First Potassium Fluoroaluminate Ionic Exchanger for Rapid and Selective Removal of Sr2+ with High Capacity.

90Sr, as a typical artificial radionuclide, poses a serious threat to human health and the ecological environment. The selective removal of this radionuclide from industrial nuclear waste is crucial for our environment. Here we report a novel potassium fluoroaluminate, K2[(AlF5)H2O], which was synthesized by a simple low-temperature one-step method. It adopts a 1D AlF6-chain structure, which consists of exchangeable potassium ions in between the infinite chains of octahedral Al centers. As a remarkable inorganic ionic exchanger, K2[(AlF5)H2O] has a high chemical stability (resistance of pH=~3-12) and thermal stability (≥~300 °C). It possesses an excellent adsorption selectivity (Kd=~6.1×104 mL ⋅ g-1) and a maximum adsorption capacity of qm=~120.32 mg ⋅ g-1 for Sr2+. Importantly, it still keep a very good selectivity for Sr2+ ions even in the presence of competing Na+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ aqueous solutions. K2[(AlF5)H2O] is the first example of fluoroaluminate ionic exchange materials that can capture Sr2+. This result opens up a new way to design and synthesize inorganic ionic exchangers for the selective removal of Sr2+ ions from radioactive waste water.

Fish oil omega-3 Fatty Acids Alleviate Postoperative delirium-like Behavior in aged mice by Attenuating Neuroinflammation and Oxidative Stress.

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common and serious neuropsychiatric syndrome among older patients, and lacks effective therapies. Omega-3 fatty acids, possessing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, have shown potent neuroprotective effects in several diseases. The present study investigated whether omega-3 fatty acids could exert a neuroprotective role against POD in aged mice. A mouse model of POD was established to explore the role of omega-3 fatty acids in laparotomy-induced delirium-like behavior by evaluating systemic inflammatory changes, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and behavior at different time points in aged mice. Oral gavage with omega-3 fatty acids (300 mg/kg) for 3 weeks before surgery significantly attenuated anesthesia/surgery-induced POD-like behavior and the accumulation of proinflammatory cytokines from the peripheral blood in aged mice. Moreover, it also remarkably mitigated neuroinflammation and the oxidative stress response (malondialdehyde [MDA] and superoxide dismutase [SOD]) in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of surgical mice. Our findings provided evidence that pretreatment with omega-3 fatty acids may play a vital role in the treatment of POD through mechanisms involving its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, which may be a promising prevention strategy for POD in aged patients.

Na3[Al2B6P4O22(OH)3](H2O)6 and Na3[Al2BP2O11](H2O)0.5: Two Remarkable Complex Aluminum Borophosphates.

Two remarkable aluminum borophosphates (AlBPOs), namely, Na3[Al2B6P4O22(OH)3](H2O)6 (denoted as ABPO1) and Na3[Al2BP2O11](H2O)0.5 (denoted as ABPO2), have been designed and prepared by low-temperature flux syntheses. The exceptional open framework structure of ABPO1 is formed by a unique microanionic network [Al2B6P4O22(OH)3]n3-, which contains three types of 8-, 12-, and 16-membered ring (MR) tunnels. Interestingly, these tunnels are featured by a type of super-nanocage as large as ∼1.753 nm × 1.753 nm × 1.753 nm, which is the first example of AlBPOs containing extra-large cages. Importantly, it was found that Na+ can be partially exchanged by K+, Sr2+, Cd2+, and Ni2+, which means that it is a potential ionic exchanger for removing radionuclides and toxic cations. The structure of ABPO2 features a unique 2D anionic AlBPO layer composed of corner-sharing AlO6 octahedra and AlO4, BO4, and PO4 tetrahedra. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of both AlO6 octahedra and AlO4 tetrahedra being contained in the structure. 9-MRs can be observed along the b-axis. Herein, the syntheses and topological structures of ABPO1 and ABPO2 as well as elemental analysis, thermal stability, infrared spectroscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance, structural properties, and ionic exchange properties are also discussed.

