Sequential combination therapy with pegylated interferon leads to loss of hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients receiving long-term entecavir treatment.

Nucleos(t)ide analogues rarely result in a durable off-treatment response in chronic hepatitis B infection, whereas pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) induces a long-lasting response only in a subset of patients. We assessed the effect of sequential combination therapy with Peg-IFN-α2a and entecavir in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients with prior long-term entecavir therapy and investigated the predictors of response to treatment. HBeAg-positive individuals who did not achieve HBeAg seroconversion during previous long-term entecavir therapy, receiving Peg-IFN-α2a added to ongoing entecavir therapy (sequential combination [S-C] therapy; n = 81) for 48 weeks or remaining on entecavir monotherapy (n = 116), were retrospectively included. A matched pair was created at a 1:1 ratio from each treatment group. The primary endpoint was HBeAg seroconversion at week 48. Subgroup analysis of response prediction was conducted for 81 patients with S-C therapy. More patients in the S-C therapy group achieved HBeAg seroconversion than those in the entecavir group (44% versus 6%; P < 0.0001). An HBeAg level of <200 signal-to-cutoff ratio (S/CO) at baseline was a strong predictor for higher HBeAg seroconversion than that achieved when HBeAg was ≥200 S/CO (64.2% versus 17.9%; P < 0.0001). Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels at baseline and the decrease in HBsAg levels predicted HBsAg loss in the S-C therapy group. The combination of baseline HBeAg of <200 S/CO and HBsAg of <1,000 IU/ml and an HBsAg decline at week 12 of ≥0.5 log10 IU/ml provided the highest rate of HBeAg seroconversion (92.31%) and HBsAg loss (83.3%) at week 48. Patients receiving sequential combination therapy have a higher rate of HBeAg seroconversion and are more likely to experience HBsAg clearance than do those continuing entecavir monotherapy. Sequential combination therapy can be guided by baseline HBsAg/HBeAg levels and on-treatment HBsAg dynamics.

Adsorption properties of cellulose-derived hydrogel and magnetic hydrogels from Sophora flavescens on Cu2+ and Congo red.

This study synthesized a robust, magnetically responsive hydrogel from Sophora flavescens-modified cellulose and chitosan, employing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA and DTG), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to confirm the preservation of cellulose's intrinsic properties and the hydrogel's remarkable elasticity, toughness, and porosity. These hydrogels integrate cellulose's structural backbone with functional moieties from chitosan, enhancing adsorption capabilities for Cu2+ ions and Congo red (CR) dye. Kinetic and thermodynamic analyses reveal that adsorption is spontaneous and endothermic, following a pseudo-second-order model and the Freundlich isotherm. Notably, Cu2+ adsorption capacity increases with pH, while CR adsorption initially decreases before rising, demonstrating the hydrogels' potential as effective, sustainable adsorbents for removing pollutants from water.

Phase-separated porous nanocomposite with ultralow percolation threshold for wireless bioelectronics.

Realizing the full potential of stretchable bioelectronics in wearables, biomedical implants and soft robotics necessitates conductive elastic composites that are intrinsically soft, highly conductive and strain resilient. However, existing composites usually compromise electrical durability and performance due to disrupted conductive paths under strain and rely heavily on a high content of conductive filler. Here we present an in situ phase-separation method that facilitates microscale silver nanowire assembly and creates self-organized percolation networks on pore surfaces. The resultant nanocomposites are highly conductive, strain insensitive and fatigue tolerant, while minimizing filler usage. Their resilience is rooted in multiscale porous polymer matrices that dissipate stress and rigid conductive fillers adapting to strain-induced geometry changes. Notably, the presence of porous microstructures reduces the percolation threshold (Vc = 0.00062) by 48-fold and suppresses electrical degradation even under strains exceeding 600%. Theoretical calculations yield results that are quantitatively consistent with experimental findings. By pairing these nanocomposites with near-field communication technologies, we have demonstrated stretchable wireless power and data transmission solutions that are ideal for both skin-interfaced and implanted bioelectronics. The systems enable battery-free wireless powering and sensing of a range of sweat biomarkers-with less than 10% performance variation even at 50% strain. Ultimately, our strategy offers expansive material options for diverse applications.

