The paricá [Schizolobium amazonicum Huber ex Ducke] is a native species of the Amazon region, belonging to the Fabaceae family and is a legume that has great social and economic importance, raw material for the m...The paricá [Schizolobium amazonicum Huber ex Ducke] is a native species of the Amazon region, belonging to the Fabaceae family and is a legume that has great social and economic importance, raw material for the manufacture of wood panels. Heliophilous, with wood of light density and good workability. Amazonian soils are highly weathered and characterized by high acidity, so Al harms the growth and development of sensitive plants, as well as the presence of resistant and/or tolerant plants. Thus, in this work, we sought to study the biochemical metabolism alterations generated in young plants of Schizolobium amazonicum Huber ex Ducke affected at different dosages of AlCl3. The research was conducted in a greenhouse of the Federal Rural University of Amazonia, using pre-scarified paricá seeds, which were seeded in plastic containers of 3.5 L capacity, with black soil fertilized with NPK 15-15-20. On the 8th day after sowing (DAS), thinning of 5 seedlings was performed for 2, and on day 12 of 2 for 1 seedling. The treatments started after 1 month and 22 days of sowing and the plants were collected 24 days later. A completely randomized experimental design (RED) was used, with 6 treatments (Control, Al 15 mg/L-1, Al 30 mg/L-1, Al 45 mg/L-1, Al 60 mg/L-1 and Al 75 mg/L-1) with 5 replicates each (one plant/pot) totaling 30 experimental units. The AlCl3 dosages resulted in considerable changes in the biochemical variables evaluated, especially when the 75 mg·L-1 dosage was applied. The considerable reduction in some variables such as nitrate reductase, glycine betaine and total soluble carbohydrates of these compounds to the applied AlCl3·6H2O dosages, is a way to create resistance mechanisms to try to overcome stress or as a way of showing limitations in the applied dosages. The species was sensitive to the AlCl3 dosages, and resisted only 23 days to the imposed stress. However, it presented defense mechanisms that were able to prolong the physiological activities;since without them, the time of exposure to the stress would possibly be less.展开更多
Objective: Epidural steroid injections (ESI) are used extensively to treat radicular back pain. This study is designed to evaluate the types and dosages of steroids commonly used and understand prescribing habits of t...Objective: Epidural steroid injections (ESI) are used extensively to treat radicular back pain. This study is designed to evaluate the types and dosages of steroids commonly used and understand prescribing habits of the Texas Pain Society pain management physicians. Method: From April to May 2014, we sent all 270 Texas Pain Society members a questionnaire to complete online. We collected 45 responses. Result: Type of steroid commonly used in injectate: Eighteen (41.9%) phy-sicians reported using methylprednisolone most. Fifteen (34.9%) physicians use triamcinolone, 9 (20.9%) physicians use dexamethasone, 1 (2.3%) uses betamethasone, and 2 skipped this question. Important factors influencing the type of steroid use in injectate: Half of the physicians reported that the location of the ESI was most important (19 responses, 48.7%). Ten (25.6%) reported that the approach of the ESI was most important. Another ten (25.6%) agreed that the potency of the steroid was most important. Dosage of steroid used in injectate: About half of the physicians use a fixed dose of steroid (22, 51.2%) while 21 (48.8%) use a variable dose of steroid. Of those who use a fixed dose of steroid, many use methylprednisolone 80 mg (9, 39.1%). Of those who use a variable dosage of steroid, the most important factor in their determination of the dosage is the patient’s comorbidities (20 responses, 58.8%). The use of depo-steroid in injectate: Thirty-two out of 43 (74.4%) use depo-steroid while 11 out of 43 (25.6%) wouldn’t use depo-steroid. Of those who use depo-steroid, the duration and availability in the epidural space is the most common reason for its use (23, 76.7%). Conclusion: By using a simple questionnaire detailing what types and dosages of steroids are used, compiling a list of best practices can help Texas Pain Society physicians tremendously in the treatment of radicular back pain.展开更多
BACKGROUND Medication errors,especially in dosage calculation,pose risks in healthcare.Artificial intelligence(AI)systems like ChatGPT and Google Bard may help reduce errors,but their accuracy in providing medication ...BACKGROUND Medication errors,especially in dosage calculation,pose risks in healthcare.Artificial intelligence(AI)systems like ChatGPT and Google Bard may help reduce errors,but their accuracy in providing medication information remains to be evaluated.AIM To evaluate the accuracy of AI systems(ChatGPT 3.5,ChatGPT 4,Google Bard)in providing drug dosage information per Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine.METHODS A set of natural language queries mimicking real-world medical dosage inquiries was presented to the AI systems.Responses were analyzed using a 3-point Likert scale.The analysis,conducted with Python and its libraries,focused on basic statistics,overall system accuracy,and disease-specific and organ system accuracies.RESULTS ChatGPT 4 outperformed the other systems,showing the highest rate of correct responses(83.77%)and the best overall weighted accuracy(0.6775).Disease-specific accuracy varied notably across systems,with some diseases being accurately recognized,while others demonstrated significant discrepancies.Organ system accuracy also showed variable results,underscoring system-specific strengths and weaknesses.CONCLUSION ChatGPT 4 demonstrates superior reliability in medical dosage information,yet variations across diseases emphasize the need for ongoing improvements.These results highlight AI's potential in aiding healthcare professionals,urging continuous development for dependable accuracy in critical medical situations.展开更多
