Diet Outcome in Patients With Hypopharyngeal Defects Repaired With Different Reconstruction Flaps: A Comparative Study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess potential risk factors influencing diet outcomes after reconstruction of subtotal hypopharyngeal defects using free patch- or tube-shaped anterolateral thigh (ALT) fasciocutaneous flaps. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: First-level referral hospital. METHODS: Between January 2011 and December 2020, we studied hypopharyngeal cancer patients who underwent the reconstruction of hypopharyngeal defects using free patch- or tube-shaped ALT fasciocutaneous flaps. The choice between patch- or tube-shaped ALT flaps depended on the defect's nature, favoring patch-shaped for subtotal defects and tube-shaped for circumferential defects. A restricted diet was characterized by a history of enterostomy or endoscopic esophageal dilation treatment postreconstruction. We analyzed patients with restricted diets at 1- and 3-year follow-up visits. RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients were enrolled; 39 patch-shaped flaps, and 59 tube-shaped flaps. No significances were noted in demographics, postoperative radiotherapy (RT) or chemotherapy, rates of free flap reoperation/salvage, or complications. However, a significant difference emerged in diet outcomes at the 1-year follow-up (P = .005). The rate of a restricted diet was 6.08 times higher in patients with tube-shaped flaps compared to patch-shaped flaps (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.95-18.94). Stratifying based on postoperative RT revealed a 5.47 times higher rate of a restricted diet in tube-shaped flap recipients compared to patch-shaped flap recipients (95% CI: 1.44-20.48). No significances were observed in 5-year survival rates. CONCLUSION: Concerning postoperative RT, patch-shaped flaps exhibited a lower incidence of a restricted diet compared to tube-shaped flaps. Preservation of the posterior mucosa may play a crucial role in preventing RT-induced esophageal stricture.

Pattern classification of interstitial lung diseases from computed tomography images using a ResNet-based network with a split-transform-merge strategy and split attention.

In patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD), accurate pattern assessment from their computed tomography (CT) images could help track lung abnormalities and evaluate treatment efficacy. Based on excellent image classification performance, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been massively investigated for classifying and labeling pathological patterns in the CT images of ILD patients. However, previous studies rarely considered the three-dimensional (3D) structure of the pathological patterns of ILD and used two-dimensional network input. In addition, ResNet-based networks such as SE-ResNet and ResNeXt with high classification performance have not been used for pattern classification of ILD. This study proposed a SE-ResNeXt-SA-18 for classifying pathological patterns of ILD. The SE-ResNeXt-SA-18 integrated the multipath design of the ResNeXt and the feature weighting of the squeeze-and-excitation network with split attention. The classification performance of the SE-ResNeXt-SA-18 was compared with the ResNet-18 and SE-ResNeXt-18. The influence of the input patch size on classification performance was also evaluated. Results show that the classification accuracy was increased with the increase of the patch size. With a 32 × 32 × 16 input, the SE-ResNeXt-SA-18 presented the highest performance with average accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.991, 0.979, and 0.994. High-weight regions in the class activation maps of the SE-ResNeXt-SA-18 also matched the specific pattern features. In comparison, the performance of the SE-ResNeXt-SA-18 is superior to the previously reported CNNs in classifying the ILD patterns. We concluded that the SE-ResNeXt-SA-18 could help track or monitor the progress of ILD through accuracy pattern classification.

Highly Mimetic Ex Vivo Lung-Cancer Spheroid-Based Physiological Model for Clinical Precision Therapeutics.

Lung cancer remains a major health problem despite the considerable research into prevention and treatment methods. Through a deeper understanding of tumors, patient-specific ex vivo spheroid models with high specificity can be used to accurately investigate the cause, metastasis, and treatment strategies for lung cancer. Biofabricate lung tumors are presented, consisting of patient-derived tumor spheroids, endothelial cells, and lung decellularized extracellular matrix, which maintain a radial oxygen gradient, as well as biophysicochemical behaviors of the native tumors for precision medicine. It is also demonstrated that the developed lung-cancer spheroid model reproduces patient responses to chemotherapeutics and targeted therapy in a co-clinical trial, with 85% accuracy, 86.7% sensitivity, and 80% specificity. RNA sequencing analysis validates that the gene expression in the spheroids replicates that in the patient's primary tumor. This model can be used as an ex vivo predictive model for personalized cancer therapy and to improve the quality of clinical care.

