Effects of regulatory B cells on intracranial aneurysms by mediating IL-1ß/IL-1R pathways.

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of regulatory B-cells (Breg) on intracranial aneurysms by mediating IL-1ß/IL-1R pathways.  The study involved 60 patients undergoing angiography in a hospital from January to June 2022, divided into two groups: 30 with intracranial aneurysms (observation group) and 30 without (control group). Researchers extracted peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to analyze the proportion of CD19+CD24hiCD38hiB cells using flow cytometry. These cells, along with T-cells and regulatory T-cells (Treg), were isolated through magnetic bead cell sorting. Following co-culture, the proliferation of T-cells and their related secretory factors were assessed. Additionally, Breg cells, treated with an IL-1R receptor blocker or IL-1R expression adenovirus, were studied to evaluate the levels of IL-10 and TGF-ß. In the study, the observation group showed lower levels of CD19+CD24hiCD38hiB cells, IL-10, and TGF-ß in PBMC than the control group (P<0.05). T-cell proportions were similar in both groups pre and post co-culture (P>0.05). Post co-culture, IFN-γ decreased while IL-4 increased in both groups. The observation group had higher IFN-γ and lower IL-4 than the control group (P<0.05). TNF-α in CD8+T cells, and granzyme B and perforin mRNA levels decreased post co-culture but were higher in the observation group (P<0.05). IL-10 and TGF-ß in Treg cells increased in both groups post co-culture but were lower in the observation group (P<0.05). The observation group also had fewer CD19+IL-1R+IL-10+B cells (P<0.05). After IL-1R blocker addition, IL-10 and TGF-ß in the supernatant decreased in the observation group (P<0.05). Following transfection, IL-1 and TGF-ß levels increased compared to the blank group (P<0.05). The function of peripheral blood CD19+CD24hiCD38hiB cells is impaired in patients with intracranial aneurysms, which may be related to IL-1ß/IL-1R pathways disorder.

The application of impantable sensors in the musculoskeletal system: a review.

As the population ages and the incidence of traumatic events rises, there is a growing trend toward the implantation of devices to replace damaged or degenerated tissues in the body. In orthopedic applications, some implants are equipped with sensors to measure internal data and monitor the status of the implant. In recent years, several multi-functional implants have been developed that the clinician can externally control using a smart device. Experts anticipate that these versatile implants could pave the way for the next-generation of technological advancements. This paper provides an introduction to implantable sensors and is structured into three parts. The first section categorizes existing implantable sensors based on their working principles and provides detailed illustrations with examples. The second section introduces the most common materials used in implantable sensors, divided into rigid and flexible materials according to their properties. The third section is the focal point of this article, with implantable orthopedic sensors being classified as joint, spine, or fracture, based on different practical scenarios. The aim of this review is to introduce various implantable orthopedic sensors, compare their different characteristics, and outline the future direction of their development and application.

Enhancing Reverse Intersystem Crossing in Triptycene-TADF Emitters: Theoretical Insights into Reorganization Energy and Heavy Atom Effects.

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters based on the triptycene skeleton demonstrate exceptional performance, superior stability, and low efficiency roll-off. Understanding the interplay between the luminescent properties of triptycene-TADF molecules and their assembly environments, along with their excited-state characteristics, necessitates a comprehensive theoretical exploration. Herein, we predict the photophysical properties of triptycene-TADF molecules in a thin film environment using the quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics method and quantify their substantial dependency on the heavy atom effects and reorganization energies using the Marcus-Levich theory. Our calculated photophysical properties for two recently reported molecules closely align with experimental values. We design three novel triptycene-TADF molecules by incorporating chalcogen elements (O, S, and Se) to modify the acceptor units. These newly designed molecules exhibit reduced reorganization energies and enhanced reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) rates. The heavy atom effect amplifies spin-orbit coupling, thereby facilitating the RISC process, particularly at a remarkably high rate of ∼109 s-1.

Designing thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitters with through-space charge transfer: a theoretical study.

