Neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm with necrotizing enterocolitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

While neonatal necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) is associated with high mortality rates in newborns, survivors can face long-term sequelae. However, the relationship between NEC and neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) in preterm infants remains unclear. To explore the relationship between neonatal NEC and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants, we searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library from their inception to February 2024 for relevant studies. Studies included were cohort or case-control studies reporting neurodevelopmental outcomes of NEC in preterm infants. Two independent investigators extracted data regarding brain damage and neurodevelopmental outcomes in these infants at a corrected age exceeding 12 months. Odds ratios (ORs) were pooled using a random effects model. We included 15 cohort studies and 18 case-control studies, encompassing 60,346 infants. Meta-analysis of unadjusted and adjusted ORs demonstrated a significant association between NEC and increased odds of NDI (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.9-2.44; aOR 1.89, 95% CI 1.46-2.46). Regarding brain injury, pooled crude ORs indicated an association of NEC with severe intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.06-1.92) and periventricular leucomalacia (PVL) (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.76-3.69). When compared with conservatively treated NEC, surgical NEC potentially carries a higher risk of NDI (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.09-2.93) and severe IVH (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.20-2.06). However, the risk of PVL did not show a significant difference (OR 1.60, 95% CI 0.47-5.40). CONCLUSIONS:  Our meta-analysis provides evidence suggesting an association between NEC and NDI. Additionally, the severity of intestinal lesions appears to correlate with a higher risk of NDI. Further high-quality studies with comprehensive adjustments for potential confounding factors are required to definitively establish whether the association with NDI is causal. WHAT IS KNOWN: • NEC is a serious intestinal disease in the neonatal period with a high mortality rate, and surviving children may have digestive system sequelae. • Compared with non-NEC preterm infants, the reported incidences of brain injury and neurodevelopmental disorders in NEC preterm infants are not the same. WHAT IS NEW: • The risk of neonatal brain injury and neurodevelopmental disorders in preterm infants with NEC is higher than that in non-NEC infants, and the risk of NDI in surgical NEC infants is higher than that in the conservative treatment group. • NEC may increase the risk of motor, cognitive, language development delays, and attention deficits in children.

Gigantic vortical differential scattering as a monochromatic probe for multiscale chiral structures.

Spin angular momentum of light is vital to investigate enantiomers characterized by circular dichroism (CD), widely adopted in biology, chemistry, and material science. However, to discriminate chiral materials with multiscale features, CD spectroscopy normally requires wavelength-swept laser sources as well as wavelength-specific optical accessories. Here, we experimentally demonstrate an orbital-angular-momentum-assisted approach to yield chiroptical signals with monochromatic light. The gigantic vortical differential scattering (VDS) of ∼120% is achieved on intrinsically chiral microstructures fabricated by femtosecond laser. The VDS measurements can robustly generate chiroptical properties on microstructures with varying geometric features (e.g., diameters and helical pitches) and detect chiral molecules with high sensitivity. This VDS scheme lays a paradigm-shift pavement toward efficiently chiroptical discrimination of multiscale chiral structures with photonic orbital angular momentum. It simplifies and complements the conventional CD spectroscopy, opening possibilities for measuring weak optical chirality, especially on mesoscale chiral architectures and macromolecules.

Optical Encryption in the Photonic Orbital Angular Momentum Dimension via Direct-Laser-Writing 3D Chiral Metahelices.

Vortex beams, which intrinsically possess optical orbital angular momentum (OAM), are considered as one of the promising chiral light waves for classical optical communications and quantum information processing. For a long time, it has been an expectation to utilize artificial three-dimensional (3D) chiral metamaterials to manipulate the transmission of vortex beams for practical optical display applications. Here, we demonstrate the concept of selective transmission management of vortex beams with opposite OAM modes assisted by the designed 3D chiral metahelices. Utilizing the integrated array of the metahelices, a series of optical operations, including display, hiding, and even encryption, can be realized by the parallel processing of multiple vortex beams. The results open up an intriguing route for metamaterial-dominated optical OAM processing, which fosters the development of photonic angular momentum engineering and high-security optical encryption.

