Is fracture management merely a physical process? Exploring the psychological effects of internal and external fixation.

BACKGROUND: Internal and external fixation are common surgical procedures for treating fractures. However, the impact of different surgical approaches (including internal and external fixations) on patients' psychological status and Quality of Life (QoL) is rarely examined. Herein, we aimed to investigate the effects of internal and external fixation on anxiety, depression, insomnia, and overall mental and physical health in Distal Radius Fractures (DRF) patients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study on 96 fracture patients who underwent internal fixation (57 patients) or external fixation (39 patients). The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire were used to assess the patients' pain, anxiety, depression, sleep, and QoL before surgery and at seven days, one month, and three months post-surgery. RESULTS: The VAS scores were significantly lower in the Internal Fixation Group (IFG) than in the External Fixation Group (EFG) on the seventh day and one month postoperatively (P < 0.05). Although both groups showed no significant anxiety, depression, or insomnia before surgery (P > 0.05), the EFG showed significantly higher HADS-A, HADS-D, and AIS scores than the IFG at seven days and one and three months postoperatively (P < 0.05). Additionally, changes in HADS-A, HADS-D, and AIS scores were most significant at day seven post-surgery in the EFG (P < 0.05). Furthermore, no significant difference was found between the two groups in the average Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores before surgery (P > 0.05). However, both groups showed positive changes in PCS and MCS scores at postoperative day seven and one and three months postoperatively, with the IFG having significantly higher average PCS and MCS scores compared to the EFG (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared to external fixation, internal fixation did not significantly impact patients' emotions regarding anxiety and depression in the early postoperative period, and physical and mental health recovery was better during the postoperative rehabilitation period. Furthermore, when there are no absolute indications, the impact on patients' psychological well-being should be considered as one of the key factors in the treatment plan during surgical approach selection.

Effects of Combined Therapy of Olanzapine and Samidorphan on Safety and Metabolic Parameters in Schizophrenia Patients: A Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: This meta-analysis intended to evaluate the safety and metabolic effects of the combination of olanzapine (OLZ) and samidorphan (SAM) in the treatment of schizophrenia (SCZ) patients. Patients and Methods: We searched for the English and Chinese databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the OLZ combined with SAM for SCZ. The English databases included PubMed, Web of Science, EMbase, and Cochrane Library, however, Chinese databases included Chinese Biology Medicine (CBM), VIP, Wanfang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). All database searches were due by May 31, 2023. Using Review Manager 5.4 software, a meta-analysis was conducted following a literature review and data extraction. Results: This study included five RCTs involving 1781 patients. Regarding safety, the meta-analysis revealed that the probability of weight gain was reduced in the OLZ and SAM group than in the OLZ group (RR = 0.83, 95% CI (0.69, 0.99), P < 0.05). Statistically, the incidence of severe adverse safety events, dry mouth, headache, drowsiness, death, and suicidal perception events was insignificant (P > 0.05); in terms of metabolism, compared with the OLZ group, the OLZ plus SAM group reduced total cholesterol (TC) levels (MD = -3.58, 95% CI (-6.81, -0.34), P < 0.05). However, it had no significant effect on metabolic indices, including low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides, glucose, and insulin index (P > 0.05). Conclusion: In patients with SCZ, treatment with the combination of OLZ and SAM decreased the incidence of weight gain adverse events and TC levels; nevertheless, it did not affect other adverse events or metabolic parameters. These findings provide clinicians with evidence-based guidance and support for drug selection. However, it is crucial to confirm these findings through further high-quality research.

Blunted reward prediction error signals in internet gaming disorder.

BACKGROUND: Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is a type of behavioural addictions. One of the key features of addiction is the excessive exposure to addictive objectives (e.g. drugs) reduces the sensitivity of the brain reward system to daily rewards (e.g. money). This is thought to be mediated via the signals expressed as dopaminergic reward prediction error (RPE). Emerging evidence highlights blunted RPE signals in drug addictions. However, no study has examined whether IGD also involves alterations in RPE signals that are observed in other types of addictions. METHODS: To fill this gap, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 45 IGD and 42 healthy controls (HCs) during a reward-related prediction-error task and utilised a psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analysis to characterise the underlying neural correlates of RPE and related functional connectivity. RESULTS: Relative to HCs, IGD individuals showed impaired reinforcement learning, blunted RPE signals in multiple regions of the brain reward system, including the right caudate, left orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Moreover, the PPI analysis revealed a pattern of hyperconnectivity between the right caudate, right putamen, bilateral DLPFC, and right dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) in the IGD group. Finally, linear regression suggested that the connection between the right DLPFC and right dACC could significantly predict the variation of RPE signals in the left OFC. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight disrupted RPE signalling and hyperconnectivity between regions of the brain reward system in IGD. Reinforcement learning deficits may be crucial underlying characteristics of IGD pathophysiology.

Maladaptive metacognitive beliefs mediated the effect of intolerance of uncertainty on depression.

