Objective: To characterize perioperative dynamic changes in immune-cell phenotypes and inflammatory cytokines in patients undergoing CPB (cardiopulmonary bypass) cardiac surgery, and to explore their associations with postoperative outcomes. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 120 adult patients who underwent elective cardiac surgery under CPB at West China Hospital from May 2022 to March 2023 were enrolled. Perioperative immune-cell phenotypes and concentrations of 40 inflammation-related cytokines were measured. The primary outcomes were the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score at 24 h after surgery and ΔSOFA (the peak SOFA score within 48 h after surgery minus the preoperative SOFA score). Secondary outcomes included major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), acute kidney injury (AKI), respiratory failure, severe liver injury, and infection. Results: The mean age of enrolled patients was 57±10 years. Of these, 52% (62/120) were male and 90% (108/120) underwent valve surgery. During the rewarming to the end of CPB, neutrophil counts rapidly increased (7.39×10 /L vs preoperative 3.07×10 /L, P<0.001), with significant upregulation of CD11b (7.30×10 /L vs preoperative 3.05×10 /L, P<0.001) and CD54 (7.15×10 /L vs preoperative 2.99×10 /L, P<0.001). Lymphocyte counts increased at the end of CPB (1.75×10 /L vs preoperative 1.12×10 /L, P<0.001) but decreased significantly at 24 h after surgery (0.59×10 /L vs preoperative 1.12×10 /L, P<0.001). Plasma analysis showed that multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines increased during CPB and remained elevated up to 24 h after surgery; five chemokines and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 peaked at the end of CPB. The SOFA score increased from 1 (1, 2) preoperatively to 7 (5, 10) at 24 h after surgery, with a ΔSOFA of 6 (4, 8). Within 30 days after surgery, 48 patients (40.0%) developed AKI, 17 (14.2%) developed infection, 4 (3.3%) developed severe liver injury, 3 (2.5%) developed respiratory failure, and 3 (2.5%) experienced MACE. During the 2-year follow-up, 8 patients (6.7%) experienced MACE and 5 (4.2%) died. Conclusion: Multi-organ dysfunction is common after cardiac surgery under CPB (median ΔSOFA, 6), accompanied by perioperative activation of multiple immune-cell subsets and upregulation of pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, and chemotactic mediators. This study provides data-driven evidence and research clues for further investigation of the associations between CPB-related immune perturbations and postoperative organ dysfunction and clinical outcomes.

The internal structures of cells as the basic units of life are a major wonder of the microscopic world. Cellular images provide an intriguing window to help explore and understand the composition and function of these structures. Scientific imagery combined with artistic expression can further expand the potential of imaging in educational dissemination and interdisciplinary applications. This study presents an innovative diffusion model-based approach for style transfer in cellular images, combining scientific rigor with artistic expression. By leveraging training-free large-scale pre-trained diffusion models, the proposed method integrates the intricate morphological and textural features of cellular images with diverse artistic styles. Key techniques such as the inversion of denoising diffusion implicit models (DDIMs), adaptive instance normalization (AdaIN), self-attention style injection, and attention temperature scaling ensure the preservation of cellular structures while enhancing visual expressiveness. The results showcase the potential of this strategy for interdisciplinary applications, enriching both the visualization and educational dissemination of cellular imagery through compelling storytelling and aesthetic appeal.
Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Cells ; Diffusion

[Objective] To explore the relationship between neutrophil activation under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and the incidence of cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CS-AKI). [Methods] This prospective cohort study enrolled adult patients who scheduled for cardiac surgery under CPB at West China Hospital between May 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023. The primary outcome was acute kidney injury (AKI). Blood samples (5 mL) were obtained from the central vein before surgery, at rewarming, at the end of CPB, and 24 hours after surgery. Neutrophils were labeled with CD11b, CD54 and other markers. To assess the effect of neutrophils activation on AKI, propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to equilibrate covariates between the groups. [Results] A total of 120 patients included into the study, and 17 (14.2%) developed AKI. Both CD11b⁺ and CD54⁺ neutrophils significantly increased during the rewarming phase and the increases were kept until 24 hours after surgery. During rewarming, the numbers of CD11b⁺ neutrophils were significantly higher in AKI compared to non-AKI (4.71×10⁹/L vs 3.31×10⁹/L, Z=-2.14, P<0.05). Similarly, the CD54⁺ neutrophils counts were also significantly higher in AKI than in non-AKI before surgery (2.75×10⁹/L vs 1.79×10⁹/L, Z=-2.99, P<0.05), during rewarming (3.12×10⁹/L vs 1.62×10⁹/L, Z=-4.34, P<0.05), and at the end of CPB (4.28×10⁹/L vs 2.14×10⁹/L, Z=-3.91, P<0.05). An analysis of 32 matched patients (16 in each group) revealed that CD11b⁺ and CD54⁺ neutrophil levels of AKI were 1.74 folds (4.83×10⁹/L vs 2.77×10⁹/L, Z=-2.72, P<0.05) and 2.34 folds (3.32×10⁹/L vs 1.42×10⁹/L, Z=-4.12, P<0.05), respectively, of non-AKI at rewarming phase. [Conclusion] Neutrophils are activated during CPB, and they can be identified by CD11b/CD54 markers. The activated neutrophils of AKI patients are approximately 2 folds of non-AKI during the rewarming phase, with disparity reached peak between groups during rewarming. These findings suggest the removal of 50% of activated neutrophils during the rewarming phase may be effective to reduce the risk of AKI.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the manager post competency evaluation scale in central sterile supply depart-ment based on the iceberg model and test its reliability and validity.METHODS A pool of items was constructed based on literature research and semi-structured interviews.The scale was further refined through expert meetings and a pilot survey.A convenience sampling method was used to select 362 managers from central sterile supply de-partments in medical institutions at various levels in Hunan Province in Jan.2024 as survey subjects.Question-naires were administered,and the reliability and validity of the scale were tested.RESULTS The final version of the scale encompassed five dimensions:personal traits,management abilities,professional abilities,other abili-ties,professional knowledge and skills,with a total of 39 items.The item-level validity coefficients of the scale ranged from 0.83 to 1.00,and the content validity index was 0.93.Exploratory factor analysis revealed a Bartlett's test value of 4 723.828(P＜0.001),a KMO test coefficient of 0.937 and a cumulative variance explanation rate of 74.34％for the five common factors.Confirmatory factor analysis results indicated that the root mean square error of approximation(RSEMA)was＜0.08,the root mean square residual(RMR)was＜0.05,and both the incre-mental fit index(IFI)and comparative fit index(CFI)were＞0.9.The Cronbach's α coefficient of the scale was 0.977,the split-half reliability was 0.955,and the test-retest reliability was 0.952.CONCLUSIONS The manager post competency evaluation scale in central sterile supply departments developed in this study demonstrates rela-tively good reliability and validity.It can effectively evaluate manager post competency and provide references for improving related evaluation systems and optimizing training programs.

