Effectiveness of virtual reality in preventing falls in non-disabled older adults: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality interventions in preventing falls among non-disabled older adults. METHODS: We conducted a librarian-designed database search. Two researchers independently screened eligible studies. The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. RESULTS: Virtual reality interventions can effectively improve gait and dynamic and static balance function, enhance lower limb muscle strength, and reduce the risk of falls in the non-disabled elderly. However, the effect of virtual reality on reducing the fear of falling remains controversial. CONCLUSION: Virtual reality interventions can effectively prevent falls in nondisabled elderly individuals. Higher quality, larger sample size, and long-term follow-up studies are needed to further verify the long-term effectiveness of virtual reality training in preventing falls in non-disabled elderly individuals.

Construction of a nomogram to predict the probability of new vertebral compression fractures after vertebral augmentation of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: a retrospective study.

Objective: This study aimed to develop and validate a new nomogram model that can predict new vertebral fractures after surgery for osteoporotic compression fractures to optimize surgical plans and reduce the incidence of new vertebral compression fractures. Methods: 420 patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures were randomly sampled using a computer at a fixed ratio; 80% of the patients were assigned to the training set, while the remaining 20% were assigned to the validation set. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression method was applied to screen the factors influencing refracture and construct a predictive model using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a significant correlation between bone cement leakage, poor cement dispersion, the presence of fractures in the endplate, and refractures. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) results showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the training set was 0.974 and the AUC of the validation set was 0.965, which proves that this prediction model has a good predictive ability. The brier score for the training set and validation set are 0.043 and 0.070, respectively, indicating that the model has high accuracy. Moreover, the calibration curve showed a good fit with minimal deviation, demonstrating the model's high discriminant ability and excellent fit. The decision curve indicated that the nomogram had positive predictive ability, indicating its potential as a practical clinical tool. Conclusion: Cement leakage, poor cement dispersion, and presence of fractures in the endplate are selected through LASSO and multivariate logistic regressions and included in the model development to establish a nomogram. This simple prediction model can support medical decision-making and maybe feasible for clinical practice.

Elesclomol-copper synergizes with imidazole ketone erastin by promoting cuproptosis and ferroptosis in myelodysplastic syndromes.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) encompass a collection of clonal hematopoietic malignancies distinguished by the depletion of peripheral blood cells. The treatment of MDS is hindered by the advanced age of patients, with a restricted repertoire of drugs currently accessible for therapeutic intervention. In this study, we found that ES-Cu strongly inhibited the viability of MDS cell lines and activated cuproptosis in a copper-dependent manner. Importantly, ferroptosis inducer IKE synergistically enhanced ES-Cu-mediated cytotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo. Of note, the combination of IKE and ES-Cu intensively impaired mitochondrial homeostasis with increased mitochondrial ROS, MMP hyperpolarized, down-regulated iron-sulfur proteins and declined oxygen consumption rate. Additionally, ES-Cu/IKE treatment could enhance the lipoylation-dependent oligomerization of the DLAT. To elucidate the specific order of events in the synergistic cell death, inhibitors of ferroptosis and cuproptosis were utilized to further characterize the basis of cell death. Cell viability assays showed that the glutathione and its precursor N-acetylcysteine could significantly rescue the cell death under either mono or combination treatment, demonstrating that GSH acts at the crossing point in the regulation network of cuproptosis and ferroptosis. Significantly, the reconstitution of xCT expression and knockdown of FDX1 cells have been found to contribute to the tolerance of mono treatment but have little recovery impact on the combined treatment. Collectively, these findings suggest that a synergistic interaction leading to the induction of multiple programmed cell death pathways could be a promising approach to enhance the effectiveness of therapy for MDS.

Multiple myeloma complicated with light chain cast nephropathy with focal amyloidosis: A case report.