A Randomized Controlled Trial: Examining the Impact of the Novel Double Setup Endotracheal Tube on the Success Rates of Awake Fiber-Optic Orotracheal Intubation.

BACKGROUND: Advancing the endotracheal tube (ETT) over a flexible bronchoscope (FB) during awake fiber-optic intubation (AFOI) is often impeded. Various maneuvers and tracheal tubes designed to overcome this obstruction may also be unsuccessful or costly. OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to assess how the novel double configuration ETT affected AFOI success rates on the first attempt. METHODS: A randomized controlled experiment including 40 individuals receiving awake fiber-optic orotracheal intubation was performed in a 1:1 ratio with a single ETT railroaded with its bevel posteriorly (ST) or railroading with a double setup ETT (DT) over a flexible videoscope (FVS) for tracheal intubation. The number of intubation attempts, time spent intubating, and adverse events were examined and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Twenty patients received a single ETT railroaded with the bevel posteriorly, and 20 patients received railroading with the double setup ETT during AFOI. Intubation on the first attempt was significantly greater in the DT group (90%) than in the ST group (35%). The intubation time was considerably shorter for the DT group (12.8 [7.8-16.9] s) when compared with the ST group (27.9 [16.3-91.0] s). Five patients were intubated by the alternative technique after failure to intubate for several attempts, and 3 cases were found to have a crease in the FVS after intubation in group ST. During topical anesthetic, three individuals in each group experienced transient oxygen desaturation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study discovered that the novel double setup tube could significantly improve the intubation success rate on the first attempt during AFOI for patients with challenging airway when a strategy based on a reduced gap between ETT and FB could not be applied.

Investigation of the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) gut microbiome and entomopathogenic fungus-induced pathobiome.

The gut microflora plays an important role in insect development and physiology. The gut bacterial microbiome of the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, in both cornfield and laboratory-reared populations was investigated using a 16S metagenomic approach. The alpha- and beta-diversity of the cornfield FAW populations varied among sampling sites and were higher than those of the laboratory-reared FAW population, indicating that different diets and environments influence the gut bacterial composition. To better understand the interaction between the microbiome and entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), FAWs from organic and conventionally managed corn fields and from the laboratory-reared colony were inoculated with Beauveria bassiana NCHU-153 (Bb-NCHU-153). A longer median lethal time (LT50) was observed in the Bb-NCHU-153-infected cornfield FAW population than in the laboratory-reared FAWs. In terms of the microbiome, three Bb-NCHU-153-infected FAW groups showed different gut bacterial compositions compared to noninfected FAW. Further investigation of the cooccurrence network and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) of effect size (LEfSe) revealed that the enriched bacterial genera, such as Enterococcus, Serratia, Achromobacter, and Tsukamurella, in the gut might play the role of opportunistic pathogens after fungal infection; in contrast, some gut bacteria of Methylobacterium, Marinomonas, Paenochrobactrum, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Delftia, Dietzia, Gordonia, Leucobacter, Paracoccus, and Stenotrophomonas might be probiotics against EPF infection. These results indicated that EPF infection can change the gut bacterial composition and lead to a pathobiome in the FAW and that some bacterial species might protect the FAW from EPF infection. These findings could be applied to the design of pathobiome-inducing biocontrol strategies.

A spray-as-you-go airway topical anesthesia attenuates cardiovascular responses for double-lumen tube tracheal intubation.

