Two-dimensional photonic crystal sensor enabled by hydrophobic hydrogen-bonded organic Frameworks@Metal-Organic frameworks for trace nerve agents detection.

The development of fast and accurate sensors for nerve agents holds immense significance for homeland security and public health. However, the humidity interference from ambient environments and poor sensitivity for trace nerve agents are largely unsolved problems. To overcome the problems, a humidity-independent two-dimensional photonic crystal (2-D PC) sensor is developed by exploiting UiO-66-NH2 2-D PC with excellent sensitivity coupled to a hydrophobic hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOFs) for detection sarin simulant dimethyl methyl phosphonate (DMMP). Selective sensing results show that the HOFs@UiO-66-NH2 2-D PC sensor presents the outstanding DMMP specificity, and the limit of detection (LOD) for DMMP response of the sensor can reach 508 ± 68 ppb at room temperature. Water-resistant experiments demonstrate that the HOFs@UiO-66-NH2 2-D PC sensor shows excellent stability even under 80% relative humidity (RH). Moreover, the sensor also exhibits a rapid response/recovery time of 1 s/3 s and can maintain excellent sensing performance under heat-treatment of 200 °C and in the long-term storage (30 days). The adsorption kinetics and the hydrogen bond interaction are conducted to elucidate the mechanism of enhanced sensing DMMP properties. These results indicate the potential application of the sensor in the trace nerve agent's detection, especially in humidity environment.

Efficacy and safety of antiplatelet therapy in COVID-19: Insights from a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 induces a pro-coagulant state with thrombotic events. This meta-analysis explores the efficacy and safety of antiplatelet-based therapy in COVID-19 patients through randomized controlled trials (RCTs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search until March 10, 2023, identified 7 RCTs involving 23,415 inpatients. Of these, 11,891 received antiplatelet-based treatment, and 11,524 received placebo/other drugs. Statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4. RESULTS: The included trials involved patients with a mean age ranging from 54.3 to 62.0 years and a prevalence of hypertension ranging from 10.9 to 65.0% and coronary artery disease ranging from 3.2 to 32.7%. The pooled analysis showed no significant difference in overall mortality between groups (RR 1.0, 95% CI 0.99 - 1.01, p = 0.76). However, antiplatelet therapy significantly reduced major thrombotic events (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.75 - 0.99, p = 0.04). Conversely, it increased major bleeding risks (RR 1.62, 95% CI 1.24 - 2.12, p = 0.0005). There was no significant difference in the incidence of invasive mechanical ventilation and respiratory death. CONCLUSION: Antiplatelet therapy does not confer mortality benefit in COVID-19 patients but lowers major thrombotic events while increasing major bleeding risks. Ongoing large RCTs will provide more information on the therapeutic value of this therapy.

Biomechanical evaluation of a novel atlas polyaxial transverse connecting screw system, an in vitro human cadaveric study.

PURPOSE: To introduce a novel transverse connecting screw system, and to evaluate the biomechanical stability of the novel screw system using human cadaveric specimens. METHODS: Six fresh-frozen cadaveric upper cervical spines were used in our study. Every specimen was tested under 5 conditions: intact group; unstable group; C1 to C2 screw rod system group; C1 to C2 + crosslink system group; atlas polyaxial transverse connecting screw (APTCS) system. RESULTS: Compared with the intact state, C1 to C2 screw rod system, C1 to C2 + CL system and APTCS showed statistically decrease range of motion in all directions except for the unstable group under posterior extension direction (P < .05). APTCS group has the least range of motion in all directions (P < .001). CONCLUSION: The APTCS system was able to restore stability to the atlantoaxial joint. APTCS system has the advantages of easy installation, convenient bone grafting, and strong biomechanical strength.

Evaluating the Causal Association between Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: Univariable and Multivariable Mendelian Randomization Study.

