Source-oriented health risk assessment and priority control factor analysis of heavy metals in urban soil of Shanghai.

The characteristics and ecological risks of heavy metal pollution in urban soils were comprehensively investigated, focusing on 224 typical industries undergoing redevelopment in Shanghai. The PMF (Positive Matrix Factorization) model was used to analyze the sources of soil heavy metals, while the HRA (Health Risk Assessment) model with Monte Carlo simulation assessed health risks to humans. Health risks under different pollution sources were explored, and priority control factors were identified. Results showed that, levels of most heavy metals exceeded Shanghai soil background values. Surface soil concentrations of Cd, Hg, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Ni exceeded the background values of Shanghai's soil to varying degrees, at 5.08, 5.40, 1.81, 1.95, 1.43, and 3.53 times, respectively. Four sources were identified: natural sources (22.23 %), mixed sources from the chemical industry and traffic (26.25 %), metal product sources (36.38 %), and pollution sources from electrical manufacturing and the integrated circuit industry (15.14 %). The HRA model indicated a tolerable carcinogenic risk for adults and children, with negligible non-carcinogenic risk. Potential risk was higher for children than for adult females, and higher for adult females than for adult males, with oral ingestion as the primary exposure pathway. Metal product sources and Ni were identified as primary control factors, suggesting intensified regional control. This study provides theoretical support for urban pollution prevention and control.

The predictive value of serum fibrinogen and platelet distribution width for long-term cardiac death in acute myocardial infarction patients.

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the most severe manifestation of coronary heart disease (CHD), and timely and effective opening of the culprit vessels has been effective in reducing its mortality, but long-term death still threatens the life of patients. Therefore, finding biomarkers to predict death post-myocardial infarction (MI) is crucial. The aim of our study is to find biomarkers that predicted long-term death in Chinese AMI patients. Methods: This retrospective analysis included patients with AMI from 1 January 2017 to 30 September 2019. All patients were followed up at least 4 years. Propensity score matching was used to mitigate the influence of nonrandom selection in MI-survival and MI-death groups. Cox analysis was applied for analyzing the risk factors of death post-MI. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the predictive value of biomarkers. Results: Of the 1,059 AMI patients analyzed, 130 died during follow-up. After propensity matching, there were 116 patients in each of the two groups. In addition to the traditional risk factors for long-term death post-MI, two important risk factors platelet distribution width (PDW) [hazard ratio (HR) =1.210, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.080-1.356, P=0.001] and fibrinogen (HR =1.218, 95% CI: 1.027-1.444, P=0.02) were found. The area under the curve (AUC) of PDW and fibrinogen was 0.604 (P=0.007) and 0.684 (P<0.001) respectively. The optimal thresholds were 13.05% and 3.562 g/L respectively. Conclusions: PDW and fibrinogen seem to be useful as biomarkers for long-term death prediction post-MI. The current research provides new insight into the prevention and treatment of death in Chinese patients post-MI.

Socioeconomic inequalities in uptake of outreach mammography before and after accessibility improvement of Taiwan's national universal breast cancer screening policy.

BACKGROUND: Taiwan implemented the Cancer Screening Quality Improvement Program (CAQIP) in 2010. The program sought to enhance mass breast cancer screening accessibility. This study aimed to examine socioeconomic disparities in outreach screening utilization pre-CAQIP (2005-2009) and post-CAQIP (2010-2014). METHOD: We conducted a nationwide population-based observational study in Taiwan, analyzing four population databases to evaluate socioeconomic disparities among women aged 50 to 69 years undergoing their first mammography screening pre-CAQIP. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine changes in utilization of outreach screening pre- and post-CAQIP implementation, and to estimate the Slope Index of Inequity (SII) and Relative Index of Inequity (RII) values. RESULTS: Utilization of outreach screening through mobile mammography units (MMUs) increased from 6.12 to 32.87% between the two periods. Following CAQIP, a higher proportion of screened women were older, less educated, and from suburban or rural areas. The SII and RII for age, income, and urbanization levels decreased post-CAQIP. However, regarding education level, SII was - 0.592 and RII was 0.392 in the pre-CAQIP period, increasing to -0.173 and 0.804 post-CAQIP, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study observed that utilization of outreach screening through MMUs increased after CAQIP. The MMUs made outreach screening services more accessible in Taiwan. Expanding outreach screening services and educational programs to promote mammography uptake in local communities could help reduce the potential effect of socioeconomic disparities, and thus may enhance early detection of breast cancer. Further study could focus on the accessibility of outreach screening and breast cancer outcomes.

