Multi-stage aeration regime to regulate organic conversion toward gas alleviation and humification in food waste digestate composting.

Aerobic composting has been considered as a pragmatic technique to convert food waste digestate into high-quality biofertiliser. Nevertheless, massive gaseous emission and immature product remain the primary challenges in food waste digestate composting. Thus, the performance of multi-stage aeration regimes to improve gaseous emissions and organic humification during food waste digestate composting was investigated in this study. In addition to continuous aeration with a constant intensity of 0.3 L kg·dry mass (DM)-1·min-1, two multi-stage decreased aeration regimes were designed as "0.3-0.2-0.1" and "0.3-0.1-0.1" L·kg·DM-1·min-1 from the thermophilic to cooling and then mature stages, respectively. Results showed that the decreased aeration regimes could alleviate nitrous oxide (N2O) and ammonia (NH3) emission and slightly enhance humification during composting. The alleviated N2O and NH3 emission were mainly contributed by abiotically reducing gaseous release potential as well as biotically inactivating denitrifers (Pusillimonas and Pseudidiomarina) and proliferating Atopobium to reduce nitrate availability under lower aeration supply. The "0.3-0.2-0.1 L kg·DM-1·min-1" regime exhibited a more excellent performance to alleviate N2O and NH3 emission by 27.5% and 16.3%, respectively. Moreover, the decreased aeration regimes also favored the enrichment of functional bacteria (Caldicoprobacter and Syntrophomonas) to accelerate lignocellulosic biodegradation and thus humic acid synthesis by 6.5%-11.2%. Given its better performance to improve gaseous emissions and humification, the aeration regime of "0.3-0.2-0.1 L kg·DM-1·min-1" are recommended in food waste digestate composting in practice.

Microbial Sources and Sinks of Nitrous Oxide during Organic Waste Composting.

Composting is widely used for organic waste management and is also a major source of nitrous oxide (N2O) emission. New insight into microbial sources and sinks is essential for process regulation to reduce N2O emission from composting. This study used genome-resolved metagenomics to decipher the genomic structures and physiological behaviors of individual bacteria for N2O sources and sinks during composting. Results showed that several nosZ-lacking denitrifiers in feedstocks drove N2O emission at the beginning of the composting. Such emission became negligible at the thermophilic stage, as high temperatures inhibited all denitrifiers for N2O production except for those containing nirK. The nosZ-lacking denitrifiers were notably enriched to increase N2O production at the cooling stage. Nevertheless, organic biodegradation limited energy availability for chemotaxis and flagellar assembly to restrain nirKS-containing denitrifiers for nitrate reduction toward N2O sources but insignificantly interrupt norBC- and nosZ-containing bacteria (particularly nosZ-containing nondenitrifiers) for N2O sinks by capturing N2O and nitric oxide (NO) for energy production, thereby reducing N2O emission at the mature stage. Furthermore, nosZII-type bacteria included all nosZ-containing nondenitrifiers and dominated N2O sinks. Thus, targeted strategies can be developed to restrict the physiological behaviors of nirKS-containing denitrifiers and expand the taxonomic distribution of nosZ for effective N2O mitigation in composting.

The effect of aromatic side chains on the dilational rheological properties of N-acyltaurate amphiphiles at water-decane interfaces.

