Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Fifty whitespotted bamboo sharks (Chiloscyllium playgiosum) of both sexes were used to establish a large capacity variable domain of the new antigen receptor (VNAR) library with a total capacity of over 10⁹ colony-forming units (CFU). It was applied to screen VNARs against human serum albumin (HSA) and human transcription factor EB (TFEB), respectively. Meanwhile, VNAR libraries specific to HSA and TFEB with capacities above 10⁸ CFU were obtained following conventional immunization. These two approaches were systematically studied in terms of VNAR yield and composition. By comparing the VNAR sequences obtained from naïve and antigen-immunized libraries, we found that the complementary-determining region 3 (CDR3) of the former differs in composition from that of the latter. It shares a higher degree of homology with the naïve library. Meanwhile, the binding efficiency assessed by ELISA is also different between the naïve and antigen-immunized libraries. The binding of VNARs from the TFEB-immunized library appeared to surpass that observed with the naïve libraries, whereas the performance of VNARs from the HSA-immunized library indicated that both the immunized and naïve libraries for HSA had positive binding responses in polyclonal and monoclonal ELISA. The results are useful to develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic products based on shark VNARs.

Local anesthetics (LAs), such as articaine (AT), exhibit limited efficacy in inflammatory environments, which constitutes a significant limitation in their clinical application within oral medicine. In our prior research, we developed AT-17, which demonstrated effective properties in chronic inflammatory conditions and appears to function as a novel oral LA that could address this challenge. In the present study, we further elucidated the beneficial effects of AT-17 in acute inflammation, particularly in oral acute inflammation, where mitochondrial-related apoptosis played a crucial role. Our findings indicated that AT-17 effectively inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nerve cell apoptosis by ameliorating mitochondrial dysfunction in vitro. This process involved the inhibition of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) production and the subsequent activation of the NRF2 pathway. Most notably, improvements in mitochondria-related apoptosis were key contributors to AT-17's inhibition of voltage-gated sodium channels. Additionally, AT-17 was shown to reduce mtROS production in nerve cells through the Na⁺/NCLX/ETC signaling axis. In conclusion, we have developed a novel local anesthetic that exhibits pronounced anesthetic functionality under inflammatory conditions by enhancing mitochondria-related apoptosis. This advancement holds considerable promise for future drug development and deepening our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of action.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the early changes in various liver function indicators in critically injured trauma patients assessed by intelligent calculation method, aiming to develop more advantageous diagnostic and treatment strategies for traumatic liver injury. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted. Critically injured trauma patients [injury severity score (ISS) ≥ 16, age > 18 years old] admitted to the Emergency Medical Center of Tianjin Fifth Central Hospital from January 1, 2022, to December 1, 2023 were enrolled. ISS score and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) assessed by intelligent calculation method were collected upon patient admission to the emergency medical center. Trends in liver function indicators in fasting venous serum were analyzed at 6, 24 and 72 hours after admission, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), albumin (ALB), total bilirubin (TBil), prothrombin time (PT). Patients were grouped based on APACHE II scores into those with APACHE II < 15 and APACHE II ≤ 15, and liver function indicators within 6 hours of admission were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 112 critically injured trauma patients were included, with 83 males and 29 females, an average age of (47.78±14.84) years old. The median ISS score was 21.0 (18.0, 26.0). The most common cause of injury for critically injured trauma patients was road traffic accidents (68 cases, accounting for 60.71%), followed by falls from heights, compression injuries, heavy object injuries, knife stabs, and explosion injuries. The most common injured areas was the limbs and pelvis (97 cases, accounting for 86.61%), followed by chest injuries, surface skin and soft tissue injuries, abdominal and pelvic organ injuries, head injuries, and facial injuries. The proportion of elevated LDH, AST, and ALT within 6 hours of admission was 77.68%, 79.46%, and 52.68%, respectively, while the proportion of decreased ALB was 75.89%, the abnormal rates of ALP, GGT, TBil, and PT were all below 50%. The ALT and AST levels of patients at 24 hours and 72 hours after admission were significantly lower than those at 6 hours after admission [ALT (U/L): 37.0 (22.0, 66.0), 31.0 (21.2, 52.0) vs. 41.0 (25.0, 71.0), AST (U/L): 55.5 (30.0, 93.5), 40.0 (27.0, 63.2) vs. 69.5 (39.0, 130.8), all P < 0.05]. There was no statistically significant difference in ISS score between APACHE II > 15 group (45 cases) and APACHE II ≤ 15 group [67 cases; 21.0 (18.5, 26.5) vs. 20.0 (17.0, 22.0), P > 0.05]. Nevertheless, compared with patients with APACHE II ≤ 15, patients with APACHE II > 15 have a higher abnormality rate of ALT and AST within 6 hours of admission [ALT abnormal rate: 66.44% (29/45) vs. 44.78% (30/67), AST abnormal rate: 93.33% (42/45) vs. 70.15% (47/67), both P < 0.05], and the levels of ALT and AST were higher [ALT (U/L): 56.0 (30.0, 121.0) vs. 35.0 (21.0, 69.0), AST (U/L): 87.0 (48.0, 233.0) vs. 52.0 (31.0, 117.0), both P < 0.05]. CONCLUSIONS Severe trauma patients frequently exhibit a high incidence of reversible early liver function impairment. Based on intelligent calculation method, the utilization of both the ISS and APACHE II scores demonstrates a distinct advantage in the assessment of their early liver injury.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Liver/physiopathology* ; Risk Assessment ; APACHE ; Wounds and Injuries ; Adult ; Injury Severity Score ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Liver Function Tests ; Alanine Transaminase/blood* ; Young Adult ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood*

