Asymptomatic infection and disappearance of clinical symptoms of COVID-19 infectors in China 2022-2023: a cross-sectional study.

To explore the clinical characteristics of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 nationwide, especially the effect factors of asymptomatic infection and disappearance of clinical symptoms. A total of 66,448 COVID-19 patients in China who have been diagnosed by nucleic acid test or rapid antigen test were surveyed online (December 24, 2022 to January 16, 2023). Our cross-sectional study used descriptive analyses and binary Logistics regression model to assess the correlation between the clinical characteristics and relative factors, including age, gender, pre-existing conditions, reinfection, vaccination and treatment. A total of 64,515 valid questionnaires were collected. Among included participants, 5969 of which were asymptomatic. The symptoms were mainly upper respiratory symptoms, including dry and itchy throat (64.16%), sore throat (59.95%), hoarseness (57.90%), nasal congestion (53.39%). In binary Logistics regression model, we found that male, no pre-existing conditions, reinfection and vaccination have positive correlations with the appearance of asymptomatic COVID-19 patients. In Cox proportional-hazards regression model, considering all clinical symptoms disappeared in 14 days as outcome, we found that ≤ 60 years old, male, no pre-existing conditions, vaccination and adopted treatment have positive correlations with rapid amelioration of clinical symptoms in COVID-19 patients. The clinical symptoms of the participants were mainly upper respiratory symptoms which were according with the infection of Omicron variant. Factors including age, gender, pre-existing conditions and reinfection could influence the clinical characteristics and prognosis of COVID-19 patients. Importantly, vaccination has positive significance for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Lastly, the use of Chinese medicine maybe beneficial to COVID-19 patients, however, reasonable guidance is necessary.

ROS-Responsive Nanoprobes for Bimodal Imaging-Guided Cancer Targeted Combinatorial Therapy.

Purpose: Chemotherapy mediated by Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive drug delivery systems can potentially mitigate the toxic side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs and significantly enhance their therapeutic efficacy. However, achieving precise targeted drug delivery and real-time control of ROS-responsive drug release at tumor sites remains a formidable challenge. Therefore, this study aimed to describe a ROS-responsive drug delivery system with specific tumor targeting capabilities for mitigating chemotherapy-induced toxicity while enhancing therapeutic efficacy under guidance of Fluorescence (FL) and Magnetic resonance (MR) bimodal imaging. Methods: Indocyanine green (ICG), Doxorubicin (DOX) prodrug pB-DOX and Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO, Fe3O4) were encapsulated in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) by double emulsification method to prepare ICG/ pB-DOX/ Fe3O4/ PLGA nanoparticles (IBFP NPs). The surface of IBFP NPs was functionalized with mammaglobin antibodies (mAbs) by carbodiimide method to construct the breast cancer-targeting mAbs/ IBFP NPs (MIBFP NPs). Thereafter, FL and MR bimodal imaging ability of MIBFP NPs was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Finally, the combined photodynamic therapy (PDT) and chemotherapy efficacy evaluation based on MIBFP NPs was studied. Results: The multifunctional MIBFP NPs exhibited significant targeting efficacy for breast cancer. FL and MR bimodal imaging clearly displayed the distribution of the targeting MIBFP NPs in vivo. Upon near-infrared laser irradiation, the MIBFP NPs loaded with ICG effectively generated ROS for PDT, enabling precise tumor ablation. Simultaneously, it triggered activation of the pB-DOX by cleaving its sensitive moiety, thereby restoring DOX activity and achieving ROS-responsive targeted chemotherapy. Furthermore, the MIBFP NPs combined PDT and chemotherapy to enhance the efficiency of tumor ablation under guidance of bimodal imaging. Conclusion: MIBFP NPs constitute a novel dual-modality imaging-guided drug delivery system for targeted breast cancer therapy and offer precise and controlled combined treatment options.

Comparison between MRI FLAIR vascular hyperintensity-DWI mismatch and perfusion based triage for thrombectomy in the late time window.

