Effect of sarcopenia on refractures of adjacent vertebra after percutaneous kyphoplasty.

PURPOSE: To explore the effect of sarcopenia on recurrent fractures of adjacent vertebra after percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP). METHODS: A total of 376 osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) patients over 55 years old who were admitted to the Hospital from August 2020 to January 2021 were selected. Among them, 38 patients with recurrent fractures in adjacent vertebra after PKP were selected as the refracture group (RG), and the remaining 338 patients were selected as the non-refracture group (NRG). The age, gender, grip strength, body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density (BMD), visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain before and one month after surgery, Oswestry disability index (ODI) before and one month after surgery and the occurrence of sarcopenia were compared between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the effect of related risk factors on refracture after vertebral PKP. RESULTS: The results of t-test and Chi-square test showed that there were no obvious differences in gender, BMI, preoperative VAS score (t=-0.996, P = 0.320) and ODI (t=-0.424, P = 0.671), one month postoperative VAS score (t=-0.934, P = 0.355) and ODI score (t=-0.461, P = 0.645). while the age and grip strength showed significant differences between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis showed that BMI and gender had no significant effect on refracture after PKP, while sarcopenia and advanced age were independent risk factors for refracture after PKP. Also, increased BMD was a protective factor for refracture after PKP. CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia is an independent risk factor for recurrent fractures after PKP in OVCF patients. The screening and diagnosis of sarcopenia should be strengthened. At the same time, anti-sarcopenia treatment should be actively performed after surgery.

Intervention with extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer in osteoclasts attenuates periodontitis-induced bone resorption.

Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) plays critical roles in the regulation of inflammation and bone metabolism. The roles of EMMPRIN signaling in osteoclasts are worthy of deep study. The present study aimed to investigate bone resorption in periodontitis through the intervention of EMMPRIN signaling. The distribution of EMMPRIN in human periodontitis was observed. RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation of mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) were treated with EMMPRIN inhibitor in vitro. Rats with ligation-induced periodontitis were treated with EMMPRIN inhibitor and harvested for microcomputed tomography scanning, histologic observation, immunohistochemistry, and double immunofluorescence analysis. Positive expressions of EMMPRIN could be found in the CD68+-infiltrating cells. Downregulated EMMPRIN restrained osteoclast differentiation of BMMs in vitro, which also inhibited MMP-9 expression (*P < 0.05). In vivo, EMMPRIN inhibitor restrained ligation-induced bone resorption by decreasing tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive osteoclasts. Both EMMPRIN-positive and MMP-9-positive osteoclasts were less common in the EMMPRIN inhibitor groups than in the control groups. Intervention of EMMPRIN signaling in osteoclasts could probably provide a potential therapeutic target for attenuating ligation-induced bone resorption.

Classification and characterization of facial asymmetry in adult patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion using cluster analysis.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to analyze the comprehensive maxillofacial features of patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion and facial asymmetry to develop a classification system for diagnosis and surgical planning. METHODS: A total of 161 adult patients were included, with 121 patients in the asymmetry group (menton deviation >2 mm) and 40 patients in the symmetry group (menton deviation ≤2 mm). Twenty-eight variables were determined, including transverse translation, roll and yaw of each facial unit, transverse width, mandibular morphology, and transverse dental compensation. Principal component (PC) analysis was conducted to extract PCs, and cluster analysis was performed using these components to classify the asymmetry group. A decision tree was constructed on the basis of the clustering results. RESULTS: Six PCs were extracted, explaining 80.622% of the data variability. The asymmetry group was classified into 4 subgroups: (1) atypical type (15.7%) showed an opposite roll direction of maxillary dentition than of menton deviation; (2) compound type (34.71%) demonstrated significant ramus height differences, maxillary roll, and mandibular roll and yaw; (3) mandibular yaw type (44.63%) showed slight mandibular yaw without mandibular morphology asymmetry; and (4) maxillary-shift type (4.96%) shared similarities with the compound type but showed significant maxillary translation. The classification and regression tree model achieved a prediction accuracy of up to 85.11%. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified 4 distinct phenotypes using cluster analysis and proposed tailored treatment recommendations on the basis of their specific characteristics. The classification results emphasized the importance of spatial displacement features, especially mandibular yaw, in diagnosing facial asymmetry. The established classification and regression tree model enables clinicians to identify patients conveniently.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and microplastics cause necroptosis and apoptosis in hepatocytes of mice by inducing oxidative stress.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a plasticizer and an endocrine disruptor. Microplastics (MPs) are pathogenic small plastic particles and abundant in the aqueous environment. The problem of residual hazards of plastic products is worthy of study, especially the joint exposure of a variety of plastic-related products to the toxic effect. We used 200 mg/kg DEHP and 10 mg/L MPs to establish exposure model in vivo and 2 mM DEHP and 200 µg/L MPs to establish AML12 cell exposure model in vitro. In vivo study results showed that compared with the control group (NC) group, DEHP and MPs significantly increased the contents of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide, and significantly decreased the contents of glutathione and the activity of superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant capacity, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. The level of oxidative stress was further aggravated after combined exposure. The reactive oxygen species level of AML12 exposed to DEHP and MPs in vitro was significantly higher than NC group, and the combined exposure was significantly higher than the single exposure. The in vivo and in vitro also confirmed that DEHP and MPs could significantly increase the mRNA and protein levels of apoptosis markers and necroptosis markers and there was an additive effect. After N-acetylcysteine treatment in vitro, the above-mentioned oxidative stress level and cell damage decreased significantly. This study provided a reference for advocating the reduction of the mixed use of plastic products, and provided a basis for preventing the harm of plastic products residues.

