Correlation between short-chain fatty acids and peri-implant disease: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: To explore the correlation between short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the peri-implant sulcular fluid (PISF) and peri-implant diseases. METHODS: PISF samples were obtained from implants that have been placed for at least 5 years, and peri-implant clinical parameters were examined. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography were used to detect SCFAs in PISF. The correlation between SCFAs and clinical parameters was analyzed by Spearman's correlation. SCFAs related to peri-implant disease were identified by logistic regression and ranked by random forest analysis. RESULTS: Eighty-six implants were divided into a peri-implant health group (PIH-group, 35 implants), peri-implant mucositis group (PIM-group, 25 implants), and peri-implantitis group (PI-group, 26 implants) according to clinical and radiographic examination results. The PIM-group had significantly lower formic acid detection rate than the other two groups (p < 0.001). The PIM-group had significantly higher levels of acetic, propionic, and isovaleric acids than the PIH-group (p < 0.05). The PI-group had significantly higher levels of propionic, butyric, isobutyric, valeric, and isovaleric acids than the PIH-group (p < 0.05). The PI-group had significantly higher levels of butyric, isobutyric, and isovaleric acids than the PIM-group (p < 0.05). SCFAs (apart from hexanoic and succinic acids) were significantly and positively correlated with clinical parameters (p < 0.05). SCFAs related to peri-implant disease were ranked as follows: butyric, isovaleric, isobutyric, propionic, acetic, formic, and lactic acids. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated specific SCFAs are correlated with peri-implant disease. Recognition of this correlation may help in early identification of peri-implant disease and guide further clinical interventions.

Biplane Reduction: A Novel Technique for Restoring Fibula Length in Maisonneuve Fracture.

OBJECTIVE: Fibular length is important for ankle stability. Failure to adequately restore and stabilize fibula length may result in malunion, hindering postoperative functional exercises and recovery of ankle function. However, there is no unified and effective reduction method for fibular shortening in Maisonneuve fractures. In this study, we introduce the biplane reduction as an effective surgical technique for restoring the length of the fibula in Maisonneuve fractures. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 12 patients preoperatively diagnosed with Maisonneuve fractures between June 2019 and June 2022. All patients underwent our biplane reduction technique to restore the length of their fibula. Operation time, hospital stay, complications, FTA (the angle between the fibular tip and the superior articular surface of the talus), visual analog pain score, and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot score were recorded. An independent sample t-test was used for component comparisons, and a paired sample t-test or one-way analysis of variance was used for intra-group comparisons. RESULTS: No patient was lost to follow-up and no obvious postoperative complications were observed. After operation, FTA recovered from 37.52 ± 0.37 ° to 40.42 ± 0.43 °, which was significantly improved compared with that before operation (p < 0.01). At the last follow-up, both the VAS and AOFAS scores showed significant improvement compared to pre-surgery scores. CONCLUSIONS: The reduction technique proposed in this study to restore the length of the fibula in Maisonneuve fractures is simple and effective, does not require special equipment, and has the advantage of directly examining the reduction condition.

Liposomes-Encapsulating Double-Stranded Nucleic Acid (Poly I:C) for Head and Neck Cancer Treatment.

Polyriboinosinic acid-polyribocytidylic acid (Poly I:C) serves as a synthetic mimic of viral double-stranded dsRNA, capable of inducing apoptosis in numerous cancer cells. Despite its potential, therapeutic benefits, the application of Poly I:C has been hindered by concerns regarding toxicity, stability, enzymatic degradation, and undue immune stimulation, leading to autoimmune disorders. To address these challenges, encapsulation of antitumor drugs within delivery systems such as cationic liposomes is often employed to enhance their efficacy while minimizing dosages. In this study, we investigated the potential of cationic liposomes to deliver Poly I:C into the Head and Neck 12 (HN12) cell line to induce apoptosis in the carcinoma cells and tumor model. Cationic liposomes made by the hydrodynamic focusing method surpass traditional methods by offering a continuous flow-based approach for encapsulating genes, which is ideal for efficient tumor delivery. DOTAP liposomes efficiently bind Poly I:C, confirmed by transmission electron microscopy images displaying their spherical morphology. Liposomes are easily endocytosed in HN12 cells, suggesting their potential for therapeutic gene and drug delivery in head and neck squamous carcinoma cells. Activation of apoptotic pathways involving MDA5, RIG-I, and TLR3 is evidenced by upregulated caspase-3, caspase-8, and IRF3 genes upon endocytosis of Poly(I:C)-encapsulated liposomes. Therapeutic evaluations revealed significant inhibition of tumor growth with Poly I:C liposomes, indicating the possibility of MDA5, RIG-I, and TLR3-induced apoptosis pathways via Poly I:C liposomes in HN12 xenografts in J:NU mouse models. Comparative histological analysis underscores enhanced cell death with Poly I:C liposomes, warranting further investigation into the precise mechanisms of apoptosis and inflammatory cytokine response in murine models for future research.