Objective:To prepare novel dental composite resins using zinc(Zn)-and nitrogen(N)-modified titanium dioxide(TiO?)nanoparticles(NPs)and mesoporous alumina(Al?O?,r type,20 mm)NPs as reinforcing fillers,systematically evaluating their antibacterial activity,mechanical strength,basic performance,and biosafety to obtain the dental composite resins with excellent antibacterial activity and mechanical strength.Methods:Zn-N-TiO? NPs and mesoporous Al?O? NPs were added into a resin matrix at varying mass ratios to prepare five composite resins:control group(no filler),group 0(Zn-N-TiO?∶Al?O?=1∶0),group 1(Zn-N-TiO?∶Al?O?=1∶1),group 2(Zn-N-TiO?∶Al?O?=1∶2),and group 3(Zn-N-TiO?∶Al?O?=1∶3).Plate colony counting method was used to detect the number of adhered bacteria on composite resin surfaces in various groups and calculate the antibacterial rate;scanning electron microscope(SEM)was used to observe the morphology of adhered bacteria in various groups;universal testing machine was used to measure flexural strength(FS)and elastic modulus(EM)of composite resins in various groups;SEM was used to observe fracture surface morphology of composite resins in various groups;microhardness tester was used to determine Vickers microhardness of the composite resins in various groups;Fourier transform infrared spectroscope was used to detect double bond conversion rate(DC)after 20 s photocuring and calculate curing depth;water contact angle meter was used to measure water contact angle(WCA),water sorption property(WSP),and water solubility level(WSL)of composite resins in various groups;cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)method was used to evaluate relative growth rate(RGR)of the mouse fibroblast L-929 cells cultured in composite resin extracts on days 1,3,and 5 and determine in vitro cytotoxicity grade.Results:The plate colony counting results showed that compared with control group,the colony counts on agar plates in the other groups were significantly reduced,with group 1 showing the lowest count.The SEM images results showed densely distributed and morphologically intact Streptococcus mutans in control group;small clusters of bacteria with depressed cell membranes in group 0 and group 3;sparsely distributed bacteria with obvious membrane shrinkage and cytoplasmic leakage in group 1 and group 2.No statistically significant difference in colony counts was found between group 1 and group 2(P>0.05),but both were lower than the other groups(P<0.05).All the composite resins in experimental groups exhibited>85%antibacterial rates,with group 1 and group 2 exceeding 99%.The composite resins in group 0 showed the lowest FS.With addition of mesoporous Al?O?,the FS of the composite resin in group 1 and group 2 were significantly increased,with the composite resin in group 2 showing the highest FS among all groups.Although the FS of the composite resin in group 3 was lower than that in group 2,but it remained higher than other groups(P<0.05).The SEM images results showed that in control group,the smooth-surfaced sillicon dioxide(SiO?)particles exhibited clear fracture interfaces with resin matrix,with>50%particle exposure;the composite resin in group 0 showed similar morphology and large Zn-N-TiO? agglomerates with tight filler-matrix bonding;the composite resin in group 1,2,and 3 showed resin adhesion to SiO? surfaces(<50%particle exposure)and uneven fracture surfaces.Fractured SiO? spheres were observed in group 2.Filler distribution was uniform in group 1 and group 2,while the minor NP agglomeration occurred in group 3.The composite resin in control group showed the lowest EM.The EM was significantly improved in experimental groups,with group 3 having the highest value.Group 0 exhibited the lowest Vickers microhardness,showing statistically significant differences among other groups(P<0.05).The Vickers microhardness of the composite resion was gradually increased with the rising of Al?O? content.The resins in group 2 and group 3 achieved>45 HV hardness,representing increases of 29.73%and 33.82%compared with control group,and 51.34%and 56.28%compared with group 0.No significant differences in DC of the composite resin were found among groups(P>0.05).The depth of cure for all composite resin groups exceeded 4 mm,with no significance differences observed between various groups(P>0.05).The composite resin in group 0 showed the smallest WCA.The hydrophobicity of the composite resion was increased with the rising of Al?O? content,but all the WCA values remained<80°.The composite resin in group 3 had the largest WCA without statistical significance compared with group 2(P>0.05).Filler incorporation reduced the water sorption/solubility.The composite resin in the CCK-8 assay results showed the composite resins in all groups had RGR>75%,meeting in vitro safety standards.Conclusion:Reinforcing fillers impart superior antibacterial activity and mechanical properties to composite resins.Under experimental conditions,group 2 composite resin achieves optimal comprehensive performance in antibacterial efficacy and mechanical strength,demonstrating promising clinical application potential.

