Particulate and water-mobilizable phosphorus from a watershed with a plain river network contributes equal amounts of algal available phosphorus to its downstream lake.

This research was designed to estimate the contributions of phosphorus (P) in different factions from an upstream plain river network to algal growth in a downstream shallow eutrophic lake, Taihu Lake, in China. During three flow regimes, the P fractions in multiple phases (particulate, colloidal and dissolved phases) and their algal availabilities were assessed via bioassays with Dolichospermum flos-aquae as the test organism. The P partitioning patterns among multiple phases were strongly affected by the concentration of total suspended solids (TSS) that changed with the river flow regime, with stronger disturbance of sediments at lower water levels (low flow) and weaker disturbance of sediments at higher water levels (high flow) in the plain river network. The median TSS concentration across the river network decreased from 157.4 mg/L during low flow to 31.8 mg/L during high flow, and the median particulate P concentration decreased from 0.132 mg/L to 0.093 mg/L. The particulate P contributed equally to the amount of algal available P (AAP) as did the water-mobilizable P (colloidal plus dissolved phase) in the rivers flowing into Taihu Lake. The annual average concentrations of particulate algal available P (P-AAP), colloidal algal available P (C-AAP) and dissolved algal available P (D-AAP) were estimated to be 0.032 mg/L, 0.012 mg/L and 0.019 mg/L, respectively, during 2012-2018, accounting for 50.8 %, 19.0 % and 30.2 %, respectively, of the total AAP. At the watershed scale, controlling P drainage from downstream urbanized areas should be emphasized. Additionally, controlling sediment resuspension or reducing the TSS concentration in the inflowing rivers is important for decreasing the particulate P flux to downstream lakes.

Effect of exogenous calcitriol on myopia development and axial length in guinea pigs with form deprivation myopia.

The annual increase in myopia prevalence poses a significant economic and health challenge. Our study investigated the effect of calcitriol role in myopia by inducing the condition in guinea pigs through form deprivation for four weeks. Untargeted metabolomics methods were used to analyze the differences in metabolites in the vitreous body, and the expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR) in the retina was detected. Following form deprivation, the guinea pigs received intraperitoneal injections of calcitriol at different concentrations. We assessed myopia progression using diopter measurements and biometric analysis after four weeks. Results indicated that form deprivation led to a pronounced shift towards myopia, characterized by reduced choroidal and scleral thickness, disorganized collagen fibers, and decreased scleral collagen fiber diameter. Notably, a reduction in calcitriol expression in vitreous body, diminished vitamin D and calcitriol levels in the blood, and decreased VDR protein expression in retinal tissues were observed in myopic guinea pigs. Calcitriol administration effectively slowed myopia progression, preserved choroidal and scleral thickness, and prevented the reduction of scleral collagen fiber diameter. Our findings highlight a significant decrease in calcitriol and VDR expressions in myopic guinea pigs and demonstrate that exogenous calcitriol supplementation can halt myopia development, enhancing choroidal and scleral thickness and scleral collagen fiber diameter.

Identifying key mental health and improvement factors in hospital administrators working from home using a DEMATEL-based network analysis model.

Purpose: To identify the key mental health and improvement factors in hospital administrators working from home during COVID-19 normalization prevention and control. Methods: The survey was conducted from May to June 2023, and the practical experiences of 33 hospital administrators were collected using purposive sampling. The study examined a set of mental health factor systems. The relationship structure between the factors was constructed using the Decision-making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method. Finally, the structure was transformed using the influence weight of each factor via the DEMATEL-based Analytic Network Process. Results: Regarding influence weight, the key mental health factors of hospital administrators are mainly "lack of coordination," "time management issues," and "work-life imbalances." The influential network relation map shows that improvements can be made by addressing "improper guidelines," "laziness due to being at home," and "job insecurity" because they are the main sources of influence. The reliability level of the results for the network structure and weight was 98.79% (i.e., the gap was 1.12% < 5%). Conclusion: The network analysis model based on DEMATEL proposed in this study can evaluate the mental health factors of hospital administrators during the pandemic period from a multidimensional and multidirectional perspective and may help improve mental health problems and provide suggestions for hospital administrators.

An indispensable role of overlying water in nitrogen removal in shallow lakes.

