ObjectiveTo compare the histological staining performance of four various tissue fixatives, including a self-developed fixative, for preparing paraffin sections of rat eyeball tissue. MethodsTwenty 5-week-old male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=5 per group). After anesthesia by intraperitoneal injection of Zoletil™ 50 at a dose of 45 mg/kg body weight, the rats were euthanized by exsanguination via the abdominal aorta. Bilateral eyeballs were carefully extracted intact and fixed for 72 h in 10% formaldehyde fixative, glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde mixed fixative, Davidson's fixative, and self-developed fixative, respectively. After fixation, the eyeballs were longitudinally sectioned along the optic nerve, with the portions containing the optic nerve preserved. The tissues were then dehydrated, embedded, and sectioned. Following hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, histological staining quality was compared among ocular structures including the cornea, lens, and retina. ResultsThe overall appearance of rat eyeballs showed marked shrinkage in the 10% formaldehyde group and the glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde group, whereas the eye morphology remained round and intact in the modified Davidson's fixative group and self-developed fixative group. The corneal stroma exhibited obvious rupture, and the cells were arranged in folded arrangement in the modified Davidson's fixative group, 10% formaldehyde group, and self-developed fixative group. In contrast, the corneal cells in the glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde group were neatly arranged, showing no rupture or folding, and exhibited clear staining, indicating the highest quality of corneal sectioning among all groups. In the 10% formaldehyde group, cracks were observed in the equatorial and cortical regions of the lens, but the lens fiber structure remained intact. The lenses in the modified Davidson's fixative group showed extensive rupture and detachment. The glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde group displayed only slight cracks at the equator. In the self-developed fixative group, mild red folding was limited to the peripheral lens region, with the remaining structures intact and unbroken. These findings indicated that the glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde and self-developed fixative groups achieved the best lens sectioning quality. The retina was severely detached from the choroid/sclera layer, with extensive rupture of each cellular layer in the 10% formaldehyde fixative group. In the glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde group, partial detachment between the retina and choroid/sclera was observed. The outer plexiform layer and nerve fiber layer showed separation with edema, while the cells in all layers were neatly arranged. In both the Davidson's fixative and the self-developed fixative groups, the retina remained intact without rupture, and no structural separation was observed in any layer. Both demonstrated advantages in preserving the integrity and orderly arrangement of all retinal layers; however, the self-developed fixative group exhibited greater contrast. ConclusionThe choice of fixative significantly affects the morphological preservation of various structures in the rat eye. The self-developed fixative demonstrates the best overall performance in maintaining overall eye morphology, the structural integrity of the lens, and retinal adhesion. For studies focusing solely on the corneal structure, the glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde mixed fixative is recommended. The 10% formaldehyde fixative exhibits unsatisfactory fixation effects for all the aforementioned ocular structures and is not recommended for detailed morphological studies of eyeball tissues.

The rapid growth of electronic waste has led to the accumulation of large amounts of valuable metal elements in the environment, causing serious environmental pollution and resource wastage. Compared with pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processes which often result in severe environmental pollution and carbon footprints, microbial synthesis of metal nanoparticles has emerged as a green and environmentally friendly metallurgical technology for recovering valuable metals from electronic waste. This paper first reviews the mechanisms of metal nanoparticle synthesis within different structural compartments of microbial cells. It then introduces the applications of microbially synthesized metal nanoparticles in fields such as environmental remediation, energy production, biocatalysis, and biomedicine. Finally, it discusses the development prospects of microbial synthesis of metal nanoparticles, including exploration of diverse microbial resources and synthesis pathways, yield enhancement, integration of new technologies, and industrialization, aiming to promote further research and application of microbial synthesis of metal nanoparticles.
