Cost shifting or cost cutting by hospitals as a response to reimbursement reform? The case of diagnosis-related groups (DRG) scheme in China.

Background: Diagnosis-related group (DRG) systems for healthcare reimbursement were recently introduced among hospitals in China, raising concerns about cost-shifting, where hospitals may increase charges for self-financing patients to offset reimbursement cuts by DRG. In 2018, both Nanchang and Ganzhou Cities in Jiangxi Province installed DRG information systems, but only Nanchang fully implemented the DRG system during the 2019-2020 pilot period.

Materials And Methods: Drawing from a healthcare administrative dataset of 14,310 patients' records, this study investigates the hospitalization costs associated with Intraocular Lens (IOL) implantation procedures in Jiangxi Province, China, from 2017 to 2020.

Burden and Future Trends of Gastric Cancer in 5 East Asian Countries From 1990 to 2036: Epidemiological Study Analysis Using the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2021.

Background: Effective prevention and treatment are urgently needed, since gastric cancer (GC) poses a grave threat to the health and well-being of patients. The 5 East Asian countries (China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and Mongolia) represent one of the most significant regions globally in terms of GC burden.

Objective: The goal of this study is to examine the patterns and trends of GC across 5 East Asian countries between 1990 and 2021.

Prognostic relevance of the triglyceride-glucose index in patients after thrombectomy for acute anterior circulation occlusion.

Background: We aimed to investigate the relationship between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and the 3-month prognosis after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with acute large-vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of data collected from 320 patients who underwent MT at our institution between May 2022 and January 2024. The main outcome measure was the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, with a score of ≤2 at 90 days post-treatment indicating a good prognosis.

DDX60 protects ischemic myocardial injury and heart dysfunction by improving mitochondrial function via promoting Arl2 mRNA translation.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is increasingly recognized as a pivotal driver of cardiomyocyte apoptosis and cardiac deterioration following myocardial infarction (MI). This study identifies a significant upregulation of DDX60 in cardiomyocytes under hypoxic conditions. Elevated DDX60 levels enhance mitochondrial function and attenuate cardiomyocyte apoptosis in vitro, whereas its knockdown induces the opposite effects.

MIRO2-mediated mitochondrial transfer from cancer cells induces cancer-associated fibroblast differentiation.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key components of the tumor microenvironment that commonly support cancer development and progression. Here we show that different cancer cells transfer mitochondria to fibroblasts in cocultures and xenograft tumors, thereby inducing protumorigenic CAF features. Transplantation of functional mitochondria from cancer cells induces metabolic alterations in fibroblasts, expression of CAF markers and release of a protumorigenic secretome and matrisome.

Preoperative myosteatosis and intermuscular adiposity as CT-Derived nutritional prognostic markers in colorectal cancer: A multicenter development-validation study.

Background: Body composition alterations quantified by routine preoperative imaging may refine risk stratification and guide nutritional interventions in colorectal cancer (CRC). We aimed to establish the prognostic value of CT-assessed muscle quality and ectopic fat deposition for long-term survival.

Methods: This dual-center retrospective study analyzed 850 patients from Wuhan Union Hospital (original cohort) and 647 from Shihezi University Hospital (validation cohort) undergoing curative CRC resection.

Engineering injectable bone/bioadhesive grafts delivery system with self-healing properties for bone regeneration.

The incidence of open bone defects caused by high kinetic and potential energy injuries has significantly increased. Bone grafting, typically in the form of granules, is widely recognized as the most effective treatment. However, current bone graft system is not considered ideal due to issues such as mismatched shapes and dislocation.

Development of Nanocarrier-Based Oral Pegfilgrastim Formulations for Mitigating Hematopoietic Acute Radiation Syndrome.

The increasing risks of ionizing radiation from deep space travel and nuclear accidents necessitate the development of effective countermeasures. Acute radiation syndrome (ARS), particularly hematopoietic ARS (H-ARS), leads to life-threatening anemia and bone marrow failure, with long-term risks including cancer and cardiovascular disease. This study presents phenylboronic acid-functionalized chitosan-polyethylenimine (CPB) polymers designed for efficient oral delivery of pegfilgrastim (PF), an FDA-approved radioprotective agent.

Vitamin-Integrated PROTAC Nanoparticle for Combined Therapy of NSCLC.

