Amphiphilic Block Copolymers Containing Benzenesulfonyl Azide Groups as Visible Light-Responsive Drug Carriers for Image-Guided Delivery.

Nanoparticles (NPs) containing light-responsive polymers and imaging agents show great promise for controlled drug delivery. However, most light-responsive NPs rely on short-wavelength excitation, resulting in poor tissue penetration and potential cytotoxicity. Moreover, excessively sensitive NPs may prematurely release drugs during storage and circulation, diminishing their efficacy and causing off-target toxicity. Herein, we report visible-light-responsive NPs composed of an amphiphilic block copolymer containing responsive 4-acrylamide benzenesulfonyl azide (ABSA) and hydrophilic N,N'-dimethylacrylamide (DMA) units. The polymer pDMA-ABSA was loaded with the chemotherapy drug dasatinib and zinc tetraphenylporphyrin (ZnTPP). ZnTPP acted as an imaging reagent and a photosensitizer to reduce ABSA upon visible light irradiation, converting hydrophobic units to hydrophilic units and disrupting NPs to trigger drug release. These NPs enabled real-time fluorescence imaging in cells and exhibited synergistic chemophotodynamic therapy against multiple cancer cell lines. Our light-responsive NP platform holds great promise for controlled drug delivery and cancer theranostics, circumventing the limitations of traditional photosensitive nanosystems.

Efficacy and Safety of Low-Dose Apatinib Combined with Chemotherapy as Second-Line Treatment for Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: At present, there are several studies on low-dose apatinib combined with chemotherapy as a second-line treatment of advanced gastric cancer (AGC), but the conclusions are controversial. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of low-dose apatinib combined with chemotherapy as a second-line treatment of AGC. METHODS: Nine databases were searched for records on apatinib combined with chemotherapy in treating AGC from inception to June 2022. The observation group received low-dose apatinib combined with chemotherapy, while the controls received chemotherapy alone or other non-placebo treatments. Outcomes included objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events. The relative risk (RR) and weighted mean difference (WMD) were used as effect sizes. RESULTS: Eight studies involving 679 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the observation group was superior to the controls in terms of ORR (RR = 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.81, p = 0.02), DCR (RR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.20-1.53, p < 0.001), OS (WMD = 4.72, 95% CI: 0.71-8.72, p < 0.001), and PFS (WMD = 2.67, 95% CI: 1.7-3.63, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences between the two groups in adverse events of any grade except hypertension (RR = 2.82, 95% CI: 2.07-3.84, p < 0.001), hand-mouth syndrome (RR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.84-2.48, p < 0.001), and proteinuria (RR = 3.63, 95% CI: 2.31-5.7, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Low-dose apatinib combined with chemotherapy as a second-line therapy is more effective in improving the efficacy of AGC compared to chemotherapy alone. However, this option has the potential to increase the risk of hypertension, hand-mouth syndrome, and proteinuria.

Effect of different adhesive systems on dental defects and sensitivity to teeth in composite resin restoration: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This meta-analysis aimed to elucidate the effects of various acid etching patterns on the sensitivity of teeth and their clinical effectiveness following composite resin repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched for relevant studies on the postoperative sensitivity (POS) of composite resin restorations after using different bonding systems. The retrieval was from the inception of the databases to August 13, 2022, with no filter of written language. Literature screening was conducted by two independent researchers. The Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool was adopted for quality evaluation, and Stata 15.0 for analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-five randomized controlled trials were included in the present study. Following resin composite restoration, 1309 restorations were bonded by self-etching (SE) adhesives, whereas 1271 restorations were bonded by total-etching (TE) adhesives. The meta-analyses showed that there is no evidence to prove the SE and TE will affect POS at present when measured using the modified United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria [RR = 1.00 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.04)], the World Dental Federation (FDI) [RR = 1.06 (95% CI: 0.98, 1.15)], or the visual analog scale (VAS) [SMD = 0.02 (95% CI: -0.15, 0.20)] scales. At a certain follow-up time, TE adhesives provide better outcomes in terms of color match, marginal staining, and marginal adaptation. In other words, TE adhesives have better esthetic results. CONCLUSIONS: The type of bonding technique (ER and SE) does not affect the risk and degree of POS in class I/II and class V restorations. Further research is required to verify whether these findings apply to different forms of composite resin restorations. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Besides the fact that TE barely increase postoperative sensitivity, it also yields superior cosmetic results.