Objective To explore the molecular epidemiological characteristics of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP),and reveal its mechanism of resistance to ceftazidime/avibactam(CZA).Methods CZA-re-sistant CRKP strains initially isolated from the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2021 to September 2023 were collected.The carriage of 5 carbapenemase genes(blaKPC,blaNDM,blaOXA,blaVIM,blaIMp)were detected with gene amplification method and colloidal gold method.The relative copy number and expression level of Klebsiella pneumoniae(KP)carbapenemase-producing KP(KPC-KP)was detected with real-time quantita-tive polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR),mutation sites of KPC mutation strains were analyzed with whole-ge-nome sequencing,and epidemic characteristics of CRKP and resistance mechanism to CZA were analyzed.Results A total of 73 CZA-resistant CRKP strains were isolated,with 37(50.68％)being KPC and NDM co-producing strains,33(45.21％)NDM-producing alone(23 strains producing NDM-5 and 10 strains producing NDM-1),and 3 KPC-producing alone.KP-2842 strain was identified as ST11-type KPC-33 variant,KP-2127 and KP-2189 strains produced KPC-2.Compared with KP ATCC BAA-1705,the copy number of blaKPC in these strains up-regulated by 1.04-3.86 fold,and the expression increased by 6.66-12.93 fold,respectively.Colloidal gold and PCR methods demonstrated good consistency and the ability to detect the enzyme co-producing and KPC-33 variant.Conclusion In this hospital,the resistance of CRKP to CZA is primarily mediated by the metalloenzyme NDM,with co-produc-tion of NDM and KPC being a characteristic of CRKP.High copy number and expression level of blaKPC-2 also con-tribute to CZA resistance.This study identified the KPC-33 variant for the first time in ST11-type CRKP in Jiangsu Province.

Purpose: We investigated the association between social support, metabolic syndrome, and incident cardio-cerebrovascular disease (CCVD) in rural Koreans aged ≥50 years. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective study using the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study on Atherosclerosis Risk of Rural Areas in the Korean General Population (KoGES-ARIRANG) dataset. From the baseline of 5169 adults, 1682 participants were finally included according to the exclusion criteria. For outcomes, myocardial infarction, angina, and stroke were included. For independent variables, the social support score and metabolic syndrome were used. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression were performed to investigate the association among the variables. Paired t-test was conducted to analyze the longitudinal variation of social support scores. Results: During the 6.37 years of median follow-up, 137 participants developed CCVD. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of metabolic syndrome with persistently high social support was 2.175 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.479–3.119]. The aOR of metabolic syndrome with persistently low social support was 2.494 (95%CI: 1.141–5.452). The longitudinal variation of the social support score of persistently high social support group was increased significantly by 4.26±26.32. The score of the persistently low social support group was decreased by 1.34±16.87 with no statistical significance. Conclusion The presence of metabolic syndrome increases the likelihood of developing onset CCVD. Within the metabolic syndrome positive group, when social support was persistently low, the cohort developed more cardio-cerebrovascular disease compared to the persistently higher social support group. The social support score of the persistently low social support group could be improved through proper intervention. To prevent CCVD, metabolic syndrome components and low social support should be improved in the study participants.