Application of fused graphical lasso to statistical inference for multiple sparse precision matrices.

In this paper, the fused graphical lasso (FGL) method is used to estimate multiple precision matrices from multiple populations simultaneously. The lasso penalty in the FGL model is a restraint on sparsity of precision matrices, and a moderate penalty on the two precision matrices from distinct groups restrains the similar structure across multiple groups. In high-dimensional settings, an oracle inequality is provided for FGL estimators, which is necessary to establish the central limit law. We not only focus on point estimation of a precision matrix, but also work on hypothesis testing for a linear combination of the entries of multiple precision matrices. We apply a de-biasing technology, which is used to obtain a new consistent estimator with known distribution for implementing the statistical inference, and extend the statistical inference problem to multiple populations. The corresponding de-biasing FGL estimator and its asymptotic theory are provided. A simulation study and an application of the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma data show that the proposed test works well in high-dimensional situation.

Localized Sustained Release of Copper Enhances Antitumor Effects of Disulfiram in Head and Neck Cancer.

Drug repurposing uses approved drugs as candidate anticancer therapeutics, harnesses previous research and development efforts, and benefits from available clinically suitable formulations and evidence of patient tolerability. In this work, the drug used clinically to treat chronic alcoholism, disulfiram (DSF), was studied for its antitumor efficacy in a copper-dependent manner. The combination of DSF and copper could achieve a tumor cell growth inhibition effect comparable to those of 5-fluorouracil and taxol on head and neck cancer cells. Both bulk dendrimer hydrogel and microsized dendrimer hydrogel particles were utilized for the localized sustained release of copper in the tumor site. The localized sustained release of copper facilitated the tumor inhibition effect following intratumoral injection in a mouse's head and neck cancer model.

Bisphenol A: Unveiling Its Role in Glioma Progression and Tumor Growth.

Gliomas represent the most common and lethal category of primary brain tumors. Bisphenol A (BPA), a widely recognized endocrine disruptor, has been implicated in the progression of cancer. Despite its established links to various cancers, the association between BPA and glioma progression remains to be clearly defined. This study aimed to shed light on the impact of BPA on glioma cell proliferation and overall tumor progression. Our results demonstrate that BPA significantly accelerates glioma cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, BPA has been found to enhance the invasive and migratory capabilities of glioma cells, potentially promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) characteristics within these tumors. Employing bioinformatics approaches, we devised a risk assessment model to gauge the potential glioma hazards associated with BPA exposure. Our comprehensive analysis revealed that BPA not only facilitates glioma invasion and migration but also inhibits apoptotic processes. In summary, our study offers valuable insights into the mechanisms by which BPA may promote tumorigenesis in gliomas, contributing to the understanding of its broader implications in oncology.

Extracellular vesicles: Mediators of microenvironment in hypoxia-associated neurological diseases.

Hypoxia is a prevalent characteristic of numerous neurological disorders including stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are minute particles released by cells that contain diverse biological materials, including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. They have been implicated in a range of physiological and pathological processes including intercellular communication, immune responses, and disease progression. EVs are believed to play a pivotal role in modulating the microenvironment of hypoxia-associated neurological diseases. These EVs are capable of transporting hypoxia-inducible factors such as proteins and microRNAs to neighboring or remote cells, thereby influencing their behavior. Furthermore, EVs can traverse the blood-brain barrier, shielding the brain from detrimental substances in the bloodstream. This enables them to deliver their payload directly to the brain cells, potentially intensifying the effects of hypoxia. Nonetheless, the capacity of EVs to breach the blood-brain barrier presents new opportunities for drug delivery. The objective of this study was to elucidate the role of EVs as mediators of information exchange during tissue hypoxia, a pathophysiological process in ischemic stroke and malignant gliomas. We also investigated their involvement in the progression and regression of major diseases of the central nervous system, which are pertinent to the development of therapeutic interventions for neurological disorders.