Background: The clinical impact of patient selection using FLAIR vascular hyperintensity (FVH)-diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) mismatch for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in patients who have been symptomatic for over 6 h remains unclear. Herein, a retrospective study was conducted to compare the inter-rater reliability and clinical outcomes of patients selected for thrombectomy based on FVH-DWI mismatch with perfusion. Methods: Patients with anterior-circulation large-vessel occlusion selected simultaneously with MRI and perfusion imaging in the late time window from a single-center retrospective study were categorized into EVT-applicable (FVH-DWI mismatch on MRI or perfusion imaging meeting the DEFUSE3 standards) and EVT-inapplicable groups based on MRI and perfusion imaging. The primary outcome was the 90-day functional independence rate. Safety outcomes encompassed symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and mortality in 90 days. We assessed the consistency of the two profiles and compared the differences in functional independence rates of EVT patients among the EVT-applicable groups determined by MRI and perfusion. Results: A total of 130 patients were enrolled, of which 114 were classified into the EVT-applicable group after triaging using MRI images. In this group, 96 patients underwent EVT, with 53 of them (55.2%) achieving functional independence. A total of 110 patients were divided into EVT-applicable group based on perfusion, among which 92 underwent EVT, with 49 of them (53.2%) achieving functional independence. The consistency of identifying EVT indication was moderate between two groups (κ = 0.42, 95% CI, 0.17-0.67). The functional independence rate was comparable between patients in the two EVT-applicable groups based on the two methods (55.2% vs. 53.2%, p = 0.789). Conclusion: MRI triaging based on FVH-DWI mismatch showed moderate inter-rater reliability compared with perfusion-based triage and comparable efficacy in predicting clinical outcomes after EVT.

Construction of iron-doped nickel cobalt phosphide nanoparticles via solvothermal phosphidization and their application in alkaline oxygen evolution.

Multi-metallic phosphides offer the possibility to combine the strategies of surface reconstruction, electronic interaction and mechanistic pathway tuning to achieve high electrocatalytic oxygen evolution activity. Here, iron-doped nickel cobalt phosphide nanoparticles (FexCoyNi2-x-yP) with the crystalline NiCoP phase are for the first time synthesized by the solvothermal phosphidization method via the reaction between metal-organic frameworks and white phosphorus. When used to electrochemically catalyze oxygen evolution reaction (OER), the Fe0.4Co0.8Ni0.8P supported by nickel foam requires only 248 mV overpotential to achieve 10 mA cm-2 current densities, and is robust towards the long-term OER in 1 M KOH. The higher number of electrochemically active sites can account for the good OER activity, along with the improved intrinsic activity which is caused by the electron interaction that optimizes the adsorption energy of hydroxyl intermediates, and that increases the acidity of high-valent metal centers. The OER mechanistic pathway involves both adsorbate and lattice oxygen. Surface conversion is observed after OER in alkaline solution, and metal phosphide layer transforms to metal oxides and (oxy)hydroxides.

Preimplantation Genetic Testing of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3/Machado-Joseph Disease-Robust Tools for Direct and Indirect Detection of the ATXN3 (CAG)n Repeat Expansion.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado-Joseph disease (SCA3/MJD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the ATXN3 CAG repeat expansion. Preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders (PGT-M) of SCA3/MJD should include reliable repeat expansion detection coupled with high-risk allele determination using informative linked markers. One couple underwent SCA3/MJD PGT-M combining ATXN3 (CAG)n triplet-primed PCR (TP-PCR) with customized linkage-based risk allele genotyping on whole-genome-amplified trophectoderm cells. Microsatellites closely linked to ATXN3 were identified and 16 markers were genotyped on 187 anonymous DNAs to verify their polymorphic information content. In the SCA3/MJD PGT-M case, the ATXN3 (CAG)n TP-PCR and linked marker analysis results concurred completely. Among the three unaffected embryos, a single embryo was transferred and successfully resulted in an unaffected live birth. A total of 139 microsatellites within 1 Mb upstream and downstream of the ATXN3 CAG repeat were identified and 8 polymorphic markers from each side were successfully co-amplified in a single-tube reaction. A PGT-M assay involving ATXN3 (CAG)n TP-PCR and linkage-based risk allele identification has been developed for SCA3/MJD. A hexadecaplex panel of highly polymorphic microsatellites tightly linked to ATXN3 has been developed for the rapid identification of informative markers in at-risk couples for use in the PGT-M of SCA3/MJD.