Underestimated Microplastic Pollution Derived from Fishery Activities and "Hidden" in Deep Sediment.

Fishery activities are an important source of microplastic pollution in coastal areas but have received little attention. The Beibu Gulf, a traditional fishing ground of China and the China-Indo Peninsula, was selected in this study, and the focus was on the impacts of fishery activities on the horizontal distribution of microplastics in sediment. The results showed that the dominant contaminants (polypropylene fibers and polyethylene fibers) might originate from the abrasion of fishing gear and contributed to 61.6% of the total abundance of microplastics in surface sediment. The abundance of polypropylene fibers and polyethylene fibers exhibited a strong correlation (R2 = 0.8586, p = 0.015) with values of fishery yields of different districts, which highlighted the effects of different fishery activities on microplastic contamination in marine sediment. Microplastics could be "hidden" in deep sediment to a depth of 60 cm. The estimated storage of microplastics in deep sediment (185 tons) was 5 times that in surface sediment. The assessment of microplastic storage worldwide might be underestimated because most previous studies only examined surface sediment. The abundance distribution and size distribution of microplastics in the sediment core suggested long-term burial of microplastics in deep sediment. Bioturbation might be responsible for the vertical transport of microplastics, leading to "fresh microplastics" preservation in "old sediment".

Common Salivary Protein 1 in Saliva of Diabetes Patients (II).

BACKGROUND: Human common salivary protein 1 (CSP1) is one of a variety of molecules in saliva but its function remains to be determined. The gold standard method for diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (DM) is to check levels of glucose or HbA1C in plasma or serum. The purpose of this study was to examine whether Salivary CSP1 concentration would be useful alternative for DM diagnosis. METHODS: The qualities of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to recombinant human CSP1 (rhCSP1) were tested by western blotting (WB) and immunohistochemistry. A sandwich ELISA was fabricated with the qualified capture and detector mAbs for measurement of CSP1 level in saliva. CSP1 levels of healthy adults and DM patients were measured by the sandwich ELISA and their results were statistically analyzed by Student's t-test. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. RESULTS: The tested mAbs recognized a 27-kDa CSP1 of saliva in WB and stained only a salivary gland in immunohistochemistry. Pearson's correlation coefficient with standard curve between OD450nm value vs. CSP level showed good linearity (r2 = 0.995). The median values (25th to 75th percentiles) of saliva CSP1 in 10 healthy adults and 18 DM patients using the sandwich ELISA were 3.92 µg/mL (3.15 - 4.02) and 4.35 µg/mL (3.94 - 5.11), respectively. Statistically, there was a significant difference of CSP1 level in two groups (p = 0.026). The sensitivity value of CSP1 was 64.71 while the specificity value was 88.89 with 0.784 of AUC (p = 0.003). These results suggested that the fabricated sandwich ELISA was a good diagnostic test tool for discriminating DM patients from healthy individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The present data showed a significant increase of CSP1 levels for DM patients compared with control group, indicating that CSP1 level in saliva could be used as a potential biomarker of detection or screening of DM patients. However, further studies are necessary to provide scientific and clinical validation.