To elucidate the effect of aromatic side chains on dilational rheological properties of N-acyltaurate amphiphiles at the decane-water interface, the interfacial rheological properties of sodium N-2-(2-naphthoxy)-tetradecanoyltaurinate (12+N-T) and sodium N-2-(p-butylphenoxy)-tetradecanoyltaurinate (12+4B-T) were investigated utilizing the drop shape analysis method. The effects of adsorption time, interfacial pressure, oscillating frequency, and bulk concentration on the interfacial dilational modulus and phase angle were explored. The results show that the 12+4B-T molecule with a longer hydrophobic chain shows a higher ability for reducing the interfacial tension (IFT). In addition, the interfacial films of both 12+N-T and 12+4B-T are dominated by diffusion exchange at high concentrations. The rigidity of molecules controls the diffusion exchange at low concentrations, while the molecular hydrodynamic radius determines the diffusion exchange at high concentrations. Thus, at low concentrations, the stronger intermolecular interaction between 12+4B-T molecules results in higher dilational modulus values than 12+N-T. When approaching the CMC (critical micelle concentration) value, the rapid diffusion exchange of 12+4B-T between the sublayer micelles and the interface causes a significant decrease in the dilational modulus, while the relatively rigid structure of 12+N-T enables a higher dilational modulus than 12+4B-T. What's more, the longer hydrophobic chain allows 12+4B-T molecules to escape from the interface more easily, resulting in a higher phase angle at low concentrations. However, the diffusion exchange of 12+4B-T is slower than that of 12+N-T, which results in lower phase angles for 12+4B-T than 12+N-T at high concentrations. In general, the introduction of a rigid naphthalene ring in the molecular structure gives the interfacial film greater strength at high concentration. The research results in this paper provide a new technique for the strength regulation of interfacial surfactant adsorption films.

A spatiotemporal atlas of mouse liver homeostasis and regeneration.

The mechanism by which mammalian liver cell responses are coordinated during tissue homeostasis and perturbation is poorly understood, representing a major obstacle in our understanding of many diseases. This knowledge gap is caused by the difficulty involved with studying multiple cell types in different states and locations, particularly when these are transient. We have combined Stereo-seq (spatiotemporal enhanced resolution omics-sequencing) with single-cell transcriptomic profiling of 473,290 cells to generate a high-definition spatiotemporal atlas of mouse liver homeostasis and regeneration at the whole-lobe scale. Our integrative study dissects in detail the molecular gradients controlling liver cell function, systematically defining how gene networks are dynamically modulated through intercellular communication to promote regeneration. Among other important regulators, we identified the transcriptional cofactor TBL1XR1 as a rheostat linking inflammation to Wnt/ß-catenin signaling for facilitating hepatocyte proliferation. Our data and analytical pipelines lay the foundation for future high-definition tissue-scale atlases of organ physiology and malfunction.

Efficacy and Safety of Disitamab Vedotin Combined with Programmed Death-1 Inhibitor for Advanced Urothelial Cancer: A Case-Series Study.

INTRODUCTION: Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) and programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors play crucial roles in the treatment of advanced urothelial cancer (aUC). Increasingly, combination treatment modalities are used in patients with aUC intolerant to platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC). However, clinical evidence on the efficacy and safety of disitamab vedotin plus PD-1 inhibitors for aUC is limited. This case series aims to address this knowledge gap. METHODS: Patients with aUC who were refractory or intolerant to PBC were included. All patients received combined treatment with disitamab vedotin (one of the ADC drugs) and PD-1 inhibitors for at least three cycles. The clinical characteristics of examination, histopathology, outcomes, and adverse events (AEs) were retrospectively collected. RESULTS: Among this case series, eight patients received disitamab vedotin plus PD-1 inhibitors, of which three achieved a complete response (CR) and two had a partial response (PR). The most common AE was peripheral neuropathy (4/8); the remaining AEs were mostly of mild to moderate severity or unknown and were manageable by supportive care. CONCLUSIONS: Disitamab vedotin combined with PD-1 inhibitors exhibits a favorable efficacy and safety profile, but subsequent larger cohort clinical studies are required to provide evidence-based medicine for the universal application of this regimen.

JinJiang ablation catheter is no inferior than Johnson ablation catheter in radiofrequency ablation of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.

BACKGROUND: Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is characterized by episodes of rapid tachycardia with sudden onset and sudden termination. PSVT treatment has evolved considerably over the past 30 years. Currently, radiofrequency catheter ablation is the first-line treatment. HYPOTHESIS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial to compare safety and effectiveness of PSVT ablation between the Jinjiang and Johnson (J&J) catheters in 57 patients in our hospital. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients were randomly assigned to ablation procedures using either the Jinjiang system or the J&J Carto system. Follow-up was performed 3 days, 1, and 6 months after the procedure. Success rate, ablation time, frequency of ablation, and rates of complications and recurrence did not significantly differ between the groups. One Jinjiang group patient (3.6%) experienced arrhythmia recurrence during the 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The Jinjiang catheter for radiofrequency ablation of PSVT is as safe and effective as the J&J catheter.

