Single-Plane Retroperitoneoscopic Adrenalectomy Guided by Indocyanine Green Dye: An Optimized Step.

Background: The objective of this study was to explore the perioperative outcomes of single-plane posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy (SPRA) guided by indocyanine green dye (ICG) fluorescence imaging. Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent SPRA from April to September 2023 in our center was conducted. Patients were divided into the ICG group and the non-ICG group, based on whether they received intraoperative ICG fluorescence guided or not. Baseline and perioperative data were recorded and analyzed by R software (R 4.3.1). Results: A total of 23 patients were enrolled in the study, with 12 in the ICG group and 11 in the non-ICG group. The demographics including age, gender, body mass index, or American Society of Anesthesiologists classification showed no significant differences between groups. There were obvious advantages in shortening adrenal gland localization time and total operative time, as well as reducing estimated blood loss in the ICG group compared with the non-ICG group (5.58 ± 0.36 minutes vs 7.55 ± 0.62 minutes, p < 0.001; 27.50 ± 5.46 minutes vs 45.00 ± 10.99 minutes, p < 0.001; 22.91 ± 7.57 mL vs 54.54 ± 18.90 mL, p < 0.001; respectively). Furthermore, patients in the ICG group exhibited significantly lower visual analog pain scale scores at 24 hours postoperatively and at discharge (p = 0.001 and p = 0.006, respectively). The oral intake intervals, hospital stays, and perioperative complications were comparable between groups. Conclusions: ICG-guided SPRA could be a safe and effective procedure for patients with adrenal tumors. This technique improves the accuracy and efficacy of adrenal gland localization and has shown benefits in perioperative outcomes. The use of ICG fluorescence guidance represents a promising clinical application.

Bladder neck contracture following transurethral surgery of prostate: a retrospective single-center study.

PURPOSE: Bladder neck contracture (BNC) is a rare but intolerant complication after transurethral surgery of prostate. The present study aims to investigate the incidence and risk factors of BNC in patients diagnosed benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and following transurethral resection or enucleation of the prostate (TURP/TUEP). METHODS: This retrospective study included 1008 BPH individuals who underwent transurethral surgery of the prostate between January 2017 and January 2022. Patients' demographics, medical comorbidities, urologic characteristics, perioperative parameters, and the presence of BNC were documented. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify the risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 2% (20/1008) BPH patients developed BNC postoperatively and the median occurring time was 5.8 months. Particularly, the incidences of BNC were 4.7% and 1.3% in patients underwent Bipolar-TURP and TUEP respectively. Preoperative urinary tract infection (UTI), elevated PSA, smaller prostate volume (PV), bladder diverticulum (BD), and B-TURP were significantly associated with BNC in the univariate analysis. Further multivariate logistic regression demonstrated preoperative UTI (OR 4.04, 95% CI 2.25 to 17.42, p < 0.001), BD (OR 7.40, 95% CI 1.83 to 31.66, p < 0.001), and B-TURP (OR 3.97, 95% CI 1.55 to 10.18, p = 0.004) as independent risk factors. All BNC patients were treated with transurethral incision of the bladder neck (TUIBN) combined with local multisite injection of betamethasone. During a median follow-up of 35.8 months, 35% (7/20) of BNC patients recurred at a median time of 1.8 months. CONCLUSION: BNC was a low-frequency complication following transurethral surgery of prostate. Preoperative UTI, BD, and B-TURP were likely independent risk factors of BNC. TUIBN combined with local multisite injection of betamethasone may be promising choice for BNC treatment.

Construction of a Bi2WO6/BiVO4 photocatalytic system for efficient visible light degradation of tetracycline drugs.

A Bi2WO6/BiVO4 composite photocatalytic material was synthesized by the hydrothermal method, and achieved the effective degradation of oxytetracycline (OTC) and tetracycline (TC) under visible light. The compositions, structures, chemical states and optoelectronic properties of Bi2WO6, BiVO4 and Bi2WO6/BiVO4 composites were characterized by systematic characterization. The results show that the existence of the heterojunction interface facilitates the separation of photogenerated carriers. Compared with the pure catalyst of Bi2WO6 and BiVO4, the Bi2WO6/BiVO4 composite material significantly improves the degradation efficiency of OTC and TC. The degradation rate is 6.22 and 3.02 times higher than that of Bi2WO6 and BiVO4, respectively. Through the free radical quenching experiments, it is known that photogenerated holes (h+) and superoxide anion free radicals (·O2 -) are the main active substances in the degradation of OTC. By analyzing the process of photocatalytic degradation of OTC, there are mainly six intermediates during the process. Their possible degradation pathways are also inferred in this paper.

One-Step Fabrication of Novel Polyethersulfone-Based Composite Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes for Food Industry Wastewater Treatment.