Analysis of Risk Factors for Postoperative Recurrence in Elderly Patients with Kidney Stones: A Case-Control Study.

OBJECTIVE: Renal calculi are solid crystals that form in the kidneys and cause severe pain and discomfort. This study aims to investigate risk factors for postoperative recurrence of renal calculi in elderly patients and provide background knowledge on the prevalence and management of renal calculi in this demographic. METHODS: The clinical data of 123 elderly patients with renal calculi were included from 1 June 2021 to 1 June 2023 for their 6-month follow-up study. The patients were divided into recurrence group and non-recurrence group according to whether they had recurrence after surgery. The general sociological characteristics and disease-related characteristics of the two groups were counted. Logistic regression equation was used to calculate differences, and the influencing factors of postoperative recurrence in elderly patients with kidney stones were obtained. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to analyse the value of the factors in predicting postoperative recurrence in patients with kidney stones. RESULTS: A total of 123 elderly patients with renal calculi were enrolled. The patients were divided according to the presence or absence of stone recurrence into the recurrence group (25 cases, 20.33%) and the non-recurrence group (98 cases, 79.67%). Postoperative water intake, excessive intake of animal protein, exercise and postoperative complications significantly differed between the recurrence group and the non-recurrence group (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that the above-mentioned indicators were the influencing factors of postoperative recurrence. The area under the curve (AUC) values of postoperative water intake (AUC = 0.767), animal protein intake (AUC = 0.752), exercise (AUC = 0.707) and postoperative complications (AUC = 0.727) were statistically significant, and they were identified as the most important factors with high sensitivity and specificity and were of high value in predicting postoperative recurrence of renal calculi. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients with kidney stones are prone to recurrence after surgery. Influencing factors should be given attention, and corresponding measures should be formulated for intervention as soon as possible.

Nomogram predicting early urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy.

PURPOSE: One of the most frequent side effects of radical prostatectomy (RP) is urinary incontinence. The primary cause of urine incontinence is usually thought to be impaired urethral sphincter function; nevertheless, the pathophysiology and recovery process of urine incontinence remains unclear. This study aimed to identify potential risk variables, build a risk prediction tool that considers preoperative urodynamic findings, and direct doctors to take necessary action to reduce the likelihood of developing early urinary incontinence. METHODS: We retrospectively screened patients who underwent radical prostatectomy between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2023 at the First People 's Hospital of Nantong, China. According to nomogram results, patients who developed incontinence within three months were classified as having early incontinence. The training group's general characteristics were first screened using univariate logistic analysis, and the LASSO method was applied for the best prediction. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out to determine independent risk factors for early postoperative urine incontinence in the training group and to create nomograms that predict the likelihood of developing early urinary incontinence. The model was internally validated by computing the performance of the validation cohort. The nomogram discrimination, correction, and clinical usefulness were assessed using the c-index, receiver operating characteristic curve, correction plot, and clinical decision curve. RESULTS: The study involved 142 patients in all. Multivariate logistic regression analysis following RP found seven independent risk variables for early urinary incontinence. A nomogram was constructed based on these independent risk factors. The training and validation groups' c-indices showed that the model had high accuracy and stability. The calibration curve demonstrates that the corrective effect of the training and verification groups is perfect, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve indicates great identification capacity. Using a nomogram, the clinical net benefit was maximised within a probability threshold of 0.01-1, according to decision curve analysis (DCA). CONCLUSION: The nomogram model created in this study can offer a clear, personalised analysis of the risk of early urine incontinence following RP. It is highly discriminatory and accurate, and it can help create efficient preventative measures and identify high-risk populations.

