An Investigation Into Whether the Facial Nerve and Auditory Nerve can be Protected by Removal of the Posterior Wall of the Internal Auditory Canal Under 30° Neuroendoscopy During Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical technique of microresection of vestibular schwannoma by removing the posterior wall of the internal auditory canal (IAC) under neuroelectrophysiological monitoring and 30° neuroendoscopy, with respect to the protection of facial and auditory nerve function. Forty-five cases of microscopic resection of auditory neuromas were performed through a posterior approach to the inferior occipital sigmoid sinus using a 30° neuroendoscope to assist in the removal of the posterior wall of the IAC during surgery. Patients underwent cranial enhancement magnetic resonance imaging examination and functional assessment of the facial and auditory nerves before and after surgery, and clinical data were collected for retrospective analysis. All tumors were removed in 41 patients, and most of the tumors were removed in 4 patients. The facial nerve was anatomically preserved in 43 patients (95.6%), and the percentage of facial nerve function preservation (House-Brackmann grade I-II) was 84.4%. Forty patients (88.9%) had anatomical preservation of the auditory nerve, with a 66.7% functional preservation rate. At 3 to 39 months of follow-up, 45 patients were reviewed with 3.0 T-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, and no tumor recurrence was observed in any of the patients. Microscopic resection of auditory neuroma through the posterior approach of the inferior occipital sigmoid sinus with intraoperative use of 30° neuroendoscopic assistance to abrade the posterior wall of the IAC can eliminate dead space in certain anatomical areas during surgery and minimize surgical damage to the facial and auditory nerves, which is the basis for preservation of facial and auditory nerve function.

High-Performance NiS2 Hollow Nanosphere Cathodes in Magnesium-Ion Batteries Enabled by Tunable Redox Chemistry.

Two-dimensional metal dichalcogenides have demonstrated outstanding potential as cathodes for magnesium-ion batteries. However, the limited capacity, poor cycling stability, and severe electrode pulverization, resulting from lack of void space for expansion, impede their further development. In this work, we report for the first time, nickel sulfide (NiS2) hollow nanospheres assembled with nanoparticles for use as cathode materials in magnesium-ion batteries. Notably, the nanospheres were prepared by a one-step solvothermal process in the absence of an additive. The results show that regulating the synergistic effect between the rich anions and hollow structure positively affects its electrochemical performance. Crystallographic and microstructural characterizations reveal the reversible anionic redox of S2-/(S2)2-, consistent with density functional theory results. Consequently, the optimized cathode (8-NiS2 hollow nanospheres) could deliver a large capacity of 301 mA h g-1 after 100 cycles at 50 mA g-1, supporting the promising practical application of NiS2 hollow nanospheres in magnesium-ion batteries.

In Situ Formed Magnesiophilic Sites Guiding Uniform Deposition for Stable Magnesium Metal Anodes.

Owing to its high volumetric capacity and natural abundance, magnesium (Mg) metal has attracted tremendous attention as an ideal anode material for rechargeable Mg batteries. Despite Mg deposition playing an integral role in determining the cycling lifespan, its exact behavior is not clearly understood yet. Herein, for the first time, we introduce a facile approach to build magnesiophilic In/MgIn sites in situ on a Mg metal surface using InCl3 electrolyte additive for rechargeable Mg batteries. These magnesiophilic sites can regulate Mg deposition behaviors by homogenizing the distributions of Mg-ion flux and electric field at the electrode-electrolyte interphase, allowing flat and compact Mg deposition to inhibit short-circuiting. The as-designed Mg metal batteries achieve a stable cycling lifespan of 340 h at 1.0 mA cm-2 and 1.0 mAh cm-2 using Celgard separators, while the full cell coupled with Mo6S8 cathode maintains a high capacity retention of 95.5% over 800 cycles at 1 C.

