18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging of pediatric neuroblastoma: a multi-omics parameters method to predict MYCN copy number category.

Background: The MYCN copy number category is closely related to the prognosis of neuroblastoma (NB). Therefore, this study aimed to assess the predictive ability of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) radiomic features for MYCN copy number in NB. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 104 pediatric patients with NB that had been confirmed by pathology. To develop the Bio-omics model (B-model), which incorporated clinical and biological aspects, PET/CT radiographic features, PET quantitative parameters, and significant features with multivariable stepwise logistic regression were preserved. Important radiomics features were identified through least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and univariable analysis. On the basis of radiomics features obtained from PET and CT scans, the radiomics model (R-model) was developed. The significant bio-omics and radiomics features were combined to establish a Multi-omics model (M-model). The above 3 models were established to differentiate MYCN wild from MYCN gain and MYCN amplification (MNA). The calibration curve and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to verify the prediction performance. Post hoc analysis was conducted to compare whether the constructed M-model can distinguish MYCN gain from MNA. Results: The M-model showed excellent predictive performance in differentiating MYCN wild from MYCN gain and MNA, which was better than that of the B-model and R-model [area under the curve (AUC) 0.83, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.74-0.92 vs. 0.81, 95% CI: 0.72-0.90 and 0.79, 95% CI: 0.69-0.89]. The calibration curve showed that the M-model had the highest reliability. Post hoc analysis revealed the great potential of the M-model in differentiating MYCN gain from MNA (AUC 0.95, 95% CI: 0.89-1). Conclusions: The M-model model based on bio-omics and radiomics features is an effective tool to distinguish MYCN copy number category in pediatric patients with NB.

Construction and screening of spin-crossover-sponge materials based on iron(II)-triazole coordination polymers.

Iron(II)-triazole coordination polymers have attracted considerable interest for their synthetic versatility, which allows tuning their spin-crossover (SCO) properties. Embedding SCO solid particles in sponge matrices is a simple, powerful, and generic approach to construct processable SCO materials. Here, we have studied a series of magnetic frameworks based on partial ligand substitution by using different chemical mixtures of two organic ligands, yielding four isostructural coordination polymers. The integration of the hygroscopic SCO material has endowed the composite sponge with the ability to capture moisture under ambient conditions. In particular, not only does a spin-crossover transition during absorption occur, but also a color variation has been achieved by varying humidity. The consequences of cooperativity and the exposed surface of the composite sponge on the spin transition were evaluated and the most promising materials among them were screened. This work provides guiding significance for the fabrication and practical application of spin-crossover-sponge materials.

Predicting MYCN amplification in paediatric neuroblastoma: development and validation of a 18F-FDG PET/CT-based radiomics signature.

OBJECTIVES: To develop and validate an 18F-FDG PET/CT-based clinical-radiological-radiomics nomogram and evaluate its value in the diagnosis of MYCN amplification (MNA) in paediatric neuroblastoma (NB) patients. METHODS: A total of 104 patients with NB were retrospectively included. We constructed a nomogram to predict MNA based on radiomics signatures, clinical and radiological features. The multivariable logistic regression and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) were used for feature selection. Radiomics models are constructed using decision trees (DT), logistic regression (LR) and support vector machine (SVM) classifiers. A clinical-radiological (C-R) model was developed using clinical and radiological features. A clinical-radiological-radiomics (C-R-R) model was developed using the C-R model of the best radiomics model. The prediction performance was verified by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, calibration curve analysis and decision curve analysis (DCA) in the training and validation cohorts. RESULTS: The present study showed that four radiomics signatures were significantly correlated with MNA. The SVM classifier was the best model of radiomics signature. The C-R-R model has the best discriminant ability to predict MNA, with AUCs of 0.860 (95% CI, 0.757-0.963) and 0.824 (95% CI, 0.657-0.992) in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. The calibration curve indicated that the C-R-R model has the goodness of fit and DCA confirms its clinical utility. CONCLUSION: Our research provides a non-invasive C-R-R model, which combines the radiomics signatures and clinical and radiological features based on 18F-FDGPET/CT images, shows excellent diagnostic performance in predicting MNA, and can provide useful biological information with stratified therapy. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Radiomic signatures of 18F-FDG-based PET/CT can predict MYCN amplification in neuroblastoma. KEY POINTS: • Radiomic signatures of 18F-FDG-based PET/CT can predict MYCN amplification in neuroblastoma. • SF, LDH, necrosis and TLG are the independent risk factors of MYCN amplification. • Clinical-radiological-radiomics model improved the predictive performance of MYCN amplification.

