The modification of meteorological factors on the relationship between air pollution and periodontal diseases: an exploration based on different interaction strategies.

We aimed to characterize the association between air pollutants exposure and periodontal diseases outpatient visits and to explore the interactions between ambient air pollutants and meteorological factors. The outpatient visits data of several large stomatological and general hospitals in Hefei during 2015-2020 were collected to explore the relationship between daily air pollutants exposure and periodontal diseases by combining Poisson's generalized linear model (GLMs) and distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNMs). Subgroup analysis was performed to identify the vulnerability of different populations to air pollutants exposure. The interaction between air pollutants and meteorological factors was verified in both multiplicative and additive interaction models. An interquartile range (IQR) increased in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentration was associated with the greatest lag-specific relative risk (RR) of gingivitis at lag 3 days (RR = 1.087, 95% CI 1.008-1.173). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure also increased the risk of periodontitis at the day of exposure (RR = 1.049, 95% CI 1.004-1.096). Elderly patients with gingivitis and periodontitis were both vulnerable to PM2.5 exposure. The interaction analyses showed that exposure to high levels of NO2 at low temperatures was related to an increased risk of gingivitis, while exposure to high levels of NO2 and PM2.5 may also increase the risk of gingivitis and periodontitis in the high-humidity environment, respectively. This study supported that NO2 and PM2.5 exposure increased the risk of gingivitis and periodontitis outpatient visits, respectively. Besides, the adverse effects of air pollutants exposure on periodontal diseases may vary depending on ambient temperature and humidity.

Polyimidazolyl acetate ionic liquid grafted on cellulose filter paper as thin-film extraction phase for extraction of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs from water.

Recently, pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the water environment exhibited potential risks to both human and aquatic organisms. In order to improve the sensitivity and accuracy of pharmaceutical detection, the polyimidazolyl acetate ionic liquid was synthesized by Radziszewski reaction and coated on cellulose filter papers as a thin-film extraction phase for extraction of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs from water. The attenuated total reflection-infrared spectrometry, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscope analyses demonstrated that the polyimidazolyl acetate ionic liquid was successfully prepared and attached to the surface of the cellulose filter paper through chemical bonding. The adsorption capacity of the homemade thin-film extraction material for the four non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was greater than 8898 ng/cm2 under the optimum conditions, and the desorption rate was over 90%. Then, a paper-based thin-film extraction phase-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was established for the extraction of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in water. This method provided limits of detection and limits of quantification were in the range of 0.02-0.15 and 0.17-0.50 µg/L, respectively. Hence, the obtained thin-film extraction phase showed excellent recovery and reproducibility for the target non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with carboxyl groups from water.

Untargeted and targeted gingival metabolome in rodents reveal metabolic links between high-fat diet-induced obesity and periodontitis.

AIM: To characterize gingival metabolome in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in mice with/without periodontitis. METHODS: HFD-induced obesity mouse model was established by 16-week feeding, and a lean control group was fed with low-fat diet (n = 21/group). Both models were induced for periodontitis on the left sides by molar ligation for 10 days, whereas the right sides were used as controls. Gingival metabolome and arginine metabolism were analysed by non-targeted/targeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Of 2247 reference features, presence of periodontitis altered 165 in lean versus 885 in HFD mice; and HFD altered 525 in absence versus 1435 in presence of periodontitis. Compared with healthy condition, periodontitis and HFD had distinct effects on gingival metabolome. Metabolomic impacts of periodontitis were generally greater in HFD mice versus lean controls. K-medoids clustering showed that HFD amplified the impacts of periodontitis on gingival metabolome in both intensity and extensity. Ten metabolic pathways were enriched, including 2 specific to periodontitis, 5 specific to HFD and 3 shared ones. Targeted validation on arginine metabolism confirmed the additive effects between HFD and periodontitis. CONCLUSION: The obese population consuming excessive HFD display amplified metabolic response to periodontitis, presenting a metabolic susceptibility to exacerbated periodontal destruction.

Highly Porous Microcarriers for Minimally Invasive In Situ Skeletal Muscle Cell Delivery.