Acousto-optic reconfigurable filter based on vector mode fusion in dispersion-compensating fiber.

An acousto-optic reconfigurable filter (AORF) is proposed and demonstrated based on vector mode fusion in dispersion-compensating fiber (DCF). With multiple acoustic driving frequencies, the resonance peaks of different vector modes in the same scalar mode group can be effectively fused into a single peak, which is utilized to obtain arbitrary reconfiguration of the proposed filter. In the experiment, the bandwidth of the AORF can be electrically tuned from 5 nm to 18 nm with superposition of different driving frequencies. The multi-wavelength filtering is further demonstrated by increasing the interval of the multiple driving frequencies. The bandpass/band-rejection can also be electrically reconfigured by setting the combination of driving frequencies. The proposed AORF gains the feature of reconfigurable filtering types, fast and wide tunability, and zero frequency shift, which is advantageous for high-speed optical communication networks, tunable lasers, fast optical spectrum analyzing and microwave photonics signal processing.

An MRI-Based Radiomics Nomogram to Assess Recurrence Risk in Sinonasal Malignant Tumors.

BACKGROUND: Sinonasal malignant tumors (SNMTs) have a high recurrence risk, which is responsible for the poor prognosis of patients. Assessing recurrence risk in SNMT patients is a current problem. PURPOSE: To establish an MRI-based radiomics nomogram for assessing relapse risk in patients with SNMT. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective. POPULATION: A total of 143 patients with 68.5% females (development/validation set, 98/45 patients). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: A 1.5-T and 3-T, fat-suppressed fast spin echo (FSE) T2-weighted imaging (FS-T2WI), FSE T1-weighted imaging (T1WI), and FSE contrast-enhanced T1WI (T1WI + C). ASSESSMENT: Three MRI sequences were used to manually delineate the region of interest. Three radiomics signatures (T1WI and FS-T2WI sequences, T1WI + C sequence, and three sequences combined) were built through dimensional reduction of high-dimensional features. The clinical model was built based on clinical and MRI features. The Ki-67-based and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) model were established for comparison. The radiomics nomogram was built by combining the clinical model and best radiomics signature. The relapse-free survival analysis was used among 143 patients. STATISTICAL TESTS: The intraclass/interclass correlation coefficients, univariate/multivariate Cox regression analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression algorithm, concordance index (C index), area under the curve (AUC), integrated Brier score (IBS), DeLong test, Kaplan-Meier curve, log-rank test, optimal cutoff values. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The T1 + C-based radiomics signature had best prognostic ability than the other two signatures (T1WI and FS-T2WI sequences, and three sequences combined). The radiomics nomogram had better prognostic ability and less error than the clinical model, Ki-67-based model, and TNM model (C index, 0.732; AUC, 0.765; IBS, 0.185 in the validation set). The cutoff values were 0.2 and 0.7 and then the cumulative risk rates were calculated. DATA CONCLUSION: A radiomics nomogram for assessing relapse risk in patients with SNMT may provide better prognostic ability than the clinical model, Ki-67-based model, and TNM model. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 3. TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 5.