Plastic structures for diverse substrates: A revisit of human ABC transporters.

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily is one of the largest groups of primary active transporters that could be found in all kingdoms of life from bacteria to humans. In humans, ABC transporters can selectively transport a wide spectrum of substrates across membranes, thus playing a pivotal role in multiple physiological processes. In addition, due to the ability of exporting clinic therapeutics, some ABC transporters were originally termed multidrug resistance proteins. Increasing investigations of human ABC transporters in recent years have provided abundant information for elucidating their structural features, based on the structures at distinct states in a transport cycle. This review focuses on the recent progress in human ABC structural analyses, substrate binding specificities, and translocation mechanisms. We dedicate to summarize the common features of human ABC transporters in different subfamilies, and to discuss the possibility to apply the fast-developing techniques, such as cryogenic electron microscopy, and artificial intelligence-assisted structure prediction, for future studies.

Coking-Resistant Polyethylene Upcycling Modulated by Zeolite Micropore Diffusion.

Although the mass production of synthetic plastics has transformed human lives, it has resulted in waste accumulation on the earth. Here, we report a low-temperature conversion of polyethylene into olefins. By mixing the polyethylene feed with rationally designed ZSM-5 zeolite nanosheets at 280 °C in flowing hydrogen as a carrier gas, light hydrocarbons (C1-C7) were produced with a yield of up to 74.6%, where 83.9% of these products were C3-C6 olefins with almost undetectable coke formation. The reaction proceeds in multiple steps, including polyethylene melting, flowing to access the zeolite surface, cracking on the zeolite surface, formation of intermediates to diffuse into the zeolite micropores, and cracking into small molecules in the zeolite micropores. The ZSM-5 zeolite nanosheets kinetically matched the cascade cracking steps on the zeolite external surface and within micropores by boosting the intermediate diffusion. This feature efficiently suppressed the intermediate accumulation on the zeolite surface to minimize coke formation. In addition, we found that hydrogen participation in the cracking process could hinder the formation of polycyclic species within zeolite micropores, which also contributes to the rapid molecule diffusion. The coking-resistant polyethylene upcycling process at a low temperature not only overturns the general viewpoint for facile coke formation in the catalytic cracking over the zeolites but also demonstrates how the polyethylene-based plastics can be upcycled to valuable chemicals. In addition to the model polyethylene, the reaction system worked efficiently for the depolymerization of multiple practically used polyethylene-rich plastics, enabling an industrially and economically viable path for dealing with plastic wastes.

Expanded Transoral Microvascular Mandibular Reconstruction: A Scar-Free Approach.

PURPOSE: We present our experience with transoral segmental mandibulectomy, in conjunction with vascularized osseous mandibular reconstruction, utilizing an intraoral anastomosis and free of extraoral incisions. Virtual surgical planning and intraoperative navigation were used to help achieve this minimally invasive and scar-free approach. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 9 patients who underwent transoral segmental mandibulectomy followed by vascularized osseous reconstruction using an intraoral anastomosis between January 2018 and October 2018. The anastomotic recipient vessels were the facial artery and vein. The outcome variable was defined as the flap survival. Postoperative panoramic radiographs and computed tomography images were obtained for assessment of the neo-mandible. In addition, we performed a cadaver dissection to highlight relevant anatomic details of the facial artery and vein. RESULTS: Successful transoral segmental mandibulectomy was achieved in 9 patients, with an intraoral anastomosis successfully achieved in 8 patients. In one patient, an extraoral anastomosis was required because of challenging facial vein anatomy. Both recipient and donor sites healed uneventfully with a 100% successful rate of flap survival. In all cases, a well-positioned neo-mandible with good occlusion was demonstrated on postoperative imaging and examination. A symmetric facial appearance with no restrictions in mouth opening was also achieved in each case. In our cadaver dissection, we describe the anatomical course of the facial artery and vein. An average angle of 30° between these vessels is identified. CONCLUSIONS: Transoral segmental mandibulectomy combined with intraoral microvascular mandibular reconstruction is a surgically achievable technique with the benefit of being scar free.