Microscale cell carriers have recently garnered enormous interest in repairing tissue defects by avoiding substantial open surgeries using implants for tissue regeneration. In this study, the highly open porous microspheres (HOPMs) are fabricated using a microfluidic technique for harboring proliferating skeletal myoblasts and evaluating their feasibility toward cell delivery application in situ. These biocompatible HOPMs with particle sizes of 280-370 µm possess open pores of 10-80 µm and interconnected paths. Such structure of the HOPMs conveniently provide a favorable microenvironment, where the cells are closely arranged in elongated shapes with the deposited extracellular matrix, facilitating cell adhesion and proliferation, as well as augmented myogenic differentiation. Furthermore, in vivo results in mice confirm improved cell retention and vascularization, as well as partial myoblast differentiation. These modular cell-laden microcarriers potentially allow for in situ tissue construction after minimally invasive delivery providing a convenient means for regeneration medicine.

Stacking polymer microspheres matrix: a facile, practical, and energy-saving strategy for suppression of acid mist.

The electroplating, electrolysis, and pickling industrial processes would generate numerous gas pollutes, acid mist, which could not be essentially diminished due to its synthesis mechanism and cause gaseous environmental pollution, equipment corrosion, and endanger workers' health. In this study, a facile, practical, and energy-saving acid mist suppression system was constructed by introducing a stacking microsphere matrix as a floating porous phase on the acid solution and not causing secondary pollution. The mechanism of this green acid mist suppression strategy mainly focused on size-selective blocking of acid mist droplets by dense stacking microsphere layer and dissipation of floating kinetic energy of bubbles in the acid mist. The factors relating to the matrix's microstructure, the particle size of microspheres, the combination of the complex particles with a wide range of particle sizes, and the thickness of the matrix on the acid mist suppression were explored. It found that the matrix constituted of a medium-sized polymer sphere (1.075 ± 0.175 mm) presents a better appearance in the acid mist suppression. When the thickness of this matrix reached 15 mm, its acid mist efficiency also came up to 100%, totally blocking the acid mist. Meanwhile, complex particles with different particle sizes and PMMA porous blocks are beneficial for suppressing acid mist. Herein, this research opened up a green and effective strategy for regulating this hazardous gas pollute, acid mist.

Association of urinary heavy metal combined exposure with periodontitis among US adults from NHANES 2011-2014.

Some heavy metals are associated with periodontitis; whereas most of these associations have focused on individual metal, there are no specific studies on the effects of combined heavy metal exposure on periodontitis. We conducted an analysis on the association between urinary heavy metal exposure and periodontitis in participants aged 30 years and older using multiple logistic regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). This analysis was performed on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2011 to 2014. The study found that using logistic regression, the 4th quartile of urinary lead and molybdenum and the 3rd quartile of urinary strontium were positively associated with periodontitis compared to the reference quartile after adjusting for covariates. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was 1.738 (1.069-2.826), 1.515 (1.025-2.239), and 1.498 (1.010-2.222), respectively. The 3rd and 4th quartiles of urinary cobalt were negatively associated with periodontitis, and their ORs and 95% CIs were 0.639 (0.438-0.934) and 0.571 (0.377-0.964), respectively. The BKMR model showed that urinary barium, lead, and molybdenum were positively associated with periodontitis in a range of concentrations and urinary cobalt, manganese, tin, and strontium were negatively correlated with periodontitis. Furthermore, the overall association between urinary heavy metals and periodontitis was positive. Our study provides evidence for an association between exposure to multiple urinary heavy metals and periodontitis. However, further longitudinal studies are needed to explore the specific mechanisms involved.

Progress of Research on the Application of Triple Antibiotic Paste and Hydrogel Scaffold Materials in Endodontic Revascularization: A Systematic Review.

Objective: To evaluate the application of hydrogel scaffold materials and triple antibiotic paste in endodontic regeneration through literature review. Methods: An electronic search of the literature published on PubMed, Wangfang database, and CNKI database using the search terms "endodontic regeneration," "pulp blood flow reconstruction," "recanalization," "triple antibiotic paste," and "scaffold material" was conducted. The searched literature was used for analysis. Results and Conclusion. Hydrogels regulate stem cell fates, modulate growth factor release, and encapsulate antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs. The triple antibiotic paste is composed of metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, and minocycline, which exhibits promising antibacterial effects and duration at appropriate concentrations, with low cytotoxicity, and effectively promotes the preservation and regeneration of pulp tissues and the formation of dental hard tissues. However, issues such as tooth discoloration and bacterial drug resistance also exist. The present article reviews the progress of research on the application of hydrogel scaffold materials and triple antibiotic paste in endodontic revascularization.

[Efficiency of clear aligners in extrusion of posterior teeth evaluated by 3-dimensional model superimposition].