BACKGROUND: Spray-as-you-go (SAYGo) airway topical anesthesia and nerve block are common techniques used during awake tracheal intubation. However, their effects have not been described during double-lumen tube intubation. We report on a prospective randomized study that aimed to compare the intubation effects of SAYGo and nerve block patients undergoing thoracic surgery. METHODS: Sixty-six American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I and II patients were scheduled to undergo double-lumen tube (DLT) tracheal intubation for thoracic surgery. The patients were randomly assigned into control (Group C), ultrasound (Group U), and flexible intubation scope (Group F) groups with 22 cases in each group. Patients in Group C were induced with a standard anesthetic regimen. Patients in Groups U and F were treated with superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) block combined with transtracheal injection (TTI) and given a SAYGo airway topical anesthesia before intubation. Hemodynamic variables during intubation process were recorded as the primary outcome. Additional patient data were recorded including the occurrence of adverse events, the level of hoarseness, the occurrence of sore throats, memory function and the level of patient satisfaction with anesthesia. RESULTS: The blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) of patients in group C was significantly increased 1 min after tracheal intubation (P < 0.05) compared to before anesthesia. The BP and HR of patients in Groups U and F remained stable. 10 cases of hypertension were observed in Group C, 6 cases in Group U and 1 case in Group F. In Group C, tachycardia was observed in 9 patients along with 9 cases in Group U and 4 cases in Group F. In Group U, 4 patients experienced puncture and bleeding were and 8 patients had a poor memory of TTI. No significant differences were found in the incidence of hoarseness, sore throats, and satisfaction with anesthesia in postoperative follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: SAYGo airway topical anesthesia and SLN block combined with the TTI technique can inhibit the cardiovascular response during DLT tracheal intubation. The SAYGo technique has fewer complications and more advantages compared to other approaches.

A Crucial Role of Mitochondrial Dynamics in Dehydration Resistance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles as they continuously undergo fission and fusion. These dynamic processes conduct not only mitochondrial network morphology but also activity regulation and quality control. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has a remarkable capacity to resist stress from dehydration/rehydration. Although mitochondria are noted for their role in desiccation tolerance, the mechanisms underlying these processes remains obscure. Here, we report that yeast cells that went through stationary growth phase have a better survival rate after dehydration/rehydration. Dynamic defective yeast cells with reduced mitochondrial genome cannot maintain the mitochondrial activity and survival rate of wild type cells. Our results demonstrate that yeast cells balance mitochondrial fusion and fission according to growth conditions, and the ability to adjust dynamic behavior aids the dehydration resistance by preserving mitochondria.

Antioxidant Effects and Probiotic Properties of Latilactobacillus sakei MS103 Isolated from Sweet Pickled Garlic.

Fermented vegetable-based foods, renowned for their unique flavors and human health benefits, contain probiotic organisms with reported in vitro antioxidative effects. This study investigates the probiotic properties of Latilactobacillus sakei MS103 (L. sakei MS103) and its antioxidant activities using an in vitro oxidative stress model based on the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative damage of RAW 264.7 cells. L. sakei MS103 exhibited tolerance to extreme conditions (bile salts, low pH, lysozyme, H2O2), antibiotic sensitivity, and auto-aggregation ability. Moreover, L. sakei MS103 co-aggregated with pathogenic Porphyromonas gingivalis cells, inhibited P. gingivalis-induced biofilm formation, and exhibited robust hydrophobic and electrostatic properties that enabled it to strongly bind to gingival epithelial cells and HT-29 cells for enhanced antioxidant effects. Additionally, L. sakei MS103 exhibited other antioxidant properties, including ion-chelating capability and the ability to effectively scavenge superoxide anion free radicals, hydroxyl, 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl. Furthermore, the addition of live or heat-killed L. sakei MS103 cells to H2O2-exposed RAW 264.7 cells alleviated oxidative stress, as reflected by reduced malondialdehyde levels, increased glutathione levels, and the up-regulated expression of four antioxidant-related genes (gshR2, gshR4, Gpx, and npx). These findings highlight L. sakei MS103 as a potential probiotic capable of inhibiting activities of P. gingivalis pathogenic bacteria and mitigating oxidative stress.

Adenosine Downregulates the Activities of Glutamatergic Neurons in the Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus Required for Sleep.