Recently, thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) molecules with through-space charge transfer (TSCT) features have been widely applied in developing organic light-emitting diodes with high luminescence efficiencies. The performance of TSCT-TADF molecules depends highly on their molecular structures. Therefore, theoretical investigation plays a significant role in designing novel highly efficient TSCT-TADF molecules. Herein, we theoretically investigate two recently reported TSCT-TADF molecules, 1'-(2,12-di-t-butyl[1,4]benzoxaborinino[2,3,4-kl]phenoxaborinin-7-yl)-10-phenyl-10H-spiro[acridine-9,9'-fluorene] (AC-BO) and 1-(2,12-di-t-butyl[1,4]benzoxaborinino[2,3,4-kl]phenoxaborinin-7-yl)-9',9'-dimethyl-9'H-spiro [fluorene-9,5'-quinolino[3,2,1-de]acridine](QAC-BO). The calculated photophysical properties (e.g. excited state energy levels and luminescence properties) for these two compounds are in good agreement with experimental data. Based on the systematic analysis of structure-performance relationships, we design three novel TSCT-TADF molecules with high molecular rigidity and evident TSCT features, i.e., DQAC-DBO, DQAC-SBO, and DQAC-NBO. They exhibit deep-blue light emissions and fast reverse intersystem crossing rates (KRISCs). Our calculations demonstrate that the nearly coplanar orientation of the donor and acceptor is critical to achieve remarkable KRISCs and fluorescence efficiencies in TSCT-TADF molecules.

Fabrication of three-dimension hierarchical structure CuO nanoflowers and their antifungal mechanism against Bipolaris sorokiniana.

Nanomaterials are widely investigated in sustainable agriculture owing to their unique physicochemical properties, especially Cu-based nanomaterial with eco-friendliness and essential for plant. However, the effect of CuO nanomaterial on Bipolaris sorokiniana (B. sorokiniana) is yet to be systematically understood. In this study, a three-dimension hierarchical structure CuO nanoflower (CuO NF) with ultrathin petals and excellent dispersibility in water was constructed and proved to have outstanding antifungal activity against B. sorokiniana with the inhibition rate of 86 % in mycelial growth, 74 % in mycelial dry weight and 75 % in conidial germination. Furthermore, the antifungal mechanism was assigned to the production of reactive oxygen species in intracellular caused by antioxidant mimicking activity of CuO NF to damage of cell membrane integrity and result cellular leakage. Additionally, the good control effect of CuO NF on wheat diseases caused by B. sorokiniana was demonstrated through pot experiment. This article firstly reveals the antifungal activity and mechanism of CuO NF on B. sorokiniana, and establishes the relationship between enzyme-like activity of CuO NF and its antifungal activity, which provides a promising application of Cu-based nanomaterial as nanofungicide in plant protection and a theoretical foundation for structure design of nanomaterials to improve their antifungal activities.

Amide-decorated carbon dots as sensitive and selective probes for fluorescence enhancement detection of cadmium ion.

As highly toxic metal ions, cadmium ions (Cd2+) are prevalent in varying concentrations around the world. The establishment of an accurate and effective method for Cd2+ determination with high sensitivity and selectivity is of particular concern. The present work fabricated a fluorescence chemosensor for the detection of Cd2+ based on functionalized carbon dots (CDs), which were hydrothermally prepared using amidated hyperbranched-polyethyleneimine (HPEI). As investigated by FTIR, NMR, and XPS, the stably grafted amide groups endowed the CDs with thermosensitivity and high cloud point due to the change in hydrophilic-hydrophobic behaviors. The CDs chemosensor with optimal amidation degree exhibited high sensitivity, selectivity, and stability in the determination of Cd2+ from various water environments. Notably, the fluorescence intensity enhanced with the increase of Cd2+ concentration, originating from the improved structure rigidity caused by the interactions between grafted amides and Cd2+. These impressive features made the CDs not only sensitive to detecting Cd2+ in low-concentration solutions with a limit of detection of 3.41 nM (the lowest known value for Cd2+ detection) but also accurate for the quantification in high-concentration solutions with a detectable Cd2+ concentration of 6.0 × 10-2 M. Owing to the broad detection range, the CDs developed in present work show great potential applications in various scenarios.