PURPOSE: To explore the efficiency of posterior teeth extrusion with clear aligners by 3-dimensional model superimposition, which provides a reference for the design of clinical programs. METHODS: We selected 24 patients with clear aligners whose posterior teeth were designed to extend more than 0.5 mm, and a total of 126 teeth were included. Digital models were obtained before and after treatment by intraoral scanning with iTero, named as "actual initial" and "achieved" digital models. Initial and final models from the ClinCheck, labeled as "virtual initial" and "predicted" models respectively. Initial, predicted, and achieved digital dental models were exported as stereolithography files and subsequently imported into Geomagic Studio. Extrusive measurements were made from the superimposition of the initial and predicted models (predicted movement) and from the superimposed initial and achieved models (achieved movement). Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 23.0 and GraphPad Prism 5.0 software package. The extrusion efficiency of the posterior teeth was calculated, at the meanwhile the influencing factors were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean extrusion efficiency of posterior teeth during clear aligners treatment was 30.2%. The actual extrusion was linearly related to the expected(P<0.05), and the linear regression equation was y=0.305x-0.010. The difference between the actual and the predicted extrusion was positively correlated with the number of appliances(P<0.05), and also positively correlated with the predicted extrusion value(P<0.001). This difference was larger in low-angle patients than in patients with average angle (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The extrusion rate of posterior teeth is relatively low during clear aligners treatment, and the average efficiency is 30.2%. Vertical growth pattern affects the extrusion efficiency. So more overcorrections can be designed for average angle patients.

[Effects of Microplastics on Embryo Hatching and Intestinal Accumulation in Larval Zebrafish Danio rerio].

Microplastics have been frequently detected in aquatic environments, and there are increasing concerns about the potential effects on aquatic organisms. In this study, the effects on hatching and the intestinal accumulation in embryos and larvae exposed to two sizes of polystyrene (PS) microplastics were evaluated. The two PS were green fluorescent polyethylene microplastics with 10 µm size (10GF-PM) and red fluorescent polystyrene microplastics with 0.5 µm size (0.5RF-PM). The results showed no significant difference between hatching rates compared with that of the control group of Danio rerio embryos after exposure for three days at 10-500 mg·L-1 10GF-PM, while the incubation rate was 37% at 500 mg·L-1 0.5RF-PM. The average survival rates of five day post fertilization larvae exposed to 10, 100, 200, and 500 mg·L-1 10GF-PM solutions were 80%, 54%, 44%, and 41%, and were 62%, 37%, 25%, and 12% in corresponding concentration of 0.5RF-PM solutions. A quantitative fluorescence analysis showed that the accumulation of 10GF-PM and 0.5RF-PM in larval intestines increased with the increase in the microplastic concentration, and the fluorescence values were 0.06, 0.53, and 1.84 and 0.63, 2.32, and 3.45 after exposure to 10, 100, and 500 mg·L-1 10GF-PM and 0.5RF-PM solutions for 0.5 h, and were 0.03, 0.08, and 0.56 and 0.06, 0.41, and 1.56 after transferred larval to clear water for 24 h, respectively. The negative effect of microplastics on zebrafish was related to the concentration and particle size:the higher the concentration, the lower the embryo hatching rates; the smaller the particle size, the easier it was to accumulate in the intestines.

Three-dimensional superimposition of digital models for individual identification.

Dentition is an individualizing structure in humans that may be potentially utilized in individual identification. However, research on the use of three-dimensional (3D) digital models for personal identification is rare. This study aimed to develop a method for individual identification based on a 3D image registration algorithm and assess its feasibility in practice. Twenty-eight college students were recruited; for each subject, a dental cast and an intraoral scan were taken at different time points, and digital models were acquired. The digital models of the dental casts and intraoral scans were assumed as antemortem and postmortem dentition, respectively. Additional 72 dental casts were extracted from a hospital database as a suspect pool together with 28 antemortem models. The dentition images of all of the models were extracted. Correntropy was introduced into the traditional iterative closest point algorithm to compare each postmortem 3D dentition with 3D dentitions in the suspect pool. Point-to-point root mean square (RMS) distances were calculated, and then 28 matches and 2772 mismatches were obtained. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test, which showed significant differences in RMS between matches (0.18±0.03mm) and mismatches (1.04±0.67mm) (P<0.05). All of the RMS values of the matched models were below 0.27mm. The percentage of accurate identification reached 100% in the present study. These results indicate that this method for individual identification based on 3D superimposition of digital models is effective in personal identification.

