Fission Dynamics of a Ferrofluid Droplet on a Smooth Plate under a Nonuniform Magnetic Field.

A ferrofluid droplet on a plate undergoes interesting fission under a magnetic field. In this article, a recently developed simplified multiphase lattice Boltzmann method coupled with a self-correction solution for the magnetic potential equation is employed to explore this complex flow phenomenon. It is found that the droplet fission follows a four-pattern process under a nonuniform magnetic field. The mechanisms behind this behavior are influenced by the strength and gradient of the magnetic field, surface tension, droplet size, and the wetting boundary condition. These findings provide valuable insights into the application of ferrofluids in droplet microfluidics and contribute to advancements in this field.

Co-culture models for investigating cellular crosstalk in the glioma microenvironment.

Glioma is the most prevalent primary malignant tumor in the central nervous system (CNS). It represents a diverse group of brain malignancies characterized by the presence of various cancer cell types as well as an array of noncancerous cells, which together form the intricate glioma tumor microenvironment (TME). Understanding the interactions between glioma cells/glioma stem cells (GSCs) and these noncancerous cells is crucial for exploring the pathogenesis and development of glioma. To invesigate these interactions requires in vitro co-culture models that closely mirror the actual TME in vivo. In this review, we summarize the two- and three-dimensional in vitro co-culture model systems for glioma-TME interactions currently available. Furthermore, we explore common glioma-TME cell interactions based on these models, including interactions of glioma cells/GSCs with endothelial cells/pericytes, microglia/macrophages, T cells, astrocytes, neurons, or other multi-cellular interactions. Together, this review provides an update on the glioma-TME interactions, offering insights into glioma pathogenesis.

Variable screening and model construction for prognosis of elderly patients with lower-grade gliomas based on LASSO-Cox regression: a population-based cohort study.

Background: This study aimed to identify prognostic factors for survival and develop a prognostic nomogram to predict the survival probability of elderly patients with lower-grade gliomas (LGGs). Methods: Elderly patients with histologically confirmed LGG were recruited from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. These individuals were randomly allocated to the training and validation cohorts at a 2:1 ratio. First, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and subgroup analysis were performed. Second, variable screening of all 13 variables and a comparison of predictive models based on full Cox regression and LASSO-Cox regression analyses were performed, and the key variables in the optimal model were selected to construct prognostic nomograms for OS and CSS. Finally, a risk stratification system and a web-based dynamic nomogram were constructed. Results: A total of 2307 elderly patients included 1220 males and 1087 females, with a median age of 72 years and a mean age of 73.30 ± 6.22 years. Among them, 520 patients (22.5%) had Grade 2 gliomas, and 1787 (77.5%) had Grade 3 gliomas. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed four independent prognostic factors (age, WHO grade, surgery, and chemotherapy) that were used to construct the full Cox model. In addition, LASSO-Cox regression analysis revealed five prognostic factors (age, WHO grade, surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy), and a LASSO model was constructed. A comparison of the two models revealed that the LASSO model with five variables had better predictive performance than the full Cox model with four variables. Ultimately, five key variables based on LASSO-Cox regression were utilized to develop prognostic nomograms for predicting the 1-, 2-, and 5-year OS and CSS rates. The nomograms exhibited relatively good predictive ability and clinical utility. Moreover, the risk stratification system based on the nomograms effectively divided patients into low-risk and high-risk subgroups. Conclusion: Variable screening based on LASSO-Cox regression was used to determine the optimal prediction model in this study. Prognostic nomograms could serve as practical tools for predicting survival probabilities, categorizing these patients into different mortality risk subgroups, and developing personalized decision-making strategies for elderly patients with LGGs. Moreover, the web-based dynamic nomogram could facilitate its use in the clinic.

Investigating distinct clinical features and constructing a nomogram model for survival probability in adults with cerebellar high-grade gliomas.