Development of miniature base editors using engineered IscB nickase.

As a miniature RNA-guided endonuclease, IscB is presumed to be the ancestor of Cas9 and to share similar functions. IscB is less than half the size of Cas9 and thus more suitable for in vivo delivery. However, the poor editing efficiency of IscB in eukaryotic cells limits its in vivo applications. Here we describe the engineering of OgeuIscB and its corresponding ωRNA to develop an IscB system that is highly efficient in mammalian systems, named enIscB. By fusing enIscB with T5 exonuclease (T5E), we found enIscB-T5E exhibited comparable targeting efficiency to SpG Cas9 while showing reduced chromosome translocation effects in human cells. Furthermore, by fusing cytosine or adenosine deaminase with enIscB nickase, we generated miniature IscB-derived base editors (miBEs), exhibiting robust editing efficiency (up to 92%) to induce DNA base conversions. Overall, our work establishes enIscB-T5E and miBEs as versatile tools for genome editing.

Lithofacies Types and Physical Characteristics of Organic-Rich Shale in the Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation, Xichang Basin, China.

The shale of the Upper Ordovician Wufeng Formation and the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in the Xichang Basin is the main replacement horizon for the shale gas exploration being conducted in the Sichuan Province, except for the Sichuan Basin. The fine identification and classification of the types of shale facies are important for shale gas exploration and development evaluation. However, the lack of systematic experimental studies on rock physical characteristics and micro-pore structures leads to a lack of physical evidence for the comprehensive prediction of shale sweet spots. Therefore, the present study used different means, such as core observation, total organic carbon content (TOC), helium porosity measurement, X-ray diffraction analysis, and mechanical properties analysis, in combination with the analysis of the whole rock mineral composition and characteristics of shale, for the identification and classification of the lithofacies of the shale layer, the systematic petrology and hardness measurement of the shale samples with different lithofacies, and discussion of the dynamic and static elastic properties of the shale samples and the control factors. It was revealed that nine types of lithofacies existed in the Wufeng Formation- the Long11 sub-member in the Xichang Basin, among which moderate organic carbon content-siliceous shale facies, moderate organic carbon content-mixed shale facies, and high-organic carbon content-siliceous shale facies were the best lithofacies with the optimum reservoir conditions, providing sufficient space for shale gas accumulation. The siliceous shale facies mainly developed organic pores and fractures, and the pore texture was excellent overall. The mixed shale facies mainly developed intergranular pores and mold pores, with a preference toward pore texture. The argillaceous shale facies mainly developed dissolution pores and interlayer fractures, and the pore texture was relatively poor. The geochemical characteristics of the organic-rich shale samples with TOC > 3.5% revealed that the sample was composed of microcrystalline quartz grains as the rock support framework, while the intergranular pores were located between the rigid quartz grains, which exhibited hard pores in the analysis of their mechanical properties. In the relatively organic-poor shale samples with TOC < 3.5%, the quartz source was mainly terrigenous clastic quartz, and the sample was composed of plastic clay minerals as the rock support skeleton, while the intergranular pores were located between argillaceous particles, which exhibited soft pores in the analysis of their mechanical properties. The difference in the rock fabric of the shale samples resulted in an ″initial increase followed by a decrease″ trend of velocity with quartz content, with the organic-rich shale samples exhibiting low velocity-porosity and velocity-organic matter content change rate, and the two kinds of rocks were easier to distinguish in the correlation diagram of the combined elastic parameters such as the P-wave impedance-Poisson ratio and the elastic modulus-Poisson ratio. The samples dominated by biogenic quartz exhibited greater hardness and brittleness, while the samples dominated by terrigenous clastic quartz exhibited lower hardness and brittleness. These results could serve as a basis for logging interpretation and seismic ″sweet spot″ prediction of high-quality shale gas reservoirs in Wufeng Formation-Member 1 of the Longmaxi Formation.