The nitrogen (N) removal characteristics in water columns and sediments of shallow lakes, influenced by various factors, may exhibit spatial variations in lakes with algal-macrophyte dominance. The N removal rates in water columns and sediments of Lake Taihu were investigated. Our findings indicated that the total N removal rates in Lake Taihu followed the order of algae-dominance > macrophyte-dominance > pelagic lake (without the presence of algae and macrophytes). Correlation analysis revealed that the key environmental factors affecting denitrification and anammox in sediments of algae/macrophyte-type lakes were nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N), nitrite nitrogen (NO2--N), ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), and chlorophyll a (Chl-a). The linear regression demonstrated that a significant correlation between the denitrification and the anammox in sediments, with a correlation coefficient of 0.81 (p < 0.01). The contributions to N removal from the water columns and sediments in Lake Taihu were 53 % and 47 %, respectively. Denitrification predominantly drove N removal from sediments, whereas anammox dominated the N removal in water columns. Thus, N removal from the water columns is nonnegligible in shallow eutrophic lakes. This study enhances our understanding of N biogeochemical cycling dynamics in sediment-water and algae/macrophyte ecosystems across various shallow eutrophic lake regions.

Reassessing the greenhouse effect of biogenic carbon emissions in constructed wetlands.

Biogenic carbon emissions, including carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), have emerged as a major concern during organic pollutant degradation within constructed wetlands (CWs). Since these organic compounds primarily originate from the photosynthetic fixation of atmospheric CO2, it potentially introduces uncertainty when assessing the greenhouse effect of biogenic carbon emissions in CWs based on direct field observations. To objectively assessing this effect, this study proposed a new strategy by quantifying CO2-equivalent (CO2-eq) changes as carbon passes through CWs and tested it in various types of CWs based on 64 literature records. The findings reveal that CWs can contribute to CO2-eq additions, yet are only responsible for 15.6% derived from direct field observations. The type of CWs plays a crucial role in these CO2-eq additions, with vertical flow CWs causing the lowest levels (6.8%), followed by surface flow CWs (14.2%). In contrast, horizontal flow CWs are associated with the strongest CO2-eq addition (25.7%). The findings provide new insights for the objective assessment of the greenhouse effect of biogenic carbon emissions in CWs, which will be beneficial for future life cycle assessment.

Effect of Particle Size and Hydrophobicity on Bubble-Particle Collision Detachment at the Slurry-Foam Phase Interface.

The slurry phase, foam phase, and slurry-foam phase interfaces are the typical locations for bubble-particle detachment, and significant advancements have been achieved in the detachment theory of the slurry phase and foam phase. However, the microscopic detachment mechanism of particles at the slurry-foam phase interface is still unclear. Specifically, there is still debate concerning the collision detachment mechanism of bubble-particle aggregates. Thus, this work investigated the effects of particle size and hydrophobicity on bubble-particle collision detachment. First, a tensiometer detected the detachment force between particles and bubbles. Next, using a high-speed dynamic camera, the collision detachment probability and detachment behavior of bubble-particle aggregates at the interface (solid surface) were statistically recorded and captured. Last, MATLAB software was used to analyze the trajectory and velocity of the particles and the velocity and projected area of the bubbles in the process of bubble-particle collision detachment. This allows for a deeper investigation of the mechanism underlying the detachment of particles of various sizes and hydrophobicity. It is discovered that as particle hydrophobicity increases, the probability of bubble-particle collision detachment reduces. This is because when particle hydrophobicity increases, so does the interaction force between particles and bubbles, improving the stability of the bubble-particle aggregates. Simultaneously, it is discovered that there are notable differences in the collision detachment mechanisms of various particle sizes. Due to their low gravity, the fine particles in the bubble-particle aggregate will slide down the bubble's surface when it collides with the solid surface. This differential velocity motion between the particle and the bubble plays a significant role in the fine particles' detachment. However, the gravity of the coarse particles is strong enough to squeeze the bubbles vertically, and bubble oscillation is an important reason for the detachment of the bubble-particle aggregates. The study's findings advance our understanding of the bubble-particle collision detachment mechanism and offer a theoretical direction for investigating collision detachment behavior at the real slurry-foam phase interface.

Targeting scleral remodeling and myopia development in form deprivation myopia through inhibition of EFEMP1 expression.