Type 2 diabetes: is obesity for diabetic retinopathy good or bad? A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between obesity and diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains controversial, and the relationship between sarcopenic obesity and DR is still unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between obesity, sarcopenic obesity, and DR in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with T2DM. Obesity was assessed by body mass index (BMI), fat mass index (FMI), android fat mass, gynoid fat mass, and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass. Sarcopenia was defined according to the criteria of Consensus of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS 2019). Sarcopenic obesity was defined as the coexistence of sarcopenia and obesity. The association between obesity, sarcopenic obesity, and DR was examined using univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of 367 patients with T2DM (mean age 58.3 years; 57.6% male) were involved in this study. The prevalence of DR was 28.3%. In total patients, significant adverse relationships between obesity and DR were observed when obesity was assessed by BMI (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.31 to 0.96, p = 0.036), FMI (aOR 0.49, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.85, p = 0.012), android fat mass (aOR 0.51, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.89, p = 0.019), gynoid fat mass (aOR 0.52, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.91, p = 0.021) or VAT mass (aOR 0.45, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.78, p = 0.005). In patients with T2DM and obesity, the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity was 14.8% (n = 23) when obesity was assessed by BMI, 30.6% (n = 56) when assessed by FMI, 27.9% (n = 51) when assessed by android fat mass, 28.4% (n = 52) when assessed by gynoid fat mass, and 30.6% (n = 56) when assessed by VAT mass. Sarcopenic obesity was associated with DR when obesity was assessed by BMI (aOR 2.61, 95% CI 1.07 to 6.37, p = 0.035), android fat mass (aOR 3.27, 95% CI 1.37 to 7.80, p = 0.007), or VAT mass (aOR 2.50, 95% CI 1.06 to 5.92, p = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with T2DM showed a substantial inverse relationship between DR and obesity, and sarcopenic obesity was considerably favorably associated with DR. Detection of sarcopenia in patients with T2DM, especially in obese T2DM, is essential to guide clinical intervention in DR.

Trimester-specific rate of gestational weight loss or gain and birth size: differences by prepregnancy BMI.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to estimate the effects of trimester-specific gestational weight gain (GWG) on small and large (compared with appropriate) for gestational age (i.e., SGA, LGA, and AGA) by prepregnancy BMI classifications. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study of pregnancies in a national network of community health care organizations, stratifying by prepregnancy BMI (n = 20,676 with normal weight; 19,156 with overweight; 11,647 with obesity class I; 5124 with obesity class II; and 3197 with obesity class III). SGA and LGA (vs. AGA) were modeled as a function of trimester 1, 2, or 3 GWG rate, previous trimester(s) GWG rate, and maternal characteristics using modified Poisson regression. RESULTS: GWG rates ranged from weight loss to substantial gains. GWG-LGA associations were strongest in trimester 1 (risk ratio [RR] range for 10th vs. 50th percentile GWG, across BMI categories: 0.60-0.73). GWG-SGA associations were strongest in lower BMI categories and in trimester 2; RRs were 1.62, 1.40, and 1.17 for prepregnancy normal weight, obesity class I, and obesity class III, respectively, with curvilinear associations for class II and III. CONCLUSIONS: Among people with prepregnancy obesity class II or III, GWG rate is associated with higher LGA risk in a dose-dependent manner, including understudied ranges of weight loss, but with weak associations with SGA.

A self-assembled nanoprobe for rapid detection of hypochlorite in pure water and its application in living cells, food and environmental systems.

As an important ROS species participating in various physiological and pathological processes, high level of hypochlorite (ClO-) poses significant health and safety concerns, necessitating efficient detection methods. Herein, this study introduces a water-soluble fluorescent nanoprobe Nano-SJD, effectively detect ClO- in both food samples and living cells. The small molecular probe SJD with N, N-dimethylthiocarbamyl (DMTC) as recognition moiety was constructed based on a naphthalene derivative. To further improve the water solubility, SJD was assembled with an amphiphilic copolymer (mPEG-DSPE) to prepare a water soluble fluorescent nanoprobe Nano-SJD. Fortunately, the nanoprobe preserves the excellent properties of small molecules and performs very well optical response to ClO- in aqueous solution, possessing the advantages including ultra-rapid response (within 1 s), minimal interference, low detection limits (0.39 µM) and good pH stability. What's more important, we have also developed smartphone-compatible test paper strips for convenient on-site detection of ClO- in real-water samples. Additionally, the robust fluorescent imaging behavior of Nano-SJD for visualization of ClO- in living cells highlights its broad potential in biosystem applicability.