Metal Nanoparticles/chemistry* ; Bacteria/metabolism*

Objective:To explore the influencing factors of left ventricular thrombus (LVT) in patients with non-ischemic heart failure (NIHF) and to construct a nomogram prediction model for NIHF patients with LVT.Methods:This study was a case-control study. A total of 2 592 patients with NIHF hospitalized in Beijing Anzhen Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2018 to July 2022 were selected. Fifty-one patients with LVT identified by echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance were classified into LVT group. One hundred and sixty patients were selected as the non-LVT group using a 1∶3 propensity score matching based on age and gender. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of LVT in patients with NIHF. A nomogram prediction model was constructed, and the area under (AUC) the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was calculated to evaluate the predictive effect of the model.Results:A total of 211 patients were enrolled, with a median age of 40 years old and 160 males (76%). Compared with non-LVT group, LVT group had lower systolic blood pressure ((112±20) mmHg vs. (120±19) mmHg; 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; (27±12)% vs. (39±14)% ), lower proportion of patients with history of hypertension (28% (14/51) vs. 44% (70/160)) and atrial fibrillation (8% (4/51)vs.39% (62/160)), higher proportion of patients with New York Heart Association functional class Ⅲ to Ⅳ (class Ⅲ: 59% (30/51) vs. 41% (66/160); class Ⅳ: 28% (14/51) vs. 19% (31/160)), and larger left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD; (56±14) mm vs. (50±15) mm). The levels of hemoglobin ((152±23) g/L vs. (142±30) g/L), D-dimer (508 (300, 1 105) μg/L vs. 158 (68, 379) μg/L), and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (3 429 (2 462, 4 734) ng/L vs. 1 288 (422, 2 544) ng/L) were higher in LVT group than in non-LVT group ( P all<0.05). LVT group had a higher proportion of patients using beta-blockers (92% (47/51) vs. 78% (124/160)), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers or angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitors (88% (45/51) vs. 72% (115/160)), and anticoagulant drugs (98% (50/51) vs. 32% (51/160)) than non-LVT group (all P <0.05). Multivariate logistic regression showed that reduced LVEF ( OR=1.08, 95% CI 1.02-1.15, P=0.008), decreased LVESD ( OR=1.07, 95% CI 1.01-1.12, P=0.013), and increased D-dimer levels ( OR=5.40, 95% CI 1.98-14.74, P=0.001) were independent influencing factors for LVT in patients with NIHF. The ROC curve showed that the AUC of the nomogram for predicting LVT in patients with NIHF was 0.793 (95% CI 0.710-0.876, P<0.001). Conclusion:Reduced LVEF, decreased LVESD, and elevated D-dimer are associated with LVT in NIHF patients. The predictive model developed based on the above indicators has certain value in predicting LVT in NIHF patients.

Objective To explore the relationship between serum miRNA-21 and miR-27b levels and prognosis of patients with renal clear cell carcinoma.Methods A total of 118 patients with renal clear cell carcinoma admitted to the Qinghai University Hospital from February 2019 to April 2021 were selected as the study subjects,and another 118 healthy patients in the same period as the control group.Real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR)was used to detect the expression of miR-21 and miR-27b in the serum of all subjects.The relative expression levels of serum miR-21 and miR-27b between the patients with renal clear cell carcinoma and healthy control patients were compared.The expression and correlation of serum miR-21 and miR-27b in the patients with renal clear cell carcinoma of different pathological stages and Fuhrman grading were analyzed.The relationship between the expression of serum miR-21 and miR-27b and the survival and prognosis of the patients was explored as well.Results The expression levels of serum miR-21 and miR-27b in the patients with renal clear cell carcinoma were higher than those in the healthy control group(P＜0.05).The serum miR-21 expression level in stage Ⅲ patients was higher than in stageⅠ(P＜0.05),while the serum miR-21 expression level in the stage Ⅳ patients was higher than that in stagesⅠ,Ⅱ,and Ⅲ(P＜0.05).The expression level of miR-27b in the serum of patients gradually increased across the four stages,with a significant difference(P＜0.05).The pathological staging was positively correlated with the expression of miR-21 and miR-27b(P＜0.001).The expression levels of miR-21 and miR-27b in serum of patients gradually increased across grades Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ by Fuhrman grading,with significant difference(P＜0.05).Fuhrman grading was positively correlated with the serum miR-21 and miR-27b expression(P＜0.001).There was a statistically significant difference in the survival curve between the miR-21 high expression group and the low expression group(P＜0.05).There was a statistically significant difference in the survival curve between the high expression group and the low expression group of miR-27b(P＜0.05).Conclusion The expression levels of serum miR-21 and miR-27b in patients with renal clear cell carcinoma is indicative of the progression and prognosis of the patient's condition.