18F-FDG PET/CT imaging of pediatric peripheral neuroblastic tumor: a combined model to predict the International Neuroblastoma Pathology Classification.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a model combining a 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT)-based radiomics signature with clinical factors in the preoperative prediction of the International Neuroblastoma Pathology Classification (INPC) type of pediatric peripheral neuroblastic tumor (pNT). Methods: A total of 106 consecutive pediatric pNT patients confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed. Significant features determined by multivariate logistic regression were retained to establish a clinical model (C-model), which included clinical parameters and PET/CT radiographic features. A radiomics model (R-model) was constructed on the basis of PET and CT images. A semiautomatic method was used for segmenting regions of interest. A total of 1,016 radiomics features were extracted. Univariate analysis and the least absolute shrinkage selection operator were then used to select significant features. The C-model was combined with the R-model to establish a combination model (RC-model). The predictive performance was validated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA) in both the training cohort and validation cohort. Results: The radiomics signature was constructed using 5 selected radiomics features. The RC-model, which was based on the 5 radiomics features and 3 clinical factors, showed better predictive performance compared with the C-model alone [area under the curve in the validation cohort: 0.908 vs. 0.803; accuracy: 0.903 vs. 0.710; sensitivity: 0.895 vs. 0.789; specificity: 0.917 vs. 0.583; net reclassification improvement (NRI) 0.439, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.1047-0.773; P=0.01]. The calibration curve showed that the RC-model had goodness of fit, and DCA confirmed its clinical utility. Conclusions: In this preliminary single-center retrospective study, an R-model based on 18F-FDG PET/CT was shown to be promising in predicting INPC type in pediatric pNT, allowing for the noninvasive prediction of INPC and assisting in therapeutic strategies.

Face-to-face physical activity incorporated into dietary intervention for overweight/obesity in children and adolescents: a Bayesian network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent obesity has been reported to have deleterious consequences but is considered a promising modifiable risk factor. We aimed to investigate the optimal intervention for obese and overweight children and adolescents. METHODS: We searched the Medline (PubMed, 1946-December 2020), PsycINFO (Ovid, 1927-December 2020), Cochrane library (1966-December 2020), Web of Science (1900-December 2020), Embase (1974-December 2020), CINAHL (1937-December 2020), Chinese Biomedical Literature (1978-December 2020), and ClinicalTrials.gov (December 2020) databases. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting the association between various interventions and obese/overweight children and adolescents. The quality of the included studies was judged by two independent reviewers using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted to summarize the comparative effectiveness of interventions based on several outcomes. RESULTS: We included 118 RCTs comprising 71,064 participants in our analyses. Based on the outcome of the body mass index (BMI), face-to-face physical activity (FTF PA) combined with dietary intervention (DI) (mean difference [MD] = - 0.98; 95% credible interval [CrI] - 1.19, - 0.77), FTF multi-lifestyle intervention (MLI) (MD = - 0.95; 95% CrI - 1.14, - 0.75), and mobile health (MH)-delivered MLI (MD = - 0.87; 95% CrI - 1.63, - 0.09) showed significant benefits over the named control group (NCG). For the outcome of BMI z-score, FTF PA+DI (MD = - 0.10; 95% CrI - 0.15, - 0.04) and MH-delivered PA+DI (MD = - 0.09; 95% CrI - 0.14, - 0.04) were more effective than the NCG. Sensitivity analyses revealed similar findings after exclusion of studies with < 12-month and 24-month outcome assessments for the intervention, which indicated the results were stable. CONCLUSIONS: Based on limited quality evidence and limited direct evidence, our preliminary findings showed that FTF-PA+DI, FTF-MLI, and MH-delivered MLI improved the health-related parameters in obese adolescents, in comparison with NCG. Owing to the absence of strong, direct evidence of a significant difference between the various interventions for the four outcomes, we can only cautiously suggest that FTF-PA+DI is likely the most effective intervention.

The prognostic value of 18F-FDG PET/CT intra-tumoural metabolic heterogeneity in pretreatment neuroblastoma patients.

