group(24.61±3.78).The WHR was 0.90±0.04 in the non-DM group and 0.90±0.03 in the DM group,with no significant difference.The left SBP and SBP in the DM group were 137.9 mmHg±11.92 mmHg and 69.95 mmHg±7.75 mmHg,respectively,while they were 126.6 mmHg±12.44 mmHg and 71.15 mmHg±12.55 mmHg,respectively,in the non-DM group.These findings indicate higher SBP and lower DBP in DM patients than in those without DM.In the DM group,1274 patients were diagnosed with HT,accounting for 80.89%.Among the 3241 non-DM patients,1743(53.78%)were hypertensive and 1498(46.22%)were nonhypertensive.The DM group had more cases of HT than did the non-DM group.There were more patients with CHD or CKD in the DM group than in the non-DM group.There were more patients who drank alcohol more frequently(≥3 times)in the DM group than in the non-DM group.CONCLUSION Older adults in the Lugu community are at a greater risk of DM.In elderly individuals,DM is closely related to high BMI and HT,CHD,and CKD.Physical examinations should be actively carried out for elderly people to determine their BMI,SBP,DBP,and other signs,and sufficient attention should be given to abnormalities in the above signs before further diagnosis.

Adolescent suicide risk factors and the integration of socialemotional skills in school-based prevention programs

Adolescents are considered one of the most vulnerable groups affected by suicide.Rapid changes in adolescents’physical and mental states,as well as in their lives,significantly and undeniably increase the risk of suicide.Psychological,social,family,individual,and environmental factors are important risk factors for suicidal behavior among teenagers and may contribute to suicide risk through various direct,indirect,or combined pathways.Social-emotional learning is considered a powerful intervention measure for addressing the crisis of adolescent suicide.When deliberately cultivated,fostered,and enhanced,selfawareness,self-management,social awareness,interpersonal skills,and responsible decision-making,as the five core competencies of social-emotional learning,can be used to effectively target various risk factors for adolescent suicide and provide necessary mental and interpersonal support.Among numerous suicide intervention methods,school-based interventions based on social-emotional competence have shown great potential in preventing and addressing suicide risk factors in adolescents.The characteristics of school-based interventions based on social-emotional competence,including their appropriateness,necessity,cost-effectiveness,comprehensiveness,and effectiveness,make these interventions an important means of addressing the crisis of adolescent suicide.To further determine the potential of school-based interventions based on social-emotional competence and better address the issue of adolescent suicide,additional financial support should be provided,the combination of socialemotional learning and other suicide prevention programs within schools should be fully leveraged,and cooperation between schools and families,society,and other environments should be maximized.These efforts should be considered future research directions.

Predictive factors and model validation of post-colon polyp surgery Helicobacter pylori infection

BACKGROUND Recently,research has linked Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)stomach infection to colonic inflammation,mediated by toxin production,potentially impacting colorectal cancer occurrence.AIM To investigate the risk factors for post-colon polyp surgery,H.pylori infection,and its correlation with pathologic type.METHODS Eighty patients who underwent colon polypectomy in our hospital between January 2019 and January 2023 were retrospectively chosen.They were then randomly split into modeling(n=56)and model validation(n=24)sets using R.The modeling cohort was divided into an H.pylori-infected group(n=37)and an H.pylori-uninfected group(n=19).Binary logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the factors influencing the occurrence of H.pylori infection after colon polyp surgery.A roadmap prediction model was established and validated.Finally,the correlation between the different pathological types of colon polyps and the occurrence of H.pylori infection was analyzed after colon polyp surgery.RESULTS Univariate results showed that age,body mass index(BMI),literacy,alcohol consumption,polyp pathology type,high-risk adenomas,and heavy diet were all influential factors in the development of H.pylori infection after intestinal polypectomy.Binary multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that age,BMI,and type of polyp pathology were independent predictors of the occurrence of H.pylori infection after intestinal polypectomy.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.969[95%confidence interval(95%CI):0.928–1.000]and 0.898(95%CI:0.773–1.000)in the modeling and validation sets,respectively.The slope of the calibration curve of the graph was close to 1,and the goodness-of-fit test was P>0.05 in the two sets.The decision analysis curve showed a high rate of return in both sets.The results of the correlation analysis between different pathological types and the occurrence of H.pylori infection after colon polyp surgery showed that hyperplastic polyps,inflammatory polyps,and the occurrence of H.pylori infection were not significantly correlated.In contrast,adenomatous polyps showed a significant positive correlation with the occurrence of H.pylori infection.CONCLUSION Age,BMI,and polyps of the adenomatous type were independent predictors of H.pylori infection after intestinal polypectomy.Moreover,the further constructed column-line graph prediction model of H.pylori infection after intestinal polypectomy showed good predictive ability.

