Single-nucleus transcriptome unveils the role of ferroptosis in ischemic stroke.

Multiple cell death pathways are involved in neuronal death in ischemic stroke (IS). However, the role of different cell death pathways in different cell types has not been elucidated. By analyzing three single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) data of IS, we first found that a variety of programmed cell death (PCD) -related genes were significantly changed in different cell types. Based on machine learning and virtual gene knockout, we found that ferroptosis related genes, ferritin heavy chain 1 (Fth1) and ferritin light chain (Ftl1), play a key role in IS. Ftl1 and Fth1 can promote microglia activation, as well as the production of inflammatory factors and chemokines. Cell communication analysis showed that activated microglia could enhance chemotactic peripheral leukocyte infiltration, such as macrophages and neutrophils, through Spp1-Cd44 and App-Cd74 signaling, thereby aggravating brain tissue damage. Furthermore, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) showed that P2ry12 and Mef2c were significantly decreased in oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) group, while Ftl1, Fth1, Apoe, Ctsb, Cd44 and Cd74 were significantly increased in OGD group. Collectively, our findings suggested targeted therapy against microglia Ftl1 and Fth1 might improve the state of microglia, reduce the infiltration of peripheral immune cells and tissue inflammation, and then improve the ischemic brain injury in mouse.

Quantitative analysis of low-content impurity crystal forms in canagliflozin tablets by NIR solid-state analysis technique.

Canagliflozin (CFZ) tablets was a commercially new class of anti-diabetic drug, CFZ had various anhydrate crystal forms and two hydrate crystal forms (Canagliflozin hemihydrate (Hemi-CFZ) and Canagliflozin monohydrate (Mono-CFZ) crystal form). The active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) of commercially available CFZ tablets were Hemi-CFZ, was easily convert to CFZ or Mono-CFZ under the influence of temperature, pressure, humidity and other factors in tablets processing, storage, and transportation, thus affected bioavailability and efficacy of tablets. Therefore, quantitative analysis of low-content CFZ and Mono-CFZ in tablets was essential to control tablets' quality. The main objective of this study was to explore the feasibility and in-depth explain its quantitative analysis mechanism of NIR for quantitative analysis of low-content CFZ/Mono-CFZ in CFZ tablets. PLSR models for low-content CFZ/Mono-CFZ were established by NIR solid-state analysis technique in different resolutions with different wavenumber regions combined with various pretreatments methods (such as Multiplicative Scatter Correction (MSC), Standard Normal Variate (SNV), Savitzky-Golay First Derivative (SG1st), Savitzky-Golay Second Derivative (SG2nd) and Wavelet Transform (WT)), and the PLSR models were verified. The feasibility of NIR spectroscopy for quantitative analysis of low-content CFZ and Mono-CFZ in CFZ tablets was discussed and analyzed from multiple perspectives, which included the distribution of effective information on the spectrum, the influence of resolution on PLSR models performance, the variance contribution/cumulative variance contribution of PLSR model principal components (PCs), the relation of PCI loadings, scores of the spectra and CFZ/Mono-CFZ content, and the mechanism of quantitative analysis was in-depth explained simultaneously. Eventually the most suitable PLSR models in 0.0000-10.0000 % w/w % obtained. That can provide theoretical support for quantitative analysis of low-content impurity crystal during the production, storage and transportation of CFZ tablets, thus provide reference methods for quality control of CFZ tablets and a reliable reference method for quantitative analysis of impurity crystal forms and quality control of similar drugs.