Layer-by-Layer Assembly of Renal-Targeted Polymeric Nanoparticles for Robust Arginase-2 Knockdown and Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury Prevention.

The mitochondrial enzyme arginase-2 (Arg-2) is implicated in the pathophysiology of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI). Therefore, Arg-2 represents a candid target for CI-AKI prevention. Here, layer-by-layer (LbL) assembled renal-targeting polymeric nanoparticles are developed to efficiently deliver small interfering RNA (siRNA), knockdown Arg-2 expression in renal tubules, and prevention of CI-AKI is evaluated. First, near-infrared dye-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) anionic cores are electrostatically coated with cationic chitosan (CS) to facilitate the adsorption and stabilization of Arg-2 siRNA. Next, nanoparticles are coated with anionic hyaluronan (HA) to provide protection against siRNA leakage and shielding against early clearance. Sequential electrostatic layering of CS and HA improves loading capacity of Arg-2 siRNA and yields LbL-assembled nanoparticles. Renal targeting and accumulation is enhanced by modifying the outermost layer of HA with a kidney targeting peptide (HA-KTP). The resultant kidney-targeting and siRNA loaded nanoparticles (PLGA/CS/HA-KTP siRNA) exhibit proprietary accumulation in kidneys and proximal tubular cells at 24 h post-tail vein injection. In iohexol-induced in vitro and in vivo CI-AKI models, PLGA/CS/HA-KTP siRNA delivery alleviates oxidative and nitrification stress, and rescues mitochondrial dysfunction while reducing apoptosis, thereby demonstrating a robust and satisfactory therapeutic effect. Thus, PLGA/CS/HA-KTP siRNA nanoparticles offer a promising candidate therapy to protect against CI-AKI.

P. gingivalis in oral-prostate axis exacerbates benign prostatic hyperplasia via IL-6/IL-6R pathway.

BACKGROUND: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common disease in elderly men. There is increasing evidence that periodontitis increases the risk of BPH, but the specific mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the role and mechanism of the key periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) in the development of BPH. METHODS: The subgingival plaque (Sp) and prostatic fluid (Pf) of patients with BPH concurrent periodontitis were extracted and cultured for 16S rDNA sequencing. Ligature-induced periodontitis, testosterone-induced BPH and the composite models in rats were established. The P. gingivalis and its toxic factor P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (P.g-LPS) were injected into the ventral lobe of prostate in rats to simulate its colonization of prostate. P.g-LPS was used to construct the prostate cell infection model for mechanism exploration. RESULTS: P. gingivalis, Streptococcus oralis, Capnocytophaga ochracea and other oral pathogens were simultaneously detected in the Pf and Sp of patients with BPH concurrent periodontitis, and the average relative abundance of P. gingivalis was found to be the highest. P. gingivalis was detected in both Pf and Sp in 62.5% of patients. Simultaneous periodontitis and BPH synergistically aggravated prostate histological changes. P. gingivalis and P.g-LPS infection could induce obvious hyperplasia of the prostate epithelium and stroma (epithelial thickness was 2.97- and 3.08-fold that of control group, respectively), and increase of collagen fibrosis (3.81- and 5.02-fold that of control group, respectively). P. gingivalis infection promoted prostate cell proliferation, inhibited apoptosis, and upregulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6; 4.47-fold), interleukin-6 receptor-α (IL-6Rα; 5.74-fold) and glycoprotein 130 (gp130; 4.47-fold) in prostatic tissue. P.g-LPS could significantly inhibit cell apoptosis, promote mitosis and proliferation of cells. P.g-LPS activates the Akt pathway through IL-6/IL-6Rα/gp130 complex, which destroys the imbalance between proliferation and apoptosis of prostate cells, induces BPH. CONCLUSION: P. gingivalis was abundant in the Pf of patients with BPH concurrent periodontitis. P. gingivalis infection can promote BPH, which may affect the progression of BPH via inflammation and the Akt signaling pathway.