[Objective]The paper was to study efficacy and phytotoxicity of different dosages of 4% nicosulfuron on weeds in corn fields.[Method]With summer corn variety Zhengdan 958commonly used in field production in Hengshui a...[Objective]The paper was to study efficacy and phytotoxicity of different dosages of 4% nicosulfuron on weeds in corn fields.[Method]With summer corn variety Zhengdan 958commonly used in field production in Hengshui area of Hebei Province of China as the test material,different dosages（1 050,1 500 and 1 950mL/hm2）of corn postemergence herbicide 4% nicosulfuron SC were sprayed during five-leaf stage of corn,and the treatments with water spraying and manual weeding were set as controls.The effects of different dosages of 4% nicosulfuron SC on weed control efficacy and safety and yield of corn were analyzed in order to determine the optimal dosage.[Result]Spraying 4% nicosulfuron SC with dosage of 1 500mL/hm2 during five-leaf stage of corn not only had better control effect against various weeds,but also did not produce phytotoxicity on corn,and the yield of corn was higher.[Conclusion]The study provided scientific information for using 4% nicosulfuron to eradicate weeds in corn fields.展开更多
Background:Tandem gene repeats naturally occur as important genomic features and determine many traits in living organisms,like human diseases and microbial productivities of target bioproducts.Methods:Here,we develop...Background:Tandem gene repeats naturally occur as important genomic features and determine many traits in living organisms,like human diseases and microbial productivities of target bioproducts.Methods:Here,we developed a bacterial type-II toxin-antitoxin-mediated method to manipulate genomic integration of tandem gene repeats in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and further visualised the evolutionary trajectories of gene repeats.We designed a tri-vector system to introduce toxin-antitoxin-driven gene amplification modules.Results:This system delivered multi-copy gene integration in the form of tandem gene repeats spontaneously and independently from toxin-antitoxin-mediated selection.Inducing the toxin(RelE)expressing via a copper(II)-inducible CUP1 promoter successfully drove the in-situ gene amplification of the antitoxin(RelB)module,resulting in~40 copies of a green fluorescence reporter gene per copy of genome.Copy-number changes,copy-number increase and copy-number decrease,and stable maintenance were visualised using the green fluorescence protein and blue chromoprotein AeBlue as reporters.Copy-number increases happened spontaneously and independent on a selection pressure.Increased copy number was quickly enriched through toxin-antitoxin-mediated selection.Conclusion:In summary,the bacterial toxin-antitoxin systems provide a flexible mechanism to manipulate gene copy number in eukaryotic cells and can be exploited for synthetic biology and metabolic engineering applications.展开更多
To the Editor:Acute necrotizing encephalopathy(ANE)is a rare but often devastating neurologic disorder in children.[1]Hereditary susceptibility and cytokine storm play important roles in ANE pathogenesis,[2,3]but the ...To the Editor:Acute necrotizing encephalopathy(ANE)is a rare but often devastating neurologic disorder in children.[1]Hereditary susceptibility and cytokine storm play important roles in ANE pathogenesis,[2,3]but the specific molecular biological mechanism is unclear.展开更多
background The risk of symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage(sICH)after thrombolysis is low but severe.Lower dose of alteplase may reduce the risk of sICH.We aim to identify subsets of patients who could benefit from l...background The risk of symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage(sICH)after thrombolysis is low but severe.Lower dose of alteplase may reduce the risk of sICH.We aim to identify subsets of patients who could benefit from lower dose of alteplase compared with standard dose.Methods Data from two observational registries were pooled together.A total of 3479 patients who had acute ischaemic stroke were entered into the interaction tree model.The response variable was the rate of sICH per the definition of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Study.Clinical improvement was measured by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)and defined as NIHSS 0 or 1 or an improvement of more than 4 points(within 7 days or at discharge).Rare event logistic regression was performed to analyse the OR of safety outcome.results To optimise the interaction effect between tissue plasminogen activator(tPA)dosage(standard/lower)and patient subgroups,three subgroups based on the severity of stroke were identified:(1)NIHSS≤4,(2)NIHSS between 5 and 14,and(3)NIHSS≥15.The estimated difference of OR of having sICH was 2.71(95%CI 0.80 to 7.69,p=0.10)for mild,0.13(95%CI 0.02 to 0.68,p=0.01)for moderate,and 0.65(95%CI 0.19 to 2.55,p=0.52)for severe,respectively.In addition,patients who had moderate stroke treated with lower dose had comparable efficacy outcome(OR 1.23,95%CI 0.71 to 2.13,p=0.45).Conclusion Our analysis demonstrated that in patients who had moderate stroke,lower doses of alteplase are associated with significant sICH reduction and non-inferior performance in efficacy,compared with those in the standard dose group.展开更多
Chemotherapeutic drugs eliminate tumor cells at relatively high doses and are considered weapons against tumors in clinics and hospitals.However,despite their ability to induce cellular apoptosis,chemotherapeutic drug...Chemotherapeutic drugs eliminate tumor cells at relatively high doses and are considered weapons against tumors in clinics and hospitals.However,despite their ability to induce cellular apoptosis,chemotherapeutic drugs should probably be regarded more as a class of cell regulators than cell killers,if the dosage used and the fact that their targets are involved in basic molecular events are considered.Unfortunately,the regulatory properties of chemotherapeutic drugs are usually hidden or masked by the massive cell death induced by high doses.Recent evidence has begun to suggest that low dosages of chemotherapeutic drugs might profoundly regulate various intracellular aspects of normal cells,especially immune cells.Here,we discuss the immune regulatory roles of three kinds of chemotherapeutic drugs under low-dose conditions and propose low dosages as potential new chemotherapeutic weapons on the battlefield of immune-related disease.展开更多