Graphene Nanoplatelet/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube/Polypyrrole Hybrid Fillers in Polyurethane Nanohybrids with 3D Conductive Networks for EMI Shielding.

This work reports the preparation of graphene nanoplatelet (GNP)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/polypyrrole (PPy) hybrid fillers via in situ chemical oxidative polymerization with the addition of a cationic surfactant, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide. These hybrid fillers were incorporated into polyurethane (PU) to prepare GNP/MWCNT/PPy/PU nanohybrids. The electrical conductivity of the nanohybrids was synergistically enhanced by the high conductivity of the hybrid fillers. Furthermore, the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE) was greatly increased by interfacial polarization between the GNPs, MWCNTs, PPy, and PU. The optimal formulation for the preparation of GNP/MWCNT/PPy three-dimensional (3D) nanostructures was determined by optimization experiments. Using this formulation, we successfully prepared GNP/PPy nanolayers (two-dimensional) that are extensively covered by MWCNT/PPy nanowires (one-dimensional), which interconnect to form GNP/MWCNT/PPy 3D nanostructures. When incorporated into a PU matrix to form a nanohybrid, these 3D nanostructures form a continuous network of conductive GNP-PPy-CNT-PPy-GNP paths. The EMI SE of the nanohybrid is 35-40 dB at 30-1800 MHz, which is sufficient to shield over 99.9% of electromagnetic waves. Therefore, this EMI shielding material has excellent prospects for commercial use. In summary, a nanohybrid with excellent EMI SE performance was prepared using a facile and scalable method and was shown to have great commercial potential.

Risk of diaphragmatic hernia in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have implied the incidence of diaphragmatic hernia (DH) after spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) with unknown mechanisms. The current study aimed to identify whether there is an association between the DH and SP. METHODS: We selected 46,897 patients with SP (SP cohort) and 46,897 without SP (non-SP matched cohort) from the National Health Insurance Database. Patients were frequency matched according to age, sex, and index year. The incidence of DH and its association with SP were assessed after stratifying different characteristics and comorbidities. Statistical analysis including chi-square test, t-test, cox proportional hazard model, and Kaplan-Meier method were used. RESULTS: The results suggested there were significant associations between SP and DH, especially in the subgroup of patients with older age (aged 40-64 years: 2.61-fold in adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.27-5.36; aged > 65 years: 1.97-fold in aHR, 95% CI 1.43-2.71), male sex (2.11-fold in aHR, 95% CI 1.56-2.85), hypertension (2.05-fold in aHR, 95% CI 1.30-3.23), diabetes mellitus (2.58-fold in aHR, 95% CI 1.37-4.86), and smoking-related disease (1.86-fold in aHR, 95% CI 1.28-2.71). The SP cohort has significantly correlated with DH within 5-year follow-up (< 2 years: 3.22-fold in aHR, 95% CI 2.10-4.94; 2-5 years: 1.70-fold in aHR, 95% CI 1.05-2.75). CONCLUSIONS: The SP cohort had a higher incidence of DH than the non-SP matched cohort. A prospective study of indications based on the findings of the current research should be performed.

