One-step inverse generation network for sparse-view dual-energy CT reconstruction and material imaging.

Objective.Sparse-view dual-energy spectral computed tomography (DECT) imaging is a challenging inverse problem. Due to the incompleteness of the collected data, the presence of streak artifacts can result in the degradation of reconstructed spectral images. The subsequent material decomposition task in DECT can further lead to the amplification of artifacts and noise.Approach.To address this problem, we propose a novel one-step inverse generation network (OIGN) for sparse-view dual-energy CT imaging, which can achieve simultaneous imaging of spectral images and materials. The entire OIGN consists of five sub-networks that form four modules, including the pre-reconstruction module, the pre-decomposition module, and the following residual filtering module and residual decomposition module. The residual feedback mechanism is introduced to synchronize the optimization of spectral CT images and materials.Main results.Numerical simulation experiments show that the OIGN has better performance on both reconstruction and material decomposition than other state-of-the-art spectral CT imaging algorithms. OIGN also demonstrates high imaging efficiency by completing two high-quality imaging tasks in just 50 seconds. Additionally, anti-noise testing is conducted to evaluate the robustness of OIGN.Significance.These findings have great potential in high-quality multi-task spectral CT imaging in clinical diagnosis.

Near Infrared-Activatable Biomimetic Nanoplatform for Tumor-Specific Drug Release, Penetration and Chemo-Photothermal Synergistic Therapy of Orthotopic Glioblastoma.

Introduction: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a highly invasive and prognostically challenging brain cancer, poses a significant hurdle for current treatments due to the existence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the difficulty to maintain an effective drug accumulation in deep GBM lesions. Methods: We present a biomimetic nanoplatform with angiopep-2-modified macrophage membrane, loaded with indocyanine green (ICG) templated self-assembly of SN38 (AM-NP), facilitating active tumor targeting and effective blood-brain barrier penetration through specific ligand-receptor interaction. Results: Upon accumulation at tumor sites, these nanoparticles achieved high drug concentrations. Subsequent combination of laser irradiation and release of chemotherapy agent SN38 induced a synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy. Compared to bare nanoparticles (NPs) lacking cell membrane encapsulation, AM-NPs significantly suppressed tumor growth, markedly enhanced survival rates, and exhibited excellent biocompatibility with minimal side effects. Conclusion: This NIR-activatable biomimetic camouflaging macrophage membrane-based nanoparticles enhanced drug delivery targeting ability through modifications of macrophage membranes and specific ligands. It simultaneously achieved synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy, enhancing treatment effectiveness. Compared to traditional treatment modalities, it provided a precise, efficient, and synergistic method that might have contributed to advancements in glioblastoma therapy.

Comparative study on chemical constituents of different medicinal parts of Lonicera japonica Thunb. Based on LC-MS combined with multivariate statistical analysis.

Lonicerae japonicae flos (LJF), Lonicerae japonicae caulis (LJC), Lonicerae folium (LF) and Lonicerae fructus (LFR) are derived from Lonicera japonica Thunb., which are formed due to different medicinal parts. The efficacy of the 4 medicinal materials has similarities and differences. However, little attention has been paid to illustrate the differences in efficacy from the perspective of phytochemistry. In this study, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap-MS) was used to qualitatively analyze the ingredients in 4 herbs. A total of 86 compounds were plausibly or unambiguously identified, there were 54 common components among the 4 medicinal materials, and each kind of medicinal materials had its own unique components. On the basis of qualitative analysis, ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QQQ-MS/MS) was used to quantitatively analyze 31 components contained in 4 medicinal materials, and principal component analysis (PCA), orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and other multivariate statistical analysis were furtherly performed for comparing the component contents. The results showed that the samples from the same parts were clustered into one group, and the samples from different medicinal parts were significantly different. The analysis of variable importance projection (VIP) value of the OPLS-DA model showed that 10 components including chlorogenic acid, secologanic acid, isochlorogenic acid A, loganin, lonicerin, loganic acid, secoxyloganin, sweroside, luteolin and rhoifolin were the main difference components among the 4 medicinal materials. The study not only lays a solid foundation for the intrinsic quality control of 4 medicinal materials and the study of different effects of the 4 medicinal materials at the phytochemical level, but also provides a basis for more rational utilization of various parts of L. japonica and expansion of medicinal resources.