Using an environmentally friendly approach for eliminating methylene blue from an aqueous solution, the authors developed a unique electrospun nanofiber membrane made of a combination of polyethersulfone and hydroxypropyl cellulose (PES/HPC). SEM results confirmed the formation of a uniformly sized nanofiber membrane with an ultrathin diameter of 168.5 nm (for PES/HPC) and 261.5 nm (for pristine PES), which can be correlated by observing the absorption peaks in FTIR spectra and their amorphous/crystalline phases in the XRD pattern. Additionally, TGA analysis indicated that the addition of HPC plays a role in modulating their thermal stability. Moreover, the blended nanofiber membrane exhibited better mechanical strength and good hydrophilicity (measured by the contact angle). The highest adsorption capacity was achieved at a neutral pH under room temperature (259.74 mg/g), and the pseudo-second-order model was found to be accurate. In accordance with the Langmuir fitted model and MB adsorption data, it was revealed that the adsorption process occurred in a monolayer form on the membrane surface. The adsorption capacity of the MB was affected by the presence of various concentrations of NaCl (0.1-0.5 M). The satisfactory reusability of the PES/HPC nanofiber membrane was revealed for up to five cycles. According to the mechanism given for the adsorption process, the electrostatic attraction was shown to be the most dominant in increasing the adsorption capacity. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that this unique membrane may be used for wastewater treatment operations with high efficiency and performance.

Ag nanoparticles immobilized sulfonated polyethersulfone/polyethersulfone electrospun nanofiber membrane for the removal of heavy metals.

In this work, Eucommia ulmoides leaf extract (EUOLstabilized silver nanoparticles (EUOL@AgNPs) incorporated sulfonated polyether sulfone (SPES)/polyethersulfone (PES) electrospun nanofiber membranes (SP ENMs) were prepared by electrospinning, and they were studied for the removal of lead (Pb(II)) and cadmium (Cd(II)) ions from aqueous solutions. The SP ENMs with various EUOL@AgNPs loadings were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscope, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and contact angle (CA) measurements. The adsorption studies showed that the adsorption of Cd(II) and Pb(II) was rapid, achieved equilibrium within 40 min and 60 min, respectively and fitted with non-linear pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetics model. For Cd(II) and Pb(II), the Freundlich model described the adsorption isotherm better than the Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity for Cd(II) and Pb(II) was 625 and 370.37 mg g-1 respectively at neutral pH. Coexisting anions of fluoride, chloride, and nitrate had a negligible influence on Cd(II) removal than the Pb(II). On the other hand, the presence of silicate and phosphate considerably affected Cd(II) and Pb(II) adsorption. The recyclability, regeneration, and reusability of the fabricated EUOL@AgNPs-SP ENMs were studied and they retained their high adsorption capacity up to five cycles. The DFT measurements revealed that SP-5 ENMs exhibited the highest adsorption selectivity for Cd(II) and the measured binding energies for Cd(II), Pb(II), are 219.35 and 206.26 kcal mol-1, respectively. The developed ENM adsorbent may find application for the removal of heavy metals from water.

Study on the Preparation of Cellulose Acetate Separation Membrane and New Adjusting Method of Pore Size.

As a kind of eco-friendly (biodegradable) material and with a natural anti-fouling ability, cellulose acetate (CA) is more suitable for single-use membrane (especially in bioprocess). In this study, the method for preparing CA membrane by Vapor-assisted Nonsolvent Induced Phase Separation (VNIPS) was studied. The influences of ratio compositions (solid content, acetone/N,N-Dimethylacetamide ratio, glycerol/CA ratio) and membrane preparation conditions (evaporation time, evaporation temperature and humidity) on the microstructure and other properties were systematically evaluated. Results indicated that acetone/N,N-Dimethylacetamide ratio and glycerol/CA ratio had great influence on the cross-section structure of membranes. Additionally, the membrane with homogeneous sponge-like porous structure could be prepared stably within certain limits of ratios. Under the premise of keeping the content of other components fixed, the separation membrane with a full sponge pore structure can be obtained when the ratio of glycerol/CA is ≥2.5 or the acetone/solvent ratio is between 0.25 and 0.5. Evaporation time and temperature, humidity and other membrane preparation conditions mainly affected the surface morphology and the pore size. This kind of high-performance membrane with homogeneous sponge-like pore and controllable surface morphology could be potentially used for bioseparation processes.

Effects of Particle Size on the Structure and Photocatalytic Performance by Alkali-Treated TiO2.