BACKGROUND: Observational studies suggested that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (i.e., Crohn's disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC]) is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), including coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischemic stroke. However, it is still unclear whether the observed associations causally exist. Thus, we aim to examine the potential effect of IBD, CD, and UC on the risk of CAD and ischemic stroke, using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study. METHODS: Genetic instruments for IBD, CD, and UC were retrieved from the latest published genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of European ancestry. GWAS summary data for instrument-outcome associations were gathered from four independent resources: CARDIoGRAMplusC4D Consortium, MEGASTROKE consortium, FinnGen, and UK Biobank. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method and multiple pleiotropy-robust approaches were conducted and, subsequently, combined in a fixed-effect meta-analysis. Moreover, multivariable MR (MVMR) analysis was conducted to adjust for potential influencing instrumental variables. RESULTS: The IVW method revealed no causal effect of IBD on the risk of CAD (overall IBD on CAD: OR 1.003, 95%CI 0.982 to 1.025; CD on CAD: OR 0.997, 95%CI 0.978 to 1.016; UC on CAD: OR 0.986, 95%CI 0.963 to 1.010) or the risk of ischemic stroke (overall IBD on ischemic stroke: OR 0.994, 95%CI 0.970 to 1.018; CD on ischemic stroke: OR 0.996, 95%CI 0.979 to 1.014; UC on ischemic stroke: OR 0.999, 95%CI 0.978 to 1.020). The results of the meta-analysis and MVMR remained consistent. CONCLUSION: Our MR analysis does not support a causal effect of IBD on CAD and ischemic stroke, and previous results from observational studies might be biased through uncontrolled confoundings (such as IBD-specific medications and detection bias, etc.) that warrant further research.

A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of statin-based therapy in patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Previous observational studies and meta-analyses have suggested that statins could be beneficial in reducing the risk of adverse clinical outcomes. This study is the first to conduct a meta-analysis of recently published randomized controlled clinical trials investigating the potential therapeutic benefits of statins for COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A thorough search was conducted using databases such as PubMed and Embase until May 2023 to identify randomized controlled clinical trials investigating the use of statins in patients with COVID-19. Review Manager 5.4 was used to analyze the selected studies. RESULTS: Seven randomized controlled trials comprising a total of 2,370 patients were included in this study. Of these, 1,295 patients received statin therapy, while 1,075 received placebo or other drugs. All included studies were conducted on inpatients with an average age of 45 - 61 years, and the proportion of patients with diabetes and coronary heart disease was less than 30%. One study only included severely ill patients. Our results showed that statin treatment did not significantly reduce hospitalized patient mortality (11.5 vs. 13.4%, p = 0.94), the proportion of patients transferred to intensive care due to disease changes (14.2 vs. 11.2%, p = 0.41), or the proportion of patients requiring mechanical ventilation (5.3 vs. 7.9%, p = 0.71) compared to controls. However, the use of statins was associated with a slight increase in hospital stay. CONCLUSION: A critical appraisal of published randomized controlled trials on statin therapy in COVID-19 did not show any significant effect on mortality, the risk of transfer to intensive care, or mechanical ventilation.

Risk factors analysis and risk prediction model construction of non-specific low back pain: an ambidirectional cohort study.

PURPOSE: Non-specific low back pain (NLBP) is a common clinical condition that affects approximately 60-80% of adults worldwide. However, there is currently a lack of scientific prediction and evaluation systems in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to analyze the risk factors of NLBP and construct a risk prediction model. METHODS: We collected baseline data from 707 patients who met the inclusion criteria and were treated at the Sixth Hospital of Ningbo from December 2020 to December 2022. Logistic regression and LASSO regression were used to screen independent risk factors that influence the onset of NLBP and to construct a risk prediction model. The sensitivity and specificity of the model were evaluated by tenfold cross-validation, and internal validation was performed in the validation set. RESULTS: Age, gender, BMI, education level, marital status, exercise frequency, history of low back pain, labor intensity, working posture, exposure to vibration sources, and psychological status were found to be significantly associated with the onset of NLBP. Using these 11 predictive factors, a nomogram was constructed, and the area under the ROC curve of the training set was 0.835 (95% CI 0.756-0.914), with a sensitivity of 0.771 and a specificity of 0.800. The area under the ROC curve of the validation set was 0.762 (95% CI 0.665-0.858), with a sensitivity of 0.800 and a specificity of 0.600, indicating that the predictive value of the model for the diagnosis of NLBP was high. In addition, the calibration curve showed a high degree of consistency between the predicted and actual survival probabilities. CONCLUSION: We have developed a preliminary predictive model for NLBP and constructed a nomogram to predict the onset of NLBP. The model demonstrated good performance and may be useful for the prevention and treatment of NLBP in clinical practice.