Biodelignification of rice straw by Phanerochaete chrysosporium in the presence of dirhamnolipid.

Lignin degradation by white-rot fungi has received considerable attention as a means for reducing accumulation of lignocellulosic wastes in the environment. The stimulatory effect of surfactants on fungal lignocellulose bioconversion also has attracted wide interest. In this study the influence of dirhamnolipid biosurfactant on biodegradation of rice straw by Phanerochaete chrysosporium was investigated. It was shown that the biodelignification process of rice straw can be significantly enhanced by the presence of dirhamnolipid biosurfactant. In particular, the dirhamnolipid at the concentration of 0.007% increased the peak activity of lignin peroxidase (LiP) by 86% without affecting the manganese peroxidase (MnP) activity. The water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) contents in the straw substrates as well as the microbial growth and activity were effectively improved by dirhamnolipid, while the degradation rate of lignin increased by 54% with dirhamnolipid of 0.007%. Observed chemical structural and morphological changes showed that the straw substrates were delignified in the presence of dirhamnolipid with the formation of terrace-like fragments separated from the inner cellular fibers and the release of simple compounds. Variation partitioning analysis revealed that the dirhamnolipid addition induced a significant straw biodelignification which explained 22.1% (P = 0.013) of the variance.

Shape memory materials promoting cell adhesion and tissue invasion towards the applications requiring minimally invasive implantation.

Minimally invasive implantation of porous implants with large volume for in vivo filling proposes high requirements for material preparation. Porous scaffolds based on shape memory polymer (SMP) possess great potential for being delivered as the compact form via minimally invasive surgery. Here, poly (ε-caprolactone)-dienes (PCL-dienes) and crylic acid (AA) were polymerized and cross-linked to fabricate SMP scaffolds, the porous structure of which was created through particle leaching method. Three scaffolds, PAA-PCL20, PAA-PCL50 and PAA-PCL80 were fabricated with different content of PCL-dienes, possessing similar pore size (350 µm) and porosity (85%). PAA-PCL50 scaffold had a Tm of 38 °C, exhibiting shape fixing ability at room temperature and shape recovery ability at body temperature. All scaffolds showed limited interaction with cells. The cell adhesion rate of PAA-PCL50 scaffold was 55%, the highest among the three scaffolds. To promote cellular adhesion, PAA-PCL50 scaffold was mineralized via in situ precipitation, exhibiting CaP particles on the inner surfaces. The mineralized scaffold still exhibited well-performed deformation and shape memory ability, with higher cell adhesion rate (86%) and proliferation rate. In vivo implantation result indicated that the mineralized PAA-PCL50 scaffold better supported tissue invasion, holding a great promise to improve neo-tissue formation.

Near-infrared triggered on-demand local anesthesia using a jammed microgels system.

To conveniently modulate the degree of local analgesia in response to changes in patients' needs and level of activity, a NIR-activated drug delivery system based on jammed microgels was introduced in the present study to realize on-demand local anesthesia. Chemically cross-linked gelatin microgels (5-15 µm) containing N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), methylallyl polyethylene glycol (APEG) and graphene oxide (GOs) were fabricated through emulsion. After the in situ free radical polymerization, the physical network was formed, producing microgels with double networks (DN microgels). The DN microgels exhibited thermosensitive properties. The copolymerization of APEG resulted in the increase of lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of microgels. The maximum volume shrinkage ratio of DN microgels (NIPAM40 + APEG60) increased with the increase of the content of physical cross-linking network. The DN microgels also exhibited NIR-responsive ability. Under the NIR irradiance of 272 mW/cm2, the temperature of DN microgels with 3 mg/mL GOs reached 40 °C within 60 s, resulting in the volume shrinkage of 14%. Ropivacaine release from DN microgels could be effectively triggered by NIR irradiation in vitro. After centrifugation, a jammed microgels system was produced where microgels packed densely, displaying shear-thinning behavior for achieving injection. The jammed DN microgels carrying ropivacaine were injected subcutaneously into rat footpad. NIR irradiation produced on-demand and repeated infiltration anesthesia in the rat footpad. The jammed DN microgels system thus was beneficial in the management of pain.

[Development of novel self-adhesive resin cement with antibacterial and self-healing properties].