Zero-Strain Na3 V2 (PO4 )2 F3 @Rgo/CNT Composite as a Wide-Temperature-Tolerance Cathode for Na-Ion Batteries with Ultrahigh-Rate Performance.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are widely considered a hopeful alternative to lithium-ion battery technology. However, they still face challenges, such as low rate capability, unsatisfactory cycling stability, and inferior variable-temperature performance. In this study, a hierarchical Na3 V2 (PO4 )2 F3 (NVPF) @reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/carbon nanotube (CNT) composite (NVPF@rGO/CNT) is successfully constructed. This composite features 0D Na3 V2 (PO4 )2 F3 nanoparticles are coated by a cross-linked 3D conductive network composed of 2D rGO and 1D CNT. Furthermore, the intrinsic Na+ storage mechanism of NVPF@rGO/CNT through comprehensive characterizations is unveiled. The synthesized NVPF@rGO/CNT exhibits fast ionic/electronic transport and excellent structural stability within wide working temperatures (-40-50 °C), owing to the zero-strain NVPF and the coated rGO/CNT conductive network that reduces diffusion distance for ions and electrons. Moreover, the stable integration between NVPF and rGO/CNT enables outstanding structural stability to alleviate strain and stress induced during the cycle. Additionally, a practice full cell is assembled employing a hard carbon anode paired with an NVPF@rGO/CNT cathode, which provides a decent capacity of 105.2 mAh g-1 at 0.2 C, thereby attaining an ideal energy density of 242.7 Wh kg-1 . This work provides valuable insights into developing high-energy and power-density cathode materials for SIBs.

Transition Metal Functionalized C30N12S6 as High-Performance Trifunctional Catalysts with Integrated Descriptors toward Hydrogen Evolution, Oxygen Evolution, and Oxygen Reduction Reactions: A Case of High-Throughput First-Principles Screening within the Framework of TM-N2@C30N10S6.

In energy conversion and storage technologies, the design of highly efficient trifunctional electrocatalysts integrating with the high hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution/reduction reaction (OER/ORR) activities is highly desirable. Herein, utilizing first-principles computations, a novel periodically ordered macropore C30N12S6 monolayer was proposed, and the stability analysis attests to its good stability. Single transition metal (TM) atom anchored onto this newly proposed C30N12S6 monolayer to form single-atom catalysts, as achieved by TM-N2@C30N10S6, among which the Co-N2@C30N10S6 is the most promising multifunctional catalyst toward HER/OER/ORR with low overpotential of 0.01/0.59/0.3 V; meanwhile, the Rh-N2@C30N10S6 can be used as a bifunctional OER/ORR catalyst with low overpotential of 0.37/0.44 V, overmatching the landmark Pt (111) and IrO2/RuO2 catalysts. Particularly, the TM-d orbital in TM@CNS is remarkably hybridized with the O-p orbital of oxygenated intermediates, so that the lone electrons initially located at the antibonding orbital pair up and fill the downward bonding orbital, allowing OH* to be suitably adsorbed on TM@CNS, enhancing the catalytic performance. The relevant attributes, such as good stabilities and metallic features, ensured their applications in ambient conditions. Moreover, multilevel descriptors were constructed to clarify the origin of activity on TM@CNS, such as ΔGOH* (Gibbs free energy of OH*), εd (d-band center), COHP (crystal orbital Hamilton population), Nd/Nd + s (number of d/d + s electrons) and φ (descriptor), among which the filling of outer d-electrons of TM atom significantly affects the value of ΔGOH* that can determine the overpotential and, thus, become a key descriptor.

Adsorption of lithium ions from aqueous solution by magnetic aluminum-based adsorbents.

Magnetic aluminum-based adsorbents (MLDHs) were prepared with a coprecipitation method and used to separate lithium ions from the aqueous solutions. In static adsorption experiment, the adsorption capacity of MLDHs for lithium ions reached 8.22 mg/g. In a mixed solution of various metal ions, the adsorbents exhibited higher selectivity for lithium ions. Kinetic studies indicated that the adsorption process conformed to a pseudo-second-order model. The experimental data were fitted with nonlinear regression using commonly used adsorption isotherms. It was found that the adsorption isotherm process could be described by the Langmuir model. In addition, the thermodynamic parameters revealed that the adsorption of lithium was a spontaneous endothermic process.