Klebsiella pneumoniae infections after liver transplantation:Drug resistance and distribution of pathogens,risk factors,and influence on outcomes

BACKGROUND Liver transplantation(LT)is the only curative treatment for end-stage liver disease.However,LT recipients are susceptible to infection,which is the leading cause of early mortality after LT.Klebsiella pneumoniae infections(KPIs)in the bloodstream are common in LT recipients.We hypothesized that KPIs and carbapenemresistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP)infections may affect the outcomes of LT recipients.AIM To assess KPI incidence,timing,distribution,drug resistance,and risk factors following LT and its association with outcomes.METHODS This retrospective study included 406 patients undergoing LT at The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University,a tertiary hospital,from January 2015 to January 2023.We investigated the risk factors for KPIs and assessed the impact of KPIs and CRKP infections on the prognosis of LT recipients using logistic regression analysis.RESULTS KPI incidence was 7.9%(n=32),with lung/thoracic cavity the most frequent site of infection;the median time from LT to KPI onset was 7.5 d.Of 44 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates,43(97.7%)and 34(77.3%)were susceptible to polymyxin B or ceftazidime/avibactam and tigecycline,respectively;>70%were resistant to piperacillin/tazobactam,ceftazidime,cefepime,aztreonam,meropenem,and levofloxacin.Female sex[odds ratio(OR)=2.827,95%confidence interval(CI):1.256-6.364;P=0.012],pre-LT diabetes(OR=2.794,95%CI:1.070-7.294;P=0.036),day 1 post-LT alanine aminotransferase(ALT)levels≥1500 U/L(OR=3.645,95%CI:1.671-7.950;P=0.001),and post-LT urethral catheter duration over 4 d(OR=2.266,95%CI:1.016-5.054;P=0.046)were risk factors for KPI.CRKP infections,but not KPIs,were risk factors for 6-month all-cause mortality post-LT.CONCLUSION KPIs occur frequently and rapidly after LT.Risk factors include female sex,pre-LT diabetes,increased post-LT ALT levels,and urethral catheter duration.CRKP infections,and not KPIs,affect mortality.

Analysis of risk factors leading to anxiety and depression in patients with prostate cancer after castration and the construction of a risk prediction model

BACKGROUND Cancer patients often suffer from severe stress reactions psychologically,such as anxiety and depression.Prostate cancer(PC)is one of the common cancer types,with most patients diagnosed at advanced stages that cannot be treated by radical surgery and which are accompanied by complications such as bodily pain and bone metastasis.Therefore,attention should be given to the mental health status of PC patients as well as physical adverse events in the course of clinical treatment.AIM To analyze the risk factors leading to anxiety and depression in PC patients after castration and build a risk prediction model.METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on the data of 120 PC cases treated in Xi'an People's Hospital between January 2019 and January 2022.The patient cohort was divided into a training group(n=84)and a validation group(n=36)at a ratio of 7:3.The patients’anxiety symptoms and depression levels were assessed 2 wk after surgery with the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS)and the Selfrating Depression Scale(SDS),respectively.Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors affecting negative mood,and a risk prediction model was constructed.RESULTS In the training group,35 patients and 37 patients had an SAS score and an SDS score greater than or equal to 50,respectively.Based on the scores,we further subclassified patients into two groups:a bad mood group(n=35)and an emotional stability group(n=49).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that marital status,castration scheme,and postoperative Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)score were independent risk factors affecting a patient's bad mood(P<0.05).In the training and validation groups,patients with adverse emotions exhibited significantly higher risk scores than emotionally stable patients(P<0.0001).The area under the curve(AUC)of the risk prediction model for predicting bad mood in the training group was 0.743,the specificity was 70.96%,and the sensitivity was 66.03%,while in the validation group,the AUC,specificity,and sensitivity were 0.755,66.67%,and 76.19%,respectively.The Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed aχ^(2) of 4.2856,a P value of 0.830,and a C-index of 0.773(0.692-0.854).The calibration curve revealed that the predicted curve was basically consistent with the actual curve,and the calibration curve showed that the prediction model had good discrimination and accuracy.Decision curve analysis showed that the model had a high net profit.CONCLUSION In PC patients,marital status,castration scheme,and postoperative pain(VAS)score are important factors affecting postoperative anxiety and depression.The logistic regression model can be used to successfully predict the risk of adverse psychological emotions.

