Comprehensive Characterization of the Viscoelastic Properties of Bovine Submaxillary Mucin (BSM) Hydrogels and the Effect of Additives.

This study presents a comprehensive characterization of the viscoelastic and structural properties of bovine submaxillary mucin (BSM), which is widely used as a commercial source to conduct mucus-related research. We conducted concentration studies of BSM and examined the effects of various additives, NaCl, CaCl2, MgCl2, lysozyme, and DNA, on its rheological behavior. A notable connection between BSM concentration and viscoelastic properties was observed, particularly under varying ionic conditions. The rheological spectra could be well described by a fractional Kelvin-Voigt model with a minimum of model parameters. A detailed proteomics analysis provided insight into the protein, especially mucin composition within BSM, showing MUC19 as the main component. Cryo-scanning electron microscopy enabled the visualization of the porous BSM network structure. These investigations give us a more profound comprehension of the BSM properties, especially those pertaining to viscoelasticity, and how they are influenced by concentration and environmental conditions, aspects relevant to the field of mucus research.

Turn-off enzyme activity of histidine-rich peptides for the detection of lysozyme.

An assay that integrates histidine-rich peptides (HisRPs) with high-affinity aptamers was developed enabling the specific and sensitive determination of the target lysozyme. The enzyme-like activity of HisRP is inhibited by its interaction with a target recognized by an aptamer. In the presence of the target, lysozyme molecules progressively assemble on the surface of HisRP in a concentration-dependent manner, resulting in the gradual suppression of enzyme-like activity. This inhibition of HisRP's enzyme-like activity can be visually observed through color changes in the reaction product or quantified using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. Under optimal conditions, the proposed colorimetric assay for lysozyme had a detection limit as low as 1 nM and exhibited excellent selectivity against other nonspecific interferents. Furthermore, subsequent research validated the practical applicability of the developed colorimetric approach to saliva samples, indicating that the assay holds significant potential for the detection of lysozymes in samples derived from humans.

Development and validation of a novel model to predict pulmonary embolism in cardiology suspected patients: A 10-year retrospective analysis.

As there are no predictive models for pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with suspected PE at cardiology department. This study developed a predictive model for the probability of PE development in these patients. This retrospective analysis evaluated data from 995 patients with suspected PE at the cardiology department from January 2012 to December 2021. Patients were randomly divided into the training and validation cohorts (7:3 ratio). Using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, optimal predictive features were selected, and the model was established using multivariate logistic regression. The features used in the final model included clinical and laboratory factors. A nomogram was developed, and its performance was assessed and validated by discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility. Our predictive model showed that six PE-associated variables (age, pulse, systolic pressure, syncope, D-dimer, and coronary heart disease). The area under the curve - receiver operating characteristic curves of the model were 0.721 and 0.709 (95% confidence interval: 0.676-0.766 and 0.633-0.784), respectively, in both cohorts. We also found good consistency between the predictions and real observations in both cohorts. In decision curve analysis, the numerical model had a good net clinical benefit. This novel model can predict the probability of PE development in patients with suspected PE at cardiology department.

Smooth-Muscle-Cell-Specific Deletion of CD38 Protects Mice from AngII-Induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm through Inhibiting Vascular Remodeling.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a serious vascular disease which is associated with vascular remodeling. CD38 is a main NAD+-consuming enzyme in mammals, and our previous results showed that CD38 plays the important roles in many cardiovascular diseases. However, the role of CD38 in AAA has not been explored. Here, we report that smooth-muscle-cell-specific deletion of CD38 (CD38SKO) significantly reduced the morbidity of AngII-induced AAA in CD38SKOApoe-/- mice, which was accompanied with a increases in the aortic diameter, medial thickness, collagen deposition, and elastin degradation of aortas. In addition, CD38SKO significantly suppressed the AngII-induced decreases in α-SMA, SM22α, and MYH11 expression; the increase in Vimentin expression in VSMCs; and the increase in VCAM-1 expression in smooth muscle cells and macrophage infiltration. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the role of CD38SKO in attenuating AAA was associated with the activation of sirtuin signaling pathways. Therefore, we concluded that CD38 plays a pivotal role in AngII-induced AAA through promoting vascular remodeling, suggesting that CD38 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for the prevention of AAA.

Structural phase transition, s±-wave pairing, and magnetic stripe order in bilayered superconductor La3Ni2O7 under pressure.

