Liposomes for systematic delivery of vancomycin hydrochloride to decrease nephrotoxicity: Characterization and evaluation

AbstractVancomycin hydrochloride （VANH）, the first glycopeptide antibiotic, is a water-soluble drug for the treatment of acute osteomyelitis. Liposomal formulations of VANH have already been manipulated and characterized, which was a mean of increasing their therapeutic index, reducing their toxicity and altering drug biodistribution. One of the challenges for preparing VANH-Lips is their low encapsulation efficiency (EE). In the present study, we aim to improve the liposomal formulation of VANH for higher EE, longer systemic circulation, reduced nephrotoxicity and enhanced antimicrobial activities. Vancomycin hydrochloride-loaded liposomes (VANH-Lips) were formulated by the method of modified reverse phase evaporation. Based on the optimization of formulation with orthogonal experimental design, the average drug encapsulation efficiency and the mean particle size of VANH-Lips were found to be 40.78 ± 2.56% and 188.4 ± 2.77 nm. In vitro drug release of VANH-Lips possessed a sustained release characteristic and their release behavior was in accordance with the Weibull equation. After intravenous injection to mice, the mean residence time (MRT) of VANH-Lips group was significantly prolonged in vivo and the AUC value was improved as well compared with the vancomycin hydrochloride solution (VANH-Sol) group. Furthermore, the biodistribution results in mice showed that VANH-Lips decreased the accumulation of VANH in kidney after intravenous injection. In conclusion, VANH-Lips may be a potential delivery system for VANH to decrease nephrotoxicity in the treatment of osteomyelitis

Lateral coexistence of ductile and brittle deformation shapes magma-poor distal margins: An example from the West Iberia-Newfoundland margins

A long-standing problem in solid Earth science is to understand how low-angle normal faults form, their role in the development of tectonic asymmetry of conjugate margins, and how they relate to mantle hydration during continental breakup. The latter requires water to reach the mantle through active brittle faults, but low angle slip on faults is mechanically difficult. Here, we incorporate observations from high-resolution multichannel seismic data along the West Iberia-Newfoundland margins into a 2D forward thermo-mechanical model to understand the relationship between evolving rift asymmetry, detachment tectonics, and mantle hydration. We show that, during extreme extension, slip on active faults bifurcates at depth into brittle and ductile deformation branches, as a result of the cooling of the faults' footwall and heating of their hangingwall. The brittle deformation penetrates the Moho and leads to mantle hydration, while ductile deformation occurs in localized shear zones and leads to the formation of detachment-like structures in the distal margin sections. Such structures, as for example ‘S’ in the West Iberia-Newfoundland margins, are thus composed of several shear zones, active at low-angles, ∼25°-20°, and merging with the Moho at depth. The final sub-horizontal geometry of these structures is the result of subsequent back-rotation of these shear zones by new oceanward faults. Our results reproduce remarkably well the final sedimentary, fault, crustal architecture, and serpentinisation pattern observed at the West Iberia-Newfoundland margins. However, they challenge widely accepted ideas that such detachment-like structures formed by brittle processes, separate crust from mantle and caused conjugate margin asymmetry. Our model provides a quantitative framework to study hydrothermal systems related to serpentinization during extreme extension, their associated hydrogen, methane production, and the chemosynthetic life they sustain

Changes in intestinal flora, TNF-α, L-17, and IL-6 levels in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus

To study the changes in intestinal flora and different inflammatory factors in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a total of 80 patients with GDM treated in our hospital were selected as the study group. Meanwhile, another 60 normal pregnant women were selected as the control group. The contents of intestinal Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , and Bacteroides were measured in both groups followed by comparison of the incidence of intestinal flora imbalance. In the meantime, the levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-17 (IL-17), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum were detected and compared between those two groups. Afterwards, multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors related to GDM. The number of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , and Bacteroides in the study group was significantly less than those in the control group. The incidence of intestinal flora imbalance in the study group was 33.75%, which is higher than that in the control group. The serum levels of inflammatory factors, including TNF-α, IL-17, and IL-6 in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group. The result of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that Bifidobacterium, Lactobacilli, Bacteroides , TNF-α, IL-17, and IL-6 were risk factors related to GDM. Patients with GDM are prone to intestinal flora imbalance with elevated different inflammatory, which affects immune function in patients and may play an important role in the development of diabetes mellitus

Mid-ocean ridge unfaulting revealed by magmatic intrusions

International audienc

Mid-ocean ridge unfaulting revealed by magmatic intrusions

International audienc

A scoping review on the methodological and reporting quality of scoping reviews in China