The role of extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling in the axial elongation associated with myopia has not been fully elucidated, although it is considered a significant factor. EFEMP1, a regulator of ECM, has been associated with various pathological conditions. This study aimed to examine the involvement of EFEMP1 in scleral remodeling during form deprivation myopia. The results indicate a progressive increase in EFEMP1 expression following prolonged form deprivation treatment, followed by a subsequent decrease upon recovery. To gain a deeper understanding of the mechanism of EFEMP1, we conducted transcriptome sequencing on primary scleral fibroblasts that were subjected to lentivirus-mediated overexpression of EFEMP1. Validation was performed using lentivirus-induced overexpression and shRNA targeting EFEMP1 in combination with LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor. Our findings suggest that EFEMP1 may be involved in the development of FDM by regulating the expression of the PI3K/AKT/MMP2 axis. The AAV-mediated injection of shEFEMP1 under Tenon's capsule in guinea pigs was observed to effectively delay the progression of myopia and posterior scleral remodeling. In contrast, the AAV-mediated overexpression of EFEMP1 exacerbated the development of myopia and resulted in further thinning of collagen fibers in the posterior sclera. In summary, adjusting EFEMP1 concentrations could potentially serve as a viable approach to prevent and treat myopia by influencing the remodeling process of the posterior sclera.

Micropollutant rejection by nanofiltration membranes: A mini review dedicated to the critical factors and modelling prediction.

Nanofiltration (NF) membranes, extensively used in advanced wastewater treatment, have broad application prospects for the removal of emerging trace organic micropollutants (MPs). The treatment performance is affected by several factors, such as the properties of NF membranes, characteristics of target MPs, and operating conditions of the NF system concerning MP rejection. However, quantitative studies on different contributors in this context are limited. To fill the knowledge gap, this study aims to assess critical impact factors controlling MP rejection and develop a feasible model for MP removal prediction. The mini-review firstly summarized membrane pore size, membrane zeta potential, and the normalized molecular size (λ = rs/rp), showeing better individual relationships with MP rejection by NF membranes. The Lindeman-Merenda-Gold model was used to quantitatively assess the relative importance of all summarized impact factors. The results showed that membrane pore size and operating pressure were the high impact factors with the highest relative contribution rates to MP rejection of 32.11% and 25.57%, respectively. Moderate impact factors included membrane zeta potential, solution pH, and molecular radius with relative contribution rates of 10.15%, 8.17%, and 7.83%, respectively. The remaining low impact factors, including MP charge, molecular weight, logKow, pKa and crossflow rate, comprised all the remaining contribution rates of 16.19% through the model calculation. Furthermore, based on the results and data availabilities from references, the machine learning-based random forest regression model was trained with a relatively low root mean squared error and mean absolute error of 12.22% and 6.92%, respectively. The developed model was then successfully applied to predict MPs' rejections by NF membranes. These findings provide valuable insights that can be applied in the future to optimize NF membrane designs, operation, and prediction in terms of removing micropollutants.

A Systematic Study of Yiqi Qubai Standard Decoction for Treating Vitiligo Based on UPLC-Q-TOF/MS Combined with Chemometrics, Molecular Docking, and Cellular and Zebrafish Assays.

The Yiqi Qubai (YQ) formula is a hospital preparation for treating vitiligo in China that has had reliable efficacy for decades. The formula consists of four herbs; however, the extraction process to produce the formula is obsolete and the active ingredients and mechanisms remain unknown. Therefore, in this paper, fingerprints were combined with the chemometrics method to screen high-quality herbs for the preparation of the YQ standard decoction (YQD). Then, the YQD preparation procedure was optimized using response surface methodology. A total of 44 chemical constituents, as well as 36 absorption components (in rat plasma) of YQD, were identified via UPLC-Q-TOF/MS. Based on the ingredients, the quality control system of YQD was optimized by establishing the SPE-UPLC-Q-TOF/MS identification method and the HPLC quantification method. Network pharmacological analysis and molecular docking showed that carasinaurone, calycosin-7-O-ß-d-glucoside, methylnissolin-3-O-glucoside, genkwanin, akebia saponin D, formononetin, akebia saponin B, and apigenin may be the key active components for treating vitiligo; the core targets associated with them were AKT1, MAPK1, and mTOR, whereas the related pathways were the PI3K-Akt, MAPK, and FoxO signaling pathways. Cellular assays showed that YQD could promote melanogenesis and tyrosinase activity, as well as the transcription and expression of tyrosinase-associated proteins (i.e., TRP-1) in B16F10 cells. In addition, YQD also increased extracellular tyrosinase activity. Further efficacy validation showed that YQD significantly promotes melanin production in zebrafish. These may be the mechanisms by which YQD improves the symptoms of vitiligo. This is the first systematic study of the YQ formula that has optimized the standard decoction preparation method and investigated the active ingredients, quality control, efficacy, and mechanisms of YQD. The results of this study lay the foundations for the clinical application and further development of the YQ formula.