Objective To analyze and compare the efficacy of DNA barcode,i.e.,Cytochrome b(Cytb)and 12S ribosomal RNA(12S rRNA)gene sequences,in the species identification of wildlife.Methods DNA extraction,quantification,PCR amplification of Cytb and 12S rRNA gene fragments,Sanger sequencing,and sequence alignment analysis were performed on ten wildlife samples.Results Both gene fragments were successfully amplified in six samples,while Cytb alone was successfully amplified in 1 sample,and 12S rRNA alone in 3 samples.Sequence analysis indicated that Cytb enabled species-level identification for 6 samples(Gallinula chloropus,Streptopelia orientalis,Phasianus colchicus,Falco naumanni,Myiopsitta monachus and Lynx lynx)and genus-level identification for 1 sample(Lepus).In contrast,12S rRNA achieved species-level identificaggion for 8 samples(Gallinula chloropus,Lepus sinensis,Phasianus colchicus,Myiopsitta monachus,Muntiacus reevesi,Macaca mulatta and Lynx lynx),representing seven species,and genus-level identification for 1 sample(Falco).However,by combining Cytb and 12S rRNA,all samples could be identified to the species level.Conclusion When applying DNA barcodes to wildlife identification,the Cytb and 12S rRNA gene regions analyzed here can effectively identify common species such as Gallinula chloropus and Streptopelia orientalis,but face difficulties in distinguishing closely related species within the same genus.Therefore,when conducting wildlife species identification,it is recommended to use two or more DNA barcode markers.

Objective This experiment aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a novel adjustable titanium mesh fixation tent screw by comparing its bone augmentation effects with those of conventional titanium screws combined with prefabricated titanium mesh in ca-ses where simultaneous implant placement is not feasible,thereby providing a new bone augmentation strategy.Methods This pro-spective study included 14 patients(20 bone augmentation sites)with severe alveolar bone defects treated at the Implant Center of the Department of Prosthodontics,Changsha Stomatological Hospital,from January 2023 to August 2023.The sites were randomly divided into two groups:the experimental group(novel tent screw group)received bone augmentation using novel tent screws combined with prefabricated titanium mesh,while the control group(conventional titanium screw group)underwent bone augmentation with conven-tional titanium screws combined with prefabricated titanium mesh.Cone beam computed tomography(CBCT)was performed preopera-tively(T0),immediately postoperatively(T1),and 6 months postoperatively(T2)to measure alveolar bone width at 2,6,and 10 mm below the crest and alveolar bone height at the intended implant sites.Vertical and horizontal bone volume changes,bone graft re-sorption,bone augmentation success rates,and postoperative complication rates were analyzed.Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 25.0.Results At 6 months postoperatively,vertical bone augmentation in the experimental group(3.26±2.02)mm was signif-icantly greater than in the control group(1.80±0.64)mm(P＜0.05).Horizontal bone augmentation at 2 mm below the crest in the experimental group(4.45±2.46)mm was significantly higher than in the control group(2.45±1.02)mm(P＜0.05),but no signif-icant differences were observed at 6 and 10 mm below the crest(P＞0.05).Both groups exhibited low vertical and horizontal bone re-sorption with no significant differences.The bone augmentation success rate was 100％in both groups.The complication rate was 27.3％ in the experimental group and 25％ in the control group,with no statistically significant difference(P＞0.05).Conclusion For severe alveolar bone defects where simultaneous implantation is not feasible,the novel tent screw combined with prefabricated titanium mesh achieves superior vertical and horizontal bone augmentation.Compared to conventional titanium screws,the novel tent screw demonstrates sig-nificantly better vertical bone augmentation and horizontal augmentation at 2 mm below the crest,effectively restoring alveolar ridge contours.