Motivated by the recently discovered high-Tc superconductor La3Ni2O7, we comprehensively study this system using density functional theory and random phase approximation calculations. At low pressures, the Amam phase is stable, containing the Y2- mode distortion from the Fmmm phase, while the Fmmm phase is unstable. Because of small differences in enthalpy and a considerable Y2- mode amplitude, the two phases may coexist in the range between 10.6 and 14 GPa, beyond which the Fmmm phase dominates. In addition, the magnetic stripe-type spin order with wavevector (π, 0) was stable at the intermediate region. Pairing is induced in the s±-wave channel due to partial nesting between the M = (π, π) centered pockets and portions of the Fermi surface centered at the X = (π, 0) and Y = (0, π) points. This resembles results for iron-based superconductors but has a fundamental difference with iron pnictides and selenides. Moreover, our present efforts also suggest La3Ni2O7 is qualitatively different from infinite-layer nickelates and cuprate superconductors.

Ticagrelor monotherapy after a short course of dual antiplatelet therapy with ticagrelor plus aspirin following percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with versus without diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one among the major causes of mortality all round the globe. Several anti-platelet regimens have been proposed following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In this analysis, we aimed to show the adverse clinical outcomes associated with ticagrelor monotherapy after a short course of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with ticagrelor and aspirin following PCI in patients with versus without diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: Electronic databases were searched by four authors from September to November 2023. Cardiovascular outcomes and bleeding events were the endpoints of this analysis. Revman 5.4 software was used to conduct this meta-analysis. Risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to represent the results which were generated. RESULTS: Three studies with a total number of 22,574 participants enrolled from years 2013 to 2019 were included in this analysis. Results of this analysis showed that DM was associated with significantly higher risks of major adverse cardiovascular events (RR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.49 - 2.00; P = 0.00001), all-cause mortality (RR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.73 - 2.66; P = 0.00001), cardiac death (RR: 2.82, 95% CI: 1.42 - 5.60; P = 0.003), stroke (RR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.16 - 2.74; P = 0.009), myocardial infarction (RR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.17 - 2.26; P = 0.004) and stent thrombosis (RR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.03 - 2.94; P = 0.04) when compared to patients without DM. However, thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) defined minor and major bleedings, bleeding defined according to the academic research consortium (BARC) type 3c (RR: 1.31, 95% CI: 0.14 - 11.90; P = 0.81) and BARC type 2, 3 or 5 (RR: 1.17, 95% CI: 0.85 - 1.62; P = 0.34) were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: In patients who were treated with ticagrelor monotherapy after a short course of DAPT with ticagrelor and aspirin, DM was an independent risk factor for the significantly increased adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, TIMI and BARC defined bleeding events were not significantly different in patients with versus without DM.

CD38 Deficiency Alleviates Diabetic Cardiomyopathy by Coordinately Inhibiting Pyroptosis and Apoptosis.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is one of the diabetes mellitus-induced cardiovascular complications that can result in heart failure in severe cases, which is characterized by cardiomyocyte apoptosis, local inflammation, oxidative stress, and myocardial fibrosis. CD38, a main hydrolase of NAD+ in mammals, plays an important role in various cardiovascular diseases, according to our previous studies. However, the role of CD38 in diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy is still unknown. Here, we report that global deletion of the CD38 gene significantly prevented diabetic cardiomyopathy induced by high-fat diet plus streptozotocin (STZ) injection in CD38 knockout (CD38-KO) mice. We observed that CD38 expression was up-regulated, whereas the expression of Sirt3 was down-regulated in the hearts of diabetic mice. CD38 deficiency significantly promoted glucose metabolism and improved cardiac functions, exemplified by increased left ventricular ejection fraction and fractional shortening. In addition, we observed that CD38 deficiency markedly decreased diabetes or high glucose and palmitic acid (HG + PA)-induced pyroptosis and apoptosis in CD38 knockout hearts or cardiomyocytes, respectively. Furthermore, we found that the expression levels of Sirt3, mainly located in mitochondria, and its target gene FOXO3a were increased in CD38-deficient hearts and cardiomyocytes with CD38 knockdown under diabetic induction conditions. In conclusion, we demonstrated that CD38 deficiency protected mice from diabetes-induced diabetic cardiomyopathy by reducing pyroptosis and apoptosis via activating NAD+/Sirt3/FOXO3a signaling pathways.