STOmicsDB: a comprehensive database for spatial transcriptomics data sharing, analysis and visualization.

Recent technological developments in spatial transcriptomics allow researchers to measure gene expression of cells and their spatial locations at the single-cell level, generating detailed biological insight into biological processes. A comprehensive database could facilitate the sharing of spatial transcriptomic data and streamline the data acquisition process for researchers. Here, we present the Spatial TranscriptOmics DataBase (STOmicsDB), a database that serves as a one-stop hub for spatial transcriptomics. STOmicsDB integrates 218 manually curated datasets representing 17 species. We annotated cell types, identified spatial regions and genes, and performed cell-cell interaction analysis for these datasets. STOmicsDB features a user-friendly interface for the rapid visualization of millions of cells. To further facilitate the reusability and interoperability of spatial transcriptomic data, we developed standards for spatial transcriptomic data archiving and constructed a spatial transcriptomic data archiving system. Additionally, we offer a distinctive capability of customizing dedicated sub-databases in STOmicsDB for researchers, assisting them in visualizing their spatial transcriptomic analyses. We believe that STOmicsDB could contribute to research insights in the spatial transcriptomics field, including data archiving, sharing, visualization and analysis. STOmicsDB is freely accessible at https://db.cngb.org/stomics/.

How do lateral septum projections to the ventral CA1 influence sociability?

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202408000-00033/figure1/v/2023-12-16T180322Z/r/image-tiff Social dysfunction is a risk factor for several neuropsychiatric illnesses. Previous studies have shown that the lateral septum (LS)-related pathway plays a critical role in mediating social behaviors. However, the role of the connections between the LS and its downstream brain regions in social behaviors remains unclear. In this study, we conducted a three-chamber test using electrophysiological and chemogenetic approaches in mice to determine how LS projections to ventral CA1 (vCA1) influence sociability. Our results showed that gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic neurons were activated following social experience, and that social behaviors were enhanced by chemogenetic modulation of these neurons. Moreover, LS GABAergic neurons extended their functional neural connections via vCA1 glutamatergic pyramidal neurons, and regulating LSGABA→vCA1Glu neural projections affected social behaviors, which were impeded by suppressing LS-projecting vCA1 neuronal activity or inhibiting GABAA receptors in vCA1. These findings support the hypothesis that LS inputs to the vCA1 can control social preferences and social novelty behaviors. These findings provide new insights regarding the neural circuits that regulate sociability.

New Strategies for Remnant Ear Treatment in Microtia Reconstruction Based on Morphometric Studies.

OBJECTIVE: Given the lack of specific evaluation indices, it is difficult to determine whether to transpose or abandon remnant ears in lobule-type microtia reconstruction. The authors illuminate referable parameters beneficial for proper treatment of remnant ear in an efficient manner. METHODS: A series of 359 lobule-type microtia patients underwent autogenous costal cartilage auricular reconstruction between 2016 and 2021. Fourteen measuring points and defined distances as well as six ratios of specific distances based on position, plumpness, similarity and the width-to-length ratio of the remnant ear have been described, and relevant tactics for appropriate treatments are introduced. RESULTS: Definite morphometric results contribute to attaining satisfactory contours of reconstructed auricles with harmonious earlobes, which exhibit highly similar dimensions and appearances compared to the contralateral normal ears. CONCLUSION: With the help of the proposed locating points and measuring approaches, the procedure of remnant ear treatment is systematically clarified. This technique ensures operation safety and contributes to the aesthetic contour of the auricle. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV Laryngoscope, 134:2741-2747, 2024.