Preoperative contrast-enhanced CT-based radiomics nomogram for differentiating benign and malignant primary retroperitoneal tumors.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the ability of a preoperative contrast-enhanced CT (CECT)-based radiomics nomogram to differentiate benign and malignant primary retroperitoneal tumors (PRT). METHODS: Images and data from 340 patients with pathologically confirmed PRT were randomly placed into training (n = 239) and validation sets (n = 101). Two radiologists independently analyzed all CT images and made measurements. Key characteristics were identified through least absolute shrinkage selection combined with four machine-learning classifiers (support vector machine, generalized linear model, random forest, and artificial neural network back propagation) to create a radiomics signature. Demographic data and CECT characteristics were analyzed to formulate a clinico-radiological model. Independent clinical variables were merged with the best-performing radiomics signature to develop a radiomics nomogram. The discrimination capacity and clinical value of three models were quantified by the area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUC), accuracy, and decision curve analysis. RESULTS: The radiomics nomogram was able to consistently differentiate between benign and malignant PRT in the training and validation datasets, with AUCs of 0.923 and 0.907, respectively. Decision curve analysis manifested that the nomogram achieved higher clinical net benefits than did separate use of the radiomics signature and clinico-radiological model. CONCLUSIONS: The preoperative nomogram is valuable for differentiating between benign and malignant PRT; it can also aid in treatment planning. KEY POINTS: • A noninvasive and accurate preoperative determination of benign and malignant PRT is crucial to identifying suitable treatments and predicting disease prognosis. • Associating the radiomics signature with clinical factors facilitates differentiation of malignant from benign PRT with improved diagnostic efficacy (AUC) and accuracy from 0.772 to 0.907 and from 0.723 to 0.842, respectively, compared with the clinico-radiological model alone. • For some PRT with anatomically special locations and when biopsy is extremely difficult and risky, a radiomics nomogram may provide a promising preoperative alternative for distinguishing benignity and malignancy.

Direct Observation of Spin-Orbit Interaction of Light via Chiroptical Responses.

The spin-orbit interaction of light is a fundamental manifestation of controlling its angular momenta with numerous applications in photonic spin Hall effects and chiral quantum optics. However, observation of an optical spin Hall effect, which is normally very weak with subwavelength displacements, needs quantum weak measurements or sophisticated metasurfaces. Here, we theoretically and experimentally demonstrate the spin-orbit interaction of light in the form of strong chiroptical responses by breaking the in-plane inversion symmetry of a dielectric substrate. The chiroptical signal is observed at the boundary of a microdisk illuminated by circularly polarized vortex beams at normal incidence. The generated chiroptical spectra are tunable for different photonic orbital angular momenta and microdisk diameters. Our findings, correlating photonic spin-orbit interaction with chiroptical responses, may provide a route for exploiting optical information processing, enantioselective sensing, and chiral metrology.

Accelerating Neurite Growth and Directing Neuronal Connections Constrained by 3D Porous Microtubes.

Investigation of neural growth and connection is crucial in the field of neural tissue engineering. Here, using a femtosecond laser direct writing (fs-DLW) technique, we propose a directionally aligned porous microtube array as a culture system for accelerating the growth of neurons and directing the connection of neurites. These microtubes exhibited an unprecedented guidance effect toward the outgrowth of primary embryonic rat hippocampal neurons, with a wrap resembling the myelin sheaths of neurons. The speed of neurite growth inside these microtubes was significantly faster than that outside these microtubes. We also achieved selective/directing connection of neural networks inside the magnetic microtubes via precise microtube delivery to a gap between two neural clusters. This work not only proposes a powerful microtube platform for accelerated growth of neurons but also offers a new idea for constructing biological neural circuits by arranging the size, location, and pattern of microtubes.

A review and evaluation of nonroad diesel mobile machinery emission control in China.

China's emission control for nonroad diesel mobile machinery (NDMM) must deal with a fast increase in stock as well as regulations that are two decades behind those for on-road vehicles. This study provides the first large-scale review and evaluation of China's NDMM policies, along with emission measurements and an investigation on diesel fuel quality. The sulfur contents of the investigated diesel declined from 430 ppm (median value) in 2011 to 6-8 ppm during the 2017-2018 period. The emission control of NOx and PM greatly improved with the shift from the China II to China IV standards, as demonstrated by engine tests and field NOx measurements. However, the NOx emission factors for non-type-approved engines were approximately twice the limits of the China II standards. Emission compliance based on bench tests was not sufficient to control actual emissions because the field-measured NOx emission factors of all machinery ranged from 24% to 225% greater than the respective emission limits for the engines. These circumstances adversely affected the effectiveness of the regulations and policies for China's emission control of NDMM. Nevertheless, the policies on new and in-use NDMM, as well as diesel fuel quality, prevented NOx and PM emissions amounting to 4.4 Tg and 297.8 Gg during the period 2008-2017, respectively. The emission management strategy contributed to enhancing the international competitiveness of China's NDMM industries by promoting advanced technologies. For effective NDMM emission control in the future, portable testing and noncontact remote supervision should be strengthened; also, the issue of noncompliant diesel should be addressed through rigorous control measures and financial penalties.