Optoelectronic performance of perovskite Cs2KMI6 (M = Ga, In) based on high-throughput screening and first-principles calculations.

Developing novel lead-free perovskite materials with suitable bandgaps and superior thermal stability is crucial to boost their applications in next-generation photovoltaic technologies. High throughput screening combined with the first principles method can accurately and effectively screen out promising perovskites. Herein, we select two lead-free all-inorganic halide double perovskite materials Cs2KMI6 (M = Ga, In) from 1026 compounds with the criteria including appropriate structure factors, positive decomposition energies, and suitable direct bandgaps. We investigated the thermal and mechanical stability, geometric and electronic structures, photoelectric properties, and defect formation energies for both perovskites Cs2KMI6 (M = Ga, In). They can exhibit excellent structural formability and stability through the analysis of structure factors, elastic constants, and stable chemical potential regions. In addition, we investigate the defect effects of Cs2KMI6 (M = Ga, In) on the photovoltaic performance by evaluating the defect formation energies and transition energy levels. Based on the HSE06 functional, we calculated the energy band structures of these two compounds and demonstrate the direct bandgaps of 1.69 eV (HSE06) and 2.16 eV (HSE06) for Cs2KGaI6 and Cs2KInI6, respectively. Moreover, we predicted excellent spectroscopic limited maximum efficiencies (SLMEs) of these two perovskites with high light absorption coefficients (around 105 cm-1), for instance, the SLME of Cs2KGaI6 can reach as high as 28.39%.

Alicyclic polyimides with large band gaps exhibit superior high-temperature capacitive energy storage.

Flexible polymer dielectrics for capacitive energy storage that can function well at elevated temperatures are increasingly in demand for continuously advancing and miniaturizing electrical devices. However, traditional high-resistance polymer dielectrics composed of aromatic backbones have a compromised band gap (Eg) and hence suffer from low breakdown strength and a huge loss at high temperatures. Here, based on the density functional theory (DFT) calculations, rigid and non-coplanar alicyclic segments are introduced into the polyimide backbone to overcome the incompatibility of a high glass transition temperature (Tg) and large Eg. Thanks to the large optical Eg (∼4.6 eV) and high Tg (∼277 °C), the all-alicyclic polyimide at 200 °C delivers a maximum discharge energy density (Ue) of 5.01 J cm-3 with a charge-discharge efficiency (η) of 78.1% at 600 MV m-1, and a record Ue of 2.55 J cm-3 at η = 90%, which is 10-fold larger than that of the state-of-art commercial polyetherimides (PEIs). In addition, compared with aromatic polyimides, the all-alicyclic polyimide possesses a better self-clearing characteristic due to a smaller ratio of carbon to hydrogen and oxygen, which facilitates its long-term reliability in practical applications.

[Low molecular weight heparin combined with aspirin to prevent perioperative venous thromboembolism in patients with splenic rupture and lower extremity fracture].

