Association of Overweight and Inflammatory Indicators with Breast Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study in Chinese Women.

Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the association of overweight and inflammatory indicators with breast cancer risk in Chinese patients. Methods: Weight, height, and peripheral blood inflammatory indicators, including white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil count (NE), lymphocyte count (LY), platelet count (PLT) and the concentration of hypersensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), were collected in 383 patients with benign breast lumps (non-cancer) and 358 patients with malignant breast tumors (cancer) at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, China, from March 2018 to July 2020. Body mass index (BMI), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) were determined according to the ratio equation. The correlations among overweight, inflammatory indicators, and the proportion of non-cancer or cancer cases were analyzed. Results: BMI is associated with an increased breast cancer risk. Compared with non-cancer patients, the average WBC count, NE count, NLR, and level of hsCRP were significantly higher in cancer patients. The level of hsCRP was closely associated with the size of malignant breast tumors. Conclusion: We conclude that overweight and high levels of hsCRP may serve as putative risk factors for malignant breast tumors in Chinese women.

Inulin Reduces Kidney Damage in Type 2 Diabetic Mice by Decreasing Inflammation and Serum Metabolomics.

This study is aimed at assessing the impact of soluble dietary fiber inulin on the treatment of diabetes-related chronic inflammation and kidney injury in mice with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The T2DM model was created by feeding the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice a high-fat diet and intraperitoneally injecting them with streptozotocin (50 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days). The thirty-six ICR mice were divided into three dietary groups: the normal control (NC) group, the T2DM (DM) group, and the DM + inulin diet (INU) group. The INU group mice were given inulin at the dose of 500 mg/kg gavage daily until the end of the 12th week. After 12 weeks, the administration of inulin resulted in decreased serum levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (CRE). The administration of inulin not only ameliorated renal injury but also resulted in a reduction in the mRNA expressions of inflammatory factors in the spleen and serum oxidative stress levels, when compared to the DM group. Additionally, inulin treatment in mice with a T2DM model led to a significant increase in the concentrations of three primary short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) (acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid), while the concentration of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), a prominent inflammatory factor in diabetes, exhibited a significant decrease. The results of untargeted metabolomics indicate that inulin has the potential to alleviate inflammatory response and kidney damage in diabetic mice. This beneficial effect is attributed to its impact on various metabolic pathways, including glycerophospholipid metabolism, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, and tryptophan metabolism. Consequently, oral inulin emerges as a promising treatment option for diabetes and kidney injury.

Single-cluster anchored on PC6 monolayer as high-performance electrocatalyst for carbon dioxide reduction reaction: First principles study.

Tremendous challenges remain to develop high-efficient catalysts for carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) owing to the poor activity and low selectivity. However, the activity of catalyst with single active site is limited by the linear scaling relationship between the adsorption energy of intermediates. Motivated by the idea of multiple activity centers, triple metal clusters (M = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Pd, and Rh) doped PC6 monolayer (M3@PC6) were constructed in this study to investigate the CO2RR catalytic performance via density functional theory calculations. Results shows Mn3@PC6, Fe3@PC6, and Co3@PC6 exhibit high activity and selectivity for the reduction of CO2 to CH4 with limiting potentials of -0.32, -0.28, and -0.31 V, respectively. Analysis on the high-performance origin shows the more binding sites in M3@PC6 render the triple-atom anchored catalysts (TACs) high ability in regulating the binding strength with intermediates by self-adjusting the charges and conformation, leading to the improved performance of M3@PC6 than dual-atom doped PC6. This work manifests the huge application of PC6 based TACs in CO2RR, which hope to prove valuable guidance for the application of TACs in a broader range of electrochemical reactions.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Stroke Care in Patients with Dementia Compared to Other Stroke Patients.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of stroke care for patients with preexisting dementia, compared with patients who had only stroke. The secondary aim was to investigate how the quality of stroke care changed during the pandemic and post-pandemic periods compared with the pre-pandemic period in patients with preexisting dementia. DESIGN: A registry-based, nationwide cohort study in Sweden. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: We included patients with a first stroke between 2019 and 2022, both with and without dementia. The study periods were defined as follows: pre-pandemic (January 1, 2019, to February 29, 2020), COVID-19 pandemic (March 1, 2020, to February 24, 2022), and post-COVID-19 pandemic period (February 25, 2022, to September 19, 2022). The outcomes examined were the following quality indicators of stroke care, suggested by the national guideline of stroke care in Sweden: stroke admission site, performance of swallowing assessment, reperfusion treatment, assessment for rehabilitation, and early supported discharge. METHODS: The associations were studied through group comparisons and binary logistic regressions. RESULTS: Of the 21,795 patients with strokes, 1357 had documented preexisting dementia, and 20,438 had stroke without a dementia diagnosis. Throughout all study periods, a significantly lower proportion of patients with stroke with preexisting dementia, compared with stroke-only patients, received reperfusion treatment, assessments for rehabilitation, and early supported discharge from stroke units. In the subgroup of stroke patients with preexisting dementia, no significant associations were found regarding the quality indicators of stroke care before, during, and after the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Disparities in quality of stroke care were observed between stroke patients with preexisting dementia and those with only stroke during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there were no statistically significant differences in stroke care for patients with dementia across the pandemic.