Peptide-modified bioresponsive chondroitin sulfate micelles for targeted doxorubicin delivery in triple-negative breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer is an offensive tumor that is highly challenging to cure. In this study, we developed novel polymeric nanoparticles that target dual receptors and respond to reducing conditions for chemotherapeutic drug release in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. Then we synthesized and characterized a targeted peptide-grafted chondroitin sulfate A-ss-deoxycholic acid (TCSSD) copolymer and prepare doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded TCSSD (TCSSD-D) micelles high-loading content. The bioresponsive drug release of TCSSD-D nanoparticles was demonstrated in a glutathione-containing phosphate buffer solution. We found that TCSSD-D effectively targeted CD44 and P-selectin receptors both in vitro and in vivo. TCSSD-D micelles were higher cytotoxicity and cellular uptake than unmodified DOX-containing micelles in MDA-MB-231 cells. Furthermore, TCSSD-D micelles showed the strongest suppression of tumor growth among three DOX-based formulations in triple-negative MDA-MB-231-bearing nude mice. These results suggest that amphiphilic TCSSD nanoparticles can serve as a targeted and intelligent delivery vehicle for triple-negative breast cancer therapy.

Targeting to overexpressed glucose-regulated protein 78 in gastric cancer discovered by 2D DIGE improves the diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy of micelles-mediated system.

The survivals of gastric cancer (GC) patients are associated with early diagnosis and effective treatments. Therefore, it is urgent for the discovery of early GC biomarkers and tumor-targeting therapeutics. The aim of this study was to uncover putative tissue biomarkers of GC using 2D DIGE and then apply one of these specific markers in GC treatment. We found three putative biomarkers of GC with significant differences in expression level compared to adjacent normal tissue, including glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and glutathione s-transferase pi (GSTpi) with increased expression level, and alpha-1 antitrypsin (A1AT) with reduced expression level. The overexpressed GRP78 was used as a targeted protein for guiding the drugs to tumor cells, leading to more effective treatment for GC xenografts. Our results demonstrated that the designated GRP78-binding peptide based on the sequence, WIFPWIQL, was selectively prone to recognize and bind to GC MKN45 cells in vitro, and also improve the delivery efficiency of polymeric micelles-encapsulated drugs into tumor cells and displayed better therapeutic outcome in experimental animals. This strategy of GRP78-mediated drug targeting system may bring chemotherapeutic drugs with more precise targeting to tumor cells, leading to minimize side effects on patients after chemotherapy.

Charge transfer in the weak driving force limit in blends of MDMO-PPV and dithienylthiazolo[5,4-d]thiazoles towards organic photovoltaics with high V(OC).

A series of three 5'-aryl-2,5-dithienylthiazolo[5,4-d]thiazole (DTTzTz) semiconducting molecules with different aryl substituents has been investigated as alternative acceptor materials in combination with the donor polymer poly[2-methoxy-5-(3',7'-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (MDMO-PPV) in order to evaluate the photoinduced charge transfer (CT) efficiency in the resulting blends, designed towards possible application in organic photovoltaics. Photoluminescence quenching together with polaron detection by electron paramagnetic resonance and photoinduced absorption (PIA) demonstrate an increasing charge transfer efficiency when the DTTzTz substituents are varied from thien-2-yl to 4-trifluoromethylphenyl and 4-cyanophenyl groups, correlating well with the increasing acceptor strength in this series of molecules. In line with this observation, there is a decrease in the effective optical bandgap relative to pure MDMO-PPV that becomes more pronounced along this series of acceptor compounds, reaching 0.12 eV in the blend with 4-CN-Ph-DTTzTz. Intermolecular interactions between the blend components lead to lower energy transitions which are found to contribute significantly to the device external quantum efficiency. The high V(OC) reached in devices based on MDMO-PPV:4-CN-Ph-DTTzTz blends meets the expectations for such a donor:acceptor combination. However, thermal activation of charge carrier recombination occurs because of the weak driving force for charge transfer, as shown by time-dependent PIA measurements, and this is suggested as a cause for the observed low photovoltaic performance.

A Breathable, Reusable, and Zero-Power Smart Face Mask for Wireless Cough and Mask-Wearing Monitoring.