Kagome-like BiP3 Monolayer: An Emerging Quasi-Direct Auxetic Semiconductor Coupled with High Anisotropic Mobility toward Visible-Light-Driven Photoelectrocatalytic pH-Robust Overall Water-Splitting.

Two-dimensional (2D) Janus materials exhibit an outstanding potential that can meet the rigorous requirements of photocatalytic water splitting resulting from their unique atomic arrangement. However, these materials are quite scarce. Through ab initio density functional theory calculations, we introduce a kagome topology into the honeycomb lattice of blue phosphorene using phosphorus and bismuth atoms to build a hybrid honeycomb-like kagome lattice, realized by a hitherto unknown kagome-like Janus-like BiP3 monolayer with robust stability. Excitingly, the out-of-plane asymmetry benefiting from kagome and honeycomb topologies gives rise to a significantly negative out-of-plane Poisson's ratio and an obvious built-in electric field pointing from the sublayer of the P atom to the sublayer of the Bi atom. In conjunction with the investigations that encompass semiconducting properties, such as a quasi-direct gap, suitable band-edge positions, effective visible-light absorption, and high carrier mobility, the BiP3 monolayer achieves overall water splitting at pH 0-14 regardless of strain. Moreover, this intrinsic electric field provides a sufficient photogenerated carrier driving force for water splitting. The bare BiP3 comprises P and Bi atoms that function as catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) active sites, respectively. Upon exposure to light, the reaction of water into H2 and O2 can be observed across a pH range of 0-14. Meanwhile, by designing a transition-metal single-atom catalyst (TM@BiP3), our investigations have shown that embedding a single TM on BiP3 is a feasible route to improving the HER/OER activity by reducing the overpotentials to -0.039 and 0.58 eV for Mo and Os atoms, respectively. In this case, the positive value of the external potential acts as a sufficient OER driving force, i.e., in the light environment, the Os@BiP3 system can promote water molecules spontaneously oxidized into O2 at pH 0-14.

High-Performance Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries Based on Multidimensional V2 O3 Nanosheets@Single-Walled Carbon Nanohorns@Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite and Optimized Electrolyte.

The drawbacks of poor electronic conductivity and structural instability during the cycling process limit the electrochemical property of vanadium-based cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries. In addition, continuous growth and accumulation of zinc dendrites can puncture the separator and cause an internal short circuit in the battery. In this work, a unique multidimensional nanocomposite is designed by a facile freeze-drying method with subsequent calcination, consisting of V2 O3 nanosheets and single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWCNHs) crosslinked together and wrapped by reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The multidimensional structure can largely enhance the structural stability and electronic conductivity of the electrode material. Besides, additive Na2 SO4 in the ZnSO4 aqueous electrolyte not only prevents the dissolution of cathode materials but also suppresses the Zn dendrite growth. After considering the influence of additive concentration on ionic conductivity and electrostatic force for electrolyte, V2 O3 @SWCNHs@rGO electrode delivers a high initial discharge capacity of 422 mAh g-1 at 0.2 A g-1 and a high discharge capacity of 283 mAh g-1 after 1000 cycles at 5 A g-1 in 2 m ZnSO4 + 2 m Na2 SO4 electrolyte. Experimental techniques reveal that the electrochemical reaction mechanism can be expressed as the reversible phase transformation between V2 O5 and V2 O3 with Zn3 (VO4 )2 .

Structural design and performance study of primitive triply periodic minimal surfaces Ti6Al4V biomimetic scaffold.