To the Editor:Growth hormone deficiency(GHD)impairs growth and development,affecting approximately 1 in 4000 children worldwide.[1]Recombinant human growth hormone(rhGH)has been standard practice since 1985.[2]However...To the Editor:Growth hormone deficiency(GHD)impairs growth and development,affecting approximately 1 in 4000 children worldwide.[1]Recombinant human growth hormone(rhGH)has been standard practice since 1985.[2]However,compliance has been challenged by the need for frequent injections.Polyethylene glycol rhGH(PEG-rhGH)was developed,improving protein stability and extending half-life.Some studies suggested that a weekly dosage of 0.20 mg/kg of PEG-rhGH offers improved growth rates and increased insulin-like growth factor-1 standard deviation score(IGF-1 SDS)without novel toxicities.[3]Here,we present a pooled analysis of two phase IV trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of various PEG-rhGH dosages in GHD.展开更多
Neurons are notoriously vulnerable cell types.Even the slightest change in their internal and/or external environments will cause much distress and dysfunction,leading often to their death.A range of pathological cond...Neurons are notoriously vulnerable cell types.Even the slightest change in their internal and/or external environments will cause much distress and dysfunction,leading often to their death.A range of pathological conditions,including stroke,head trauma,and neurodegenerative disease,can generate stress in neurons,affecting their survival and proper function.In most neural pathologies,mitochondria become dysfunctional and this plays a pivotal role in the process of cell death.The challenge over the last few decades has been to develop effective interventions that improve neuronal homeostasis under pathological conditions.Such interventions,often referred to as disease-modifying or neuroprotective,have,however,proved frustratingly elusive,at both preclinical and,in particular,clinical levels.In this perspective,we highlight two factors that we feel are key to the development of effective neuroprotective treatments.These are:firstly,the choice of dose of intervention and method of application,and secondly,the selection of subjects,whether they be patients or the animal model.展开更多
The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has necessitated rapid advancements in therapeutic strategies,with dexamethasone emerging as a key treatment for severe cases.This editorial discusses the systema...The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has necessitated rapid advancements in therapeutic strategies,with dexamethasone emerging as a key treatment for severe cases.This editorial discusses the systematic review conducted by Sethi et al,published in the World Journal of Virology.The review critically examines the efficacy and safety of varying dosages of dexamethasone in severe COVID-19 patients,providing a comprehensive meta-analysis that underscores the current clinical recommendations favoring a low-dose regimen.Despite these findings,the review highlights the potential benefits of tailored dosages for specific patient subgroups,suggesting a need for personalized treatment approaches.This editorial expands on the implications of these findings,advocating for the integration of evolving clinical data into treatment protocols and calling for further research into patient-specific responses to therapy.It emphasizes the importance of adaptability and precision in pandemic response,urging the medical community to consider both the robustness of existing evidence and the potential for innovative approaches to enhance patient outcomes in the face of global health challenges.展开更多
A recent study by Zhang et al developed a neural network-based predictive model for estimating doses to the uninvolved liver during stereotactic body radiation therapy(SBRT)in liver cancer.The study reported a signifi...A recent study by Zhang et al developed a neural network-based predictive model for estimating doses to the uninvolved liver during stereotactic body radiation therapy(SBRT)in liver cancer.The study reported a significant advancement in personalized radiotherapy by improving accuracy and reducing treatment-related toxicity.The model demonstrated strong predictive performance with R-values above 0.8,indicating its potential to improve treatment consistency.However,concerns arise from the small sample size and exclusion criteria,which may limit generalizability.Future studies should incorporate larger,more diverse patient cohorts,explore potential confounding factors such as tumor characteristics and delivery technique variability,and address the long-term effects of SBRT.展开更多
Background:Cannabidiol(CBD)has numerous therapeutic properties,and is used to treat neurological conditions,such as neuroinflammation.However,the optimal dose of CBD to penetrate the brain requires further investigati...Background:Cannabidiol(CBD)has numerous therapeutic properties,and is used to treat neurological conditions,such as neuroinflammation.However,the optimal dose of CBD to penetrate the brain requires further investigation.The primary aim of this study was to use a mouse model and the intrabuccal route for CBD administration to determine the optimal dose at which CBD can penetrate the brain.The secondary aim was to determine whether sex is a confounding factor.Methods:Thirty adult Kramnik mice,divided equally into three groups,were ad-ministered CBD oil intrabuccally at three doses-10,20,and 30 mg/kg,euthanized 6 h later,and whole brain,urine,and blood samples were collected.Liquid chro-matography with tandem mass spectrometry was used to analyze the collected samples.Results:CBD and its three metabolites—7-carboxy cannabidiol(7-COOH-CBD),7-hydroxy cannabidiol(7-OH-CBD)and 6-hydroxy cannabidiol(6-OH-CBD),were identified and quantified in all samples.The 10 and 20 mg/kg doses of CBD produced similar results in the brain,but the group given the 10 mg/kg dose had the least vari-ation.The 30 mg/kg dose yielded the highest abundance of CBD and its metabolites in all samples,but also the greatest variation.Sex only became a confounding factor at 30 mg/kg.Conclusions:This study shows that the intrabuccal route of CBD administration is reliable and the 10 mg/kg dose of CBD is recommended in mice because there were good CBD metabolite concentrations in all samples,with the least variation among the doses,and sex was not a confounder at 10 mg/kg.展开更多