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of low molecular weight heparin combined with aspirin for perioperative prophylactic anticoagulation in patients with lower extremity fracture after splenectomy. Methods: The clinical data of 50 patients with splenic rupture combined with lower extremity fracture between January 2009 and June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were given enoxaparin sodium at 48 hours after splenectomy, and stopped at 24 hours before fracture surgery. After fracture surgery, the patients were divided into aspirin group (group A, 15 cases), low molecular weight heparin group (group B, 16 cases), and low molecular weight heparin combined with aspirin group (group C, 19 cases) according to different anticoagulation regimens. The treatment course was 28 days. There was no significant difference in gender, age, body mass index, cause of injury, fracture site, time from injury to operation, complications, and other general data between groups ( P>0.05). The occurrence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) was observed; hemoglobin (Hb), platelet (PLT), D-D dimer, and fibrinogen degradation product (FDP) were recorded before operation and at 1, 3, and 7 days after operation, and the effect of anticoagulation regimen on coagulation function was observed. The incidences of wound complications and bleeding related complications were recorded, and the total perioperative blood loss, hidden blood loss, and overt blood loss were calculated. Results: The incidences of VTE in groups A, B, and C were 13.33% (2/15), 12.50% (2/16), and 5.26% (1/19), respectively, and there was no significant difference between groups ( χ 2=0.770, P=0.680). There was no portal vein thrombosis and no VTE-related death in the 3 groups. There was no significant difference in the levels of Hb, PLT, D-D dimer, and FDP between groups before and after operation ( P>0.05); and there was no significant difference in total perioperative blood loss, hidden blood loss, and overt blood loss between groups ( P>0.05). No local skin necrosis was found in all patients. In group A, 1 case occurred redness and swelling of incision; in group B, 1 case had incision discharge, redness, and swelling, and 1 case had fat liquefaction; in group C, 1 case had repeated incision exudation accompanied by local tissue redness and swelling, and 1 case had local hematoma. The incidences of adverse incision in groups A, B, and C were 6.66% (1/15), 12.50% (2/16), and 11.76% (2/19), respectively, with no significant difference ( χ 2=0.302, P=0.860). There were 4 cases of bleeding related complications, including 1 case of incision ecchymosis in groups A and B respectively, with the incidence of 6.66% and 6.25%, respectively; there was 1 case of incision hematoma and 1 case of bleeding in group C, with the incidence of 11.76%; showing no significant difference in the incidence of bleeding related complications between groups ( χ 2=0.268, P=0.875). Conclusion: Perioperative combined use of low molecular weight heparin and aspirin for prevention of anticoagulation in patients with splenic rupture and lower extremity fracture can effectively prevent the occurrence of VTE without increasing the incidence of complications, which is an effective and safe treatment method. However, whether the incidence of VTE can be reduced needs to be further studied by expanding the sample size.

Polyimide Nanodielectrics Doped with Ultralow Content of MgO Nanoparticles for High-Temperature Energy Storage.

Advanced polymer dielectrics with high energy density at elevated temperatures are highly desired to meet the requirements of modern electronic and electrical systems under harsh conditions. Herein, we report a novel polyimide/magnesium oxide (PI/MgO) nanodielectric that exhibits high energy storage density (Ue) and charge-discharge efficiency (η) along with excellent cycling stability at elevated temperatures. Benefiting from the large bandgap of MgO and the extended interchain spacing of PI, the composite films can simultaneously achieve high dielectric constant and high breakdown strength, leading to enhanced energy storage density. The nanocomposite film doped with 0.1 vol% MgO can achieve a maximum Ue of 2.6 J cm-3 and a η of 89% at 450 MV m-1 and 150 °C, which is three times that of the PI film under the same conditions. In addition, embedding ultralow content of inorganic fillers can avoid aggregation and facilitate its large-scale production. This work may provide a new paradigm for exploring polymer nanocomposites with excellent energy storage performance at high temperatures and under a high electric field.

Genome-Wide Identification and Comprehensive Analysis of the AP2/ERF Gene Family in Pomegranate Fruit Development and Postharvest Preservation.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a kind of fruit with significant economic, ecological and health values. AP2/ERF transcription factors belong to a large group of factors mainly found in plants and play key roles in plant growth and development. However, AP2/ERF genes in pomegranate and their implication in development and postharvest preservation have been little described. In this study, 116 PgAP2/ERF genes in pomegranate were identified and renamed based on their chromosomal distributions. Phylogenetic relationship with genes from other species, structures, duplications, annotations, cis-elements in promoter sequences, and protein-protein interaction networks among PgAP2/ERF proteins were comprehensively explored. Expression analysis revealed several PgAP2/ERFs associated with the phenotypes of pomegranate seed hardness, including PgAP2/ERF5, PgAP2/ERF36, PgAP2/ERF58, and PgAP2/ERF86. Subsequent analysis indicated that many differentially expressed PgAP2/ERF genes are potentially important regulators of pomegranate fruit development. Furthermore, expression of more than one-half of PgAP2/ERFs was repressed in 'Tunisian soft seed' pomegranate fruit under low-temperature cold storage. The results showed that 1-MCP implicated in promoting postharvest preservation of 'Tunisian soft seed' pomegranate upregulated the PgAP2/ERF4, PgAP2/ERF15, PgAP2/ERF26, PgAP2/ERF30, PgAP2/ERF35 and PgAP2/ERF45 genes compared to those under low-temperature cold storage. This indicates that these genes are important candidate genes involved in pomegranate postharvest preservation. In summary, the findings of the present study provide an important basis for characterizing the PgAP2/ERF family genes and provide information on the candidate genes involved in pomegranate fruit development and postharvest preservation.