Free extended anterolateral thigh myocutaneous flap versus combined pedicled pectoralis major-latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps in deep and extensive sternal wound reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: The combined pedicled pectoralis major-latissimus dorsi (PM-LD) and free extended anterolateral thigh (ALT) myocutaneous flaps provide well-vascularized tissues for extensive sternal wound reconstruction. However, the outcomes and postoperative complications between the two surgical techniques are different. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of these two reconstructive options. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective study was conducted between August 2011 and May 2019. Forty-four patients diagnosed with deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) and presented with grade four complications (sternal instability and necrotic bone tissue) were enrolled. Two reconstructive strategies, namely, combined pedicled PM-LD (n = 24) and free extended ALT (n = 20) myocutaneous flaps, were used according to the patients' hemodynamics. Data including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), hospital stay, follow-up, defect/flap size, number of surgical procedures before reconstruction, duration from the last debridement to flap coverage, comorbidities, and postoperative complications, were obtained for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean defect size in the combined PM-LD myocutaneous flap group was 188.4 (5*17-10*23) cm2 , and the mean flap size was 150.0 (8*12-15*15) cm2 and 205.0 (8*15-10*25) cm2 in PM and LD flap, respectively. The mean defect size in the free extended ALT myocutaneus flap group was 202.5 (6*16-10*21) cm2 , and the mean flap size was 285.2 (9*30-12*25) cm2 . No significant differences were observed between the free extended ALT and the combined pedicled PM-LD myocutaneous flaps in relation to age, gender, BMI, hospital days, follow-up, defect size, preoperative procedures, and comorbidities, except for the average operative time (443.2 ± 31.2 vs. 321.3 ± 54.3 mins, p = .048). The combined pedicled PM-LD myocutaneous flap had significantly more donor site complications, including seroma (21% vs. 0%, p = .030), bilateral nipple-areolar complex asymmetry (100% vs. 0%, p < .0001), and skin graft loss with infection (33% vs. 0%; p = .044) than the free extended ALT myocutaneous flap. CONCLUSION: The free extended ALT and the combined pedicled PM-LD myocutaneous flaps were both feasible and effective options for sternal wound reconstruction. Our findings suggested that the free extended ALT myocutaneous flap may be a better alternative for a comprehensive and extensive reconstruction of sternal wounds. Further studies based on these findings can be conducted.

Risk of peripheral artery occlusive disease in patients with lower leg fracture who received fixation and non-fixation treatments: A population cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The risk of peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD) in patients with lower leg fracture who underwent fixation procedures is not yet completely understood. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the risk of subsequent PAOD in patients with lower leg fracture who received fixation and non-fixation treatments. METHODS: We included 6538 patients with lower leg fracture who received non-fixation treatment and a matched cohort comprising 26152 patients who received fixation treatment from the National Health Insurance Database. Patients were frequency matched according to age, sex, and index year. The incidence and risk of PAOD in patients with lower leg fracture who received fixation and non-fixation treatments were evaluated via the stratification of different characteristics and comorbidities. RESULTS: Non-fixation treatment, male sex, older age (≥ 50 years old), diabetes mellitus, and gout were associated with a significantly higher risk of lower extremity PAOD compare to each comparison group, respectively. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between fixation treatment and a lower risk of lower extremity PAOD in women (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 0.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.38-0.90), women aged > 50 years (aHR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.38-0.96), and patients with coronary artery disease (aHR = 0.43, 95% CI = (0.23-0.81). Further, patients with fixation treatment had a significantly lower risk of lower extremity PAOD within 2 years after trauma (aHR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.34-0.97). The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the cumulative incidence of PAOD was significantly higher in the non-fixation treatment group than in the fixation treatment group at the end of the 10-year follow-up period (log-rank test: P = 0.022). CONCLUSION: Patients with lower leg fracture who received non-fixation treatment had a significantly higher risk of PAOD than those who received fixation treatment. Moreover, the risk of PAOD was higher in women aged > 50 years, as well as in coronary artery disease patients who received non-fixation treatment than in those who received fixation treatment. Therefore, regular assessment of vessel patency are recommended for these patients. Nevertheless, further studies must be conducted to validate the results of our study.

Consolidative chemotherapy after definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients: a population based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The role of consolidative chemotherapy (CCT) for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (LA-ESCC) patients treated with definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (dCCRT) is unclear. We aimed to compare the overall survival (OS) of those treated with vs without CCT via a population based approach. METHODS: Eligible LA-ESCC patients diagnosed between 2011 and 2017 were identified via the Taiwan Cancer Registry. We used propensity score (PS) weighting to balance observable potential confounders between groups. The hazard ratio (HR) of death and incidence of esophageal cancer mortality (IECM) were compared between those with vs without CCT. We also evaluated the OS in supplementary analyses via alternative approaches. RESULTS: Our primary analysis consisted of 368 patients in whom covariates were well balanced after PS weighting. The HR of death when CCT was compared to without was 0.67 (95% confidence interval 0.52-0.86, P = 0.002). The HR of IECM was 0.66 (P = 0.04). The HR of OS remained similarly in favor of CCT in supplementary analyses. CONCLUSIONS: We found that CCT was associated with significantly improved OS for LA-ESCC patients treated with dCCRT. Randomized controlled trials were needed to confirm this finding.