Functional gonadotroph pituitary adenoma: A case report.

Most clinically non-functioning pituitary tumour arise from gonadotroph cells. However, clinically functional pituitary gonadotroph adenoma is rare. Here we report a female case who presented with menstrual disturbances, however further workup demonstrated a pituitary microadenoma with elevated FSH and oestradiol level. Transsphenoidal resection was performed and the surgical histopathology confirmed pituitary gonadotroph adenoma. Postoperatively, improvement in both symptoms and hormonal profile were observed. Interestingly, the initially enlarged and polycystic ovaries became within normal range around eight months after the surgery. We suggest functional gonadotroph adenoma should be considered in the presence of gynaecological disorder with persistently elevated oestradiol and FSH levels.

Dynamics of host immune responses and a potential function of Trem2hi interstitial macrophages in Pneumocystis pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is a life-threatening opportunistic fungal infection with a high mortality rate in immunocompromised patients, ranging from 20 to 80%. However, current understanding of the variation in host immune response against Pneumocystis across different timepoints is limited. METHODS: In this study, we conducted a time-resolved single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of CD45+ cells sorted from lung tissues of mice infected with Pneumocystis. The dynamically changes of the number, transcriptome and interaction of multiply immune cell subsets in the process of Pneumocystis pneumonia were identified according to bioinformatic analysis. Then, the accumulation of Trem2hi interstitial macrophages after Pneumocystis infection was verified by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. We also investigate the role of Trem2 in resolving the Pneumocystis infection by depletion of Trem2 in mouse models. RESULTS: Our results characterized the CD45+ cell composition of lung in mice infected with Pneumocystis from 0 to 5 weeks, which revealed a dramatic reconstitution of myeloid compartments and an emergence of PCP-associated macrophage (PAM) following Pneumocystis infection. PAM was marked by the high expression of Trem2. We also predicted that PAMs were differentiated from Ly6C+ monocytes and interacted with effector CD4+ T cell subsets via multiple ligand and receptor pairs. Furthermore, we determine the surface markers of PAMs and validated the presence and expansion of Trem2hi interstitial macrophages in PCP by flow cytometry. PAMs secreted abundant pro-inflammation cytokines, including IL-6, TNF-α, GM-CSF, and IP-10. Moreover, PAMs inhibited the proliferation of T cells, and depletion of Trem2 in mouse lead to reduced fungal burden and decreased lung injury in PCP. CONCLUSION: Our study delineated the dynamic transcriptional changes in immune cells and suggests a role for PAMs in PCP, providing a framework for further investigation into PCP's cellular and molecular basis, which could provide a resource for further discovery of novel therapeutic targets.

Physio-chemical Modifications to Re-engineer Small Extracellular Vesicles for Targeted Anticancer Therapeutics Delivery and Imaging.

Cancer theranostics developed through nanoengineering applications are essential for targeted oncologic interventions in the new era of personalized and precision medicine. Recently, small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) have emerged as an attractive nanoengineering platform for tumor-directed anticancer therapeutic delivery and imaging of malignant tumors. These natural nanoparticles have multiple advantages over synthetic nanoparticle-based delivery systems, such as intrinsic targeting ability, less immunogenicity, and a prolonged circulation time. Since the inception of sEVs as a viable replacement for liposomes (synthetic nanoparticles) as a drug delivery vehicle, many studies have attempted to further the therapeutic efficacy of sEVs. This article discusses engineering strategies for sEVs using physical and chemical methods to enhance their anticancer therapeutic delivery performance. We review physio-chemical techniques of effective therapeutic loading into sEV, sEV surface engineering for targeted entry of therapeutics, and its cancer environment sensitive release inside the cells/organ. Next, we also discuss the novel hybrid sEV systems developed by a combination of sEVs with lipid and metal nanoparticles to garner each component's benefits while overcoming their drawbacks. The article extensively analyzes multiple sEV labeling techniques developed and investigated for live tracking or imaging sEVs. Finally, we discuss the theranostic potential of engineered sEVs in future cancer care regimens.

Efficient adsorption of chloroquine phosphate by a novel sodium alginate/tannic acid double-network hydrogel in a wide pH range.