Rapid and Multimaterial 4D Printing of Shape-Morphing Micromachines for Narrow Micronetworks Traversing.

Micromachines with high environmental adaptability have the potential to deliver targeted drugs in complex biological networks, such as digestive, neural, and vascular networks. However, the low processing efficiency and single processing material of current 4D printing methods often limit the development and application of shape-morphing micromachines (SMMs). Here, two 4D printing strategies are proposed to fabricate SMMs with pH-responsive hydrogels for complex micro-networks traversing. On the one hand, the 3D vortex light single exposure technique can rapidly fabricate a tubular SMM with controllable size and geometry within 0.1 s. On the other hand, the asymmetric multimaterial direct laser writing (DLW) method is used to fabricate SMMs with designable 3D structures composed of hydrogel and platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs). Based on the presence of ferroferric oxide (Fe3 O4 ) and Pt NPs in the SMMs, efficient magnetic, bubble, and hybrid propulsion modes are achieved. Finally, it is demonstrated that the spatial shape conversion capabilities of these SMMs can be used for narrow micronetworks traversing, which will find potential applications in targeted cargo delivery in microcapillaries.

Deep learning radiomic nomogram to predict recurrence in soft tissue sarcoma: a multi-institutional study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the performance of a deep learning radiomic nomogram (DLRN) model at predicting tumor relapse in patients with soft tissue sarcomas (STS) who underwent surgical resection. METHODS: In total, 282 patients who underwent MRI and resection for STS at three independent centers were retrospectively enrolled. In addition, 113 of the 282 patients received additional contrast-enhanced MRI scans. We separated the participants into a development cohort and an external test cohort. The development cohort consisted of patients from one center and the external test cohort consisted of patients from two other centers. Two MRI-based DLRNs for prediction of tumor relapse after resection of STS were established. We universally tested the DLRNs and compared them with other prediction models constructed by using widespread adopted predictors (i.e., staging systems and Ki67) instead of radiomics features. RESULTS: The DLRN1 model incorporated plain MRI-based radiomics signature into the clinical data, and the DLRN2 model integrated radiomics signature extracted from plain and contrast-enhanced MRI with the clinical predictors. Across both study sets, the two MRI-based DLRNs had relatively better prognostic capability (C index ≥ 0.721 and median AUC ≥ 0.746; p < 0.05 compared with most other models and predictors) and less opportunity for prediction error (integrated Brier score ≤ 0.159). The decision curve analysis indicates that the DLRNs have greater benefits than staging systems, Ki67, and other models. We selected appropriate cutoff values for the DLRNs to divide STS recurrence into three risk strata (low, medium, and high) and calculated those groups' cumulative risk rates. CONCLUSION: The DLRNs were shown to be a reliable and externally validated tool for predicting STS recurrence by comparing with other prediction models. KEY POINTS: • The prediction of a high recurrence rate of STS before emergence of local recurrence can help to determine whether more active treatment should be implemented. • Two MRI-based DLRNs for prediction of tumor relapse were shown to be a reliable and externally validated tool for predicting STS recurrence. • We used the DLRNs to divide STS recurrence into three risk strata (low, medium, and high) to facilitate more targeted postoperative management in the clinic.

Controllable double-helical microstructures by photonic orbital angular momentum for chiroptical response.

Three-dimensional helical microstructures are abundant in nature and can be applied as chiral metamaterials for advanced nanophotonics. Here we report a flexible method to fabricate double-helical microstructures with single exposure by recording the chirality of incident optical vortices. Two coaxial optical vortices can interfere to generate a helical optical field, confirmed by the numerical simulation. The diameters of double-helical microstructures can be tailored by the magnitude of topological charges. This fast manufacturing strategy provides the opportunity to efficiently yield helical microstructures. Finally, the chirality of double-helical microstructures can be reversibly read by optical vortices, demonstrating a strong chiroptical response.