We herein introduce a lightweight and zero-power smart face mask, capable of wirelessly monitoring coughs in real time and identifying proper mask wearing in public places during a pandemic. The smart face mask relies on the compact, battery-free radio frequency (RF) harmonic transponder, which is attached to the inner layer of the mask for detecting its separation from the face. Specifically, the RF transponder composed of miniature antennas and passive frequency multiplier is made of spray-printed silver nanowires (AgNWs) coated with a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) passivation layer and the recently discovered multiscale porous polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-ran-butylene)-block-polystyrene (SEBS) substrate. Unlike conventional on-chip or on-board wireless sensors, the SEBS-AgNWs/PEDOT:PSS-based RF transponder is lightweight, stretchable, breathable, and comfortable. In addition, this wireless device has excellent resilience and robustness in long-term and repeated usages (i.e., repeated placement and removal of the soft transponder on the mask). We foresee that this wireless smart face mask, providing simultaneous cough and mask-wearing monitoring, may mitigate virus-transmissive events by tracking the potential contagious person and identifying mask-wearing conditions. Moreover, the ability to wirelessly assess cough frequencies may improve diagnosis accuracy for dealing with several diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema secondary to dental extraction: Two case reports.

BACKGROUND: Dental extraction is a common operation in oral surgery and is usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and local infection. The application of high-speed air turbines increases the comfort of alveolar surgery and makes it more minimally-invasive. However, high-speed gas can enter the subcutaneous tissue of the face and neck or even the chest and mediastinum, which is a serious iatrogenic complication. CASE SUMMARY: We describe two cases of severe subcutaneous and mediastinal emphysema caused by high-speed turbine splitting during dental extraction. The first case involved a 34-year-old man who complained of swelling of the face, mild chest tightness, and chest pain after dental extraction. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed a large amount of gas in the neck, chest wall, and mediastinum. The second case involved a 54-year-old woman who complained of swelling and pain of the neck after dental extraction. CT showed a large amount of gas collected in the neck and mediastinum. Both of them used high-speed turbine splitting during dental extraction. CONCLUSION: High-speed turbine splitting during dental extraction may lead to severe subcutaneous and mediastinal emphysema. Dentists should carefully operate to avoid emphysema. If emphysema occurs, CT can be used to improve the diagnosis. The patient should be informed, and the complications dealt with carefully.

Bioinspired elastomer composites with programmed mechanical and electrical anisotropies.

Concepts that draw inspiration from soft biological tissues have enabled significant advances in creating artificial materials for a range of applications, such as dry adhesives, tissue engineering, biointegrated electronics, artificial muscles, and soft robots. Many biological tissues, represented by muscles, exhibit directionally dependent mechanical and electrical properties. However, equipping synthetic materials with tissue-like mechanical and electrical anisotropies remains challenging. Here, we present the bioinspired concepts, design principles, numerical modeling, and experimental demonstrations of soft elastomer composites with programmed mechanical and electrical anisotropies, as well as their integrations with active functionalities. Mechanically assembled, 3D structures of polyimide serve as skeletons to offer anisotropic, nonlinear mechanical properties, and crumpled conductive surfaces provide anisotropic electrical properties, which can be used to construct bioelectronic devices. Finite element analyses quantitatively capture the key aspects that govern mechanical anisotropies of elastomer composites, providing a powerful design tool. Incorporation of 3D skeletons of thermally responsive polycaprolactone into elastomer composites allows development of an active artificial material that can mimic adaptive mechanical behaviors of skeleton muscles at relaxation and contraction states. Furthermore, the fabrication process of anisotropic elastomer composites is compatible with dielectric elastomer actuators, indicating potential applications in humanoid artificial muscles and soft robots.

Enhanced Oral NO Delivery through Bioinorganic Engineering of Acid-Sensitive Prodrug into a Transformer-like DNIC@MOF Microrod.