Inorganic Nanoshell-Stabilized Liquid Metal for Targeted Photonanomedicine in NIR-II Biowindow.

Gallium and gallium-based alloys, typical types of liquid metals with unique physiochemical properties, are emerging as a next generation of functional materials in versatile biomedical applications. However, the exploration of their biomedical performance is currently insufficient, and their intrinsic low oxidative resistance is a key factor blocking their further clinical translation. Herein, we report on the surface engineering of liquid metal-based nanoplatforms by an inorganic silica nanoshell based on a novel but facile sonochemical synthesis for highly efficient, targeted, and near-infrared (NIR)-triggered photothermal tumor hyperthermia in the NIR-II biowindow. The inorganic silica-shell engineering of liquid metal significantly enhances the photothermal performance of the liquid metal core as reflected by enhanced NIR absorption, improved photothermal stability by oxidation protection, and abundant surface chemistry for surface-targeted engineering to achieve enhanced tumor accumulation. Systematic in vitro cell-level evaluation and in vivo tumor xenograft assessment demonstrate that (Arg-Gly-Asp) RGD-targeted and silica-coated nanoscale liquid metal substantially induces phototriggered cancer-cell death and photothermal tumor eradication, accompanied by high in vivo biocompatibility and easy excretion out of the body. This work provides the first paradigm for surface-inorganic engineering of liquid metal-based nanoplatforms for achieving multiple desirable therapeutic performances, especially for combating cancer.

The implications of water extractable organic matter (WEOM) on the sorption of typical parent, alkyl and N/O/S-containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by microplastics.

Microplastics sorption of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) was the core processes that cause negative effects to biota, and their influencing factors and related mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, we explored the impacts of water extractable organic matter (WEOM), an important source of endogenous dissolved organic matter in mangrove sediment, on the sorption coefficients of typical parent, alkyl and N/O/S-containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by microplastics. The presence of L-WEOM (D) impeded the PAHs sorption as the coefficients (Kf) decreased to 10.17 (µg/kg)/(µg/L)n and to 8.39 (µg/kg)/(µg/L)n for fluorene (Flu) and 1-methyl-fluorene (1-M-Flu), respectively. The Kf exhibited good linear relationships with the aliphaticity of L-WEOM (p < 0.05) rather than the aromatic carbon/alkyl carbon content (p > 0.05). Under the presences of L-WEOM (D), (S) and (K), the lone pair electrons of N/O/S-containing PAHs was the dominant factor contributing to the obvious difference of the Kf values from the other groups. Moreover, the largest impact of L-WEOM (D) on the Flu sorption was in the case of PVC microplastics, while almost no effect was in the case of PS microplastics. The findings of our work may be helpful in improving our understanding of the role of WEOM on the sorption of PAHs to microplastics in the field mangrove sediment.

"Manganese Extraction" Strategy Enables Tumor-Sensitive Biodegradability and Theranostics of Nanoparticles.

Biodegradability of inorganic nanoparticles is one of the most critical issues in their further clinical translations. In this work, a novel "metal ion-doping" approach has been developed to endow inorganic mesoporous silica-based nanoparticles with tumor-sensitive biodegradation and theranostic functions, simply by topological transformation of mesoporous silica to metal-doped composite nanoformulations. "Manganese extraction" sensitive to tumor microenvironment was enabled in manganese-doped hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (designated as Mn-HMSNs) to fast promote the disintegration and biodegradation of Mn-HMSNs, further accelerating the breakage of Si-O-Si bonds within the framework. The fast biodegradation of Mn-HMSNs sensitive to mild acidic and reducing microenvironment of tumor resulted in much accelerated anticancer drug releasing and enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of tumor. A high tumor-inhibition effect was simultaneously achieved by anticancer drug delivery mediated by PEGylated Mn-HMSNs, and the high biocompatibility of composite nanosystems was systematically demonstrated in vivo. This is the first demonstration of biodegradable inorganic mesoporous nanosystems with specific biodegradation behavior sensitive to tumor microenvironment, which also provides a feasible approach to realize the on-demand biodegradation of inorganic nanomaterials simply by "metal ion-doping" strategy, paving the way to solve the critical low-biodegradation issue of inorganic drug carriers.

