Table_1_Clinical predictive value of the initial neutrophils to lymphocytes and platelets ratio for prognosis of sepsis patients in the intensive care unit: a retrospective study.docx

BackgroundNeutrophils to lymphocytes and platelets (N/LP) ratio has been confirmed as an indirect marker of inflammation. In this study, we aimed to further evaluate the prognostic significance of the N/LP ratio in sepsis patients admitted to the ICU.MethodsSepsis patients from the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University were retrospectively enrolled from January 2015 and July 2023. The primary outcomes were 30/60 days mortality. The secondary outcomes included the incidence of AKI, vasoactive drug, CRRT, invasive ventilation, length of ICU stay, length of hospital stay and ICU mortality.ResultsA total of 1,066 sepsis patients were enrolled with a median age of 75.0 (66.0, 85.0) years, and 62.5% of them being male. The 30 days and 60 days mortality rates were found to be 28.7 and 34.0%, respectively, while the incidence of AKI was 45.2%. Based on their N/LP ratios, we classified the sepsis patients into three groups: low, middle, and high, consisting of 266, 534, and 266 patients, respectively. According the Cox proportional hazard model, the middle and high N/LP groups were associated with a 1.990/3.106-fold increase in 30 days mortality risk and a 2.066/3.046-fold increase in 60 days mortality risk compared with the low N/LP group. Besides, multivariate logistic regression model suggested that the risk of AKI occurrence increased 2.460 fold in the high group compared to the low group. However, through subgroup analyses, we observed substantial variations in the association between N/LP ratios and 30/60 days mortality rates as well as the incidence of AKI among different populations. Notably, the N/LP ratio measured at ICU admission exhibited a higher AUC for predicting 30/60 days mortality (0.684/0.687). Additionally, we observed a good predictive power for the occurrence of AKI (AUC: 0.645) using the N/LP ratio measured at sepsis prognosis. Regarding the other secondary outcomes, the N/LP ratio was associated with disease severity in sepsis patients, including the need for vasoactive drugs, length of ICU stay, and ICU mortality.ConclusionThe N/LP ratio at ICU admission was found to have a significant independent association with 30/60 days mortality and the incidence of AKI in sepsis patients.</p

Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution and Health Risks in a Government-Intervened Electronic Waste Dismantling Area in South China

Efficient control of heavy metal pollution necessitates a comprehensive understanding of pollutant sources. In this study, we conducted a thorough investigation of 11 metals in the soil of an electronic waste (e-waste) recycling facility in South China. The sources of these metals were determined through a combination of statistical analysis and the UNMIX model. Despite government intervention, our findings reveal significant pollution of nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, and lead in the study area. Primary contributors to heavy metal contamination in the soil were identified as demolition activities, transport emissions, and atmospheric deposition. Utilizing a source risk assessment model, we observed that children face higher noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks compared to adults. Remarkably, the total hazard index of the study area was found to be considerably lower than that of other e-waste dismantling cities. Moreover, the total carcinogenic risk was noted to be one order of magnitude lower than both other e-waste dismantling cities and industrial and mining cities. While acknowledging the government’s commendable achievements in the standardized management of e-waste dismantling activities, our study underscores the need for targeted measures to further reduce pollution and safeguard the health of residents. These results emphasize the importance of ongoing efforts to enhance environmental protection strategies and underscore the significance of tailored interventions for sustainable pollution control in e-waste recycling facilities.</p

Additional file 2 of Similarity and diversity of genetic architecture for complex traits between East Asian and European populations

Supplementary Material

Additional file 1 of Similarity and diversity of genetic architecture for complex traits between East Asian and European populations

Supplementary Material

Promotion of Acid–Water Oxidation by Lattice Distortion and Orbital Hybridization Induced by Ionic Dopant in Pyrochlore Y₂Ru₂O₇

For acid–water oxidation, pyrochloric ruthenates are thought to be extremely effective electrocatalysts. In this work, through partial B-site replacement with larger M2+ cations, the electronic states of Y2Ru2O7 with strong electron correlations are reasonably managed, by which the inherent performance is tremendously promoted. Based on this, the improved Y2Ru1.9Sr0.1O7 electrocatalyst exhibits an outstanding durability and presents a highly inherent mass activity of 1915.1 A gRu–1 (at 1.53 V vs RHE). The enhanced oxygen-evolving reaction (OER) activity by ionic dopant in YRO pyrochlore can be attributed to two aspects, i.e., the lattice distortion induced inhibition of the grain coarsening, which results in a large surface area for YRO-M and increases the OER active sites, and the weakening of electron correlation via broadening of the Ru 4d bandwidths due to the increase of the average radius of B-site ions, which gives rise to an enhancement of conductivity and a strengthened hybridization between Ru 4d and O 2p orbitals and improves the reaction kinetics. The synergistic effects of lattice distortion and orbital hybridization promote the enhanced OER activity. The results would provide fresh concepts for the design of improved electrocatalysts and underscore the significance of managing the intrinsic performance through the dual modification of microstructure morphology and electronic structure

Antibodies applied.

