Molecular-Level Anion and Li+ Co-Regulation by Amphoteric Polymer Separator for High-Rate Stable Lithium Metal Anode.

Regulating ion transport is a prevailing strategy to suppress lithium dendrite growth, in which the distribution of ion regulatory sites plays an important role. Here a hyperbranched polyamidoamine (HBPA) grafted polyethylene (PE) composite separator (HBPA-g-PE) is reported. The densely and uniformly distributed positive -NH2 and negative -CHNO- groups efficiently restrict the anion migration and promote Li+ transport at the surface of the lithium metal anode. The obtained Li foil symmetric cell delivers a stable cycle performance with a low-voltage hysteresis of 130 mV for over 1500 h (3000 cycles) at an ultrahigh current density of 20 mA cm-2 and a practical areal capacity of 5 mAh cm-2. Moreover, HBPA-g-PE separator enables a practical lithium-sulfur battery to achieve over 200-cycle stable performance with initial and retained capacity of 700 and 455 mAh g-1, at a high sulfur loading of 4 mg cm-2 and a low electrolyte content/sulfur loading ratio of 8 µL mg-1.

The roles and molecular mechanisms of non-coding RNA in cancer metabolic reprogramming.

One of the key features of cancer is energy metabolic reprogramming which is tightly related to cancer proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and chemotherapy resistance. NcRNAs are a class of RNAs having no protein-coding potential and mainly include microRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs. Accumulated evidence has suggested that ncRNAs play an essential role in regulating cancer metabolic reprogramming, and the altered metabolic networks mediated by ncRNAs primarily drive carcinogenesis by regulating the expression of metabolic enzymes and transporter proteins. Importantly, accumulated research has revealed that dysregulated ncRNAs mediate metabolic reprogramming contributing to the generation of therapeutic tolerance. Elucidating the molecular mechanism of ncRNAs in cancer metabolic reprogramming can provide promising metabolism-related therapeutic targets for treatment as well as overcome therapeutic tolerance. In conclusion, this review updates the latest molecular mechanisms of ncRNAs related to cancer metabolic reprogramming.

Sustainable and feasible reagent-free electro-Fenton via sequential dual-cathode electrocatalysis.

Electro-Fenton processes aim at producing oxidizing radicals with fewer added chemicals and residues but are still unable to completely eliminate both. This study demonstrates that a reagent-free electro-Fenton process that runs solely on oxygen and electricity can be achieved by sequential dual-cathode electrocatalysis. H2O2 is produced on an electrodeposited PEDOT on carbon cloth (PEDOT/CC) cathode and subsequently converted to hydroxyl radicals on a stainless-steel-mesh cathode. The dual-cathode system demonstrates efficient decolorization and total organic carbon (TOC) removal toward organic dyes at optimized cathodic potentials of -0.9 V for PEDOT/CC and -0.8 V for the stainless-steel mesh. The sequential dual-cathode process also displays high reusability, no iron leaching, high removal efficiency using air instead of oxygen, and low installation and operation costs. This work demonstrates a preeminent and commercially viable example of pollution control rendered by the "catalysis instead of chemical reagent" philosophy of green chemistry.

Understanding the interaction of nucleotides with UVC light: an insight from quantum chemical calculation-based findings.

Short-wave ultraviolet (also called UVC) irradiation is a well-adopted method of viral inactivation due to its ability to damage genetic material. A fundamental problem with the UVC inactivation method is that its mechanism of action on viruses is still unknown at the molecular level. To address this problem, herein we investigate the response mechanism of genome materials to UVC light by means of quantum chemical calculations. The spectral properties of four nucleotides, namely, adenine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil, are mainly focused on. Meanwhile, the transition state and reaction rate constant of uracil molecules are also considered to demonstrate the difficulty level of adjacent nucleotide reaction without and with UVC irradiation. The results show that the peak wavelengths are 248.7 nm, 226.1 nm (252.7 nm), 248.3 nm, and 205.8 nm (249.2 nm) for adenine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil nucleotides, respectively. Besides, the reaction rate constants of uracil molecules are 6.419 × 10-49 s-1 M-1 and 5.436 × 1011 s-1 M-1 for the ground state and excited state, respectively. Their corresponding half-life values are 1.56 × 1048 s and 1.84 × 10-12 s. This directly suggests that the molecular reaction between nucleotides is a photochemical process and the reaction without UVC irradiation almost cannot occur.