High-flux wavelength tunable XUV source in the 12-40.8†eV photon energy range with adjustable energy and time resolution for Tr-ARPES applications.

High-order harmonic generation (HHG) has a broad spectrum covering vacuum ultraviolet to extreme ultraviolet (XUV) bands, which is useful for applications involving material analyses at different information depths. Such an HHG light source is perfect for time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Here, we demonstrate a high-photon flux HHG source driven by a two-color field. Applying a fused silica compression stage to reduce the driving pulse width, we obtained a high XUV photon flux of 2 × 1012 phs/s @21.6 eV on target. We designed a classical diffraction mounted (CDM) grating monochromator that can achieve a wide range of photon energy from 12 to 40.8 eV, while the time resolution is improved by reducing the pulse front tilt after the harmonic selection. We designed a spatial filtering method to adjust the time resolution using the CDM monochromator and significantly reduced the pulse front tilt of the XUV pulses. We also demonstrate a detailed prediction of the energy resolution broadening which is caused by the space charge effect.

Analysis of risk factors for contralateral symptomatic foraminal stenosis after unilateral transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.

PURPOSE: To analyze the risk factors of contralateral symptomatic foraminal stenosis (FS) after unilateral transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and to guide and standardize the operation process of unilateral TLIF to reduce the occurrence of contralateral symptomatic FS. METHODS: A retrospective study was undertaken on 487 patients with lumbar degeneration who underwent unilateral TLIF in the Department of Spinal Surgery of Ningbo Sixth Hospital between January 2017 and January 2021, comprising 269 males and 218 females, with a mean age of 57.1 years (range, 48-77 years). Cases of intraoperative improper operations, such as screw deviation, postoperative hematoma, and contralateral disc herniation, were excluded, and cases of nerve root symptoms caused by contralateral FS were analyzed. Post-surgery, 23 patients with nerve root symptoms caused by contralateral FS were categorized as group A, and 60 patients without nerve root symptoms were randomly selected as group B during the same period. The general data (gender, age, body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density (BMD), and diagnosis) and imaging parameters before and after operation (including contralateral foramen area (CFA), lumbar lordosis angle (LL), segmental lordosis angle (SL), disc height (DH), foramen height (FH), foramen width (FW), fusion cage position, and the difference between postoperative and preoperative) were compared between the two groups. Univariate analysis was performed, and multivariate analysis was undertaken through logistics analysis to determine the independent risk factors. Additionally, the clinical outcomes of the two groups were compared immediately before surgery and one year after surgery, using the visual analogue scale (VAS) score and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score for evaluation. RESULTS: The patients in this study were followed up for a period of 19-25 (22.8atien months. Among them, 23 cases (4.72% incidence) were diagnosed with contralaterally symptomatic FS after the surgery. Univariate analysis indicated significant differences between the two groups in CFA, SL, FW, and cage coronal position. Logistic regression analysis identified preoperative contralateral foramen area (OR = 1.176, 95% CI (1.012, 1.367)), small segmental lordosis angle (OR = 2.225, 95% CI (1.124, 4.406)), small intervertebral foramen width (OR = 2.706, 95% CI (1.028, 7.118)), and cage coronal position not crossing the midline (OR = 1.567, 95% CI (1.142, 2.149)) as independent risk factors for contralateral symptomatic FS after unilateral TLIF. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the pain VAS score between the two groups one year after the operation. In contrast, there was a significant difference in the JOA score between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The identified risk factors for contralateral symptomatic FS after TLIF include preoperative contralateral intervertebral foramen stenosis, a small segmental lordosis angle, a small intervertebral foramen width, and the coronal position of the cage not crossing the midline. For patients with these risk factors, it is recommended to carefully lock the screw rod during the recovery of lumbar lordosis and ensure that the coronal position of the fusion cage is implanted beyond the midline. If necessary, preventive decompression should also be considered. However, this study did not quantify the imaging data for each risk factor, and further research is needed to improve our understanding of the topic.