This case report describes a rare and interesting case of a patient with multiple myeloma complicated with light chain (LC) cast nephropathy and focal amyloidosis. The patient presented with acute kidney injury, anaemia and bone lesions. The diagnosis was confirmed by bone marrow biopsy, serum and urine electrophoresis and kidney biopsy. The patient was treated with isazomil, pomalidomide and dexamethasone combination chemotherapy, followed by autologous stem cell transplantation. The patient achieved clinical remission, stable renal function and improved serum lambda free LC levels. This case highlights the challenges and advances in the diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

Soil's Hidden Power: The Stable Soil Organic Carbon Pool Controls the Burden of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Background Soils.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) tend to accumulate in cold regions by cold condensation and global distillation. Soil organic matter is the main storage compartment for POPs in terrestrial ecosystems due to deposition and repeated air-surface exchange processes. Here, physicochemical properties and environmental factors were investigated for their role in influencing POPs accumulation in soils of the Tibetan Plateau and Antarctic and Arctic regions. The results showed that the soil burden of most POPs was closely coupled to stable mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC). Combining the proportion of MAOC and physicochemical properties can explain much of the soil distribution characteristics of the POPs. The background levels of POPs were estimated in conjunction with the global soil database. It led to the proposition that the stable soil carbon pools are key controlling factors affecting the ultimate global distribution of POPs, so that the dynamic cycling of soil carbon acts to counteract the cold-trapping effects. In the future, soil carbon pool composition should be fully considered in a multimedia environmental model of POPs, and the risk of secondary release of POPs in soils under conditions such as climate change can be further assessed with soil organic carbon models.

Expression and clinical significance of CA125, CA153 and CEA in nipple discharge of breast cancer patients.

Background: It is an important clinical means to identify benign and malignant breast diseases caused by nipple discharge through the detection and analysis of components in nipple discharge. This study was aimed to test the expression and clinical significance of carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), carbohydrate antigen 153 (CA153) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in nipple discharge of breast cancer patients. Methods: From January 2017 to December 2018, 86 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast with nipple discharge (breast cancer group) and 50 patients with ordinary breast duct hyperplasia with nipple discharge (benign control group) were selected, and the levels of CA125, CA153 and CEA in nipple discharge and serum were detected by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.

CD4+ T-Cell Senescence in Neurodegenerative Disease: Pathogenesis and Potential Therapeutic Targets.

With the increasing proportion of the aging population, neurodegenerative diseases have become one of the major health issues in society. Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), including multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), are characterized by progressive neurodegeneration associated with aging, leading to a gradual decline in cognitive, emotional, and motor functions in patients. The process of aging is a normal physiological process in human life and is accompanied by the aging of the immune system, which is known as immunosenescence. T-cells are an important part of the immune system, and their senescence is the main feature of immunosenescence. The appearance of senescent T-cells has been shown to potentially lead to chronic inflammation and tissue damage, with some studies indicating a direct link between T-cell senescence, inflammation, and neuronal damage. The role of these subsets with different functions in NDs is still under debate. A growing body of evidence suggests that in people with a ND, there is a prevalence of CD4+ T-cell subsets exhibiting characteristics that are linked to senescence. This underscores the significance of CD4+ T-cells in NDs. In this review, we summarize the classification and function of CD4+ T-cell subpopulations, the characteristics of CD4+ T-cell senescence, the potential roles of these cells in animal models and human studies of NDs, and therapeutic strategies targeting CD4+ T-cell senescence.

Application of deep learning algorithms in classification and localization of implant cutout for the postoperative hip.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the feasibility of employing convolutional neural networks for detecting and localizing implant cutouts on anteroposterior pelvic radiographs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research involves the development of two Deep Learning models. Initially, a model was created for image-level classification of implant cutouts using 40191 pelvic radiographs obtained from a single institution. The radiographs were partitioned into training, validation, and hold-out test datasets in a 6/2/2 ratio. Performance metrics including the area under the receiver operator characteristics curve (AUROC), sensitivity, and specificity were calculated using the test dataset. Additionally, a second object detection model was trained to localize implant cutouts within the same dataset. Bounding box visualizations were generated on images predicted as cutout-positive by the classification model in the test dataset, serving as an adjunct for assessing algorithm validity. RESULTS: The classification model had an accuracy of 99.7%, sensitivity of 84.6%, specificity of 99.8%, AUROC of 0.998 (95% CI: 0.996, 0.999) and AUPRC of 0.774 (95% CI: 0.646, 0.880). From the pelvic radiographs predicted as cutout-positive, the object detection model could achieve 95.5% localization accuracy on true positive images, but falsely generated 14 results from the 15 false-positive predictions. CONCLUSION: The classification model showed fair accuracy for detection of implant cutouts, while the object detection model effectively localized cutout. This serves as proof of concept of using a deep learning-based approach for classification and localization of implant cutouts from pelvic radiographs.