A comparative study of the "superior mesenteric artery first" approach versus the conventional approach in short-term and long-term outcomes in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma undergoing laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: The use of laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) in pancreatic head cancer remains controversial, and an appropriate surgical approach can help improve perioperative safety and oncological outcomes. This study aimed to assess the short-term outcomes and long-term survival of the superior mesenteric artery first (SMA-first) approach in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) undergoing LPD. METHODS: The data of 91 consecutive PDAC patients who underwent LPD from June 2014 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups, the modified SMA-first approach group, using a combined posterior and anterior approach, and the conventional approach group. Perioperative outcomes, pathologic results, and overall survival (OS) were compared between groups, and propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis was performed. RESULTS: The number of lymph nodes harvested was greater in the SMA-first approach group (19 vs. 15, P = 0.021), as did the results in the matched cohort (21 vs. 15, P = 0.046). No significant difference was observed in the R0 resection rate (93.3% vs. 82.6%, P = 0.197), but the involvement of the SMA margin was indeed lower in the SMA-first approach group (0 vs. 13%). There were no obvious variances between the two groups in terms of intraoperative bleeding, operative time, overall and major postoperative complication rates, and mortality in either the original cohort or matched cohort. The median OS was 21.8 months in the SMA-first group, whereas it was 19.8 months in the conventional group (P = 0.900). Survival also did not differ in the matched cohort (P = 0.558). TNM stage, resection margin, overall complications, and adjuvant therapy were independent risk factors affecting OS. CONCLUSION: The modified SMA-first approach is safe and feasible for PDAC patients undergoing LPD. It had a slight advantage in specimen quality, but OS was not significantly prolonged.

P66Shc is increased in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by nocturnal intermittent hypoxemia and linked to oxidative stress. Evidence demonstrated that p66Shc plays a key role in regulating oxidative stress. This study aimed to investigate the expression of p66Shc in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with OSA and the association with polysomnographic parameters. Methods: Fifty-four OSA subjects and 19 no OSA controls were enrolled in this study. All the subjects underwent standard polysomnography. P66Shc mRNA and protein levels in the PBMCs were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Plasma 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL), and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) were measured by ELISA method. Results: P66Shc mRNA and protein levels in PBMCs were significantly higher in OSA patients than in controls. P66Shc mRNA was positively correlated with plasma 3-NT, oxLDL, AOPP, hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI), percentage of total sleep time with oxygen saturation (SaO2) below 90% (CT90), epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) and lymphocytes; negatively correlated with lowest SaO2 (LSaO2) and mean SaO2 (MSaO2). Further multivariate linear regression analysis showed that p66Shc mRNA levels were independently associated with AHI, MSaO2 and CT90. Conclusions: Oxidative stress regulator p66Shc may play a role in the pathophysiology of OSA and might serve as a potential biomarker for this disease.

Retroperitonealization of the pancreatic stump in distal pancreatectomy: a novel technique to reduce postoperative pancreatic fistula.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of retroperitonealization of the pancreatic stump in distal pancreatectomy. METHODS: Clinical data from the Tongji Hospital pancreatic database were retrospectively reviewed in this study. The data of 68 patients who underwent retroperitonealized distal pancreatectomy from January, 2019, to April, 2021, were collected and analyzed. Sixty-four patients who underwent conventional distal pancreatectomy during the same period were matched. We compared and analyzed the operative outcomes and postoperative complications between the patients in the two groups before and after propensity score matching (PSM). RESULTS: Before PSM, the operative outcomes and postoperative complications were comparable between the two groups. After PSM, the retroperitonealized group had a lower incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) (10.53% vs 31.58%, P = 0.047) and shorter time until drainage removal (10.00, 8.00-13.00 days vs 13.00, 10.00-18.00 days, P = 0.005). In the univariate and multivariate regression analyses, non-retroperitonealization and intra-abdominal infection were found to be independent risk factors for postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF). CONCLUSION: Retroperitonealization of the pancreatic stump can reduce the incidence of POPF after distal pancreatectomy.