Laparoscopic Ladd's procedure for intestinal malrotation in small infants with midterm follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic Ladd's procedure (LL) for intestinal malrotation (IM) in small infants. METHODS: All patients aged < 6 months with IM who underwent Ladd's procedures between January 2012 and December 2019 were enrolled. The perioperative demographics and midterm follow-up results were retrospectively reviewed and compared between patients who underwent LL and open Ladd's operation (OL). RESULTS: Fifty-five patients were enrolled for analysis. The baseline characteristics were well matched in the two groups. The rate of volvulus was similar in the two groups (76.2% vs. 73.5%, P = 0.81). Two cases in the LL group were converted to OL due to intraoperative bleeding and intestinal swelling. The operative time (ORT) was not significantly different between the two groups (73.8 ± 18.7 vs. 66.8 ± 11.6 min, P = 0.76). Compared to the OL group, the LL group had a shorter time full feed (TFF) (3.1 ± 1.2 vs. 7.3 ± 1.9 days, P = 0.03) and a shorter postoperative hospital stay (PHS) than the OL group (5.5 ± 1.6 vs. 11.3 ± 2.7 days, P = 0.02). The rate of postoperative complications was similar in the two groups (9.5% vs. 11.8%, P = 0.47). The LL group had a lower rate of adhesive obstruction than the OL group, but the difference was not significant (0.0% vs. 11.8%, P = 0.09). One patient suffered recurrence in the LL group, while 0 patients suffered recurrence in the OL group (4.8% vs. 0.0%, P = 0.07). The rate of reoperation in the two groups was similar (4.8% vs. 8.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The LL procedure for IM in small infants was a safe and reliable method that had a satisfactory cosmetic appearance and shorter TFF and PHS than OL.

Reoperation after surgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review.

Context: Surgical treatment is important for male lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS) management, but there are few reviews of the risks of reoperation. Objective: To systematically evaluate the current evidence regarding the reoperation rates of surgical treatment for LUTS in accordance with current recommendations and guidelines. Evidence acquisition: Eligible studies published up to July 2023, were searched for in the PubMed® (National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA), Embase® (Elsevier, Amsterdam, the Netherlands), and Web of Science™ (Clarivate™, Philadelphia, PA, USA) databases. STATA® (StataCorp LP, College Station, TX, USA) software was used to conduct the meta-analysis. Random-effects models were used to calculate the pooled incidences (PIs) of reoperation and the 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Evidence synthesis: A total of 119 studies with 130,106 patients were included. The reoperation rate of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years was 4.0%, 5.0%, 6.0%, and 7.7%, respectively. The reoperation rate of plasma kinetic loop resection of the prostate (PKRP) at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years was 3.5%, 3.6%, 5.7%, and 6.6%, respectively. The reoperation rate of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years was 2.4%, 3.3%, 5.4%, and 6.6%, respectively. The reoperation rate of photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years was 3.3%, 4.1%, 6.7%, and 7.1%, respectively. The reoperation rate of surgery with AquaBeam® at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years was 2.6%, 3.1%, 3.0%, and 4.1%, respectively. The reoperation rate of prostatic artery embolization (PAE) at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years was 12.2%, 20.0%, 26.4%, and 23.8%, respectively. The reoperation rate of transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years was 9.9%, 19.9%, 23.3%, and 31.2%, respectively. The reoperation rate of transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP) at 5 years was 13.4%. The reoperation rate of open prostatectomy (OP) at 1 and 5 years was 1.3% and 4.4%, respectively. The reoperation rate of thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP) at 1, 2, and 5 years was 3.7%, 7.7%, and 8.4%, respectively. Conclusion: Our results summarized the reoperation rates of 10 surgical procedures over follow-up durations of 1, 2, 3, and 5 years, which could provide reference for urologists and LUTS patients. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, identifier CRD42023445780.

Role and mechanism of PVN-sympathetic-adipose circuit in depression and insulin resistance induced by chronic stress.