First report of Dickeya dadantii causing bacterial soft rot of Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum in Taiwan.

Philodendrons are important foliage ornamentals planted worldwide (Chen et al. 2010). In November 2021, soft rot symptoms were observed on Philodendron selloum (now known as Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum; Sakuragui et al. 2018) grown in a nursery in Taichung, Taiwan. On symptomatic plants, the petioles were macerated; leaf lesions were also found on some plants (Figure S1). About 60% of the plants on site were symptomatic; these plants tended to cluster together. Four plants were sampled. Infected tissues were soaked and cut into pieces in 10 mM MgCl2 (using scalpels); undiluted samples were streak-plated onto nutrient agar (NA) and grown for 24 h at 28°C. Translucent, creamy-white colonies were isolated from all of the tissues examined, and 4 isolates, PHIL1 to PHIL4, were obtained (each from a different plant). All isolates exhibited typical phenotypes of bacteria belonging to Dickeya; they could cause maceration symptoms on potato slices, ferment glucose and produce phosphatase (Schaad et al. 2001); they could also produce indigoidine on NGM medium (NA added with glycerol and MnCl2; Lee and Yu. 2006). Polymerase chain reactions using Dickeya-specific primers 5A and 5B (Chao et al. 2006) amplified the expected amplicon in all 4 isolates. The 16S rDNA of PHIL1 to PHIL4 were amplified using primer pair 27f/1492r (Lane 1991) and the amplicons were sequenced; all 4 isolates shared the same 1,395-bp sequence (accession nos. ON203122, ON479664-ON479666). Among the strains belonging to known species (in GenBank), PHIL1 to PHIL4 shared the highest sequence identity (99.93%) with D. dadantii 3937; they also shared 98.78% sequence identity with D. dadantii CFBP 1269T. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) targeting fragments of PHIL1 to PHIL4's dnaA (720 bp), dnaJ (672 bp), dnaX (450 bp), gyrB (822 bp), and recN (762 bp) genes (Marrero et al. 2013) were conducted. The five-gene concatenated sequences (3,426 bp) of the 4 isolates (accession nos. ON227444-ON227448, ON494509-ON494523) were identical. A maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis including these sequences and those of type strains of other known Dickeya species revealed that PHIL1 to PHIL4 clustered with strains belonging to D. dadantii (Figure S2). Koch's postulates were fulfilled with an inoculation test conducted on T. bipinnatifidum (17 cm in aboveground height; 7-months-old). Stab inoculation using sterile toothpicks was conducted on petioles. Three plants were tested for each isolate and 2 petioles were inoculated for each plant; all 4 isolates were included in the assay. The pathogen loads inoculated were quantified by the spread plate method and were 3.22 - 4.81 x 107 colony forming units. Three plants were stabbed with bacteria-free toothpicks, serving as controls. All plants were bagged post inoculation and kept in a growth chamber (28°C; 14 h light). After 72 h, all of the inoculated petioles exhibited symptoms resembling those observed in the nursery. Bacteria were re-isolated from the symptomatic tissues (one isolate from each treatment), and all of their five-gene concatenated sequences were the same as those of PHIL1 to PHIL4. This is the first formal report of the occurrence of D. dadantii infecting T. bipinnatifidum in Taiwan. Studies have shown that D. dadantii could affect other Araceae plants in Taiwan (Lee and Chen 2021). Since different Araceae ornamentals are often planted together in gardens and nurseries, growers should be aware of potential transmission of D. dadantii among them.

First report of bacterial soft rot on Epipremnum aureum caused by Pectobacterium aroidearum in Taiwan.