Sex-related associations between body height and cognitive impairment among low-income elderly adults in rural China: a population-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Body height is a marker of childhood health and cumulative net nutrition during growth periods. However, sex-specific associations between body height and cognitive impairment are not well known in northern rural China. METHODS: We assessed sex differences in the association between body height and cognitive impairment in a low-income elderly population in rural China. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2014 to August 2014 to collect basic information from elderly residents aged 60 years and older in rural areas of Tianjin, China. Body height and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were measured, and the relationships between these variables were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 1081 residents with a mean age of 67.7 years were enrolled in this study. After adjusting for age, educational attainment, smoking status, drinking status, and the presence of hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia, higher body height was found to be associated with a decreased prevalence of cognitive impairment in elderly men. Each 1-dm increase in height was associated with a 37% decrease in the prevalence of cognitive impairment. However, there was no significant association between body height and cognitive impairment among elderly women. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, shorter body height was related to cognitive impairment independently of age, educational attainment, lifestyle factors, and health-related comorbid factors among low-income elderly men in rural China. Accordingly, shorter elderly men may be targeted for effective dementia prevention in rural China.

[Clinical characteristics and risk factors of blood stream infections after orthopedic surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics, risk factors, and drug resistance of pathogenic bacteria in patients with blood stream infections (BSI) after orthopedic surgery, so as to provide reference and basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 6 348 orthopedic patients admitted for surgery between January 2017 and December 2019. There were 3 598 males and 2 750 females. Their age ranged from 18 to 98 years, with an average of 66 years. The data of patients were collected, and the risk factors of BSI were analyzed by univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis. The distribution of BSI pathogenic bacteria, the results of drug sensitivity test, the incidence of BSI in patients after orthopedic surgery in different years, and the common sites of BSI secondary infection were summarized. RESULTS: BSI occurred in 106 (1.67%) of 6 348 patients after orthopedic surgery. There were 71 cases (66.98%) of secondary infection. The mortality of postoperative BSI patients was 1.89%, and the difference was significant when compared with that of non-postoperative BSI patients (0.24%) ( χ 2=5.313, P=0.021). The incidences of BSI in 2017, 2018, and 2019 were 1.18%, 1.53%, and 2.17%, respectively, showing an increasing trend year by year (trend χ 2=6.610, P=0.037). Statistical analysis showed that the independent risk factors for BSI after orthopedic surgery ( P<0.05) included the trauma, length of hospital stay≥14 days, emergency surgery, postoperative leukocyte counting<4×10 9/L, level of hemoglobin≤90 g/L, albumin≤30 g/L, the time of indwelling ureter>24 hours, use of deep vein catheter insertion, and merging other site infection. Blood culture showed 56 strains (52.83%) of Gram-positive bacteria, 47 strains (44.34%) of Gram-negative bacteria, and 3 strains (2.83%) of fungi. The top three pathogenic bacteria were coagulase negative Staphylococci (CNS; 36 strains, 33.96%), Escherichia coli (16 strains, 15.09%), and Staphylococcus aureus (15 strains, 14.15%). The detection rates of extended-spectum ß-lactamases producing strains of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were 56.25% (9/16) and 44.44% (4/9), respectively. The detection rates of methicillin-resistant strains in Staphylococcus aureus and CNS were 46.67% (7/15) and 72.22% (26/36), respectively. CONCLUSION: Postoperative BSI in orthopedic patients is caused by multiple factors. Preventive measures should be taken according to related risk factors and perioperative risk assessment should be strengthened. Staphylococcus and Escherichia coli are the most common pathogenic bacteria in BSI after orthopedic surgery. The infection rate and drug-resistant bacteria are increasing year by year. Therefore, drug resistance monitoring should be strengthened.