In this work, a novel double-network composite hydrogel (SA/TA), composed of sodium alginate (SA) and tannic acid (TA), was designed and fabricated by a successive cross-linking method using Ti(IV) and Ca(II) as crosslinkers. SA/TA exhibited reinforced mechanical strength and anti-swelling properties because of the double-network structure. SA/TA was used as an adsorbent for removal of a popular antiviral drug, chloroquine phosphate (CQ), in water. The adsorption performance of SA/TA was systematically investigated, to study various effects including those of TA mass content, solution pH, adsorption time, and initial CQ concentration. Adsorption was also examined in presence of inorganic and organic coexisting substances commonly found in wastewater, and under different actual water samples. Batch experimental results indicated that SA/TA could maintain higher and more stable CQ uptakes within a wide solution pH range from 3.0 to 10.0, compared to its precursor, SA hydrogel, owing to the addition of TA-Ti(IV) coordination network. The maximum experimental CQ uptake exhibited by the 1:1 (by wt) SA/TA (SA/TA2) was as high as 0.699 mmol/g at the initial pH of 9.0. A high concentration of coexisting NaCl evidently reduced the CQ uptakes of SA/TA2 due to the electrostatic shielding effect, moreover, divalent cations including Ca(II) and Mg(II) also inhibited the adsorption of CQ due to competitive adsorption. However, humic acid had little effect on this adsorption. Considering the apparent adsorption performance, the aforementioned effects of various factors and the spectroscopic characterizations, multi-interactions are suggested for adsorption including chelation, electrostatic interactions, π-π electron donor-acceptor interaction and hydrogen bonding. SA/TA showed a slight loss in adsorption capacity toward CQ and sustained physicochemical structural stability, even after six adsorption-desorption cycles. In addition to CQ, SA/TA could be efficiently used for adsorption of two other antivirus drugs, namely, hydroxychloroquine sulfate and oseltamivir phosphate. This work provides an effective strategy for the design and fabrication of novel adsorbents that can effectively adsorb antiviral drugs over a wide pH range.

Iron overload causes macrophages to produce a pro-inflammatory phenotype in the synovium of hemophiliac arthritis via the acetyl-p53 pathway.

AIM: Haemophiliac arthritis (HA) is caused by spontaneous intra-articular hemorrhage and repeated intra-articular hematomas, leading to iron overload, which, in turn, induces M1 macrophage polarisation and inflammatory cytokine secretion, resulting in synovitis. Here, we explored the mechanism by which iron overload in HA induces the polarisation of M1 macrophages, providing a new approach for the treatment of HA synovitis. METHODS: The synovium from the knee joints of normal amputees and patients with HA was collected. Pathological changes in the synovial tissues were analysed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Iron tissue deposition was evaluated using the iron assay kit and Prussia Blue staining, while macrophage phenotype was determined using immunofluorescence. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and p53 acetylation were determine using western blotting. An in vitro iron overload model was established by inducing THP-1 macrophages with ferric ammonium citrate, and the involvement of acetylated p53 in M1 macrophage polarisation was investigated. RESULTS: Compared to control samples, the iron content in the synovium of patients with HA was significantly increased. The protein levels of M1 macrophage markers, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and acetylated p53, were also significantly elevated in the synovial tissues of patients with HA. Similar results were observed in the in vitro iron overload model. Furthermore, the inhibition of p53 acetylation in vitro reversed these iron overload-induced effects. CONCLUSION: In patients with HA, iron overload induced synovial p53 acetylation, leading to macrophage polarisation toward the M1 phenotype and increased inflammatory cytokine secretion, resulting in synovitis. HIGHLIGHTS: Synovial iron overload is associated with changes in P53 acetylation in hemophiliac arthritis (HA). Acetylated p53, a known regulator of macrophage polarization, is highly expressed in HA synovium, suggesting a potential role in M1 polarization. HA synovial macrophages predominantly polarize into the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype, secreting elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Mitochondrial subtype MB-G3 contains potential novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets associated with prognosis of medulloblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children. There are four groups, each with different causal mutations, affected pathways and prognosis. Here, we investigated the role of mitochondria in medulloblastoma and whether there are differences between the different groups. METHODS: We compared the gene expression levels in the four different medulloblastoma groups (MB-WNT, MB-SHH, MB-G3 and MB-G4), with the focus on genes associated with mitochondria. We used several tools including Salmon, Tximeta, DESeq2, BiomaRt, STRING, Ggplot2, EnhancedVolcano, Venny 2.1 and Metscape. RESULTS: A total of 668 genes were differentially expressed and the most abundant genes were associated with cell division pathway followed by modulation of chemical synaptic transmission. We also identified several genes (ABAT, SOX9, ALDH5A, FOXM1, ABL1, NHLH1, NEUROD1 and NEUROD2) known to play vital role in medulloblastoma. Comparative expression analysis revealed OXPHOS complex-associated proteins of mitochondria. The most significantly expressed genes in the MB-SHH and MB-G4 groups were AHCYL1 and SFXN5 while PAICS was significantly upregulated in MB-WNT group. Notably, MB-G3 contained the most downregulated genes from the OXPHOS complexes, except COX6B2 which was strongly upregulated. CONCLUSIONS: We show the importance of mitochondria and compare their role in the four different medulloblastoma groups.