Effect of preoperative contralateral foramen stenosis on contralateral root symptoms after unilateral transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion: a ambispective cohort study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the correlation between the degree of preoperative contralateral foraminal stenosis(CFS) and the incidence of contralateral root symptoms after unilateral transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion(TLIF) and to evaluate the appropriate candidate of preventive decompression according to the degree of preoperative contralateral foraminal stenosis. METHODS: An ambispective cohort study was conducted to investigate the incidence of contralateral root symptoms after unilateral transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and the effectiveness of preventive decompression. A total of 411 patients were included in the study, all of whom met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and underwent surgery at the Department of Spinal Surgery, Ningbo Sixth Hospital, between January 2017 and February 2021. The study was divided into two groups: retrospective cohort study A and prospective cohort study B. The 187 patients included in study A from January 2017 to January 2019 did not receive preventive decompression. They were divided into four groups based on the degree of preoperative contralateral intervertebral foramen stenosis: no stenosis group A1, mild stenosis group A2, moderate stenosis group A3, and severe stenosis group A4. A Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between the preoperative contralateral foramen stenosis degree and the incidence of contralateral root symptoms after unilateral TLIF. From February 2019 to February 2021, 224 patients were included in the prospective cohort group B. The decision to perform preventive decompression during the operation was based on the degree of preoperative contralateral foramen stenosis. Severe intervertebral foramen stenosis was treated with preventive decompression as group B1, while the rest were not treated with preventive decompression as group B2. The baseline data, surgical-related indicators, the incidence of contralateral root symptoms, clinical efficacy, imaging results, and other complications were compared between group A4 and group B1. RESULTS: All 411 patients completed the operation and were followed up for an average of 13.5 ± 2.8 months. In the retrospective study, there was no significant difference in baseline data among the four groups (P > 0.05). The incidence of postoperative contralateral root symptoms increased gradually, and a weak positive correlation was found between the degree of preoperative intervertebral foramen stenosis and the incidence of postoperative root symptoms (rs = 0.304, P < 0.001). In the prospective study, there was no significant difference in baseline data between the two groups. The operation time and blood loss in group A4 were less than those in group B1 (P < 0.05). The incidence of contralateral root symptoms in group A4 was higher than that in group B1 (P = 0.003). However, there was no significant difference in leg VAS score and ODI index between the two groups at 3 months after the operation (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in cage position, intervertebral fusion rate, and lumbar stability between the two groups (P > 0.05). No incisional infection occurred after the operation. No pedicle screw loosening, displacement, fracture, or interbody fusion cage displacement occurred during follow-up. CONCLUSION: This study found a weak positive correlation between the degree of preoperative contralateral foramen stenosis and the incidence of contralateral root symptoms after unilateral TLIF. Intraoperative preventive decompression of the contralateral side may prolong the operation time and increase intraoperative blood loss to some extent. However, when the contralateral intervertebral foramen stenosis reaches the severe level, it is recommended to perform preventive decompression during the operation. This approach can reduce the incidence of postoperative contralateral root symptoms while ensuring clinical efficacy.

Moisture-enhanced trace chloroalkanes detection in bimetallic metal-organic frameworks 3-dimensional photonic crystal.

Chloroalkanes have long been a threat to environmental protection and human health, however, rapid and efficient detection of chloroalkanes remains challenging. Herein, 3-dimensional photonics crystals (3-D PCs) based on bimetallic materials of institute lavoisier frameworks-127 (MIL-127, Fe2M, M = Fe, Ni, Co, Zn) demonstrate the great potential of chloroalkanes sensing. Particularly, at temperature of 25 °C and dry conditions, the 3-D PC consisting of MIL-127 (Fe2Co) shows optimal selectivity and high concentration sensitivity of 0.0351 ± 0.00007 nm ppm-1 to carbon tetra-chloride (CCl4), and the limit of detection (LOD) can reach 2.85 ± 0.01 ppm. Meanwhile, MIL-127 (Fe2Co) 3-D PC sensor presents a rapid response of 1 s and recovery time of 4.5 s for CCl4 vapor, and can maintain excellent sensing performance under heat-treatment of 200 °C or in the long-term storage (30 days). Mechanism studies indicated that the excellent sensing property derived from the doping of transition metals. Moreover, the moisture-enhanced adsorption of CCl4 for the MIL-127 (Fe2Co) 3-D PC sensor is also observed. H2O molecule can remarkably enhance the adsorption of MIL-127 (Fe2Co) to CCl4. The MIL-127 (Fe2Co) 3-D PC sensor shows the highest concentration sensitivity of 0.146 ± 0.00082 nm ppm-1 to CCl4 and the lowest limit of detection (LOD) of 685 ± 4 ppb under the pre-adsorption of 75 ppm H2O. Our results provide an insight for a trace gas detection using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in the optical sensing field.