Both elevated intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and maladaptive metacognitive beliefs (MBs) were associated with depression. However, the relationship between MBs and IU in clinical depression is unclear. The current study aimed to investigate the putative impairment of MBs and IU in major depressive disorder (MDD) and explore the relationship between these two factors with depressive symptoms. Metacognition Questionnaire-30 Items (MCQ-30), Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-Short Form (IUS-12) and clinical rating scales were administered to 53 patients with MDD and 56 healthy controls (HCs). Stepwise regressions were performed to explore independent contributions of MBs and IU on depression. Mediation analysis was used to examine associations among variables. Patients with MDD reported higher IUS-12 and MCQ-30 scores than HCs. Stepwise regressions revealed a unique contribution of negative MBs concerning the consequences of not controlling thoughts (MCQ-NC) on depression symptoms while controlling the effects of age, gender, anxiety symptoms and IU. MCQ-NC and negative MBs concerning the uncontrollability and danger of negative thinking (MCQ-NEG) completely mediated the effects of IU on depression and anxiety symptoms. Our results provided clear evidence that maladaptive negative MBs are directly associated with depression symptoms, and mediated the effect of IU on depression and anxiety symptoms, suggesting that IU and MBs influence clinical symptoms in a hierarchical manner.

[Determination of purity and impurities of ethylene glycol for industrial use by gas chromatography].

A new test method was established for the determination of purity and impurities of ethylene glycol (EG) by gas chromatography (GC) using a Rtx-624 column (30 m×0.32 mm×1.8 µm). The method determined not only the impurities in EG from the ethylene oxidation process, such as diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol and (1,3-dioxolan-2-yl)methanol, but also the impurities from the oxalate hydrogenation process, such as 1,2-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, and ethylene carbonate, etc. The method showed good repeatability and high detection sensitivity. The lowest LOD of the impurities reached to 0.0002% (mass fraction), and the recoveries of the impurities were in the range of 91.2%-105.4%. The proposed method can be applied in production control, product testing and market trade of ethylene glycol.

[Determination of organic acids in 1, 2-butylene oxide products by valve switch-ion chromatography].

A novel analytical method was developed for the determination of organic acids (formic acid, acetic acid and propionic acid) in 1, 2-butylene oxide (1, 2-BO) products by valve switch-ion chromatography (IC).The samples were diluted in ethanol, and then were eluted from a concentrator column (IonPac TAC-ULP1) to an analytical column (IonPac AS11).The extracts were detected by a suppressed conductivity detector.Formic acid, acetic acid and propionic acid were separated well.Good linear relationships for the three organic acids were obtained.The spiked recoveries of the three organic acids in the samples were in the range of 92.5%-111.8%.The relative standard deviations (RSDs) were less than 5.6%(n=3).The limits of detection (LODs, S/N=3) of the formic acid, acetic acid and propionic acid were 0.60-4.80 µg/L.The method is simple, rapid, and accurate, and is suitable for the determination of the organic acids in an insoluble organic system.

Effect of temperature on the enantioselectivity of basic analytes using CE with sulfated beta-cyclodextrins.

Twelve basic analytes, including ephedrine and its structurally related compounds, were used to study the influence of capillary temperature on enantioselectivity in CE enantioseparations under reversed polarity mode using sulfated beta-CD (S-beta-CD) as chiral selectors. All of the effective mobility changes of (+)-enantiomers between 35 and 20 degrees C were higher than those of (-)-enantiomers whosoever enantioselectivity increased or decreased with an increase in temperature. However, the unusual temperature effect that enantioselectivity was increased with an increase of temperature was observed for the compounds with hydroxyl substitution on phenyl ring and had relationship with the molecular structures. With performing NMR studies on the selected selector-analyte complexes, the results led to a deeper understanding of the chiral discrimination process. Inspection of the complexation-induced chemical shifts (CICS) of the enantiomers showed that the phenyl ring sits deeply and slantways in the cavity of S-beta-CD and alkyl chain pointed out of the wider rim of S-beta-CD with ion-ion and hydrogen bond interactions between analytes and S-beta-CD.

[Recent applications of microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography].

The separation principle of microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC) is similar to micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). Within the last eight years, a number of papers have appeared in the literature. An overview about the applications of MEEKC is given.

Temperature effects on the enantioselectivity of basic analytes in capillary EKC using sulfated beta-CDs as chiral selectors.

The thermodynamic processes were investigated to reveal the temperature effects during chiral separation by capillary EKC with reversed polarity mode using sulfated beta-CD (S-beta-CD) as chiral selectors. The temperature effects on enantioselectivities of basic analytes (ephedrine, norephedrine, synephrine, and epinephrine) were investigated in detail over a temperature range of 20-60 degrees C. An increase of the capillary temperature produced the decrease of enantioselectivities for ephedrine and norephedrine, but increase of enantioselectivities for synephrine and epinephrine. The thermodynamic variations showed that the interactions between the basic analytes and chiral selectors were always enthalpy- driven. However, the difference in enthalpy and entropy showed that the enantioseparation was an enthalpy-driven process for ephedrine and norephedrine, but an entropydriven process for synephrine and epinephrine. Just because of the different driving forces, there exist two kinds of temperature effects on enantioselectivities mentioned above.