Terpenoids from Euphorbia helioscopia and Their Cytotoxic Activities against H1975 Cells.

Three previously undescribed diterpenoids, helioscopnoids A-C, and eight known compounds were isolated from the whole plants of Euphorbia helioscopia. Their structures were established by extensive analysis of spectra and data comparison with previous literatures. Among them, compound 4 was identified as 24,24-dimethoxy-25,26,27-trinoreuphan-3ß-ol with revised configurations of C-13, C-14, and C-17 (13R*, 14R*, 17R*). Cytotoxicity assays revealed that all compounds exhibited varying levels of cytotoxicity against H1975 cells, with compound 9 displaying the most potent activity, as indicated by cell viability rates of 18.13 % and 20.76 % at concentrations of 20 µM and 5 µM, respectively. This study expands the understanding of E. helioscopia terpenoids' structural diversity and biological activities, contributing to the exploration of potential therapeutic applications.

Enhanced sludge dewaterability using a bifunctional hybrid coagulant.

The combination of coagulation and addition of skeleton builder is a popular pretreatment method to improve the dewaterability of sludge. In this study, a novel bifunctional inorganic/organic hybrid coagulant (CS-Si@ATP) was designed and obtained by chemically coupling a cationic starch (CS) with a popular clay, that is, attapulgite (ATP), via a silane coupling agent (APTES) for one-step conditioning of sludge. CS-Si@ATP can evidently enhance the sludge dewatering performance compared with CS, ATP, and their simple combination due to the distinct dual functions of this hybrid coagulant. The tentacle-like cationic CS in CS-Si@ATP shows efficient charge neutralization effect to aggregate and precipitate the suspended solids for further formation of compact sludge cakes. Meanwhile, the internal ATP with a stable and rigid structure acts as the skeleton builder to notably improve the filterability and permeability of the sludge cakes. The synergistic effects of CS and ATP in CS-Si@ATP, i.e., the charge neutralization of CS and the skeleton construction of ATP, cause the evidently enhanced sludge dewaterability, with a filter cake moisture content approximately 78.30% after the mechanical dewatering at 0.05 MPa. In comparison with the traditional two-step combination process by separated addition of CS and ATP, the one-step addition of CS-Si@ATP can reduce the required ATP dose nearly an order of magnitude. Thus, CS-Si@ATP has the notable advantages of simple operation, efficient utilization of ATP and evident reduction of disposal cost. This study provides an environmentally friendly and cost-effective coagulant to further improve the dewaterability of sludge.

EZH2 inhibitor Tazemetostat synergizes with JQ-1 in esophageal cancer by inhibiting c-Myc signaling pathway.

EZH2, a highly conserved histone methyltransferase, plays an essential role in tumorigenesis and development. The inhibitor of EZH2 tazemetostat has been approved to treat metastatic or locally advanced epithelioid sarcoma and recurrent or refractory follicular lymphoma. However, the effect of tazemetostat alone or in combination with other drugs in esophageal cancer has not been reported. In this study, we found that EZH2 was highly expressed in esophageal cancer at both mRNA and protein levels through transcriptomic and proteomic analyses. Furthermore, the results of CCK8, colony formation, cell cycle and cell apoptosis assays revealed that tazemetostat exerted an antitumour effect on esophageal cancer cells. Mechanistically, RNA-sequencing analysis of the tazemetostat-treated cells and vehicle-treated ones suggested that tazemetostat mainly inhibited the c-Myc signaling pathway and its targets, which was validated by western blotting. JQ-1, an inhibitor of bromodomain 4, was proven to attenuate c-Myc signaling in tumors. Thus, a therapeutic strategy based on tazemetostat in combination with JQ-1 is promising. The results demonstrated that tazemetostat and JQ-1 had a synergistic effect in vitro and in vivo for esophageal cancer.