Loss of heterozygosity for chromosomes 16q in Wilms tumors predicts outcomes: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The research findings suggest that the prognosis of children with Wilms tumor (WT) is affected by various factors. Some scholars have indicated that loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 16q is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with WT. AIM: To further elucidate this relationship, we conducted a meta-analysis. METHODS: This meta-analysis was registered in INPLASY (INPLASY2023100060). We systematically searched databases including Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Google Scholar up to May 31, 2020, for randomized trials reporting any intrapartum fetal surveillance approach. The meta-analysis was performed within a frequentist framework, and the quality and network inconsistency of trials were assessed. Odds ratios and 95%CIs were calculated to report the relationship between event-free survival and 16q LOH in patients with WT. RESULTS: Eleven cohort studies were included in this meta-analysis to estimate the relationship between event-free survival and 16q LOH in patients with WT (I2 = 25%, P < 0.001). As expected, 16q LOH can serve as an effective predictor of event-free survival in patients with WT (risk ratio = 1.95, 95%CI: 1.52-2.49, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In pediatric patients with WT, there exists a partial correlation between 16q LOH and an unfavorable treatment prognosis. Clinical detection of 16q chromosome LOH warrants increased attention to the patient's prognosis.

Sintilimab (anti-PD-1 antibody) plus chidamide (histone deacetylase inhibitor) in relapsed or refractory extranodal natural killer T-cell lymphoma (SCENT): a phase Ib/II study.

Anti-PD-1 antibodies are a favorable treatment for relapsed or refractory extranodal natural killer T cell lymphoma (RR-ENKTL), however, the complete response (CR) rate and the duration of response (DOR) need to be improved. This phase 1b/2 study investigated the safety and efficacy of sintilimab, a fully human anti-PD-1 antibody, plus chidamide, an oral subtype-selective histone deacetylase inhibitor in 38 patients with RR-ENKTL. Expected objective response rate (ORR) of combination treatment was 80%. Patients received escalating doses of chidamide, administered concomitantly with fixed-dose sintilimab in 21-days cycles up to 12 months. No dose-limiting events were observed, RP2D of chidamide was 30 mg twice a week. Twenty-nine patients were enrolled in phase 2. In the intention-to-treat population (n = 37), overall response rate was 59.5% with a complete remission rate of 48.6%. The median DOR, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were 25.3, 23.2, and 32.9 months, respectively. The most common grade 3 or higher treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) were neutropenia (28.9%) and thrombocytopenia (10.5%), immune-related AEs were reported in 18 (47.3%) patients. Exploratory biomarker assessment suggested that a combination of dynamic plasma ctDNA and EBV-DNA played a vital prognostic role. STAT3 mutation shows an unfavorable prognosis. Although outcome of anticipate ORR was not achieved, sintilimab plus chidamide was shown to have a manageable safety profile and yielded encouraging CR rate and DOR in RR-ENKTL for the first time. It is a promising therapeutic option for this population.

Intestinal perforation due to colorectal cancer during pregnancy: case report and literature review.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) in pregnancy is sporadic. We reported a case of a woman at 23 + 4 weeks of gestation who presented with abdominal pain. The patient underwent an ultrasound and MRI, during which a colonic mass was noted. Considering a probable incomplete intestinal obstruction, a colonoscopy, biopsy, and colonic stenting were performed by a multidisciplinary team. However, sudden hyperthermia and CT demonstrated intestinal perforation, and an emergency caesarean section and colostomy were conducted. The histological analysis confirmed moderately high-grade adenocarcinoma.

Design of dual carbon encapsulated porous micron silicon composite with compact surface for enhanced reaction kinetics of lithium-ion battery anodes.