The use of bone turnover markers for monitoring the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal females undergoing total knee arthroplasty: a prospective randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis (OP) and osteoarthritis (OA) commonly coexist in postmenopausal females. The decrease in bone density and increase in bone resorption in postmenopausal females with OP may consequently affect the surgical outcome of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, clinicians often ignore monitoring the treatment of OP in the perioperative management of TKA. Bone turnover marker (BTM) can timely and accurately reflect bone metabolism to monitor the treatment of OP. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of BTM monitoring to guide the treatment of OP in postmenopausal females undergoing TKA. METHODS: Postmenopausal females with OP who underwent primary unilateral TKA were randomly divided into two groups (monitoring group and control group), given oral medication (alendronate, calcitriol, and calcium), and followed for 1 year. In the monitoring group, serum BTMs (C-telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I), N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP), and 25(OH)D) were assessed preoperatively and repeated postoperatively; alendronate was withdrawn when CTX-I and PINP reached the reference interval; and calcitriol and calcium were withdrawn when 25(OH)D reached the reference interval. In the control group, oral medication was implemented for a uniform duration of 3 months. During the 1-year follow-up, the mean maximum total point motion (MTPM) of the tibial component, bone mineral density (BMD), visual analog scale (VAS) score, range of motion, and Oxford Knee Score (OKS) score were obtained. RESULTS: In the monitoring group, BTM monitoring prolonged the medication duration, but did not cause more adverse reactions than in the control group. The mean MTPM values at 6 m and 12 m in the monitoring group were lower than those in the control group, and the BMD at 12 m in the monitoring group was significantly higher than that in the control group. Patients in the monitoring group had lower VAS scores at 6 m and higher OKS scores at 6 m and 12 m than those in the control group. CONCLUSION: In postmenopausal females with osteoporosis undergoing primary TKA, the application of BTM monitoring to guide the treatment of osteoporosis can enhance bone density, maintain prosthesis stability, and improve surgical outcome. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR ChiCTR-INR-17010495 . Registered on 22 January 2017.

Dynamic photonic perovskite light-emitting diodes with post-treatment-enhanced crystallization as writable and wipeable inscribers.

Controllable photonic patterns have attracted great attention for various applications in displays, smart sensors, and communications. Conventional patterned light-emitting-diode (LED) systems require complicated design, complex procedure, and advanced equipment. Moreover, permanent properties of the fabricated patterns on LED restrict it from various important applications. Herein, we present an innovative writable and wipeable perovskite light-emitting-diode (WWPeLED) device, which tactfully utilizes the large variation of turn-on voltage originating from the external quantum efficiency (EQE) difference under controllable thermal treatment. The turn-on voltages with/without thermal-treatment devices exhibit a large gap of over 5 V, and the thermal-treatment electroluminescence intensity is more than 10 times higher than that of non-thermal-treatment devices. The new phenomena open up an effective way of controlling illumination with desired pattern designs. Additionally, the distinct handwriting fonts and habits as well as printing patterns with illumination WWPeLED are also realized. Furthermore, these written and printed features can be totally wiped out with an 11 V cleaning voltage, turning the devices as a regular fully bright PeLED. The stability and repeatability tests prove the robustness of WWPeLED in both mechanical and electroluminescence performance after a long period of operations. The innovative WWPeLED devices may find prospective applications in various optoelectronic devices and flexible integrated systems.

Recent advances in MXene-based force sensors: a mini-review.