Immunological hide-and-seek: epigenetically reprogrammed cancer cells and the dynamics of CD8+ T cells.

Cancer remains a global health burden, shaped by both genetic mutations and epigenetic dysregulation. Epigenetic alteration plays a pivotal role in tumorigenesis, immune response modulation, and the emergence of treatment resistance. This review emphasizes the intricate interplay between epigenetically reprogrammed cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME), a relationship central to the immunoediting concept, which encompasses elimination, equilibrium, and escape phases. This review highlights the significance of CD8+ T cells as potent anticancer agents and discusses the mechanisms by which tumor cells evade immune surveillance and evolve resistance to immunotherapy. Such evasion entails the regulation of inhibitory molecules, antigen presentation machinery, and cytokine milieu. Furthermore, this review explores the complex dynamics culminating in CD8+ T cell dysfunction within the TME. In summary, this work offers insights into the indispensable role of epigenetic mechanisms in bolstering cancer cell survival amidst immunological challenges within the TME.

Microbial diversity across tea varieties and ecological niches: correlating tea polyphenol contents with stress resistance.

Introduction: Microorganisms exhibit intricate interconnections with tea plants; however, despite the well-established role of microorganisms in crop growth and development, research on microbes within the tea plant remains insufficient, particularly regarding endophytic microorganisms. Methods: In this study, we collected samples of leaves and rhizosphere soils from 'Zhuyeqi', 'Baojing Huangjincha#1', 'Baiye#1', and 'Jinxuan' varieties planted. Results: Our analyses revealed significant variations in tea polyphenol contents among tea varieties, particularly with the 'Zhuyeqi' variety exhibiting higher levels of tea polyphenols (>20% contents). Microbiome studies have revealed that endophytic microbial community in tea plants exhibited higher host specificity compared to rhizospheric microbial community. Analyses of across-ecological niches of the microbial community associated with tea plants revealed that soil bacteria serve as a significant reservoir for endophytic bacteria in tea plants, Bacillus may play a crucial role in shaping the bacterial community across-ecological niche within the tea plants with higher tea polyphenol levels. In the aforementioned analyses, the microbial community of 'Zhuyeqi' exhibited a higher degree of host specificity for leaf endophytic microorganisms, the topological structure of the co-occurrence network is also more intricate, harboring a greater number of potential core microorganisms within its nodes. A closer examination was conducted on the microbial community of 'Zhuyeqi', further analyses of its endophytic bacteria indicated that its endophytic microbial community harbored a greater abundance of biomarkers, particularly among bacteria, and the enriched Methylobacterium and Sphingomonas in 'Zhuyeqi' may play distinct roles in disease resistance and drought resilience in tea plants. Conclusion: In summary, this study has shed light on the intricate relationships of tea plant varieties with their associated microbial communities, unveiling the importance of microorganisms and tea varieties with higher tea polyphenols, and offering valuable insights to the study of microorganisms and tea plants.

Therapeutic effect of iridoid and xanthone glycosides components extracted from Swertia Mussotti on calculous cholecystitis and its clinical complications by targeting COX2.

Swertia Mussotti is used as febrifuge, analgesic and to treat calculous cholecystitis, however, the underling mechanism remains unclear. This study investigates the therapeutic effect of the active fraction named iridoid and xanthone glycoside (IXG) extracted from S. mussotii on six animal models related to calculous cholecystitis and its complications, and to explore its potential target proteins. Four main compounds including swertiamarin (STR), sweroside (SRS), gentiopicroside (GPS) and mangiferin (MGR) were identified from the IXG by UHPLC-TOF-MS. The in vivo experiments results confirmed that IXG significantly decreased the level of total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) in calculous cholecystitis. IXG treatment dramatically reduced the number of twists and the time of clicking foot in 2nd phase induced by glacial acetic acid and formalin, however, no effect was showed on central pain established by hot plate test. IXG also significantly decreased the anal temperature induced by yeast and 2,4-dinitrophenol. These results indicated that IXG alleviate calculous cholecystitis and its clinical symptom. In addition, IXG suppressed the expression of Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in vitro. Mechanistically, COX2 was identified as the direct target of IXG in RAW264.7 cells, and downregulated the protein levels of COX2. The results confirmed that IXG ameliorates calculous cholecystitis and its clinical symptom (pain and fever) by suppressing the production of PGE2 through targeting COX2.