Harnessing Heteropolar Lithium Polysulfides by Amphoteric Polymer Binder for Facile Manufacturing of Practical Li-S Batteries.

Enabling efficient and durable charge storage under high sulfur loading and lean electrolyte remains a paramount challenge for Li-S battery technology to truly demonstrate its commercial viability. This work reports an amphoteric polymer binder, whose negatively and positively charged moieties allow for coregulation of both lithium cations and heteropolar lithium polysulfides through multiple intermolecular interactions. These interactions and the physical properties lead to simultaneously improved Li+ transport, polysulfide adsorption and catalysis, cathode robustness and anode stability. Therefore, this multifunctional binder endows Li-S batteries with compelling overall performances even under rigorous conditions. At low sulfur loading and copious electrolyte, the cell shows a low capacity-fading rate of 0.056% cycle-1 upon 700 cycles. At sulfur loading of 6.8 mg cm-2 and low E/S of 6 µL mg-1 , the cell still delivers stable areal capacities between 4.2 and 4.8 mAh cm-2 in 50 cycles without obvious decay at 0.2 C. The commercial feasibility of this work is further manifested by its zero added weight, low material cost, and ease of manufacturing and scale-up. The efficacy and simplicity of this work symbolize an example of lab-scale battery research aiming at improved technology and manufacturing readiness level.

Fine-tuning of RBOHF activity is achieved by differential phosphorylation and Ca2+ binding.

RBOHF from Arabidopsis thaliana represents a multifunctional NADPH oxidase regulating biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, developmental processes and guard cell aperture. The molecular components and mechanisms determining RBOHF activity remain to be elucidated. Here we combined protein interaction studies, biochemical and genetic approaches, and pathway reconstitution analyses to identify and characterize proteins that confer RBOHF regulation and elucidated mechanisms that adjust RBOHF activity. While the Ca2+ sensor-activated kinases CIPK11 and CIPK26 constitute alternative paths for RBOHF activation, the combined activity of CIPKs and the kinase open stomata 1 (OST1) triggers complementary activation of this NADPH oxidase, which is efficiently counteracted through dephosphorylation by the phosphatase ABI1. Within RBOHF, several distinct phosphorylation sites (p-sites) in the N-terminus of RBOHF appear to contribute individually to activity regulation. These findings identify RBOHF as a convergence point targeted by a complex regulatory network of kinases and phosphatases. We propose that this allows for fine-tuning of plant reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by RBOHF in response to different stimuli and in diverse physiological processes.

MicroRNA-7-5p Promotes Cisplatin Resistance of Cervical Cancer Cells and Modulation of Cellular Energy Homeostasis by Regulating the Expression of the PARP-1 and BCL2 Genes.

BACKGROUND Resistance to cisplatin results in recurrence or relapse of cervical cancer in women. An understanding of the mechanisms of cisplatin resistance will be important to improve the efficacy of cisplatin treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of microRNA-7-5p (mir-7-5p) in cisplatin-resistant cervical cancer cells in vitro. MATERIAL AND METHODS The expression levels of miR-7-5p were detected in cisplatin-resistant cervical cancer cells, HeLa, and SiHa cells (HPV16-positive), and in clinical tissue samples, using miR-7-5p inhibition and a luciferase reporter assay. Fifteen paired cervical cancer tissue samples and adjacent normal cervical tissues were obtained from 15 patients who underwent surgery for cervical cancer. Western blot and flow cytometry were used to investigate cell apoptosis. The expression of mir-7-5p was detected by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS The level of miR-7-5p was increased in cisplatin-resistant HeLa and SiHa cervical cancer cells. Increased expression of miR-7-5p inhibited DNA repair by modulating the expression of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1), reducing energy consumption, and promoting autophagy via suppression of the expression of Bcl-2. These findings supported that increasing energy generation and reducing energy consumption, resulted in miR-7-5p maintaining energy homeostasis during cisplatin treatment. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study showed that there was a protective role of miR-7-5p in cervical cancer cells treated with cisplatin and that miR-7-5p expression maintained energy homeostasis in cisplatin-resistant cervical cancer cells. However, miR-7-5p reduced energy consumption via inhibiting PARP-1 expression, and miR-7-5p increased energy generation by suppressing the expression of Bcl-2.