Abstract Background Scoping reviews have emerged as a valuable method for synthesizing emerging evidence, providing a comprehensive contextual overview, and influencing policy and practice developments. The objective of this study is to provide an overview of scoping reviews conducted in Chinese academic institutions over the last decades. Method We conducted a comprehensive search of nine databases and six grey literature databases for scoping reviews conducted in Chinese academic institutions. The reporting quality of the included reviews was assessed using the Preferred Reporting Items for PRISMA-ScR checklist. We performed both quantitative and qualitative analyses, examining the conduct of the scoping reviews and exploring the breadth of research topics covered. We used Chi-squared and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests to compare methodological issues and reporting quality in English and Chinese-language reviews. Results A total of 392 reviews published between 2013 and 2022 were included, 238 English-reported reviews and 154 Chinese-reported reviews, respectively. The primary purposes of these reviews were to map and summarize the evidence, with a particular focus on health and nursing topics. 98.7% of reviews explicitly used the term “scoping review”, and the Arksey and O’Malley framework was the most frequently cited framework. Thirty-five English-reported scoping reviews provided a protocol for scoping review. PubMed was the most common source in English-reported reviews and CNKI in Chinese-reported reviews. Reviews published in English were more likely to search the grey literature (P = 0.005), consult information specialists (P < 0.001) and conduct an updated search (P = 0.012) than those in Chinese. Reviews published in English had a significantly high score compared to those published in Chinese (16 vs. 14; P < 0.001). The reporting rates in English-reported reviews were higher than those in Chinese reviews for seven items, but lower for structured summary (P < 0.001), eligibility criteria (P < 0.001), data charting process (P = 0.009) and data items (P = 0.015). Conclusion There has been a significant increase in the number of scoping reviews conducted in Chinese academic institutions each year since 2020. While the research topics covered are diverse, the overall reporting quality of these reviews is need to be improved. And there is a need for greater standardization in the conduct of scoping reviews in Chinese academic institutions

Tectonic controls on melt production and crustal architecture during magma-poor seafloor spreading

International audienceSlow and ultraslow spreading oceanic crust consists of a heterogenous mixture of serpentinised mantle and magmatic rocks. In these environments, both crustal architecture and faulting mode have been attributed to the interplay between magmatism and tectonics. Numerical models have investigated how variations in melt supply influence tectonics. However, how tectonics influences melt production and the formation of a heterogeneous crust is not well understood. Here, we use 2D numerical models to analyze how coupled tectonics, mantle melting, melt emplacement and serpentinization interact. Our model shows that ocean loading and crustal density promote fault offsets and durations. We focus on ultraslow, magma-poor ridges, in particular the Southwest Indian Ridge at 64°30′ East, which exhibits crustal thickening along detachment faults interpreted as a deep serpentinization front. We reproduce the observed bathymetry, seafloor morphology, shaped by alternating flip-flop detachments, and crustal thickness variations, ∼3-6 km, associated with deep along-fault serpentinisation. We find that in this magma-poor environment, where serpentinized mantle dominates crustal composition and magmatic effects on tectonics are limited, variations in melt production are the consequence of changes in mantle flow patterns in response to faulting. Early detachment evolution leads to a slow-down in mantle upwelling and melt production decrease. Late in the detachment life-cycle, antithetic faults in its footwall trigger enhanced mantle upwelling, increasing melt production. During the flip-flop detachment life-cycle, tectonically induced spatio-temporal variations in magma emplacement and serpentinisation contribute to the formation of a heterogeneous crustal architecture and magnetic signature of the seafloor

Triglyceride-glucose index and coronary artery disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of risk, severity, and prognosis

Abstract Background The TyG index is an indicator of insulin resistance (IR), which is associated with the development and prognosis of cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to summarize the relationship between the TyG index and the risk, severity, and prognosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods The PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched for articles published from inception until May 1, 2023. Cross-sectional studies, retrospective or prospective cohort studies recruiting patients with CAD were included. For the analysis of CAD severity, the outcomes were coronary artery calcification, coronary artery stenosis, coronary plaque progression, multi-vessel CAD, and in-stent re-stenosis. For the analysis of CAD prognosis, the primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Results Forty-one studies were included in this study. Compared to patients with the lowest TyG index, those with the highest TyG index had a higher CAD risk [odds ratio (OR): 1.94, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.20–3.14, I 2  = 91%, P = 0.007]. Additionally, these patients were more likely to have stenotic coronary arteries (OR: 3.49, 95% CI 1.71–7.12, I 2  = 0%, P = 0.0006), progressed plaques (OR: 1.67, 95% CI 1.28–2.19, I 2  = 0%, P = 0.002), and with more vessels involved (OR: 2.33, 95% CI 1.59–3.42, I 2  = 0%, P < 0.0001). When calculated as a categorized variable, it appears that acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with higher TyG index levels may have a higher incidence rate of MACE [hazard ratio (HR): 2.09, 95% CI 1.68–2.62, I 2  = 87%, P < 0.00001], whereas chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) or stable CAD patients with higher TyG index levels showed a trend towards an increased incidence rate of MACE (HR: 1.24, 95% CI 0.96–1.60, I 2  = 85%, P = 0.09). When calculated as a continuous variable, ACS patients had an HR of 2.28 per 1-unit/1-standard deviation increment of the TyG index (95% CI 1.44–3.63, I 2  = 95%, P = 0.0005). Similarly, CCS or stable CAD patients had an HR of 1.49 per 1-unit/1-standard deviation increment of the TyG index (95% CI 1.21–1.83, I 2  = 75%, P = 0.0001). Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries patients had an HR of 1.85 per 1-unit increment of the TyG index (95% CI 1.17–2.93, P = 0.008). Conclusions The TyG index is a simple new synthetic index that has been proven to be a valuable tool in the whole-course management of CAD patients. Patients with higher TyG index levels are at a higher risk of CAD, more severe coronary artery lesions, and worse prognosis compared to those with lower TyG index levels