Developing high-performance composites with fast charging and superior cycle life is paramount for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, we synthesized a double-shell carbon-coated porous structure composite with a compact surface (P-Si@rGO@C) using low-cost commercial micron-sized silicon (Si) instead of nanoscale silicon. Results reveal that the unique P-Si@rGO@C features high adaptability to volume expansion, accelerates electron/ion transmission rate, and forms a stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) film. This phenomenon arises from the synergistic effect of abundant internal voids and an external double-layer carbon shell with a dense surface. Specifically, the P-Si@rGO@C anode exhibits a high initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) (88.0 %), impressive rate-capability (612.1 mAh/g at 2C), and exceptional long-term cyclability (972.2 mAh/g over 500 cycles at 0.5C). Further kinetic studies elucidate the diffusion-capacitance hybrid energy storage mechanism and reveal an improved Li+ diffusion coefficient (from 3.47 × 10-11 to 2.85 × 10-9 cm2 s-1). Ex-situ characterization confirms the crystal phase change of micron-sized Si and the formation of a stable LiF-rich SEI. Theoretical calculations support these findings by demonstrating an enhancement in the adsorption ability of Si to Li+ (from -0.89 to -0.97 eV) and a reduction in the energy migration barrier (from 0.35 to 0.18 eV). Additionally, practical LixSi powder is shown to increase the ICE of full cells from 67.4 % to 87.9 %. Furthermore, a pouch cell utilizing the prelithiated P-Si@rGO@C anode paired with LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 (NCM111) cathode delivers a high initial reversible capacity of 7.2 mAh and 76.8 % capacity retention after 100 cycles. This work provides insights into the application of commercial silicon-aluminum alloy powder in the anode of high-energy LIBs.

An association study of m6A methylation with major depressive disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To find the relationship between N6-methyladenosine (m6A) genes and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). METHODS: Differential expression of m6A associated genes between normal and MDD samples was initially identified. Subsequent analysis was conducted on the functions of these genes and the pathways they may affect. A diagnostic model was constructed using the expression matrix of these differential genes, and visualized using a nomogram. Simultaneously, an unsupervised classification method was employed to classify all patients based on the expression of these m6A associated genes. Following this, common differential genes among different clusters were computed. By analyzing the functions of the common differential expressed genes among clusters, the role of m6A-related genes in the pathogenesis of MDD patients was elucidated. RESULTS: Differential expression was observed in ELAVL1 and YTHDC2 between the MDD group and the control group. ELAVL1 was associated with comorbid anxiety in MDD patients. A linear regression model based on these two genes could accurately predict whether patients in the GSE98793 dataset had MDD and could provide a net benefit for clinical decision-making. Based on the expression matrix of ELAVL1 and YTHDC2, MDD patients were classified into three clusters. Among these clusters, there were 937 common differential genes. Enrichment analysis was also performed on these genes. The ssGSEA method was applied to predict the content of 23 immune cells in the GSE98793 dataset samples. The relationship between these immune cells and ELAVL1, YTHDC2, and different clusters was analyzed. CONCLUSION: Among all the m6A genes, ELAVL1 and YTHDC2 are closely associated with MDD, ELAVL1 is related to comorbid anxiety in MDD. ELAVL1 and YTHDC2 have opposite associations with immune cells in MDD.

CYTOR-NFAT1 feedback loop regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition of retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) occurring in retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE) is a crucial mechanism that contributes to the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a pivotal factor leading to permanent vision impairment. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as critical regulators orchestrating EMT in RPE cells. In this study, we explored the function of the lncRNA CYTOR (cytoskeleton regulator RNA) in EMT of RPE cells and its underlying mechanisms. Through weighted correlation network analysis, we identified CYTOR as an EMT-related lncRNA associated with AMD. Experimental validation revealed that CYTOR orchestrates TGF-ß1-induced EMT, as well as proliferation and migration of ARPE-19 cells. Further investigation demonstrated the involvement of CYTOR in regulating the WNT5A/NFAT1 pathway and NFAT1 intranuclear translocation in the ARPE-19 cell EMT model. Mechanistically, CHIP, EMSA and dual luciferase reporter assays confirmed NFAT1's direct binding to CYTOR's promoter, promoting transcription. Reciprocally, CYTOR overexpression promoted NFAT1 expression, while NFAT1 overexpression increased CYTOR transcription. These findings highlight a mutual promotion between CYTOR and NFAT1, forming a positive feedback loop that triggers the EMT phenotype in ARPE-19 cells. These discoveries provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of EMT and its association with AMD, offering potential avenues for targeted therapies in EMT-related conditions, including AMD.