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is an Araceae foliage plant with great ornamental values, which has long been enjoyed by consumers (Chen et al. 2010). In September 2021, pothos showing soft rot symptoms were found in 2 nurseries in Taichung, Taiwan. The petioles of the infected plants were macerated; some lesions extended to the leaves (Figure S1). The disease incidence was 50% in one nursery and 37.5% in the other; two and three plants were respectively collected from the two sites. Macerated tissues were homogenized in 10 mM MgCl2 and the samples were observed microscopically without dyeing. Motile, rod-shaped bacteria were observed in the samples, and the bacteria were isolated onto nutrient agar (NA) and grown at 28°C for 2 days. Fast-growing, round, creamy colonies were isolated from all 5 plants. One strain was isolated from each plant and the strains were named Ea1 to Ea5. The bacteria could ferment glucose and induce maceration on potato tuber slices (Schaad et al. 2001), but did not produce indigoidine on NGM medium (Lee and Yu 2006) and were tested negative for phosphatase activity (Schaad et al. 2001). The bacteria's DNA samples were tested using primers specific to Pectobacterium (Y1/Y2; Darrasse et al. 1994). The expected 434-bp amplicon was amplified in all five strains. Multilocus sequence analysis was conducted as previously described (Portier et al. 2019). A concatenated sequence (1,592 bp) comprising partial dnaX (492 bp), leuS (452 bp) and recA (648 bp) sequences was obtained for each strain. Two genotypes were detected among the strains; Ea1 and Ea2 belonged to one genotype (i.e., they had identical sequences), while Ea3, Ea4 and Ea5 belonged to the other (GenBank accession nos. OK416015-OK416020). Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using these data and those of representative strains of known Pectobacterium species (Klair et al. 2022). A maximum-likelihood tree showed that Ea1 to Ea5 clustered with P. aroidearum CFBP8168T (Figure S2). Sequence comparison (Table S1) showed that the similarity between the two genotypes' concatenated sequences was 99.1% (Ea1 vs. Ea3; 1,578/1,592 bp); Ea1 and Ea3 shared 99.2% and 99.3% sequence similarity with P. aroidearum CFBP8168T, respectively. The sequences obtained in this work were searched against GenBank and all of their top hits were those of strains belonging to P. aroidearum (supplementary information). Koch's Postulates were fulfilled by stab inoculating cutting-propagated pothos (8-cm tall) using toothpicks carrying bacteria grown on NA. The pathogen loads used were estimated by suspending cells (attached to individual toothpicks) in 10 mM MgCl2 and spread-plating them onto NA (after dilution); the loads were 5.5 x 106 - 2.2 x 107 CFU. Three plants were inoculated for each strain (3 petioles per plant). Control plants were stabbed with sterile toothpicks. Each plant was then bagged and placed in a growth chamber (28°C; 14 h light). After 24 h, all inoculated plants produced symptoms resembling those found in the nurseries, and the controls did not. For every treatment group, a strain was re-isolated onto NA; each of them shared the same recA sequence with the original strain inoculated. This is first report of P. aroidearum causing pothos soft rot in Taiwan. Local nurseries often grow pothos and other Araceae plants together in humid areas. Since other Araceae species are also known to be susceptible to P. aroidearum (Xu et al. 2020), growers should be cautious of the pathogen's spread across hosts.

Supercritical Fluid Microcellular Foaming of High-Hardness TPU via a Pressure-Quenching Process: Restricted Foam Expansion Controlled by Matrix Modulus and Thermal Degradation.

High-hardness thermoplastic polyurethane (HD-TPU) presents a high matrix modulus, low-temperature durability, and remarkable abrasion resistance, and has been used in many advanced applications. However, the fabrication of microcellular HD-TPU foam is rarely reported in the literature. In this study, the foaming behavior of HD-TPU with a hardness of 75D was investigated via a pressure-quenching foaming process using CO2 as a blowing agent. Microcellular HD-TPU foam with a maximum expansion ratio of 3.9-fold, a cell size of 25.9 µm, and cell density of 7.8 × 108 cells/cm3 was prepared, where a high optimum foaming temperature of about 170 °C had to be applied with the aim of softening the polymer's matrix modulus. However, the foaming behavior of HD-TPU deteriorated when the foaming temperature further increased to 180 °C, characterized by the presence of coalesced cells, microcracks, and a high foam density of 1.0 g/cm3 even though the crystal domains still existed within the matrix. The cell morphology evolution of HD-TPU foam was investigated by adjusting the saturation time, and an obvious degradation occurred during the high-temperature saturation process. A cell growth mechanism of HD-TPU foams in degradation environments was proposed to explain this phenomenon based on the gas escape through the defective matrix.

Transcatheter Arterial Sclerosing Embolization for the Treatment of Giant Propranolol-Resistant Infantile Hemangiomas in the Parotid Region.