Resection of Tumors Located in the Anterior Skull Base and Sellar Region Through the Supraorbital Keyhole Approach via a Forehead Wrinkle Incision: Modifications and Deficiencies.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of the supraorbital keyhole approach (SKA) via a forehead wrinkle incision in the resection of tumors in the anterior skull base and sellar region. METHODS: Sixty patients with tumors located in the anterior skull base and sellar region treated through the SKA in our hospital from 2017 to 2020. The skin incision and bone flap position were designed individually according to the size and growth of the tumor. The clinical data of the patients were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Based on the feasibility of this surgical approach, personalized skin incisions and bone flaps were designed for different lesions. Among the 60 patients, gross total resection was achieved in 53 cases (88.3%), for meningiomas 97.8% (46/47) and near-total resection in 7 cases (11.7%). In the survey of the patients' scale scores toward skin incision after operation, the "no pain" level was 90.0% (54/60) and 91.7% (55/60) for the level of "very satisfactory" of the aesthetic of the skin incision (as shown in Supplementary Digital Content, Table 2, http://links.lww.com/ SCS/D742). Three patients whose satisfaction with the aesthetic of the incision excelled scale 3, suggesting that they were not completely satisfied with the wound healing. No permanent skin incision discomfort was noted during follow-up. There were no surgical deaths. CONCLUSIONS: The SKA via forehead wrinkle incision is a flexible and feasible method for tumors near the midline of the anterior skull base and sellar region. However, this approach requires strict preoperative planning, which includes choosing appropriate tumors and applicable forehead wrinkles.

Reprograming of peripheral Foxp3+ regulatory T cell towards Th17-like cell in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus.

Treg is essential to limit the extend and duration of the immune response, but its stability is still under debate. Here we demonstrate that IL-17-producing Treg cells (Th17-like cells) increased in peripheral blood of patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Notably, the Th17-like cells from patient with active SLE were characterized with some phenotype and function of Th17 cells. Upon stimulation, Helios-Foxp3 + CD4+ T cells decrease Foxp3 expression but increase expression of IL-17 and RORγt. Damage associated molecule pattern and inflammatory cytokines are important for induction of IL-17 expression in Treg cells. The Th17-like cells from patients with active SLE lose suppressive function and have robust response to stimulation of autoantigens. We also observed that the level of Th17-like cells in peripheral blood is closely associated with the clinical index of SLE. These findings suggest that instability of Treg plays a critical role in pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.

Analysis of serial electroencephalographic predictors of seizure recurrence in Rolandic epilepsy.

PURPOSE: We aimed to assess the relationship between electroencephalography (EEG) markers and seizure recurrence in cases with benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECT) in a long-term follow-up study. METHODS: We analyzed the data of 52 children with BECT who were divided into 2 groups: the isolated group and recurrence group. The clinical profiles and initial/serial visual EEG recordings of both groups were evaluated. The entire follow-up period ranged from 12 to 65 months. RESULTS: None of the clinical characteristics differed between the 2 groups. Serial EEGs showed that the appearance of Rolandic spikes in the frontal region was more prevalent in the recurrence group. Moreover, a significant correlation was found between bilateral asynchronous discharges and seizure recurrence. However, on initial EEG of these patients, neither of the EEG features exhibited statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The presence of frontal focus and bilateral asynchrony appeared to be hallmarks of BECT patients with higher risk for seizure recurrence.

Hierarchical Cobalt-Based Metal-Organic Framework for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries.

In the present work, a simple solvothermal method is developed for the synthesis of hierarchical Co-based metal-organic framework (H-Co-MOF) microflowers. These microflowers are composed of nanosheets, consisting of small nanoflakes. Upon application as an electrode material in Li-ion batteries, H-Co-MOF shows ultrahigh specific capacity and long cycling performance. For instance, a remarkably superior capacity of 1345 mA h g-1 can be achieved after 100 cycles at a current density of 0.1 A g-1 . Even at 2 A g-1 , a large capacity of 828 mA h g-1 is maintained after 700 cycles. This excellent electrochemical performance might be ascribed to the intrinsic properties and unique hierarchical structure of the Co-based MOF.

Preparation of a Si/SiO2 -Ordered-Mesoporous-Carbon Nanocomposite as an Anode for High-Performance Lithium-Ion and Sodium-Ion Batteries.