Press tack needle stimulation for blunt chest trauma: a randomized double-blind control trial.

OBJECTIVES: Blunt chest trauma is often associated with severe pain, reduced lung function and decreased sleep quality. This study aims to investigate the immediate and long-term effect of acupuncture on these factors using a randomized control double-blind design. METHODS: A total of 72 patients were randomized into 2 groups: treatment group (press tack acupuncture) and control group (press tack placebo). The face rating scale, numerical rating scale (NRS), portable incentive spirometer and Verran Snyder-Halpern sleep scale were measured at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at the 4th day, with 2-weeks and 3-months follow-ups. RESULTS: There were no significant changes between the groups at the baseline measurements, with the exception of hypertension comorbidity. Immediately after the intervention and on the 4th day follow-up, the patients in the treatment group showed a significantly lower face rating scale when compared to the control (P < 0.05). There were no significant changes in any of the other measurements between the groups (P > 0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed that the NRS for turn over on the 4th day was reduced significantly in the treatment group of patients without lung contusion (P < 0.05). For patients without pleural drainage, cough NRS in the treatment group was significantly reduced in the 2-week follow-up (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that press tack acupuncture effects on pain reduction were inconclusive. However, future studies on the effect of acupuncture on blunt chest trauma patients are needed. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltirl.gov: NCT04318496.

Effectiveness evaluation of adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy for patients with positron emission tomography-staged esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after complete resection: A population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The role of adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (ACCRT) is unclear for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who receive esophagectomy with clean margins. We compared the survival of the ACCRT versus observation groups for these patients staged with positron emission tomography (PET) via a population-based approach. METHODS: Eligible patients with locally advanced ESCC diagnosed between 2011 and 2017 were identified via the Taiwan Cancer Registry. We used propensity score (PS) weighting to balance observable potential confounders between groups. The hazard ratios (HR) of death and incidence of esophageal cancer mortality (IECM) were compared between the ACCRT and observation groups. We also evaluated overall survival (OS) in subgroups of either with or without lymph node metastases. RESULTS: Our primary analysis consisted of 105 patients in whom the covariates were well balanced after PS weighting. The HR for death when ACCRT was compared with observation was 0.58 (95% confidence interval 0.28-1.21, p = 0.15). The results were also not significantly different for IECM or in the subgroup analyses. CONCLUSION: We found that for patients with PET-staged ESCC who received esophagectomy with clean margins, the survival was not statistically different between ACCRT and observation. Further studies (randomized or larger sample size) are needed to clarify this issue.

Piezoelectric Property Enhancement of PZT/Poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) Hybrid Films for Flexible Piezoelectric Energy Harvesters.

In this study, lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic particles were added for further improvement. PZT belongs to the perovskite family and exhibits good piezoelectricity. Thus, it was added in this experiment to enhance the piezoelectric response of the poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) (PVDF-TrFE) copolymer, which produced a voltage output of 1.958 V under a cyclic pressure of 290 N. In addition, to further disperse the PZT particles in the PVDF-TrFE matrix, tetradecylphosphonic acid (TDPA) was synthesized and employed to modify the PZT surface, after which the surface-modified PZT (m-PZT) particles were added to the PVDF-TrFE matrix. The TDPA on the PZT surface made it difficult for the particles to aggregate, allowing them to disperse in the polymer solution more stably. In this way, the PZT particles with piezoelectric responses could be uniformly dispersed in the PVDF-TrFE film, thereby further enhancing its overall piezoelectric response. The test results showed that upon the addition of 10 wt % m-PZT, the piezoelectric coefficient of m-PZT/PVDF-TrFE 10 wt % was 27 pC/N; and under a cyclic pressure of 290 N, the output voltage reached 3.426 V, which demonstrated a better piezoelectric response than the polymer film with the original PZT particles. Furthermore, the piezoelectric coefficient of m-PZT/PVDF-TrFE 10 wt % was 27.1 pC/N. This was exhibited by maintaining a piezoelectric coefficient of 26.8 pC/N after 2000 cycles. Overall, a flexible piezoelectric film with a high piezoelectric coefficient was prepared by following a simple fabrication process, which showed that this film possesses great commercial potential.