PD-1 inhibitor combined with paclitaxel and cisplatin in the treatment of recurrent and metastatic hypopharyngeal/laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: efficacy and survival outcomes.

Objective: This retrospective study analyzed the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitors combined with albumin-bound paclitaxel and cisplatin (TP regimen) in the treatment of recurrent and metastatic hypopharyngeal/laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (RMHSCC/RMLSCC). Methods: Patients diagnosed and treated at the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from August 1, 2020, to August 15, 2023, with histologically confirmed RMHSCC/RMLSCC were included. All patients received PD-1 inhibitors combined with albumin-bound paclitaxel (260mg/m2) and cisplatin (60mg/m2) for 3-4 cycles. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Results: A total of 50 patients with RMHSCC/RMLSCC who received TP+PD-1 inhibitor therapy were included, with an objective response rate (ORR) of 56.0% (28/50). The 1-year and 2-year OS rates were 80.2% (95% CI: 69.3%-92.9%) and 68.6% (95% CI: 52.6%-89.5%), respectively, while the 1-year and 2-year PFS rates were 44.7% (95% CI: 31.9%-62.5%) and 26.0% (95% CI: 12.6%-53.4%), respectively. Treatment-related adverse events mainly included rash, myelosuppression, gastrointestinal reactions, and hypothyroidism. Conclusion: In the treatment of RMHSCC/RMLSCC with TP + PD-1 inhibitors, survival rates of patients can be improved while ensuring the safety of the treatment regimen.

Investigating Enterocytozoon bieneusi in pigs farmed in Zhejiang Province, China: occurrence, genotype identification, evolutionary analysis, and zoonotic risk assessment.

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is a widespread intracellular fungus that can infect both humans and animals, making it a significant zoonotic threat. In the current study, a total of 208 fecal samples were assayed to investigate the prevalence of E. bieneusi in pigs reared in Zhejiang Province, China. Employing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification techniques specifically designed to target the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene, the results revealed that 78 samples (37.5%) tested positive for the presence of E. bieneusi. A total of 19 different genotypes of E. bieneusi were detected. Nine of these genotypes were already known: EbpC (n = 36), KIN-1 (n = 10), PigEbITS7 (n = 8), EbpA (n = 6), Henan III (n = 3), PigEbITS5 (n = 2), Henan-IV (n = 1), EbpD (n = 1), and TypeIV (n = 1), and 10 were novel: ZJP-I to ZJP-X (one each). The present investigation revealed that all the nine known genotypes identified in pigs here, have also been previously discovered in humans. Additionally, the novel genotypes of E. bieneusi discovered here were all classified as belonging to Group 1. These findings suggest the potential for cross-species transmission between humans and pigs.

Reason and control strategy for denitrification and anammox sludge flotation in nitrogen removal process: Mechanisms, strategies and perspectives.

Anaerobic biological treatment technology, especially denitrification and anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) technology as mainstream process, played dominant role in the field of biological wastewater treatment. However, the above process was prone to sludge floating during high load operation and thereby affecting the efficient and stable operation of the system. Excessive production of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) was considered to be the main reason for anaerobic granular sludge flotation, but the summaries in this area were not comprehensive enough. In this review, the potential mechanisms of denitrification and anammox sludge floatation were discussed from the perspective of granular sludge structural characteristics, nutrient transfer, and microbial flora change respectively, and the corresponding control strategies were also summarized. Finally, this paper indicated that future research on sludge flotation should focus on reducing the negative effects of EPS in sludge particles.

A novel ACE inhibitory peptide from Pelodiscus sinensis Wiegmann meat water-soluble protein hydrolysate.

