Integrated Structural Modulation Inducing Fast Charge Transfer in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries.

Aqueous Zn-ion batteries (AZIBs) are promising energy-storage devices owing to their exceptional safety, long cycle life, simple production, and high storage capacity. Manganese oxides are considered potential cathode materials for AZIBs, primarily because of their safety, low cost, simple synthesis, and high storage capacity. However, MnO2-based cathodes tend to deteriorate structurally during long-term cycling, which reduces their reversible capacity. In this study, an advanced α-MnO2@SnO2 nanocomposite via facile hydrothermal synthesis is developed. The synergistic effects of lattice disorder and increased electron conductivity in the α-MnO2@SnO2 nanocomposite mitigate structural degradation and enhance the overall electrochemical performance. The nanocomposite exhibits a high reversible capacity of 347 mAh g-1 at a current density of 100 mA g-1 after 50 cycles. Furthermore, it exhibits excellent rate performance and stable capacity even after 1000 cycles, maintaining a capacity of 78 mAh g-1 at a high current density of 5 A g-1. This excellent electrochemical performance is attributed to the reversible Zn intercalation in α-MnO2@SnO2 nanocomposites due to the increased structural stability and fast ion/electron exchange caused by the distortion of the tunnel structure, on the basis of various ex situ experiments, density functional theory calculations, and electrochemical characterizations.

Analysis of gastric fluid in preterm newborns supports the view that the amniotic cavity is sterile before the onset of parturition: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the frequency of Ureaplasma-positive gastric fluid (GF) cultures based on the cause and mode of delivery in preterm newborns. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included women with a singleton pregnancy who delivered prematurely (between 23+0 and 32+0 weeks of gestation, n=464) at a single university hospital in South Korea. The newborns' GF was obtained on the day of birth via nasogastric intubation. The frequency of Ureaplasma spp. in GF cultures was measured and compared according to the cause and mode of delivery. RESULTS: Ureaplasma spp. was detected in 20.3 % of the GF samples. The presence of Ureaplasma spp. was significantly higher in the spontaneous preterm birth group than in the indicated preterm birth group (30.2 vs. 3.0 %; p<0.001). Additionally, Ureaplasma spp. was more frequently found in the vaginal delivery group than in the cesarean delivery group, irrespective of the cause of preterm delivery [indicated preterm birth group (22.2 vs. 1.9 %, p=0.023); spontaneous preterm birth group (37.7 vs. 24.2 %, p=0.015)]. CONCLUSIONS: Ureaplasma spp. were found in 20.3 % of the GFs. However, only 1.9 % of newborns in the indicated preterm birth group with cesarean delivery had a Ureaplasma-positive GF culture.

Neonatal outcomes of early preterm births according to the delivery indications.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the neonatal outcomes of early preterm births according to delivery indications and determine the obstetric risk factors associated with adverse outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively studied pregnancies delivered between 22 + 0 and 26 + 6 weeks at the tertiary center between April 2013 and April 2022. Stillbirths, elective termination of pregnancy, and multifetal pregnancies were excluded. Patients were classified into two groups according to delivery indications: spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) due to premature rupture of membranes (PROM), preterm labor, or acute cervical insufficiency; and indicated preterm birth (iPTB). Obstetric and neonatal outcomes were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Of the 121 neonates, 73 % (88/121) underwent sPTB. The overall survival rates were 73 % and 49 % in the sPTB and iPTB groups, respectively (p = 0.017). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed with adjustment for gestational age at delivery, fetal growth restriction, cesarean section, histological chorioamnionitis, and funisitis. Moreover, in the 1-year follow-up, the proportion of body mass below the third percentile was significantly higher in the iPTB-group than in the sPTB-group (53 % vs. 20 %, p = 0.019). Furthermore, diagnoses of developmental delay and cerebral palsy were slightly higher in the iPTB-group (33 % and 20 %, respectively) than in the sPTB-group (27 % and 9 %, respectively); however, this difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: In early preterm births, iPTB was associated with a higher neonatal mortality than sPTB.