Study of low-molecular weight organic acids in maize roots under the stress of cadmium using capillary zone electrophoresis.

An indirect CE method was developed for the study of low-molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs) in maize under the stress of cadmium. The influences of indirect reagents (phthalate, salicylic acid, and benzoic acid), coion concentration, and pH were studied. A buffer composed of 15 mmol/L benzoate and 0.2 mmol/L CTAB (pH 5.7) was used in the organic acid determination. The detection limit ranged between 0.5 and 6 micromol/L. The RSD (n = 14) of the method was found to be in the range of 0.11-0.49% for migration time and 1.25-4.72% for peak area. In the maize roots, obvious increases of LMWOAs were observed when the plants were under the stress of cadmium and/or organic acids. The recovery of standard organic acids added in real samples ranged from 85 to 116%.

Study of the enantioseparation of imazaquin and enantioselective degradation in field soils by CZE.

A fast, simple, and sensitive CE method was developed to study the separation and degradation of imazaquin enantiomers in field soils. The parameters pH and concentration of the buffer electrolyte, type and concentration of the chiral selectors, applied voltage, and temperature of the CE system were investigated. Sodium hydrogen phosphate (50 mM) at pH 10.1 containing 30 mM hydroxypropyl-beta-CD (HP-beta-CD) was found to be the suitable BGE. The reliable determination for imazaquin enantiomers was obtained at 20 kV applied voltage, 15 degrees C separation system, and detection at 214 nm. Under the optimal conditions, the LODs (S/N = 3) were 0.0097 and 0.0098 mg/kg; linearity ranged from 0.019 to 1.24 and 0.020 to 1.26 mg/kg for the first-eluting peak of imazaquin (imazaquin-I) and the second-eluting peak of imazaquin (imazaquin-II) in soil, respectively. The precision in terms of the percentage of RSD (%RSD) calculated from peak area was not greater than 5%. With the suitable characteristics of the present method, it was applied to the study of enantioselective degradation in field soil. According to the calculated values of the enantiomer ratio (ER) and the rate constant of degradation (k), the results suggested that the degradation rate of the two enantiomers were slightly different, and that the pH of the soil had a strong influence on the rate of degradation.

Studies on degradation of imazalil enantiomers in soil using capillary electrophoresis.

A scheme was demonstrated to elucidate the degradation behaviors of the two enantiomers of the fungicide imazalil in soil using cyclodextrin-modified capillary zone electrophoresis. The separation buffer was 50 mmol/L NaH2PO4, 5 mmol/L (NH4)H2PO4, and 5 mmol/L beta-cyclodextrin (pH 3.0). The limits of detection of this CE method were 0.24 and 0.26 microg/mL for (-)- and (+)-imazalil, respectively. Five different soil conditions were investigated in laboratory microcosms: under sunlight; in darkness; under UV irradiation; in sterilized soil; and in soil with wheat planted in it. Radiation, microorganisms, and uptake by wheat benefited the degradation of imazalil in this study. The half-lives (t1/2) of imazalil in soil under the above conditions were 20, 30.5, 11, 27.5, and 21.5 days, respectively. The degradation rate of imazalil in soil under the five different sets of conditions decreased in the order: UV irradiation > sunlight > soil with wheat planted in it > sterilized soil > soil kept in darkness. Imazalil in soil (pH 8.2, slightly alkaline) collected in the suburbs showed non-enantioselective degradation.

Comparison of two capillary electrophoresis online stacking modes by analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in airborne particulates.

Naphthalene, fluorene, pyrene, anthracene, phenanthrene, and chrysene were successfully separated by CD-modified MEKC (CD-MEKC) using 20 mM borate (pH 9.0) containing 90 mM SDS and 75 mM beta-CD. Two online stacking methods, i.e., sweeping and field-enhanced sample injection (FESI), were explored to enhance the detection sensitivity. The influences of some crucial parameters in sweeping and FESI procedures were investigated. For FESI method, a plug of water and low-conductivity sample matrix was used to increase the stacking efficiency. Compared with the sweeping method, FESI can increase the sensitivity in the range of 10-20-fold. The proposed method was used for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in airborne particulates.

Simultaneous separation of organomercury species by nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis using methanol containing acetic acid and imidazole.

A simple and rapid nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis method for simultaneous separation of four kinds of mercury species, namely inorganic mercury, methylmercury, ethylmercury, and phenylmercury, is reported. The effective mobilities of organomercury in aqueous and nonaqueous electrolytes were compared. Imidazole was confirmed not only as a co-ion for the separation but also as an online complexing reagent for mercury species. The optimum conditions for separation were achieved by using methanol solvent containing 0.15 M acetic acid and 15 mM imidazole as electrolyte. The sensitive detection of mercury species was accomplished at 191 nm.