Pelodiscus sinensis meat is a nutritional food and tonic with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities. To identify the bioactive substances responsible, several bioinformatics methods were integrated to enable a virtual screening for bioactive peptides in proteins identified within a water-soluble protein fraction of Pelodiscus sinensis meat by Shotgun proteomics. The peptides were generated from the identified proteins by in silico proteolysis using six proteases. A comparison of the numbers of proteins suitable for digestion with each enzyme and the iBAQ (intensity-based absolute quantification) values for these proteins revealed that bromelain and papain were the most suitable proteases for this sample. Next, the water solubility, toxicity, and ADMET (absorption/distribution/metabolism/excretion/toxicity) properties of these peptides were evaluated in silico. Finally, a novel ACE inhibitory peptide IEWEF with an IC50 value of 41.33 µM was identified. The activity of the synthesized peptide was verified in vitro, and it was shown to be a non-competitive ACE inhibitor. Molecular docking revealed that IEWEF could tightly bind to C-ACE, and N-ACE with energies less than 0 kJ mol-1, and the peptide IEWEF can form hydrogen bonds with C-ACE and N-ACE respectively. These results provide evidence that bioactive peptides in the water-soluble protein fraction account for (at least) some of the ACE inhibitory activities observed in Pelodiscus sinensis meat. Furthermore, our research provides a workflow for the efficient identification of novel ACE inhibitory peptides from complex protein mixtures.

Mirror Plane Effect of Magnetoplumbite-Type Oxide Restraining Long-Chain Polysulfides Disproportionation for High Loading Lithium Sulfur Batteries.

A facile solid-state approach is employed to synthesize a novel magnetoplumbite-type oxide of NdMgAl11O19, which integrates spinel-stacking layers (MgAl2O4) with Nd-O6 mirror plane structures. The resulting NdMgAl11O19 exhibits remarkable catalytic activity and conversion efficiency during the sulfur reduction reaction (SRR) in lithium-sulfur batteries. By employing the 2D projection mapping technique of in situ confocal Raman spectroscopy and electrochemical technique, it is discovered that the exposed mirror plane structure of Nd-O6 can effectively suppress the undesiring disproportionation reaction (S8 2-→S6 2-+1/4 S8) of long-chain lithium polysulfides at the initial stages of sulfur reduction, thereby promoting the positive process of sulfur to lithium sulfide. This not only mitigates the issue of sulfur shuttle loss but also significantly improve the kinetics of the conversion process. Leveraging these advantages, the NdMgAl11O19/S cathode delivered an impressive initial capacity of up to 1398 mAh g-1 at an electrolyte/sulfur (E/S) ratio of 5.1 µL mg-1 and a sulfur loading of 2.3 mg cm-2. Even when the sulfur loading is increased to 10.02 mg cm-2, the cathode retained a reversible areal capacity of 10.01 mAh cm-2 after 200 cycles. This mirror engineering strategy provides valuable and universal insights into enhancing the efficiency of cathodes in Li-S battery.

Hypoxia-mediated programmed cell death is involved in the formation of wooden breast in broilers.

BACKGROUND: Wooden breast (WB) myopathy is a common myopathy found in commercial broiler chickens worldwide. Histological examination has revealed that WB myopathy is accompanied by damage to the pectoralis major (PM) muscle. However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for the formation of WB in broilers have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of hypoxia-mediated programmed cell death (PCD) in the formation of WB myopathy. RESULTS: Histological examination and biochemical analysis were performed on the PM muscle of the control (CON) and WB groups. A significantly increased thickness of the breast muscle in the top, middle, and bottom portions (P<0.01) was found along with pathological structure damage of myofibers in the WB group. The number of capillaries per fiber in PM muscle, and the levels of pO2 and sO2 in the blood, were significantly decreased (P < 0.01), while the levels of pCO2 and TCO2 in the blood were significantly increased (P < 0.05), suggesting hypoxic conditions in the PM muscle of the WB group. We further evaluated the PCD-related pathways including autophagy, apoptosis, and necroptosis to understand the consequence response to enhanced hypoxic conditions in the PM muscle of birds with WB. The ratio of LC3 II to LC3 I, and the autophagy-related factors HIF-1α, BNIP3, Beclin1, AMPKα, and ULK1 at the mRNA and protein levels, were all significantly upregulated (P < 0.05), showing that autophagy occurred in the PM muscle of the WB group. The apoptotic index, as well as the expressions of Bax, Cytc, caspase 9, and caspase 3, were significantly increased (P < 0.05), whereas Bcl-2 was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the WB-affected PM muscle, indicating the occurrence of apoptosis mediated by the mitochondrial pathway. Additionally, the expressions of necroptosis-related factors RIP1, RIP3, and MLKL, as well as NF-κB and the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6, were all significantly enhanced (P < 0.05) in the WB-affected PM muscle. CONCLUSIONS: The WB myopathy reduces blood supply and induces hypoxia in the PM muscle, which is closely related to the occurrence of PCD including apoptosis, autophagy, and necroptosis within myofibers, and finally leads to abnormal muscle damage and the development of WB in broilers.