Influence of the lateral pterygoid muscle on traumatic temporomandibular joint bony ankylosis.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of traumatic TMJ ankylosis remains unclear. This study aimed to verify the role of the lateral pterygoid muscle in the pathogenesis of traumatic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) bony ankylosis. METHODS: Eight 6-month-old male sheep were used in this study. Bilateral TMJ osteotomies were performed to induce sagittal fractures of the mandibular condyle. The lateral one-fourth segment of the disc was removed to establish a model of TMJ bony ankylosis. Subsequently, the function of the left and right lateral pterygoid muscles was blocked (experimental group) or maintained (control group), respectively. At 12 weeks postoperatively, animals were sacrificed and TMJ complex samples were evaluated by gross observation, spiral computed tomography (CT), micro-CT, and histological examinations. RESULTS: Gross observation revealed bony ankylosis in the control TMJs and fibrous adhesions in the experimental TMJs. Spiral CT and micro-CT demonstrated that, compared to the experimental group, the control group showed calcified callus formation in the joint space and roughened articular surfaces after new bone formation, which protruded into the joint space. Maximum mediolateral and anteroposterior condylar diameters were significantly larger in the control group than in the experimental group. Micro-CT also showed that the primary growth orientation of new trabeculae was consistent with the direction of lateral pterygoid traction in the control group, but not in the experimental group. Histological examination showed fibro-osseous ankylosis in the control group, but not in the experimental group. CONCLUSIONS: The lateral pterygoid simulates the effects of distraction osteogenesis, which is an important factor in the pathogenesis of TMJ bony ankylosis during the healing of sagittal condylar fractures.

Dynamic analysis of oral Candida carriage, distribution, and antifungal susceptibility in HIV-infected patients during the first year of highly active antiretroviral therapy in Guangxi, China.

BACKGROUND: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) as an effective therapy for immune reconstruction among patients with HIV/AIDS might have influence on oral Candida status. We investigated oral Candida carriage, distribution, and antifungal susceptibility dynamically during the first year of HAART among adult HIV-infected patients in Guangxi, China. METHODS: Forty-five adult HIV-infected patients who received their first year HAART in the AIDS clinic of the Guangxi Center for Disease Control (CDC) and 31 healthy individuals were recruited. Clinical information and oral examinations were obtained. Oral rinses taken from patients at baseline, 3, 6, 12 months during HAART, respectively, were cultured, and Candida species were identified following standard microbiological techniques. In vitro antifungal susceptibilities were tested by the broth microdilution method. RESULTS: The oral Candida load decreased gradually in the 45 patients with HIV/AIDS during the first year of HAART (P < 0.050). Among 176 Candida isolates, Candida albicans (114/176) was the predominant species, and Candida parapsilosis (23/62) was the most common non-albicans species. We found the frequency of resistance to fluconazole and itraconazole of Candida isolated from our samples increased (P < 0.05) after 12 months of HAART. In addition, the frequency of C. albicans isolates resistant to fluconazole and itraconazole was on the rise (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The Candida load decreased with increased CD4(+) T cell counts, and C. albicans was still the prevailing species. Further, a trend toward more frequent in vitro resistance to fluconazole and itraconazole was observed. Our results provide reference for treatment and prevention of oral candidiasis among this population.

[Finite element analysis for compression and expansion behavior of magnesium stent].

Magnesium stents have gained increasing interest as an ideal stent of future intervention. In order to study the deformation behavior of magnesium alloy stents in the interventional treatment, the finite element method was used to analysis the effects of different crimp and expansion dimensions on the mechanical properties (maximum stress, radial recoil rate, longitudinal shortening rate and radial strength). The results showed that crimping and expanding have a minimal influence on the stent radial strength. When the expansion size is same, the maximum equivalent stress and recoil rate decrease with the crimp size. When the crimp size is same, in contrast with the radial recoil rate, the maximum equivalent stress and longitudinal shortening rate increase with the expansion size. In addition the paper verified the radial strength-radial displacement curve obtained by FEM. Results are basically consistent, indicating the finite element method can efficiently provide researchers with reliable, high-quality design.