Adenosine is an endogenous substance that regulates sleep homeostasis. It plays an important role in sleep induction under physiological condition. So far, the neural mechanisms underlying sleep-promoting effects of adenosine are not completely clear. Recent studies have shown that glutamatergic neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH) play an important role in wakefulness. Using whole-cell patch-clamp, we found that adenosine can inhibit glutamatergic neurons in PVH. This inhibition is mainly achieved by activating adenosine type 1 receptors, thereby reducing hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated cation channels. By recording electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyography (EMG), it was found that local administration of adenosine type 1 receptor blocker in PVH could significantly reduce the NREM sleep. On the contrary, if adenosine was given, it could increase the NREM sleep. These results suggest that adenosine can promote sleep by reducing the excitability of PVH neurons. This findings reveal a novel mechanism of adenosine regulating sleep homeostasis.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of general anesthesia combined with continuous paravertebral block in breast cancer surgery and postoperative analgesia.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the effects of general anesthesia (GA) combined with continuous paravertebral block (CPVB) in breast cancer surgery via systematic review and meta-analysis, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical use of CPVB surgical analgesia. METHODS: A search of the PubMed, Embase, Medline, Ovid, Springer, and Web of Science databases was conducted to screen clinical trials on GA + CPVB for breast cancer surgery published before December 31, 2020. The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Intervention 5.0.2 was adopted for bias risk assessment, and Review Manager 5.3 software (RevMan, The Cochrane Collaboration, http://tech.cochrane.org/revman) was applied for meta-analysis of the literature. RESULTS: A total of 15 studies that satisfied the requirements were included, involving a total of 1,435 research subjects. The results of our meta-analysis showed the following: the visual analogue scale (VAS) score of the observation group (group A) was significantly reduced [mean difference (MD) =-0.68; 95% confidential interval (CI): -1.04 - -0.33; Z=3.80; P=0.0001]; the level of monocyte chemoattractant protein -1 (MCP-1) was notably decreased (MD =-18.64; 95% CI: -29.68 - -7.61; Z=3.31; P=0.0009); the level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was markedly lower (MD =-1.89; 95% CI: -2.66 - -1.13; Z=4.87; P<0.00001); the interleukin-6 (IL-6) level was obviously reduced (MD =-12.10; 95% CI: -19.22 - -4.99; Z=3.33; P=0.0009); and the incidence of postoperative adverse reactions was substantially decreased (MD = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.07-0.36; Z=4.47; P<0.00001). Compared with group B, the differences of the above five indicators showed statistical significance. In addition, the heart rate (HR) (MD =-1.56; 95% CI: -6.20 - 3.08; Z=0.66; P=0.51), mean arterial pressure (MAP) (MD = 4.66; 95% CI: -0.12 -9.43; Z=1.91; P=0.06), Ramsay score (MD =0.44; 95% CI: -0.06-0.93; Z=1.73; P=0.08) of patients in group A showed no statistical differences compared to group B. CONCLUSIONS: GA + CPVB applied to breast cancer surgery for analgesia can reduce the levels of MCP-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 in patients, thereby providing good postoperative analgesia. Therefore, GA + CPVB could effectively reduce the incidence of pain and adverse reactions in patients, and is effective for analgesia in breast cancer surgery.

A meta-analysis and systematic review of propofol on liver ischemia-reperfusion injury protection during hepatocellular carcinoma anesthesia surgery.