Phytoplankton in headwater streams: spatiotemporal patterns and underlying mechanisms.

Phytoplankton are key members of river ecosystems wherein they influence and regulate the health of the local environment. Headwater streams are subject to minimal human activity and serve as the sources of rivers, generally exhibiting minimal pollution and strong hydrodynamic forces. To date, the characteristics of phytoplankton communities in headwater streams have remained poorly understood. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by comparing phytoplankton communities in headwater streams with those in plain rivers. The results demonstrated that within similar watershed sizes, lower levels of spatiotemporal variability were observed with respect to phytoplankton community as compared to plain rivers. Lower nutrient levels and strong hydrodynamics contribute to phytoplankton growth limitation in these streams, thereby reducing the levels of spatiotemporal variation. However, these conditions additionally contribute to greater phytoplankton diversity and consequent succession towards Cyanophyta. Overall, these results provide new insights into the dynamics of headwater stream ecosystems and support efforts for their ecological conservation.

Effect of Process Parameters on Microstructure and Properties of Laser Cladding Ni60+30%WC Coating on Q235 Steel.

A Ni60+30%WC composite coating was prepared on the surface of Q235 steel by utilizing a high cooling rate, small thermal deformation of the substrate material, and the good metallurgical bonding characteristics of laser cladding technology. This paper focuses on the study of the composite coatings prepared under different process parameters in order to select the optimal process parameters and provide theoretical guidance for future practical applications. The macroscopic morphology and microstructure of t he composite coatings were investigated with the help of an optical microscope (OM) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The elemental distribution of the composite coatings was examined using an X-ray diffractometer. The microhardness and wear resistance of the composite coatings were tested using a microhardness tester, a friction tester, and a three-dimensional (3D) profilometer. The results of all the samples showed that the Ni60+30%WC composite coatings prepared at a laser power of 1600 W and a scanning speed of 10 mm/s were well formed, with a dense microstructure, and the microhardness is more than four times higher than the base material, the wear amount is less than 50% of the base material, and the wear resistance has been significantly improved. Therefore, the experimental results for the laser power of 1600 W and scanning speed of 10 mm/s are the optimal process parameters for the preparation of Ni60+30%WC.

Investigation of altered retinal microvasculature in female patients with rheumatoid arthritis: optical coherence tomography angiography detection.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disorder that primarily causes symmetrical polyarthritis and bone deformity. In RA patients, sight-threatening inflammatory eye complications would be expected. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to ascertain the macular retinal vessel density changes in RA patients and controls using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), and to investigate the association between disease and microvascular density alterations. METHODS: A total of 12 RA patients (24 eyes) and 12 age- and gender-matched control participants (24 eyes) were recruited to the study. We used the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study partitioning, hemispheric quadrants and annular partitioning to segment each image into different subregions. The vascular density of superficial retina layer, deep retina layer and conjunctival capillary plexus was quantitatively measured by OCTA and compared with the control group. Correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between STMI and conjunctival capillaries densities. RESULTS: In the superficial retinal layer, the vascular density of S, I, L, SL, SR, IL and C1-C5 were significantly decreased in the RA group compared with the control group (P<0.05). For the deep retinal layer, the vascular density of S, SL, SR, IL, C1, C2 and C4 also decreased in RA group. A significant positive correlation was indicated between conjunctival vascular and STMI densities (r = 0.713, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: OCTA results suggest that RA patients present with a reduced macular retinal vascular density. These subtle alterations of ocular microcirculation may precede severe eye involvements and may be a potential biomarker for early distinguishing abnormal eyes from healthy eyes.

Humidity Sensor Composed of Laser-Induced Graphene Electrode and Graphene Oxide for Monitoring Respiration and Skin Moisture.

Respiratory rate and skin humidity are important physiological signals and have become an important basis for disease diagnosis, and they can be monitored by humidity sensors. However, it is difficult to employ high-quality humidity sensors on a broad scale due to their high cost and complex fabrication. Here, we propose a reliable, convenient, and efficient method to mass-produce humidity sensors. A capacitive humidity sensor is obtained by ablating a polyimide (PI) film with a picosecond laser to produce an interdigital electrode (IDE), followed by drop-casting graphene oxide (GO) as a moisture-sensitive material on the electrode. The sensor has long-time stability, a wide relative humidity (RH) detection range from 10% to 90%, and high sensitivity (3862 pF/%RH). In comparison to previous methods, the technology avoids the complex procedures and expensive costs of conventional interdigital electrode preparation. Furthermore, we discuss the effects of the electrode gap size and the amount of graphene oxide on humidity sensor performance, analyze the humidity sensing mechanism by impedance spectrum, and finally perform the monitoring of human respiratory rate and skin humidity change in a non-contact manner.