Comprehensive characterization of maternal, fetal, and neonatal microbiomes supports prenatal colonization of the gastrointestinal tract.

In this study, we aimed to comprehensively characterize the microbiomes of various samples from pregnant women and their neonates, and to explore the similarities and associations between mother-neonate pairs, sample collection sites, and obstetrical factors. We collected samples from vaginal discharge and amniotic fluid in pregnant women and umbilical cord blood, gastric liquid, and meconium from neonates. We identified 19,597,239 bacterial sequences from 641 samples of 141 pregnant women and 178 neonates. By applying rigorous filtering criteria to remove contaminants, we found evidence of microbial colonization in traditionally considered sterile intrauterine environments and the fetal gastrointestinal track. The microbiome distribution was strongly grouped by sample collection site, rather than the mother-neonate pairs. The distinct bacterial composition in meconium, the first stool passed by newborns, supports that microbial colonization occurs during normal pregnancy. The microbiome in neonatal gastric liquid was similar, but not identical, to that in maternal amnionic fluid, as expected since fetuses swallow amnionic fluid in utero and their urine returns to the fluid under normal physiological conditions. Establishing a microbiome library from various samples formed only during pregnancy is crucial for understanding human development and identifying microbiome modifications in obstetrical complications.

Efficacy and safety of mucous fistula refeeding in preterm infants: an exploratory randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate whether mucous fistula refeeding (MFR) is safe and beneficial for the growth and intestinal adaptation of preterm infants with enterostomies. METHODS: This exploratory randomized controlled trial enrolled infants born before 35 weeks' gestation with enterostomy. If the stomal output was ≥ 40 mL/kg/day, infants were assigned to the high-output MFR group and received MFR. If the stoma output was < 40 mL/kg/day, infants were randomized to the normal-output MFR group or the control group. Growth, serum citrulline levels, and bowel diameter in loopograms were compared. The safety of MFR was evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty infants were included. The growth rate increased considerably, and the colon diameter was significantly larger after MFR. However, the citrulline levels did not significantly differ between the normal-output MFR and the control group. One case of bowel perforation occurred during the manual reduction for stoma prolapse. Although the association with MFR was unclear, two cases of culture-proven sepsis during MFR were noted. CONCLUSIONS: MFR benefits the growth and intestinal adaptation of preterm infants with enterostomy and can be safely implemented with a standardized protocol. However, infectious complications need to be investigated further. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov NCT02812095, retrospectively registered on June 6, 2016.

Effects of antenatal corticosteroids on neonatal outcomes in twin and singleton pregnancies: a Korean national cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether effects of antenatal corticosteroids on neonatal outcomes in preterm infants with very low birth weight were different by plurality. DESIGN: Nationwide prospective cohort study. PATIENTS: Twins and singletons with very low birth weight (<1500 g) who were born between 23+0 and 33+6 weeks of gestation and registered in the Korean Neonatal Network from January 2014 to December 2019. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Morbidity and mortality before discharge from neonatal intensive care unit. RESULTS: Among a total of 9531 preterm infants with very low birth weight, there were 2364 (24.8%) twins and 7167 (75.2%) singletons. While 83.9% of singletons were exposed to at least one dose of antenatal corticosteroids, so were 87.9% of twins.Interaction analysis demonstrated that there was no significant difference in the effect of antenatal corticosteroids on morbidities or mortality between twins and singletons in either gestational age group (23-28 weeks or 29-33 weeks).Antenatal corticosteroids significantly decreased the risk of surfactant use (adjusted relative risk (aRR): 0.972 (95% CI: 0.961 to 0.984)), high-grade intraventricular haemorrhage (aRR: 0.621 (95% CI: 0.487 to 0.794)), periventricular leucomalacia (aRR: 0.728 (95% CI: 0.556 to 0.954)) and mortality (aRR: 0.758 (95% CI: 0.679 to 0.846)) in the gestational age group of 23-28 weeks. In the gestational age group of 29-33 weeks, antenatal corticosteroids significantly decreased the risk of surfactant use (aRR: 0.914 (95% CI: 0.862 to 0.970)) and mortality (aRR: 0.409 (95% CI: 0.269 to 0.624)) but increased the risk of sepsis (aRR: 1.416 (95% CI: 1.018 to 1.969)). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that effect of antenatal corticosteroids on neonatal outcomes of preterm infants with very low birth weight does not differ significantly by plurality (twin or singleton pregnancy).

Neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants with very low birth weight conceived with the assistance of in vitro fertilization.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18-24 months of corrected age between preterm (<32 weeks of gestational age) infants with very low birth weight (VLBW) conceived with and without the assistance of in vitro fertilization (IVF). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Not applicable. PATIENT(S): In total, 4,940 infants with VLBW were born before 32 weeks of gestational age from January 2013 to December 2015. INTERVENTION(S): In vitro fertilization. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Neuromotor or sensory disability (primary outcome) and developmental delay assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (secondary outcome) at 18-24 months of corrected age. RESULT(S): Of the 4,940 infants with VLBW enrolled, 2,818 surviving infants who were followed up for neurodevelopmental assessment at 18-24 months of corrected age were included in the study. Of these 2,818 infants, 630 (22.4%) were conceived with the assistance of IVF, and 2,188 (77.6%) were not. After adjustment for potential confounders, no statistically significant differences were found in the rate of neuromotor or sensory disability at 18-24 months of corrected age between infants conceived with and without the assistance of IVF. After excluding infants with neuromotor or sensory disability, the rate of developmental delay was also comparable between those conceived with and without the assistance of IVF. CONCLUSION(S): This study showed comparable neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18-24 months of corrected age between preterm infants with VLBW conceived with and without the assistance of IVF.

Population pharmacokinetic analysis of sildenafil in term and preterm infants with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Sildenafil is widely used off-label in pediatric patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This study was conducted to characterize the pharmacokinetics (PK) of sildenafil in term and preterm neonates with PAH, by developing a population PK model, and to suggest appropriate doses to achieve clinically effective concentrations. A population PK modelling analysis was performed using sildenafil and its metabolite N-desmethyl sildenafil (DMS) concentration data from 19 neonates with PAH, whose gestational ages ranged 24-41 weeks. They received sildenafil orally at a dose of 0.5-0.75 mg/kg, four times a day. To investigate the appropriate sildenafil dose, simulations were conducted according to body weight which was significant covariate for sildenafil clearance. A one-compartment model with first-order absorption adequately described the PKs of sildenafil and DMS. Sildenafil clearance was expected to increase rapidly with increasing body weight. In the simulation, sildenafil doses > 1 mg/kg was required to achieve and maintain target concentrations of sildenafil and to expect timely clinical effects in term and preterm infants. These results could be utilized for the safer and more effective use of sildenafil in term and preterm infants.

Cooperative coupling of anisotropic phonon modes intensifies visible thermochromism in layered α-MoO3.

Applications that provide versatile, high temperature warnings require the development of thermochromic materials based on solid-state oxides. To boost the visible thermochromic properties, a fundamental approach to reveal the unclear roles of local structure on band structure modulation should be considered by scrutinizing the thermal motion of phonon modes. Herein, we demonstrate that selective coupling of intra-layer phonon modes intensifies the visible thermochromism of layered oxides α-MoO3. As a result of thermally induced band gap reduction in α-MoO3, the observed color reversibly changes from white at 25 °C to yellow at 300 °C owing to a red shift of the absorption edge with an increase of temperature. This high-temperature thermochromism is attributed to the anisotropic change of layered α-MoO3 crystal structures characterized by synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Notably, quantitative characterizations combined with theoretical calculations reveal that the cooperative coupling of active Raman modes in intra-layer [MoO6] octahedra are responsible for the band gap reduction at high temperature; this defies the general belief regarding the origin of visible thermochromism in layered oxides as the modulation of a van der Waals inter-layer distance. These original results can aid the development of a new strategy to further intensify high-temperature thermochromism by anion doping for highly sensitive temperature-indicating applications.