Theory of fractional hybrid differential equations

AbstractIn this paper, we develop the theory of fractional hybrid differential equations involving Riemann–Liouville differential operators of order 0<q<1. An existence theorem for fractional hybrid differential equations is proved under mixed Lipschitz and Carathéodory conditions. Some fundamental fractional differential inequalities are also established which are utilized to prove the existence of extremal solutions. Necessary tools are considered and the comparison principle is proved which will be useful for further study of qualitative behavior of solutions

Existence and Uniqueness of Solutions for Initial Value Problem of Nonlinear Fractional Differential Equations

We discuss the initial value problem for the nonlinear fractional differential equation L(D)u=f(t,u),  t∈(0,1],  u(0)=0, where L(D)=Dsn-an-1Dsn-1-⋯-a1Ds1, 0<s1<s2<⋯<sn<1, and aj<0, j=1,2,…,n-1, Dsj is the standard Riemann-Liouville fractional derivative and f:[0,1]×ℝ→ℝ is a given continuous function. We extend the basic theory of differential equation, the method of upper and lower solutions, and monotone iterative technique to the initial value problem. Some existence and uniqueness results are established

Effectiveness and safety of oral anticoagulant therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation with prior gastrointestinal bleeding: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundGastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) commonly complicates anticoagulant therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, AF patients with prior GIB were excluded from most randomized controlled trials on anticoagulation therapy. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effect of oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy in this specific population.MethodsRandomized trials and observational studies reporting the data about the resumption of OAC therapy among AF patients with prior GIB were included. The search was performed in the PubMed and Embase databasesup to March 2022. The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled by a random-effects model with an inverse variance method.ResultsA total of 7 studies involving 57,623 patients were included. Compared with no anticoagulant therapy, OAC therapy was associated with decreased risks of stroke or systemic embolism (HR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.59–0.84) and all-cause death (HR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.60–0.72), but there was no significant difference in the risk of recurrent GIB (HR = 1.22, 95% CI: 0.94–1.59). Compared with vitamin K antagonists, non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) were associated with reduced risks of stroke or systemic embolism (HR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.54–0.68), all-cause mortality (HR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.75–0.99), major bleeding (HR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.66–0.84), and GIB recurrence (HR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.72–0.96).ConclusionsIn AF patients with prior GIB, OAC therapy (especially NOACs) demonstrated superior effectiveness compared with no anticoagulant therapy

The impact of self-perceived burden, caregiver burden, and dyadic coping on negative emotions in colorectal cancer patient-spousal caregiver dyads: a dyadic analysis

ObjectiveTo explore the correlation between dyadic coping, self-perceived burden, caregiver burden, and anxiety/depression in colorectal cancer patient-spousal caregiver dyads.MethodsThis study surveyed 200 colorectal cancer patient-spousal caregiver dyads from August 2022 to December 2022. It evaluated self-perceived burden (only for patients), caregiver burden (only for spousal caregivers), dyadic coping, anxiety, and depression. It analyzed data through Pearson’s correlation and the actor–partner interdependence mediation model.ResultsSelf-perceived burden and caregiver burden were significantly associated with the anxiety/depression of both individuals in colorectal cancer patient-spousal caregiver dyads; patients’ dyadic coping was associated with self-perceived burden and caregiver burden; caregivers’ dyadic coping was only associated with patients’ dyadic coping and depression. There was an actor–partner mediating effect of self-perceived burden between dyadic coping and anxiety/depression, but there was only a partner-mediating effect of caregiver burden between dyadic coping and anxiety/depression.ConclusionThis study confirmed the interrelationship between self-perceived burden, caregiver burden, dyadic coping, anxiety, and depression. Self-perceived burden and caregiver burden mediated the relationship between dyadic coping and anxiety/depression in colorectal cancer patient-spousal caregiver dyads. This suggests dynamic interventions for self-perceived burden and caregiver burden can be implemented to improve anxiety/depression in both partners based on maintaining healthy dyadic coping between colorectal cancer patient-spousal caregiver dyads

Computational and experimental studies on the CO2 adsorption of layered double hydroxide intercalated by anionic surfactant

The Mg[sbnd]Al, Ca[sbnd]Al, Zn[sbnd]Al and Mg[sbnd]Fe layered double hydroxides intercalated by sodium dodecyl sulfate was prepared by a co-precipitation method. These materials were characterized by elemental analysis, Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and N2 physical adsorption and desorption. Adsorption of CO2 on the samples was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis at 30 °C under 1 bar. The samples had a CO2 adsorption capacity in the range of 0.35–0.58 mmol/g. Ca[sbnd]Al layered double hydroxide intercalated by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) had the highest CO2 adsorption capacity. The layered structures were analyzed by using quantum chemical calculation methods. The simulation results showed that CO2 adsorption capacity was correlated to the ELUMO and the density of Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital (LUMO). The higher ELUMO and density of LUMO orbitals promoted the formation of O-H…O hydrogen bonds, which leaded to the higher CO2 adsorption capacity

Case Report: Recurrent Autoimmune Hypoglycemia Induced by Non-Hypoglycemic Medications