BACKGROUND: Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common tumour in children younger than 5 years old and notable for highly heterogeneous. Our aim was to quantify the intra-tumoural metabolic heterogeneity of primary tumour lesions by using 18F-FDG PET/CT and evaluate the prognostic value of intra-tumoural metabolic heterogeneity in NB patients. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 38 pretreatment NB patients in our study. 18F-FDG PET/CT images were reviewed and analyzed using 3D slicer software. The semi-quantitative metabolic parameters of primary tumour were measured, including the maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumour volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG). The areas under the curve of cumulative SUV-volume histogram index (AUC-CSH index) was used to quantify intra-tumoural metabolic heterogeneity. The median follow-up was 21.3 months (range 3.6 - 33.4 months). The outcome endpoint was event-free survival (EFS), including progression-free survival and overall survival. Survival analysis was performed using Cox regression models and Kaplan Meier survival plots. RESULTS: In all 38 newly diagnosed NB patients, 2 patients died, and 17 patients experienced a relapse. The AUC-CSHtotal (r=0.630, P<0.001) showed moderate correlation with the AUC-CSH40%. In univariate analysis, chromosome 11q deletion (P=0.033), Children's Oncology Group (COG) risk grouping (P=0.009), bone marrow involvement (BMI, P=0.015), and AUC-CSHtotal (P=0.007) were associated with EFS. The AUC-CSHtotal (P=0.036) and BMI (P=0.045) remained significant in multivariate analysis. The Kaplan Meier survival analyses demonstrated that patients with higher intra-tumoural metabolic heterogeneity and BMI had worse outcomes (log-rank P=0.002). CONCLUSION: The intra-tumoural metabolic heterogeneity of primary lesions in NB was an independent prognostic factor for EFS. The combined predictive effect of intra-tumoural metabolic heterogeneity and BMI provided prognostic survival information in NB patients.

Effect of thromboprophylaxis on the incidence of venous thromboembolism in surgical patients with colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluates the role of thromboprophylaxis in venous thromboembolism (VTE) incidence in colorectal cancer (CRC) surgical patients. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Literature search was conducted in electronic databases and studies (randomized controlled trials, or prospective/retrospective cohorts) were selected if they reported the incidence of VTE in CRC patients who underwent any type of open or laparoscopic surgery. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to obtain pooled incidence estimates; or odds ratios (OR) of incidence between prophylaxis and no-prophylaxis groups; or between VTE and non-VTE patients to identify risk factors. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Twenty-four studies (804,003 patients) were included. Prophylaxis was performed mainly with low molecular weight heparins. Odds of VTE were significantly lower in prophylactic than in non-prophylactic patients (OR 0.42 [95% CI: 0.28, 0.63]; P<0.00001). Incidence of radiological and symptomatic VTE in patients with prophylaxis was 9.7% [95% CI: 8.6, 10.8] and 1.3% [95% CI: 0.7, 2.0] respectively. Odds of bleeding were higher in patients with prophylaxis (OR: 3.37 [95% CI: 1.05, 10.8]; P=0.04). Incidence of bleeding in patients with and without prophylaxis was 4.3% [95% CI: 3.2, 5.4] and 1.2% [95% CI: 0.02, 2.4] respectively. Operative time, anesthesia duration, and hospital stay were longer in patients with VTE. Obesity, disseminated cancer, chemotherapy, steroid use, emergency case status, advanced stage cancer, hypoalbuminemia, postoperative infection/sepsis, and history of VTE are identified as important risk factors for VTE incidence. CONCLUSIONS: Thromboprophylaxis reduces the incidence of VTE in CRC surgical patients but may increase the chances of bleeding. Several risk factors can influence VTE incidence.

A simple high-throughput headspace gas chromatographic method for the determination of dissolved oxygen in aqueous samples.

This paper reports on a headspace gas chromatographic method (HS-GC) for the accurate determination of dissolved oxygen (DO) in domestic and industrial wastewater. It was based on GC measurement of oxygen in the headspace gas that is released from the dissolved oxygen in a liquid sample in a closed vial. The results show that the relative standard deviation of the method in quintuplicate testing was < 2.0% and the relative differences of results were less than 4.0% for the real river water samples when compared with the widely used reference method (the electrode method); The linear range of the method is about 0-9.0 mg/L with the limit of detection of 0.30 mg/L. The present method is simple in both sample preparation and method calibration. It is particularly efficient in the batch testing mode. Overall, the method is more reliable than the current reference method when used with samples from a wide range of sources.