Chronic stress induces depression and insulin resistance, between which there is a bidirectional relationship. However, the mechanisms underlying this comorbidity remain unclear. White adipose tissue (WAT), innervated by sympathetic nerves, serves as a central node in the interorgan crosstalk through adipokines. Abnormal secretion of adipokines is involved in mood disorders and metabolic morbidities. We describe here a brain-sympathetic nerve-adipose circuit originating in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) with a role in depression and insulin resistance induced by chronic stress. PVN neurons are labelled after inoculation of pseudorabies virus (PRV) into WAT and are activated under restraint stress. Chemogenetic manipulations suggest a role for the PVN in depression and insulin resistance. Chronic stress increases the sympathetic innervation of WAT and downregulates several antidepressant and insulin-sensitizing adipokines, including leptin, adiponectin, Angptl4 and Sfrp5. Chronic activation of the PVN has similar effects. ß-adrenergic receptors translate sympathetic tone into an adipose response, inducing downregulation of those adipokines and depressive-like behaviours and insulin resistance. We finally show that AP-1 has a role in the regulation of adipokine expression under chronic stress.

The prognostic biological markers of immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer: current landscape and future perspective.

The emergence of immunotherapy, particularly programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) produced profound transformations for treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Nevertheless, not all NSCLC patients can benefit from immunotherapy in clinical practice. In addition to limited response rates, exorbitant treatment costs, and the substantial threats involved with immune-related adverse events, the intricate interplay between long-term survival outcomes and early disease progression, including early immune hyperprogression, remains unclear. Consequently, there is an urgent imperative to identify robust predictive and prognostic biological markers, which not only possess the potential to accurately forecast the therapeutic efficacy of immunotherapy in NSCLC but also facilitate the identification of patient subgroups amenable to personalized treatment approaches. Furthermore, this advancement in patient stratification based on certain biological markers can also provide invaluable support for the management of immunotherapy in NSCLC patients. Hence, in this review, we comprehensively examine the current landscape of individual biological markers, including PD-L1 expression, tumor mutational burden, hematological biological markers, and gene mutations, while also exploring the potential of combined biological markers encompassing radiological and radiomic markers, as well as prediction models that have the potential to better predict responders to immunotherapy in NSCLC with an emphasis on some directions that warrant further investigation which can also deepen the understanding of clinicians and provide a reference for clinical practice.

Chronic unpredictable stress induces depression/anxiety-related behaviors and alterations of hippocampal monoamine receptor mRNA expression in female mice at different ages.

Depression and anxiety are the most common mental health disorders. Though they affect people at any age and occur more often in females, the pathophysiological changes under these conditions are less investigated. In the present study, we examined the effects of age and stress on depression- and anxiety-related behaviors in female mice. Saccharin preference and the open field test were carried out before and after chronic unpredictable stress in 4-, 14- and 25-month-old female mice. After behavioral tests, mRNA levels of monoamine receptors in the hippocampus were measured by real-time RT-PCR. Chronic unpredictable stress decreased saccharin preference in 4-, 14- and 25-month-old mice and the time spent in the center in the open field test in 25-month-old mice. For monoamine receptors, analysis of variance revealed significant effects of age on mRNA levels of Htr1a, Htr2a, Htr6, Adra1a, Adrb2, and Adrb3, significant effects of stress on mRNA levels of Htr4, Adra2c, Adrb1, and Adrb2, and interactions of age × stress on mRNA levels of Htr1a, Htr5b, Adra1d, Adra2a, Adra2c, and Adrb1. Chronic unpredictable stress decreased mRNA levels of Htr4, Htr5b, Adra2c, and Adrb1 in 4-month-old female mice. Correlations were observed between saccharin preference and mRNA levels of Htr4, Htr5b, Htr6, Adra1d, Adra2a, and Adra2c in 4-month-old mice and between the time spent in the center in the open field test and mRNA levels of Htr1b in 4-month-old mice, Htr3a, Htr7, and Adrb2 in 14-month-old mice, and Drd2 in 4- and 14-month-old mice. Our findings support that stress induces depression- and anxiety-related behaviors and the expression of hippocampal monoamine receptors in an age-dependent manner in female mice.