<p>Antibodies applied.</p

LPS affects the expression of tight-junction proteins.

<p>LPS affects the expression of tight-junction proteins. (<b>A</b>) qRT-PCR shows mRNA expression for ZO-1, occludin, and ve-cadherin in control and LPS treated animals (**P<0.01, *P <0.05). (<b>B</b>) Quantitative analysis of ZO-1, occludin, and ve-cadherin protein expression in control and LPS-treated groups (*P<0.05). (<b>C</b>) Western blot analysis shows significantly decreased expression of ZO-1, occludin, and ve-cadherin in the LPS-treated group. (<b>D</b>) TEM images show TJ contact points are extensive in control mice (Left, zoomed inset). The left window (zoomed inset) displays a higher magnification of the TJs between ECs. (<b>E</b>) Alterations in the TJ ultrastructure are seen in the LPS-treated mice. TJ contact points were reduced in number in response to LPS (left, inset). (<b>F</b>) qRT-PCR shows mRNA for ZO-1, occludin, and ve-cadherin in the endothelial monolayer of the control and LPS group at different time points (**P<0.01, *P<0.05). (<b>G</b>-<b>I</b>) Quantitative analysis of protein expression for ZO-1, occludin, and ve-cadherin in control and LPS-treated groups (**P<0.01). (<b>J</b>-<b>L</b>) In-cell Western blot analysis of tight junction protein expression. (<b>M</b>-<b>R</b>) Representative confocal maximum projection images show immunofluorescent labeling of tight junction protein expression, including ZO-1, occludin, and ve-cadherin, in the EC monolayer.</p

LPS causes hearing loss.

<p>LPS damages hearing function. (<b>A</b>) and (<b>B</b>) show the mean value of hearing threshold levels measured by ABR in control and LPS-treated groups. The ABR threshold in LPS-treated animals is significantly elevated at 4 kHz, 16 kHz, 24 kHz, and 32 kHz (**P<0.01).</p

Confocal projection images of the tympanic membrane and mucosa of the middle ear in control and LPS-treated mice.

<p>Confocal maximum projection images of the tympanic membrane and mucosa of the middle ear in control (A, B and C) and LPS-treated mice (D, E and F). (A) is a low magnification image showing the normal tympanic membrane (TM) and mucosa in the middle ear (mucosa/ME) of a control animal. (<b>B</b>) and (<b>C</b>) are high magnification images of the TM and mucosa/ME in a control animal. (<b>D</b>) is a low magnification image showing thickening of the TM and swelling of the mucosa/ME typically observed in LPS-treated animals. (<b>E</b>) and (<b>F</b>) are high magnification images showing a large number of infiltrated cells expressing F4/80 (red, arrow) and positive for GS-IB4 (green, arrow) in the region of the TM and mucosa/SEM in LPS-treated animals. TM = tympanic membrane; ME = middle ear.</p

LPS treatment increases vascular leakage.

<p>LPS treatment increases vascular leakage. (<b>A</b>) Under normal conditions, the FITC-albumin is restricted to the vascular wall of the stria vascularis, and control animals show no sites of obvious leakage. <b>(B</b>) In LPS-treated animals, however, capillaries are permeable and multiple sites of vascular leakage are seen in the vessel of the stria vascularis. (<b>C</b>) Significantly more leakage of albumin-FITC is seen in LPS-treated animals than in control animals (**P<0.01). (<b>D</b>) Retention of FITC-albumin in isolated whole mounts of untreated cochlear stria vascularis is relatively low in non-LPS treated mice, and (<b>E</b>) retention in the LPS-treated mice is much stronger. (<b>F</b>) FITC-albumin fluorescence is significantly higher in the LPS-treated group than in control animals (**P<0.01). (<b>G</b>) and (<b>H</b>) The graph shows the effect of LPS on the permeability of tight junctions in an EC monolayer to FITC-dextran. Permeability was measured by determining the flux of FITC-dextran from the upper to the lower chamber of the Transwell filter. Data are expressed as means ± SD (**P<0.01).</p