Objective To explore the correlation between blood uric acid/HDL-C ratio(UHR)and peripheral neuropathy(DPN)in T2DM.Methods A total of 127 T2DM patients admitted to the Endocrinology Department of Wujin Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital in Changzhou City from August 2022 to August 2023 were selected.They were divided into a simple T2DM group(n=62)and a combined DPN group(DPN,n=65)based on whether or not they had DPN.Compare two groups of general information,biochemical indicators,and UHR.Results Compared with the T2DM group,DPN group DM course of disease,HbA1c,FPG,FIns,HOMA-IR,TG,vibration sensation threshold(VPT),hypersensitive C-reactive protein(hs-CRP),blood uric acid(SUA),and UHR(P＜0.05),HDL-C,tibial nerve motor nerve conduction velocity(mNCV),and superficial peroneal nerve sensory nerve conduction velocity (sNCV)decreased(P＜0. 05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that UHR was positively DM duration of disease,HbA1c,FPG,HOMA?IR,TG,VPT,hs?CRP,and SUA(P＜0. 05),negatively correlated with mNCV,sNCV,and HDL?C(P＜0. 05). Logistic regression analysis showed that UHR,DM duration, hs?CRP,and HbA1c were the influencing factors of DPN. Conclusion Elevated UHR is a influencing factor for the occurrence of DPN in T2DM patients and has good predictive value for DPN.

Objective:To explore the application effect of home rehabilitation exercise prescription in non-surgical treatment of patients with lumbar disc herniation.Methods:Using the convenient sampling method, a total of 66 patients with non-surgical treatment of lumbar disc herniation who visited Outpatient Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January to August 2023 were selected as the research objects. The patients were divided into the control group and the observation group using the random number table method, with 33 cases in each group. The control group implemented routine home rehabilitation nursing measures, while the observation group formed an outpatient home rehabilitation nursing team based on this, constructed a home rehabilitation exercise prescription and implemented targeted home rehabilitation training. Pain Numberic Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) Scores and exercise compliance were compared between the two groups after 6 weeks of home rehabilitation.Results:After 6 weeks of home rehabilitation exercise, NRS score and ODI score of observation group were lower than those of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The JOA score and compliance score of the observation group were higher than those of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:Home rehabilitation exercise prescription can promote the rehabilitation of patients with non-surgical treatment of lumbar disc herniation, effectively relieve pain, improve the symptoms of limb dysfunction and improve the compliance of rehabilitation exercise.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of omalizumab in the treatment of chronic urticaria in children.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted. Patients with chronic urticaria were collected from the Department of Dermatology, Hunan Children′s Hospital from January to December 2021, and divided into a control group and a combination group according to different medication regimens. The patients in the combination group received subcutaneous injections of omalizumab (150 mg, once every 4 weeks) combined with conventional-dosage antihistamines, while the patients in the control group were only treated with double-dosage or multiple types of antihistamines. The course of treatment was 3 to 6 months. The clinical efficacy and adverse reactions were evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 months after the start of treatment, and the recurrence was evaluated at 3 and 6 months after the end of treatment.Results:A total of 46 children with chronic urticaria were collected. There were 23 children (13 males and 10 females) in the combination group, aged from 6 to 17 years and including 16 aged from 6 to 12 years and 7 aged from 13 to 17 years; according to the total serum IgE levels before treatment, the patients in the combination group were divided into an increased IgE subgroup (11 cases) and a normal IgE subgroup (12 cases). In the control group, there were 13 males and 10 females, aged from 6.33 to 16 years and including 15 aged from 6 to 12 years and 8 aged from 13 to 17 years. At 3, 6, and 12 months after the start of treatment, the response rates in the combination group were all 86.96% (20/23), which were all significantly higher than those in the control group (52.17% [12/23], 56.52% [13/23], 56.52% [13/23], P = 0.010, 0.022, 0.022, respectively). In the combination group, the response rates at 3, 6, and 12 months after the start of treatment were all 14/16 in the children