Objective To analyze and compare the efficacy of DNA barcode,i.e.,Cytochrome b(Cytb)and 12S ribosomal RNA(12S rRNA)gene sequences,in the species identification of wildlife.Methods DNA extraction,quantification,PCR amplification of Cytb and 12S rRNA gene fragments,Sanger sequencing,and sequence alignment analysis were performed on ten wildlife samples.Results Both gene fragments were successfully amplified in six samples,while Cytb alone was successfully amplified in 1 sample,and 12S rRNA alone in 3 samples.Sequence analysis indicated that Cytb enabled species-level identification for 6 samples(Gallinula chloropus,Streptopelia orientalis,Phasianus colchicus,Falco naumanni,Myiopsitta monachus and Lynx lynx)and genus-level identification for 1 sample(Lepus).In contrast,12S rRNA achieved species-level identificaggion for 8 samples(Gallinula chloropus,Lepus sinensis,Phasianus colchicus,Myiopsitta monachus,Muntiacus reevesi,Macaca mulatta and Lynx lynx),representing seven species,and genus-level identification for 1 sample(Falco).However,by combining Cytb and 12S rRNA,all samples could be identified to the species level.Conclusion When applying DNA barcodes to wildlife identification,the Cytb and 12S rRNA gene regions analyzed here can effectively identify common species such as Gallinula chloropus and Streptopelia orientalis,but face difficulties in distinguishing closely related species within the same genus.Therefore,when conducting wildlife species identification,it is recommended to use two or more DNA barcode markers.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the manager post competency evaluation scale in central sterile supply depart-ment based on the iceberg model and test its reliability and validity.METHODS A pool of items was constructed based on literature research and semi-structured interviews.The scale was further refined through expert meetings and a pilot survey.A convenience sampling method was used to select 362 managers from central sterile supply de-partments in medical institutions at various levels in Hunan Province in Jan.2024 as survey subjects.Question-naires were administered,and the reliability and validity of the scale were tested.RESULTS The final version of the scale encompassed five dimensions:personal traits,management abilities,professional abilities,other abili-ties,professional knowledge and skills,with a total of 39 items.The item-level validity coefficients of the scale ranged from 0.83 to 1.00,and the content validity index was 0.93.Exploratory factor analysis revealed a Bartlett's test value of 4 723.828(P＜0.001),a KMO test coefficient of 0.937 and a cumulative variance explanation rate of 74.34％for the five common factors.Confirmatory factor analysis results indicated that the root mean square error of approximation(RSEMA)was＜0.08,the root mean square residual(RMR)was＜0.05,and both the incre-mental fit index(IFI)and comparative fit index(CFI)were＞0.9.The Cronbach's α coefficient of the scale was 0.977,the split-half reliability was 0.955,and the test-retest reliability was 0.952.CONCLUSIONS The manager post competency evaluation scale in central sterile supply departments developed in this study demonstrates rela-tively good reliability and validity.It can effectively evaluate manager post competency and provide references for improving related evaluation systems and optimizing training programs.

Objective This experiment aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a novel adjustable titanium mesh fixation tent screw by comparing its bone augmentation effects with those of conventional titanium screws combined with prefabricated titanium mesh in ca-ses where simultaneous implant placement is not feasible,thereby providing a new bone augmentation strategy.Methods This pro-spective study included 14 patients(20 bone augmentation sites)with severe alveolar bone defects treated at the Implant Center of the Department of Prosthodontics,Changsha Stomatological Hospital,from January 2023 to August 2023.The sites were randomly divided into two groups:the experimental group(novel tent screw group)received bone augmentation using novel tent screws combined with prefabricated titanium mesh,while the control group(conventional titanium screw group)underwent bone augmentation with conven-tional titanium screws combined with prefabricated titanium mesh.Cone beam computed tomography(CBCT)was performed preopera-tively(T0),immediately postoperatively(T1),and 6 months postoperatively(T2)to measure alveolar bone width at 2,6,and 10 mm below the crest and alveolar bone height at the intended implant sites.Vertical and horizontal bone volume changes,bone graft re-sorption,bone augmentation success rates,and postoperative complication rates were analyzed.Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 25.0.Results At 6 months postoperatively,vertical bone augmentation in the experimental group(3.26±2.02)mm was signif-icantly greater than in the control group(1.80±0.64)mm(P＜0.05).Horizontal bone augmentation at 2 mm below the crest in the experimental group(4.45±2.46)mm was significantly higher than in the control group(2.45±1.02)mm(P＜0.05),but no signif-icant differences were observed at 6 and 10 mm below the crest(P＞0.05).Both groups exhibited low vertical and horizontal bone re-sorption with no significant differences.The bone augmentation success rate was 100％in both groups.The complication rate was 27.3％ in the experimental group and 25％ in the control group,with no statistically significant difference(P＞0.05).Conclusion For severe alveolar bone defects where simultaneous implantation is not feasible,the novel tent screw combined with prefabricated titanium mesh achieves superior vertical and horizontal bone augmentation.Compared to conventional titanium screws,the novel tent screw demonstrates sig-nificantly better vertical bone augmentation and horizontal augmentation at 2 mm below the crest,effectively restoring alveolar ridge contours.