[Experimental study on improvement of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease by different degrees of steaming and sunning of Polygoni Multiflori Radix based on fecal metabolomics].

The fecal metabolomics method was employed to investigate the cognitive improvement mechanism of Polygoni Multiflori Radix in Alzheimer's disease(AD) and examine the effects of different degrees of steaming and sunning on cognitive function in AD model mice. Additionally, the processing principle of Polygoni Multiflori Radix was discussed. Forty-eight 5-month-old APP/PS1 mice were randomly assigned to the following groups: model group, positive group, raw product group, three-steaming and three-sunning product group, six-steaming and six-sunning product group, and nine-steaming and nine-sunning product group. Seven negative control mice from the same litter were included as the blank group. After 150 days of intragastric administration, the learning and memory abilities of mice in each group were assessed by using the Barnes maze and dark avoidance tests. Fecal samples were collected for extensive targeted metabolomics testing. Principal component analysis(PCA), orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA), and other multivariate statistical methods were utilized to analyze metabolites in mouse feces. Comparison of behavioral results between the model group and different product groups demonstrated that the six-steaming and six-sunning product group exhibited significantly reduced latency in the Barnes maze positioning and navigation test(P<0.05), as well as a notable decrease in the number of errors in the space exploration experiment(P<0.05). Moreover, the latency of mice entering the dark box for the first time in the dark avoidance experiment was significantly prolonged(P<0.05), indicating the best overall improvement in the learning and memory ability of AD model mice. Metabolomics results revealed that compared with the model group, the differential metabolites in other groups in descending order were as follows: six-steaming and six-sunning product group > nine-steaming and nine-sunning product group > raw product group > three-steaming and three-sunning product group, encompassing 146, 120, 95, and 81 potential biomarkers, respectively. Among them, 16 differential metabolites were related to AD disease. Further comparisons based on the degree of processing indicated that the six-steaming and six-sunning product group exhibited the most significant adjustments in total metabolic pathways, particularly regulating the interconversion of pentose and glucuronic acid, as well as amino acid anabolism and other pathways. In summary, the mechanism of Polygoni Multiflori Radix after processing in enhancing the learning and memory ability of APP/PS1 mice may be associated with improved amino acid metabolism and increased energy metabolism in the body. The six-steaming and six-sunning yielded the best outcomes.

Insights into the hydrogen generation and catalytic mechanism on Co-based nanocomposites derived from pyrolysis of organic metal precursor.

Hydrogen generation from boron hydride is important for the development of hydrogen economy. Cobalt (Co) element has been widely used in the hydrolysis of boron hydride. Pyrolysis is a common method for materials synthesis in catalytic fields. Herein, Co-based nanocomposites derived from the pyrolysis of organic metal precursors and used for hydrolysis of boron hydride are summarized and discussed. The different precursors consisting of MOF, supported, metal, and metal phosphide precursors are summarized. The catalytic mechanism consisting of dissociation mechanism based on oxidative addition-reduction elimination, pre-activation mechanism, SN2 mechanism, four-membered ring mechanism, and acid-base mechanism is intensively discussed. Finally, conclusions and outlooks are conveyed from the design of high-efficiency catalysts, the characterization of catalyst structure, the enhancement of catalytic activities, the investigation of the catalytic mechanism, and the catalytic stability of active structure. This review can provide guidance for designing high-efficiency catalysts and boosting development of hydrogen economy.

Study on Tin-Cobalt Bimetallic Phosphide Nanoparticles as a Negative Electrode of Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Tin phosphide (Sn4P3) holds great promise because sodium-ion batteries use this material as an anode with impressive theoretical capacity. In this paper, it is reported that Co-doped Sn4P3 is embedded into carbon-based materials and SnCoP/C with a porous skeleton is prepared. As a result, SnCoP/C-2, as the material utilized in sodium-ion battery anodes, exhibits reversible capacities at 415.6, 345.9, and 315.6 mAh g-1 at current intensities of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 A g-1, respectively. The electrochemical reversibility, cycle stability, and rate performance of SnCoP/C samples are obviously better than those of Sn4P3/C. Cobalt in SnCoP/C stabilizes the conductive matrix of tin phosphide and promotes the diffusion kinetics of sodium. These results show that, with an appropriate amount of cobalt doping, highly dispersed nanoparticles can be formed in the tin phosphide matrix, which can significantly enhance the cycle stability of tin-based electrode materials.