PURPOSE: To report the effectiveness and safety of transcatheter arterial sclerosing embolization (TASE) for the treatment of parotid infantile hemangiomas that did not respond appreciably to propranolol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 21 infants (12 male and 9 female) with large propranolol-resistant infantile hemangiomas in the parotid region were enrolled in this study. During TASE, the feeding arteries of the lesions were embolized using pingyangmycin-lipiodol emulsion and polyvinyl alcohol particles (300-500 µm) to reduce the blood flow rate. All children were followed up as outpatients at 2 weeks and monthly thereafter. The curative effect was evaluated at the 1- and 3-month follow-up visits. RESULTS: Nine lesions were located on the right side of the parotid gland, whereas 12 were located on the left side. The feeding arteries in all patients originated from branches of the external carotid artery. TASE was technically successful in all patients. The mean (± SD) maximal diameter of the hemangiomas significantly decreased from 6.50 cm ± 2.28 before treatment to 3.56 cm ± 1.84 at 1 month after TASE (P <. 05). Three months after TASE, the mean maximal diameter further significantly decreased to 1.94 cm ± 1.58 (P <. 05). During the follow-up period, 16 cases were rated as excellent and 5 as good; no recurrence or serious complications were noted. Minor side effects, such as slight pain, mild fever, and tissue swelling, were observed. CONCLUSIONS: TASE significantly decreased the size of the parotid hemangiomas with minor side effects during a short follow-up period.

Polidocanol Sclerotherapy for the Treatment of Pyogenic Granuloma in Children.

BACKGROUND: Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a benign vascular lesion that is commonly observed in the skin and mucosa. Sclerotherapy is the first-line conservative treatment option for PG. OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of sclerotherapy with 1.0% polidocanol for the treatment of PG. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients who were clinically diagnosed with PG consecutively at the Pediatric Outpatient Service of Qilu Children's Hospital of Shandong University from March 2018 to October 2019 received sclerotherapy with 1.0% polidocanol. RESULT: The procedure resulted in the complete excision of PG, with inconspicuous scars. The procedure was well-tolerated, and recurrence was not observed. Allergic reactions, cutaneous necrosis, and pigmentary changes were not observed. CONCLUSION: Sclerotherapy with 1.0% polidocanol is considered an effective treatment for PGs in children. Early treatment was associated with a more favorable outcome.

Onion extract gel is not better than other topical treatments in scar management: A meta-analysis from randomised controlled trails.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of onion extract (OE) gel on scar management, a systematic review was performed by searching Embase, PubMed, Medline, and the Cochrane Library databases, and a meta-analysis was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement guidelines. Finally, 13 randomised controlled trails were enrolled for meta-analysis. OE gel increased the total improvement scores assessed by investigators (P < .00001) and patients (P < .00001) than no treatment, but no differences were detected between OE gel and other commonly used topical treatments assessed by investigators (P = .56) and patients (P = .39). Moreover, OE in silicone gel increased the total improvement scores assessed by investigators (P < .00001) and patients (P = .0007) than other treatments. OE gel increased the incidence of total adverse effects compared with no treatment (P < .0001) and other treatments (P = .008) by a fixed-effects model, and increased the incidence of dropping out caused by intolerance of treatments (P = .0002). OE gel not only has no superiority to commonly used topical treatments, but also has the potential to increase the incidence of adverse effects on scar management; OE in silicone gel might be the optimal topical choice for scar treatment; however, more evidences are needed to strength these conclusions.

Pegaspargase Combined with Concurrent Radiotherapy for Early-Stage Extranodal Natural Killer/T-Cell Lymphoma, Nasal Type: A Two-Center Phase II Study.