Ex_g-C3N4 as a novel fluorescent probe for sensitive detecting ClO- in water samples with portable test strip.

Excessive hypochlorite (ClO-) is easy to form residues in water, which will seriously endanger human health and environmental pollution. Therefore, it is essential to develop a sensitive fluorescent sensor to detect ClO- in water. Herein, a simple and economical fluorescent probe for the detection of ClO- was designed by highly exfoliated graphite-like carbon nitride (Ex_g-C3N4). The results showed that Ex_g-C3N4 had obvious fluorescence quenching effect on ClO- with high selectivity and anti-interference ability, which was feasible for making probes for detecting ClO- in water. Sensing experiments showed that the Ex_g-C3N4 probe had the detection limit of 5.56 nM while the detection range was 0-62 mM in water. Moreover, the fast response time of Ex_g-C3N4 was less than 30 s, illustrating the superior sensitivity. Besides, the fluorescence sensing experiment was carried out in various liquid conditions, which demonstrated that Ex_g-C3N4 probe had outstanding detecting application in natural environment. A portable fluorescent test strip for rapid detecting ClO- was successfully developed. The response of the probe on test strip towards ClO- was investigated, and the detection limit (0.1 µM) is low enough to meet the safety requirements in tap water. Furthermore, the quenching mechanism of Ex_g-C3N4 probe was also discussed.

A nomogram based on CHADS2 score for predicting atrial fibrillation recurrence after cryoballoon ablation.

BACKGROUND: As reported, CHADS2 scoring system moderately predicts the atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence, a common event after cryoballoon ablation. We aimed to improve the diagnostic accuracy of the CHADS2 score by adding several routine auxiliary detection indicators into the scoring system and constructing a CHADS2 score-based nomogram to predict AF recurrence in patients with paroxysmal AF undergoing cryoballoon ablation. METHODS: Eighty-four patients with paroxysmal AF undergoing cryoballoon ablation were enrolled. Baseline characteristics were collected. The multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify the significantly related predictors of recurrence and to construct the nomogram whose performance was evaluated by the discrimination and calibration tests. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients developed AF recurrence after a mean follow up of 19.0 ± 15.77 months. In the Cox multivariate model, CHADS2 (>2) (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.38; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14-4.98, p = .021) and albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR) (HR: 2.49; 95% CI: 1.26-4.92, p < .008) were independent risk factors associated with AF recurrence. In addition to CHADS2 , AGR and red blood cell distribution width were used to construct the nomogram. As a result, the discrimination of the concordance index for the predictive model of AF recurrence was increased from 0.56 (95% CI: 0.494-0.632) to 0.712 (95% CI: 0.631-0.811). The 24-month one well matched the ideal 45° line among the calibration plots for 6, 12, and 24 months' recurrence-free survival. CONCLUSION: This novel easy-to-use CHADS2 score-based nomogram may be used to predict AF recurrence for patient of paroxysmal AF undergoing cryoballoon ablation. Further external validation is still needed.

A UiO-66 3D photonic crystal optical sensor for highly efficient chlorobenzene vapor detection.