In this work, an Si/SiO2 -ordered-mesoporous carbon (Si/SiO2 -OMC) nanocomposite was initially fabricated through a magnesiothermic reduction strategy by using a two-dimensional bicontinuous mesochannel of SiO2 -OMC as a precursor, combined with an NaOH etching process, in which crystal Si/amorphous SiO2 nanoparticles were encapsulated into the OMC matrix. Not only can such unique porous crystal Si/amorphous SiO2 nanoparticles uniformly dispersed in the OMC matrix mitigate the volume change of active materials during the cycling process, but they can also improve electrical conductivity of Si/SiO2 and facilitate the Li+ /Na+ diffusion. When applied as an anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the Si/SiO2 -OMC composite displayed superior reversible capacity (958 mA h g-1 at 0.2 A g-1 after 100 cycles) and good cycling life (retaining a capacity of 459 mA h g-1 at 2 A g-1 after 1000 cycles). For sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), the composite maintained a high capacity of 423 mA h g-1 after 100 cycles at 0.05 A g-1 and an extremely stable reversible capacity of 190 mA h g-1 was retained even after 500 cycles at 1 A g-1 . This performance is one of the best long-term cycling properties of Si-based SIB anode materials. The Si/SiO2 -OMC composites exhibited great potential as an alternative material for both lithium- and sodium-ion battery anodes.

Association between decreased serum parathyroid hormone after total thyroidectomy and persistent hypoparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative hypocalcemia caused by hypoparathyroidism is one of the most common morbidities of total thyroidectomy. The aim of this study was to analyze the kinetics and factors affecting PTH levels after total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection (CND). MATERIAL/METHODS: We performed a retrospective study in 438 consecutive patients who underwent total thyroidectomy between January 2007 and December 2010. No patient had a history of thyroid or neck surgery. PTH and calcium levels were recorded 1 day before the operation, during the first 5 days, and during follow-up (2 weeks and 2, 6, and 12 months). RESULTS: PTH levels declined to 41.90% of its initial value on the first day after the operation. After surgery, PTH was correlated positively with calcium and inversely with phosphate levels from postoperative day 1 to 14. Based on clinical observation, using a PTH threshold of <7 ng/L on postoperative day 1 was predictive of persistent hypoparathyroidism, with sensitivity and negative predictive value 100%, but poor specificity (70.19%). CND increased the risk of transient hypoparathyroidism compared with total thyroidectomy alone. Patients with thyroiditis had an increased risk of permanent hypoparathyroidism compared with those without thyroiditis. Iatrogenic removal of the parathyroid glands increased the risk of permanent hypoparathyroidism compared with those without iatrogenic parathyroidectomy. CONCLUSIONS: PTH declined on the first day after thyroidectomy. PTH levels <7 ng/L on the first day after surgery might be associated with persistent hypoparathyroidism. CND, thyroiditis, and iatrogenic parathyroidectomy increased the risk of hypoparathyroidism.

A female patient carrying a novel DMD mutation with non-random X-chromosome inactivation from a DMD family.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical phenotype and genetic characteristics of a female proband carrying a novel mutation in the DMD gene with non-random X-chromosome inactivation in a large pedigree with pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy. METHODS: Clinical information of the female proband, her monozygotic twin sister, and other family members were collected. Potential pathogenic variants were detected with Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) and whole-exome sequencing (WES). Methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme (HhaI) was employed for X-chromosome inactivation analysis. RESULTS: The proband was a female over 5 years old, displayed clinical manifestations such as elevated creatine kinase (CK) levels and mild calf muscle hypertrophy. Her monozygotic twin sister exhibited normal CK levels and motor ability. Her uncle and cousin had a history of DMD. WES revealed that the proband carried a novel variant in the DMD (OMIM: 300,377) gene: NM_004006.3: c.3051_3053dup; NP_003997.2: p.Tyr1018*. In this pedigree, five out of six female members were carriers of this variant, while the cousin and uncle were hemizygous for this variant. X-chromosome inactivation analysis suggested non-random inactivation in the proband. CONCLUSION: The c.3051_3053dup (p.Tyr1018*) variant in the DMD gene is considered to be the pathogenic variant significantly associated with the clinical phenotype of the proband, her cousin, and her uncle within this family. Integrating genetic testing with clinical phenotype assessment can be a valuable tool for physicians in the diagnosis of progressive muscular dystrophies, such as Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Reticulocyte hemoglobin content associated with the risk of iron deficiency anemia.