An MRI-Based Radiomic Nomogram for Discrimination Between Malignant and Benign Sinonasal Tumors.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative discrimination between malignant and benign sinonasal tumors is important for treatment plan selection. PURPOSE: To build and validate a radiomic nomogram for preoperative discrimination between malignant and benign sinonasal tumors. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective. POPULATION: In all, 197 patients with histopathologically confirmed 84 benign and 113 malignant sinonasal tumors. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCES: Fast-spin-echo (FSE) T1 -weighted and fat-suppressed FSE T2 -weighted imaging on a 1.5T and 3.0T MRI. ASSESSMENT: T1 and fat-suppressed T2 -weighted images were selected for feature extraction. The least absolute shrinkage selection operator (LASSO) algorithm was applied to establish a radiomic score. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to determine independent risk factors, and the radiomic score was combined to build a radiomic nomogram. The nomogram was assessed in a training dataset (n = 138/3.0T MRI) and tested in a validation dataset (n = 59/1.5T MRI). STATISTICAL TESTS: Independent t-test or Wilcoxon's test, chi-square-test, or Fisher's-test, univariate analysis, LASSO, multivariate logistic regression analysis, area under the curve (AUC), Hosmer-Lemeshow test, decision curve, and the Delong test. RESULTS: In the validation dataset, the radiomic nomogram could differentiate benign from malignant sinonasal tumors with an AUC of 0.91. There was no significant difference in AUC between the combined radiomic score and radiomic nomogram (P > 0.05), and the radiomic nomogram showed a relatively higher AUC than the combined radiomic score. There was a significant difference in AUC between each two of the following models (the radiomic nomogram vs. the clinical model, all P < 0.001; the combined radiomic score vs. the clinical model, P = 0.0252 and 0.0035, respectively, in the training and validation datasets). The radiomic nomogram outperformed the radiomic scores and clinical model. DATA CONCLUSION: The radiomic nomogram combining the clinical model and radiomic score is a simple, effective, and reliable method for patient risk stratification. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 2.

Amplitude-phase optimized long depth of focus femtosecond axilens beam for single-exposure fabrication of high-aspect-ratio microstructures.

Fabrication of high-aspect-ratio (HAR) micro/nanostructures by two-photon polymerization (TPP) has become a hot topic because of the advantages of ultra-high resolution and true 3D printing ability. However, the low efficiency caused by point-by-point scanning strategy limits its application. In this Letter, we propose a strategy for the rapid fabrication of HAR microstructures by combining TPP with an amplitude-phase optimized long depth of focus laser beam (LDFB). The optimization of the LDFB is implemented by modulating the amplitude and phase on a phase-only spatial light modulator, which can suppress the side lobe and smooth energy oscillations effectively. The LDFB is used for rapid fabrication of HAR micropillars and various microstructures, which greatly increases the fabrication efficiency. As a demonstration, several typical HAR microstructures such as assemblies, microchannels, microtubes, and cell scaffolds are prepared. Moreover, the microcapture arrays are rapidly fabricated for the capture of microspheres and the formation of microlens arrays, which show focusing and imaging ability.

Efficient fabrication of a high-aspect-ratio AFM tip by one-step exposure of a long focal depth holographic femtosecond axilens beam.

In this Letter, we demonstrate a laser fabrication strategy that uses the long focal depth femtosecond axilens laser beam to manufacture the high-aspect-ratio (HAR) micropillars and atomic force microscopy (AFM) probes by one-step exposure. The long depth of focus is generated by modulating laser beam focused at different positions. By adjusting the exposure height, the morphology of HAR micropillars can be tuned flexibly, and the micropillar with an ultra-high aspect ratio (diameter of 1.5 µm, height of 102 µm, ${\rm AR}={70}$AR=70) can be fabricated within 10 ms which is a great challenge for other processing methods to obtain such a HAR microstructure in such a short time. In addition, the HAR micropillar is fabricated onto a cantilever to form the AFM probe. The homemade probe shows fine imaging quality. This method greatly improves the processing efficiency while ensuring the fabrication resolution which provides a powerful method for processing HAR microstructures.