BACKGROUND: At present, liver cancer deaths of China account for about half of the global liver cancer deaths. The most common physiological change in anesthesia surgery for liver cancer is liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (LIRI). METHODS: The Chinese and English medical databases were searched using a combination of the following search terms: "propofol", "liver cancer", "anesthesia surgery", and "ischemia reperfusion injury" in Chinese or English language, respectively. The articles taking patients received propofol intravenous anesthesia surgery for LIRI in the experimental group and patients received intravenous anesthesia with non-propofol drugs for LIRI in the control group were searched. Rev Man 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 18 articles were included, and most were considered to have low-risk bias (that is, medium- and high-quality publications). The meta-analysis results indicated that the superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels from the blockage of the hepatic hilum (B-HH) to the 15-minute opening of the hepatic hilum (O-HH) showed a mean deviation (MD) of -0.33 nU/mL and 95% confidential interval (CI) of -1.81 to 1.15 nmol/L (P<0.05). The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) from B-HH to O-HH showed a MD of 1.80 nmol/L and 95% CI of 1.53 to 2.07 nmol/l (P<0.05). The MD of alanine transaminase (ALT) levels from B-HH to O-HH was 8.24 IU/L with 95% CI 6.43 to 10.06 IU/L (P<0.05). The MD of aspartate transaminase (AST) levels from B-HH to O-HH was -11.73 IU/L with 95% CI -14.04 to -9.43 IU/L (P<0.05). The RevMan5.3 software was used to draw the funnel chart for each indicator from B-HH to OHH. The results revealed that the circles in some articles were concentrated on the midline and were basically symmetrical with the midline, indicating that the research accuracy was high and there was no bias in publication. DISCUSSION: This meta-analysis confirmed that propofol exerted a protective effect on LIRI during anesthesia surgery with hepatic hilar blockade.

The effect of FTY720 at different doses and time-points on LPS-induced acute lung injury in rats.

We sought to assess the protective effect of different doses of Fingolimod (FTY720) in a rat model of acute lung injury (ALI) induced by intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and explored the underlying mechanisms. The ALI model was established in rats and different doses of FTY720 (0.1 mg/kg, 0.2 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, or 2 mg/kg) were injected intraperitoneally. Lung computed tomography and blood gas analyses were performed at 6 h, 24 h, and 48 h after intraperitoneal injection, and the lung tissues were extracted to prepare paraffin sections for histopathological examination. The levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß) were detected by ELISA, and the expressions of inflammatory pathway proteins in each group were measured by Western blot analysis. A single intraperitoneal injection of FTY720 inhibited LPS-induced NF-κB activation, reduced the level of inflammatory cytokines, and decreased the infiltration of inflammatory cells. Moreover, it alleviated lung tissue injury, as shown by marked attenuation of pulmonary oedema and improved arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and the general condition of ALI rats. In conclusion, our results demonstrate the protective effect of FTY720 against LPS-induced ALI. The underlying mechanism of the protective effect may involve inhibition of LPS-induced activation of NF-κB and regulation of the inflammatory pathway to alleviate barrier dysfunction of alveolar capillaries.

Srv2 Is a Pro-fission Factor that Modulates Yeast Mitochondrial Morphology and Respiration by Regulating Actin Assembly.

Dynamic processes such as fusion, fission, and trafficking are important in the regulation of cellular organelles, with an abundant literature focused on mitochondria. Mitochondrial dynamics not only help shape its network within cells but also are involved in the modulation of respiration and integrity. Disruptions of mitochondrial dynamics are associated with neurodegenerative disorders. Although proteins that directly bind mitochondria to promote membrane fusion/fission have been studied intensively, machineries that regulate dynamic mitochondrial processes remain to be explored. We have identified an interaction between the mitochondrial fission GTPase Dnm1/DRP1 and the actin-regulatory protein Srv2/CAP at mitochondria. Deletion of Srv2 causes elongated-hyperfused mitochondria and reduces the reserved respiration capacity in yeast cells. Our results further demonstrate that the irregular network morphology in Δsrv2 cells derives from disrupted actin assembly at mitochondria. We suggest that Srv2 functions as a pro-fission factor in shaping mitochondrial dynamics and regulating activity through its actin-regulatory effects.

Crizotinib-induced lichenoid drug eruption in a patient with lung cancer.

