Fetal heart quantification technique improves the prenatal prediction of coarctation of the aorta: A retrospective analysis.

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) ranks among the most prevalent congenital heart defects and poses a life-threatening risk if left undiagnosed. Herein, we utilized fetal heart quantification (HQ) technology to improve the prenatal prediction of CoA. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 64 fetal cases with suspected aortic arch constriction, identified through prenatal ultrasound findings between November 2020 and March 2022 at the Department of Ultrasound, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University. According to the follow-up results, these cases were divided into two groups: 35 cases confirmed as CoA by postpartum surgery or induction, and 29 cases initially suspected of CoA prenatally but subsequently ruled out postnatally. Additionally, 88 cases of normal fetuses were randomly selected as the control group. Both conventional M-mode ultrasound techniques and Fetal HQ software were utilized for fetal analysis across all groups. Parameters related to the heart were measured, including fetal 4-CV length, width, Global Spherical Index (GSI), Mitral Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (MAPSE), areas and ratios of the left and right ventricles, as well as lengths and ratios of the left and right ventricles. Functional measurements of the left and right ventricles included ejection fraction (EF), fractional area change (FAC), global longitudinal strain (GLS), fractional shortening (FS), end-diastolic diameter (ED), and sphericity index (SI). Left ventricular (LV)-GLS, LV-FAC, LV-EF, and LV-EF Z-score could potentially differentiate between true CoA and false CoA or normal groups and serve as potential indicators for the clinical diagnosis of CoA. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves indicated that LV-GLS and LV-EF Z-score have the greatest predictive power for CoA diagnosis. The segments 6-12 of FS in the confirmed CoA group were significantly lower than those in the false CoA and normal groups. Fetal HQ technology, by assessing changes in the size and shape of the heart, can provide relatively reliable parameter support for the prenatal diagnosis of fetal aortic coarctation.

Ultralow-Frequency Tip-Enhanced Raman Scattering Discovers Nanoscale Radial Breathing Mode on Strained 2D Semiconductors.

Collective excitations including plasmons, magnons, and layer-breathing vibration modes emerge at an ultralow frequency (<1 THz) and are crucial for understanding van der Waals materials. Strain at the nanoscale can drastically change the property of van der Waals materials and create localized states like quantum emitters. However, it remains unclear how nanoscale strain changes collective excitations. Herein, ultralow-frequency tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) with sub-10 nm resolution under ambient conditions is developed to explore the localized collective excitation on monolayer semiconductors with nanoscale strains. A new vibrational mode is discovered at around 12 cm-1 (0.36 THz) on monolayer MoSe2 nanobubbles and it is identified as the radial breathing mode (RBM) of the curved monolayer. The correlation is determined between the RBM frequency and the strain by simultaneously performing deterministic nanoindentation and TERS measurement on monolayer MoSe2. The generality of the RBM in nanoscale curved monolayer WSe2 and bilayer MoSe2 is demonstrated. Using the RBM frequency, the strain of the monolayer MoSe2 on the nanoscale can be mapped. Such an ultralow-frequency vibration from curved van der Waals materials provides a new approach to study nanoscale strains and points to more localized collective excitations to be discovered at the nanoscale.

Identification and bioactivity evaluation of twelve previously undescribed depsidone derivatives from Garcinia oligantha.

Phytochemical studies on the leaves and twigs of Garcinia oligantha Merr. led to the isolation of twelve previously undescribed depsidone derivatives (oliganthdepsidones A-L, 1-12). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis including 1H and 13C NMR, HSQC, HMBC and NOESY along with HRESIMS. The structures of oliganthdepsidones G and J were finally determined using DFT-NMR chemical shift calculations and DP4+ methods. Cytotoxicity test in four human cancer cell lines indicated that oliganthdepsidone F had relatively strong cytotoxic effect against A375 (melanoma), A549 (lung cancer), HepG2 (liver cancer), and MCF-7 (breast cancer) cell lines with IC50 of 18.71, 15.44, 10.92, and 15.90 µM, respectively. The dose- and time-dependent antiproliferative effects of oliganthdepsidone F on these cell lines were also observed by CCK-8 test. As determined by fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry in these cell lines, oliganthdepsidone F could promote cell apoptosis, leading to the inhibition of cell proliferation. The results of wound healing assay and transwell assay showed that oliganthdepsidone F could inhibit the migration and invasion of A549 and MCF-7 cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner.