[Meta-analysis on the Effects of Nitrogen Addition on Soil Organic Carbon Content in Terrestrial Ecosystems].

Several studies have demonstrated that the increased deposition of nitrogen(N) has significantly affected the content of soil organic carbon(SOC); however, the change significantly varies in different regions. In this study, Meta-analysis, Meta-regression, and linear regression were performed to systematically evaluate the effects of climate, soil properties, and field design factors on the responses of SOC to N addition based on 408 data points from 49 field experiments in China. The results revealed that the response of SOC to N addition was significantly positively correlated with the mean annual temperature(MAT) and mean annual precipitation(MAP) of the sample sites(P<0.05). In the regions with lower MAT(<3℃) or MAP(<500 mm), SOC significantly decreased after N addition. In the areas with higher MAT(>3℃) or MAP(>500 mm); however, SOC significantly increased. For soil properties, SOC significantly accumulated after N addition in the plots with a higher soil C:N ratio(>15) or acidic soil(pH<6.5) but less changed in the plots with a lower C:N ratio(≤ 15) or higher pH(≥ 6.5). For ecotype, after N addition, SOC decreased significantly in the grassland ecosystem(-5.34%) but less changed in the wetland ecosystem. SOC accumulated the most after N addition in the forest ecosystem(10.52%), particularly in the broad-leaved forest ecosystem(13.10%). Further analysis showed that the soil C:N ratio was the most important factor. For type of N application, the addition of ammonium nitrate or urea increased the SOC content significantly, but the effect of nitrate was not significant. In summary, when accurately evaluating, predicting, and analyzing the effects of N addition on SOC content, the effects of climatic characteristics and soil properties of sample sites and field design factors should be comprehensively considered.

Method for designing ultra-wideband absorbers based on water-filled Fabry-Perot cavity with continuously varying cavity length.

Broadband and efficient terahertz (THz) absorbers are crucial for various applications in sensing, imaging, detecting, and modulation. Although recent studies have reported a series of THz metamaterials for enhanced absorption, achieving high absorption across the entire ultrabroad terahertz band remains challenging. We propose a novel, to the best of our knowledge, method to design ultra-wideband terahertz absorbers using a water-filled Fabry-Perot cavity with continuously varying cavity length. Our design achieves over 90% absorption across an ultrabroad terahertz band ranging from 0.26 to 30 THz. Furthermore, the design method can be extended to the visible, infrared, and microwave regimes. We believe that our method will inspire further studies and applications of ultra-wideband absorbers.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the cystic duct: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Pure squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the gallbladder is a rare malignant biliary tract tumor predominantly found in the body and neck of the gallbladder. However, its occurrence in the cystic duct is even rarer. Given its rarity, no established guidelines or consensus currently exist regarding the treatment of pure SCC of the gallbladder. We report an unusual case of SCC originating from the cystic duct with the intent of providing insights into the therapeutic approach for this type of malignancy. PATIENT CONCERNS: A male patient presented to our hospital with acute cholecystitis. Unexpectedly, imaging revealed gallbladder malignancy. DIAGNOSES: Pathologic examination after surgery confirmed SCC of the cystic duct. INTERVENTIONS: Despite elevated bilirubin levels, we were able to exclude hilar involvement, enabling radical tumor resection. Intraoperatively, we discovered that the tumor was located in the cystic duct, a site associated with a high likelihood of invasion into neighboring organs. The tumor demonstrated a predominantly exophytic growth pattern, which prompted us to refrain from extending the resection range, thereby striking a balance between complete tumor removal and surgical trauma. We performed liver wedge resection only to ensure a negative resection margin while preserving the anatomical structure to the greatest extent possible. Postoperative recovery was rapid and uncomplicated. Pathological examination confirmed pure SCC, which led us to initiate a regimen of nab-paclitaxel and cisplatin, which is known to be effective in other organ SCCs. Remarkably, the patient experienced a rare and severe posttreatment cardiovascular event. Consequently, we switched the patient to a chemotherapy regimen of gemcitabine and cisplatin, which ultimately yielded positive clinical outcomes. OUTCOMES: no evidence of tumor recurrence was observed within 1 year after surgery. LESSONS: The diagnosis and therapeutic strategy for rare tumors such as gallbladder SCC should be meticulously tailored based on their unique characteristics to optimize postoperative patient outcomes.