Chlorobenzene (C6H5Cl) is a flammable liquid with high vapor activity, which is a severe threat to the environment and human health. Therefore, it is essential to develop a highly efficient sensor to detect C6H5Cl vapor. Herein, we developed a UiO-66 three-dimensional photonic crystal (3D PC) optical sensor and investigated its sensing properties toward the C6H5Cl vapor. The UiO-66 3D PCs optical sensor shows a high sensitivity of C6H5Cl vapor, in the concentrations range of 0-500 ppm, the reflectance intensity response to be 0.06% ppm with a good linear relationship, detection limit can reach 1.64 ppm and the quality factor is 10.8. Additionally, the UiO-66 3D PC optical sensor demonstrated great selectivity with the values of selectivity (S) varying from 2.24 to 10.65 for the C6H5Cl vapor as compared with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), 1,1,2-trichloroethane (C2H3Cl3), benzene (C6H6), deionized water (H2O), ethanol (C2H5OH) and methyl alcohol (CH3OH) vapors. Moreover, the UiO-66 3D PC optical sensor shows an ultrafast optical response time and recovery times of 0.5 s and 0.45 s with exceptional stability and repeatability to 500 ppm C6H5Cl vapor. These excellent sensing properties are attributed to the efficacy of signal transduction, increased porosity and gas adsorption sites, which are intrinsically endowed by the design of the 3D optical structure. The design and fabrication of this UiO-66 3D PC optical sensor might open up potential applications for the detection of the C6H5Cl vapor.

Activation of TRPV4 by lactate as a critical mediator of renal fibrosis in spontaneously hypertensive rats after moderate- and high-intensity exercise.

Moderate-intensity exercise training has been regarded a healthy way to alleviate kidney fibrosis by the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFß) signaling pathway. However, the impact of different intensity exercise training on renal function is unknown, and the underlying mechanism is also unclear. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of lactic acid in different intensity exercise training on renal fibrosis in spontaneous hypertension. Masson's trichrome staining, immunohistochemistry, lactic acid kit, and Western blotting were applied on the excised renal tissue from six male Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and 18 male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), which were randomly divided into a sedentary hypertensive group (SHR), moderate-intensity exercise hypertensive group (SHR-M), and high-intensity exercise hypertensive group (SHR-H). The results revealed that renal and blood lactic acid, as well as the key fibrotic protein levels of transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4), TGFß-1, phospho-Smad2/3 (p-Smad2/3), and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), were significantly decreased in the SHR-M group when compared with the SHR and SHR-H groups. In further in vitro experiments, we selected normal rat kidney interstitial fibroblast (NRK-49F) cells. By immunofluorescence and Western blotting techniques, we found that TRPV4 antagonists (RN-1734) markedly inhibited lactate-induced fibrosis. In conclusion, compared with previous studies, high-intensity exercise training (HIET) can cause adverse effects (renal damage and fibrosis). High concentrations of lactic acid can aggravate renal fibrosis conditions via activating TRPV4-TGFß1-SMAD2/3-CTGF-mediated renal fibrotic pathways in spontaneous hypertension. This finding might provide new ideas for treating hypertensive nephropathy with different intensity exercise in the future.

Rapid and sensitive detection of Hg2+ with a SERS-enhanced lateral flow strip.

Mercury ions are some of the most toxic heavy metal ions widely distributed in the environment. Hg2+ cannot be degraded by microorganisms and can accumulate in the body through the food chain, posing a great threat to human health. Herein, a method combining surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) with a lateral flow strip (LFS) (SERS-LFS) was developed for the rapid and quantitative analysis of Hg2+. The recognition of Hg2+ by the LFS depends on a specific T-Hg-T strategy. Rhodamine 6G (R6G), as a SERS reporter, was assembled on the surface of Au@Ag core-shell nanoparticles, which served as an effective SERS substrate on both the T and C lines of the LFS. Using this SERS-LFS, the presence of target Hg2+ could be measured through the appearance of an orange color on the T line of the LFS. Furthermore, with the direct measurement of SERS on the T lines of the LFS, the SERS signal could be collected even at a low concentration of Hg2+, at which point the signal on the T lines could not be observed. Based on the intensities of the characteristic peak at 1513 cm-1 of R6G collected on the T lines of the LFS, a linear relationship was obtained in the range of 0.01 nM to 1 nM, and the detection limit of the LFS was greatly improved by at least 20 times over the colorimetric results of the traditional LFS based on naked-eye observation. More importantly, this SERS-LFS did not affect the intrinsic simplicity of the LFS. This developed SERS-LFS holds great potential in practical routine screening in food safety and environmental monitoring.