Type III fetal redundancy of the foramen ovale flap mimics hemodynamic changes of mitral stenosis.

Type III redundancy of the foramen ovale flap (RFOF) mimics hemodynamic changes of mitral stenosis(MS), which has not been particularly highlighted in previous literature but carries a favorable prognosis.

Claudin18.2-specific CAR T cells in gastrointestinal cancers: phase 1 trial final results.

Claudin18.2 (CLDN18.2) is highly expressed with the development of various malignant tumors, especially gastrointestinal cancers, and is emerging as a new target for cancer treatment. Satricabtagene autoleucel (satri-cel)/CT041 is an autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell targeting CLDN18.2, and the interim results of the CT041-CG4006 trial were reported in June 2022. Here we present the final results of this single-arm, open-label, phase 1 trial, which evaluated the safety and efficacy of satri-cel in patients with CLDN18.2-positive advanced gastrointestinal cancers. This trial included a dose-escalation stage (n = 15) and a dose-expansion stage in four different cohorts (total n = 83): cohort 1, satri-cel monotherapy in 61 patients with standard chemotherapy-refractory gastrointestinal cancers; cohort 2, satri-cel plus anti-PD-1 therapy in 15 patients with standard chemotherapy-refractory gastrointestinal cancers; cohort 3, satri-cel as sequential treatment after first-line therapy in five patients with gastrointestinal cancers; and cohort 4, satri-cel monotherapy in two patients with anti-CLDN18.2 monoclonal antibody-refractory gastric cancer. The primary endpoint was safety; secondary endpoints included efficacy, pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity. A total of 98 patients received satri-cel infusion, among whom 89 were dosed with 2.5 × 108, six with 3.75 × 108 and three with 5.0 × 108 CAR T cells. Median follow-up was 32.4 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 27.3, 36.5) since apheresis. No dose-limiting toxicities, treatment-related deaths or immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome were reported. Cytokine release syndrome occurred in 96.9% of patients, all classified as grade 1-2. Gastric mucosal injuries were identified in eight (8.2%) patients. The overall response rate and disease control rate in all 98 patients were 38.8% and 91.8%, respectively, and the median progression-free survival and overall survival were 4.4 months (95% CI: 3.7, 6.6) and 8.8 months (95% CI: 7.1, 10.2), respectively. Satri-cel demonstrates therapeutic potential with a manageable safety profile in patients with CLDN18.2-positive advanced gastrointestinal cancer. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03874897 .

Safety and Efficacy of CT041 in Patients With Refractory Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: A Pooled Analysis of Two Early-Phase Trials.

PURPOSE: CT041 is a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T-cell therapy that specifically targets claudin18.2 in solid tumors. Here, we report the pooled analysis results of two exploratory clinical trials to evaluate CT041 in patients with previously treated pancreatic cancer (PC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: These two multicenter, open-label phase I/Ib trials (CT041-CG4006, CT041-ST-01) have a similar target population and evaluation schedule. The primary objective was to assess the safety and tolerability of CT041, whereas secondary objectives included efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity. RESULTS: The combined cohort comprised 24 patients with advanced PC. Among them, five patients (20.8%) had previously received one line of therapy, whereas 19 (79.2%) received ≥2 lines of therapy. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events of grade 3 or more were preconditioning-related hematologic toxicities. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and GI disorders were most reported grade 1 or 2 adverse events. The overall response rate and disease control rate were 16.7% and 70.8%. The median progression-free survival (mPFS) after infusion was 3.3 months (95% CI, 1.8 to 6.2), and the median overall survival (mOS) was 10.0 months (95% CI, 5.5 to 17.6). The median duration of response (mDoR)was 9.5 months (95% CI, 2.6 to Not reached), with a DoR rate at 12 months of 50% (95% CI, 5.8 to 84.5). The mPFS (6.0 v 1.0 months, P < .001) and mOS (17.6 v 4.0 months, P < .001) were prolonged in patients achieving partial response/stable disease than the progressive disease group. CA19-9 levels had reduced by at least 30% in 17 (70.8%) patients. CONCLUSION: In patients with metastatic PC after progression on previous therapy, CT041 demonstrated a tolerable safety profile and encouraging anticancer efficacy signals. Response benefit observed here needs to be ascertained in the future.

Clinicopathological significance and immunotherapeutic outcome of claudin 18.2 expression in advanced gastric cancer: A retrospective study.