Clinical influencing factors of vital pulp therapy on pulpitis permanent teeth with 2 calcium silicate-based materials: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Compared with traditional root canal therapy (RCT), vital pulp therapy (VPT) is a personalized and minimally invasive method for the treatment of pulpitis caused by dental caries. However, there are still no clear guidelines for VPT because high-quality randomized clinical trials are scarce. This prospective cohort study evaluated the clinical efficacy of VPT with the light-curable calcium silicate-based material TheraCal LC (TH) and bioceramic material iRoot BP Plus (BP) in reversible and irreversible pulpitis permanent teeth with carious exposures. METHODS: 115 teeth with reversible or irreversible pulpitis caused by deep care were randomly divided into 2 groups. TheraCal LC and iRoot BP Plus were used for the pulp capping. Direct pulp capping (DPC), partial pulpotomy (PP) and full pulpotomy (FP) were performed based on observation of the exposed pulp. Postoperative discomforts were enquired and recorded via follow-up phone calls. Clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The overall clinical success rate in the first year was 90.4% (47/52) in both groups. The TH group required less operating time, showed lower levels of pain, and had shorter pain duration post-operative (P < .001). According to the binary logistic regression model, preoperative pain duration was significantly correlated with the prognosis of VPT (P = .011). CONCLUSION: VPT with TheraCal LC and iRoot BP Plus in pulpitis permanent carious teeth both achieved good clinical outcomes, and TheraCal LC can be easily operated for clinical use. Preoperative pain duration of the affected tooth might have a significant correlation with the prognosis of VPT.

Application of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery in Patients with Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures Undergoing Percutaneous Kyphoplasty.

BACKGROUND: The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program helps patients recover faster and better, postoperatively. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the clinical effectiveness of the ERAS program after percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. METHODS: We enrolled patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture who had undergone PKP between January 2019 and June 2021 and divided them into the control group (CG; n = 296), without the ERAS program, and the intervention group (IG; n = 306), with the ERAS program. The visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Barthel Index scores of the 2 groups were compared on admission and 2 days and 1, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Perioperative evaluation parameters included the mean surgery time, length of stay (LOS), and hospitalization expenses. In addition, postoperative complications were compared. RESULTS: Regarding perioperative parameters, LOS and hospitalization expenses were significantly better in IG than in CG (P < 0.001), but the mean surgery time did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). The VAS, Barthel Index, and ODI scores were significantly better in IG than in CG at 2 days and 1 month postoperatively (P < 0.001). None of the clinical effectiveness parameters (VAS, Barthel Index, and ODI scores) differed between IG and CG at 6 or 12 months postoperatively. In addition, 141 patients in CG and 56 patients in IG experienced postoperative complications, including pressure ulcers, deep vein thrombosis, nausea and vomiting, and refracture (P = 0.970, P = 0.036, P < 0.001, P = 0.002 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: For patients undergoing PKP, the ERAS program is a reliable and effective perioperative management method that can effectively reduce LOS, postoperative pain, and economic burden and promote recovery of patients.

Injectable Conductive Hydrogel with Self-Healing, Motion Monitoring, and Bacteria Theranostics for Bioelectronic Wound Dressing.

Wounds at joints are difficult to treat and tend to recover more slowly due to the frequent motions. When using traditional hydrogel dressings, they are easy to crack and undergo bacterial infection, difficult to match and monitor the irregular wounds. Integrating multiple functions within a hydrogel dressing to achieve intelligent wound monitoring and healing remains a significant challenge. In this research, a multifunctional hydrogel is developed based on polysaccharide biopolymer, poly(vinyl alcohol), and hydroxylated graphene through dynamic borate ester bonding and supramolecular interaction. The prepared hydrogel not only exhibits rapid self-healing (within 60 s), injectable, conductive and motion monitoring properties, but also realizes in situ bacterial sensing and killing functions. It shows excellent bacterial sensitivity (within 15 min) and killing ability via the changes of electrical signals and photothermal therapy, avoiding the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria. In vivo experiments prove that the hydrogel can promote wound healing effectively. In addition, it displays great electromechanical performance to achieve real-time monitoring and prevent re-tearing of the wound at human joints. The injectable pH-responsive hydrogel with good biocompatibility demonstrates considerable potential as multifunctional bioelectronic dressing for the detection, treatment, management, and healing of infected joint wounds.

[Direct determination of five xanthic acids in water by ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry].