RAD51C-RAD51D interplays with MSH5 and regulates crossover maturation in rice meiosis.

Meiotic crossovers ensure accurate chromosome segregation and increase genetic diversity. RAD51C and RAD51D play an early role in facilitating RAD51 during homologous recombination. However, their later function in meiosis is largely unknown in plants. Here, through targeted disruption of RAD51C and RAD51D, we generated three new mutants and revealed their later meiotic role in crossover maturation. The rad51c-3 and rad51d-4 mutants showed a mixture of bivalents and univalents and no chromosomal entanglements, whereas rad51d-5 exhibited an intermediate phenotype with reduced chromosomal entanglements and increased bivalent formation compared with knockout alleles. Comparisons of RAD51 loadings and chromosomal entanglements in these single mutants, rad51c-3 rad51d-4, rad51c-3 dmc1a dmc1b, and rad51d-4 dmc1a dmc1b suggest that the retained level of RAD51 in mutants is required for uncovering their function in crossover formation. Reductions in chiasma frequency and later HEI10 foci in these mutants support that crossover maturation requires RAD51C and RAD51D. Moreover, interaction between RAD51D and MSH5 indicates that RAD51 paralogs may cooperate with MSH5 to ensure accurate Holliday junction processing into crossover products. This finding of the role of RAD51 paralogs in crossover control may be conserved from mammals to plants and advances our current understanding of these proteins.

Retinal alterations in evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis with chloroquine treatment: A new approach.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of hydroxychloroquine on conjunctival and retinal microvascular density in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS: Ten healthy controls, 10 RA patients who had not been treated with hydroxychloroquine, and 10 RA patients who had been treated with chloroquine for more than 5 years were recruited. Optical coherence tomography (OCTA) was used to examine the conjunctival and superficial and deep retinal microvascular density and compared the differences in microvascular density between the three groups. RESULTS: The vascular density in RA group in superficial microvascular was significantly lower than that in control group (p < 0.001). Compared with RA group, the chloroquine group showed statistically significantly lower microvascular (p < 0.001) and deep microvascular (p = 0.018). Superficial microvascular was positively correlated with conjunctival vessel density in RA patients (r = 0.868, p = 0.0048). CONCLUSIONS: The use of chloroquine could further reduce the vascular density in the absence of statistical difference in the course of the disease.

Thin boundary layer model underestimates greenhouse gas diffusion from inland waterways.

Inland waters are significant sources of atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The thin boundary layer (TBL) model is often employed as a means of estimating GHG diffusion in inland waters based on gas transfer velocity (k) at the air-water interface, with k being subject to regulation by near-surface turbulence that is primarily driven by wind speed in many cases. This wind speed-based estimation of k (wind-k), however, can introduce substantial uncertainty for turbulent waterways where wind speed does not accurately represent overall turbulence. In this study, GHG diffusion in the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal (China), the first and longest man-made canal in the world, was estimated using the TBL model, revealing that this model substantially underestimated GHG diffusion when relying on wind-k. Strikingly, the carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide diffusions were respectively underestimated by 159%, 162%, and 124% when using this model. These findings are significant for developing more reliable approaches to evaluate GHG emissions from inland waterways.

Effect of WC Content on Microstructure and Properties of CoCrFeNi HEA Composite Coating on 316L Surface via Laser Cladding.

Laser cladding technology is used to fabricate CoCrFeNi HEA/WC composite coatings with different mass fractions of WC on the surface of 316L stainless steel. The microstructures of HEA/WC composite coatings were analyzed by combining multiple characterization techniques. The results show that the HEA/WC composite coatings have good surface formation without pores and hot cracks, and the metallurgical bonding is well formed between the coating and the 316L SS substrate. Under the action of a laser beam and molten pool, WC particles partially or slightly melt and diffuse to the matrix, which hinders the orderly growth of grains and forms multiple strengthening. The phase structure of the HEA/WC composite coatings is composed of a main phase with FCC. The hardness and corrosion resistance of the HEA/WC composite coatings are clearly enhanced, and the HEA/WC composite coating with 5% WC has optimum properties.

EFEMP1 is a potential biomarker of choroid thickness change in myopia.