BACKGROUND: The clinical features of cerebellar high-grade gliomas (cHGGs) in adults have not been thoroughly explored. This large-scale, population-based study aimed to comprehensively outline these traits and construct a predictive model. METHODS: Patient records diagnosed with gliomas were collected from various cohorts and analyzed to compare the features of cHGGs and supratentorial HGGs (sHGGs). Cox regression analyses were employed to identify prognostic factors for overall survival and to develop a nomogram for predicting survival probabilities in patients with cHGGs. Multiple machine learning methods were applied to evaluate the efficacy of the predictive model. RESULTS: There were significant differences in prognosis, with SEER-cHGGs showing a median survival of 7.5 months and sHGGs 14.9 months (p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that race, WHO grade, surgical procedures, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors for cHGGs. Based on these factors, a nomogram was developed to predict 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival probabilities, with AUC of 0.860, 0.837, and 0.810, respectively. The model's accuracy was validated by machine learning approaches, demonstrating consistent predictive effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Adult cHGGs are distinguished by distinctive clinical features different from those of sHGGs and are associated with an inferior prognosis. Based on these risk factors affecting cHGGs prognosis, the nomogram prediction model serves as a crucial tool for clinical decision-making in patient care.

The cuproptosis-related signature predicts the prognosis and immune microenvironments of primary diffuse gliomas: a comprehensive analysis.

BACKGROUND: Evidence has revealed a connection between cuproptosis and the inhibition of tumor angiogenesis. While the efficacy of a model based on cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) in predicting the prognosis of peripheral organ tumors has been demonstrated, the impact of CRGs on the prognosis and the immunological landscape of gliomas remains unexplored. METHODS: We screened CRGs to construct a novel scoring tool and developed a prognostic model for gliomas within the various cohorts. Afterward, a comprehensive exploration of the relationship between the CRG risk signature and the immunological landscape of gliomas was undertaken from multiple perspectives. RESULTS: Five genes (NLRP3, ATP7B, SLC31A1, FDX1, and GCSH) were identified to build a CRG scoring system. The nomogram, based on CRG risk and other signatures, demonstrated a superior predictive performance (AUC of 0.89, 0.92, and 0.93 at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively) in the training cohort. Furthermore, the CRG score was closely associated with various aspects of the immune landscape in gliomas, including immune cell infiltration, tumor mutations, tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion, immune checkpoints, cytotoxic T lymphocyte and immune exhaustion-related markers, as well as cancer signaling pathway biomarkers and cytokines. CONCLUSION: The CRG risk signature may serve as a robust biomarker for predicting the prognosis and the potential viability of immunotherapy responses. Moreover, the key candidate CRGs might be promising targets to explore the underlying biological background and novel therapeutic interventions in gliomas.

Precise regulation of the multicolor spectrum of carbon dots based on the bionic leaf vein ultrasonic microreactor.

Carbon dots (CDs) are a fascinating new type of fluorescent carbon nanomaterial with excellent photoelectric properties. However, preparing long-wavelength and multicolor-emitting CDs has been challenging, limiting their large-scale applications. Fortunately, a new efficient method has been proposed to co-regulate CDs' multicolor spectra using an ultrasonic microreactor. Inspired by plant leaves, a bionic vein microchannel was designed with good fluidity and high energy transfer efficiency. The optimal microchannel structural parameters were determined after investigating the effects of fractal angle, depth-to-width ratio, and inlet angle on the flow uniformity of the microchannel using numerical simulations. The efficiency of ultrasonic energy transfer was improved by directly coupling the microreactor and the sandwich transducer to fabricate the ultrasonic microreactor. Simulation results showed that the ultrasonic microreactor's vibration resonated along the longitudinal direction, and the ultrasonic intensity of the microreactor was maximal and uniform. A high-efficiency and controllable ultrasonic microreactor system was built to synthesize the CDs in situ. The influence of the ultrasound field intensity on CDs' preparation in a microreactor was simultaneously investigated to verify the ultrasound enhancement, and the PLQY of the high-performance CDs was found to be 83.1%. The CDs' multicolor spectra from the blue to the red region can be precisely tuned by adjusting key reaction parameters such as reaction temperature, flow rate, and precursor concentration. This new method shows promising applications in lighting, display, and other fields, making CDs a versatile and exciting new material to explore.