Structure-Foldable and Performance-Tailorable PI Paper-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerators Processed and Controlled by Laser-Induced Graphene.

Laser-induced graphene (LIG) technology has provided a new manufacturing strategy for the rapid and scalable assembling of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG). However, current LIG-based TENG commonly rely on polymer films, e.g., polyimide (PI) as both friction material and carbon precursor of electrodes, which limit the structural diversity and performance escalation due to its incapability of folding and creasing. Using specialized PI paper composed of randomly distributed PI fibers to substantially enhance its foldability, this work creates a new type of TENG, which are structurally foldable and stackable, and performance tailorable. First, by systematically investigating the laser power-regulated performance of single-unit TENG, the open-circuit voltage can be effectively improved. By further exploiting the folding process, multiple TENG units can be assembled together to form multi-layered structures to continuously expand the open-circuit voltage from 5.3 to 34.4 V cm-2, as the increase of friction units from 1 to 16. Last, by fully utilizing the unique structure and performance, representative energy-harvesting and smart-sensing applications are demonstrated, including a smart shoe to recognize running motions and power LEDs, a smart leaf to power a thermometer by wind, a matrix sensor to recognize writing trajectories, as well as a smart glove to recognize different objects.

Are children with IgA nephropathy different from adult patients?

BACKGROUND: Previously, several studies have indicated that pediatric IgA nephropathy (IgAN) might be different from adult IgAN, and treatment strategies might be also different between pediatric IgAN and adult IgAN. METHODS: We analyzed two prospective cohorts established by pediatric and adult nephrologists, respectively. A comprehensive analysis was performed investigating the difference in clinical and pathological characteristics, treatment, and prognosis between children and adults with IgAN. RESULTS: A total of 1015 children and 1911 adults with IgAN were eligible for analysis. More frequent gross hematuria (88% vs. 20%, p < 0.0001) and higher proteinuria (1.8 vs. 1.3 g/d, p < 0.0001) were seen in children compared to adults. In comparison, the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was lower in adults (80.4 vs. 163 ml/min/1.73 m2, p < 0.0001). Hypertension was more prevalent in adult patients. Pathologically, a higher proportion of M1 was revealed (62% vs. 39%, p < 0.0001) in children than in adults. S1 (62% vs. 28%, p < 0.0001) and T1-2 (34% vs. 8%, p < 0.0001) were more frequent in adults. Adjusted by proteinuria, eGFR, and hypertension, children were more likely to be treated with glucocorticoids than adults (87% vs. 45%, p < 0.0001). After propensity score matching, in IgAN with proteinuria > 1 g/d, children treated with steroids were 1.87 (95% CI 1.16-3.02, p = 0.01) times more likely to reach complete remission of proteinuria compared with adults treated with steroids. CONCLUSIONS: Children present significantly differently from adults with IgAN in clinical and pathological manifestations and disease progression. Steroid response might be better in children.

Design and Preliminary Ground Experiment for Deployable Sunshade Structures of a Modular Space Telescope.

On-orbit assembling space telescope (OAST) is one of the most feasible methods to implement a large-scale space telescope. Unlike a monolithic space telescope (such as Hubble Space Telescope, HST) or a deployable space telescope (such as James Webb Space Telescope, JWST), OAST can be assembled in the spatial environment. To ensure proper telescope performance, OAST must be equipped with a large deployable sunshade. In order to verify the technology of the OAST, the authors propose a modular space telescope on the China Space Station (CSS) and design a deployable sunshade. The deployable mechanism of the sunshade is made up of a radial deployable mechanism and an axial deployable mechanism. The paper describes the overall design approach, the key component technologies, and the design and preliminary testing of a part of the deployable sunshade assembly.