Unveiling convergent and divergent intrinsic brain network alternations in depressed adolescents engaged in non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors with and without suicide attempts.

AIMS: Limited understanding exists regarding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide attempts (SA) in depressed adolescents. The maturation of brain network is crucial during adolescence, yet the abnormal alternations in depressed adolescents with NSSI or NSSI+SA remain poorly understood. METHODS: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected from 114 depressed adolescents, classified into three groups: clinical control (non-self-harm), NSSI only, and NSSI+SA based on self-harm history. The alternations of resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) were identified through support vector machine-based classification. RESULTS: Convergent alterations in NSSI and NSSI+SA predominantly centered on the inter-network RSFC between the Limbic network and the three core neurocognitive networks (SalVAttn, Control, and Default networks). Divergent alterations in the NSSI+SA group primarily focused on the Visual, Limbic, and Subcortical networks. Additionally, the severity of depressive symptoms only showed a significant correlation with altered RSFCs between Limbic and DorsAttn or Visual networks, strengthening the fact that increased depression severity alone does not fully explain observed FC alternations in the NSSI+SA group. CONCLUSION: Convergent alterations suggest a shared neurobiological mechanism along the self-destructiveness continuum. Divergent alterations may indicate biomarkers differentiating risk for SA, informing neurobiologically guided interventions.

Diterpenoids from Acanthopanacis Cortex and their anti-inflammatory activity studies.

Acanthopanacis Cortex (A.-C) with a long history of more than1000 years, has been used to treat rheumatism effectively. Nineteen diterpenoids have been isolated from A.-C, including six new compounds (1-6). Among them, compounds 7, 9-11, 13, and 17 were discovered from A.-C for the first time. The structures of 1-6 were determined by analyzing their NMR data and comparing their experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra. Moreover, the single-crystal X-ray diffraction data of 1, 2, 8, and 14 were provided. The anti-inflammatory activity of 1-5 and 7-18 on neutrophil elastase, cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been studied in vitro, and the results showed that 15 had almost no inhibitory effects on COX-1 at 200 µM but a significant activity against COX-2 with an IC50 of 0.73 ± 0.006 µΜ. It indicated that compound 15 can provide valuable information for the design of selective COX-2 inhibitors.

Cross-Sectional and Prospective Association of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D with Gut Mycobiota during Pregnancy among Women with Gestational Diabetes.

SCOPE: Little is known about the effect of blood vitamin D status on the gut mycobiota (i.e., fungi), a crucial component of the gut microbial ecosystem. The study aims to explore the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and gut mycobiota and to investigate the link between the identified mycobial features and blood glycemic traits. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study examines the association between serum 25(OH)D levels and the gut mycobiota in the Westlake Precision Birth Cohort, which includes pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The study develops a genetic risk score (GRS) for 25(OH)D to validate the observational results. In both the prospective and cross-sectional analyses, the vitamin D is associated with gut mycobiota diversity. Specifically, the abundance of Saccharomyces is significantly lower in the vitamin D-sufficient group than in the vitamin D-deficient group. The GRS of 25(OH)D is inversely associated with the abundance of Saccharomyces. Moreover, the Saccharomyces is positively associated with blood glucose levels. CONCLUSION: Blood vitamin D status is associated with the diversity and composition of gut mycobiota in women with GDM, which may provide new insights into the mechanistic understanding of the relationship between vitamin D levels and metabolic health.