Catalytically Active Carbon for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Energy Conversion: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives.

The shortage and unevenness of fossil energy sources are affecting the development and progress of human civilization. The technology of efficiently converting material resources into energy for utilization and storage is attracting the attention of researchers. Environmentally friendly biomass materials are a treasure to drive the development of new-generation energy sources. Electrochemical theory is used to efficiently convert the chemical energy of chemical substances into electrical energy. In recent years, significant progress has been made in the development of green and economical electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Although many reviews have been reported around the application of biomass-derived catalytically active carbon (CAC) catalysts in ORR, these reviews have only selected a single/partial topic (including synthesis and preparation of catalysts from different sources, structural optimization, or performance enhancement methods based on CAC catalysts, and application of biomass-derived CACs) for discussion. There is no review that systematically addresses the latest progress in the synthesis, performance enhancement, and applications related to biomass-derived CAC-based oxygen reduction electrocatalysts synchronously. This review fills the gap by providing a timely and comprehensive review and summary from the following sections: the exposition of the basic catalytic principles of ORR, the summary of the chemical composition and structural properties of various types of biomass, the analysis of traditional and the latest popular biomass-derived CAC synthesis methods and optimization strategies, and the summary of the practical applications of biomass-derived CAC-based oxidative reduction electrocatalysts. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the latest advances to provide research directions and design ideas for the development of catalyst synthesis/optimization and contributes to the industrialization of biomass-derived CAC electrocatalysis and electric energy storage.

Visualizing the crucial roles of plasma membrane and peroxynitrite during abdominal aortic aneurysm using two-photon fluorescence imaging.

Peroxynitrite (ONOO-) and cell plasma membrane (CPM) are two key factors in cell pyroptosis during the progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). However, their combined temporal and spatial roles in initiating AAA pathogenesis remain unclear. Herein, we developed a two-photon fluorescence probe, BH-Vis, enabling real-time dynamic detection of CPM and ONOO- changes, and revealing their interplay in AAA. BH-Vis precisely targets CPM with reduced red fluorescence intensity correlating with diminished CPM tension. Concurrently, a blue shift of the fluorescence signal of BH-Vis occurs in response to ONOO- offering a reliable ratiometric detection mode with enhanced accuracy by minimizing external testing variables. More importantly, two photon confocal imaging with palmitic acid (PA) and ganglioside (GM1) manipulation, which modulating cell pyroptosis, showcases reliable fluorescence fluctuations. This groundbreaking application of BH-Vis in a mouse AAA model demonstrates its significant potential for accurately identifying cell pyroptosis levels during AAA development.

Effects of motor imagery training on gait performance in individuals after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This review systematically explores and summarise the effects of motor imagery training (MIT) compared to conventional therapy on gait performance in individuals after stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were systematically searched in five electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, OVID Nursing and CINAHL) from inception to 30 December 2022. Studies investigating MITs, targeted at individuals after stroke were eligible. Data were extracted related to study and intervention characteristics. RESULTS: Sixteen studies were included. Compared with 'routine methods of treatment or training', the meta-analyses showed that MIT was more effective in improving cadence immediately post intervention (SMD: 1.22, 95% CI: 0.59, 1.85, p = 0.0001, I2 = 25%) and at 1- or 2-months post intervention (SMD: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.35, 1.20, p = 0.0004, I2 = 46%). The results also showed that MIT improves the step length of the affected side and the unaffected side at 1- or 2-months post intervention. Separate meta-analyses were also conducted on different tests of walking endurance (assessed by the 6-Minute Walk Test) and functional mobility (assessed by the Timed-Up-and-Go test). CONCLUSIONS: MIT effectively improved gait performance. The findings in individuals after stroke remain inconclusive due to significant heterogeneity in included studies.

Restoring gait performance and daily functional abilities is an important goal of post-stroke rehabilitation.Motor imagery training (MIT) may be a promising method to improve gait restoration and is expected to provide another option for the effective rehabilitation of stroke patients.This review highlights the limited research on MIT and thus the limited evidence to guide clinical rehabilitation.In the stroke rehabilitation, clinical specialists may consider incorporating MIT into the treatment programme to improve patients' gait performance and ensure effective early lower limb rehabilitation.