Risk of Subsequent Migraines in Facial Fracture Patients: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Limited studies have discussed the association between facial fractures and subsequent migraines. In this study, we examined this association and the effect of facial fracture and surgery on the development of migraines. Methods: We selected 5034 patients with facial fractures and a matched cohort of 20,136 patients without facial fractures or facial-associated surgery with a history of migraine from the National Health Insurance database. Risk factors included age, gender, occupation (white-collar, blue-collar, and others), and comorbidities. Patients were frequency matched by age, gender, and index year. The incidence of migraine and the association between migraine development and facial surgery were identified by facial fracture location stratification. Results: The incidence of migraines in the facial fracture cohort was 1.37-fold higher when compared with the comparison cohort (6.47 vs. 4.73 per 1000 person-years). There was a 1.31-fold risk of migraines in the adjusted hazard model and a 1.30-fold risk of migraines in the subdistribution hazard model (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-1.52 and 1.12-1.51, respectively). Malar/maxillary and nasal fractures showed 1.48- and 1.29-fold risks of migraines in the adjusted hazard model and subdistribution hazard model (95% CI, 1.16-1.89 and 1.05-1.59, respectively). There were no significant differences in migraine occurrence among patients who underwent surgery. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that malar/maxillary and nasal fractures were associated with a subsequent risk of migraines. There were no significant differences in migraine occurrence among patients who underwent surgery. Because of the retrospective nature of this study, further studies are warranted.

The Correlation between Lower Extremity Fracture and Subsequent Arterial Embolism and Thrombosis-A National Population Cohort Study.

The hazard of subsequent arterial embolism and thrombosis (SAET) in patients with lower leg fractures is not yet well demonstrated. The purpose of this study is to determine the correlation between lower leg fracture and SAET in Taiwan. A total of 134,844 patients with lower leg fractures (ICD-9-CM: 823) and chronological diagnosis as SAET (ICD-9-CM: 444.22) was matched (1:1) to the non-fracture cohort according to their propensity score (data coming from the National Health Insurance database between January 2000 to December 2012). Patients were matched by age, gender, and comorbidities. The incidence of SAET and correlation between SAET development and lower leg fracture was statistically analyzed, and subgroup analysis categorized by characteristics and comorbidities was conducted as well. The cumulative incidence of SAET was calculated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Kaplan-Meier analysis plot showed that, by the end of the ten-year follow-up period, the cumulative incidence of SAET was significantly higher for the lower leg fracture cohort than for the non-fracture cohort (log-rank test: p < 0.001). The lower leg fracture, male, elder age (45-64-year-old; ≥65-year-old), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and gout were significantly associated with lower extremity SAET risk compared with the matched group. There was an inseparable correlation between the lower leg fracture group and the risks of SAET; subgroup analysis by gender (male, female), age (age < 40 years, age 40-64 years, and age > 65 years) and comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and gout) show compatible results as well. Patients with lower leg fracture have a significantly increased risk of SAET since then two years after the fracture. The hazard of SAET was significantly higher in patients with lower leg fracture than in the non-fracture cohort, and the high incidence was found since then two years after fracture. Further studies are warranted.

Additive Manufacturing of Caffeic Acid-Inspired Mineral Trioxide Aggregate/Poly-ε-Caprolactone Scaffold for Regulating Vascular Induction and Osteogenic Regeneration of Dental Pulp Stem Cells.

Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is a common biomaterial used in endodontics regeneration due to its antibacterial properties, good biocompatibility and high bioactivity. Surface modification technology allows us to endow biomaterials with the necessary biological targets for activation of specific downstream functions such as promoting angiogenesis and osteogenesis. In this study, we used caffeic acid (CA)-coated MTA/polycaprolactone (PCL) composites and fabricated 3D scaffolds to evaluate the influence on the physicochemical and biological aspects of CA-coated MTA scaffolds. As seen from the results, modification of CA does not change the original structural characteristics of MTA, thus allowing us to retain the properties of MTA. CA-coated MTA scaffolds were shown to have 25% to 55% higher results than bare scaffold. In addition, CA-coated MTA scaffolds were able to significantly adsorb more vascular endothelial growth factors (p < 0.05) secreted from human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). More importantly, CA-coated MTA scaffolds not only promoted the adhesion and proliferation behaviors of hDPSCs, but also enhanced angiogenesis and osteogenesis. Finally, CA-coated MTA scaffolds led to enhanced subsequent in vivo bone regeneration of the femur of rabbits, which was confirmed using micro-computed tomography and histological staining. Taken together, CA can be used as a potently functional bioactive coating for various scaffolds in bone tissue engineering and other biomedical applications in the future.

Polymer-Assisted Dispersion of Boron Nitride/Graphene in a Thermoplastic Polyurethane Hybrid for Cooled Smart Clothes.

The avoidance and mitigation of energy wastage have attracted increasing attention in the context of global warming and climate change. With advances in materials science, diverse multifunctional materials with high thermal conductivity have shown excellent energy-saving potential. In this study, a hybrid film exhibiting high thermal conductivity with excellent stretchability and washability was prepared. First, a simple surface modification of boron nitride (BN) was performed to realize a modified boron nitride (BNOH) filler. Next, an organic dispersant was synthesized to enhance the dispersion of BNOH and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) in the proposed composite. Subsequently, a simple procedure was used to combine the dispersed GNPs and BNOH fillers with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) to fabricate a hybrid structure. The hybrid films composed of BNOH-GNP/TPU with a dispersant exhibited a high thermal conductivity of 12.62 W m-1 K-1 at a low filler loading of 20 wt.%. This hybrid film afforded excellent stretchability and washability, as indicated by the very small thermal-conductivity reduction to only 12.23 W m-1 K-1 after 100 cycles of fatigue testing and to 12.01 W m-1 K-1 after 10 washing cycles. Furthermore, the cooling and hydrophobicity properties of the hybrid film were enhanced when compared with neat TPU. Overall, our approach demonstrates a simple and novel strategy to break the passive effect of traditional commercial cooling clothing by combining a high-thermal-conductivity film with an active cooling source to amplify the cooling effect and develop wearable cooled smart clothes with great commercial potential.

Synergies of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cell-Laden Calcium Silicate-Activated Gelatin Methacrylate for Accelerating 3D Human Dental Pulp Stem Cell Differentiation for Endodontic Regeneration.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tooth caries is a common problem affecting 9 out of every 10 adults worldwide. Dentin regeneration has since become one of the pressing issues in dentistry with tissue engineering emerging as a potential solution for enhancing dentin regeneration. In this study, we fabricated cell blocks with human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs)-laden alginate/fish gelatin hydrogels (Alg/FGel) at the center of the cell block and human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC)-laden Si ion-infused fish gelatin methacrylate (FGelMa) at the periphery of the cell block. 1H NMR and FTIR results showed the successful fabrication of Alg/FGel and FGelMa. In addition, Si ions in the FGelMa were noted to be bonded via covalent bonds and the increased number of covalent bonds led to an increase in mechanical properties and improved degradation of FGelMa. The Si-containing FGelMa was able to release Si ions, which subsequently significantly not only enhanced the expressions of angiogenic-related protein, but also secreted some cytokines to regulate odontogenesis. Further immunofluorescence results indicated that the cell blocks allowed interactions between the HUVEC and hDPSCs, and taken together, were able to enhance odontogenic-related markers' expression, such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), dentin matrix phosphoprotein-1 (DMP-1), and osteocalcin (OC). Subsequent Alizarin Red S stain confirmed the benefits of our cell block and demonstrated that such a novel combination and modification of biomaterials can serve as a platform for future clinical applications and use in dentin regeneration.

Enhanced Efficiency of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Polymer-Assisted Dispersion of Platinum Nanoparticles/Carbon Nanotubes Nanohybrid Films as FTO-Free Counter Electrodes.