Meta-analysis on the effects of nitrogen deposition on soil N2O flux in different habitats.

We carried out a meta-analysis to explore the effects of site characteristics (climatic factors and soil properties) and nitrogen (N) factors on soil nitrous oxide (N2O) flux after N addition based on 290 data from 66 field N addition experiments in China. The results showed that mean annual precipitation, mean annual temperature, ambient N deposition rate, and soil C/N of sites were positively correlated with the increases of N2O flux after N addition. Soil pH was negatively correlated with the increases of N2O flux after N addition. Furthermore, soils in wetland ecosystem were most sensitive to N addition, followed by forest ecosystem, and grassland showed the lowest sensitivity. Among all the site characteristics, soil pH and C/N were the most important factors driving the responses of N2O flux to N addition. Soil N2O flux increased the greatest after nitrate addition. The increase of N2O flux was similar after the addition of urea and ammonium, while N2O flux increased the least when ammonium nitrate was added. In summary, to accurately assess and predict the response of soil N2O flux to N deposition, the effects of site characteristics and N fertilizer types should be comprehensively considered.

CD38 deficiency promotes skeletal muscle and brown adipose tissue energy expenditure through activating NAD+-Sirt1-PGC1α signaling pathway.

Obesity is a metabolic syndrome characterized by abnormal lipid deposition and energy imbalance. CD38 is a single-chain transmembrane glycoprotein widely expressed in a variety of cell types. The roles of skeletal muscle and brown fat in CD38 deficiency under HFD-induced obesity remain unknown. In this study, we established obesity model with HFD and examined the changes in metabolites with metabonomics. Our results showed that CD38 expression was increased in muscle and brown fat after HFD treatment. Moreover, the results of metabonomics showed that CD38 deficiency significantly altered the metabolites in energy metabolism, cofactor generation, and redox homeostasis. Furthermore, CD38 deficiency reduced the expressions of NADPH oxidase 2 and FASN in mRNA level. We found that the expressions of Sirt1, Sirt3, and PGC1α were upregulated in CD38-deficient muscle tissue. In brown fat, the Sirt1-3, cell death inducing DFFA-like effector A, ELOVL3, and Dio2 expressions were increased in CD38-deficient mice. Our results showed the uncoupling protein 1 expression was upregulated. And NAD+ supplementation increased the expression of Sirt1 and PGC1α after palmitic acid treatment. Taken together, our results demonstrated that the protection of CD38 deficiency on HFD-induced obesity was related to the inhibition of oxidative stress and increasing energy expenditure via activating NAD+/Sirtuins signaling pathways in muscle and brown fat.

Integrated genomic analysis defines molecular subgroups in dilated cardiomyopathy and identifies novel biomarkers based on machine learning methods.

Aim: As the most common cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) often leads to progressive heart failure and sudden cardiac death. This study was designed to investigate the molecular subgroups of DCM. Methods: Three datasets of DCM were downloaded from GEO database (GSE17800, GSE79962 and GSE3585). After log2-transformation and background correction with "limma" package in R software, the three datasets were merged into a metadata cohort. The consensus clustering was conducted by the "Consensus Cluster Plus" package to uncover the molecular subgroups of DCM. Moreover, clinical characteristics of different molecular subgroups were compared in detail. We also adopted Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) analysis based on subgroup-specific signatures of gene expression profiles to further explore the specific gene modules of each molecular subgroup and its biological function. Two machine learning methods of LASSO regression algorithm and SVM-RFE algorithm was used to screen out the genetic biomarkers, of which the discriminative ability of molecular subgroups was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: Based on the gene expression profiles, heart tissue samples from patients with DCM were clustered into three molecular subgroups. No statistical difference was found in age, body mass index (BMI) and left ventricular internal diameter at end-diastole (LVIDD) among three molecular subgroups. However, the results of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) statistics showed that patients from subgroup 2 had a worse condition than the other group. We found that some of the gene modules (pink, black and grey) in WGCNA analysis were significantly related to cardiac function, and each molecular subgroup had its specific gene modules functions in modulating occurrence and progression of DCM. LASSO regression algorithm and SVM-RFE algorithm was used to further screen out genetic biomarkers of molecular subgroup 2, including TCEAL4, ISG15, RWDD1, ALG5, MRPL20, JTB and LITAF. The results of ROC curves showed that all of the genetic biomarkers had favorable discriminative effectiveness. Conclusion: Patients from different molecular subgroups have their unique gene expression patterns and different clinical characteristics. More personalized treatment under the guidance of gene expression patterns should be realized.