This paper comprehensively evaluated the static mechanical compressive properties, permeability, and cell adhesion effect on the inner wall of the Primitive triply periodic minimal surface Ti6Al4V bionic scaffolds with different axial diameter ratios through numerical simulation and experiments. The results show that when the axial diameter ratio is 1:2, the elastic modulus of the scaffold is about 1.25 and the yield strength is about 1.36. The scaffold's longitudinal and transverse mechanical properties align with human bone tissue. Its permeability is also better than that of circular pores. The scaffold with an axial diameter ratio of 1:3 has the best permeability, ranging from 1.28e-8 to 1.60e-8 m2, which is more conducive to the adsorption of cells on the inner wall of the scaffold. These results show that the scaffold structure with an axial diameter ratio of not 1:1 has more advantages than the ordinary uniform scaffold structure with an axial diameter ratio of 1:1. This is of great significance to the optimal design of scaffold.

Evaluation of antibiotic combination of Litsea cubeba essential oil on Vibrio parahaemolyticus inhibition mechanism and anti-biofilm ability.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus) is a common pathogen in seafood. The use of antibiotics is a primary tool to prevent and control V. parahaemolyticus in the aquaculture industry. However, V. parahaemolyticus combats the damage caused by antibiotics by forming biofilms under certain conditions. In this study, we analyzed the antibacterial effect and the characteristics of V. parahaemolyticus by experimentally determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) values of a combination of the Litsea cubeba essential oil (LCEO) and several commonly used V. parahaemolyticus antibiotics. The bactericidal effect of the essential oil alone and essential oil in combination with the antibiotics were evaluated with time-kill curves. The damage to cell membranes and cell walls were assessed by measuring the content of macromolecules and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) released into the supernatant using V. parahaemolyticus ATCC17802 as the experimental strain. The membrane structure was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the MIC value of the LCEO was 1,024 µg/mL, and the LCEO FICI values in combination with tetracycline or oxytetracycline hydrochloride was 0.3125 and 0.75, respectively, indicating synergistic and additive effects. Moreover, LCEO inhibited the growth and promoted the removal of biofilms by reducing the content of hydrophobic and extracellular polysaccharides on the cell surface. This study provides a reference for studying the antibacterial activity of LCEO and the combination of antibiotics to prevent and control the formation of biofilms by V. parahaemolyticus.

Degradation of internal fixation materials based on antibacterial and absorbable silk containing different gentamicin concentrations.

Adding gentamicin to silk fibroin enhances both the antibacterial performance and degradation rate of silk-based materials. The increased material degradation rate can affect the strength of early internal fixation, resulting in internal fixation failure. This study sought to adjust the gentamicin concentration to control the material degradation rate, thereby better meeting clinical application requirements. The in vitro degradation, water absorption rate, and expansion rate of silk-based materials containing different gentamicin concentrations were studied. A gentamicin-loaded silk-based screw was implanted into the femurs of New Zealand rabbits. Micro-computed tomography was used to measure the screw diameter, which was then used to calculate the degradation rate. The specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome. The in vitro results revealed increasing material degradation rates with increasing gentamicin concentration but no significant differences in water absorption rates with different gentamicin concentrations. The degradation rates of gentamicin-loaded (4 mg/g) silk-based rod-like materials were approximately 11.08% at three months in vitro and 9.4% in the animal experiment. The time for complete degradation was predicted from the fitting curve to be approximately 16 months. No inflammatory hyperplasia was observed in bone or soft tissue. The degradation and biocompatibility of the material containing 4 mg/g gentamicin meet clinical application requirements, and previous experimental results demonstrate good antibacterial performance of materials containing this gentamicin concentration.

Mesoporous vanadium nitride as anion storage electrode for reverse dual-ion hybrid supercapacitor.

In traditional dual-ion systems, the cathode usually is employed as anion-storage materials. Herein, we propose a new dual-ion hybrid supercapacitor with reverse anion/cation-storage mechanism, consisting of a mesoporous (MPs) VN anode as a pivotal anion-storage material and K2-xMn8O16 nanosheet arrays grown on carbon cloth (NSs/CC) as (K-storage) cathode. During charge/discharge, the anode and cathode reversibly store/release OH- ions and K+ ions, respectively. Herein, the MPs VN as anion-storage electrode can operate in an alkaline condition and deliver a high capacitance of 251 mF cm-2 with desired low-voltage plateau. More importantly, benefiting from unique reverse dual-ion mechanism, the (MPs VN-K2-xMn8O16 NSs/CC) hybrid device displays excellent rate performance and satisfying area capacitance along with good durability of 92.2% after 10,000 cycles at a scan rate of 100 mV s-1. It offers new ideas to expand the range of anion-storage materials in dual-ion hybrid supercapacitors.