Background/Objective: Reticulocyte hemoglobin content (MCHr) was recognized as a rapid and reliable marker for investigating iron deficiency (ID). We hypothesized that MCHr was associated with the risk of iron deficiency anemia in adults. Methods: This is a dual-center case-control study. A total of 806 patients and healthy individuals were recruited from Ruijin Hospital and Xinhua Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine between January 2021 and December 2021. The participants were categorized into iron deficiency anemia (IDA) group (n = 302), non-IDA group (n = 366), and healthy control group (n = 138). According to the MCHr level, the participants were divided into two groups, i.e. normal MCHr (≥25 pg) and decreased MCHr (<25 pg) group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and adjusted subgroup analysis were conducted to estimate the relative risk between MCHr and IDA, with confounding factors including age, sex, hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), Hematocrit (HCT), serum iron (Fe), ferritin (Ferrit), and total iron binding capacity (TIBC). Results: Compared with the non-IDA, the MCHr level with IDA decreased significantly. ROC curve analysis showed that MCHr had the largest area under the AUC curve. After comprehensive adjustment for confounding factors, individuals with normal level of MCHr exhibited a decreased risk of IDA (OR = 0.68 [0.60, 0.77], P < 0.01), while the risk of IDA was up to 5 times higher for those with decreased MCHr. Conclusion: Our findings supported the hypothesis that MCHr was associated with the risk of IDA in adults and could serve as an indicator of IDA severity. MCHr holds clinical value as an auxiliary diagnostic indicator, providing valuable insights into whether invasive examinations are warranted in the assessment of IDA.

Whether Detection of Gene Mutations Could Identify Low- or High-Risk Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma? Data from 393 Cases Using the Next-Generation Sequencing.

Objective: The objective of this study is to explore the utilization of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology in evaluating the likelihood of identifying individuals with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC ≤10 mm) who are at high or low risk. Design: NGS was used to analyze 393 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of PTC tumors, all of which were smaller than 15 mm. Results: The study found that bilateralism, multifocality, intrathyroidal spread, and extrathyroidal extension were present in 84 (21.4%), 153 (38.9%), 16 (4.1%), and 54 (13.7%) cases, respectively. Metastasis of cervical lymph nodes was identified in 226 (57.5%) cases and 96 (24.4%) cases with CLNM >5. Out of the total number of cases studied, 8 cases (2.3%) showed signs of tumor recurrence, all of which were localized and regional. Genetic alterations were detected in 342 cases (87.0%), with 336 cases revealing single mutations and 6 cases manifesting compound mutations. 332 cases (84.5%) had BRAFV600E mutation, 2 cases had KRASQ61K mutation, 2 cases had NRASQ61R mutation, 8 cases had RET/PTC1 rearrangement, 3 cases had RET/PTC3 rearrangement, and 1 case had TERT promoter mutation. Additionally, six individuals harbored concurrent mutations in two genes. These mutations were of various types and combinations: BRAFV600E and NRASQ61R (n = 2), BRAFV600E and RET/PTC3 (n = 2), BRAFV600E and RET/PTC1 (n = 1), and BRAFV600E and TERT promoter (n = 1). The subsequent analysis did not uncover a significant distinction in the incidence of gene mutation or fusion between the cN0 and cN1 patient cohorts. The presence of BRAFV600E mutation and CLNM incidence rates were found to be positively correlated with larger tumor size in PTMC. Our data showed that gene mutations did not appear to have much to do with high-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). However, when we looked at tumor size, we found that if the tumor was at least 5 millimeters in size, there was a higher chance of it being at high risk for PTM (P < 0.001, odds ratio (OR) = 2.55, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.57-4.14). Identification of BRAFV600E mutation was not demonstrated to be significantly correlated with advanced clinicopathological characteristics, although it was strongly associated with a bigger tumor diameter (OR = 4.92, 95% CI: 2.40-10.07, P < 0.001). Conclusion: In clinical practice, BRAFV600E mutation does not consistently serve as an effective biomarker to distinguish high-risk PTMC or predict tumor progression. The size of the tumor has a significant correlation with its aggressive characteristics. PTMC with a diameter of ≤5 mm should be distinguished and targeted as a unique subset for specialized treatment.