Xanthates with different alkyl groups, such as ethyl, propyl, butyl, and amyl groups, are widely used in large quantities in the mining flotation of metallic minerals. Xanthates enter environmental waters through mineral processing wastewater discharge and are ionized or hydrolyzed into ions or molecules of xanthic acids (XAs) in water. XAs endanger aquatic plants and animals, as well as human health. To the best of our knowledge, XA analysis is mainly limited to butyl xanthate. Moreover, the isomers and congeners of XAs cannot be determined separately using the existing methods. Herein, a novel method based on ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was established to separate and analyze five XAs, namely, ethyl-, isopropyl-, n-butyl-, isobutyl-, and amyl-XAs, in water. Water samples were filtered through a 0.22 µm hydrophilic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane and directly injected into the UPLC-MS/MS instrument. Separation was performed using a Waters Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.7 µm) with ammonia solution (pH 11)-acetonitrile (9∶1, v/v) as the mobile phase for isocratic elution. The five XAs were detected in the negative electrospray ionization (ESI-) and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) modes. An internal standard method was used for quantification. The pretreatment and UPLC-MS/MS conditions were comprehensively optimized to achieve the separation and analysis of the five XAs via direct injection. The XAs showed negligible adsorption on hydrophobic PTFE, hydrophilic PTFE, hydrophilic polypropylene, and polypropylene membranes during filtration. However, the amyl-XA showed obvious adsorption on nylon and polyether sulfone membranes. The five XAs mainly formed [M-H]- parent ions in the ESI- mode and the main daughter ions obtained following collisional fragmentation depended on the alkyl groups of the XAs. Increasing the pH of the ammonia solution in the mobile phase to 11 led to the isomeric separation of n-butyl- and isobutyl-XAs. The optimized mobile phase inhibited the tailing of the chromatographic peak of amyl-XA and effectively improved all the chromatographic peak shapes of XAs. The BEH C18 column was selected as the chromatographic column owing to its better compatibility with high-pH solutions compared with the T3 C18 column. Preservation experiments conducted over 8 d showed that the concentration of all five XAs decreased over time at room temperature; among the XAs analyzed, the concentration of ethyl-XA revealed the most significant decrease. However, the recoveries of the five XAs at 4 and -20 ℃ remained high, ranging from 101% to 105% and from 100% to 106%, respectively, on the 8th day. The preservation observed with a high concentration of XAs was similar to that found with a low concentration. The preservation time was extended to 8 days at pH 11 and 4 ℃ away from the light. No significant matrix effects were observed for the five XA samples in surface water and groundwater, but industrial sewage exerted obvious matrix inhibitory effects on ethyl- and isopropyl-XAs. Owing to the short retention times of ethyl- and isopropyl-XAs, the co-fluxed interferents in the industrial sewage depressed the MS signals. The five XAs showed good linearity in the range of 0.25-100 µg/L, with correlation coefficients greater than 0.9996. The method detection limits were as low as 0.03-0.04 µg/L, and the intra- and inter-day precisions were 1.3%-2.1% and 3.3%-4.1%, respectively. The recoveries obtained under low, medium, and high spiked levels (1.00, 20.0, 80.0 µg/L) were 96.9%-133%, 100%-107%, and 104%-112%, respectively. The corresponding RSDs were 2.1%-3.0%, 0.4%-1.9%, and 0.4%-1.6%, respectively. The optimized method was successfully applied to the analysis of XAs in surface water, groundwater, and industrial sewage. The method could separate and detect various congeners and isomers of XAs without the need for cumbersome pretreatment processes, and its advantages include smaller sample requirements, simpler operation, higher sensitivity, and longer preservation time. The proposed technique presents excellent application potential in XA environmental monitoring and water evaluation, and mineral flotation studies.

A decision-support system for recycling of residents' waste plastics in China based on material flow analysis and life cycle assessment.

Recycling waste plastics is one of the important ways to save petroleum resources and reduce carbon emissions. However, the current recycling rate of waste plastics is still low. Material flow analysis can help determine the flow of waste plastics, and life cycle assessment (LCA) can be used to quantify environmental impacts. The present study integrates these two methods into the model construction of the residents' waste plastics recycling decision-support system. This model construction is followed by sensitivity analysis of the relevant parameters affecting the performance of the waste plastics recycling system. Finally, the present study forecasts the recycling system's performance and environmental impacts by setting four optimization scenarios based on sensitivity analysis. The results show that in 2019, a total of 8.39 million tons of high-end applications were recovered, carbon emissions during the recycling process were 34.9 million tons, and dioxin emissions were 316.11 g TEQ, with a total emission reduction of 24.47 million tons of CO2 compared to the original production. Sensitivity analysis shows that the selection rate of waste plastic recycling, the re-sorting rate of waste plastic recycling plant, and the classification recovery rate of mixed waste had relatively high effects on the recovery performance and environmental benefits of the recycling system. In the scenario of comprehensive improvement, in 2035, the recycling volume of high-end applications will rise to 33.96 million tons, the carbon emissions will rise to 64.73 million tons, the dioxin emissions will drop to 165.98 g TEQ, and the carbon emission reduction will rise to 99.06 million tons. This study has a certain guiding role for policy-makers to formulate industry norms and related policies for waste plastic recycling.