Prognostic nomogram models for predicting survival probability in elderly glioblastoma patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate the prognostic factors of survival and develop a predictive nomogram model for elderly GBM patients. METHODS: Elderly patients (> = 65 years) with histologically diagnosed GBM were extracted from the SEER database. Survival analysis of overall survival (OS) was performed by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to determine independent prognostic factors and these factors were used to further construct the nomogram model. RESULTS: A total of 9068 elderly GBM patients (5122 males and 3946 females) were included, with a median age of 72 years (65-96 years). All patients were divided randomly into the training group (n = 6044) and the validation group (n = 3024) by a ratio of 2:1. Cox regression analyses on OS showed eight independent prognostic factors (race, age, tumor side, tumor size, metastasis, surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy) in the training cohort. Also, seven variables (except for race) were identified on CSS in the training group. By comprising these variables, the nomogram models on OS and CSS for predicting the 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year survival probability were constructed and exhibited moderate consistency, respectively. Then, they could be validated well in the validation cohort and by C-index, time-dependent ROC curve, calibration plot, and DCA curve. CONCLUSIONS: Nomogram models on OS and CSS could provide an applicable tool to predict the survival probability and provide clinical references regarding treatment strategies and prognosis.

Preparation, Properties and Therapeutic Effect of a TPL Nanoparticle Thermosensitive Gel for Intra-Articular Injection.

Most injectable preparations for the articular cavity are solution-type preparations that are frequently administered because of rapid elimination. In this study, triptolide (TPL), an effective ingredient in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), was prepared in the form of a nanoparticle thermosensitive gel (TPL-NS-Gel). The particle size distribution and gel structure were investigated by TEM, laser particle size analysis and laser capture microdissection. The effect of the nanoparticle carrier material PLGA on the phase transition temperature was investigated by 1H variable temperature NMR and DSC. The tissue distribution, pharmacokinetic behavior, four inflammatory factors and therapeutic effect were determined in a rat RA model. The results suggested that PLGA increased the gel phase transition temperature. The drug concentration of the TPL-NS-Gel group in joint tissues was higher than that in other tissues at different time points, and the retention time was longer than that of the TPL-NS group. After 24 days of administration, TPL-NS-Gel significantly improved the joint swelling and stiffness of the rat models, and the improvement degree was better than that of the TPL-NS group. TPL-NS-Gel significantly decreased the levels of hs-CRP, IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α in serum and joint fluid. There was a significant difference between the TPL-NS-Gel and TPL-NS groups on Day 24 (p < 0.05). Pathological section results showed that inflammatory cell infiltration was lower in the TPL-NS-Gel group, and no other obvious histological changes were observed. Upon articular injection, the TPL-NS-Gel prolonged drug release, reduced the drug concentration outside the articular tissue and improved the therapeutic effect in a rat RA model. The TPL-NS-Gel can be used as a new type of sustained-release preparation for articular injection.

New insights into the mechanism of Fered-Fenton treatment of industrial wastewater with high chloride content: Role of multiple reactive species.

Hydroxyl radical (OH) is considered the dominant reactive species in the electro-Fenton (EF) and Fered-Fenton (EF-Fere) processes for wastewater treatment. However, in chloride-rich media, this is arguable due to the obscure mechanisms for the oxidant speciation and pollutant degradation. Herein, the role of active chlorine and Fe(IV)-oxo species (FeIVO2+) as primary oxidizing agents in HClO-mediated Fered-Fenton (EF-Fere-HClO) process is discussed, along with the dependence of their contribution on the pollutant structure. HClO generated from anodic oxidation of Cl- can be consumed by added H2O2 to form singlet oxygen (1O2), which is detrimental because this species is quickly deactivated by water. The reaction between HClO and Fe2+ was proved to generate FeIVO2+, rather than OH or Cl suggested in the literature. The yield of FeIVO2+ species was proportional to the Cl- concentration and barely affected by solution pH. The long-lived HClO and FeIVO2+ can selectively react with electron-rich compounds, which occurs simultaneously to the non-selective attack of OH formed from Fenton's reaction. The FeIVO2+ and OH concentration profiles were successfully modelled. Although the accumulation of toxic chlorinated by-products from HClO-mediated oxidation might cause new environmental concerns, the toxicity of pesticide wastewater with 508 mM Cl- was halved upon EF-Fere-HClO treatment.