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop novel self-adhesive resin cement with antibacterial and self-healing properties. Furthermore, the dentin bonding strength, mechanical properties, self-healing efficiency, and antibacterial property of the developed cement were measured. METHODS: Novel nano-antibacterial inorganic fillers that contain quaternary ammonium salts with long-chain alkyls were synthesized. These fillers were added into self-adhesive resin cement containing self-healing microcapsules at mass fractions of 0, 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, or 10.0%. The dentin shear bonding test was used to test the bonding strength, whereas the flexural test was used to measure the flexural strength and elastic modulus of the cement. The single-edge V-notched beam method was used to measure self-healing efficiency, and human dental plaque microcosm biofilms were chosen to calculate the antibacterial property. RESULTS: The dentin shear bond strength significantly decreased when the mass fraction of the nano-antibacterial inorganic fillers in the novel cement reached 7.5% (P<0.05). The incorporation of 0, 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, or 10.0% mass fraction of nano-antibacterial inorganic fillers did not adversely affect the flexural strength, elastic modulus, fracture toughness, and self-healing efficiency of the cement (P>0.1). Resin cement containing 2.5% mass fraction or more nano-antibacterial inorganic fillers significantly inhibited the metabolic activity of dental plaque microcosm biofilms, indicating strong antibacterial potency (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The novel self-adhesive resin cement exhibited promising antibacterial and self-healing properties, which enable the cement to be used for dental applications.

Hyperuricemia as a potential plausible risk factor for periodontitis.

Elevated blood uric acid (UA) levels have been positively associated with the severity of periodontitis. It thus brings out a hypothesis that hyperuricemia, a pathological elevation of blood UA, might be a risk factor for periodontitis. Namely, periodontitis individuals with Hu might acquire more severe periodontal destruction compared to those without Hu. To support the hypothesis, four aspects of evidences are proposed. First, hyperuricemia and periodontitis share many metabolic and inflammatory comorbidities such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases which are commonly related to elevated UA levels and gout. Second, observational and interventional studies have found altered UA levels in blood and saliva in periodontitis patients or after periodontal treatment, suggesting an epidemiological connection between hyperuricemia and periodontitis. Third, plausible immuno-metabolic mechanisms by which hyperuricemia might promote the progression of periodontitis are suggested, such as impaired immune response, oxidative stress, pathological bone remodeling and dysbiosis. The last, our empirical data exhibited elevated UA levels in gingival tissue in periodontitis mice compared to controls. If the hypothesis is true, given the high prevalence of the two conditions, hyperuricemia would be a significant risk factor increasing the global burden of periodontal diseases. Evidences on a directional correlation between hyperuricemia and periodontitis are sparse. Longitudinal and experimental studies would be necessary to determine the magnitude of periodontal risk, if any, exacerbated by hyperuricemia and the underlying mechanisms.

All-liquid separations, protein microarrays, and mass spectrometry to interrogate serum proteomes: an application to serum glycoproteomics.

Disease-related changes in serum proteins are reasonable targets for early detection particularly due to the noninvasive approach in obtaining samples. Glycoproteins specifically have been implicated in a variety of disease types ranging from immune diseases to cancers. High-throughput screening methods that can assess glycosylation states of all serum proteins in normal and diseased sample groups can facilitate early detection as well as shed light on disease progression mechanisms. Outlined here is a combination of liquid separation, protein microarray, and mass spectrometry approach to highlight candidate proteins involved in diseases through glycosylation mechanisms.

Celastrol-loaded PEG-PCL nanomicelles ameliorate inflammation, lipid accumulation, insulin resistance and gastrointestinal injury in diet-induced obese mice.

Botanical triterpene celastrol is a candidate drug for the treatment of obesity, except for concerns over the safety in clinical application. The present study was designed to investigate the anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory and toxic activities of celastrol-loaded nanomicelles (nano-celastrol) in diet-induced obese mice. Celastrol was loaded into PEG-PCL nanoparticles, yielding nano-celastrol with optimal size, spherical morphology, good bioavailability, slower peak time and clearance in mice. Nano-celastrol (5 or 7.5 mg/kg/d of celastrol) was administered into diet-induced obese C57BL/6 N male mice for 3 weeks. As result, higher dose nano-celastrol reduced body weight and body fat mass in an equally effective manner as regular celastrol, although lower dose nano-celastrol showed less activity. Similarly, nano-celastrol improved glucose tolerance in mice equally well as regular celastrol, whereas higher dose nano-celastrol improved the response to insulin. As for macrophage M1/M2 polarization in liver, nano-celastrol reduced the expression of macrophage M1 biomarkers (e.g., IL-6, IL-1ß, TNF-α, iNOS) in a dose-dependent manner and marginally increased the expression of macrophage M2 biomarkers (e.g., Arg-1, IL-10). Moreover, celastrol could cause anus irritation and disturb intestinal and colonic integrity, whereas nano-celastrol did not cause any injury to mice. Collectively, nano-celastrol represents a translatable therapeutic opportunity for treating diet-induced obesity in humans.