Performance of the digital cell morphology analyzer MC-100i in a multicenter study in tertiary hospitals in China.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the performance of the MC-100i, a pre-commercial digital morphology analyzer utilizing a convolutional neural network algorithm, in a multicentric setting involving up to 11 tertiary hospitals in China. METHODS: Blood smears were analyzed by MC-100i, verified by morphologists, and manually differentiated. The classification performance on WBCs and RBCs was evaluated by comparing the classification results using different methods. The PLT and PLT clump counting performance was also assessed. The total assay time including hands-on time was evaluated. RESULTS: The agreements between pre- and post-classification were high for normal WBCs (κ > 0.96) and lower for overall abnormal WBCs (κ = 0.90). The post-classification results correlated well with manual differentials for both normal and abnormal WBCs (r > 0.93), except for basophils (r = 0.8480) and atypical lymphocytes (r = 0.8211). The clinical sensitivity and specificity of each RBC abnormality after verification were above 90 % using microscopy reviews as the reference. The PLTs counted by the MC-100i before and after verification correlated well with those measured by the PLT-O mode (r = 0.98). Moreover, PLT clumps were successfully classified by the analyzer in EDTA-dependent pseudothrombocytopenia blood samples. CONCLUSIONS: The MC-100i is an accurate and reliable digital cell morphology analyzer, offering another intelligent option for hematology laboratories.

NAD induces astrocyte calcium flux and cell death by ART2 and P2X7 pathway.

Mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase 2 (ART2) is found in mouse T cells and has mediated NAD-induced cell death (NICD) alongside the P2X7 pathway. We determined whether ART2 was expressed in mouse brain astrocytes and the possible function of the NAD-ART2-P2X7 pathway in astrocytes. Our results demonstrate that ART2 existed both in cultured mouse astrocytes and mouse brain slices. Exposure of astrocytes to the ART2 substrate, NAD, induced calcium elevation, which was blocked by ART2 and P2X7 inhibitors. ATP and NAD had an additive effect on calcium elevation. NICD in low-calcium conditions was blocked by ART2 and P2X7 inhibitors. The harmful effect of ATP on astrocytes was inhibited by P2X7 and ART2 inhibitors, meaning that endogenous NAD release may occur. Both NICD function and oxygen-glucose deprivation injury in mouse brain slices were also involved in the ART2-P2X7 pathway. Collectively, to our knowledge, our study provides the first evidence that ART2 exists in mouse brain astrocytes and NAD induces calcium elevation and astrocyte death by an ART2 and P2X7-mediated mechanism. The results suggest a novel approach for manipulating astrocyte death.

Association between papillary thyroid carcinoma and lymphocytic thyroiditis: A retrospective study.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between coexisting lymphocytic thyroiditis (LT) and the clinicopathological features of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The records of 458 patients with PTC who underwent a total thyroidectomy and lymph node dissection in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (Hangzhou, China) were analyzed. In accordance with the histopathology of thyroid parenchyma, the cases were divided into three groups, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), non-Hashimoto's type LT (NHLT) and no LT. Based on the histopathology, data on age, sex, maximum diameter of tumor, multifocality, extrathyroidal extension, metastatic lymph node size, extranodal extension and tumor grades in the different groups were analyzed and compared. The prevalence of coexisting LT was 29.0% (133/458), of which 7.6% (35/458) was HT and 21.4% (98/458) was NHLT. PTC concomitant with LT was significantly associated with female patients (95.5 vs. 70.2%; P<0.001), a lower rate of extrathyroidal extension and/or capsular invasion (25.6 vs. 39.7%; P=0.004), central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) ratio (10.71 vs. 17.37; P=0.014), higher number of dissected central lymph nodes (16.83 vs. 11.7; P<0.001), larger metastatic lymph nodes (0.66 vs. 0.46 cm; P<0.001), higher occurrence of multifocality (61.7 vs. 50.5%; P=0.029) and earlier pT stage (57.9 vs. 38.8%; P<0.001), regardless of the combined or separate consideration of HT and NHLT. Besides, LT was associated with multifocality [odds ratio (OR), 1.578; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.046-2.382; P=0.030]. Furthermore, in patients with PTC, CLNM had a significant association with the male sex (OR, 2.000; 95% CI, 1.216-3.288; P=0.006), an age of <45 years (OR, 0.592; 95% CI, 0.398-0.879; P=0.009) and a tumor size of >1 cm (OR, 3.913; 95% CI, 2.431-5.734; P<0.001). In conclusion, patients with PTC and LT showed a greater female preponderance, multifocality, a lower extrathyroidal extension and a lower CLNM ratio. LT was associated with an increased risk of multifocality in PTC.