Proteolysis-targeting chimeric (PROTAC) technology represents a groundbreaking approach with immense potential for treating a wide range of diseases. However, its clinical application is often limited by challenges in solubility and permeability. Herein, we have developed an innovative three-in-one nanoparticulate therapeutic agent tailored for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

miR-497 knockout aggravates alkali burn-induced corneal neovascularization via VEGFA and FGF2 pathways in mice models.

Purpose: Corneal neovascularization (CNV) plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of alkali burn. Recent studies have suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) may offer a novel therapeutic approach for treating CNV. However, the role of miR-497 in the context of alkali burns remains poorly understood.

Large third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility in high-entropy perovskite oxide thin films prepared by pulsed-laser deposition.

Materials with excellent nonlinear optical properties are critical for advancing optoelectronic technologies, particularly in energy storage and ultrafast photonic devices. High-entropy perovskite oxides (HEPOs) have emerged as promising candidates due to their chemical stability and configurational complexity. In this work, HEPO thin films, ()(), were fabricated using the pulsed-laser deposition technique.

TLL1 knockdown attenuates prostate cancer progression by enhancing antitumor immunity.

Prostate cancer is one of the malignancies affecting men and contributes significantly to their increased mortality rates. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the initiation and progression of prostate cancer is important for identifying potential drug targets. Here we showed that metalloproteinase TLL1 was positively associated with prostate cancer aggressiveness.

Pericytes promote metastasis by regulating tumor local vascular tone and hemodynamics.

Hemodynamics are important for survival and extravasation of circulating tumor cells, whereas the effects of hemodynamics on tumor cell intravasation remain mostly unknown. Here, we show that colorectal cancer patients with liver metastasis are characterized by increased diameter and blood flow in the primary tumor compared with non-metastatic patients. A subpopulation of NKX2-3 tumor pericytes (TPCs) in the primary tumor is associated with hematogenous metastasis of patients.

Enantioselective Propargylic Substitution of Ketone Enolates with Propargylic Alcohol Derivatives through Cooperative B/Cu Catalysis.

We present an asymmetric propargylic substitution reaction of -hydroxy aryl ketones with propargylic acetates catalyzed by a B/Cu system. The reaction initiates with the activation of -hydroxy aryl ketones via achiral borinic acid to form a tetracoordinated enol boronate complex, which then reacts with propargylic acetates catalyzed by copper salts with chiral P,N,N-ligand. This method is amenable to a broad range of substrates and delivers a series of chiral β-ethynyl ketones with high yields and remarkable enantioselectivity under mild conditions.

Presence of Thioxanthones and Their Metabolites in Human Urine and Human Exposure Assessment.

Given the widespread environmental presence of thioxanthones (TXs), a class of commonly used photoinitiators, great concerns have been raised regarding their potential human exposure and associated health risks. However, a comprehensive understanding of the total burden of human exposure to these compounds remains limited. To address this gap, the current study collected urine samples from 211 healthy adults in Taizhou City, China, and, for the first time, analyzed the presence of TXs and their metabolites in human urine.

Focal adhesion kinase acts on the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway to modulate wear particle-induced autophagy in macrophages.

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a devastating complication of total hip arthroplasty (THA) and is closely associated with innate immunity impairment. Typically, wear particles shed from prostheses can induce abnormal autophagy of macrophages that damages the innate immunity in periprosthetic tissues; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we report the role of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in titanium (Ti) particle-induced autophagy.

Case Report: Phenotypic heterogeneity within an NF1 family: assessment of the pathogenicity of a c.6640dupA shift mutation and a splice variant with an epilepsy phenotype.

Purpose: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a complex autosomal dominant disorder with wide variability in its clinical presentation, rate of progression, and severity of complications. The majority of patients have point mutations, but no specific mutational hotspots have been identified. The aim of the present study was to better understand the genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of NF1 by conducting a detailed analysis of a single case, from genetic diagnosis to the exploration of underlying mechanisms.

Associations between blood metabolite levels and gastrointestinal cancer risk: A preliminary untargeted metabolomics study.

Background: Gastrointestinal cancers are among the most commonly diagnosed cancers globally. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers distinct advantages in preventing and treating these cancers.

Aim: To investigate the metabolic basis of a common TCM syndrome in gastrointestinal cancers, exploring underlying metabolic mechanisms and identifying potential biomarkers.

The effect of depth of the trap zone of an end release avalanche on the depletion of ore loss.

In sublevel caving without sill pillar, the shape of caving body is an important factor affecting the ore drawing effect. The depth of collapse area is one of the important parameters of collapse body shape, but there was no research on the influence of the depth of collapse area on reducing ore loss and dilution in the past. This paper puts forward the problem of the influence of the depth of the collapse area on ore loss and dilution.