As an emerging two-dimensional (2D) material, MXene has excellent conductivity and abundant surface functional groups. Its unique layered structure, large surface area, and prominent hydrophilicity show remarkable performances, which allow abundant possibilities to work as the sensing element alone or combined with other auxiliary materials. As a senior member of MXenes, Ti3C2T x has shown great potential in the development of force sensors. The research development of force sensors based on Ti3C2T x MXene is reviewed in this paper, presenting the advanced development of force sensors in various forms and summaring their current preparation strategies and characteristics. In addition, the corresponding challenges and prospects of the MXene-based sensors are also discussed for future research.

Altered gut microbiota in Parkinson's disease patients/healthy spouses and its association with clinical features.

INTRODUCTION: Increasing evidence shows that gut microbiota dysbiosis may play important roles in the occurrence and progression of Parkinson's disease (PD), but the findings are inconsistent. Besides, the effect of family environment on gut microbiota dysbiosis remains unclear. METHODS: We characterized the gut microbial compositions of 63 PD patients, 63 healthy spouses (HS) and 74 healthy people (HP) using 16S rRNA sequencing. Clinical phenotypes and microbial composition were analyzed comprehensively. RESULTS: There were markedly different microbial compositions among PD, HS and HP samples by alpha/beta diversity. We also found differential microbial compositions among Hoehn & Yahr stage/disease duration. Eight inflammation-associated microbial genera shared a continuously increase trend with increased Hoehn & Yahr stage and disease duration, indicating characteristic bacteria associated with deterioration in PD. Additionally, seven bacterial markers were identified for accurately differentiating PD patients from the controls (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.856). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows altered gut microbiota in PD patients. Importantly, inflammation-associated microbial genera may play roles in PD progression. Differential microbial compositions in HS and HP samples demonstrate that the gut microbiota are also affected by family environment. Disease-associated metagenomics studies should consider the family environmental factor. Our research provides an important reference and improves the understanding of gut microbiota in PD patients.

Manual acupuncture versus sham acupuncture and usual care for prophylaxis of episodic migraine without aura: multicentre, randomised clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of manual acupuncture as prophylactic treatment for acupuncture naive patients with episodic migraine without aura. DESIGN: Multicentre, randomised, controlled clinical trial with blinded participants, outcome assessment, and statistician. SETTING: Seven hospitals in China, 5 June 2016 to 15 November 2018. PARTICIPANTS: 150 acupuncture naive patients with episodic migraine without aura. INTERVENTIONS: 20 sessions of manual acupuncture at true acupuncture points plus usual care, 20 sessions of non-penetrating sham acupuncture at heterosegmental non-acupuncture points plus usual care, or usual care alone over 8 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in migraine days and migraine attacks per four weeks during weeks 1-20 after randomisation compared with baseline (four weeks before randomisation). RESULTS: Among 150 randomised patients (mean age 36.5 (SD 11.4) years; 123 (82%) women), 147 were included in the full analysis set. Compared with sham acupuncture, manual acupuncture resulted in a significantly greater reduction in migraine days at weeks 13 to 20 and a significantly greater reduction in migraine attacks at weeks 17 to 20. The reduction in mean number of migraine days was 3.5 (SD 2.5) for manual versus 2.4 (3.4) for sham (adjusted difference -1.4, 95% confidence interval -2.4 to -0.3; P=0.005) at weeks 13 to 16 and 3.9 (3.0) for manual versus 2.2 (3.2) for sham (adjusted difference -2.1, -2.9 to -1.2; P<0.001) at weeks 17 to 20. At weeks 17 to 20, the reduction in mean number of attacks was 2.3 (1.7) for manual versus 1.6 (2.5) for sham (adjusted difference -1.0, -1.5 to -0.5; P<0.001). No severe adverse events were reported. No significant difference was seen in the proportion of patients perceiving needle penetration between manual acupuncture and sham acupuncture (79% v 75%; P=0.891). CONCLUSIONS: Twenty sessions of manual acupuncture was superior to sham acupuncture and usual care for the prophylaxis of episodic migraine without aura. These results support the use of manual acupuncture in patients who are reluctant to use prophylactic drugs or when prophylactic drugs are ineffective, and it should be considered in future guidelines. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02765581.