Radiomics analysis using contrast-enhanced CT for preoperative prediction of occult peritoneal metastasis in advanced gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the predictive value of CT radiomics features derived from the primary tumor in discriminating occult peritoneal metastasis (PM) in advanced gastric cancer (AGC). METHODS: Preoperative CT images of 233 patients with AGC were retrospectively analyzed. The region of interest (ROI) was manually drawn along the margin of the lesion on the largest slice of venous CT images, and a total of 539 quantified features were extracted automatically. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and the absolute correlation coefficient (ACC) were calculated for selecting influential features. A multivariate logistic regression model was constructed based on the training cohort, and the testing cohort validated the reliability of the model. Additionally, another model based on the preoperative clinic-pathological features was also developed. The comparison of the diagnostic performance between the two models was performed using ROC analysis and the Akaike information criterion (AIC) value. RESULTS: Six radiomics features (ID_Energy, LoG(0.5)_Energy, Compactness2, Max Diameter, Orientation, and Surface Area Density) differed significantly between AGCs with and without PM and performed well in distinguishing AGCs with PM from those without PM in the primary cohort (AUC = 0.618-0.658). The radiomics model showed a higher AUC value than each single radiomics feature in the primary cohort (0.741 vs. 0.618-0.658) and similar diagnosis performance in the validation cohort. The radiomics model showed slightly worse diagnostic efficacy than the clinic-pathological model (AUC, 0.724 vs. 0.762). CONCLUSION: Venous CT radiomics analysis based on the primary tumor provided valuable information for predicting occult PM in AGCs. KEY POINTS: • Venous CT radiomics analysis provided valuable information for predicting occult peritoneal metastases in advanced gastric cancer. • CT-based T stage was an independent predictive factor of occult peritoneal metastases in advanced gastric cancer. • A radiomics model showed slightly worse diagnostic efficacy than a clinic-pathological model.

Magnetic Semiconductor Gd-Doping CuS Nanoparticles as Activatable Nanoprobes for Bimodal Imaging and Targeted Photothermal Therapy of Gastric Tumors.

Targeted delivery of enzyme-activatable probes into cancer cells to facilitate accurate imaging and on-demand photothermal therapy (PTT) of cancers with high spatiotemporal precision promises to advance cancer diagnosis and therapy. Here, we report a tumor-targeted and matrix metalloprotease-2 (MMP-2)-activatable nanoprobe (T-MAN) formed by covalent modification of Gd-doping CuS micellar nanoparticles with cRGD and an MMP-2-cleavable fluorescent substrate. T-MAN displays a high r1 relaxivity (∼60.0 mM-1 s-1 per Gd3+ at 1 T) and a large near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence turn-on ratio (∼185-fold) in response to MMP-2, allowing high-spatial-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and low-background fluorescence imaging of gastric tumors as well as lymph node (LN) metastasis in living mice. Moreover, T-MAN has a high photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE, ∼70.1%) under 808 nm laser irradiation, endowing it with the ability to efficiently generate heat to kill tumor cells. We demonstrate that T-MAN can accumulate preferentially in gastric tumors (∼23.4% ID%/g at 12 h) after intravenous injection into mice, creating opportunities for fluorescence/MR bimodal imaging-guided PTT of subcutaneous and metastatic gastric tumors. For the first time, accurate detection and laser irradiation-initiated photothermal ablation of orthotopic gastric tumors in intraoperative mice was also achieved. This study highlights the versatility of using a combination of dual biomarker recognition (i.e., αvß3 and MMP-2) and dual modality imaging (i.e., MRI and NIR fluorescence) to design tumor-targeting and activatable nanoprobes with improved selectivity for cancer theranostics in vivo.

A Conductive Self-Healing Double Network Hydrogel with Toughness and Force Sensitivity.