Values of circulating tumor DNA for non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy, progress and challenges: a narrative review.

Background and Objective: The value of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) for lung cancer remains controversial. Therefore, we conducted a review to further investigate the role of ctDNA in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing NAT for individualized management. Methods: A search of online databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Cochrane Library) was conducted to evaluate the value of ctDNA in predicting relapse, risk stratification, and efficacy of NAT in NSCLC. Only articles published in English within the last 25 years, between January 1st, 1998 and November 30th, 2023, were included. Additionally, the application of ctDNA in NSCLC is briefly reviewed. Key Content and Findings: ctDNA is a non-invasive and dynamic method that plays an important role in future treatment guidance. Additionally, ctDNA successfully predicted the effect of neoadjuvant immunotherapy before surgery, and positive testing was strongly correlated with a lower major pathological response or complete pathological response rate. Sequential testing of ctDNA may serve as a secondary indicator to guide the adjustment of treatment programs. However, the application of this method has been limited by false negative results, a lack of objective indicators, and high costs. These issues must be addressed by researchers. Conclusions: ctDNA has strong potential in NAT, based on positive preliminary studies. However, its widespread use is limited by the high cost of testing. Further research is needed to explore its value in risk stratification and treatment guidance in the future.

Interdependence between myocardial deformation and perfusion in patients with T2DM and HFpEF: a feature-tracking and stress perfusion CMR study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with diabetes have an increased risk of developing heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This study aimed to compare indices of myocardial deformation and perfusion between patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with and without HFpEF and to investigate the relationship between myocardial strain and perfusion reserve. METHODS: This study included 156 patients with T2DM without obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and 50 healthy volunteers who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) examination at our center. Patients with T2DM were subdivided into the T2DM-HFpEF (n = 74) and the T2DM-non-HFpEF (n = 82) groups. The parameters of left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) strain as well as stress myocardial perfusion were compared. The correlation between myocardial deformation and perfusion parameters was also assessed. Mediation analyses were used to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of T2DM on LA strain. RESULTS: Patients with T2DM and HFpEF had reduced LV radial peak systolic strain rate (PSSR), LV circumferential peak diastolic strain rate (PDSR), LA reservoir strain, global myocardial perfusion reserve index (MPRI), and increased LA booster strain compared to patients with T2DM without HFpEF (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, LV longitudinal PSSR, LA reservoir, and LA conduit strain were notably impaired in patients with T2DM without HFpEF compared to controls (all P < 0.05), but LV torsion, LV radial PSSR, and LA booster strain compensated for these alterations (all P < 0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated that LA reservoir and LA booster strain were independently associated with global MPRI (ß = 0.259, P < 0.001; ß = - 0.326, P < 0.001, respectively). Further, the difference in LA reservoir and LA booster strain between patients with T2DM with and without HFpEF was totally mediated by global MPRI. Global stress PI, LA booster, global rest PI, and global MPRI showed high accuracy in diagnosing HFpEF among patients with T2DM (areas under the curve [AUC]: 0.803, 0.790, 0.740, 0.740, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with T2DM and HFpEF exhibited significant LV systolic and diastolic deformation, decreased LA reservoir strain, severe impairment of myocardial perfusion, and elevated LA booster strain that is a compensatory response in HFpEF. Global MPRI was identified as an independent influencing factor on LA reservoir and LA booster strain. The difference in LA reservoir and LA booster strain between patients with T2DM with and without HFpEF was totally mediated by global MPRI, suggesting a possible mechanistic link between microcirculation impairment and cardiac dysfunction in diabetes. Myocardial perfusion and LA strain may prove valuable for diagnosing and managing HFpEF in the future.