Purpose: To explore the possible molecular mechanism by which epidermal growth factor-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein 1 (EFEMP1) regulates choroid thickness (CT) in the development of myopia. Methods: In total, 131 subjects were divided into the emmetropia (EM) group, non-high myopia (non-HM) group and high myopia (HM) group. Their age, refraction, intraocular pressure, and other ocular biometric parameters were collected. A 6 × 6 mm area centered on the optic disc was scanned by coherent optical tomography angiography (OCTA) to measure CT, and the tear concentrations of EFEMP1 were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis. Twenty-two guinea pigs were divided into the control group and the form-deprivation myopia (FDM) group. The right eye of the guinea pig in the FDM group was covered for 4 weeks, and the diopter and axial length of the right eye of the guinea pig were measured before and after the treatment. After the measurement, the guinea pig was euthanized, and the eyeball was removed. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, western blotting assays and immunohistochemistry were used to assess the expression of EFEMP1 in the choroid. Results: There were significant differences in CT among the three groups (p < 0.001). CT was positively correlated with age in HM (r = -0.3613, p = 0.0021), but no significant correlation with SE (p > 0.05) was observed. Furthermore, there were increased levels of EFEMP1 in the tears of myopic patients. After 4 weeks of covering the right eye of the FDM guinea pigs, there was a significant increase in axial length and a decrease in diopter (p < 0.05). The mRNA and protein expression of EFEMP1 was significantly increased in the choroid. Conclusion: Choroidal thickness was significantly thinner in myopic patients, and the expression level of EFEMP1 in the choroid increased during the development of FDM. Therefore, EFEMP1 may be involved in the regulation of choroidal thickness in myopia patients.

Simultaneous online SPE-HPLC-MS/MS quantification of gefitinib, osimertinib and icotinib in dried plasma spots: Application to therapeutic drug monitoring in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Gefitinib, osimertinib and icotinib are the most commonly used tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR mutation. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for these TKIs has become a standard and essential procedure. Dried plasma spots (DPS) was choosen for microsampling strategies for TDM, allowing easy and cost-effective logistics in many settings. This study developd and validated an assay for the simultaneous quantitative determination of gefitinib, osimertinib and icotinib in DPS by online solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (online SPE-LC-MS) system. The TKIs were extracted from DPS with methanol and enriched on a Welch Polar-RP SPE column (30 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm), followed by separation on Waters X Bridge C18 analytical column(4.6 × 100 mm, 3.5 µm). The method achieved LLOQ of 2 ng mL-1 for gefitinib and osimertinib (4 ng mL-1 for icotinib), respectively (r2 > 0.99). Precision (within-run 1.54-7.41 % RSD; between-run 3.03-12.84 % RSD), accuracy (range from 81.47 % to 105.08 %; between-run bias 87.87-104.13 %). Osimertinib and icotinib were stable in DPS stored at - 40 °C for 30 days, 4 °C, 42 °C and 60 °C for 5 days and well-sealed 37 °C,75 % humidity (except gefitinib). Lastly, the assay was applied to TDM of TKIs in 46 patients and the results were compared to SALLE assisted LC-MS analysis, it could be confirmed that the developed method achieves similarly good results as the already established one and no bias could be detected. It implies that this method capable of supporting clinical follow-up TDM of TKIs in DPS from poor medical environment.

Spontaneous changes in brain network centrality in patients with pathological myopia: A voxel-wise degree centrality analysis.

BACKGROUND: Myopia has become a worldwide problem that endangers public health and adds a serious socioeconomic burden. Current research has focused on the pathogenesis and manifestations of pathological myopia (PM). However, few studies have been conducted on the spontaneous activity of the patient's brain. PURPOSE: To study the potential brain network activity in patients with PM by the degree centrality (DC) method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This experiment included 15 PM patients and 15 healthy controls (HCs). Every participant experienced a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scan. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to distinguish between PM patients and HCs. Correlation analysis was used to explore the relationships between mean DC values and clinical performance in different brain regions. RESULTS: It showed that patients with PM had lower DC values in the right fusiform gyrus (FR) and right cingulate (CAR). The ROC curve was used to indicate the accuracy of the correlation. It showed that in PM group, left best corrected visual acuity (BCVA-L) and right best corrected visual acuity (BCVA-R) were negatively correlated with the DC value of FR. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of PM is mainly related to the abnormal activity of the fusiform and cingulum. DC value might be used as a biological marker of abnormal brain activity in PM patients.