NTCP-Based Prediction of Lung Sparing With IMPT in BC Patients and Implication of Patient Selection.

Purpose: To compare the difference in normal tissue complication probability (ΔNTCP) between proton therapy (PT) and photon therapy plans using radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) as an endpoint and to analyze its correlation with thoracic anatomic features in breast cancer patients.

Materials And Methods: A total of 409 breast cancer patients receiving photon intensity-modulated radiation therapy were randomly split into training and testing sets at an 8:2 ratio. A dose-modifying-factors (DMFs)-incorporated Lyman-Kutcher-Burman NTCP model was developed by maximum likelihood estimation with the training set to predict the risk of grade ≥ 1 RILI (CTCAE 5.

A wide band gap selenohalide CsSiSeCl with unprecedented [CsSeCl] mixed anionic units.

Chalcohalides, combining the structural and property advantages of chalcogenides and halides, have been demonstrated to be a promising system for the design of advanced photoelectric functional materials. Herein, a new chalcohalide compound, CsSiSeCl, has been rationally designed by introducing a nonlinear optical (NLO)-active [SiSe] T2-supertetrahedral unit into a halide system and synthesized experimentally by the flux method with CsCl as the flux. The compound is composed of [CsSeCl] polyhedral, [CsSe] octahedral, and [SiSe] T2-supertetrahedral units.

Ceiba flower-derived hard carbon with multi-dimensional self-supported structures and its ZnInS-based composites: long-term stable anode materials for sodium-ion batteries.

Biomass-derived functional carbon materials have attracted increasing research attention due to their cost-effectiveness, environmental friendliness, and easy adjustability of compositions and structures. Especially, for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), which are widely recognized as a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries, biomass-derived hard carbon holds the greatest potential as an anode material for commercialization in the near future. In this paper, through a facile carbonization process, a multi-dimensional structured N-doped hard carbon with rational pores and defects has been successfully synthesized from an abundant and easy-accessible biomass precursor of ceiba flower, which delivers a remarkable initial coulombic efficiency of 83.

FL3 mitigates cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury by promoting mitochondrial fusion to restore calcium homeostasis.

This study aims to investigate the therapeutic potential of Flavagline3 (FL3) in mitigating myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury, with a specific focus on its regulatory effects on mitochondrial fusion, mitochondrial-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) interactions, and calcium homeostasis in cardiomyocytes. Using a well-established myocardial IR injury model in mice and primary cardiomyocytes treated with FL3, the study assessed its impact on mitochondrial dynamics and intracellular signaling processes. The results demonstrated that FL3 effectively reduced myocardial apoptosis, infarct size, and cardiac dysfunction caused by IR injury.

Analysis of the location of a lower coal seam roadway under multiple stress disturbances in a close coal seam.

Multiple mining in the near coal seam leads to the complexity of stress distribution and damage of surrounding rock in the pre-excavated lower coal seam roadway, so the location of the lower coal seam roadway is extremely important. With the engineering background of multiple mining of coal seam in Fenxi coal mine, similar simulation test, numerical simulation and theoretical mechanical modeling are used to study and analyze the stress distribution law and damage characteristics of the surrounding rock in the coal roadway under the multiple stress disturbances in the near distance. The study shows that: in the multiple mining of close coal seams, after the upper working face, neighboring and adjacent working faces are mined, the damage zone of the floor in the roadway of the lower coal seam pre-mining face is the interface of the damage of the floor surrounded by rock caused by the advancing direction of the working face and the concentration of the lateral coal pillar; the deep part of the roof of the roadway of the lower coal seam pre-mining face is in the zone of the multi-stress disturbances and damages, and the shallow part of the roof is in the zone of the single stress disturbance and damages; and the deeper part of the roof of the lower coal seam pre-mining face is in the zone of the multiple-stress disturbance and damages, the deeper part is in the zone of the single stress disturbance and damages.

Exposure assessment of xanthate vulcanization accelerators in human urine.

Widespread detection of xanthate vulcanization accelerators (XVAs) in various dust samples underscores the inherent risk of their human exposure. Notably, comprehensive investigations into the presence and concentrations of XVAs in human urine, a medium particularly suited for calculating human exposure, are still lacking. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a systematic examination of eight XVA homologues in urine specimens obtained from 218 healthy adults residing in urban Taizhou City, China.