The safety and efficacy of delayed surgery by simulating clinical progression of observable papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: a retrospective analysis of 524 patients from a single medical center.

Objective: When active surveillance (AS) is developed in the patients with low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), a medical center needs to ensure the delayed operation that is caused by PTMC clinical progression to have the same prognosis as that of immediate operation. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of delayed surgery by simulating clinical progression (tumor size enlargement and appearance of lymph node metastasis) of PTMCs with AS in a single medical center. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the response to therapy in 317 papillary thyroid carcinoma patients treated with total thyroidectomy and post-operative radioactive iodine ablation. They were classified into three groups according to tumor size (group A ≤0.5 cm; group B >0.5 cm and ≤1 cm; group C >1 cm and ≤1.5 cm) or two groups according to the presence (cN1) or absence (cN0) of the clinical lymph node (LN) metastasis. Groups C and cN1 were regarded as simulated clinical progression of observational PTMC and the operation for them was assumed to be "delayed surgery". However, Groups A, B and cN0 were regarded as no clinical progression and the operation for them was considered as immediate surgery. Results: There were no significantly differences in excellent response to therapy and recurrence-free survival not only among the group A, B and C, but also between the group cN0 and cN1. In other words, these insignificant differences were found between immediate and simulated "delayed" surgeries. Conclusion: For the PTMC patients suitable for AS, the oncological outcomes were also excellent even if surgery was delayed until after the presence of clinical progression, according to our clinical simulation. Furthermore, we consider that it was feasible for medical centers to assess the ability to implement AS for PTMC patients by retrospectively analyzing their own previous clinical data using the described simulation.

Machine learning-assisted optimization of multi-metal hydroxide electrocatalysts for overall water splitting.

Green hydrogen produced via electrochemical water splitting is a suitable candidate to replace emission-intensive fuels. However, the successful widespread adoption of green hydrogen is contingent on the development of low-cost, earth-abundant catalysts. Herein, machine learning models built on experimental data were used to optimize the precursor ratios of hydroxide-based electrocatalysts, with the objective of improving the product's electrocatalytic performance for overall water splitting. The Neural Network-based models were found to be the most effective in predicting and minimizing the overpotentials of the catalysts, reaching a minimum in two iterations. The relatively mild reaction conditions of the synthesis procedure, coupled with its scalability demonstrated herein, renders the optimized catalyst relevant for industrial implementation in the future. The optimized catalyst, characterized to be a molybdate-intercalated CoFe LDH, demonstrated overpotentials of 266 and 272 mV at 10 mA cm-2 for oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions respectively in alkaline electrolyte, alongside unwavering stability for overall water splitting over 50 h. Overall, our results reflect the efficacy and advantages of machine learning strategies to alleviate the time and labour-intensive nature of experimental optimizations, which can greatly accelerate electrocatalysts research.

Gut Microbiome Composition Abnormalities Determined Using High-Throughput Sequencing in Children With Tic Disorder.