Microbes from mature compost to promote bacterial chemotactic motility via tricarboxylic acid cycle-regulated biochemical metabolisms for enhanced composting performance.

This study aims to reveal the underlying mechanisms of mature compost addition for improving organic waste composting. Composting experiments and metagenomic analysis were conducted to elucidate the role of mature compost addition to regulate microbial metabolisms and physiological behaviors for composting amelioration. Mature compost with or without inactivation pretreatment was added to the composting of kitchen and garden wastes at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% (by wet weight) for comparison. Results show that mature compost promoted pyruvate metabolism, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation to produce heat and energy to accelerate temperature increase for composting initiation and biological contaminant removal (>78%) for pasteurization. Energy requirement drives bacterial chemotactic motility towards nutrient-rich regions to sustain organic biodegradation. Nevertheless, when NADH formation exceeded NAD+ regeneration in oxidative phosphorylation, TCA cycle was restrained to limit continuous temperature increase and recover high intracellular NAD+/NADH ratio to secure stable oxidation reactions.

Optimization of free air space to regulate bacterial succession and functions for alleviating gaseous emissions during kitchen waste composting.

This study investigated the effects of free air space (FAS) (45%, 55%, 65%) on bacterial dynamics for gaseous emissions during kitchen waste composting. Results show that FAS increase from 45% to 65% elevated oxygen diffusivity to inhibit bacteria for fermentation (e.g. Caldicoprobacter and Ruminofilibacter) to reduce methane emission by 51%. Moreover, the increased FAS accelerated heat loss to reduce temperature and the abundance of thermophiles (e.g. Thermobifida and Thermobacillus) for aerobic chemoheterotrophy to mitigate ammonia emission by 32%. Nevertheless, the reduced temperature induced the growth of Desulfitibacter and Desulfobulbus for sulfate/sulfite respiration to boost hydrogen sulphide emission. By contrast, FAS at 55% achieved the highest germination index and favored the proliferation of nitrifiers and denitrifiers (e.g. Roseiflexus and Steroidobacter) to improve nitrate availability, thus slightly enhancing nitrous oxide emission. Thus, FAS at 55% exhibits the optimal performance for gaseous emission reduction and maturity enhancement in kitchen waste composting.

The Interfacial Dilational Rheology Properties of Betaine Solutions: Effect of Anionic Surfactant and Polymer.

Interfacial dilational rheology is one of the important means to explore the interfacial properties of adsorption films. In this paper, the interfacial rheological properties of the mixed system of sulfobetaine ASB with a linear alkyl group and two anionic surfactants, petroleum sulfonate (PS) and alkyl polyoxyethylene carboxylate (AEC), were investigated by interfacial dilational rheology. The effect of the introduction of polymer hydrophobically modified polyacrylamide (HMPAM) on the interfacial properties of the mixed system was analyzed. In this experiment, the surfactant solution was used as the external phase and n-decane was used as the internal phase. A periodic sinusoidal disturbance of 0.1 Hz was applied to the n-decane droplets, and the changes of parameters such as droplet interfacial tension and interfacial area were monitored in real time with the help of a computer. The results show that the betaine ASB molecule responds to the dilation and compression of the interface through the change of ion head orientation, while the feedback behavior of petroleum sulfonate PS and AEC molecules embedded with oxygen vinyl groups in the molecule is diffusion and exchange between the interface and the bulk phase. Therefore, the interface film formed by ASB alone is higher, and the film formed by PS and AEC molecules alone is relatively lower. After adding two kinds of anionic surfactants to the betaine system, the ionic head of PS or AEC molecules will be attached to the positive center of the hydrophilic group of ASB molecules by electrostatic attraction and no longer adsorb and desorb with the interface deformation. The interfacial rheological properties of the compound system are still dominated by betaine, with higher dilational modulus and lower phase angle. When a small amount of HMPAM is added, or the content of hydrophobic monomer AMPS in the bulk phase is low, the intermolecular interaction at the interface is enhanced, the slow relaxation process is intensified, and the interfacial film strength is increased. As the content of AMPS further increases, hydrophobic blocks and surfactant molecules will form interfacial aggregates similar to mixed micelles at the oil-water interface, which will regulate the properties of the film by affecting the adsorption of surfactants at the interface. As long as the interfacial tension is the same, the properties of the interfacial film are the same. Based on the colloid interface science and the background of enhanced oil recovery, this study provides a reference for the field application of chemical flooding formulations.