Purpose:To assess the clinical efficacy of integrating deep learning reconstruction(DLR)with contrast-enhancement-boost(CE-boost)in 80 kVp head and neck CT angiography(CTA)using substantially lowered radiation and con...Purpose:To assess the clinical efficacy of integrating deep learning reconstruction(DLR)with contrast-enhancement-boost(CE-boost)in 80 kVp head and neck CT angiography(CTA)using substantially lowered radiation and contrast medium(CM)doses,compared to the standard 100 kVp protocol using hybrid iterative reconstruction(HIR).Methods:Sixty-six patients were prospectively enrolled and randomly assigned to one of two groups:the low-dose group(n=33),receiving 80 kVp and 28 mL contrast medium(CM)with a noise index(NI)of 15;and the regular-dose group(n=33),receiving 100 kVp and 40 mL CM with an NI of 10.For the lowdose group,images underwent reconstruction using both hybrid iterative reconstruction(HIR)and deep learning reconstruction(DLR)at mild-,standard-,and strong-strength levels,both before and after combination with contrast enhancement-boost(CE-boost).This generated eight distinct datasets:L-HIR,L-DLR_(mild),L-DLR_(standard),L-DLR_(strong),L-HIR-CE,L-DLR_(mild)-CE,L-DLR_(standard)-CE,and L-DLR_(strong)-CE.Images for the regular-dose group were reconstructed solely with HIR(R-HIR).Quantitative analysis involved calculating and comparing CT attenuation,image noise,signal-to-noise ratio(SNR),and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)within six key vessels:the aortic arch(AA),internal carotid artery(ICA),external carotid artery(ECA),vertebral arteries(VA),basilar artery(BA),and middle cerebral artery(MCA).Two radiologists independently assessed subjective image quality using a 5-point scale,with statistical significance defined as P<0.05.Results:Compared to the regular-dose group,the low-dose protocol achieved a substantial reduction in contrast media volume(28 mL versus 40 mL,a 30%decrease)and radiation exposure((0.41±0.08)mSv versus(1.18±0.12)mSv,a 65%reduction).Both L-DLR_(standard) and L-DLR_(strong) delivered comparable or superior SNR and CNR across all vascular segments relative to R-HIR.However,subjective image quality scores for L-DLR at all strength levels fell below those for R-HIR(all P<0.05 for both readers).Combining CE-boost with the low-dose protocol significantly enhanced the objective image performance of L-DLR_(strong)-CE(all P<0.05)and produced subjective image scores comparable to R-HIR(reader 1:P=0.15;reader 2:P=0.06).Conclusion:When compared to the standard 100 kVp head and neck CTA,the combination of the DLR and CE-boost techniques at 80 kVp can achieve a 30%reduction in contrast dose and a 65%reduction in radiation dose,while maintaining both objective and subjective image quality.展开更多
Fluidized solidified soil(FSS)is an innovative backfill material that offers benefits such as easy pumping and straightforward construction.This study examined how varying the water-soil ratio and the curing agent dos...Fluidized solidified soil(FSS)is an innovative backfill material that offers benefits such as easy pumping and straightforward construction.This study examined how varying the water-soil ratio and the curing agent dosage affect the properties and microstructure of FSS.The strength development mechanism was investigated when composite solidification agents were used.The findings show that both the water-solid ratio and the curing agent dosage can affect the microstructure of FSS,thereby affecting its performance.When the water-solid ratio increases from 0.52 to 0.56,the unconfined compressive strength(UCS)and flexural strength of the FSS decrease by 34.1% and 39.3% after 28 d.Conversely,the curing agent dosage increasing from 10% to 30% will increase both UCS and flexural strength by 11.2 times and 11.1 times.As the curing age increases,the number of cracks at failure point in the FSS will increase and lead to a more complete failure.Numerous needle-like AFt,C-S-H gel,and C-(A)-S-H gel create a three-dimensional network by adhering to soil particles.展开更多
[ Objective ]The aim of this study was to discuss the feasibility of breeding cabbage with high Vc by 532 nm laser.[ Method ] With the material of cabbage, the embryo of cabbage seeds was irradiated by frequency doubl...[ Objective ]The aim of this study was to discuss the feasibility of breeding cabbage with high Vc by 532 nm laser.[ Method ] With the material of cabbage, the embryo of cabbage seeds was irradiated by frequency doubled Nd ：YAG laser with different power densities and time, and the effects of laser mode on functional leaf area, chlorophyll and Vc contents in cabbage seedlings were also studied. [Result] The results showed that functional leaf area and chlorophyll content were related to laser power density and time when laser power density was 2 -20 mW/mm^2, while the optimal effect was observed at 14 mW/mm^2 for 1 min. The content of Vc in cabbage seedlings was related to dosage of laser irradiation when irradiating time ranged from 1 to 5 min, and the optimal effect was observed at 2.8 J （20 mW/mm^2, 3 min）. [Conclusion] Irradiating the embryo of cabbage seeds with proper irradiation dosage of 532 nm laser can increase its effect on the Vc content significantly.展开更多
BACKGROUND Diabetes is a chronic disease,which may cause various complications.Patients with diabetes are at high risk of bone and joint disorders,such as osteoporosis and bone fractures.In addition,it became widely a...BACKGROUND Diabetes is a chronic disease,which may cause various complications.Patients with diabetes are at high risk of bone and joint disorders,such as osteoporosis and bone fractures.In addition,it became widely accepted that diabetes has an important impact on bone metabolism.Metformin is a commonly used and effective first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes.Some glucose-lowering agents have been found to have an effect on bone metabolism.The present study explored if different doses of metformin have an effect on bone mineral density(BMD)and bone metabolism in type 2 diabetes.AIM To investigate the effects of different doses of metformin on BMD and bone metabolism in elderly male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.METHODS A total of 120 elderly male outpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were admitted to our hospital were included in the study from July 2018 to June 2019.They were randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group with 60 patients in each group.Patients in the experimental group were given high dose metformin four times a day 0.5 g each time for 12 wk.Patients in the control group were given low dose metformin orally twice a day 0.5 g each time for 12 wk.The changes