Noninvasive Light Flicker Stimulation Promotes Optic Nerve Regeneration by Activating Microglia and Enhancing Neural Plasticity in Zebrafish.

Purpose: Forty-hertz light flicker stimulation has been proven to reduce neurodegeneration, but its effect on optic nerve regeneration is unclear. This study explores the effect of 40-Hz light flicker in promoting optic nerve regeneration in zebrafish and investigates the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Wild-type and mpeg1:EGFP zebrafish were used to establish a model of optic nerve crush. Biocytin tracing and hematoxylin and eosin staining were employed to observe whether 40-Hz light flicker promotes regeneration of retinal ganglion cell axons and dendrites. Optomotor and optokinetic responses were evaluated to assess recovery of visual function. Immunofluorescence staining of mpeg1:EGFP zebrafish was performed to observe changes in microglia. Differentially expressed genes that promote optic nerve regeneration following 40-Hz light flicker stimulation were identified and validated through RNA-sequencing analysis and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results: Zebrafish exhibited spontaneous optic nerve regeneration after optic nerve injury and restored visual function. We observed that 40-Hz light flicker significantly activated microglia following optic nerve injury and promoted regeneration of retinal ganglion cell axons and dendrites, as well as recovery of visual function. Transcriptomics and qRT-PCR analyses revealed that 40-Hz light flicker increased the expression of genes associated with neuronal plasticity, including bdnf, npas4a, fosab, fosb, egr4, and ier2a. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate that 40-Hz light flicker stimulation promotes regeneration of retinal ganglion cell axons and dendrites and recovery of visual function in zebrafish, which is associated with microglial activation and enhancement of neural plasticity.

Synaptotagmins family affect glucose transport in retinal pigment epithelial cells through their ubiquitination-mediated degradation and glucose transporter-1 regulation.

BACKGROUND: Synaptotagmins (SYTs) are a family of 17 membrane transporters that function as calcium ion sensors during the release of Ca2+-dependent neurotransmitters and hormones. However, few studies have reported whether members of the SYT family play a role in glucose uptake in diabetic retinopathy (DR) through Ca2+/glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1) and the possible regulatory mechanism of SYTs. AIM: To elucidate the role of the SYT family in the regulation of glucose transport in retinal pigment epithelial cells and explore its potential as a therapeutic target for the clinical management of DR. METHODS: DR was induced by streptozotocin in C57BL/6J mice and by high glucose medium in human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19). Bioinformatics analysis, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, flow cytometry, ELISA, HE staining, and TUNEL staining were used for analysis. RESULTS: Six differentially expressed proteins (SYT2, SYT3, SYT4, SYT7, SYT11, and SYT13) were found between the DR and control groups, and SYT4 was highly expressed. Hyperglycemia induces SYT4 overexpression, manipulates Ca2+ influx to induce GLUT1 fusion with the plasma membrane, promotes abnormal expression of the glucose transporter GLUT1 and excessive glucose uptake, induces ARPE-19 cell apoptosis, and promotes DR progression. Parkin deficiency inhibits the proteasomal degradation of SYT4 in DR, resulting in SYT4 accumulation and enhanced GLUT1 fusion with the plasma membrane, and these effects were blocked by oe-Parkin treatment. Moreover, dysregulation of the myelin transcription factor 1 (Myt1)-induced transcription of SYT4 in DR further activated the SYT4-mediated stimulus-secretion coupling process, and this process was inhibited in the oe-MYT1-treated group. CONCLUSION: Our study reveals the key role of SYT4 in regulating glucose transport in retinal pigment epithelial cells during the pathogenesis of DR and the underlying mechanism and suggests potential therapeutic targets for clinical DR.

A Comparative Study of Prevalence and Associated Factors of Social Support Among Chinese Shidu Parents and Non-Shidu Parents.