An unusual autocatalysis with an air-stable Pd complex to promote enantioselective synthesis of Si-stereogenic enynes.

Given the powerful potential of chiral-at-silicon chemistry, enantioselective synthesis of Si-stereogenic centers has attracted substantial research interest in recent years. However, the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of Si-stereogenic organosilicon compounds remains an appealing venture and is a challenging subject because of the difficulty in achieving high reactivity and stereoselectivity for "silicon-center" transformations. Herein, we disclose a highly enantioselective palladium-catalyzed hydrosilylation of 1,3-diynes with dihydrosilanes, which enables the facile preparation of Si-stereogenic enynes and an enyne-linked chiral polymer (polyenyne) in good yields and excellent ees (up to >99%) by desymmetrization. The unusual stereoselectivity in this reaction is achieved by precisely controlling the steric hindrance and electronic effect of the newly developed chiral ligands, resulting in a wide range of chiral silanes and a Si-containing polymer bearing a Si-stereogenic center which is otherwise difficult to access. The key to the high enantioselectivity relies on catalyst aggregation-induced non-covalent interaction, which exerts a remarkably positive influence on the Si-H bond activation and enhancement of enantioselectivity, in which the palladium/P-ligand complex was proved to be air-stable and moisture-insensitive in this reaction.

The Correlation Between 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose-Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Semiquantitative Parameters and the Clinical Features and Pathological Biological Indexes of Gastric Cancer.

Objective: This study explored the application value of the maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: Data of 164 patients with gastric cancer who had undergone18F-FDG PET/CT before a biopsy were collected, and the correlation of SUVmax with clinical stage, pathological differentiation degree, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) status, and Ki-67 index of gastric cancer was analyzed. Results: The SUVmax of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma was significantly higher than that of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and signet-ring cell carcinoma (p < 0.01), and SUVmax in the well-differentiated adenocarcinoma group was higher than that in the signet-ring cell carcinoma group (p < 0.01). The SUVmax in the HER-2 negative group was higher than that in the HER-2 positive group (p < 0.01). The SUVmax was higher in the Ki-67 high expression group than in the low expression group (p < 0.01), and there was a significant positive correlation between the two (p < 0.01). Conclusion: 18F-FDG PET/CT SUVmax can, to some extent, predict the degree of differentiation, HER-2 status, and Ki-67 index of gastric cancer patients.

Calf circumference predicts frailty in older adults: the Chinese longitudinal healthy longevity survey.

BACKGROUND: Although frailty is a common geriatric syndrome in old adults, a simple method to assess the degree of frailty in a person has not yet been established. In this study we have tried to establish the association between calf circumference (CC) and frailty among older Chinese people. METHODS: We used the data obtained from the 2014 edition of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey; 1216 participants aged ≥60 years were included for the study. Body mass index, CC and waist circumference measurement data, and laboratory test results were collected. Frailty status was measured using the frailty index (FI). Participants were then classified into non-frail (FI < 0.25) and frail (FI ≥ 0.25) groups. RESULTS: There were 874 participants (71.9%) in the non-frail group and 342 (28.1%) in the frail group. The CC was significantly different between the two groups (31.54 ± 4.16 versus 28.04 ± 4.53, P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that CC (odds ratio = 0.947, 95% confidence interval: 0.904-0.993, P = 0.023) was an independent impact factor associated with frailty. The CC value of 28.5 cm was considered the best cut-off value in women with area under the curve (AUC) was 0.732 (P < 0.001) and 29.5 cm in men with AUC was 0.592 (P = 0.004);We created a simple prediction model for frailty that included age,sex and CC:[Formula: see text]P = elogit(P) /1 + elogit(P), and AUC is 0.849 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CC is a convenient and predictable marker of frailty in older adults.

Highly Efficient Luminescence from Charge-Transfer Gold Nanoclusters Enabled by Lewis Acid.