in bone mineral density and bone metabolism before and after treatment and the efficacy rate of the treatment were compared between the two groups.RESULTS There was no significant difference in the efficacy rate between the two groups(P>0.05).Before the treatment,there was no significant difference in BMD and bone metabolism between the two groups(P>0.05).However,after the treatment,BMD and bone metabolism were improved in the two groups.Moreover,BMD and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group,and N-terminal/midregion andβ-isomerized Cterminal telopeptides were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group(all P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION Both high and low dose metformin can effectively control the blood glucose levels in elderly male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.However,the benefits of high dose metformin in improving BMD and bone metabolism level was more obvious in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.展开更多
文摘The paricá [Schizolobium amazonicum Huber ex Ducke] is a native species of the Amazon region, belonging to the Fabaceae family and is a legume that has great social and economic importance, raw material for the manufacture of wood panels. Heliophilous, with wood of light density and good workability. Amazonian soils are highly weathered and characterized by high acidity, so Al harms the growth and development of sensitive plants, as well as the presence of resistant and/or tolerant plants. Thus, in this work, we sought to study the biochemical metabolism alterations generated in young plants of Schizolobium amazonicum Huber ex Ducke affected at different dosages of AlCl3. The research was conducted in a greenhouse of the Federal Rural University of Amazonia, using pre-scarified paricá seeds, which were seeded in plastic containers of 3.5 L capacity, with black soil fertilized with NPK 15-15-20. On the 8th day after sowing (DAS), thinning of 5 seedlings was performed for 2, and on day 12 of 2 for 1 seedling. The treatments started after 1 month and 22 days of sowing and the plants were collected 24 days later. A completely randomized experimental design (RED) was used, with 6 treatments (Control, Al 15 mg/L-1, Al 30 mg/L-1, Al 45 mg/L-1, Al 60 mg/L-1 and Al 75 mg/L-1) with 5 replicates each (one plant/pot) totaling 30 experimental units. The AlCl3 dosages resulted in considerable changes in the biochemical variables evaluated, especially when the 75 mg·L-1 dosage was applied. The considerable reduction in some variables such as nitrate reductase, glycine betaine and total soluble carbohydrates of these compounds to the applied AlCl3·6H2O dosages, is a way to create resistance mechanisms to try to overcome stress or as a way of showing limitations in the applied dosages. The species was sensitive to the AlCl3 dosages, and resisted only 23 days to the imposed stress. However, it presented defense mechanisms that were able to prolong the physiological activities;since without them, the time of exposure to the stress would possibly be less.
文摘Objective: Epidural steroid injections (ESI) are used extensively to treat radicular back pain. This study is designed to evaluate the types and dosages of steroids commonly used and understand prescribing habits of the Texas Pain Society pain management physicians. Method: From April to May 2014, we sent all 270 Texas Pain Society members a questionnaire to complete online. We collected 45 responses. Result: Type of steroid commonly used in injectate: Eighteen (41.9%) phy-sicians reported using methylprednisolone most. Fifteen (34.9%) physicians use triamcinolone, 9 (20.9%) physicians use dexamethasone, 1 (2.3%) uses betamethasone, and 2 skipped this question. Important factors influencing the type of steroid use in injectate: Half of the physicians reported that the location of the ESI was most important (19 responses, 48.7%). Ten (25.6%) reported that the approach of the ESI was most important. Another ten (25.6%) agreed that the potency of the steroid was most important. Dosage of steroid used in injectate: About half of the physicians use a fixed dose of steroid (22, 51.2%) while 21 (48.8%) use a variable dose of steroid. Of those who use a fixed dose of steroid, many use methylprednisolone 80 mg (9, 39.1%). Of those who use a variable dosage of steroid, the most important factor in their determination of the dosage is the patient’s comorbidities (20 responses, 58.8%). The use of depo-steroid in injectate: Thirty-two out of 43 (74.4%) use depo-steroid while 11 out of 43 (25.6%) wouldn’t use depo-steroid. Of those who use depo-steroid, the duration and availability in the epidural space is the most common reason for its use (23, 76.7%). Conclusion: By using a simple questionnaire detailing what types and dosages of steroids are used, compiling a list of best practices can help Texas Pain Society physicians tremendously in the treatment of radicular back pain.
文摘BACKGROUND Medication errors,especially in dosage calculation,pose risks in healthcare.Artificial intelligence(AI)systems like ChatGPT and Google Bard may help reduce errors,but their accuracy in providing medication information remains to be evaluated.AIM To evaluate the accuracy of AI systems(ChatGPT 3.5,ChatGPT 4,Google Bard)in providing drug dosage information per Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine.METHODS A set of natural language queries mimicking real-world medical dosage inquiries was presented to the AI systems.Responses were analyzed using a 3-point Likert scale.The analysis,conducted with Python and its libraries,focused on basic statistics,overall system accuracy,and disease-specific and organ system accuracies.RESULTS ChatGPT 4 outperformed the other systems,showing the highest rate of correct responses(83.77%)and the best overall weighted accuracy(0.6775).Disease-specific accuracy varied notably across systems,with some diseases being accurately recognized,while others demonstrated significant discrepancies.Organ system accuracy also showed variable results,underscoring system-specific strengths and weaknesses.CONCLUSION ChatGPT 4 demonstrates superior reliability in medical dosage information,yet variations across diseases emphasize the need for ongoing improvements.These results highlight AI's potential in aiding healthcare professionals,urging continuous development for dependable accuracy in critical medical situations.