BACKGROUND: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is expected to improve local and systemic disease control and has been established as a standard therapy for several types of solid tumors. Considering the benefits of frontline radiation and pegaspargase in localized extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL), we conducted a phase II study on pegaspargase-based CCRT to explore an effective treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 30 patients with newly diagnosed nasal ENKTL in stages IE to IIE received CCRT (radiation 50 Gy and two cycles of pegaspargase 2,500 unit/m2 every 3 weeks). Four courses of pegaspargase were performed after CCRT. RESULTS: The patients completed CCRT and four cycles of pegaspargase. The complete remission (CR) rate was 90%, with a 95% confidential interval (CI) of 73.5%-97.9% after CCRT. The CR rate was 100% (95% CI, 88.4%-100%) at the end of the treatment. The 2-year overall survival and progression-free survival rates were 90.9% (95% CI, 78.4%-100%) and 92.8% (95% CI, 83.2%-100%), respectively. The major adverse events were in grades 1-2. CONCLUSION: Preliminary data indicate that pegaspargase combined with concurrent radiotherapy for newly diagnosed patients with nasal ENKTL was efficacious and well tolerated. Registered at www.chictr.org. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR-OIC-15007662. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This clinical trial, evaluating the efficacy and toxicity of concurrent chemoradiotherapy by using single-drug pegaspargase for patients with extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL) in stage IE to IIE, showed pegaspargase combined with concurrent radiotherapy was efficacious and well tolerated. Pegaspargase has a long half-life and is easy to administer via intramuscular injection. Consequently, pegaspargase combined with concurrent radiotherapy for patients with ENKTL can be completed in the outpatient clinic.

Comparison of wall removal type versus wall retaining type of decompression for treating large mandibular odontogenic cysts.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the differences between two types of decompression for treating large mandibular odontogenic cysts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective, cohort study included patients who were diagnosed for large mandibular odontogenic cysts from January 2015 to April 2018 and underwent two different types of decompression based on removal or retention of the cyst wall. The primary outcome was the percentage of the residual cyst area within 1 year after surgery. We used the propensity score matching (PSM) to balance the covariates of the two groups, and the primary outcome was analyzed by the non-inferiority test. RESULTS: A total of 93 cases were included in our study. After 1 year, the wall removal group was non-inferior to the wall retaining group in terms of cyst area, cyst volume, and the difference between the HU values of the original cyst region and the normal mandible. In subgroup analysis, we found there were no differences between two groups in the percentage of patients in whom the cystic area was reduced by 90% after 1 year. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the wall removal group showed better results than the cyst wall retaining group in large mandibular odontogenic cysts.

Pilot-scale study of forward osmosis for treating desulfurization wastewater.

Forward osmosis (FO) treatment of desulfurization wastewater shows great potential in laboratory scale tests. To explore the adaptability of the forward osmosis system in the practical treatment of desulfurization wastewater, we carried out a pilot test on desulfurization wastewater treated by the traditional method under the conditions of adding soda ash (SA) and adding FO scale inhibitor (FOSI). The results showed that the FO system could concentrate desulfurization wastewater with an average TDS of 15,816-32,820 mg/L in the influent water to an average TDS of more than 120,000 mg/L, which was concentrated 3.8-7.8 times. The removal rates of Ca2+, Mg2+ and Cl- were more than 99% and the system could operate stably for a long time. Under the condition of adding SA and FOSI, the system recovery rate was 85.38% and 73.02%, respectively. The operating cost was 25 RMB/ton and 21.77 RMB/ton, respectively. The results showed that the application of forward osmosis in desulfurization wastewater treatment was technically feasible and economically effective.

Membrane fouling control by Ca2+ during coagulation-ultrafiltration process for algal-rich water treatment.

Seasonal algal bloom, a water supply issue worldwide, can be efficiently solved by membrane technology. However, membranes typically suffer from serious fouling, which hinders the wide application of this technology. In this study, the feasibility of adding Ca2+ to control membrane fouling in coagulation-membrane treatment of algal-rich water was investigated. According to the results obtained, the normalized membrane flux decreased by a lower extent upon increasing the concentration of Ca2+ from 0 to 10 mmol/L. Simultaneously, the floc particle size increased significantly with the concentration of Ca2+, which leads to a lower hydraulic resistance. The coagulation performance is also enhanced with the concentration of Ca2+, inducing a slight osmotic pressure-induced resistance. The formation of Ca2+ coagulation flocs resulted in a looser, thin, and permeable cake layer on the membrane surface. This cake layer rejected organic pollutants and could be easily removed by physical and chemical cleaning treatments, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy images. The hydraulic irreversible membrane resistance was significantly reduced upon addition of Ca2+. All these findings suggest that the addition of Ca2+ may provide a simple-operation, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly technology for controlling membrane fouling during coagulation-membrane process for algal-rich water treatment.

