Directed Self-Assembly of Polystyrene-Block-Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane Monolayer by Nano-Trench for Nanopatterning.

This work pioneers to combine fast self-assembly of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) nanocage-based giant surfactants with high etching contrast and directed self-assembly for reliable long-range lateral order to create well-aligned sub-10 nm line nanopatterns via reactive ion etching (RIE). Polystyrene-block-oligo(dimethylsiloxane) substituted POSS (PS-b-oDMS7POSS) with seven oligo(dimethylsiloxane) at the corners of the POSS nanocage and one polystyrene (PS) tail is designed and synthesized as a giant surfactant with self-assembly behaviors like block copolymer (BCP). In contrast to BCP, oDMS7POSS gives a volume-persistent "nanoatom" particle with higher mobility for fast self-assembly and higher segregation strength with PS for smaller feature size. By taking advantage of directed self-assembly using nano-trench fabricated by electron beam lithography, well-ordered nanostructured monolayer with well-aligned parallel oDMS7POSS cylinders can be formed by confined self-assembly within the nano-trench. With the optimization of the RIE treatment using O2 as an etchant, the high etching contrast from the oDMS7POSS and PS gives the formation of well-defined line nanopatterns with sub-10 nm critical dimension that can serve as a mask for pattern transfer in lithography. These results demonstrate a cost-effective approach for nanopatterning by utilizing a creatively designed giant surfactant with sub-10 nm feature size and excellent etching contrast for modern lithographic applications.

Berberine hydrochloride alleviates chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome by modifying gut microbiome signaling.

ABSTRACT: Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is highly prevalent worldwide and poses a significant threat to men's health, particularly affecting young men. However, the exact causes and mechanisms behind CP/CPPS remain unclear, leading to challenges in its treatment. In this research, a CP/CPPS rat model was established with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), and berberine hydrochloride was administered through daily gavage to assess its therapeutic effects. The alterations in the gut microbiome induced by CP/CPPS and berberine hydrochloride were investigated through 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing of cecum content and colonic epithelial cells. To investigate the impact of the gut microbiome on CP/CPPS, a pseudo germ-free rat model was established, and fecal microbiome transplantation (FMT) was performed on these rats. In all, berberine hydrochloride demonstrated effective reduction of inflammation and oxidative stress in the prostate, offering significant therapeutic advantages for CP/CPPS. Through analysis of the gut microbiome using 16S ribosome RNA sequencing, distinct differences were observed between CP/CPPS rats and control rats, and Clostridium butyricum was identified as a key bacteria. Pseudo germ-free rats that underwent FMT from CP/CPPS rats or rats treated with berberine hydrochloride displayed varying levels of inflammatory cytokine production, oxidative stress, and activity of associated signaling pathways. In conclusion, the therapeutic potential of berberine hydrochloride in addressing CP/CPPS is highly significant. The gut microbiome has emerged as a critical factor in the development of CP/CPPS and plays a pivotal role in mediating the therapeutic effects of berberine hydrochloride.

Giant Iontronic Flexoelectricity in Soft Hydrogels Induced by Tunable Biomimetic Ion Polarization.

Flexoelectricity features the strain gradient-induced mechanoelectric conversion using materials not limited by their crystalline symmetry, but state-of-the-art flexoelectric materials exhibit very small flexoelectric coefficients and are too brittle to withstand large deformations. Here, inspired by the ion polarization in living organisms, this paper reports the giant iontronic flexoelectricity of soft hydrogels where the ion polarization is attributed to the different transfer rates of cations and anions under bending deformations. The flexoelectricity is found to be easily regulated by the types of anion-cation pairs and polymer networks in the hydrogel. A polyacrylamide hydrogel with 1 m NaCl achieves a record-high flexoelectric coefficient of ≈1160 µC m-1, which can even be improved to ≈2340 µC m-1 by synergizing with the effects of ion pairs and extra polycation chains. Furthermore, the hydrogel as flexoelectric materials can withstand larger bending deformations to obtain higher polarization charges owing to its intrinsic low modulus and high elasticity. A soft flexoelectric sensor is then demonstrated for object recognition by robotic hands. The findings greatly broaden the flexoelectricity to soft, biomimetic, and biocompatible materials and applications.