文摘[Objective]The paper was to study efficacy and phytotoxicity of different dosages of 4% nicosulfuron on weeds in corn fields.[Method]With summer corn variety Zhengdan 958commonly used in field production in Hengshui area of Hebei Province of China as the test material,different dosages（1 050,1 500 and 1 950mL/hm2）of corn postemergence herbicide 4% nicosulfuron SC were sprayed during five-leaf stage of corn,and the treatments with water spraying and manual weeding were set as controls.The effects of different dosages of 4% nicosulfuron SC on weed control efficacy and safety and yield of corn were analyzed in order to determine the optimal dosage.[Result]Spraying 4% nicosulfuron SC with dosage of 1 500mL/hm2 during five-leaf stage of corn not only had better control effect against various weeds,but also did not produce phytotoxicity on corn,and the yield of corn was higher.[Conclusion]The study provided scientific information for using 4% nicosulfuron to eradicate weeds in corn fields.
基金supported partially by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council Centres of Excellence funding scheme(project CE200100029)。
文摘Background:Tandem gene repeats naturally occur as important genomic features and determine many traits in living organisms,like human diseases and microbial productivities of target bioproducts.Methods:Here,we developed a bacterial type-II toxin-antitoxin-mediated method to manipulate genomic integration of tandem gene repeats in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and further visualised the evolutionary trajectories of gene repeats.We designed a tri-vector system to introduce toxin-antitoxin-driven gene amplification modules.Results:This system delivered multi-copy gene integration in the form of tandem gene repeats spontaneously and independently from toxin-antitoxin-mediated selection.Inducing the toxin(RelE)expressing via a copper(II)-inducible CUP1 promoter successfully drove the in-situ gene amplification of the antitoxin(RelB)module,resulting in~40 copies of a green fluorescence reporter gene per copy of genome.Copy-number changes,copy-number increase and copy-number decrease,and stable maintenance were visualised using the green fluorescence protein and blue chromoprotein AeBlue as reporters.Copy-number increases happened spontaneously and independent on a selection pressure.Increased copy number was quickly enriched through toxin-antitoxin-mediated selection.Conclusion:In summary,the bacterial toxin-antitoxin systems provide a flexible mechanism to manipulate gene copy number in eukaryotic cells and can be exploited for synthetic biology and metabolic engineering applications.
基金supported by a grant from Capital’s Funds for Health Improvement and Research of Beijing Children’s Hospital,Capital Medical University(No.2020-2-2094)
文摘To the Editor:Acute necrotizing encephalopathy(ANE)is a rare but often devastating neurologic disorder in children.[1]Hereditary susceptibility and cytokine storm play important roles in ANE pathogenesis,[2,3]but the specific molecular biological mechanism is unclear.
基金The Ministry of Science and Technology Major Project of China(2017YFC1310903)University of Hong Kong BRC Grant,and Patrick SC Poon Professorship Endowment Fund.
文摘background The risk of symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage(sICH)after thrombolysis is low but severe.Lower dose of alteplase may reduce the risk of sICH.We aim to identify subsets of patients who could benefit from lower dose of alteplase compared with standard dose.Methods Data from two observational registries were pooled together.A total of 3479 patients who had acute ischaemic stroke were entered into the interaction tree model.The response variable was the rate of sICH per the definition of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Study.Clinical improvement was measured by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)and defined as NIHSS 0 or 1 or an improvement of more than 4 points(within 7 days or at discharge).Rare event logistic regression was performed to analyse the OR of safety outcome.results To optimise the interaction effect between tissue plasminogen activator(tPA)dosage(standard/lower)and patient subgroups,three subgroups based on the severity of stroke were identified:(1)NIHSS≤4,(2)NIHSS between 5 and 14,and(3)NIHSS≥15.The estimated difference of OR of having sICH was 2.71(95%CI 0.80 to 7.69,p=0.10)for mild,0.13(95%CI 0.02 to 0.68,p=0.01)for moderate,and 0.65(95%CI 0.19 to 2.55,p=0.52)for severe,respectively.In addition,patients who had moderate stroke treated with lower dose had comparable efficacy outcome(OR 1.23,95%CI 0.71 to 2.13,p=0.45).Conclusion Our analysis demonstrated that in patients who had moderate stroke,lower doses of alteplase are associated with significant sICH reduction and non-inferior performance in efficacy,compared with those in the standard dose group.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(30871020 and 30972667)Funds for International Cooperation and Exchange of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(30911120482)+2 种基金Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University(NCET-08-0219)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(HUST-2010JC024)Scientific Research Foundation of Wuhan City Human Resource for Returned Scholars.
文摘Chemotherapeutic drugs eliminate tumor cells at relatively high doses and are considered weapons against tumors in clinics and hospitals.However,despite their ability to induce cellular apoptosis,chemotherapeutic drugs should probably be regarded more as a class of cell regulators than cell killers,if the dosage used and the fact that their targets are involved in basic molecular events are considered.Unfortunately,the regulatory properties of chemotherapeutic drugs are usually hidden or masked by the massive cell death induced by high doses.Recent evidence has begun to suggest that low dosages of chemotherapeutic drugs might profoundly regulate various intracellular aspects of normal cells,especially immune cells.Here,we discuss the immune regulatory roles of three kinds of chemotherapeutic drugs under low-dose conditions and propose low dosages as potential new chemotherapeutic weapons on the battlefield of immune-related disease.