Multifunctional integrated VN/V2O5 heterostructure sulfur hosts for advanced lithium-sulfur batteries.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries show great potential in future electric transportation and large-scale grid storage applications because of their attractive theoretical energy density (2600 W h kg-1) and relatively abundant sulfur reserves. However, the rapid capacity decay and unsatisfactory sulfur loading caused by the lithium polysulphide (LiPS) dissolution and low electrical conductivity of sulfur are the most urgent issues plaguing its practical applications. Herein, we report a multifunctional nanoporous (NP) VN/V2O5 binary host that can efficiently resolve the above conflicts by the synergy between the functions of two materials. The inner V2O5 facilitates rapid trapping of numerous LiPSs while the outer porous VN with abundant NP channels offers high conductivity and mild chemisorption, thereby improving the localization and catalytic conversion ability of LiPSs. Accordingly, the designed cathodes with 1.87 mg cm-2 sulfur content achieve an acceptable areal specific capacity (2.72 mA h cm-2), excellent rate capability (963 mA h g-1 at 5.0C), and cycling stability. Remarkably, the cathodes with ultrahigh sulfur loading of 9.02 mg cm-2 deliver a satisfactory areal specific capacity (12.12 mA h cm-2) and still maintain excellent durability.

Surgical safe zones for oblique lumbar interbody fusion of L1-5: A cadaveric study.

To evaluate the operating range and morphology of the surgical safe zone for oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF). Twenty embalmed full-torso cadaveric specimens were dissected. The oblique corridor and the distance between adjacent lumbar arteries were measured in a static state and with psoas major retraction. The morphology and size of the safe zone for OLIF and the location of the lumbar sympathetic trunk were also recorded. The oblique corridor of the L1-L5 segments was significantly greater in the retracted state than in the static state (p < 0.05). With psoas major retraction, the distances between adjacent lumbar arteries at L1-4 were significantly greater (p < 0.05) than those in the static state. The lumbar sympathetic trunk is just located in the safe zone and travels downward adjacent to the psoas major. The shape of the safe zone for OLIF was approximately an oblique upward parallelogram at L1/2 and L2/3, an isosceles trapezoid at L3/4, and an irregular quadrangle or triangle at L4/5. The safe zone for OLIF at L1/2, L2/3, and L3/4 was significantly larger during retraction than in the static state (p < 0.05). On the lateral side of the lumbar spine there is a natural surgical safe zone for OLIF, which can provide a sufficient operating space. The safe zone has a certain morphological pattern in L1-5 segments and psoas major retraction can significantly enlarge it.

A new potassium dual-ion hybrid supercapacitor based on battery-type Ni(OH)2 nanotube arrays and pseudocapacitor-type V2O5-anchored carbon nanotubes electrodes.

Hybrid supercapacitors (HSCs) with the characteristics of high energy density, long cycle life and without altering their power density need to be developed urgently. Herein, a novel dual-ion hybrid supercapacitors (DHSCs) with Ni(OH)2 nanotube arrays (NTAs) as positive electrode and V2O5 directly grown on freestanding carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as negative electrode is assembled. In charging mechanism of DHSCs, K+ are inserted into the V2O5 negative while OH- react with Ni(OH)2 positive; during discharge, the K+ and OH- are released from V2O5 negative and Ni(OH)2 positive, respectively, and return back to the electrolyte, which is quite different from traditional metal ion or alkaline supercapacitors. Because of the merits combining dual-ion mechanism and HSCs, the DHSC displays excellent capacity retention of âˆ¼ 81.4% after 10,000 cycles, high energy density of âˆ¼ 25.4 µWh cm-2 and high power density of âˆ¼ 4.66 mW cm-2, indicating the potential applications in the further on flexible wearable electronics.