Objective: Immunotherapeutic outcomes and clinical characteristics of claudin 18 isoform 2 positive (CLDN18.2-positive) gastric cancer (GC) vary in different clinical studies, making it difficult to optimize anti-CLDN18.2 therapy. We conducted a retrospective analysis to explore the association of CLDN18.2 expression with clinicopathological characteristics and immunotherapeutic outcomes in GC. Methods: A total of 536 advanced GC patients from 2019 to 2021 in the CT041-CG4006 and CT041-ST-01 clinical trials were included in the analysis. CLDN18.2 expression on ≥40% of tumor cells (2+, 40%) and CLDN18.2 expression on ≥70% of tumor cells (2+, 70%) were considered the two levels of positively expressed GC. The clinicopathological characteristics and immunotherapy outcomes of GC patients were analyzed according to CLDN18.2 expression status. Results: CLDN18.2 was expressed in 57.6% (cut-off: 2+, 40%) and 48.9% (cut-off: 2+, 70%) of patients. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and CLDN18.2 were co-expressed in 19.8% [combined positive score (CPS)≥1, CLDN18.2 (cut-off: 2+, 40%)] and 17.2% [CPS≥5, CLDN18.2 (cut-off: 2+, 70%)] of patients. CLDN18.2 expression positively correlated with younger age, female sex, non-gastroesophageal junction (non-GEJ), and diffuse phenotype (P<0.001). HER2 and PD-L1 expression were significantly lower in CLDN18.2-positive GC (both P<0.05). Uterine adnexa metastasis (P<0.001) was more frequent and liver metastasis (P<0.001) was less common in CLDN18.2-positive GC. Overall survival and immunotherapy-related progression-free survival (irPFS) were inferior in the CLDN18.2-positive group. Conclusions: CLDN18.2-positive GC is associated with poor prognosis and worse immunotherapeutic outcomes. The combination of anti-CLDN18.2 therapy, anti-PD-L1/PD-1 therapy, and chemotherapy for GC requires further investigation.

Echocardiographic features and outcomes of fetuses with isolated restrictive foramen ovale or redundant foramen ovale flap using atrial septum excursion index.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the application value of the atrial septum excursion index (ASEI) in fetuses with isolated restrictive foramen ovale (RFO) or redundant foramen ovale flap (RFOF) and the outcomes of these fetuses. METHODS: This was a retrospective study. Healthy pregnant women who were examined by antenatal fetal echocardiography from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021, at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital were enrolled. One hundred seventy-seven (177) fetuses were categorized into three groups by diagnosis: (1) RFOF (n = 33), (2) RFO (n = 21), and (3) normal (n = 123). Fetal echocardiographic features and postnatal outcomes were collected. RESULTS: The median ASEIs were 0.50 (range, 0.41-0.65) in the control group, 0.76 (range, 0.67-0.88) in the RFOF group and 0.31 (range, 0.14-0.35) in the RFO group, and the differences were significant (p < 0.001). The ratios of right atrium/left atrium, right ventricle/left ventricle, and pulmonary artery diameter to aorta diameter (PA/AO) and the pulmonary annulus Z-scores were greater in fetuses with RFOF and RFO than in the controls (p < 0.05). Twenty-seven of 33 fetuses (87.9%) with RFOF and 19 of 21 fetuses (90.5%) with RFO had good outcomes after birth. CONCLUSION: The ASEI may be a new tool for quantitatively assessing the mobility of foramen ovale flaps in fetuses with isolated RFOF or RFO.

Quantitative Analysis of Morphology and Function in the Fetal Heart with Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation by Speckle Tracking Imaging.