Posterior temporary fixation of C1-C2 screw-rod system for unstable C1 burst fracture.

Whether an unstable C1 burst fracture should be treated surgically or conservatively is controversial. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and motion-preserving function of temporary fixation of C1-C2 screw-rod system for the reduction and fixation of unstable C1 burst fracture. We retrospectively reviewed 10 patients who were treated with posterior C1-C2 temporary fixation without fusion. We assessed age at surgery, gender, pre- and postoperative visual analog scale (VAS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), atlanto-dens interval (ADI), lateral mass distance (LMD), and rotation function of C1-C2 complex. Six males and 4 females were included in our study. The average follow-up duration was 14.1 ± 1.37 months. The left-to-right ROMs of C1-C2 rotation was 9.6° ± 1.42°. The preoperative cervical VAS was 8.30 ± 0.48; the postoperative cervical VAS of C1-C2 fusion was 2.90 ± 0.57. The preoperative VAS for removal was 2.0 ± 0.00, and the postoperative VAS for removal was 2.3 ± 0.48. The preoperative cervical NDI was 81.40% ± 2.07%, the postoperative cervical NDI of C1-C2 fusion was 18.10% ± 1.52%. The preoperative NDI for removal was 15.9% ± 1.20%. The postoperative NDI for removal was 14.5% ± 1.08%. The preoperative ADI was 4.43 ± 0.34 mm, and postoperative ADI was 1.94 ± 0.72 mm. The preoperative LMD was 6.36 ± 0.58 mm, and postoperative LMD was 1.64 ± 0.31 mm. Posterior temporary C1-C2 fixation can achieve a good fusion and satisfied reduction of C1 fracture, relieve the pain, improve the cervical function outcome, but may reduce the rotational range of motion of C1-C2. Posterior C1-C2 temporary fixation without fusion was not suitable for C1 burst fracture. We recommend permanent C1-C2 fixation and fusion for C1 burst fracture if surgery is necessary.

Effect of Sacubitril-Valsartan on Restoration and Maintenance of Sinus Rhythm in Patients With Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Existing studies have shown that sacubitril-valsartan ameliorated atrial remodeling in atrial fibrillation (AF) and favored maintenance of sinus rhythm in patients with AF and heart failure. However, the effect of sacubitril-valsartan in patients with persistent AF is yet unknown. We aimed to evaluate the effect of sacubitril-valsartan on restoration and maintenance of sinus rhythm in patients with persistent AF who underwent electrical cardioversion (ECV). Method: Consecutive patients with persistent AF who underwent ECV between 1 January 2016 and 30 September 2020 were investigated in this retrospective cohort study. All eligible patients were categorized into sacubitril-valsartan users and sacubitril-valsartan non-users based on whether they received treatment with sacubitril-valsartan or not. The endpoint was ineffictive ECV, defined as the composite of failure to terminate AF or any recurrence of AF during 30 days follow-up. Results: A total of 76 patients were enrolled in this study, including 28 sacubitril-valsartan users and 48 non-users. Within a follow-up of 30 days after ECV, the endpoint had occurred in 7 (25%) of 28 sacubitril-valsartan users and 25 (52%) of 48 non-users. Significantly lower rate of ineffictive ECV in sacubitril-valsartan users compared with non-users was shown in Kaplan-Meier survival curves (P = 0.02; Log-rank test). Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that sacubitril-valsartan use (hazard ratio [HR], 0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.14-0.91), amiodarone use (HR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.13-0.78), left atrial diameter ≤ 39 mm (HR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.06-0.71) were independently associated with a decreased rate of ineffective electrical cardioversion.

Angiotensin (ang) 1-7 inhibits ang II-induced atrial fibrosis through regulating the interaction of proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src (c-Src) and Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase-1 (SHP-1)).