Crizotinib was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2011 for the treatment of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)- or ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Since then, the number of indicated uses for crizotinib has substantially increased. However, the administration of crizotinib can be associated with various adverse events. It is important that clinicians identify adverse cutaneous manifestations of crizotinib and are aware of their outcomes and treatments to avoid unnecessarily discontinuing a potentially life-saving medication. We describe a case of lichenoid drug eruption (LDE) that appeared 4 weeks after initiation of treatment with crizotinib in a 61-year-old man with ALK-positive metastatic lung adenocarcinoma.

Genetic Diversity of Salt Tolerance in Miscanthus.

Miscanthus is a woody rhizomatous C4 grass that can be used as a CO2 neutral biofuel resource. It has potential to grow in marginal areas such as saline soils, avoiding competition for arable lands with food crops. This study explored genetic diversity for salt tolerance in Miscanthus and discovered mechanisms and traits that can be used to improve the yield under salt stress. Seventy genotypes of Miscanthus (including 57 M. sinensis, 5 M. sacchariflorus, and 8 hybrids) were evaluated for salt tolerance under saline (150 mM NaCl) and normal growing conditions using a hydroponic system. Analyses of shoot growth traits and ion concentrations revealed the existence of large variation for salt tolerance in the genotypes. We identified genotypes with potential for high biomass production both under control and saline conditions that may be utilized for growth under marginal, saline conditions. Several relatively salt tolerant genotypes had clearly lower Na+ concentrations and showed relatively high K+/Na+ ratios in the shoots under salt stress, indicating that a Na+ exclusion mechanism was utilized to prevent Na+ accumulation in the leaves. Other genotypes showed limited reduction in leaf expansion and growth rate under saline conditions, which may be indicative of osmotic stress tolerance. The genotypes demonstrating potentially different salt tolerance mechanisms can serve as starting material for breeding programs aimed at improving salinity tolerance of Miscanthus.

Clinical and histopathologic findings of superficial basal cell carcinoma: A comparison with other basal cell carcinoma subtypes.

BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cancer in white populations. However, BCC is uncommon in Taiwan, and its subtype, superficial BCC (SBCC), is even less common. The characteristics of these 2 cancers in Taiwanese have never been analyzed before. Our purpose was to study the clinical and histopathologic features of SBCC in comparison with other BCC subtypes (OBCC). METHODS: Thirty Taiwanese patients with SBCC from 1974 to 2003 were retrospectively examined at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. We analyzed the age, gender distribution, site of the lesions, clinical appearance, incidence of metastasis, and the proportion of secondary amyloid deposits. We then compared these features with those of 354 Taiwanese patients with OBCC. RESULTS: Compared with the black pearly appearance of OBCC, erythematous plaques or patches with multiple tiny blackish papules were the most common clinical appearance of SBCC. Tumor size was significantly larger than OBCC (p < 0.05). The trunk was the most common area where SBCC arose. Conversely, OBCC occurred mainly on the head and neck (p < 0.001). Females were significantly younger than males in both SBCC and OBCC groups (p < 0.05). The frequency of secondary amyloid deposits was lower in SBCC than OBCC (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The unique findings of SBCC would help to classify the subtypes of BCC. The mechanism of development of each subtype is worth further investigation in the future.

Rescula as an alternative therapy for beta-blockers with long-term drift effect in glaucoma patients.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate both the intraocular pressure (IOP)-decreasing and neuroprotective effects of Rescula (0.12% unoprostone isopropyl) as an alternative therapy to betablockers with a long-term drift effect in patients with glaucoma. Twenty-eight patients with unilateral or bilateral glaucoma were treated with Rescula instead of the original beta-blocker therapy. IOP was measured using a Goldmann applanation tonometer, and visual field defects were evaluated quantitatively by Humphrey automatic perimetry central 30-2 threshold test. The mean follow-up time was at least 1 year. Rescula achieved a significant (p = 0.00001) and long-lasting reduction in IOP (from 20.78 +/- 2.71 to 17.14 +/- 2.70 mmHg) in patients with open-angle glaucoma after 12 months of follow-up. It also demonstrated a significant (p = 0.02) IOP-reducing effect (from 20.67 +/- 3.60 to 16.36 +/- 3.67 mmHg) in patients with angle-closure glaucoma 12 months later. The mean deviation of visual field defects changed from -13.27 dB baseline to -10.64 dB at 12 months as evaluated by Humphrey field analyzer II central 30-2 threshold test after Rescula; however, there was no statistical difference (p = 0.098). Our results showed that Rescula has a significant IOP-reducing effect as an alternative therapy to beta-blockers with long-term drift effect in patients with open-angle and angle-closure glaucoma. However, a neuroprotective effect to prevent further progression of the visual field defect in patients with glaucoma was not demonstrated in this study.