Mechanically tough and electrically conductive self-healing hydrogels may have broad applications in wearable electronics, health-monitoring systems, and smart robotics in the following years. Herein, a new design strategy is proposed to synthesize a dual physical cross-linked polyethylene glycol/poly(acrylic acid) (PEG/PAA) double network hydrogel, consisting of ferric ion cross-linked linear chain extensions of PEG (2,6-pyridinedicarbonyl moieties incorporated into the PEG backbone, PEG-H2 pdca) as the first physical network and a PAA-Fe3+ gel as the second physical network. Metal-ion coordination and the double network structure enable the double network hydrogel to withstand up to 0.4 MPa tensile stress and 1560 % elongation at breakage; the healing efficiency reaches 96.8 % in 12 h. In addition, due to dynamic ion transfer in the network, the resulting hydrogels exhibit controllable conductivity (0.0026-0.0061 S cm-1 ) and stretching sensitivity. These functional self-healing hydrogels have potential applications in electronic skin. It is envisioned that this strategy can also be employed to prepare other high-performance, multifunctional polymers.

[Clinical features of Enterococcus faecium meningitis in children].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical features of Enterococcus faecium meningitis in children. METHODS: The clinical data of nine children with Enterococcus faecium meningitis were analyzed. RESULTS: In all the nine children, Enterococcus faecium was isolated from blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or peripherally inserted central catheters; 6 (67%) patients were neonates, 2 (22%) patients were younger than 6 months, and 1 (11%) patient was three years and four months of age. In those patients, 56% had high-risk factors before onset, which included intestinal infection, resettlement of drainage tube after surgery for hydrocephalus, skull fracture, perinatal maternal infection history, and catheter-related infection. The main symptoms were fever and poor response. In those patients, 22% had seizures; no child had meningeal irritation sign or disturbance of consciousness. The white blood cell count and level of C-reactive protein were normal or increased; the nucleated cell count in cerebrospinal fluid was normal or mildly elevated; the protein level was substantially elevated; the glucose level was decreased. The drug sensitivity test showed that bacteria were all sensitive to vancomycin and the vancomycin treatment was effective. Only one child had the complication of hydrocephalus. CONCLUSIONS: Enterococcus faecium meningitis occurs mainly in neonates and infants. The patients have atypical clinical features. A high proportion of patients with Enterococcus faecium meningitis have high-risk factors. Enterococcus faecium is sensitive to vancomycin.

Application of CT texture analysis in predicting histopathological characteristics of gastric cancers.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the application of computed tomography (CT) texture analysis in predicting histopathological features of gastric cancers. METHODS: Preoperative contrast-enhanced CT images and postoperative histopathological features of 107 patients (82 men, 25 women) with gastric cancers were retrospectively reviewed. CT texture analysis generated: (1) mean attenuation, (2) standard deviation, (3) max frequency, (4) mode, (5) minimum attenuation, (6) maximum attenuation, (7) the fifth, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentiles, and (8) entropy. Correlations between CT texture parameters and histopathological features were analysed. RESULTS: Mean attenuation, maximum attenuation, all percentiles and mode derived from portal venous CT images correlated significantly with differentiation degree and Lauren classification of gastric cancers (r, -0.231 ~ -0.324, 0.228 ~ 0.321, respectively). Standard deviation and entropy derived from arterial CT images also correlated significantly with Lauren classification of gastric cancers (r = -0.265, -0.222, respectively). In arterial phase analysis, standard deviation and entropy were significantly lower in gastric cancers with than those without vascular invasion; however, minimum attenuation was significantly higher in gastric cancers with than those without vascular invasion. CONCLUSION: CT texture analysis held great potential in predicting differentiation degree, Lauren classification and vascular invasion status of gastric cancers. KEY POINTS: • CT texture analysis is noninvasive and effective for gastric cancer. • Portal venous CT images correlated significantly with differentiation degree and Lauren classification. • Standard deviation, entropy and minimum attenuation in arterial phase reflect vascular invasion.