To verify whether Ang-(1-7) produces an antagonistic effect on Ang II-mediated atrial remodeling. Ang II-induced HL-1 cell model and a rat model of Ang II-induced atrial remodeling were constructed and intervened with Ang II Ang-(1-7), AngII +Ang-(1-7), Ang II+ c-Src specific inhibitor (SU6656), and Ang II + Ang-(1-7) + SSG (SHP-1/2 specific inhibitor, stibogluconate), respectively. The systolic blood pressure of the rat caudal artery was detected. And trial fibrosis was detected by Picrosirius red staining and Masson's trichrome staining. Expressions of transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP1), Matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), galectin-3, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and collagen I/III were subjected to qPCR and western blot. Furthermore, SHP-1 binding to c-Src was verified by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). Results showed that the expressions of TGF-ß, TIMP1, MMP-2, CTGF, α-SMA, galectin-3, and collagen I were increased markedly in the Ang II intervention group, and the expressions of p-ERK1/2, p-Akt, and p-p38MAPK were also increased dramatically. Ang-(1-7) or SU6656 addition could inhibit the action of Ang II factor, thereby minimizing the expressions of the previously described genes and proteins. Simultaneously, SSG supplement reversed the antagonistic effect of Ang-(1-7) on Ang II, and the latter elevated the blood pressure and induced atrial fibrosis in rats. Ang-(1-7) could reverse the changes related to Ang II-induced atrial fibrosis in rats. In conclusion, Ang-(1-7) antagonized Ang II-induced atrial remodeling by regulating SHP-1 and c-Src, thereby affecting the MAPKs/Akt signaling pathway.

High performance benzene vapor sensor based on three-dimensional photonic crystals of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8@graphene quantum dots.

Superior sensitive, selective, and repeatable real-time detection of low concentrations of benzene vapor is vitally important for environmental protection and human health. A benzene vapor sensor using three-dimensional photonic crystals (3-D PCs) based on zeolitic imidazolate framework-8@graphene quantum dots (ZIF-8@GQDs) was proposed. The 3-D PCs were acquired by centrifuging ZIF-8@GQDs pseudo-solutions, which were prepared via hydrothermal methods. The application of the ZIF-8@GQDs 3-D PCs sensor for optical benzene vapor detection via the strong π-π stacking interactions and large specific surface area and abundant open-framework structure of the ZIF-8@GQDs was investigated. The ZIF-8@GQDs 3-D PCs sensor exhibits a more sensitive response to benzene vapor compared with the ZIF-8 3-D PCs sensor. The relationship between the wavelength shift and the benzene vapor concentration was demonstrated to be linear. Additionally, the ZIF-8@GQDs 3-D PCs sensor presents a fast optical response and recovery times of 1 s and 7 s for 200 ppm benzene vapor detection, the benzene vapor detection limit can reach 1 ppm, and the deviation of the reflected wavelength varied within 2 nm after 10 cycles. Moreover, the fabricated ZIF-8@GQDs 3-D PCs sensor exhibited reliability and exceptional thermal and long-time storage stability, demonstrating great potential for practical benzene vapor sensing applications.

Contralateral radiculopathy after unilateral transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion: causes and prevention.

BACKGROUND: Unilateral transforminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) with a single cage can provide circumferential fusion and biomechanical stability. However, the causes and prevention of contralateral radiculopathy following unilateral TLIF remain unclear. METHODS: In total, 190 patients who underwent unilateral TLIF from January 2017 to January 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Radiological parameters including lumbar lordosis, segmental angle, anterior disc height, posterior disc height (PDH), foraminal height (FH), foraminal width, and foraminal area (FA) were measured preoperatively and postoperatively. Preoperative and postoperative visual analog scale scores were also recorded. RESULTS: The incidence of contralateral radiculopathy after unilateral TLIF was 5.3% (10/190). The most common cause was contralateral foraminal stenosis. Unilateral TLIF could increase the lumbar lordosis, segmental angle, and anterior disc height but decrease the PDH, FA, and FH in patients with symptomatic contralateral radiculopathy. The intervertebral cage should be placed to cover the epiphyseal ring and cortical compact bone of the midline, and the disc height can be increased to enlarge the contralateral foramen. CONCLUSION: The most common cause of contralateral radiculopathy is contralateral foraminal stenosis. Careful preoperative planning is necessary to achieve satisfactory outcomes. Improper unilateral TLIF will decrease the PDH, FA, and FH, resulting in contralateral radiculopathy.