Relationship between Dietary Inflammatory Index and Blood Glucose Changes in Patients with Pre-diabetes Mellitus.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and blood glucose changes in patients diagnosed with pre-diabetes mellitus (Pre-DM). Methods: The study participants were 111 patients diagnosed with Pre-DM at Taizhou People's Hospital of Jiangsu Province Hospital between January 2019 and December 2021. Patients' initial BG data were collected and recorded. A dietary assessment was performed on all Pre-DM patients, and the DII of each participant was calculated to explore the relationship between DII and BG changes. DII was calculated based on the relation between food and interleukin serum IL-1ß, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and CRP. Results: The fasting (FBG), 1-hour postprandial (1hPBG) and 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (2hPBG) levels were (5.43±0.88) mmol/L, (10.67±3.05) mmol/L, and (8.65±2.89) mmol/L, respectively, with statistical significance among them (n=111, F=222.987, P < .001). Multivariate linear regression models were established with FBG, 1hPBG, 2hPBG, and BG changes (2hPBG-FBG and 1hPBG-FBG) as dependent variables. In Model 5, the coefficient (B value) of DII and its 95% (CI) were 0.324 (0.018~0.658) (P = .031), indicating a positive correlation between DII and BG concentration that the change of BG concentration increased by 0.456 mmol/L for every 1 unit increase in DII. Conclusions: DII is a risk factor for Pre-DM patients, so attention should be paid to the content of inflammatory components in the diet, and more intake of anti-inflammatory components is helpful to prevent the occurrence of diabetes further.

Diagnostic Value of Transabdominal Ultrasonography in Gastrointestinal Malignant Tumors.

Objective: To explore the application value of transabdominal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal malignant tumors. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the transabdominal ultrasound imaging data of 284 patients with gastrointestinal tumors admitted to our hospital from April 2019 to March 2022 and assessed the accuracy of transabdominal ultrasound in diagnosing different types of gastrointestinal tumor diseases. The diagnostic accuracy of transabdominal ultrasonography for TNM staging of gastrointestinal malignancies was calculated. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of transabdominal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of gastric cancer were (82.40% and 83.72%, respectively), colon cancer (77.78% and 88.35%, respectively), gastric stromal tumor (95.45% and 93.65%, respectively), gastric lymphoma (72.22% and 94.66%, respectively), colorectal lymphoma (80.00% and 95.42%, respectively), gastric mucosal hypertrophy (85.71% and 96.69%, respectively), and pyloric hypertrophy (92.59% and 97.79%, respectively). Among the 284 patients included, 152 patients had malignant tumors, including 34 patients with stage I, 30 patients with stage II, 51 patients with stage III, and 37 patients with stage IV. The accuracy of transabdominal ultrasonography for TNM staging of gastrointestinal malignancies was 85.53% (130/152). Conclusion: Transabdominal ultrasonography shows promise as a diagnostic tool for gastrointestinal malignant tumors; however, it is recommended to be used in conjunction with other detection methods such as fibrous gastrointestinal tract examination to minimize the risk of missed diagnoses and misdiagnoses. The study highlights the potential of transabdominal ultrasonography as a non-invasive and accessible diagnostic method for gastrointestinal malignancies. Further research and advancements in imaging technologies are crucial for enhancing diagnostic capabilities and improving patient outcomes in the future.

Compatibilization of Immiscible Polypropylene/Poly(methyl methacrylate) Blends by Silica Particles with Janus and Random Component-Selective Grafts.

Introducing component-selective polymer chains onto the surface of a particle is an effective approach to improve the compatibilization efficiency of a particle-based compatibilizer. In this study, two particles with different kinds of component-selective polymer chains that have the same length and similar density but different graft locations were synthesized and their compatibilization effects were comparatively investigated. It was found that compared with the particle with homogeneous PMMA and PP grafts (R-P), the particle with a hemisphere of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) grafts and other hemisphere of polypropylene (PP) chains (J-P) showed a better compatibilization effect under equal loadings, although both particles exhibited high efficiency. The better compatibilization effect of particles with Janus grafts may be attributed to the stronger entanglements between grafted polymer chains and selective individual components. This work suggests that optimizing the graft location of a particle is an effective strategy for improving its compatibilization efficiency and helpful for the design of advanced particle compatibilizers.