Highly Stable and Photoluminescent CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6 Composites for White-Light-Emitting Diodes and Visible Light Communication.

Inorganic lead halide perovskite is one of the most excellent fluorescent materials, and it plays an essential role in high-definition display and visible light communication (VLC). Its photochromic properties and stability determine the final performance of light-emitting devices. However, efficiently synthesizing perovskite with high quality and stability remains a significant challenge. Here, we develop a facile and environmentally friendly method for preparing high-stability and strong-emission CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6 composites using ultrasonication and liquid paraffin. Tuning the contents of liquid paraffin, bright-emission CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6 composite powders with a maximum PLQY of 74% were achieved. Thanks to the protection of the Cs4PbBr6 matrix and liquid paraffin, the photostability, thermostability, and polar solvent stability of CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6-LP are significantly improved compared to CsPbBr3 quantum dots and CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6 composites that were prepared without liquid paraffin. Moreover, the fabricated CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6-LP-based WLEDs show excellent luminescent performance with a power efficiency of 129.5 lm/W and a wide color gamut, with 121% of the NTSC and 94% of the Rec. 2020, demonstrating a promising candidate for displays. In addition, the CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6-LP-based WLEDs were also demonstrated in a VLC system. The results suggested the great potential of these high-performance WLEDs as an excitation light source to achieve VLC.

Sacral dural arteriovenous fistula supplied by bilateral lateral sacral arteries: case report and literature review.

Sacral dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) with bilateral arterial supplies are extremely rare. To date, only two cases with arterial supply from bilateral lateral sacral arteries (LSAs) were reported. We report a rare case of sacral DAVF with arterial supply from bilateral LSAs. A 56-year-old man presented with a 2-month history of progressive weakness and numbness in his lower extremities, along with urinary incontinence. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed extensive edema of the spinal cord, vascular flow voids, and intraparenchymal enhancement. Spinal angiography revealed a spinal DAVF at the level of S1 supplied by bilateral LSAs and drained ascending into the perimedullary venous plexus. The fistula was successfully treated with endovascular embolization. Sacral DAVFs present various diagnostic and treatment difficulties because of the complex angioarchitecture. Successful management of these lesions requires a profound understanding of the variable patterns of arterial supply in this region.

Weighted correlation network analysis identifies multiple susceptibility loci for low-grade glioma.

BACKGROUND: The current molecular classifications cannot completely explain the polarized malignant biological behavior of low-grade gliomas (LGGs), especially for tumor recurrence. Therefore, we tried to identify suspicious hub genes related to tumor recurrence in LGGs. METHODS: In this study, we constructed a gene-miRNA-lncRNA co-expression network for LGGs by a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). GDCRNATools and the WGCNA R package were mainly used in data analysis. RESULTS: Sequencing data from 502 LGG patients were analyzed in this study. Compared with recurrent glioma tissues, we identified 774 differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs, 49 DE miRNAs, and 129 DE lncRNAs in primary LGGs and ultimately determined that the expression of MKLN1 was related to tumor recurrence in LGG. CONCLUSION: This study identified the potential biomarkers for the pathogenesis and recurrence of LGGs and proposed that MKLN1 could be a potential therapeutic target.

Soil moisture shapes the environmental control mechanism on canopy conductance in a natural oak forest.