PbrMYB169 positively regulates lignification of stone cells in pear fruit.

Stone cells negatively affect fruit quality because of their firm and lignified cell walls, so are targets for reduction in pear breeding programmes. However, there is only limited knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of stone cells. Here, we show that PbrMYB169, an R2R3 MYB transcription factor, of Pyrus bretschneideri positively regulates lignification of stone cells in pear fruit. PbrMYB169 was shown to be co-expressed with lignin biosynthesis genes during pear fruit development, and this co-expression pattern was coincident with stone cell formation in the fruit of Pyrus bretschneideri 'Dangshansuli'. The PbrMYB169 expression level was also positively correlated with stone cell content in 36 pear cultivars tested. PbrMYB169 protein significantly activated the promoter of lignin genes C3H1, CCR1, CCOMT2, CAD, 4CL1, 4CL2, HCT2, and LAC18 via binding to AC elements [ACC(T/A)ACC] in these promoters. Furthermore, overexpression of PbrMYB169 in transgenic Arabidopsis plants enhanced the expression of lignin genes, and increased lignin deposition and cell wall thickness of vessel elements, but did not change the ratio of syringyl and guaiacyl lignin monomers. In conclusion, PbrMYB169 appears to be a transcriptional activator of lignin biosynthesis and regulates secondary wall formation in fruit stone cells. This study advances the understanding of the regulation of lignin biosynthesis and provides valuable molecular genetic information for reducing stone cell content in pear fruit.

Molecular Structure of Glycogen in Escherichia coli.

Glycogen, a randomly branched glucose polymer, provides energy storage in organisms. It forms small ß particles which in animals bind to form composite α particles, which give better glucose release. Simulations imply ß particle size is controlled only by activities and sizes of glycogen biosynthetic enzymes and sizes of polymer chains. Thus, storing more glucose requires forming more ß particles, which are expected to sometimes form α particles. No α particles have been reported in bacteria, but the extraction techniques might have caused degradation. Using milder glycogen extraction techniques on Escherichia coli, transmission electron microscopy and size-exclusion chromatography showed α particles, consistent with this hypothesis for α-particle formation. Molecular density and size distributions show similarities with animal glycogen, despite very different metabolic processes. These general polymer constraints are such that any organism which needs to store and then release glucose will have similar α and ß particle structures: a type of convergent evolution.

Long-Term Efficacy of Deep Brain Stimulation of Bilateral Globus Pallidus Internus in Primary Meige Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the internal segment of the globus pallidus (GPi) is an alternative therapy in ameliorating the clinical symptoms of primary Meige syndrome. Nevertheless, proof of its efficacy and safety is insufficient due to several case reports and small-sample clinical studies. This study aims to investigate postoperative long-term efficacy in patients undergoing DBS of the GPi for primary Meige syndrome. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study to assess the efficacy and safety of bilateral GPi stimulation in 40 patients with primary Meige syndrome who responded poorly to medical treatments or botulinum toxin injections. All participants were postoperatively followed up at the outpatient clinic, and their motor functions were assessed using the Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale (BFMDRS). The severity of patients' dystonia was evaluated before surgery and at follow-up neurostimu-lation. RESULTS: The implanted stimulator was turned on 1 month after surgery. All 40 patients received monopolar stimulation using the following parameters: voltage 2.5-3.5 V (average: 2.6 ± 0.8 V), frequency 60-160 Hz (average: 88.0 ± 21.3 Hz), and pulse width 60-185 µS (average: 90.0 ± 21.1 µS). In 28 of 40 patients, the symptoms had signifi-cantly improved within 1 week of stimulation. Most of the patients had been followed up for 6-24 months (average: 15.0 ± 7.8 months). The clinical symptoms of all patients had significantly improved. At 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery, the BFMDRS subscores of eyes, mouth, speech, and swallowing were significantly lower, and subscores of mouth movement showed progressively decreased with prolonged stimulation time. The overall improvement rate was 83%. Five adverse events occurred in the 40 patients; all of these events resolved without permanent sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral GPi-DBS demonstrated satisfactory long-term efficacy in the treatment of primary Meige syndrome and could serve as an effective and safe option.

WITHDRAWN: Expanded Transoral Microvascular Mandibular Reconstruction: A Scar-Free Approach.

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