Comparison of Posteromedial Versus Posterolateral Approach for Posterior Malleolus Fixation in Trimalleolar Ankle Fractures.

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical and radiographic outcomes of posterior malleolar fractures (PMF) treated with lag screws from anterior to posterior versus posterior to anterior approach. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 48 patients with trimalleolar fractures who underwent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with either posteromedial (PM) or posterolateral (PL) approaches between January 2012 and December 2014. Fixation of the posterior malleolus was made with anteroposterior screws in 20 patients using the PM approach and posteroanterior screws in 28 patients using the PL approach. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores and range of motion (ROM) of the ankle were used as the main outcome measurements, and results were evaluated at the 6-month, 12-month and final follow-up. Postoperative radiographs and computed tomography scans were used to evaluate the residual gap/step-off. The degree of arthritis was evaluated on final follow-up using Bargon criteria. Other complications were also recorded to compare the clinical outcomes of the two approaches. RESULT: The mean duration of follow-up regardless of the approaches was 21.1 months (range, 15-54 months). None of the patients developed delayed union or nonunion. Functional bone healing was obtained in all patients at 10.7 weeks (range, 8-16 weeks). The mean AOFAS scores of the PM group at the postoperative 6-mouth, 12-month, and final follow-up were 91.4 (range, 82-100), 92.5 (range, 84-100), and 92.9 (range, 86-100), respectively. In the PL group, the mean AOFAS scores were 89.9 (range, 72-100), 91.4 (range, 77-100), and 91.9 (range, 77-100), respectively. At the final follow-up, the median loss of range of motion (ROM) for dorsiflexion and plantaflexion were 0°(0°, 5°) and 0°(0°, 0°), respectively, in both groups. There were no significant differences between the two approaches in AOFAS scores and ROM of the ankle in each period postoperatively (P > 0.05). Two patients in the PL group and 1 in the PM group developed Bargon grade 2 or 3 arthritis. We detected a 2-mm and 3-mm step-off in 1 patient in the PM and PL groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: Satisfactory results were obtained by using the two approaches for fixation of posterior malleolus, and the approaches have similar clinical and radiographic outcomes. Surgeons should choose the appropriate approach based on their experience.

Electroreduction of dioxygen on Aunano-DNA film electrode in acidic electrolyte.

The colloidal Au nanoparticles-deoxyribonucleic acid (Au(nano)-DNA) film modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) has been fabricated and the electrochemical reduction of dioxygen (O(2)) at this modified GCE has been studied in 0.2 mol/L air-saturated acetate buffer (pH=5.2) using cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronocoulometry (CC), linear scan voltammetry (LSV) and rotating disk electrode (RDE) as diagnostic techniques. The modified electrode shows excellent enhancement effect towards the reduction of dioxygen to hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), and the overpotential is lower than that at bare GCE. A well-defined dioxygen reduction peak appeared at about -0.24 V. Based on experimental results, a reaction mechanism is proposed and discussed.

Fungal pretreatment of yard trimmings for enhancement of methane yield from solid-state anaerobic digestion.

Yard trimmings were pretreated by Ceriporiopsis subvermispora, a white-rot fungus that selectively degrades lignin, to enhance methane production via solid-state anaerobic digestion. Effects of moisture content (MC), at 45%, 60%, and 75%, on the degradation of holocellulose and lignin in the fungal pretreatment step and on methane production in the digestion step were studied with comparison to the control group (autoclaved without inoculation) and raw yard trimmings. It was found that C. subvermispora had a high lignin degradation of 20.9% but limited cellulose degradation of 7.4% at 60% MC. Consequently, samples pretreated at 60% MC achieved the highest methane yield of 44.6L/kg volatile solid (VS) in the digestion step, which was 106% and 154% higher than the control group (21.6L/kg VS) and the raw yard trimmings (17.6L/kg VS), respectively. The increase in methane production was probably caused by the degradation of lignin during the pretreatment.