The number of parents in China who have lost their only child, referred to as shidu parents, currently exceeds one million and is increasing by approximately 76,000 annually. Shidu parents face a unique challenge in long-term care, primarily stemming from the sudden and tragic loss of their only child, which leads to a substantial decrease in their social support network. A multi-stage, stratified, and cluster sampling method was employed across various economic belts. Linear regression analysis was utilized to examine factors associated with the social support status of shidu and non-shidu parents. The level of social support decreases as the severity of depression increases. Shidu parents with grandchildren tend to have good social support. The city of Hangzhou exhibits relatively high levels of social support. Married individuals typically report higher levels of social support. It is recommended to prioritize shidu parents without grandchildren as a primary focus for government and societal support. Key recommendations include strengthening social skills training and developing social support networks. Drive economic development, particularly in relatively underdeveloped regions. Strengthen social organizations and community development. Enhancing access to support services, leveraging technology, and encouraging volunteerism for non-married parents.

HLA-B and TIMP1 as hub genes of the ventricular remodeling caused by hypertension.

RATIONALE: Myocardial fibrosis is an important pathological change that occurs during ventricular remodeling in patients with hypertension and is an important pathophysiological basis of cardiovascular disease. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this ventricular remodeling is unclear. METHODS: Bioinformatics analysis identified HLA-B and TIMP1 as hub genes in the process of myocardial fibrosis. Expression and correlation analyses of significant hub genes with ventricular remodeling were performed. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to verify the role of HLA-B. ceRNA network was constructed to identify the candidate molecule drugs. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were analyzed. RESULTS: RT-qPCR was performed to verify the roles of HLA-B and TIMP1 in seven control individuals with hypertension and seven patients with hypertension and ventricular remodeling. The WGCNA showed that HLA-B was in the brown module and the correlation coefficient between HLA-B and ventricular remodeling was 0.67. Based on univariate logistic proportional regression analysis, HLA-B influences ventricular remodeling (P<0.05). RT-qPCR showed that the relative expression levels of HLA-B and TIMP1 were significantly higher in HLVR samples compared with their expression in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: HLA-B and TIMP1 might provide novel research targets for the diagnosis and treatment of HLVR.

Genome-wide identification of GH28 family and insight into its contributions to pod shattering resistance in Brassica napus L.

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), accounts for nearly 16% of vegetable oil, is the world's second produced oilseed. However, pod shattering has caused significant yield loses in rapeseed production, particularly during mechanical harvesting. The GH28 genes can promote pod shattering by changing the structure of the pod cell wall in Arabidopsis. However, the role of the GH28 gene family in rapeseed was largely unknown. Therefore, a genome-wide comprehensive analysis was conducted to classify the role of GH28 gene family on rapeseed pod shattering. A total of 37 BnaGH28 genes in the rapeseed genome were identified. These BnaGH28s can be divided into five groups (Group A-E), based on phylogenetic and synteny analysis. Protein property, gene structure, conserved motif, cis-acting element, and gene expression profile of BnaGH28 genes in the same group were similar. Specially, the expression level of genes in group A-D was gradually decreased, but increased in group E with the development of silique. Among eleven higher expressed genes in group E, two BnaGH28 genes (BnaA07T0199500ZS and BnaC06T0206500ZS) were significantly regulated by IAA or GA treatment. And the significant effects of BnaA07T0199500ZS variation on pod shattering resistance were also demonstrated in present study. These results could open a new window for insight into the role of BnaGH28 genes on pod shattering resistance in rapeseed.

An Indocyanine Green-Based Nanocluster for Imaging Orthodox Endometriosis Lesions with Negative Contrast.

Indocyanine green (ICG), as the sole near-infrared dye FDA-approved, is limited in biomedical applications because of its poor photostability, lack of targeting, and rapid removal in vivo. Herein, we presented a nanoformulation of poly-l-lysine-indocyanine green-hyaluronic acid (PIH) and demonstrated that it can image orthodox endometriosis (EM) lesions with a negative contrast. The PIH nanocluster, with an average diameter of approximately 200 nm, exhibited improved fluorescence photostability and antioxidant ability compared to free ICG. In the in vivo imaging, EM lesions were visualized, featuring apparent voids and clear boundaries. After colocalizing with the green fluorescent protein, we concluded that the contrast provided by PIH peaked at 4 h postinjection and was observable for at least 8 h. The negative contrast, clear boundaries, and enhanced observable time might be due to the low permeation of PIH to lesions and the enhanced retention on the surfaces of lesions. Thus, our findings suggest an ICG-based nanoprobe with the potential to diagnose abdominal diseases.