The prevention effect of Limosilactobacillus reuteri on acute kidney injury by regulating gut microbiota.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) has considerably high morbidity and mortality but we do not have proper treatment for it. There is an urgent need to develop new prevention or treatment methods. Gut microbiota has a close connection with renal diseases and has become the new therapy target for AKI. In this study, we found the oral administration of the probiotic Limosilactobacillus reuteri had a prevention effect on the AKI induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). It reduced serum concentration of creatinine and urea nitrogen and protected the renal cells from necrosis and apoptosis. Meanwhile, L. reuteri improved the gut barrier function, which is destroyed in AKI, and modulated the gut microbiota and relevant metabolites. Compared with the LPS group, L. reuteri increased the proportion of Proteobacteria and reduced the proportion of Firmicutes, changing the overall structure of the gut microbiota. It also influenced the fecal metabolites and changed the metabolite pathways, such as tyrosine metabolism, pentose and glucuronate interconversions, galactose metabolism, purine metabolism, and insulin resistance. These results showed that L. reuteri is a potential therapy for AKI as it helps in sustaining the gut barrier integrity and modulating gut microbiota and related metabolites.

Strengthening-Durable Trade-Off and Self-Healing, Recyclable Shape Memory Polyurethanes Enabled by Dynamic Boron-Urethane Bonds.

Addressing the demand for integrating strength and durability reinforcement in shape memory polyurethane (SMPU) for diverse applications remains a significant challenge. Here a series of SMPUs with ultra-high strength, self-healing and recyclability, and excellent shape memory properties through introducing dynamic boron-urethane bonds are synthesized. The introducing of boric acid (BA) to polyurethane leading to the formation of dynamic covalent bonds (DCB) boron-urethane, that confer a robust cross-linking structure on the SMPUs led to the formation of ordered stable hydrogen-bonding network within the SMPUs. The flexible crosslinking with DCB represents a novel strategy for balancing the trade-off between strength and durability, with their strengths reaching up to 82.2 MPa while also addressing the issue of durability in prolonged usage through the provision of self-healing and recyclability. The self-healing and recyclability of SMPU are demonstrated through rapid dynamic exchange reaction of boron-urethane bonds, systematically investigated by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). This study sheds light on the essential role of such PU with self-healing and recyclability, contributing to the extension of the PU's service life. The findings of this work provide a general strategy for overcoming traditional trade-offs in preparing SMPUs with both high strength and good durability.

GhVIM28, a negative regulator identified from VIM family genes, positively responds to salt stress in cotton.

The VIM (belonged to E3 ubiquitin ligase) gene family is crucial for plant growth, development, and stress responses, yet their role in salt stress remains unclear. We analyzed phylogenetic relationships, chromosomal localization, conserved motifs, gene structure, cis-acting elements, and gene expression patterns of the VIM gene family in four cotton varieties. Our findings reveal 29, 29, 17, and 14 members in Gossypium hirsutum (G.hirsutum), Gossypium barbadense (G.barbadense), Gossypium arboreum (G.arboreum), and Gossypium raimondii (G. raimondii), respectively, indicating the maturity and evolution of this gene family. motifs among GhVIMs genes were observed, along with the presence of stress-responsive, hormone-responsive, and growth-related elements in their promoter regions. Gene expression analysis showed varying patterns and tissue specificity of GhVIMs genes under abiotic stress. Silencing GhVIM28 via virus-induced gene silencing revealed its role as a salt-tolerant negative regulator. This work reveals a mechanism by which the VIM gene family in response to salt stress in cotton, identifying a potential negative regulator, GhVIM28, which could be targeted for enhancing salt tolerance in cotton. The objective of this study was to explore the evolutionary relationship of the VIM gene family and its potential function in salt stress tolerance, and provide important genetic resources for salt tolerance breeding of cotton.