aged 6 to 12 years and 6/7 in those aged 13 to 17 years, and there were no significant differences between the two age groups (all χ2 = 0.01, P = 0.907) ; in the control group, the response rates were 5/15, 6/15 and 5/15 respectively in the children aged 6 to 12 years, which were all significantly lower than those in the combination group ( P = 0.002, 0.006, 0.006, respectively). In the combination group, the response rates at 3, 6, and 12 months after the start of treatment were all 9/11 in the increased IgE subgroup and 11/12 in the normal IgE subgroup, and there were no significant differences between the two subgroups (all P = 0.484). During the treatment, no serious adverse reactions were observed in the combination group or control group, and mild somnolence only occurred in 2 children in the control group. At 3 months after the end of treatment, no recurrence was observed in 16 patients in the combination group, 2 out of 6 patients experienced recurrence in the control group, and the recurrence rate was lower in the combination group than in the control group ( P = 0.030) ; at 6 months after the end of treatment, no recurrence was observed in 16 patients in the combination group, 3 out of 6 patients experienced recurrence in the control group, and the recurrence rate was lower in the combination group than in the control group ( P = 0.022) . Conclusion:Omalizumab combined with conventional-dosage antihistamines could improve the clinical efficacy and reduce the recurrence rate in the treatment of chronic urticaria in children, with few adverse reactions.

Objective:To explore the mechanism of peritoneal dialysis solution (PDS)-induced peritoneal microinflammation through activation of ceramide (CER) in peritoneal dialysis model mice.Methods:Thirty 5-week-old male C57BL/6 mice weighing about 22 g were used to set up peritoneal dialysis models, and then were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham operation group (1.5 ml sterilized water, n=7), high glucose-PDS group (1.5 ml 4.25% PDS, n=8), high glucose-PDS+ acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) inhibitor desipramine (DES) group (1.5 ml sterilized water+10 mg/kg DES, n=8), high glucose-PDS+Src kinase inhibitor PP2 group (1.5 ml sterilized water +1 mg/kg PP2, n=7), with intraperitoneal injection once a day. After 28 days, the mice were sacrificed to retain peritoneal tissues. HE staining and Masson staining were used to observe the histological changes of peritoneum. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and macrophages. High performance liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of ASMase and CER. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the mRNA levels of c-Src, p-Src, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Western blotting was used to detect the protein levels of c-Src, and p-Src. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the serum C reactive protein (CRP), IL-6 and TNF-α. Results:(1) High glucose-PDS led to peritoneal hyperplasia, collagen deposition and fibrosis in the peritoneal dialysis mice, indicating successful modeling. Compared with high glucose-PDS group, peritoneal hyperplasia, collagen deposition and fibrosis of mice treated with DES and PP2 were significantly improved (all P<0.05). (2) Compared with sham operation group, ASMase activation and CER level of peritoneal tissues were significantly higher in high glucose-PDS group, and DES could significantly inhibit activated ASMase and increased CER expression caused by high glucose-PDS (both P<0.05). PP2 had no significant effect on ASMase activation and CER level (both P>0.05). (3) Compared with sham operation group, there were more TLR4 and macrophage positive staining cells in peritoneal tissues in high glucose-PDS group, and the mRNA expression levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in peritoneal tissues and serum CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α were higher (all P<0.05). DES and PP2 could significantly inhibit the increased TLR4, macrophages and related inflammatory factors induced by high glucose-PDS (all P<0.05). (4) Compared with sham operation group, c-Src and p-Src mRNA and protein expression levels of peritoneal tissues in high glucose-PDS group were significantly higher (all P<0.05). PP2 significantly inhibited the increased p-Src mRNA and protein levels caused by high glucose-PDS (both P<0.05), but had no significant effect on the mRNA and protein expression levels of c-Src (both P>0.05). DES had no significant effect on the mRNA and protein expression levels of c-Src and p-Src (all P>0.05). Conclusions:High glucose-PDS may enhance the expression of CER through stimulating the activity of ASMase, phosphorylate Src, activate TLR4 and induce inflammatory damage of peritoneum in peritoneal dialysis model mice.