Effects of air damping on quality factors of different probes in tapping mode atomic force microscopy

The AFM probe in tapping mode is a continuous process of energy dissipation,from moving away from to intermittent contact with the sample surfaces.At present,studies regarding the energy dissipation mechanism of this continuous process have only been reported sporadically,and there are no systematic explanations or experimental verifications of the energy dissipation mechanism in each stage of the continuous process.The quality factors can be used to characterize the energy dissipation in TM-AFM systems.In this study,the vibration model of the microcantilever beam was established,coupling the vibration and damping effects of the microcantilever beam.The quality factor of the vibrating microcantilever beam under damping was derived,and the air viscous damping when the probe is away from the sample and the air squeeze film damping when the probe is close to the sample were calculated.In addition,the mechanism of the damping effects of different shapes of probes at different tip–sample distances was analyzed.The accuracy of the theoretical simplified model was verified using both experimental and simulation methods.A clearer understanding of the kinetic characteristics and damping mechanism of the TM-AFM was achieved by examining the air damping dissipation mechanism of AFM probes in the tapping mode,which was very important for improving both the quality factor and the imaging quality of the TM-AFM system.This study’s research findings also provided theoretical references and experimental methods for the future study of the energy dissipation mechanism of micro-nano-electromechanical systems.

Multiple factors influencing high-purity indium electrolytic refining

The effects of various contaminants in the electrolytic refinement of indium were investigated using a glow discharge mass spectrometer(GDMS).The effects of several factors such as the indium ion(In3+)concentration,the sodium chloride(NaCl)concentration,the current density,the gelatin concentration,the pH,and the electrode distance,were examined.Significant variations in impurity levels concerning gelatin concentration were observed.Both the gelatin and In3+concentration were moderately positively correlated with the Pb content.The Sb concentration was associated positively with the NaCl concentration,while the Ti concentration had an adverse correlation with the NaCl concentration.The Bi element content was positively linked to the electrode distance.As the current density increased,Cu,Pb,and Bi impurities initially rose and then eventually declined.Notably,a critical current density of 45 A·m^(-2) was identified in this behavior.

Rate-limiting factors in hydrate decomposition through depressurization across various scales:A mini-review

Natural gas hydrate is an energy resource for methane that has a carbon quantity twice more than all traditional fossil fuels combined.However,their practical application in the field has been limited due to the challenges of long-term preparation,high costs and associated risks.Experimental studies,on the other hand,offer a safe and cost-effective means of exploring the mechanisms of hydrate dissociation and optimizing exploitation conditions.Gas hydrate decomposition is a complicated process along with intrinsic kinetics,mass transfer and heat transfer,which are the influencing factors for hydrate decomposition rate.The identification of the rate-limiting factor for hydrate dissociation during depressurization varies with the scale of the reservoir,making it challenging to extrapolate findings from laboratory experiments to the actual exploitation.This review aims to summarize current knowledge of investigations on hydrate decomposition on the subject of the research scale(core scale,middle scale,large scale and field tests)and to analyze determining factors for decomposition rate,considering the various research scales and their associated influencing factors.