Short or long sleep duration was associated with chronic kidney disease in a Chinese nationwide cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Sleep duration is an important factor influencing health outcomes. The association between sleep duration and kidney function remains elusive. This study aimed to explore the association between sleep duration and chronic kidney disease (CKD) amongst Chinese adults. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study based on the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) in the wave of 2009. Participants were divided into three groups: ≤ 6 h/day (short sleepers), 7-8 h/day (regular sleepers) and ≥ 9 h/day (long sleepers) according to self-reported sleep duration. CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. RESULTS: A total of 8096 Chinese adults (45.9% men) with a mean age of 50.6 years were included in the study. Compared with regular sleepers, both short and long regular sleepers had a higher prevalence of CKD. A U-shaped relationship between sleep duration and CKD was displayed by restricted cubic spline curve (P-overall < 0.001, P-nonlinear < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression models revealed that both short and long sleep duration were clinically associated with higher odds of CKD, after adjustments for covariates [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.25 and 1.30; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-1.56 and 1.08-1.54, for short and long sleep duration, respectively]. In subgroup analyses, we found the association was still observed in participants without hypertension or diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION: Short or long sleep duration was associated with CKD in the general population.

Diagnostic value of lncRNAs LINC00152 and LARS2-AS1 and their regulatory roles in macrophage immune response in tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the usefulness of LINC00152 and LARS2-AS1 as potential biomarkers for latent tuberculosis (LTB) and active tuberculosis (ATB), as well as their effect on Mycobacterium (Mtb) infection. METHODS: The expression levels of LINC00152 and LARS2-AS1 in the health, patients with LTB and ATB were detected by qRT-PCR. The ROC curves were constructed to show their potential as biomarkers. The intracellular survival assays for Mtb and the levels of immune-related cytokines were determined to discover the effect of LINC00152 and LARS2-AS1 on Mtb infection. The relationships of miR-485-5p with LINC00152 and LARS2-AS1 were explored. RESULTS: LINC00152 and LARS2-AS1 levels were significantly elevated in patients with ATB and LTB, and Mtb-infected macrophages. LINC00152 and LARS2-AS1 can distinguish the LTB from the health and ATB from LTB. LARS2-AS1 and LINC00152 knock-down reduced the intracellular Mtb survival and induced cellular immune response after Mtb challenge. miR-485-5p was a targeting miRNA for LINC00152 and LARS2-AS1. CONCLUSIONS: LINC00152 and LARS2-AS1 can be considered as potential biomarkers for tuberculosis disease. LINC00152 and LARS2-AS1 have anti-Mtb effects.

MpMLO1 controls sperm discharge in liverwort.

In bryophytes, sexual reproduction necessitates the release of motile sperm cells from a gametophyte into the environment. Since 1856, this process, particularly in liverworts, has been known to depend on water. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this phenomenon has remained elusive. Here we identify the plasma membrane protein MpMLO1 in Marchantia polymorpha, a model liverwort, as critical for sperm discharge from antheridia. The MpMLO1-expressing tip cells among the sperm-wrapping jacket cells undergo programmed cell death upon antheridium maturation to facilitate sperm discharge after the application of water and even hypertonic solutions. The absence of MpMLO1 leads to reduced cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels in tip cells, preventing cell death and consequently sperm discharge. Our findings reveal that MpMLO1-mediated programmed cell death in antheridial tip cells, regulated by cytosolic Ca2+ dynamics, is essential for sperm release, elucidating a key mechanism in bryophyte sexual reproduction and providing insights into terrestrial plant evolution.

A Ca2+ sensor BraCBL1.2 involves in BraCRa-mediated clubroot resistance in Chinese cabbage.