Objective:To evaluate the therapeutic effect of excimer laser ablation (ELA) in the treatment of lower extremity arterial ischemic diseases.Methods:The clinical data of 44 patients with lower extremity ischemic diseases treated with ELA in the People′s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from December 2020 to April 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. Among the 44 patients, there were 29 patients in lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO), including 3 patients with femoral artery stent occlusion. 8 patients of diabetes foot (DF) and 7 patients of thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO). Observation indicators include target vascular patency rate, amputation rate, vascular reintervention rate and mortality rate. The measurement data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation ( ± s), one-way analysis of variance was used for inter-group comparison, and paired sample t-test was used for intra-group comparison. The Chi-square test was used for comparison between count data. Results:The success rate of operation was 100% in 44 patients. The rate of major amputation in ASO group was 10.3%, while the other two groups had a major amputation rate of 0. The minor amputation rates of the three groups were 6.9%, 25.0% and 28.6%, respectively. The vascular reintervention rate was 10.3% in ASO group, 12.5% in DF group and 0 in TAO group. The 1-year mortality rate in the ASO group was 10.3%, while the other two groups had a mortality rate of 0. The 2-year mortality rate of the three group were 31.0%, 12.5% and 0, respectively.Conclusion:For the treatment of lower extremity arterial ischemic diseases, ELA is safe and effective, but the curative effect need to further clarify by large sample and long-term clinical follow-up observation.

Objective:To survey treatment and prognosis of hyperkalemia patients in the emergency department and to analyze factors associated with all-cause in-hospital mortality.Methods:We implemented electronic hospital information system, extracted demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, laboratory findings, potassium lowering therapy and prognosis of hyperkalemia patients [age ≥ 18 years, serum potassium (K +) concentration ≥ 5.5 mmol/L] in the emergency department of Peking Union hospital in Beijing between June 1st 2019 to May 31st 2020. The enrolled subjects were divided into the non-survival group and the survival group according to their prognosis. Univariate analysis and Cox regression model were adopted to analyze factors affecting all-cause in-hospital mortality of hyperkalemia patients. Results:A total of 579 patients [median age 64 (22) years; 310 men (53.5%) and 269 women (46.5%)] with hyperkalemia were enrolled, among which, 317 (54.7%), 143 (24.7%) and 119 (20.6%) were mild, moderate, and severe hyperkalemia, respectively. 499 (86.20%) patients received potassium-lowering therapy, forty-four treatment regimens were administered. Insulin and glucose (I+G, 61.3%), diuretics (Diu, 57.2%), sodium bicarbonate (SB, 41.9%) and calcium gluconate/chloride (CA, 44.4%) were commonly used for the treatment of hyperkalemiain the emergency department. The combination of insulin and glucose, calcium gluconate/chloride, diuretics and sodium bicarbonate (I+G+CA+Diu+SB) was the most favored combined treatment regimen of hyperkalemia in the emergency department. The higher serum potassium concentration, the higher proportion of administrating combined treatment regimen and/or hemodialysis (HD) (the proportion of administrating combined treatment regimen in mild, moderate, and severe hyperkalemia patients were 58.4%, 82.5% and 94.8%; the proportion of administrating HD in mild, moderate, and severe hyperkalemia patients were 9.7%, 13.3% and 16.0%, respectively). The proportion of achievement of normokalaemia elevated as the kinds of potassium lowering treatment included in the combined treatment regimen increased. The proportion of achievement of normokalaemia was 100% in the combined treatment regimen including 6 kinds of potassium lowering therapy. Among various potassium lowering treatments, HD contributed to the highest rate of achievement of normokalaemia (93.8%). 111 of 579 (19.20%) hyperkalemia patients died in hospital. Cox regression model revealed that complicated with cardiac dysfunction predicted higher mortality [hazard ratio ( HR) = 1.757, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 1.155-2.672, P = 0.009]. Achievement of normokalaemia and administration of diuretics attributed to lower mortality ( HR = 0.248, 95% CI was 0.155-0.398, P = 0.000; HR = 0.335, 95% CI was 0.211-0.531, P = 0.000, respectively). Conclusions:Treatment of hyperkalemia in the emergency department were various. Complicated with cardiac dysfunction were associated with higher mortality. Achieving normokalaemia was associated with decreased mortality.