We present a case of recurrent autoimmune hypoglycemia induced by non-hypoglycemic agents. We review reported cases of autoimmune hypoglycemia related to non-hypoglycemic agents, and discuss the effects of different detection methods for insulin autoantibodies on the results obtained. We aim to provide information for clinicians and a warning for medication usage. Considering the increasing number of clopidogrel-induced AIH cases and the hypoglycemia-induced increase in the risk of cardiovascular events, we recommend that cardiovascular disease patients being treated with clopidogrel be informed of this rare side effect and that clinicians be vigilant for the possibility of autoimmune hypoglycemia in this patient population

Caffeine regulates both osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation via the AKT, NF-κB, and MAPK pathways

Background: Although caffeine generally offers benefits to human health, its impact on bone metabolism remains unclear.Aim and Methods: This study aimed to systematically evaluate the long-term effects of caffeine administration on osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and ovariectomy-induced postmenopausal osteoporosis (OP).Results: Our in vitro findings revealed that 3.125 and 12.5 μg/mL caffeine inhibited RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis in RAW 264.7 cells through the MAPK and NF-κB pathways, accompanied by the inactivation of nuclear translocation of nuclear factor NFATc1. Similarly, 3.125 and 12.5 μg/mL of caffeine modulated MC3T3-E1 osteogenesis via the AKT, MAPK, and NF-κB pathways. However, 50 μg/mL of caffeine promoted the phosphorylation of IκBα, P65, JNK, P38, and AKT, followed by the activation of NFATc1 and the inactivation of Runx2 and Osterix, ultimately disrupting the balance between osteoblastogenesis and osteoclastogenesis. In vivo studies showed that gavage with 55.44 mg/kg caffeine inhibited osteoclastogenesis, promoted osteogenesis, and ameliorated bone loss in ovariectomized mice.Conclusion: Conversely, long-term intake of high-dose caffeine (110.88 mg/kg) disrupted osteogenesis activity and promoted osteoclastogenesis, thereby disturbing bone homeostasis. Collectively, these findings suggest that a moderate caffeine intake (approximately 400 mg in humans) can regulate bone homeostasis by influencing both osteoclasts and osteoblasts. However, long-term high-dose caffeine consumption (approximately 800 mg in humans) could have detrimental effects on the skeletal system

Dual-constraint coarse-to-fine network for camouflaged object detection

Camouflaged object detection (COD) is an important yet challenging task, with great application values in industrial defect detection, medical care, etc. The challenges mainly come from the high intrinsic similarities between target objects and background. In this paper, inspired by the biological studies that object detection consists of two steps, i.e., search and identification, we propose a novel framework, named DCNet, for accurate COD. DCNet explores candidate objects and extra object-related edges through two constraints (object area and boundary) and detects camouflaged objects in a coarse-to-fine manner. Specifically, we first exploit an area-boundary decoder (ABD) to obtain initial region cues and boundary cues simultaneously by fusing multi-level features of the backbone. Then, an area search module (ASM) is embedded into each level of the backbone to adaptively search coarse regions of objects with the assistance of region cues from the ABD. After the ASM, an area refinement module (ARM) is utilized to identify fine regions of objects by fusing adjacent-level features with the guidance of boundary cues. Through the deep supervision strategy, DCNet can finally localize the camouflaged objects precisely. Extensive experiments on three benchmark COD datasets demonstrate that our DCNet is superior to 12 state-of-the-art COD methods. In addition, DCNet shows promising results on two COD-related tasks, i.e., industrial defect detection and polyp segmentation

Transcriptome-wide association study reveals novel susceptibility genes for coronary atherosclerosis

BackgroundGenetic risk factors substantially contributed to the development of coronary atherosclerosis. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) has identified many risk loci for coronary atherosclerosis, but the translation of these loci into therapeutic targets is limited for their location in non-coding regions. Here, we aimed to screen the potential coronary atherosclerosis pathogenic genes expressed though TWAS (transcriptome wide association study) and explore the underlying mechanism association.MethodsFour TWAS approaches (PrediXcan, JTI, UTMOST, and FUSION) were used to screen genes associated with coronary atherosclerosis. Enrichment analysis of TWAS-identified genes was applied through the Metascape website. The summary-data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) analysis was conducted to provide the evidence of causal relationship between the candidate genes and coronary atherosclerosis. At last, the cell type-specific expression of the intersection genes was examined by using human coronary artery single-cell RNA-seq, interrogating the immune microenvironment of human coronary atherosclerotic plaque at different stages of maturity.ResultsWe identified 19 genes by at least three approaches and 1 gene (NBEAL1) by four approaches. Enrichment analysis enriching the genes identified at least by two TWAS approaches, suggesting that these genes were markedly enriched in asthma and leukocyte mediated immunity reaction. Further, the summary-data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) analysis provided the evidence of causal relationship between NBEAL1 gene and coronary atherosclerosis, confirming the protecting effects of NBEAL1 gene and coronary atherosclerosis. At last, the single cell cluster analysis demonstrated that NBEAL1 gene has differential expressions in macrophages, plasma cells and endothelial cells.ConclusionOur study identified the novel genes associated with coronary atherosclerosis and suggested the potential biological function for these genes, providing insightful guidance for further biological investigation and therapeutic approaches development in atherosclerosis-related diseases