Clubroot disease caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae (P. brassicae) severely threatens the cultivation of Cruciferous plants, especially Chinese cabbage. Recently, resistance genes in plants have been reported to encode for a Ca2+-permeable channel in the plasma membrane, which can mediate the cytosolic Ca2+ increase in plant cells upon pathogen attack. However, the downstream Ca2+ sensor and decoder are still unknown. In this study, we identified the virulent and avirulent P. brassicae isolates (Pbs) of two near isogenic lines, CR 3-2 and CS 3-2, with CR 3-2 harboring clubroot resistant gene BraCRa. The transcriptomic analysis was then conducted with CR 3-2 after inoculating with virulent isolate PbE and avirulent isolate Pb4. From the differentially expressed genes of transcriptomic data, we identified a Ca2+-sensor encoding gene, BraCBL1.2, that was highly induced in CR 3-2 during infection by Pb4 but not by PbE. Moreover, GUS histochemical staining and subcellular localization analysis revealed that BraCBL1.2 was specifically expressed in the root hair cells of Arabidopsis and encoded a putative Ca2+ sensor localized in the plasma membrane. We also developed an assay to investigate the BraCRa-mediated hypersensitive response (HR) in tobacco leaves. The results suggest that BraCBL1.2 is involved in the BraCRa-mediated plant ETI immune response against P. brassicae. In addition, we verified that overexpression of BraCBL1.2 enhanced clubroot resistance in Arabidopsis. Collectively, our data identified the involvement of a Ca2+ sensor in BraCRa-mediated clubroot resistance in Chinese cabbage, providing a theoretical basis for further research on the resistance of Chinese cabbage to P. brassicae.

Multiple transcription factors involved in the response of Chinese cabbage against Plasmodiophora brassicae.

Clubroot disease, which is caused by the obligate biotrophic protist Plasmodiophora brassicae, leads to the formation of galls, commonly known as pathogen-induced tumors, on the roots of infected plants. The identification of crucial regulators of host tumor formation is essential to unravel the mechanisms underlying the proliferation and differentiation of P. brassicae within plant cells. To gain insight into this process, transcriptomic analysis was conducted to identify key genes associated with both primary and secondary infection of P. brassicae in Chinese cabbage. Our results demonstrate that the k-means clustering of subclass 1, which exhibited specific trends, was closely linked to the infection process of P. brassicae. Of the 1610 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) annotated in subclass 1, 782 were identified as transcription factors belonging to 49 transcription factor families, including bHLH, B3, NAC, MYB_related, WRKY, bZIP, C2H2, and ERF. In the primary infection, several genes, including the predicted Brassica rapa probable pectate lyase, RPM1-interacting protein 4-like, L-type lectin-domain-containing receptor kinase, G-type lectin S-receptor-like serine, B. rapa photosystem II 22 kDa protein, and MLP-like protein, showed significant upregulation. In the secondary infection stage, 45 of 50 overlapping DEGs were upregulated. These upregulated DEGs included the predicted B. rapa endoglucanase, long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase, WRKY transcription factor, NAC domain-containing protein, cell division control protein, auxin-induced protein, and protein variation in compound-triggered root growth response-like and xyloglucan glycosyltransferases. In both the primary and secondary infection stages, the DEGs were predicted to be Brassica rapa putative disease resistance proteins, L-type lectin domain-containing receptor kinases, ferredoxin-NADP reductases, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthases, histone deacetylases, UDP-glycosyltransferases, putative glycerol-3-phosphate transporters, and chlorophyll a-binding proteins, which are closely associated with plant defense responses, biosynthetic processes, carbohydrate transport, and photosynthesis. This study revealed the pivotal role of transcription factors in the initiation of infection and establishment of intracellular parasitic relationships during the primary infection stage, as well as the proliferation and differentiation of the pathogen within the host cell during the secondary infection stage.

Chemical and Geological Properties of Shale Gas: In Situ Desorption of Lower Cambrian Niutitang Shale in the Micangshan Tectonic Zone of South Shaanxi, China.