Understanding the complicated intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) behaviors of nanomaterials is crucial to the development of high-quality nanoluminophores for various applications. However, the ICT process in molecule-like metal nanoclusters has been rarely explored. Herein, a proton binding-induced enhanced ICT state is discovered in 6-aza-2-thiothymine-protected gold nanoclusters (ATT-AuNCs). Such an excited-state electron transfer process gives rise to the weakened and red-shifted photoluminescence of these nanoclusters. By the joint use of this newfound ICT mechanism and a restriction of intramolecular motion (RIM) strategy, a red shift in the emission maxima of 30 nm with 27.5-fold higher fluorescence quantum efficiency is achieved after introducing rare-earth scandium ion (Sc3+) into ATT-AuNCs. Furthermore, it is found that upon the addition of Sc3+, the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) rate from ATT-AuNCs to minocycline is largely accelerated by forming a donor-bridge-acceptor structure. This paper offers a simple method to modulate the luminescent properties of metal nanoclusters for the rational design of next-generation sensing platforms.

Analysis of Maternal and Infant Outcomes and Related Factors of Vaginal Delivery of Second Pregnancy after Cesarean Section.

Objective: To explore the clinical effect of different delivery methods and the safety of vaginal delivery of second pregnancy after cesarean section and analyze the related factors. Methods: A total of 738 eligible pregnant women who underwent cesarean section from September 2018 to August 2020 were randomly selected from our hospital. Among them, 527 pregnant women successfully delivered vaginally were selected as the observation group, and 211 pregnant women who failed vaginal delivery were selected as the control group. To analyze the factors that influence the success of vaginal delivery of second pregnancy after cesarean section and compare the outcomes of mother and infant in two groups. Results: There was no significant difference in age, prenatal body mass index (BMI), and thickness of lower uterine segment between the two groups (P > 0.05). There were significant differences in fetal head orientation, fetal abdominal circumference, fetal biparietal diameter, uterine height, premature rupture of membranes, Bishop score, and epidural anesthesia during labor between the two groups (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that fetal abdominal circumference, fetal head orientation, Bishop score, and epidural anesthesia during labor were independent factors affecting the success of VBAC (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of uterine rupture between the two groups (P > 0.05). The amount of postpartum hemorrhage in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in Apgar score, asphyxia rate, and hospitalization rate between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: There are many factors that influence the success of vaginal delivery after cesarean section. Through prenatal comprehensive evaluation of vaginal delivery conditions, we can guide the parturient to choose a reasonable mode of delivery, reduce the incidence of complications, and improve the outcome of mother and baby.

Comparisons of Three Methods for Myopia Control in Adolescents.

Objective: A rising trend in electronic use has increased the prevalence of myopia in adolescents, but the optimal approach to controlling myopia remains undetermined. Here, we explored the effects of common single vision (SV) spectacle lenses combined with 0.01% atropine eye drops (SV + A), orthokeratology (OK) lenses, and peripheral defocus (PD) spectacle lenses on myopia control in adolescents. Methods: Totally 150 myopic adolescent patients (300 eyes) receiving treatment at The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou City were enrolled. According to doctors' advice and guardians' wishes, the patients were divided into SV + A group, OK group, and PD group, with each group consisting of 50 cases (100 eyes). The spherical equivalent, axial length, accommodative response index (accommodative sensitivity and accommodative lag), and intraocular pressure were compared before and after 12 months of wearing lenses, and the complications were recorded. Results: Before wearing lenses, there was no statistical significance in baseline characteristics such as age, gender, and spherical equivalent among the three groups (P > 0.05). After wearing lenses, the increase in spherical equivalent and axial length in the SV + A and OK groups were lower than in the PD group (P < 0.05), and the SV + A group had the lowest axial length growth. Compared with the SV + A group, accommodative sensitivity was much higher and accommodative lag was significantly lower in the OK and PD groups (P < 0.01). In addition, there was no significant difference in intraocular pressure before and after wearing lenses among the three groups (P > 0.05). Though the OK group patients had more complications, the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: SV + A, OK, and PD lenses can effectively control the progression of myopia in adolescents, but SV + A and OK lenses exhibited more significant effects.

Capturing nonclassical C70 with double heptagons in low-pressure combustion.

A double-heptagon-containing C70H6 (dihept-C70H6) was isolated and unambiguously characterized in the soot of low-pressure combustion, which shares the identical heptagonal cage as dihept-C70Cl6 previously identified in the products of carbon arc, and thus represents the first nonclassical fullerene isolable in both carbon arc and combustion.