In this study, polymer-assisted dispersants are used to stabilize the nanohybrids of platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) through non-covalent bond forces. These dispersants aim to replace the florine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass in traditional dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) as counter electrodes. The large specific surface area, high conductivity, and redox potential of PtNPs/CNT nanohybrids are used as the basis to utilize them as the counter electrode material to fabricate a dye-sensitized solar cell. The conductivity results indicate that the resistance of the PtNP/CNT nanohybrid film can be reduced to 7.25 Ω/sq. When carbon nanotubes are mixed with platinum nanoparticles at a weight ratio of 5/1, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of DSSCs can reach 6.28%. When using the FTO-containing substrate as the counter electrode, its conversion efficiency indicates that the micro-/nano-hybrid material formed by PtNPs/CNTs also exhibits an excellent photoelectric conversion efficiency (8.45%) on the traditional FTO substrate. Further, a large-area dye-sensitive cell is fabricated, showing that an 8 cm × 8 cm cell has a conversion efficiency of 7.95%. Therefore, the traditional Pt counter electrode can be replaced with a PtNP/CNT nanohybrid film, which both provides dye-sensitive cells with a high photoelectric conversion efficiency and reduces costs.

Acupuncture for blunt chest trauma: A protocol for a double-blind randomized control trial.

INTRODUCTION: Blunt chest trauma (BCT) accounts for up to 65% of polytrauma patients. In patients with 0 to 2 rib fractures, treatment interventions are typically limited to oral analgesics and breathing exercises. Patients suffering from BCT experience symptoms of severe pain, poor sleep, and inability to perform simple daily life activities for an extended period of time thereafter. In this trial, we aim to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture as a functional and reliable treatment option for blunt chest trauma patients. METHODS: The study is designed as a double-blind randomized control trial. We will include 72 patients divided into 2 groups; the acupuncture group (Acu) and placebo group (Con). The acupuncture group will receive true acupuncture using a uniquely designed press tack needle. The control group will receive placebo acupuncture treatment through the use of a similarly designed press tack needle without the needle element. The acupoints selected for both groups are GB 34, GB 36, LI 4, LU 7, ST 36, and TH 5. Both groups will receive 1 treatment only following the initial visit to the medical facility and upon diagnosis of BCT. Patient outcome measurements include: Numerical Rating Scale, Face Rating Scale, respiratory function flowmeter, Verran Snyder-Halpern sleep scale, and the total amount of allopathic medication used. Follow-up time will be scheduled at 4 days, 2 weeks, and lastly 3 months. EXPECTED OUTCOME: The results of this study can potentially provide a simple and cost-effective analgesic solution to blunt chest trauma patients. This novel study design can serve as supporting evidence for future double-blind studies within the field of acupuncture. OTHER INFORMATION: The study will be conducted in the thoracic surgical department and acupuncture department in China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. The study will be conducted on blunt chest trauma patients and is anticipated to have minimum risk of adverse events. Enrollment of the patients and data collection will start from March 2020. Study completion time is expected in March 2022. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: (CMUH109-REC1-002), (NCT04318496).

Enhanced Thermal Conductivity of Epoxy Composites Filled with Al2O3/Boron Nitride Hybrids for Underfill Encapsulation Materials.

In this study, a thermal conductivity of 0.22 W·m-1·K-1 was obtained for pristine epoxy (EP), and the impact of a hybrid filler composed of two-dimensional (2D) flake-like boron nitride (BN) and zero-dimensional (0D) spherical micro-sized aluminum oxide (Al2O3) on the thermal conductivity of epoxy resin was investigated. With 80 wt.% hybrid Al2O3-BN filler contents, the thermal conductivity of the EP composite reached 1.72 W·m-1·K-1, increasing approximately 7.8-fold with respect to the pure epoxy matrix. Furthermore, different important properties for the application were analyzed, such as Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, viscosity, morphology, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), glass transition temperature (Tg), decomposition temperature (Td), dielectric properties, and thermal infrared images. The obtained thermal performance is suitable for specific electronic applications such as flip-chip underfill packaging.