Pregnancy health in a multi-state U.S. population of systemically underserved patients and their children: PROMISE cohort design and baseline characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Gestational weight gain (GWG) is a routinely monitored aspect of pregnancy health, yet critical gaps remain about optimal GWG in pregnant people from socially marginalized groups, or with pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) in the lower or upper extremes. The PROMISE study aims to determine overall and trimester-specific GWG associated with the lowest risk of adverse birth outcomes and detrimental infant and child growth in these underrepresented subgroups. This paper presents methods used to construct the PROMISE cohort using electronic health record data from a network of community-based healthcare organizations and characterize the cohort with respect to baseline characteristics, longitudinal data availability, and GWG. METHODS: We developed an algorithm to identify and date pregnancies based on outpatient clinical data for patients 15 years or older. The cohort included pregnancies delivered in 2005-2020 with gestational age between 20 weeks, 0 days and 42 weeks, 6 days; and with known height and adequate weight measures needed to examine GWG patterns. We linked offspring data from birth records and clinical records. We defined study variables with attention to timing relative to pregnancy and clinical data collection processes. Descriptive analyses characterize the sociodemographic, baseline, and longitudinal data characteristics of the cohort, overall and within BMI categories. RESULTS: The cohort includes 77,599 pregnancies: 53% had incomes below the federal poverty level, 82% had public insurance, and the largest race and ethnicity groups were Hispanic (56%), non-Hispanic White (23%) and non-Hispanic Black (12%). Pre-pregnancy BMI groups included 2% underweight, 34% normal weight, 31% overweight, and 19%, 8%, and 5% Class I, II, and III obesity. Longitudinal data enable the calculation of trimester-specific GWG; e.g., a median of 2, 4, and 6 valid weight measures were available in the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively. Weekly rate of GWG was 0.00, 0.46, and 0.51 kg per week in the first, second, and third trimesters; differences in GWG between BMI groups were greatest in the second trimester. CONCLUSIONS: The PROMISE cohort enables characterization of GWG patterns and estimation of effects on child growth in underrepresented subgroups, ultimately improving the representativeness of GWG evidence and corresponding guidelines.

Personalized digital simulation­assisted acetabular component implantation in revision hip arthroplasty.

The number of artificial total hip revision arthroplasties is increasing yearly in China, and >50% of these cases have acetabular defects. Accurately locating and quantifying the bone defect is one of the current challenges of this surgery. Thus, the objective of the present study was to simulate acetabular implantation with the aid of Mimics 17.0 software (Materialise NV) in patients with loosened acetabular prosthesis, to evaluate the 'ideal acetabular center' and the 'actual acetabular center' to guide the choice of prosthesis and surgical method. From January 2017 to June 2021, the present study included 10 hips from 10 patients [seven men (seven hips) and three women (three hips)]. In all patients, the Mimics software was applied to simulate the dislocation of the femoral prosthesis and acetabular prosthesis implantation before surgery; calculate the height difference between the 'ideal acetabular center' and the 'actual acetabular center' to assess the bone defect; confirm the size of the acetabular prosthesis, abduction angle, anteversion angle and bone coverage of the acetabular cup; and measure the intraoperative bleeding and postoperative follow-up Harris score of the hip joint. After statistical analysis, the present study revealed that digital simulation assistance could improve the accuracy of hip revision acetabular prosthesis implantation, reduce postoperative shortening of the affected limb, especially for surgeons with relatively little experience in hip revision surgery, and greatly reduce the occurrence of complications such as hip dislocation because of poor postoperative prosthesis position.

Case report of scrub typhus complicated by hypokalemia and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.

CONTEXT: Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, has a wide range of clinical manifestations, including meningoencephalitis, acute renal failure, pneumonitis, myocarditis, and septic shock. However, there are no documented cases of scrub typhus with hypokalemia. In this report, we present a case of scrub typhus with hypokalemia and multiple organ failure syndrome, highlighting the importance of electrolyte imbalance in patients with scrub typhus. CASE REPORT: A 59-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain that had been present for 1 day. On admission, the physical examination and laboratory test results indicated that the patient had renal, liver, and circulatory failure, and hypokalemia. She developed meningitis and disseminated intravascular coagulation during hospitalization. She recovered with appropriate management, and was discharged on day 17. CONCLUSION: This report highlights the potential for atypical presentations of scrub typhus, including a previously undocumented association with hypokalemia. Although the contribution of hypokalemia to the patient's clinical course remains uncertain, this case underscores the importance of considering electrolyte imbalance in the management of patients with scrub typhus. Further research is warranted to better understand the relationship between scrub typhus and electrolyte imbalance.