Object: To investigate the distribution characteristics of gut microbiota in children with tic disorder (TD) and the possible role of these characteristics in the pathogenesis of TD. Methods: The medical records of 28 children with TD treated at Wuxi Children's Hospital from January 1 to October 31, 2020, and 21 age-matched healthy children (controls) were included. The relative quantification of bacterial taxa was performed using 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing. Results: There was no significant difference in the alpha diversity of gut microbiota between the TD and control groups. Analyses of beta diversity were able to differentiate the TD patients from the healthy controls based on their gut microbiota. At the phylum level, the two groups were mainly composed of four phyla, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria. There were significant differences in Firmicutes and Actinobacteria between the two groups (P <0.05). At the level of genera, the abundance of Bifidobacterium and Collinsella reduced while that of Ruminococcaceae unclassified, Prevotella, Faecalibacterium, Coprobacillus, and Odoribacter increased in the TD group compared to that in the control group. The intergroup differences were significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The abnormal composition of gut microbiota in children with TD suggests that the change in gut microbiota may play an important role in TD development.

Fine-Needle Pricking Test of the Parathyroid Gland during Thyroid Surgery in Predicting Parathyroid Function.

Background: Permanent hypoparathyroidism is a serious complication following total thyroidectomy plus central neck dissection (CND). How to evaluate the vascularization of the parathyroid gland in real time is a major concern of thyroid surgeons. This study aimed to evaluate the fine-needle pricking (FNP) test in predicting parathyroid gland function. Methods: The FNP test was performed in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy plus CND between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2019, to visualize the vascularization of the parathyroid glands. Patients were classified according to the number of parathyroid glands preserved in situ with excellent vascularity (PGPIEV) demonstrated by FNP: group 0 (without PGPIEV), group 1 (with one PGPIEV), group 2 (with two PGPIEV), group 3 (with three PGPIEV), and group 4 (with four PGPIEV). Results: A total of 608 patients with four parathyroid glands underwent FNP testing during thyroidectomy. At least one PGPIEV was demonstrated by FNP testing in 581 patients who had intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels in the normal range after the operation. The prevalence of hypocalcemia decreased from 77.8% in group 0 to 9.8% in group 4 (P < 0.001), and the incidence of hypoparathyroidism decreased from 44.4% in group 0 to 0% in groups 1-4 (P < 0.001). iPTH concentrations on postoperative day 1 were positively correlated with PGPIEV groups (increased from 14.58 ng/l in group 0 to 45.22 ng/l in group 4, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The FNP test is a safe and reliable method to predict parathyroid function. One PGPIEV demonstrated by the FNP test rules out the possibility of patients developing hypoparathyroidism.

Performance evaluation of the new platelet measurement channel on the BC-6800 Plus automated hematology analyzer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of new optical platelet measurement channel on the BC-6800 Plus automated blood cell analyzer. METHODS: The basic PLT count performance of the BC-6800 Plus was evaluated according to the requirements of the Clinical Laboratory and Standards Institute (CLSI) Document H26-A2. In addition, low-PLT-value specimens, red blood cell debris specimens, small red blood cell specimens, and giant PLT specimens were detected with the blood cell analyzer and a flow cytometer. Whole-blood specimens in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or sodium citrate anticoagulant tubes from 20 patients with EDTA-dependent PLT aggregation were determined in CDR mode of the analyzer. RESULTS: Blank counting and the carryover contamination rate of PLTs using the BC-6800 Plus both met the technical requirements. For abnormal PLT specimens, PLT-O 8× and PLT-I both exhibited high comparability with flow cytometry. The comparability of PLT-O 8× with flow cytometry was better than that of PLT-I. In EDTA-anticoagulated blood specimens from 20 patients with EDTA-dependent PLT aggregation, the results of PLT-O were significantly higher than those for PLT-I using samples from the same tubes (P < .001). However, the PLT counts were similar between these two methods for sodium citrate-anticoagulated blood specimens (P = .263). CONCLUSION: The performance of PLT-O 8× in the BC-6800 Plus met the technical requirements. PLT-O 8× exhibited better reproducibility than did PLT-I for low-PLT-value samples. Reexamination of abnormal PLT specimens using PLT-O 8× yielded more accurate results. PLT-O performed significantly better than PLT-I in the detection of EDTA-dependent PLT-aggregation specimens.