Analysis of Risk Factors for Intraoperative Bleeding in the Surgical Treatment of Cesarean Scar Pregnancy and Development of Predictive Models.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the risk factors associated with cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) and to develop a model for predicting intraoperative bleeding risk. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 208 patients with CSP who were admitted to the People's Hospital of Leshan between January 2018 and December 2022. Based on whether intraoperative bleeding was ≥ 200 mL, we categorized them into two groups for comparative analysis: the excessive bleeding group (n = 27) and the control group (n = 181). Identifying relevant factors, we constructed a prediction model and created a nomogram. Results: We observed that there were significant differences between the two groups in several parameters. These included the time of menstrual cessation (P = 0.002), maximum diameter of the gestational sac (P < 0.001), thickness of the myometrium at the uterine scar (P = 0.001), pre-treatment blood HCG levels (P = 0.016), and the grade of blood flow signals (P < 0.001). We consolidated the above data and constructed a clinical prediction model. The model exhibited favorable results in terms of predictive efficacy, discriminative ability (C-index = 0.894, specificity = 0.834, sensitivity = 0.852), calibration precision (mean absolute error = 0.018), and clinical decision-making utility, indicating its effectiveness. Conclusion: The clinical prediction model related to the risk of hemorrhage that we developed in this experiment can assist in the development of appropriate interventions and effectively improve patient prognosis.

The relationship between splenic dose and radiation-induced lymphopenia.

Lymphocytes, which are highly sensitive to radiation, play a crucial role in the body's defense against tumors. Radiation-induced lymphopenia has been associated with poorer outcomes in different cancer types. Despite being the largest secondary lymphoid organ, the spleen has not been officially designated as an organ at risk. This study hypothesizes a connection between spleen irradiation and lymphopenia and seeks to establish evidence-based dosage limits for the spleen. We retrospectively analyzed data from 96 patients with locally advanced gastric cancer who received postoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) between May 2010 and May 2017. Complete blood counts were collected before, during and after CRT. We established a model for predicting the minimum absolute lymphocyte count (Min ALC) and to investigate potential associations between spleen dosimetric variables and Min ALC. The median follow-up was 60 months. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were 65.2% and 56.8%, respectively. The median values of pre-treatment ALC, Min ALC and post-treatment ALC were 1.40 × 109, 0.23 × 109 and 0.28 × 109/L, respectively. Regression analysis confirmed that the primary tumor location, number of fractions and spleen V5 were significant predictors of Min ALC during radiation therapy. Changes in ALC (ΔALC) were identified as an independent predictor of both OS and DFS. Spleen V5 is an independent predictor for Min ALC, and the maximum dose of the spleen is associated with an increased risk of severe lymphopenia. Therefore, these doses should be restricted in clinical practice. Additionally, ΔALC can serve as a prognostic indicator for adjuvant radiotherapy in gastric cancer.

Effectiveness of Acupoint Stimulation Combined with Neurogenic Bowel Training on Constipation in Stroke Patients: A Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effectiveness of acupoint stimulation combined with neurogenic bowel training on constipation in stroke patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 89 stroke patients with constipation admitted to our hospital from July 2022 to January 2024. All patients met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The control group (n = 42) received neurogenic bowel training intervention, while the experimental group (n = 47) received finger acupoint stimulation combined with neurogenic bowel training intervention. Four outcome measures including intervention effects, bowel movements, Constipation Scoring System (CSS), and Scores on the Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The total intervention effective rate in the experimental group (91.49%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (73.81%) (P < 0.05). Two weeks after intervention, the experimental group had significantly better first bowel movement time, average bowel movement time, and bowel movement interval time compared to the control group (P < 0.05). One and two weeks after intervention, the CSS and PAC-QOL scores in the experimental group were significantly better than those in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupoint stimulation combined with neurogenic bowel training significantly improves constipation in stroke patients. Compared to neurogenic bowel training alone, the combined application of acupoint stimulation further improves bowel movements, reduces constipation severity, and enhances the quality of life in patients. Therefore, it is worthy of clinical promotion.