Morphology and function in a fetal heart with severe tricuspid regurgitation remains challenging. The aim of this study was to assess cardiac morphology and function in fetuses with severe tricuspid regurgitation by fetal heart quantification (HQ) and to assess the practical value of fetal HQ. Clinical information was analyzed for 63 pregnant women who underwent fetal cardiac ultrasonography. The women were divided into those who had a fetus with severe tricuspid regurgitation (n = 20) and those with a normal fetus (n = 40). The global sphericity index (GSI), fractional area change (FAC), and global longitudinal strain (GLS) of both ventricles and the sphericity index (SI) and fractional shortening (FS) of 24 segments were quantified by fetal HQ using speckle tracking imaging. Fetuses with severe tricuspid regurgitation had a significantly lower GSI (1.14 ± 0.10 vs. 1.26 ± 0.08, p < 0.001) and a higher GSI Z-score (-0.98 ± 1.01 vs. 0.25 ± 0.87, p < 0.001) as well as a significantly lower right ventricular FAC (36.50 ± 7.34% vs. 45.19 ± 3.39%, p < 0.001), FAC Z-score (-1.02 ± 1.41 vs. 0.49 ± 0.74, p < 0.001), and GLS (-21.01 ± 5.66% vs. 45.19 ± 3.49%, p < 0.001). The SI and SI Z-score were significantly lower in segments 1-18 of the right ventricle in fetuses with severe tricuspid regurgitation (p < 0.05); furthermore, FS of segments 1-12 and 19-24 and the FS Z-score of segments 18-24 were significantly lower in fetuses with severe tricuspid regurgitation (p < 0.05). Fetal HQ is useful for evaluation of cardiac morphology and function in fetuses with severe tricuspid regurgitation and can provide important reference information for both clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Correlation between Dynamics of Polaronic Photocarriers and Photoelectrochemical Performance in Mo-Doped Bismuth Vanadate.

Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) has received intense research interest due to its outstanding performance for solar water splitting, and doping it with molybdenum (Mo) ions can effectively boost photoelectrochemical performance. In this material, highly localized polarons play a key role in the photoconversion process. Herein, we uncovered the influence of Mo dopants on the dynamics of polaronic transient species using transient absorption spectroscopy. We find that the preexisting electron small polarons stemming from the thermal ionization of dopants provide additional centers to capture itinerant holes, which significantly decrease the hole lifetime. However, the introduction of dopants increases the lifetime of self-trapped excitons that arise from the binding of electron polarons and holes. The dependence of the photoelectrochemical performance of BiVO4 photoelectrodes on doping levels can be well explained by combining the dopant effects on the lifetimes of delocalized and self-trapped transient species. Our findings provide guidance for rational optimization of dopant concentration to maximize the PEC efficiency.

Rapidly determining the 3D structure of proteins by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

Despite great advances in protein structure analysis, label-free and ultrasensitive methods to obtain the natural and dynamic three-dimensional (3D) structures are still urgently needed. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) can be a good candidate, whereas the complexity originated from the interactions between the protein and the gradient surface electric field makes it extremely challenging to determine the protein structure. Here, we propose a deciphering strategy for accurate determination of 3D protein structure from experimental SERS spectra in seconds by simply summing SERS spectra of isolated amino acids in electric fields of different strength with their orientations in protein. The 3D protein structure can be reconstructed by comparing the experimental spectra obtained in a well-defined gap-mode SERS configuration with the simulated spectra. The gradient electric field endows SERS with a unique advantage to section biomolecules with atomic precision, which makes SERS a competent tool for monitoring biomolecular events under physiological conditions.

Does inflammatory bowel disease promote kidney diseases: a mendelian randomization study with populations of European ancestry.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate a causal relationship between IBD and multiple kidney diseases using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. METHODS: We selected a group of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) specific to IBD as instrumental variables from a published genome-wide association study (GWAS) with 86,640 individuals of European ancestry. Summary statistics for multiple kidney diseases were obtained from the publicly available GWAS. Genetic data from one GWAS involving 210 extensive T-cell traits was used to estimate the mediating effect on specific kidney disease. Inverse-variance weighted method were used to evaluate the MR estimates for primary analysis. RESULTS: Genetic predisposition to IBD was associated with higher risk of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) (OR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.45-2.19), but not membranous nephropathy, diabetic nephropathy, glomerulonephritis, nephrotic syndrome, chronic kidney disease, and urolithiasis. CD4 expression on CD4 + T cell had a significant genetic association with the risk of IgAN (OR, 2.72; 95% CI, 1.10-6.72). Additionally, consistent results were also observed when IBD was subclassified as ulcerative colitis (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.10-1.71) and Crohn's disease (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.12-1.68). MR-PRESSO and the MR-Egger intercept did not identify pleiotropic SNPs. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides genetic evidence supporting a positive casual association between IBD, including its subclassification as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, and the risk of IgAN. However, no casual association was found between IBD and other types of kidney diseases. Further exploration of IBD interventions as potential preventive measures for IgAN is warranted.

Volume-Corrected Free Energy as a New Criterion for Structural Elucidation in Chemical-Tagging-Based Metabolomics.