Shale gas was recently found in the Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation (LCNF) of the Micangshan tectonic zone of south Shaanxi (MTZSS), but not in commercial quantities. To determine the laws governing the generation, enrichment, and desorption of shale gases in overmatured shale strata in the LCNF of MTZSS, we carried out in situ desorption experiments on nine shale core samples and got 168 desorbed gas samples at different phases of desorption. Also measured were the chemical and carbon isotopic compositions of these desorbed gas samples and the geochemical parameters of the shale core samples. CH4 was the predominant hydrocarbon shale gas identified in the 82.06-98.48% range, suggesting that the gases were mainly dry. The nonhydrocarbon gases found were CO2 and H2. The CH4 content of the desorbed gas samples dropped continuously during desorption, lowering the dryness index to 98.48 and 92.26% of the first and last desorbed shale gas, respectively. The change in the gas ratio during shale gas desorption proved that the adsorbability of the LCNF to the various gases follows the trend H2 > CO2 > C2H6 > CH4 > He. Further, δ13C2H6 and δ13CH4 become heavier during desorption, showing isotopic fractionation arising from the desorption-diffusion coeffect. As the desorption temperature increases, the value of δ13CH4 increases because 12CH4 is more sensitive to temperature than 13CH4, so it is with the ethane. Similar to the LCNF shale gas in other areas of China, the desorbed shale gases are characteristic of carbon isotope reversal (CIR) (δ13CH4 > δ13C2H6). The cracking of the residual soluble organic matter at the high overmaturity stage mixed with the cracking of kerogen at the early stage of maturation, causing CIR. Furthermore, the desorbed gas content was proportionally and inversely related to the CIR degree and final dryness index of the desorbed gas, respectively. Moreover, the carbon isotope fractionation degree of CH4 and δ13C1 of the last desorbed gas correlated positively with the desorbed gas content and the desorbed time of the gas. In conclusion, the four parameters are effective parameters for identifying shale gas sweet spots.

Prognostic role of MUCIN family and its relationship with immune characteristics and tumor biology in diffuse-type gastric cancer.

The main component of O-glycoproteins, mucin, is known to play important roles in physiological conditions and oncogenic processes, particularly correlated with poor prognosis in different carcinomas. Diffuse-type gastric cancer (DGC) has long been associated with genomic stability and unfavorable clinical outcomes. To investigate further, we obtained clinical information and the RNA-seq data of the TCGA-STAD cohort. Through the use of unsupervised clustering methods and GSEA, we identified two distinct clusters, characterized by higher and lower expression of MUC2 and MUC20, denoted as cluster 1 and cluster 2, respectively. Subsequently, employing CIBERSORT, it was determined that cluster 2 exhibited a higher tumor mutation burden (TMB) and a greater abundance of CD8+ T cells and activated CD4+ memory T cells, in addition to immune checkpoints (ICPs). On the other hand, cluster 1 showed a lower TIDE score estimation, indicating a higher probability of tumor immune escape. Furthermore, overexpression of MUC15 and MUC20 was confirmed through qPCR and Western blotting, and their specific roles in mediating the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process of GC cells (SNU484 and Hs746t) were validated via CCK-8 assay and wound healing assay in vitro. These findings highlight the potential prognostic value of MUC20 and offer insights into the prospects of immunotherapy for DGC by targeting MUC20.

Chitosan Oligosaccharide Laser Lithograph: A Facile Route to Porous Graphene Electrodes for Flexible On-Chip Microsupercapacitors.