Target-Induced Catalytic Assembly of Y-Shaped DNA and Its Application for In†Situ Imaging of MicroRNAs.

DNA is a highly programmable material that can be configured into unique high-order structures, such as DNA branched junctions containing multiple helical arms converging at a center. Herein we show that DNA programmability can deliver in situ growth of a 3-way junction-based DNA structure (denoted Y-shaped DNA) with the use of three hairpin-shaped DNA molecules as precursors, a specific microRNA target as a recyclable trigger, and a DNA polymerase as a driver. We demonstrate that the Y-shaped configuration comes with the benefit of restricted freedom of movement in confined cellular environment, which makes the approach ideally suited for in situ imaging of small RNA targets, such as microRNAs. Comparative analysis illustrates that the proposed imaging technique is superior to both the classic fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method and an analogous amplified imaging method via programmed growth of a double-stranded DNA (rather than Y-shaped DNA) product.

A high-throughput headspace gas chromatographic technique for the determination of nitrite content in water samples.

This paper reports on a high-throughput headspace gas chromatographic method (HS-GC) for the determination of nitrite content in water sample, based on GC measurement of cyclohexene produced from the reaction between nitrite and cyclamate in a closed vial. The method has a relative standard deviation of <3.5%; The differences between the results of the nitrite measurements obtained by this method and those of a reference method were less than 5.8% and the recoveries of the method were in the range of 94.8-102% (for a spiked nitrite content range from 0.002 to 0.03 mg/L). The limit of detection of the method was 0.46 µg L-1. Due to an overlapping mode in the headspace auto-sampler system, the method can provide an automated and high-throughput nitrite analysis for the surface water samples. In short, the present HS-GC method is simple, accurate, and sensitive, and it is very suitable to be used in the batch sample testing.

[Primary lung cancer in Chinese renal transplant recipients: a single-center analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and the outcomes of primary lung cancer in renal recipients. METHODS: Between January, 1988 and April, 2015, a total of 2793 consecutive patients underwent renal transplantation at our center. Fourteen (0.5%) patients subsequently developed lung cancer, for which 10 (71.4%) received surgical treatment. RESULTS: The mean age of the 14 patients with post-transplant lung cancer was 50.2∓8.3 years at transplantation, and 10 of them (71.4%) were former smokers. In 9 (64.3%) of 14 patients, the malignancies were detected incidentally and 5 patients were symptomatic. The average interval from transplantation to cancer diagnosis was 65.7∓20.1 months. Eleven patients died from cancer metastasis or organ failure and 3 remained alive with functioning graft. The survival rates of the patients with lung cancer in different stages were statistically different (P=0.001). The overall 5-year survival rate after diagnosis was 17.9% in these 14 patients. CONCLUSION: The risk of primary lung cancer might be higher in renal transplant recipients than in the general Chinese population. Routine chest screening for lung cancer in renal transplant recipients may help in early detection and treatment of the malignancy to improve the prognosis.

A pressure-affected headspace-gas chromatography method for determining calcium carbonate content in paper sample.

The present work reports on the development of a pressure-affected based headspace (HS) analytical technique for the determination of calcium carbonate content in paper samples. By the acidification, the carbonate in the sample was converted to CO2 and released into the headspace of a closed vial and then measured by gas chromatography (GC). When the amount of carbonate in the sample is significant, the pressure created by the CO2 affects the accuracy of the method. However, the pressure also causes a change in the O2 signal in the HS-GC measurement, which is a change that can be used as an indirect measure of the carbonate in the sample. The results show that the present method has a good precision (the relative standard deviation<2.32%), and good accuracy (the relative differences compared to a reference method was<5.76%). Coupled with the fact that the method is simple, rapid, and accurate, it is suitable for a variety of applications that call for the analysis of high carbonate content in paper samples.

CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing in one blastomere of two-cell embryos reveals a novel Tet3 function in regulating neocortical development.

Studying the early function of essential genes is an important and challenging problem in developmental biology. Here, we established a method for rapidly inducing CRISPR-Cas9-mediated mutations in one blastomere of two-cell stage embryos, termed 2-cell embryo-CRISPR-Cas9 injection (2CC), to study the in vivo function of essential (or unknown) genes in founder chimeric mice. By injecting both Cre mRNA and CRISPR-Cas9 targeting the gene of interest into fluorescent reporter mice, the 2CC method can trace both wild-type and mutant cells at different developmental stages, offering internal control for phenotypic analyses of mutant cells. Using this method, we identified novel functions of the essential gene Tet3 in regulating excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission in the developing mouse cerebral cortex. By generating chimeric mutant mice, the 2CC method allows for the rapid screening of gene function in multiple tissues and cell types in founder chimeric mice, significantly expanding the current armamentarium of genetic tools.

Phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate regulates neurite initiation and dendrite morphogenesis via actin aggregation.

Neurite initiation is critical for neuronal morphogenesis and early neural circuit development. Recent studies showed that local actin aggregation underneath the cell membrane determined the site of neurite initiation. An immediately arising question is what signaling mechanism initiated actin aggregation. Here we demonstrate that local clustering of phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate (PI(3,4)P2), a phospholipid with relatively few known signaling functions, is necessary and sufficient for aggregating actin and promoting neuritogenesis. In contrast, the related and more extensively studied phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate or phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PIP3) molecules did not have such functions. Specifically, we showed that beads coated with PI(3,4)P2 promoted actin aggregation and neurite initiation, while pharmacological interference with PI(3,4)P2 synthesis inhibited both processes. PI(3,4)P2 clustering occurred even when actin aggregation was pharmacologically blocked, demonstrating that PI(3,4)P2 functioned as the upstream signaling molecule. Two enzymes critical for PI(3,4)P2 generation, namely, SH2 domain-containing inositol 5-phosphatase and class II phosphoinositide 3-kinase α, were complementarily and non-redundantly required for actin aggregation and neuritogenesis, as well as for subsequent dendritogenesis. Finally, we demonstrate that neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein and the Arp2/3 complex functioned downstream of PI(3,4)P2 to mediate neuritogenesis and dendritogenesis. Together, our results identify PI(3,4)P2 as an important signaling molecule during early development and demonstrate its critical role in regulating actin aggregation and neuritogenesis.

Accurate determination of residual acrylic acid in superabsorbent polymer of hygiene products by headspace gas chromatography.

This work reports on a method for the determination of residual acrylic acid (AA) in the superabsorbent polymers for hygiene products by headspace analysis. It was based on water extraction for the polymer sample at a room temperature for 50min. Then, the AA in the extractant reacted with bicarbonate solution in a closed headspace sample vial, from which the carbon dioxide generated from the reaction (within 20min at 70°C) was detected by gas chromatography (GC). It was found that there is adsorption partition equilibrium of AA between solid-liquid phases. Therefore, an equation for calculating the total AA content in the original polymers sample was derived based on the above phase equilibrium. The results show that the HS-GC method has good precision (RSD<2.51%) and good accuracy (recoveries from 93 to 105%); the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 373mg/kg. The present method is rapid, accurate, and suitable for determining total residual acrylic acid in a wide variety of applications from processing of superabsorbent polymer to commercial products quality control.

Accurate determination of fiber water-retaining capability at process conditions by headspace gas chromatography.

This work reports on a method for the accurate determination of fiber water-retaining capability at process conditions by headspace gas chromatography (HS-GC) method. The method was based the HS-GC measurement of water vapor on a set closed vials containing in a given amount pulp with different amounts of water addition, from under-saturation to over-saturation. By plotting the equilibrated water vapor signal vs. the amount of water added in pulp, two different trend lines can be observed, in which the transition of the lines corresponds to fiber water-retaining capability. The results showed that the HS-GC method has good measurement precision (much better than the reference method) and good accuracy. The present method can be also used for determining pulp fiber water-retaining capability at the process temperatures in both laboratory research and mill applications.

[Computer-based three-dimensional reconstruction of lung cancer using 64-slice CT scanning data and virtual surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical value of three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the lung and its vasculature in virtual surgery for lung cancer. METHODS: From May 2015 to August 2015, 24 patients with non-small cell lung cancer underwent surgical treatment in our department. The patients were randomly divided into experimental and control groups (12 in each group). For the patients in the experimental group, 3D models were reconstructed by surface rendering based on thoracic CT scanning data using Mimics software on a personal computer, and manipulations of the structures were simulated on the models before the operation. For the patients in the control group, surgeries were performed according to the conventional scheme. The operation time, blood loss and postoperative hospital stay were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The 3D models of lung cancer consisting of the thoracic bone, lungs, tumor, tracheobronchial tree, and pulmonary vessels were reconstructed successfully. The models had highly geometrical similarity and offered excellent 3D view of the morphological characteristics of the tumor and the spatial relationship between the adjacent structures. The models allowed editing and provided vivid view during the simulated operation of tumor excision to facilitate individualized surgical planning and reduce the surgery risks. All the patients underwent tumor resection smoothly without perioperative death or incidences of postoperative hemorrhage or infection. The operation time was significantly shorter in the experimental group than in the control group (P<0.05) but the blood loss and postoperative hospital stay were comparable between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The individualized lung cancer modeling can facilitate the evaluation of preoperative risks and allows for more accurate surgical planning.