Analysis of risk factors affecting the postoperative drainage after a laparoscopic partial nephrectomy: a retrospective study.

Purpose: Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) remains the most commonly used measure for treating localized renal cell cancer (RCC) with an increasing incidence of RCC ever since the 1990s. This study aimed to identify risk factors that affect the postoperative time of drainage and total drainage volume after LPN. Method: The clinical data of 612 RCC patients who received LPN from January 2012 to December 2022 in our hospital, including the postoperative drainage time and total drainage volume, were retrospectively analyzed. Univariable and multivariable linear regression and correlation analyses were used to identify the correlations between 21 factors, which include gender, age, history of alcohol consumption, family history of RCC, body weight, body mass index (BMI), and operation time, postoperative drainage time, and total drainage volume. Results: The mean time of drainage was 3.52 ± 0.71 days (range: 2 to 8 days), with an average total drainage volume of 259.83 ± 72.64 mL (range: 50 to 620 mL). Both univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses revealed several statistically significant associations. Gender (p = 0.04), age (p = 0.008), smoking history (p < 0.001), diabetes (p = 0.032), operation time (p = 0.014), and BMI (p = 0.023) were identified as significant factors associated with the time of drainage. On the other hand, age (p = 0.008), smoking history (p < 0.001), diabetes (p = 0.006), and BMI (p = 0.016) emerged as independent risk factors influencing the total drainage volume. Conclusion: The duration of postoperative drainage was found to be associated with gender, age, smoking history, diabetes, operation time, and BMI. In contrast, the total drainage volume was primarily influenced by age, smoking history, diabetes, and high BMI following LPN. For patients with these conditions, meticulous attention to hemostasis and bleeding control is crucial during the perioperative period.

Bowel preparation protocol for hospitalized patients ages 50 years or older: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The incidence and mortality rate of colorectal cancer progressively increase with age and become particularly prominent after the age of 50 years. Therefore, the population that is ≥ 50 years in age requires long-term and regular colonoscopies. Uncomfortable bowel preparation is the main reason preventing patients from undergoing regular colonoscopies. The standard bowel preparation regimen of 4-L polyethylene glycol (PEG) is effective but poorly tolerated. AIM: To investigate an effective and comfortable bowel preparation regimen for hospitalized patients ≥ 50 years in age. METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to group 1 (2-L PEG + 30-mL lactulose + a low-residue diet) or group 2 (4-L PEG). Adequate bowel preparation was defined as a Boston bowel preparation scale (BBPS) score of ≥ 6, with a score of ≥ 2 for each segment. Non-inferiority was prespecified with a margin of 10%. Additionally, the degree of comfort was assessed based on the comfort questionnaire. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with a BBPS score of ≥ 6 in group 1 was not significantly different from that in group 2, as demonstrated by intention-to-treat (91.2% vs 91.0%, P = 0.953) and per-protocol (91.8% vs 91.0%, P = 0.802) analyses. Furthermore, in patients ≥ 75 years in age, the proportion of BBPS scores of ≥ 6 in group 1 was not significantly different from that in group 2 (90.9% vs 97.0%, P = 0.716). Group 1 had higher comfort scores (8.85 ± 1.162 vs 7.59 ± 1.735, P < 0.001), longer sleep duration (6.86 ± 1.204 h vs 5.80 ± 1.730 h, P < 0.001), and fewer awakenings (1.42 ± 1.183 vs 2.04 ± 1.835, P = 0.026) than group 2. CONCLUSION: For hospitalized patients ≥ 50 years in age, the bowel preparation regimen comprising 2-L PEG + 30-mL lactulose + a low-residue diet produced a cleanse that was as effective as the 4-L PEG regimen and even provided better comfort.