Nitric oxide (NO) is an endogenous gasotransmitter regulating alternative physiological processes in the cardiovascular system. To achieve translational application of NO, continued efforts are made on the development of orally active NO prodrugs for long-term treatment of chronic cardiovascular diseases. Herein, immobilization of NO-delivery [Fe2(µ-SCH2CH2COOH)2(NO)4] (DNIC-2) onto MIL-88B, a metal-organic framework (MOF) consisting of biocompatible Fe3+ and 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate (BDC), was performed to prepare a DNIC@MOF microrod for enhanced oral delivery of NO. In simulated gastric fluid, protonation of the BDC linker in DNIC@MOF initiates its transformation into a DNIC@tMOF microrod, which consisted of DNIC-2 well dispersed and confined within the BDC-based framework. Moreover, subsequent deprotonation of the BDC-based framework in DNIC@tMOF under simulated intestinal conditions promotes the release of DNIC-2 and NO. Of importance, this discovery of transformer-like DNIC@MOF provides a parallel insight into its stepwise transformation into DNIC@tMOF in the stomach followed by subsequent conversion into molecular DNIC-2 in the small intestine and release of NO in the bloodstream of mice. In comparison with acid-sensitive DNIC-2, oral administration of DNIC@MOF results in a 2.2-fold increase in the oral bioavailability of NO to 65.7% in mice and an effective reduction of systolic blood pressure (SBP) to a ΔSBP of 60.9 ± 4.7 mmHg in spontaneously hypertensive rats for 12 h.

[Simultaneous determination of eight additives in polyethylene food contact materials by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography].

Measurement of additive residues in food contact materials is important for safety monitoring at the initial stage. Most of the current studies focus on the determination of the migration amounts of chemical hazards from food contact materials into food simulants. Studies on chemical hazard residues in food contact materials are limited to monomers, oligomers, heavy metals, phthalic acid esters, and biphenols, which are known environmental pollutants. Only a few studies have investigated analysis methods for additive residues in food contact materials. In this study, the main factors (monitoring wavelength, chromatographic column, mobile phase, extraction solvent, etc.) that affect the accuracy and sensitivity of eight compounds, including three antioxidants, three light stabilizers, and two plasticizers, were investigated during sample preparation and instrument analysis. A method based on ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) was developed for the simultaneous determination of these eight additives in polyethylene (PE). The PE food contact material sample was ground to homogenize the particle sizes under freeze-grinding. After comparing the extraction efficiencies of methylbenzene, chloroform, acetone, and acetonitrile, 2.0 g of the sample was extracted with methylbenzene at 80 ℃ and 10.34-11.72 MPa (1500-1700 psi) by accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) for 10 min once. The exaction solvent (10 mL) was transferred and concentrated to near dryness under a gentle stream of nitrogen gas and then re-dissolved in 10 mL of the initial mobile phase (70% (v/v) methanol in water). Finally, the eight compounds were analyzed by UPLC. After optimization of the analytical column and mobile phases, the eight analytes were separated on an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C8 chromatographic column (100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.7 µm) by gradient elution using water and acetonitrile as the mobile phases. The column oven temperature, flow rate of the mobile phase, and injection volume were 30 ℃, 0.3 mL/min, and 5 µL, respectively. The analytes were detected by a diode assay detector (DAD) in the scanning range of 210 nm to 400 nm. The monitoring wavelength was set at 230 nm, 250 nm, 280 nm, and 330 nm. External standard calibration curves were used for quantification. Under the optimized conditions, the calibration curves for the eight compounds showed good linearity in the range of 0.2 µg/mL to 10 µg/mL, and the correlation coefficients were >0.999. The recoveries in spiked blank polyethylene samples at the level of 0.05% were in the range of 83.8% to 103.4%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranging from 0.14% to 7.86%. To validate the method, PE reference materials containing these eight compounds were manufactured at the content level of 0.2% to 0.9%. The recoveries using the prepared reference materials ranged from 63.5% to 118.5%, and the RSDs were in the range of 4.61% to 15.6%. The limits of detection (LODs, S/N=3) of all the eight compounds were 0.005% and the limits of quantification (LOQs, S/N=10) were 0.02%, in compliance with the current legislation. To assess the feasibility and potential of the proposed approach for routine analyses of these eight compounds, the developed method was applied to the analysis of these compounds in ten PE food packages and PE gloves. In six samples, tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)phosphite (Irganox 168) was detected at a level of 0.02%-0.07%, which was lower than the maximum level of this compound in PE food contact material products regulated in GB 9685-2016 at 0.2%. The method is compliant with the current legislation, and it can be used for the monitoring and supervision of these eight additives in PE food contact materials.

Crystallization enhanced thermal-sensitive hydrogels of PCL-PEG-PCL triblock copolymer for 3D printing.