Effect of Schatzker type VI tibial plateau fractures combined with a proximal fibular and/or posterolateral joint facet fracture on early postoperative functional recovery.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of proximal fibular and/or posterolateral joint facet (PJF) fractures on early functional recovery after Schatzker type VI tibial plateau fractures (TPFs). METHODS: Seventy-nine patients with Schatzker type VI TPFs sustained from November 2016 to February 2021 were divided into three groups according to the integrity of the proximal fibula and PJF (groups A, B, and C). Details including demographics, duration of surgery, and complications were recorded. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) score, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score, lateral knee pain and lateral hamstring tightness were ascertained at the final follow-up. The HSS and WOMAC scores have high reliability in evaluating knee function and osteoarthritis. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the HSS score between groups A and C (P < 0.001) and between groups B and C (P = 0.036). The hospital stay was significantly different between groups A and C (P = 0.038) and between groups B and C (P = 0.013). There was a significant difference in lateral knee pain and lateral hamstring tightness between groups A and C (P < 0.001) and between groups B and C (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that proximal fibular and PJF fractures do not increase the time from injury to surgery, the incidence of complications, or the duration of surgery for Schatzker type VI TPFs. However, fractures of the proximal fibula significantly increase the hospital stay, reduce knee function, and cause lateral knee pain and lateral hamstring tightness. Combined proximal fibular fracture is more decisive than PJF involvement for prognosis.

Application of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for treatment of obstructive jaundice after hepatoblastoma surgery: A case report.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for treating obstructive jaundice (OJ) post hepatoblastoma (HB) surgery (post-HB OJ) by analyzing the data of a case and performing a literature review. CASE SUMMARY: Clinical data of one patient with post-HB OJ treated by ERCP were retrospectively analyzed. Furthermore, clinical characteristics and insights into the diagnosis and treatment of post-HB OJ in children were summarized via searching various databases and platforms, such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, CQVIP database, PubMed, Ringer Link, and Google Scholar. The patient reported herein underwent five chemotherapy sessions after the diagnosis of HB and right hemihepatectomy after tumor size reduction; these were followed by two postoperative chemotherapy sessions. Three months postoperatively, the patient developed icteric sclera, strong tea-colored urine, and clay-like stools, and showed signs of skin itchiness; blood analysis showed significantly an increased conjugated bilirubin (CB) level (200.3 µmol/L). Following the poor efficacy of anti-jaundice and hepatoprotective treatments, the patient underwent ERCP. Intraoperative imaging showed a dilated bile duct in the porta hepatis with significant distal stenosis. A 5 Fr nasopancreatic tube was placed in the dilated area through the stricture for external drainage, and the patient was extubated on postoperative day 6. Postoperatively, the patient's stool turned yellow, and the CB level decreased to 78.2 µmol/L. Fifteen days later, ERCP was repeated due to unrelieved jaundice symptoms, wherein a 7 Fr nasobiliary drainage tube was successfully placed. Three months post-ERCP, the jaundice symptoms resolved, and the CB level was reduced to 33.2 µmol/L. A follow-up examination one year postoperatively revealed no jaundice symptoms and normal CB level. CONCLUSION: Post-HB OJ is rare. Compared to biliary tract reconstruction, ERCP is less invasive and has a better therapeutic effect.

Synthesis and Performance Analysis of Green Water and Oil-Repellent Finishing Agent with Di-Short Fluorocarbon Chain.

A novel fluorine-containing water-repellent agent (OFAE-SA-BA) was designed and synthesized by emulsion copolymerization, which was used to replace the commercial long fluorocarbon chain water-repellent agent. To improve water repellency, the intermediate and monomer containing two short fluoroalkyl chains were successfully synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and FT-IR, respectively. After being treated by the water-repellent agent, the surface chemical composition, molecular weight, thermal stability, surface morphology, wetting behavior, and durability of the modified cotton fabrics were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectrophotometry (XPS), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), thermal degradation (TG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and video-based contact angle goniometry, respectively. The cotton fabric demonstrated water contact angle of 154.1°, both the water and oil repellency rating were grade 4. The durability of water repellency of the treated fabrics only decreased slightly after 30 times, which represented very good washing durability. The finishing agent did not affect the whiteness of the fabric.