Potential Causal Association between Depression and Oral Diseases: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

BACKGROUND: Globally, oral diseases are common, pose an economic burden, and significantly decline the quality of life of affected individuals. Recently, researchers have substantially highlighted the effect of depression on oral disease incidence and development. In this study, we elucidated the correlation between depression and oral diseases. METHODS: Using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR), the association between depression and the risk of 17 oral diseases was evaluated. Three methods were used to perform MR analysis: the inverse variance-weighted, weighted median, and MR-Egger methods. Furthermore, Cochran's Q test, MR-Egger intercept test, MR Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier test, and leave-one-out analysis were performed to analyze sensitivity. RESULTS: After implementing multiple test corrections, we observed that genetic susceptibility to depression was associated with an increased risk of mouth ulcers, toothache, loose teeth, bleeding gums, painful gums, chronic periodontitis, chronic tonsil and adenoid diseases, peritonsillar abscess, and excessive tooth attrition. However, a causal relationship between depression and other oral diseases was not observed. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the results. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed the causal relationship between depression and several oral diseases, thereby providing a novel viewpoint on the prevention and treatment of oral diseases. Our findings suggest the integration of depression control into routine clinical care to enhance the effectiveness of oral disease treatment.

Diurnal Cortisol in Left-Behind Adolescents: Relations to Negative Family Expressiveness and Internalizing Problems.

Despite the accumulating evidence for increased risks for behavioral problems in left-behind adolescents in China, little research has explored their HPA axis functioning, which is hypothesized to play a central role in the association between early adversity and health. In the present study, we designed a longitudinal study to examine HPA axis function in left-behind adolescents and its mediating role in the association between family emotional expressiveness and internalizing problems. Participants were 81 adolescents (44 female; 37 male) aged 11-16 years. Salivary cortisol samples were collected six times a day for two consecutive days on regular school days. Negative family expressiveness (NFE) and internalizing problems were measured using self-report questionnaires. The results showed that NFE was negatively associated with diurnal cortisol, and diurnal cortisol was negatively associated with internalizing problems. Further analysis showed that diurnal cortisol secretion measured by AUC (area under the curve) mediated the association between NFE and internalizing problems. Our findings extended the existing literature about left-behind children via a psychoneuroendocrinological perspective, documenting the negative consequences of the family environment for youth health and development.

Do industrial parks generate intra-heat island effects in cities? New evidence, quantitative methods, and contributing factors from a spatiotemporal analysis of top steel plants in China.

Industrial parks emit large amounts of anthropogenic heat and aggravate the urban heat island effect, which has become a severe environmental problem worldwide. Few studies explored if the warming effect generated by concentrated industrial facilities (i.e., steel plants in this study) produces an intra-heat island effect in urban built-up areas. Sufficient evidence of an industrial heat island (IHI) effect is lacking, and new quantitative methods are urgently needed to address these issues. Therefore, we proposed a new scheme to quantify the warming effect of large, heat-emitting urban objects versus complex surroundings, and the IHI effect was accordingly defined at a finer scale. This study separated the industrial park from other artificial lands and comprehensively estimated the IHI effects' spatiotemporal variation. The IHI intensities were measured based on varied natural and urbanized references, which provided new evidence for the existence of the IHI effect over space and seasons. The land surface temperature (LST) profiles delineated the downward trend in LST variation from inside to surroundings in the IHI cases on both spatial and temporal scales. The time-series analysis revealed that the IHI effects demonstrated more significant disparities regarding the LSTs between the industrial parks and their surrounding backgrounds during warm seasons than in cold seasons. And a more severe IHI effect was observed in spring and summer, and the weakest IHI intensity occurred in winter. Moreover, the IHI intensity is positively associated to the anthropogenic heat, indicating that the industrial activities contribute to the increased LSTs of the industrial park to a great extent. The rationale of the IHI effect can broaden insight for understanding how urban industrial heat sources influence the regional thermal environment, especially at a finer scale.