Biomass-Derived Catalytically Active Carbon Materials for the Air Electrode of Zn-Air Batteries.

Given the growing environmental and energy problems, developing clean, renewable electrochemical energy storage devices is of great interest. Zn-air batteries (ZABs) have broad prospects in energy storage because of their high specific capacity and environmental friendliness. The unavailability of cheap air electrode materials and effective and stable oxygen electrocatalysts to catalyze air electrodes are main barriers to large-scale implementation of ZABs. Due to the abundant biomass resources, self-doped heteroatoms, and unique pore structure, biomass-derived catalytically active carbon materials (CACs) have great potential to prepare carbon-based catalysts and porous electrodes with excellent performance for ZABs. This paper reviews the research progress of biomass-derived CACs applied to ZABs air electrodes. Specifically, the principle of ZABs and the source and preparation method of biomass-derived CACs are introduced. To prepare efficient biomass-based oxygen electrocatalysts, heteroatom doping and metal modification were introduced to improve the efficiency and stability of carbon materials. Finally, the effects of electron transfer number and H2O2 yield in ORR on the performance of ZABs were evaluated. This review aims to deepen the understanding of the advantages and challenges of biomass-derived CACs in the air electrodes of ZABs, promote more comprehensive research on biomass resources, and accelerate the commercial application of ZABs.

Fe-modified NASICON-type Na3V2(PO4)3 as a cathode material for sodium ion batteries.

The sol-gel method is used to synthesize a new compound called Na3Fe0.8V1.2(PO4)3/C (NFVP/C), which has a crystal structure and belongs to the NASICON-type family. The dimensions of NFVP's unit cell are a = 8.717 (1) Å, c = 21.84 (1) Å, and V = 1437.27 (0) Å3. The Na‖NFVP/C battery provides a discharge potential of 3.43 V compared to Na+/Na, an intriguing rate capability of 76.2 mA h g-1 at 40C, and maintains an impressive capacity of 97.8% after 500 cycles at 5C. The excellent efficiency of Na3Fe0.8V1.2(PO4)3/C can be ascribed to its elevated Na+ conductivity and reduced energy barrier for sodium-ion diffusion. The NASICON-type Na3Fe0.8V1.2(PO4)3/C is a promising material for sodium-ion batteries.

Adding quantitative T1rho-weighted imaging to conventional MRI improves specificity and sensitivity for differentiating malignant from benign breast lesions.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the feasibility of T1rho-weighted imaging in differentiating malignant from benign breast lesions and to explore the additional value of T1rho to conventional MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively enrolled consecutive women with breast lesions who underwent preoperative T1rho-weighted imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) between November 2021 and July 2023. The T1rho, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and semi-quantitative parameters from DCE-MRI were obtained and compared between benign and malignant groups. The diagnostic performance was analyzed and compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the Delong Test. RESULTS: This study included 113 patients (74 malignant and 39 benign lesions). The mean T1rho value in the benign group (92.61 ± 22.10 ms) was significantly higher than that in the malignant group (72.18 ± 16.37 ms) (P < 0.001). The ADC value and time to peak (TTP) value in the malignant group (1.13 ± 0.45 and 269.06 ± 106.01, respectively) were lower than those in the benign group (1.57 ± 0.45 and 388.30 ± 81.13, respectively) (all P < 0.001). T1rho combined with ADC and TTP showed good diagnostic performance with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.896, a sensitivity of 81.0%, and a specificity of 87.1%. The specificity and sensitivity of the combination of T1rho, ADC, and TTP were significantly higher than those of the combination of ADC and TTP (87.1% vs. 84.6%, P < 0.005; 81.0% vs. 77.0%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: T1rho-weighted imaging was a feasible MRI sequence for differentiating malignant from benign breast lesions. The combination of T1rho, ADC and TTP could achieve a favorable diagnostic performance with improved specificity and sensitivity, T1rho could serve as a supplementary approach to conventional MRI.