In this study, a convenient chitosan oligosaccharide laser lithograph (COSLL) technology was developed to fabricate laser-induced graphene (LIG) electrodes and flexible on-chip microsupercapacitors (MSCs). With a simple one-step CO2 laser, the pyrolysis of a chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) and in situ welding of the generated LIGs to engineering plastic substrates are achieved simultaneously. The resulting LIG products display a hierarchical porous architecture, excellent electrical conductivity (6.3 Ω sq-1), and superhydrophilic properties, making them ideal electrode materials for MSCs. The pyrolysis-welding coupled mechanism is deeply discussed through cross-sectional analyses and finite element simulations. The MSCs prepared by COSLL exhibit considerable areal capacitance of over 4 mF cm-2, which is comparable to that of the polyimide-LIG-based counterpart. COSLL is also compatible with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) and micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) processes, enabling the fabrication of LIG/Au MSCs with comparable areal capacitance and lower internal resistance. Furthermore, the as-prepared MSCs demonstrate excellent mechanical robustness, long-cycle capability, and ease of series-parallel integration, benefiting their practical application in various scenarios. With the use of eco-friendly biomass carbon source and convenient process flowchart, the COSLL emerges as an attractive method for the fabrication of flexible LIG on-chip MSCs and various other advanced LIG devices.

Increased risk of fetal left-right asymmetry disorders associated with maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection during the first trimester.

Our center has observed a substantial increase in the detection rate of fetal left-right(LR) asymmetry disorders between March and May 2023. This finding has raised concerns because these pregnant women experienced the peak outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in China during their first trimester. To explore the relationship between maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection and fetal LR asymmetry disorders. A retrospective collection of clinical and ultrasound data diagnosed as fetal LR asymmetry disorders was conducted from January 2018 to December 2023. The case-control study involved fetuses with LR asymmetry disorders and normal fetuses in a 1:1 ratio. We evaluated and compared the clinical and fetal ultrasound findings in pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection and pregnant women without infection. The Student t-test was utilized to compare continuous variables, while the chi-squared test was employed for univariable analyses. The incidence rate of LR asymmetry disorders from 2018 to 2023 was as follows: 0.17‰, 0.63‰, 0.61‰, 0.57‰, 0.59‰, and 3.24‰, respectively. A total of 30 fetuses with LR asymmetry disorders and 30 normal fetuses were included. This case-control study found that SARS-CoV-2 infection (96.67% vs 3.33%, P = .026) and infection during the first trimester (96.55% vs 3.45%, P = .008) were identified as risk factors. The odds ratio values were 10.545 (95% CI 1.227, 90.662) and 13.067 (95% CI 1.467, 116.419) respectively. In cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the first trimester, the majority of infections (88.1%, 37/42) occurred between 5 and 6 weeks of gestation. We found that 43.7% (66/151) of fetuses with LR asymmetry disorder had associated malformations, 90.9% (60/66) exhibited cardiac malformations. SARS-CoV-2 infection during the first trimester significantly increases the risk of fetal LR asymmetry disorders, particularly when the infection occurs between 5 and 6 gestation weeks. The most common associated malformation is heart malformation.

Quality of life after pancreatic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic surgery is challenging owing to the anatomical characteristics of the pancreas. Increasing attention has been paid to changes in quality of life (QOL) after pancreatic surgery. AIM: To summarize and analyze current research results on QOL after pancreatic surgery. METHODS: A systematic search of the literature available on PubMed and EMBASE was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Relevant studies were identified by screening the references of retrieved articles. Studies on patients' QOL after pancreatic surgery published after January 1, 2012, were included. These included prospective and retrospective studies on patients' QOL after several types of pancreatic surgeries. The results of these primary studies were summarized inductively. RESULTS: A total of 45 articles were included in the study, of which 13 were related to pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), seven to duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR), nine to distal pancreatectomy (DP), two to central pancreatectomy (CP), and 14 to total pancreatectomy (TP). Some studies showed that 3-6 months were needed for QOL recovery after PD, whereas others showed that 6-12 months was more accurate. Although TP and PD had similar influences on QOL, patients needed longer to recover to preoperative or baseline levels after TP. The QOL was better after DPPHR than PD. However, the superiority of the QOL between patients who underwent CP and PD remains controversial. The decrease in exocrine and endocrine functions postoperatively was the main factor affecting the QOL. Minimally invasive surgery could improve patients' QOL in the early stages after PD and DP; however, the long-term effect remains unclear. CONCLUSION: The procedure among PD, DP, CP, and TP with a superior postoperative QOL is controversial. The long-term benefits of minimally invasive versus open surgeries remain unclear. Further prospective trials are warranted.