In situ thiolated alginate hydrogel: Instant formation and its application in hemostasis.

An in situ formed hydrogel was synthesized by sodium alginate and cysteine methyl ester, which turned the sodium alginate into thiolated alginate (SA-SH). SA-SH can in situ formed into hydrogel (SA-SS-SA) with a large amount of water through covalent bond in less than 20 s. The structure characterization showed that the mechanism of SA-SH gelation was thiol-disulfide transformation. The rheology and cytotoxicity experiments of SA-SS-SA hydrogel were also investigated, which indicated that SA-SS-SA hydrogel had an appropriate mechanical strength as well as an excellent biocompatibility. The SA-SS-SA hydrogel would degrade under certain conditions after a few days and its mechanism was disulfide alkaline reduction. Finally, the hemostatic property of SA-SH was tested by rat tail amputation experiment. The time to hemostasis of rat reduced from 8.26 min to 3.24 min, which proved that SA-SH had an excellent hemostatic property.

Investigation of optimal intensity and safety of electrical nerve stimulation during intraoperative neuromonitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve: a prospective porcine model.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) has recently been more frequently applied in thyroid surgery. However, concerns have been raised regarding the safety and optimal intensity of electrical nerve stimulation. METHODS: Eight piglets were enrolled, and electrically evoked electromyography (EMG) was recorded from the vocalis muscles via endotracheal surface electrodes. The baseline EMG was measured and continuous pulsatile stimulations were performed on the vagus nerve and RLN for 10 minutes. Changes of EMG waveform and cardiopulmonary status were analyzed. RESULTS: A dose-response curve existed with increasing EMG amplitude as stimulating current was increased, with maximum amplitude elicited on vagal and RLN stimulation at <1 mA. No obvious EMG changes and untoward cardiopulmonary effects were observed after the stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: Electrical stimulation is safe during IONM in this porcine model. Minimal current that required generating the maximal evoked EMG, approximately 1 mA in this study, can be selected to minimize the risk of nerve damage and cardiopulmonary effects.

Genome sequence of the lytic bacteriophage P1201 from Corynebacterium glutamicum NCHU 87078: evolutionary relationships to phages from Corynebacterineae.

P1201 is a lytic corynephage of Corynebacterium glutamicum NCHU 87078. Its genome consists of a linear double-stranded DNA molecule of 70,579 base pairs, with 3'-protruding cohesive ends of ten nucleotides. We have identified 69 putative open reading frames, including three apparent genes (thymidylate synthase, terminase, and RNR alpha subunit genes) that are interrupted by an intein. Protein-splicing activities of these inteins were demonstrated in Escherichia coli. Three structural proteins including major capsid and major tail proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE and identified by both LC-MS-MS and N-terminal sequence analyses. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that only about 8.7% of its putative gene products shared substantial protein sequence similarity with the lytic corynephage BFK20 from Brevibacterium flavum, the only corynephage whose genome had been sequenced to date, revealing that the P1201 genome is distinct from BFK20. The mosaic-like genome of P1201 indicates extensive horizontal gene transfer among P1201, Gordonia terrae phage GTE5, mycobacteriophages, and several regions of Corynebacterium spp. genomes.