Determination of the solubility of low volatility liquid organic compounds in water using volatile-tracer assisted headspace gas chromatography.

This study reports a new headspace gas chromatographic method (HS-GC) for the determination of water solubility of low volatility liquid organic compounds (LVLOs). The HS-GC analysis was performed on a set of aqueous solutions containing a range of concentrations of toluene-spiked (as a tracer) LVLOs, from under-saturation to over-saturation. A plot of the toluene tracer GC signal vs. the concentration of the LVLO results in two lines of different slopes that intersect at the concentration corresponding to the compound's solubility in water. The results showed that the HS-GC method has good precision (RSD <6.3%) and good accuracy, in which the relative deference between the data measured by the HS-GC method and the reference method were within 6.0%. The HS-GC method is simple and particularly suitable for measuring the solubility of LVLOs at elevated temperatures. This approach should be of special interest to those concerned about the impact of the presence of low-volatility organic liquids in waters of environmental and biological systems.

A robust method for determining water-extractable alkylphenol polyethoxylates in textile products by reaction-based headspace gas chromatography.

Alkylphenol polyethoxylates (APEO), surfactants used in the production of textiles, have the potential to move from the fabric to the skin of the person wearing the clothes, posing an inherent risk of adverse health consequences. Therefore, the textile industry needs a fast, robust method for determining aqueous extractable APEO in fabrics. The currently-favored HPLC methods are limited by the presence of a mixture of analytes (due to the molecular weight distribution) and a lack of analytical standards for quantifying results. As a result, it has not been possible to reach consensus on a standard method for the determination of APEO in textiles. This paper addresses these limitations through the use of reaction-based head space-gas chromatography (HS-GC). Specifically, water is used to simulate body sweat and extract APEO. HI is then used to react the ethoxylate chains to depolymerize the chains into iodoethane that is quantified through HS-GC, providing an estimate of the average amount of APEO in the clothing. Data are presented to justify the optimal operating conditions; i.e., water extraction at 60°C for 1h and reaction with a specified amount of HI in the headspace vial at 135°C for 4h. The results show that the HS-GC method has good precision (RSD<10%) and good accuracy (recoveries from 95 to 106%) for the quantification of APEO content in textile and related materials. As such, the method should be a strong candidate to become a standard method for such determinations.

Electro-acupuncture promotes the survival and differentiation of transplanted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells pre-induced with neurotrophin-3 and retinoic acid in gelatin sponge scaffold after rat spinal cord transection.

In the past decades, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a promising cell candidate have received the most attention in the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI). However, due to the low survival rate and low neural differentiation rate, the grafted MSCs do not perform well as one would have expected. In the present study, we tested a combinational therapy to improve on this situation. MSCs were loaded into three-dimensional gelatin sponge (GS) scaffold. After 7 days of induction with neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and retinoic acid (RA) in vitro, we observed a significant increase in TrkC mRNA transcription by Real-time PCR and this was confirmed by in situ hybridization. The expression of TrkC was also confirmed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Differentiation potential of MSCs in vitro into neuron-like cells or oligodendrocyte-like cells was further demonstrated by using immunofluorescence staining. The pre-induced MSCs seeding in GS scaffolds were then grafted into the transected rat spinal cord. One day after grafting, Governor Vessel electro-acupuncture (GV-EA) treatment was applied to rats in the NR-MSCs + EA group. At 30 days after GV-EA treatment, it found that the grafted MSCs have better survival rate and neuron-like cell differentiation compared with those without GV-EA treatment. The sustained TrkC expression in the grafted MSCs as well as increased NT-3 content in the injury/graft site by GV-EA suggests that NT-3/TrkC signaling pathway may be involved in the promoting effect. This study demonstrates that GV-EA and pre-induction with NT-3 and RA together may promote the survival and differentiation of grafted MSCs in GS scaffold in rat SCI.