文摘To the Editor:Growth hormone deficiency(GHD)impairs growth and development,affecting approximately 1 in 4000 children worldwide.[1]Recombinant human growth hormone(rhGH)has been standard practice since 1985.[2]However,compliance has been challenged by the need for frequent injections.Polyethylene glycol rhGH(PEG-rhGH)was developed,improving protein stability and extending half-life.Some studies suggested that a weekly dosage of 0.20 mg/kg of PEG-rhGH offers improved growth rates and increased insulin-like growth factor-1 standard deviation score(IGF-1 SDS)without novel toxicities.[3]Here,we present a pooled analysis of two phase IV trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of various PEG-rhGH dosages in GHD.
基金supported by Fonds Clinatec and COVEA France(to JM).
文摘Neurons are notoriously vulnerable cell types.Even the slightest change in their internal and/or external environments will cause much distress and dysfunction,leading often to their death.A range of pathological conditions,including stroke,head trauma,and neurodegenerative disease,can generate stress in neurons,affecting their survival and proper function.In most neural pathologies,mitochondria become dysfunctional and this plays a pivotal role in the process of cell death.The challenge over the last few decades has been to develop effective interventions that improve neuronal homeostasis under pathological conditions.Such interventions,often referred to as disease-modifying or neuroprotective,have,however,proved frustratingly elusive,at both preclinical and,in particular,clinical levels.In this perspective,we highlight two factors that we feel are key to the development of effective neuroprotective treatments.These are:firstly,the choice of dose of intervention and method of application,and secondly,the selection of subjects,whether they be patients or the animal model.
文摘The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has necessitated rapid advancements in therapeutic strategies,with dexamethasone emerging as a key treatment for severe cases.This editorial discusses the systematic review conducted by Sethi et al,published in the World Journal of Virology.The review critically examines the efficacy and safety of varying dosages of dexamethasone in severe COVID-19 patients,providing a comprehensive meta-analysis that underscores the current clinical recommendations favoring a low-dose regimen.Despite these findings,the review highlights the potential benefits of tailored dosages for specific patient subgroups,suggesting a need for personalized treatment approaches.This editorial expands on the implications of these findings,advocating for the integration of evolving clinical data into treatment protocols and calling for further research into patient-specific responses to therapy.It emphasizes the importance of adaptability and precision in pandemic response,urging the medical community to consider both the robustness of existing evidence and the potential for innovative approaches to enhance patient outcomes in the face of global health challenges.
文摘A recent study by Zhang et al developed a neural network-based predictive model for estimating doses to the uninvolved liver during stereotactic body radiation therapy(SBRT)in liver cancer.The study reported a significant advancement in personalized radiotherapy by improving accuracy and reducing treatment-related toxicity.The model demonstrated strong predictive performance with R-values above 0.8,indicating its potential to improve treatment consistency.However,concerns arise from the small sample size and exclusion criteria,which may limit generalizability.Future studies should incorporate larger,more diverse patient cohorts,explore potential confounding factors such as tumor characteristics and delivery technique variability,and address the long-term effects of SBRT.
基金National Research Fund of South Africa(grant number:137792).
文摘Background:Cannabidiol(CBD)has numerous therapeutic properties,and is used to treat neurological conditions,such as neuroinflammation.However,the optimal dose of CBD to penetrate the brain requires further investigation.The primary aim of this study was to use a mouse model and the intrabuccal route for CBD administration to determine the optimal dose at which CBD can penetrate the brain.The secondary aim was to determine whether sex is a confounding factor.Methods:Thirty adult Kramnik mice,divided equally into three groups,were ad-ministered CBD oil intrabuccally at three doses-10,20,and 30 mg/kg,euthanized 6 h later,and whole brain,urine,and blood samples were collected.Liquid chro-matography with tandem mass spectrometry was used to analyze the collected samples.Results:CBD and its three metabolites—7-carboxy cannabidiol(7-COOH-CBD),7-hydroxy cannabidiol(7-OH-CBD)and 6-hydroxy cannabidiol(6-OH-CBD),were identified and quantified in all samples.The 10 and 20 mg/kg doses of CBD produced similar results in the brain,but the group given the 10 mg/kg dose had the least vari-ation.The 30 mg/kg dose yielded the highest abundance of CBD and its metabolites in all samples,but also the greatest variation.Sex only became a confounding factor at 30 mg/kg.Conclusions:This study shows that the intrabuccal route of CBD administration is reliable and the 10 mg/kg dose of CBD is recommended in mice because there were good CBD metabolite concentrations in all samples,with the least variation among the doses,and sex was not a confounder at 10 mg/kg.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(82001814)National High Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding(grant number 2022-PUMCH-B-067)+1 种基金National High Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding(grant number 2022-PUMCH-B-068)2021 SKY Imaging Research Fund of the Chinese Internatinal Medical Foundation(Z-2014-07-2101).