Canopy conductance (gc) is an important biophysical parameter closely related to ecosystem energy partitioning and carbon sequestration, which can be used to judge drought effect on forest ecosystems. It is very important to explore how soil moisture change affects the environmental control mechanism of gc, especially in natural oak forests in Central China where frequent extreme precipitation (P) and drought will occur in a context of climate change. In this study, variations of gc and its environmental control mechanisms in a warm-temperate forest over three consecutive years under different hydroclimatic conditions were examined by using eddy-covariance technique. Results showed that the averaged gc in the three growing seasons were 11.2, 11.3 and 7.8 mms-1, respectively, with a CV of 19.7 %. The lowest gc occurred in the year with the lowest P. Using three years of data, we found that vapor pressure deficit (VPD) exhibited the dominate effect on gc, both diffuse photosynthetically active radiation (PARdif) and air temperature (Ta) were positively correlated with gc. When relative extractable water content (REW) was larger than 0.4, however, inhibiting effect of high VPD on gc disappeared and the effect of direct photosynthetically active radiation (PARdir) on gc was larger compared to PARdif. When REW was <0.1, the positive relationship between Ta and gc became negative. Our results indicated that soil moisture ultimately shapes the environmental control mechanism of gc in a natural oak forest.

Highly emissive green CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6 composites: formation kinetics, excellent heat, light, and polar solvent resistance, and flexible light-emitting application.

Benefit from their near-unity photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY), narrow emission band, and widely tunable bandgap, metal halide perovskites have shown promising in light-emitting applications. Despite such promise, how to facile, environmentally-friendly, and large-scale prepare solid metal halide perovskite with high emission and stability remains a challenging. Herein, we demonstrate a convenient and environmentally-friendly method for the mass synthesis of solid CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6 composites using high-power ultrasonication. Adjusting key experimental parameters, bright emitting CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6 solids with a maximum PL QY of 71% were obtained within 30 min. XRD, SEM, TEM, Abs/PL, XPS, and lifetime characterizations provide solid evidence for forming CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6 composites. Taking advantage of these composites, the photostability, thermostability, and polar solvent stability of CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6 are much improved compared to CsPbBr3. We further demonstrated CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6 use in flexible/stretchable film and high-power WLEDs. After being subjected to bending, folding, and twisting, the film retains its bright emission and exhibits good resistance to mechanical deformation. Additionally, our WLEDs display a superior, durable high-power-driving capability, operating currents up to 300 mA and maintaining high luminous intensity for 50 hours. Such highly emissive and stable metal halide perovskites make them promising for solid-state lighting, lasing, and flexible/stretchable display device applications.

The value of Xpert MTB/RIF assay of urine samples in the early diagnosis of smear-negative urinary tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: According to reports, between 30 and 40 percent of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) cases are caused by urinary tract tuberculosis (UTB). It is critical to identify UTB quickly since it frequently precedes delayed medical attention, which can have detrimental effects. This study examined the use of Xpert MTB/RIF, a PCR test that can detect MTB as well as resistance to an important drug, rifampicin (RIF), in UTB particularly, for the early identification of UTB. METHODS: 180 participants with clinically presumptive UTB whose urine samples were chosen for urine sediment smear, culture, Xpert MTB/RIF, and TB-DNA testing at Henan Chest Hospital between January 2019 and July 2022. Evaluation of test performance using Composite Reference Standards (CRSs). We studied and compared the positivity rate for various tests using the t-test. The effectiveness of smear, culture, Xpert MTB/RIF, and TB-DNA was assessed using McNemar test. RESULTS: In this subject, a total of 108 participants were diagnosed with UTB, and the positivity rate was 67.1%. Compared with CRS, the positivity rate of Xpert MTB/RIF, smear, culture, and TB-DNA was 29.69% (19/64, P < 0.001), 7.56% (9/119, P < 0.1), 12.12% (4/33, P > 0.05), and 18.75% (6/32, P < 0.1), respectively. The sensitivity of Xpert MTB/RIF assay was significantly better than that of smear and culture tests (78.9% vs. 77.8%, P < 0.05; 78.9% vs. 75%, P < 0.05). Under CRS, the positivity rate for Xpert, culture, and TB-DNA was 31.6% (6/19, P < 0.1), 6.2% (1/16, P > 0.05), and 26.7% (4/15, P > 0.05) for TB-DNA, respectively, compared to smear negative. Xpert MTB/RIF assay specificity was significant for culture and TB-DNA (53.6% vs. 25%, P < 0.01; 53.6% vs. 38.9%, P < 0.05), and Xpert MTB/RIF assay FPV was significant for culture and TB-DNA (53.6% vs. 0%, P < 0.001; 53.6% vs. 0%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Xpert MTB/RIF outperforms smear, cultures, and TB-DNA in detecting UTB, plus Xpert MTB/RIF is better suited for early diagnosis in smear-negative UTB.