Chemical tagging via possible derivatization reagents alters metabolites' retention times, leading to different retention behavior during liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. Incorporation of the retention time dimension can dramatically reduce false-positive structural elucidation in chemical-tagging-based metabolomics. However, few studies predict the retention times of chemically labeled metabolites, especially requiring a simple, easy-to-access, accurate, and universal predictor or descriptor. This pilot study demonstrates the application of volume-corrected free energy (VFE) calculation and region mapping as a new criterion to describe the retention time for structure elucidation in chemical-tagging-based metabolomics. The universality of VFE calculation is first evaluated with four different types of submetabolomes including hydroxyl-group-, carbonyl-group-, carboxylic-group-, and amino-group-containing compounds and oxylipins with similar chemical structures and complex isomers on reverse-phase LC. Results indicate a good correlation (r > 0.85) between VFE values and their corresponding retention times using different technicians, instruments, and chromatographic columns, describing retention behavior in reverse-phase LC. Finally, the VFE region mapping is described for identifying 1-pentadecanol from aged camellia seed oil using three proposed steps, including public database searching, VFE region mapping for its 12 isomers, and chemical standard matching. The possibility of VFE calculation of nonderivatized compounds in retention time prediction is also investigated, demonstrating its effectiveness on retention times with different influence factors.

Causal links between socioeconomic status, leisure sedentary behaviours and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: a multivariable two-sample Mendelian randomisation study.

INTRODUCTION: We implemented a two-sample multivariable Mendelian randomisation (MR) analyses to estimate the causal effect of socioeconomic status and leisure sedentary behaviours on gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). METHODS: Independent single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with socioeconomic status and leisure sedentary behaviours at the genome-wide significance level from the Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit (MRC-IEU) UK Biobank were selected as instrumental variables. Summary-level data for GERD were obtained from a recent publicly available genome-wide association involving 78 707 GERD cases and 288 734 controls of European descent. Univariable and multivariable two-sample MR analyses, using inverse variance weighted method for primary analyses, were performed to jointly evaluate the effect of socioeconomic status and leisure sedentary behaviours on GERD risk. RESULTS: Three socioeconomic status, including educational attainment (OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.30 to 0.69; p<0.001), average total household income before tax (OR 0.65; 95% CI 0.47 to 0.90; p=0.009) and Townsend Deprivation Index at recruitment (OR 1.60; 95% CI 1.06 to 2.41; p=0.026), were independently and predominately responsible for the genetic causal effect on GERD. In addition, one leisure sedentary behaviour, such as time spent watching television, was independently and predominately responsible for genetic causal effect on GERD (OR 3.74; 95% CI 2.89 to 4.84; p<0.001). No causal effects of social activities and driving on GERD were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Genetically predicted Townsend Deprivation Index at recruitment and leisure watching television were causally associated with increased risk of GERD, and age at completion of full-time education and average total household income before tax were causally associated with decreased risk of GERD.

Alkylamine-Confined Thickness-Tunable Synthesis of Co(OH)2-CoO Nanosheets toward Oxygen Evolution Catalysis.

Thickness regulation of transition metal hydroxides/oxides nanosheets with superior catalytic properties represents a promising strategy to enhance catalytic performance, but it remains an enormous challenge to achieve precise control, especially when it comes to the ultrathin limit (several atomic layers). In this work, a facile strategy of alkylamine-confined growth is proposed for the synthesis of thickness-tunable metal hydroxide/oxide nanosheets. Specifically, ultrathin cobalt hydroxide and cobaltous oxide hybrid (Co(OH)2-CoO) nanosheets (Co-O NSs) with a thickness in the range of 2-6 nm (5-13 atomic layers) are synthesized by using alkylamines with different carbon chain lengths as the ligand to modulate vertical coordination ability. Co-O NSs with a thickness of 2 nm (Co-O NSs-2 nm) exhibit excellent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance with an overpotential of 278 mV at 10 mA/cm2. The maximized number of active sites including oxygen vacancies, optimal adsorption strength, and the highest electrical conductivity are considered as the potential factors contributing to the excellent OER performance of Co-O NSs-2 nm. This work holds great significance for the precise thickness-tunable synthesis of transition metal layered hydroxide nanosheets with modulated and improved catalytic performance.

Proteome and Ubiquitylome Analyses of Maize Endoplasmic Reticulum under Heat Stress.