文摘Purpose:To assess the clinical efficacy of integrating deep learning reconstruction(DLR)with contrast-enhancement-boost(CE-boost)in 80 kVp head and neck CT angiography(CTA)using substantially lowered radiation and contrast medium(CM)doses,compared to the standard 100 kVp protocol using hybrid iterative reconstruction(HIR).Methods:Sixty-six patients were prospectively enrolled and randomly assigned to one of two groups:the low-dose group(n=33),receiving 80 kVp and 28 mL contrast medium(CM)with a noise index(NI)of 15;and the regular-dose group(n=33),receiving 100 kVp and 40 mL CM with an NI of 10.For the lowdose group,images underwent reconstruction using both hybrid iterative reconstruction(HIR)and deep learning reconstruction(DLR)at mild-,standard-,and strong-strength levels,both before and after combination with contrast enhancement-boost(CE-boost).This generated eight distinct datasets:L-HIR,L-DLR_(mild),L-DLR_(standard),L-DLR_(strong),L-HIR-CE,L-DLR_(mild)-CE,L-DLR_(standard)-CE,and L-DLR_(strong)-CE.Images for the regular-dose group were reconstructed solely with HIR(R-HIR).Quantitative analysis involved calculating and comparing CT attenuation,image noise,signal-to-noise ratio(SNR),and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)within six key vessels:the aortic arch(AA),internal carotid artery(ICA),external carotid artery(ECA),vertebral arteries(VA),basilar artery(BA),and middle cerebral artery(MCA).Two radiologists independently assessed subjective image quality using a 5-point scale,with statistical significance defined as P<0.05.Results:Compared to the regular-dose group,the low-dose protocol achieved a substantial reduction in contrast media volume(28 mL versus 40 mL,a 30%decrease)and radiation exposure((0.41±0.08)mSv versus(1.18±0.12)mSv,a 65%reduction).Both L-DLR_(standard) and L-DLR_(strong) delivered comparable or superior SNR and CNR across all vascular segments relative to R-HIR.However,subjective image quality scores for L-DLR at all strength levels fell below those for R-HIR(all P<0.05 for both readers).Combining CE-boost with the low-dose protocol significantly enhanced the objective image performance of L-DLR_(strong)-CE(all P<0.05)and produced subjective image scores comparable to R-HIR(reader 1:P=0.15;reader 2:P=0.06).Conclusion:When compared to the standard 100 kVp head and neck CTA,the combination of the DLR and CE-boost techniques at 80 kVp can achieve a 30%reduction in contrast dose and a 65%reduction in radiation dose,while maintaining both objective and subjective image quality.
基金Funded by the China Construction Shares Technology Research and Development Project(No.CSCEC-2023-Z-07)CSCEC Strait Major Scientific and Technological Project(No.ZJHX2023C001)+1 种基金Engineering Research Center of Prevention and Control of Geological Disasters in the Mountainous Areas of Northern Fujian,Fujian Province University,China(No.WYERC2024-3)Science s of Fujian Province(No.2023J01476)。
文摘Fluidized solidified soil(FSS)is an innovative backfill material that offers benefits such as easy pumping and straightforward construction.This study examined how varying the water-soil ratio and the curing agent dosage affect the properties and microstructure of FSS.The strength development mechanism was investigated when composite solidification agents were used.The findings show that both the water-solid ratio and the curing agent dosage can affect the microstructure of FSS,thereby affecting its performance.When the water-solid ratio increases from 0.52 to 0.56,the unconfined compressive strength(UCS)and flexural strength of the FSS decrease by 34.1% and 39.3% after 28 d.Conversely,the curing agent dosage increasing from 10% to 30% will increase both UCS and flexural strength by 11.2 times and 11.1 times.As the curing age increases,the number of cracks at failure point in the FSS will increase and lead to a more complete failure.Numerous needle-like AFt,C-S-H gel,and C-(A)-S-H gel create a three-dimensional network by adhering to soil particles.
基金Supported by Fund from Jilin Provincial Science & Technology Department(20090541)Project from Department of Education ofJilin Province(200828)~~
文摘[ Objective ]The aim of this study was to discuss the feasibility of breeding cabbage with high Vc by 532 nm laser.[ Method ] With the material of cabbage, the embryo of cabbage seeds was irradiated by frequency doubled Nd ：YAG laser with different power densities and time, and the effects of laser mode on functional leaf area, chlorophyll and Vc contents in cabbage seedlings were also studied. [Result] The results showed that functional leaf area and chlorophyll content were related to laser power density and time when laser power density was 2 -20 mW/mm^2, while the optimal effect was observed at 14 mW/mm^2 for 1 min. The content of Vc in cabbage seedlings was related to dosage of laser irradiation when irradiating time ranged from 1 to 5 min, and the optimal effect was observed at 2.8 J （20 mW/mm^2, 3 min）. [Conclusion] Irradiating the embryo of cabbage seeds with proper irradiation dosage of 532 nm laser can increase its effect on the Vc content significantly.
文摘BACKGROUND Diabetes is a chronic disease,which may cause various complications.Patients with diabetes are at high risk of bone and joint disorders,such as osteoporosis and bone fractures.In addition,it became widely accepted that diabetes has an important impact on bone metabolism.Metformin is a commonly used and effective first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes.Some glucose-lowering agents have been found to have an effect on bone metabolism.The present study explored if different doses of metformin have an effect on bone mineral density(BMD)and bone metabolism in type 2 diabetes.AIM To investigate the effects of different doses of metformin on BMD and bone metabolism in elderly male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.METHODS A total of 120 elderly male outpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were admitted to our hospital were included in the study from July 2018 to June 2019.They were randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group with 60 patients in each group.Patients in the experimental group were given high dose metformin four times a day 0.5 g each time for 12 wk.Patients in the control group were given low dose metformin orally twice a day 0.5 g each time for 12 wk.The changes in bone mineral density and bone metabolism before and after treatment and the efficacy rate of the treatment were compared between the two groups.RESULTS There was no significant difference in the efficacy rate between the two groups(P>0.05).Before the treatment,there was no significant difference in BMD and bone metabolism between the two groups(P>0.05).However,after the treatment,BMD and bone metabolism were improved in the two groups.Moreover,BMD and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group,and N-terminal/midregion andβ-isomerized Cterminal telopeptides were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group(all P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION Both high and low dose metformin can effectively control the blood glucose levels in elderly male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.However,the benefits of high dose metformin in improving BMD and bone metabolism level was more obvious in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