Early Rituximab as an Add-On Therapy in Children With the Initial Episode of Nephrotic Syndrome.

Introduction: The approximately 70% 12-month relapse in children experiencing the initial episode of steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) is a significant concern, with over 50% developing frequent relapses or steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (FRNS/SDNS). There is a lack of strategies to reduce relapse after the onset. Whether early administration of rituximab, which effectively reduces relapses in FRNS/SDNS, may be a solution has not been evaluated. Methods: A prospective, multicenter, open-label, single-arm trial was conducted in China, with a 12-month follow-up. Children aged 1 to 18 years with the first episode of nephrotic syndrome (NS) were screened for eligibility. Proteinuria was evaluated daily using dipsticks. A dose of 375 mg/m2 of rituximab was intravenously infused within 1 week after achieving corticosteroid-induced remission. The main outcome was 12-month relapse-free survival. Results: Out of the initially 66 children screened, 44 were enrolled and received rituximab, with all but 1 participant completing the 12-month follow-up. The median age at diagnosis was 4.3 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 3.4-5.9), and 33 (77%) of the participants were male. In the rituximab group, the 12-month relapse-free survival was significantly higher compared to historical controls (32 of 43 [74.4%] vs. 10 of 33 [30.3%]; P < 0.001; hazard ratio [HR], 3.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.80-7.81). The post hoc analysis revealed a higher 24-month relapse-free survival and a lower incidence of FRNS/SDNS at the 12-month follow-up. Treatment with rituximab was well-tolerated. Conclusion: Our findings support that early administration of rituximab may be associated with a higher 12-month relapse-free survival and a reduced incidence of FRNS/SDNS in children experiencing the initial episode of SSNS.

Lightweight and robust cellulose/MXene/polyurethane composite aerogels as personal protective wearable devices for electromagnetic interference shielding.

The increasing electromagnetic pollution is urgently needed as an electromagnetic interference shielding protection device for wearable devices. Two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXene), due to their interesting layered structure and high electrical conductivity, are ideal candidates for constructing efficient conductive networks in electromagnetic interference shielding materials. In this work, lightweight and robust cellulose/MXene/polyurethane composite aerogels were prepared by mixing cellulose nanofiber (CNF) suspensions with MXene, followed by freeze-drying and coating with polyurethane. In this process, CNF effectively assembled MXene nanosheets into a conductive network by enhancing the interactions between MXene nanosheets. The prepared aerogel exhibited the shielding effectiveness of 48.59 dB in the X-band and an electrical conductivity of 0.34 S·cm-1. Meanwhile, the composite aerogel also possessed excellent thermal insulation, infrared stealth, mechanical and hydrophobic properties, and can be used as a wearable protective device to protect the human body from injuries in different scenarios while providing electromagnetic interference shielding protection.

Reproductive outcome after laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy using barbed sutures versus conventional smooth sutures: A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of barbed and conventional sutures on reproductive outcomes and ovarian reserve after laparoscopic treatment for benign non-endometrioma ovarian cysts. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted at an affiliated women's hospital between May 2017 and December 2019. Patients with benign non-endometriotic ovarian cysts undergoing laparoscopic cystectomy were included. RESULTS: Patients received barbed sutures (221 patients) or conventional smooth sutures (203 patients) intraoperatively. The two groups had comparable baseline characteristics. The surgical duration and ovarian suturing time were significantly shorter in the barbed suture group than in the conventional smooth suture group (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). The rate of postoperative hemoglobin decline and serum anti-Müllerian hormone decline were similar between the two groups (P > 0.05). A total of 316 (74.53%) patients experienced at least one pregnancy postoperatively: 170 (76.92%) and 146 (71.92%) patients in the barbed suture and conventional smooth suture groups, respectively (χ2 = 1.395, P = 0.238). Multivariate Poisson regression demonstrated that barbed sutures had no significant effect on the overall postoperative pregnancy rate (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.10; 95% confidence interval, 0.93-1.36; P = 0.382). CONCLUSION: In patients with benign non-endometriotic ovarian cysts undergoing laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy, barbed sutures had a reproductive outcome similar to that of conventional smooth sutures while providing higher surgical efficiency without adverse effects on the postoperative ovarian reserve. Barbed sutures are probably a viable option to conventional smooth sutures.