Vitexin Suppresses High-Glucose-upregulated Adhesion Molecule Expression in Endothelial Cells through Inhibiting NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

Vascular damage is one of the significant complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). Central to this damage is endothelial damage, especially under high-glucose conditions, which promotes inflammation via the NF-κB signaling pathway. Inflammatory processes in endothelial cells directly contribute to endothelial dysfunction, such as promoting inflammatory cytokine release and activation of adhesion molecules. Vitexin, a compound found in many medicinal plants, shows promise in countering oxidative stress in diabetic contexts and modulating blood glucose. However, its effect on high-glucose-induced endothelial cell activation has not yet been studied. This research explores vitexin's potential role in this process, focusing on its influence on the NF-κB pathway in endothelial cells. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were stimulated with 30 mM glucose (high glucose, HG) with or without vitexin treatment for 24 h. Western blotting assay was conducted for the NF-κB pathway and p-p38. Adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin, and MCP-1) were studied using flow cytometry, while pro-inflammatory cytokines were investigated using ELISA. Monocyte adhesion and vascular permeability tests were conducted to confirm the protective effect of vitexin under HG exposure. This study confirms vitexin's capacity to suppress p38 MAPK and NF-κB activation under HG conditions, reducing HG-elevated adhesion molecules and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. Additionally, vitexin mitigates HG-stimulated vascular permeability and monocyte adhesion. In conclusion, this study shows the therapeutic potential of vitexin against hyperglycemia-related vascular complications via p38 MAPK/NF-κB inhibition.

Nanoengineering Multilength-Scale Porous Hierarchy in Mesoporous Metal-Organic Framework Single Crystals.

Developing a reliable method for constructing mesoporous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with single-crystalline forms remains a challenging task despite numerous efforts. This study presents a solvent-mediated assembly method for fabricating zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) single-crystal nanoparticles with a well-defined micro-mesoporous structure using polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer micelles as a soft-template. The precise control of particle sizes, ranging from 85 to 1200 nm, is achieved by regulating nucleation and crystal growth rates while maintaining consistent pore diameters in mesoporous nanoparticles and a rhombohedral dodecahedron morphology. Furthermore, this study presents a robust platform for nanoarchitecturing to prepare hierarchically porous materials (e.g., core-shell and hollow structures), including microporous ZIF@mesoporous ZIF, hollow mesoporous ZIF, and mesoporous ZIF@mesoporous ZIF. Such a multimodal pore design, ranging from microporous to microporous/mesoporous and further micro-/meso-/macroporous, provides significant evidence for the future possibility of the structural design of MOFs.

Rapidly screening of pancreatic lipase inhibitors from Clematis tangutica using affinity ultrafiltration-HPLC-QTOFMS technique combined with targeted separation, in vitro validation, and molecular docking.

INTRODUCTION: Screening of novel pancreatic lipase inhibitors from complex natural products is a meaningful task. OBJECTIVES: Through accurately screening and separating pancreatic lipase inhibitors from Clematis tangutica (C. tangutica), to discover new leading compounds for slimming and accelerate the development and utilization of Tibetan medicine resources. METHODS: An integrated strategy that combines affinity ultrafiltration and high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (AU-HPLC-QTOFMS), targeted separation, in vitro validation, and molecular docking was developed to screen pancreatic lipase inhibitors from C. tangutica. The AU-HPLC-QTOFMS technique was performed to fish for the potential active substances. Macroporous resin, preparative liquid chromatography, and high-speed countercurrent chromatography were implemented for the accurate and targeted separation of active compounds. The inhibitory activities of target compounds to pancreatic lipase were detected by the inhibition experiments in vitro. The binding affinities and binding sites were analyzed using molecular docking. RESULTS: A total of eleven kinds of pancreatic lipase inhibitory substances were screened from C. tangutica. Seven triterpenoid saponins were screened for the first time as lipase inhibitors and successfully prepared with purities higher than 97%. Tanguticoside B, clematangoticoside J, hederoside H1, and rutin showed stronger inhibitory effects with IC50 values of 1.539 ± 0.048, 1.661 ± 0.092, 1.793 ± 0.069, and 1.792 ± 0.094 mmol/l. Moreover, they have the lowest ΔG values of -10.84, -9.97, -10.87, and -9.39 kcal/mol to pancreatic lipase. CONCLUSION: The integrated strategy using AU-HPLC-QTOFMS, targeted separation, in vitro validation, and molecular docking was feasible for rapidly screening and directionally isolating pancreatic lipase inhibitors from C. tangutica.