A five-year review of prevalence and treatment outcomes of pre-extensively drug-resistant plus additional drug-resistant tuberculosis in the Henan Provincial Tuberculosis Clinical Medicine Research Centre.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the prevalence and significant clinical outcomes of pre-extensively drug-resistant plus additional drug-resistant tuberculosis (pre-XDR-plus) in Henan Provincial Chest Hospital between 2017 and 2021. METHODS: We analysed and summarized the drug sensitivity test (DST) results of clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) strains in TB patients seeking care in the Tuberculosis Clinical Medical Research Centre of Henan Province between 2017 and 2021. Medical records of pre-extensively drug-resistant plus additional drug-resistant TB patients were statistically analysed, including demographic characteristics, regimens, and outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 3689 Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains, 639 (17.32%), 353 (9.56%), and 109 (2.95%), multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), pre-extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (pre-XDR), and pre-XDR-plus, respectively. The proportion of MDR decreased from 19.1% in 2017 to 17.5% in 2021 (χ2 = 0.686, P = 0.407), the proportion of pre-XDR from 11.4% in 2017 to 9.0% in 2021 (χ2 = 2.39, P = 0.122), and pre-XDR-plus from 4.7% in 2017 to 1.8% in 2020, with the declining trend was significant (χ2 = 9.348, P = 0.002). The most commonly used anti-TB drugs were pyrazinamide (PZA, 37/46, 80.43%) and cycloserine (CS, 32/46, 69.57%), followed by linezolid (LZD, 25/46, 54.35%), protionamide (TH, 25/46, 54.35%), and para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS, 23/46, 50.00%). Patients receiving the LZD regimen were 5 times more likely to have a favourable outcome than those not receiving LZD (OR = 6.421, 95% CI 2.101-19.625, P = 0.001). Patients receiving a regimen containing CS were 4 times more likely to have a favourable outcome compared to those not taking CS (OR = 5.444, 95% CI 1.650-17.926, P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the population of pre-XDR-plus had significantly decreased over the past five years in the Henan Provincial Chest Hospital. The COVID-19 and flood disaster affect TB patients' selection of medical services. In addition, the pre-XDR-plus patients whose regimens contain LZD or CS were more likely to have favourable outcomes.

Acute Spinal Hemorrhage from a Cauda Equina Arteriovenous Fistula Fed by the Proximal Radicular Artery.

Spinal cauda equina arteriovenous fistulas (CEAVFs) and spinal hemorrhage from spinal AVF are relatively unusual. To our knowledge, such a case of CEAVF presenting with hemorrhage has not been reported. Here, we describe such a rare case of CEAVF. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging and angiography revealed a CEAVF at the L2 level, fed by the proximal radicular artery and with 2 associated venous varices. Considering the feeder from the proximal radicular artery and the presence of acute hemorrhage, direct surgery was performed. Intraoperatively, spinal hematoma and the fistula were identified at the L2 level. The fistula was clipped and divided successfully. The postoperative course was uneventful. CEAVF presenting with spinal hemorrhage is extremely rare. This case demonstrated the angioarchitecture features of CEAVF. The clinicians should be aware of the possibility of this condition and the importance of treatment selection.