Semi-coherent cation-rich Mn-Cu oxides heterostructures as cathode for novel aqueous potassium dual-ion energy storage devices.

In this work, combining both advantages of aqueous energy storage systems (ESS) and conventional dual-ion ESS, a novel aqueous dual-ion ESS is developed based on K+ and OH- electrochemistry by employing semi-coherent K1.33Mn8O16-CuO (sc-Mn-Cu) cathode. Profting from the elaborate design, the electrolyte and cathode simultaneously act as source of cations. In the novel aqueous dual-ion ESS configuration, the dependence of the performance on the electrolyte salt concentration is reduced and the sc-Mn-Cu cathode can host OH- with lower working potentials by conversion mechanism. Furthermore, based on the sc-Mn-Cu cathode and freestanding V2O3-VC (fs-V2O3-VC) anode, we developed a flexible quasi-solid-state device. Remarkably, it exhibits an ultrahigh energy density of ~39.9 µW h cm-2 together with high power density of carbon-based devices, which outperforms most previously reported flexible storage devices to our knowledge. These results indicating that the unique mechanism of the sc-Mn-Cu cathode opens up a promising direction for low-cost and high-performance novel aqueous ESS.

Study on mechanical properties and permeability of elliptical porous scaffold based on the SLM manufactured medical Ti6Al4V.

In this paper, we take the elliptical pore structure which is similar to the microstructure of cancellous bone as the research object, four groups of bone scaffolds were designed from the perspective of pore size, porosity and pore distribution. The size of the all scaffolds were uniformly designed as 10 × 10 × 12 mm. Four groups of model samples were prepared by selective laser melting (SLM) and Ti6Al4V materials. The statics performance of the scaffolds was comprehensively evaluated by mechanical compression simulation and mechanical compression test, the manufacturing error of the scaffold samples were evaluated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the permeability of the scaffolds were predicted and evaluated by simulation analysis of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The results show that the different distribution of porosity, pore size and pores of the elliptical scaffold have a certain influence on the mechanical properties and permeability of the scaffold, and the reasonable size and angle distribution of the elliptical pore can match the mechanical properties and permeability of the elliptical pore scaffold with human cancellous bone, which has great potential for research and application in the field of artificial bone scaffold.

Geological significance of new zircon U-Pb geochronology and geochemistry: Niuxinshan intrusive complex, northern North China Craton.

The Huajian gold deposit is one of the largest hydrothermal intrusion-related gold deposits in eastern Hebei Province, located in the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC). The mineralization in this district displays a close spatial association with the shoshonitic Niuxinshan intrusive complex (NIC), which contributes to the characterization of the metallogeny associated with convergent margin magmatism. In the current study, new geochronological and geochemical data are combined with previously published isotopic data, obtained from the granitic rocks in the NIC, to constrain the timing of the district's tectonic setting transformation and determine its bearing on regional metallogeny. The new geochronological data constrain the timing of the tectonic transformation between 155 and 185 Ma. The NIC's granitic rocks can be geochemically subdivided into two groups. One group's geochemical signature exhibits steep rare earth element (REE) patterns with negligible Eu anomalies, lower Yb, higher Sr, and negative Nb-Ta-Ti (NTT) anomalies, which indicate a volcanic-arc environment with a thickened crust in a convergent setting. The other group exhibits flat REE patterns with obvious negative Eu anomalies, higher Yb, lower Sr, and weak NTT anomalies, which indicate an intra-plate extensional environment with a thinning crust. Combining geochronologic and isotopic data, the mineralization is Late Jurassic (~155 Ma). This is interpreted to be genetically related to the crystallization of the shallow crustal-sourced portions of this complex. Additionally, a tectonic model is presented that provides a plausible explanation for the abundant polymetallic mineralization that occurs in the northern margin of the NCC after 155 Ma.