Comparison of immunochemotherapy and chemotherapy alone in conversion therapy for locally advanced unresectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: The clinical value of preoperative immunochemotherapy and simple chemotherapy induction regimen in the conversion therapy of locally advanced unresectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is still unclear. Method: Retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with unresectable cT4b stage ESCC who underwent conversion surgery in our hospital from January 2020 to December 2022. According to the preoperative induction treatment plan, they were divided into induction immunochemotherapy group (iICT group) and induction chemotherapy group (iCT group). The conversion surgery rate, R0 resection rate, radiological and pathological tumor responses, safety, and short-term survival outcomes were analyzed. Results: The results showed that a total of 199 patients with cT4b locally advanced unresectable ESCC who underwent preoperative induction therapy were included in this study. Among them, there were 64 cases (32.2%) in the iICT group, 135 cases (67.8%) in the iCT group. There was a statistically significant difference in objective response rate (73.5% vs 48.9%) and conversion surgery rate (81.3% vs 66.7%), between the iICT and iCT groups (P=0.001 and P=0.019). Among the two groups of patients who underwent surgery, there were statistically significant differences in R0 resection rate (94.2% vs 82.2%) and pathological complete remission rate (23.1% vs 6.7%) between the iICT and iCT groups (P=0.043 and P=0.004). And there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of grade 3 and above between two groups (P=0.928). The 2-year EFS of the iICT group and iCT group were 76.4% and 42.4%, respectively, with statistically significant differences (P=0.006). Conclusions: Compared with simple chemotherapy, the combination of PD-1 inhibitors and chemotherapy can achieve better conversion surgery rate, tumor response and event-free survival in the conversion therapy of locally advanced unresectable ESCC.

Integrated morphological, physiological and transcriptomic analyses reveal the responses of Toona sinensis seedlings to low-nitrogen stress.

Nitrogen is one of the most essential elements for plant growth and development. In this study, the growth, physiology, and transcriptome of Toona sinensis (A. Juss) Roem seedlings were compared between low-nitrogen (LN) and normal-nitrogen (NN) conditions. These results indicate that LN stress adversely influences T. sinensis seedling growth. The activities of key enzymes related to nitrogen assimilation and phytohormone contents were altered by LN stress. A total of 2828 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in roots and 1547 in leaves were identified between the LN and NN treatments. A differential enrichment analysis of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways indicated that nitrogen and sugar metabolism, flavonoid biosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, and ABC transporters, were strongly affected by LN stress. In summary, this research provides information for further understanding the response of T. sinensis to LN stress.

Broadband Negative Photoconductive Response in Carbon Nanodots.