Effects of high moisture ear corn on production performance, milk fatty acid composition, serum antioxidant status, and immunity in primiparous dairy cows.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effects of high moisture ear corn (HMEC) on production performance, milk fatty acid composition, serum antioxidant status, and immunity in primiparous dairy cows. METHODS: A total of 45 healthy primiparous Holstein cows (36.50±4.30 kg of milk/d, 201±9.00 lactating days in milk) were sorted into 3 groups: control group (CG, n = 15); 50% HMEC (replacing 50% steam-flaked corn with HMEC, n = 15); and 100% HMEC (replacing steam-flaked corn with HMEC, n = 15) on an equal dry matter (DM) basis. The study consisted of adaptation period of 14 days, followed by a formal period of 60 days. Feed intake and milk yield were recorded daily. Milk and blood samples were collected on 1, 30, and 60 d of the experimental period. RESULTS: The 50% HMEC group and 100% HMEC group significantly increased (p<0.05) milk yield and DM intake in dairy cows compared to the control group (CG). The 100% HMEC group showed an increase (p<0.05) in 4% fat-corrected milk (4% FCM). Both the 50% HMEC group and 100% HMEC group exhibited significant decreases (p<0.05) in the content of C10:0, C12:0, and C14:0 fatty acids, along with a significant increase (p<0.05) in cis-9C18:1 content. The saturated fatty acid content was significantly lower (p<0.05) in the 50% HMEC and 100% HMEC groups than that of CG. Conversely, the monounsaturated fatty acid content was higher (p<0.05) in the 50% HMEC and 100% HMEC groups than that in CG. Notably, the 100% HMEC group significantly increased (p<0.05) the serum superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase content, while also decreasing the serum malondialdehyde content (p<0.05). Moreover, the 100% HMEC group significantly increased (p<0.05) the content of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM. CONCLUSION: High moisture ear corn could improve production performance and milk fatty acid levels and enhance immunity and antioxidant capacity in dairy cows. These results lay the foundation for the wider application of HMEC in ruminant animal diets.

LC-MS/MS methods for simultaneous determination of youkenafil and its metabolite M1 in human seminal plasma and plasma: Application to evaluate the acute effect of youkenafil on semen quality and its pharmacokinetics in human.

Youkenafil is a novel Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor used for treating erectile dysfunction. N-desethyl compound of youkenafil (M1) is its main active metabolite. In this study, two methods were developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of youkenafil and M1 by HPLC-MS/MS in human matrices including seminal plasma and plasma, in which the multiple reaction monitoring and electrospray ionization in positive mode were adopted, and the deuterated youkenafil (youkenafil-d5) was selected as the internal standard. The collected semen sample was kept at room temperature for approximately 30 min until fully liquefied. The volume of the liquefied semen was measured and then divided into two parts. One part was centrifuged to obtain the seminal plasma for the content detection of youkenafil and M1, while the other part was used for routine semen analysis. The chromatographic separation was accomplished with the column of Poroshell 120 EC-C18 (5 × 2.1 mm, 2.7 µm, Agilent). Protein precipitation with methanol was used for the pretreatment of seminal plasma and plasma. The intra-run and inter-run precisions were less than 6.4 % (relative standard deviation) and accuracies were all within -4.7 %-6.8 % (relative error) in both matrices. All other validated bioanalytical parameters were within the acceptance criteria set by the FDA. The methods were successfully applied to different clinical studies of youkenafil. In the clinical study of the acute effect of youkenafil on semen quality in healthy males, the content of youkenafil in seminal plasma was extremely low. Concentrations of youkenafil and M1 in seminal plasma were lower than those in plasma, at 20.7 % and 4.49 % of the plasma concentration, respectively. There was no significant acute effect of youkenafil on semen quality. In the pharmacokinetic study of youkenafil after single dose-escalation administration, the exposure to youkenafil and M1 was non-linear with the dose in the range of 100-400 mg.

Neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy with camrelizumab plus nab-paclitaxel and cisplatin in resectable locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a pilot phase II trial.

Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy has emerged as a potential treatment option for resectable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In this single-arm phase II trial (NCT04826679), patients with resectable locally advanced HNSCC (T2‒T4, N0‒N3b, M0) received neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy with camrelizumab (200 mg), nab-paclitaxel (260 mg/m2), and cisplatin (60 mg/m2) intravenously on day one of each three-week cycle for three cycles. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints included pathologic complete response (pCR), major pathologic response (MPR), two-year progression-free survival rate, two-year overall survival rate, and toxicities. Here, we report the perioperative outcomes; survival outcomes were not mature at the time of data analysis. Between April 19, 2021 and March 17, 2022, 48 patients were enrolled and received neoadjuvant therapy, 27 of whom proceeded to surgical resection and remaining 21 received non-surgical therapy. The ORR was 89.6% (95% CI: 80.9, 98.2) among 48 patients who completed neoadjuvant therapy. Of the 27 patients who underwent surgery, 17 (63.0%, 95% CI: 44.7, 81.2) achieved a MPR or pCR, with a pCR rate of 55.6% (95% CI: 36.8, 74.3). Treatment-related adverse events of grade 3 or 4 occurred in two patients. This study meets the primary endpoint showing potential efficacy of neoadjuvant camrelizumab plus nab-paclitaxel and cisplatin, with an acceptable safety profile, in patients with resectable locally advanced HNSCC.

Global prevalence of restless legs syndrome among hemodialysis patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common complaint in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). Despite the fact that the estimated prevalence of RLS among HD patients is widely reported, these results varied significantly in the relevant literature. Due to this limitation, the aim of this study was to determine the global prevalence of RLS among HD patients. METHODS: This systematic review was conducted and reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses 2020 statement. We searched the electronic databases: Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database, Wanfang Database, Chinese Biomedical Database, and Weipu Database. A random effects model was employed to calculate pooled prevalence rates. RESULTS: The global pooled prevalence of RLS in HD patients was 27.2% (95% CI: 24.8-29.7). Stratified analyses demonstrated that included studies with sample size <100 had the highest pooled prevalence of RLS. The prevalence of RLS using clinical interviews and questionnaires was 28.7% (95% CI: 25.2-32.2) and 25.9% (95% CI: 22.8-29.1), respectively. RLS prevalence is higher in females (29.7%, 95% CI: 26.2-33.2) HD patients than in males (23.5%, 95% CI: 20.9-26.0), and the African region has the highest prevalence in the world when the diagnostic criteria were restricted to the 2003 version of International RLS Study Group criteria, the prevalence of RLS was highest (28.9%, 95% CI: 25.9-31.9). CONCLUSION: Our results revealed a high RLS prevalence in HD patients worldwide. However, the prevalence of RLS among HD patients varied significantly based on sample size, data collection method, gender, diagnostic criteria, and geographical region.

Blindness in Right Eyes after Enema: A Case of Klebsiella pneumoniae-Related Invasive Liver Abscess Syndrome with Endophthalmitis-Caused Blindness as the First Symptom.