High temperatures severely affect plant growth and pose a threat to global crop production. Heat causes the accumulation of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum(ER), as well as triggering the heat-shock response (HSR) in the cytosol and the unfolded protein response (UPR) in the ER. Excessive misfolded proteins undergo further degradation through ER-associated degradation (ERAD). Although much research on the plant heat stress response has been conducted, the regulation of ER-localized proteins has not been well-studied thus far. We isolated the microsome fraction from heat-treated and untreated maize seedlings and performed proteome and ubiquitylome analyses. Of the 8306 total proteins detected in the proteomics analysis, 1675 proteins were significantly up-regulated and 708 proteins were significantly down-regulated. Global ubiquitination analysis revealed 1780 proteins with at least one ubiquitination site. Motif analysis revealed that alanine and glycine are the preferred amino acids upstream and downstream of ubiquitinated lysine sites. ERAD components were found to be hyper-ubiquitinated after heat treatment, implying the feedback regulation of ERAD activity through protein degradation.

Triterpene Derivatives from Garcinia oligantha and Their Anti-Cancer Activity.

Phytochemical investigations of leaves and twigs from Garcinia oligantha Merr. resulted in the isolation of five undescribed triterpene derivatives (1-5) and six known analogs (6-11). Their structures were determined based on extensive spectroscopic data and high-resolution mass spectra analyses. Compounds 1-11 were tested for their in vitro cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines (HeLa, HepG-2, and MCF-7). Compounds 1, 2, 8, and 11 exhibited broad and significant cytotoxicity against the tested cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 5.04 to 21.55 µM. Compounds 5 and 9 showed cytotoxicity against HeLa and MCF-7 with IC50 values ranging from 13.22 to 19.62 µM. The preliminary structure-activity relationship for the 11 isolated compounds is also discussed.

Assessment of fetal left atrial volume and function using a novel left atrial volume tracking method.

BACKGROUND: Several fetal cardiovascular structural defects may alter the hemodynamics of the cardiac chambers resulting in changes in chamber sizes. Quantitative measurements of the sizes of cardiac chambers can augment the diagnostic power of fetal echocardiography. AIMS: Using a new left atrial volume tracking (LAVT) method, time-left atrial volume curves (TLAVCs) can be automatically obtained. The goal of this study was to examine whether this method can be used to evaluate left atrial volume (LAV) and provide reference values for LAV and indices of left atrial function in normal human fetuses. METHODS: Two hundred and four normal human fetuses were enrolled. Using LAVT, the maximal left atrial volume (LAVmax) and minimal left atrial volume (LAVmin) were measured from TLAVCs. Left atrial ejection fraction (EF) was calculated. The maximal left atrial area (LAAmax) and minimal left atrial area (LAAmin) were measured using manual method tracing. RESULTS: Between 21 and 40 weeks, mean LAVmax increased from 0.27 ml to 4.15 ml, and mean LAVmin increased from 0.13 ml to 2.26 ml, respectively, while the EF remained stable at around 0.43. From 21 to 40 weeks, mean LAAmax increased from 0.61 cm2 to 2.64 cm2, and mean LAAmin increased from 0.34 cm2 to 1.53 cm2. CONCLUSIONS: This study establishes reference values for fetal LAV during the second half of gestation. The LAVT method appears to be feasible in estimating fetal LAV and shows potential for assessing left atrial function.

RuO2-Incorporated Co3O4 Nanoneedles Grown on Carbon Cloth as Binder-Free Integrated Cathodes for Tuning Favorable Li2O2 Formation.

Developing ideal Li-O2 batteries (LOBs) requires the discharge product to have a large quantity, have large contact area with the cathode, and not passivate the porous surface after discharge, which put forward high requirement for the design of cathodes. Herein, combining the rational structural design and high activity catalyst selection, minor amounts of RuO2-incorporated Co3O4 nanoneedles grown on carbon cloth are successfully synthesized as binder-free integrated cathodes for LOBs. With this unique design, plenty of electron-ion-oxygen tri-phase reaction interface is created, the side reaction from carbon is isolated, and oxygen reduction reaction/oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics are significantly facilitated. Upon discharge, film-like Li2O2 is observed growing on the needle surface first and eventually ball-like Li2O2 particles form at each tip of the needle. The cathode surface remains porous after discharge, which is beneficial to the OER and is rare in the previous reports. The battery exhibits a high specific discharge capacity (7.64 mAh cm-2) and a long lifespan (500 h at 0.1 mA cm-2). Even with a high current of 0.3 mA cm-2, the battery achieves a cycling life of 200 h. In addition, punch-type LOBs are fabricated and successfully operated, suggesting that the cathode material can be utilized in ultralight, flexible electronic devices.