Due to the broadband response and low selectivity of external light, negative photoconductivity (NPC) effect holds great potential applications in photoelectric devices. Herein, different photoresponsive carbon nanodots (CDs) are prepared from diverse precursors and the broadband response from the NPC CDs are utilized to achieve the optoelectronic logic gates and optical imaging for the first time. In detail, the mcu-CDs which are prepared by the microwave-assisted polymerization of citric acid and urea possess the large specific surface area and abundant hydrophilic groups as sites for the adsorption of H2O molecules and thereby present a high conductivity in dark. Meanwhile, the low affinity of mcu-CDs to H2O molecules permits the light-induced desorption of H2O molecules by heat effect and thus endow the mcu-CDs with a low conductivity under illumination. The easy absorption and desorption of H2O molecules contribute to the extraordinary NPC of mcu-CDs. With the broadband NPC response in CDs, the optoelectronic logic gates and flexible optical imaging system are established, achieving the applications of "NOR" or "NAND" logic operations and high-quality optical images. These findings unveil the unique optoelectronic properties of CDs, and have the potential to advance the applications of CDs in optoelectronic devices.

High-resolution, large field-of-view label-free imaging via aberration-corrected, closed-form complex field reconstruction.

Computational imaging methods empower modern microscopes to produce high-resolution, large field-of-view, aberration-free images. Fourier ptychographic microscopy can increase the space-bandwidth product of conventional microscopy, but its iterative reconstruction methods are prone to parameter selection and tend to fail under excessive aberrations. Spatial Kramers-Kronig methods can analytically reconstruct complex fields, but is limited by aberration or providing extended resolution enhancement. Here, we present APIC, a closed-form method that weds the strengths of both methods while using only NA-matching and darkfield measurements. We establish an analytical phase retrieval framework which demonstrates the feasibility of analytically reconstructing the complex field associated with darkfield measurements. APIC can retrieve complex aberrations of an imaging system with no additional hardware and avoids iterative algorithms, requiring no human-designed convergence metrics while always obtaining a closed-form complex field solution. We experimentally demonstrate that APIC gives correct reconstruction results where Fourier ptychographic microscopy fails when constrained to the same number of measurements. APIC achieves 2.8 times faster computation using image tile size of 256 (length-wise), is robust against aberrations compared to Fourier ptychographic microscopy, and capable of addressing aberrations whose maximal phase difference exceeds 3.8π when using a NA 0.25 objective in experiment.

Robot-assisted Radical Prostatectomy with the KangDuo Surgical System Versus the da Vinci Si System: A Prospective, Double-center, Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: The KangDuo Surgical Robot (KD-SR) is a newly developed surgical robot. OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and efficacy of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) using the KD-SR with those of the da Vinci Si Surgical System (DV-SS-Si). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A prospective double-center noninferiority randomized controlled trial was conducted among 18-75-yr-old patients with suspected T1-2N0M0 prostate cancer (PCa) scheduled for RARP. INTERVENTION: RARP with the KD-SR (KD-RARP) versus RARP with the DV-SS-Si (DV-RARP). OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The primary outcome was surgical success, defined as follows: surgery can be performed according to the established protocol, without switching to other surgical modalities, and without secondary surgery due to surgical complications after surgery. The secondary outcome was short-term functional and oncological outcomes. The noninferiority threshold was set at 10%. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Eighty patients were enrolled, while the full analysis set finally included 79 patients (40 with KD-RARP and 39 with DV-RARP). The success rate was 100% in both groups. We could not find differences in urinary continence rate at 1, 2, 3, and 4 wk after catheter removal between the groups (p > 0.05). The rate of Clavien-Dindo grade II adverse events was 20% in the KD-RARP group and 17.9% in the DV-RARP group (p = 0.82), and no grade ≥III adverse events occurred. The median operation time was significantly longer in the KD-RARP group than in the DV-RARP group (177.5 vs 145 min, p = 0.012). The main limitations were the short follow-up period and that survival was not considered as the primary outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The KD-SR is a viable option for RARP, with acceptable short-term outcomes compared with the DV-SS-Si for T1-2 PCa. PATIENT SUMMARY: This is the first prospective randomized controlled trial to compare the KangDuo Surgical Robot (KD-SR) versus the da Vinci Si Surgical System (DV-SS-Si) for robot-assisted radical prostatectomy, which determines that the KD-SR is noninferior to the DV-SS-Si regarding safety and efficacy for T1-T2 prostate cancer.