Temperature-sensitive hydrogels with mild gel-forming process, good biocompatibility and biodegradability have been widely studied as bioinks and biomaterial inks for 3D bioprinting. However, the hydrogels synthesized via copolymerization of aliphatic polyesters and polyethylene glycols have low mechanical strength and cannot meet the needs of 3D printing. In this paper, we propose a strategy of enhancing the strength of hydrogels by introducing crystallization between blocks to meet the requirements of 3D bioprinting inks. A series of polycaprolactone-polyethylene glycol-polycaprolactone (PCL-PEG-PCL) triblock polymers were prepared by ring-opening polymerization, of which the strong crystallinity of polycaprolactone blocks improved the printability and enhanced the mechanical properties of the ink. It was found that the resulted hydrogels were temperature-responsive, and the PCL blocks could form a crystalline phase in the state of the hydrogel, thereby significantly increasing the modulus of the hydrogel. Moreover, the mechanical strength of the hydrogel could be adjusted by changing the composition ratio of each block of the copolymer. The 3D printing results showed that the PCL-PEG-PCL hydrogel with crystallinity can not only be extruded and printed via temperature adjustment, but also the three-dimensional structure can be effectively maintained after 3D printing. The gels demonstrated good cell compatibility, and the cell survival rate was maintained at a high level.

Fabrication of "Spongy Skin" on Diversified Materials Based on Surface Swelling Non-Solvent-Induced Phase Separation.

Porous surfaces have attracted tremendous interest for customized incorporation of functional agents on biomedical devices. However, the versatile preparation of porous structures on complicated devices remains challenging. Herein, we proposed a simple and robust method to fabricate "spongy skin" on diversified polymeric substrates based on non-solvent-induced phase separation (NIPS). Through the swelling and the subsequent phase separation process, interconnected porous structures were directly formed onto the polymeric substrates. The thickness and pore size could be regulated in the ranges of 5-200 and 0.3-0.75 µm, respectively. The fast capillary action of the porous structure enabled controllable loading and sustained release of ofloxacin and bovine albumin at a high loading dosage of 79.9 and 24.1 µg/cm2, respectively. We verified that this method was applicable to diversified materials including polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, thermoplastic polyurethane, polylactide acid, and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and can be realized onto TCPS cell culture plates. This NIPS-based method is promising to generate porous surfaces on medical devices for incorporating therapeutic agents.

[Determinations of the bonding strength with pressure in the same direction for two enamel adhesion techniques: self-etching and all-etching].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the shear strength of the self-etching techniques and the all-etching techniques for enamel adhesion and to provide evidence for the selection of different bonding methods in clinical practice. METHODS: Ten middle incisors recently extracted were collected, each was cut into two parts following its sagittal axis, thus divide each tooth into two groups. For group 1 Single Bond 2 was used to bond Filtek Z250 resin to the teeth. For group 2, SE Bond was used to bond Filtek Z250 resin to the teeth. After that, according to the principle of pressing from the incisal margin to the cervix, the shear strength of each bonding unit was tested and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The shear strength of Single Bond 2 was significantly higher than that of SE Bond(P<0.01). CONCLUSION: All-etching bonding system can provide higher shear strength for enamel bonding than that of self-etching bonding system. It is suggested that all-etching technique should be selected for dental restoration with resin.

Size-dependent cellular internalization and effects of polystyrene microplastics in microalgae P. helgolandica var. tsingtaoensis and S. quadricauda.

Microplastics (MPs) are persistent contaminants in aquatic environments. Microalgae, as the main phytoplankton and primary producers, usually co-exist with MPs. Despite previous studies that have proved the interaction of MPs and microalgae, it is largely unknown whether MPs can be uptake into cells of microalgae. In this study, both marine P. helgolandica var. tsingtaoensis and freshwater microalgae S. quadricauda were respectively exposed to 10 mg/L polystyrene microbeads with five diameter sizes: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 µm. Confocal laser scanning and 3D image analysis showed that mean 24.0 % or 11.3 % cells of P. helgolandica var. tsingtaoensis contained 1.0 µm or 2.0 µm MPs after 72 h exposure. While mean 43.3 % or 15.3 % of S. quadricauda individuals engulfed 1.0 µm or 2.0 µm MPs within cells. But, none of 3.0-5.0 µm MPs were observed within algal cells. These results demonstrate the size-dependent cellular internalization of MPs in microalgae. Exposure to 1.0-2.0 µm PS MPs caused a significant reduction in the density of microalgae and influenced photosynthesis, which suggests cellular internalization of MPs can influence algal fertility and growth. This discovery first confirms cellular internalization of MPs in phytoplankton, of significance for the fate and eco-toxicity of MPs in the aquatic ecosystem.