Radiation Exposure Reduction in Ultrasound-Guided Transforaminal Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy for Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (TF-PELD) is a minimally invasive technique with high radiation exposure. The purpose of this study was to compare radiation exposure of ultrasound-guided TF-PELD with fluoroscopy-guided TF-PELD. METHODS: In this prospective randomized controlled clinical trial, 60 patients with lumbar disc herniation were enrolled and randomly assigned to 2 groups (30 cases in each group): the ultrasound-guided group or the fluoroscopy-guided group. The radiation exposure, fluoroscopy time, and visual analog scale score were recorded. The number of possible operations per year within the yearly occupational exposure limit (OEL) was calculated. We also recorded the adverse events to evaluate the safety of ultrasound-guided TF-PELD. RESULTS: In 30 patients from the ultrasound-guided group, the lumbar disc structure was clearly visible under ultrasound guidance. The effective dose to surgeons and radiation dose to patients were 1.7 ± 0.4 and 25.2 ± 4.9 µSv in the ultrasound-guided group and 9.0 ± 2.5 and 127.4 ± 27.1 µSv in the fluoroscopy-guided group (P < 0.05), respectively. The fluoroscopy time was 2.6 ± 0.5 seconds in the ultrasound-guided group and 127.3 ± 29.5 seconds in the fluoroscopy-guided group (P < 0.05). A surgeon with shielding devices could treat 5556 cases per year in the fluoroscopy-guided group before exceeding the OEL for whole-body radiation, whereas they could treat 29,412 cases in the ultrasound-guided group. No difference between groups was detected in postoperative visual analog scale score (P > 0.58). No serious adverse event was found in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided TF-PELD could decrease radiation exposure to surgeons and patients, without serious adverse events. It seems to be an acceptable alternative to fluoroscopy-guided TF-PELD.

Immunohistochemical detection of E7 human papillomavirus protein in pre­malignant and malignant lesions of the uterine cervix.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) E7 protein expression is caused by HPV viral DNA integration into human cellular DNA, and is a prerequisite for the development and progression of cervical cancer. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of E7 protein as a biomarker for identification of transformed cervical epithelial cells during the early stages of cervical cancer. Specific monoclonal antibodies to the E7 protein of high­risk HPVs were generated and characterized for applications in immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry using cervical epithelial cells or biopsy tissue slides. The specificity and feasibility for detecting precancerous cells in cervical exfoliated epithelial cells was demonstrated. In addition, antibody staining of cervix biopsies indicated the pathological grades of cervical cancer and precancerous lesions. The results of the present study demonstrated the potential benefit of using E7 protein as a novel and specific clinical diagnostic marker to distinguish transient HPV infections from malignant and pre­malignant lesions.

An antibacterial and absorbable silk-based fixation material with impressive mechanical properties and biocompatibility.

Implant-associated infections and non-absorbing materials are two important reasons for a second surgical procedure to remove internal fixation devices after an orthopedic internal fixation surgery. The objective of this study was to produce an antibacterial and absorbable fixation screw by adding gentamicin to silk-based materials. The antibacterial activity was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) in vitro by plate cultivation and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We also investigated the properties, such as the mechanical features, swelling properties, biocompatibility and degradation, of gentamicin-loaded silk-based screws (GSS) in vitro. The GSS showed significant bactericidal effects against S. aureus and E. coli. The antibacterial activity remained high even after 4 weeks of immersion in protease solution. In addition, the GSS maintained the remarkable mechanical properties and excellent biocompatibility of pure silk-based screws (PSS). Interestingly, after gentamicin incorporation, the degradation rate and water-absorbing capacity increased and decreased, respectively. These GSS provide both impressive material properties and antibacterial activity and have great potential for use in orthopedic implants to reduce the incidence of second surgeries.