The strategy of laparoscopic surgery for asymptomatic antenatally diagnosed choledochal cyst.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to investigate the characteristics, surgical management, and outcomes of asymptomatic patients with antenatally diagnosed choledochal cysts (ADCCs) and to justify the strategy of laparoscopic surgery (LS) for them in our hospital. METHODS: We developed our LS strategy for asymptomatic ADCCs. Patients with asymptomatic ADCCs who underwent LS or open surgery (OS) during January 2010 and January 2020 were included. Patients with recorded symptomatic ADCCs were exclude. All data of group LS and group OS were statistically compared and analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients received LS and 18 patients received OS were included. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the groups. A total of 65.1% of biliary sludge formation was detected preoperatively by ultrasonography (US) (72.0% in group LS, 55.6% in group OS, P = 0.26). Compared to the OS group, the LS group had a longer operative time (313.4 ± 27.2 vs. 154.0 ± 11.9 min, P = 0.02), shorter postoperative fasting period (3.1 ± 1.2 vs. 6.2 ± 2.3 days, P = 0.03), and shorter postoperative hospital stay (5.1 ± 1.9 vs. 9.2 ± 1.1 days, P = 0.03). The incidence of late complications, such as reflux cholangitis, adhesive intestinal obstruction, and biliary enteric anastomotic stricture with stone formation, was not significantly different between the two groups. The liver function and liver stiffness of all patients in the two groups were normal. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the strategy for asymptomatic ADCCs in our hospital, the perioperative safety and midterm follow-up results after LS were satisfactory and comparable to those after OS.

Magnetically Controlled 3D Cartilage Regeneration.

OBJECTIVE: The cartilage regeneration field has not yet overcome the issue of effective "shaping": growing regenerated cartilage in the desired shape, and maintaining that shape, is problematic. This study reports on a new method of cartilage regeneration in which the cartilage is shaped in three dimensions. Since cartilage is composed only of cartilage cells and an abundant extracellular matrix with no blood circulation, once it is damaged, the lack of nutrient supply means that it is difficult to repair. Scaffold-free cell sheet technology plays an important role in cartilage regeneration, avoiding inflammation and immune response caused by scaffold materials. However, cartilage regenerated from the cell sheet needs to be sculpted and shaped before it can be used for cartilage defect transplantation. DESIGN: In this study, we used a new ultra-strong magnetic-responsive Fe3O4 nanoparticle (MNP) to shape the cartilage in vitro. Super-magnetic Fe3O4 microspheres are manufactured by co-assembling negatively charged Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and positively charged Fe3+ under solvothermal conditions. RESULTS: The Fe3O4 MNPs are swallowed by chondrocytes, and the MNP-labeled chondrocytes are acted upon by the magnetic field. The predetermined magnetic force makes the tissues coalesce to form a multilayer cell sheet with a predetermined shape. The shaped cartilage tissue is regenerated in the transplanted body, and the nano magnetic control particles do not affect cell viability. The nanoparticles in this study improve the efficiency of cell interaction through super-magnetic modification, and to a certain extent change the way the cells absorb magnetic iron nanoparticles. This phenomenon allows a more orderly and compact alignment of the cartilage cell extracellular matrix, promotes ECM precipitation and cartilage tissue maturation, and improves the efficiency of cartilage regeneration. CONCLUSION: The magnetic bionic structure, which contains specific magnetic particle-labeled cells, is deposited layer by layer to generate a three-dimensional structure with repair function, and further induce the production of cartilage. This study describes a new method for the regeneration of tissue engineered cartilage which has broad application prospects in regenerative medicine.