Mussel-inspired antimicrobial gelatin/chitosan tissue adhesive rapidly activated in situ by H2O2/ascorbic acid for infected wound closure.

The development of minimally invasive surgery has created a demand for ideal medical adhesives exhibiting biocompatibility, biodegradability, antimicrobial activity, and strong adhesion to tissues in wet environments. However, as clinically approved surgical tissue glues suffer from poor adhesion activation, limited adhesion strength, and toxicity, novel tissue glues are highly sought after. Herein, a mussel-inspired injectable hydrogel was prepared from catechol- and methacrylate-modified chitosan/gelatin and shown to exhibit biocompatibility, inherent antimicrobial activity, and good adhesion to wet tissues. Moreover, as this gel could be applied onto tissue surfaces and cured in situ within seconds of body contact by a biocompatible and multifunctional redox initiator (H2O2-ascorbic acid), it was concluded to be a promising surgical sealant and wound dressing (even for infected wounds) accelerating wound healing.

Simultaneous determination of formononetin, biochanin A and their active metabolites in human breast milk, saliva and urine using salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction and ultra high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrum.

Isoflavonoid phytoestrogens, referred as "dietary estrogens" are widely distributed in the plant kingdom. Formononetin, biochanin A and their active metabolites daidzein and genistein are known to be the most potent among other isoflavonoid phytoestrogens. Thus there is a growing need to determine accurately their concentration in different biological fluids. In the present work, a sensitive analytical method was developed for the quantitative determination of these compounds in human breast milk, saliva and urine. The glycoside conjugates of these compounds were enzymatically hydrolysis prior to salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction. Quantitative analysis was done by ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The obtained results showed high correlation coefficients (r2 > 0.998) for the linear range established for formononetine, biochanin A, daidzein and genistein. The limits of detection (LODs) and low limits of quantitation (LLOQs) were in the ranges of 0.05-1.0 ng/mL and 1.0-4.0 ng/mL for all analytes in human biological fluids, respectively. The average recoveries ranged from 83.29% to 115.24% for the analytes with relative standard deviation (n = 5) values from 1.84% to 9.75% in samples. Both intra-day and inter-day precisions and accuracy were found to be within 12.53% and ± 12.92% respectively. Under different conditions of stability, the concentrations for four isoflavonoid phytoestrogens deviated within ±12.87% of norminal values. The developed method was successfully validated and applied to human breast milk, saliva and urine. The average concentrations of daidzein and genistein found in breast milk, saliva and urine samples ranged from 0 to 104.2 µg/kg, 18.17 to 786.0 µg/kg, 0 to 10974 µg/kg, respectively. Their presence in breast milk samples shows exposure of breast-fed baby to isoflavones. It also allows for the rapid screening of human biological fluids when testing for formononetin, biochanin A, daidzein and genistein production status in human.

Ferromagnetic CoPt3 nanowires: structural evolution from fcc to ordered L1(2).

This investigation demonstrates the magnetic properties and nanostructures of CoPt(3) wire arrays that were fabricated by electrodeposition using a porous alumina template. The X-ray absorption analysis clearly verified the occurrence of a phase transition in CoPt(3) nanowires. This phase transition significantly influences the magnetic properties and enhances coercivity and squareness. The phase transition of CoPt(3) nanowires was from a random alloy distribution to anisotropically ordered CoPt(3) (L1(2)). The thermally induced phase transition of CoPt(3) nanowires to ordered L1(2) CoPt(3) through a "cluster-in-cluster" intermediate state via interdiffusion processes is revealed. The mechanism exhibited by these CoPt(3) nanowires is proposed to explain the strong correlation between their magnetic character and their atomic distribution.