We report a case of Klebsiella pneumoniae invasive liver abscess syndrome (KPILAS) with endophthalmitis-caused blindness as the first symptom after enema. The patient had diabetes, and his blood glucose was poorly controlled. She developed hematuria after four enemas for cosmetic purposes and later became blind. The eye discharge was cultured, which revealed a Klebsiella pneumoniae infection. B ultrasound did not show liver lesions, but computed tomography exhibited abscesses in the right lobe of the liver. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head indicated abscesses. These confirmed the diagnosis of invasive liver abscess syndrome. The patient was given ophthalmic and systemic anti-infection treatments, and her condition was effectively controlled. Unfortunately, the diseased eye still needed to be removed. This case underlines the necessity of avoiding unnecessary risky procedures (such as enemas) in vulnerable populations, the importance of early detection of invasive liver abscess syndrome, and the advantage of computed tomography in detecting liver abscesses.

Flexible Cages Enable Robust Supramolecular Elastomers.

Advances in modern industrial technology continue to place stricter demands on engineering polymeric materials, but simultaneously possessing superior strength and toughness remains a daunting challenge. Herein, a pioneering flexible cage-reinforced supramolecular elastomer (CSE) is reported that exhibits superb robustness, tear resistance, anti-fatigue, and shape memory properties, achieved by innovatively introducing organic imide cages (OICs) into supramolecular networks. Intriguingly, extremely small amounts of OICs make the elastomer stronger, significantly improving mechanical strength (85.0 MPa; ≈10-fold increase) and toughness (418.4 MJ m-3; ≈7-fold increase). Significantly, the cooperative effect of gradient hydrogen bonds and OICs is experimentally and theoretically demonstrated as flexible nodes, enabling more robust supramolecular networks. In short, the proposed strengthening strategy of adding flexible cages effectively balances the inherent conflict between material strength and toughness, and the prepared CSEs are anticipated to be served in large-scale devices such as TBMs in the future.

Sodium alginate/sodium lignosulfonate hydrogel based on inert Ca2+ activation for water conservation and growth promotion.

Soil degradation has become a major global problem owing to the rapid development of agriculture. The problems of soil drought and decreased soil fertility caused by soil degradation severely affect the development of the agricultural and forestry industries. In this study, we designed sodium alginate (SA)/sodium lignosulfonate (SLS) hydrogel based on the activation and crosslinking of inert Ca2+. CaCO3 and SA were mixed, and then, inert Ca2+ was activated to prepare a gel with a stable structure and a uniform interior and exterior. The crosslinking activated by inert Ca2+ enhanced the stability of the hydrogel, and the optimal swelling rate of the hydrogel reached 28.91 g/g, thereby effectively improving the water-holding capacity of the soil (77.6-108.83 g/kg). SLS was degraded into humic acid (HA) and gradually released, demonstrating a positive growth-promoting effect in plant growth experiments. The SA/SLS hydrogel can be used for soil water retention and mitigation to significantly decrease the water loss rate of soil. This study will assist in addressing soil drought and fertility loss.

Properties of Mixed Crystal Coprecipitation Substances of Ammonium Nitrate and Potassium Perchlorate Prepared by the Evaporative Solvent Method.

Ammonium perchlorate (AP) has been widely used as an oxidizer in propellants and military mixed explosives in recent years. However, its high characteristic signal, environmental pollution, and poor detonation performance have prompted the industry to seek alternatives to AP. Ammonium nitrate (AN) is a suitable substitute due to its low characteristic signal, lack of pollution, and excellent detonation performance. However, its room-temperature phase transition and hygroscopicity affect its practical use. In this work, we prepared mixed crystal coprecipitation (MCC) materials of AN and potassium perchlorate (KP) using the evaporative solvent method. The characterization of AN/KP MCCs was carried out by combining TG-DSC, XRD, FT-IR, and SEM analysis, revealing that the formation of MCCs by AN and KP is due to ion exchange between the two components. AN/KP MCCs not only solve the problem of room-temperature phase transition in AN but also reduce its hygroscopicity. Furthermore, AN/KP MCCs have mechanical sensitivity, explosive performance, and specific impulse similar to pure AN, but compared to AN, AN/KP MCCs have higher density, effective oxygen content, and thermal stability. Compared with existing oxidizers AN, AP, and KP, AN/KP MCCs with high density, low sensitivity, high oxygen content, and high safety have obvious advantages and have good prospects in the application of oxidizers in solid propellants and military mixed explosives.