Particle size of nanomaterials has significant impact on their photocatalyst properties. In this paper, TiO2 nanoparticles with different crystalline sizes were prepared by adjusting the alkali-hydrothermal time (0-48 h). An annealing in N2 atmosphere after hydrothermal treatment caused TiO2 reduction and created defects, resulting in the visible light photocatalytic activity. The evolution of physicochemical properties along with the increase of hydrothermal time at a low alkali concentration has been revealed. Compared with other TiO2 samples, TiO2-24 showed higher photocatalytic activity toward degrading Rhodamine B and Sulfadiazine under visible light. The radical trapping and ESR experiments revealed that O2•- is the main reactive specie in TiO2-24. Large specific surface areas and rapid transfer of photogenerated electrons are responsible for enhancing photocatalytic activity. The above findings clearly demonstrate that particle size and surface oxygen defects can be regulated by alkali-hydrothermal method. This research will deepen the understanding of particle size on the nanomaterials performance and provide new ideas for designing efficient photocatalysts.

[Study on mechanism and method of membrane preparation and membrane process optimization based on molecular structure analysis of noneffective common macromolecules].

The molecular weight of the effective components of traditional Chinese medicine( TCM) is usually less than 1 000.However, " noneffective common macromolecules"( starch,pectin and other macromolecules commonly present in the water extract of TCM) generally have no physiological activity,which restricts the overall advantages of membrane technology to obtain small molecular pharmacodynamic substances,and such macromolecules are the main influence factor of membrane fouling. Therefore,in order to obtain the total pharmacological efficacy of TCM,based on the molecular structure analysis of noneffective common macromolecules,aimed at the key scientific problems in correlation between the molecular structure of noneffective common macromolecules and the pore structure of membrane material,and by referring to the material science theory and molecular simulation method,the correlations between noneffective common macromolecules' molecular structure-solution environment-membrane antagonism were investigated. Multidisciplinary approaches could be integrated to: ① optimize the spatial form of membrane surface and improve the membrane's antifouling ability; ② accurately control the pore structure and the size distribution of membranes,aimed at the innovative preparation technology of special membrane used for TCM; ③ adjust solution environment based on the analysis of molecular structure,and establish the pretreatment method based on the optimization of solution environment. Furthermore,the technical bottleneck on how to obtain the pharmacodynamic micromolecules effectively might be solved,and the theory and technology about TCM pharmaceutical engineering could be developed based on the concept of multivariate and integration.

Engineering the Dimensional Interface of BiVO4-2D Reduced Graphene Oxide (RGO) Nanocomposite for Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic Performance.

Graphene as a two-dimensional (2D) nanoplatform is beneficial for assembling a 2D heterojunction photocatalytic system to promote electron transfer in semiconductor composites. Here a BiVO4 nanosheets/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) based 2D-2D heterojunction photocatalytic system as well as 0D-2D BiVO4 nanoparticles/RGO and 1D-2D BiVO4 nanotubes/RGO nanocomposites are fabricated by a feasible solvothermal process. During the synthesis; the growth of BiVO4 and the intimate interfacial contact between BiVO4 and RGO occur simultaneously. Compared to 0D-2D and 1D-2D heterojunctions, the resulting 2D-2D BiVO4 nanosheets/RGO composites yield superior chemical coupling; leading to exhibit higher photocatalytic activity toward the degradation of acetaminophen under visible light irradiation. Photoluminescence (PL) and photocurrent experiments revealed that the apparent electron transfer rate in 2D-2D BiVO4 nanosheets/RGO composites is faster than that in 0D-2D BiVO4 nanoparticles/RGO composites. The experimental findings presented here clearly demonstrate that the 2D-2D heterojunction interface can highlight the optoelectronic coupling between nanomaterials and promote the electron-hole separation. This study will motivate new developments in dimensionality factors on designing the heterojunction photocatalysts and promote their photodegradation photocatalytic application in environmental issues.

Comparison of humic acid rejection and flux decline during filtration with negatively charged and uncharged ultrafiltration membranes.

Increasingly stringent regulations for drinking water quality have stimulated the ultrafiltration (UF) to become one of the best alternatives replacing conventional drinking water treatment technologies. However, UF is not very effectively to remove humic acid due to the comparatively larger pore size compared to the size of humic acid. Fouling issue is another factor that restricts its widespread application. In this study, rejection of humic acid and flux decline were compared with essentially neutral, negatively charged version of a regenerated cellulose membrane, in which electrostatic interaction was explored for a better humic acid removal and less fouling. Solution environment, including ionic strength, pH and calcium ion concentration, affecting humic acid removal and flux decline on negatively charged and neutral membranes was also compared. Results indicated that the appropriate charge modification on the neutral UF membrane could be an effective way for better removal of NOM and reduction of the membrane fouling due to the electrostatic interactions with the combination effect of membrane pore size. Electrostatic interactions are significant important to achieve high humic acid removal and less fouling, and to improve the water quality and protect people's health.