A novel method for precise implantation of tracheal Y-shaped stent.

The tracheal Y-shaped stent is mainly used for the treatment of critical patients with airway stenosis or esophagotracheal fistula near carina. A novel method for precise implantation of Y-shaped tracheal stents was developed using double-lumen endotracheal intubation and flexible bronchoscopy. This approach aims to address the limitations associated with X-ray or rigid bronchoscopy guidance, such as operational difficulties and the risk of inaccurate stent placement leading to implantation failure or suffocation. With this new technique, 13 tracheal Y-shaped stents were successfully implanted. This method shows promise in reducing the complexity of stent implantation and facilitating timely treatment for patients in need. Additionally, it has the potential to update current operating standards and guidelines for this procedure.

Removal of perfluoroalkanesulfonic acids (PFSAs) from synthetic and natural groundwater by electrocoagulation.

Severe contaminations of perfluoroalkanesulfonic acids (PFSAs) existed in the natural groundwater beneath a fluorochemical industrial park (FIP) in Fuxin of China. In the present study, systematic researches were performed to determine the best conditions of efficient treatment for 1 mg L-1 of PFSAs in the synthetic groundwater samples with the periodically reverse electrocoagulation (PREC) using the Al-Zn electrodes. Based upon the orthogonal experiments, the removal efficiencies of perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) could reach 87.4%, 95.6%, and 100%, respectively, within the initial 10 min, under the optimal conditions of voltage at 12.0 V, pH at 7.0, and stirring speed at 400 rpm. In addition, the optimized PREC technique was further applied to remove the PFSA contaminations from the natural groundwater samples of the Fuxin FIP, subsequently generating the removal efficiencies of three target PFSA analytes in the range between 59.0% and 100% at 60 min. Moreover, the SEM-EDS analyses showed the hydroxide flocs formed during the process of PREC treatment had clear characteristics of floc aggregates, with the major constituents of O, Al, C, N, Zn, and F elements. As a result, long-chain PFHxS and PFOS tended to be eliminated completely from the natural groundwater by their absorptions on the Al-Zn hydroxide flocs, potentially because of their higher hydrophobicity compared with short-chain PFBS.

Necessity of adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy for diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis of the knee: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is an idiopathic, proliferative disorder lesion of synovial tissue, which is regarded as a benign disease, but has a local invasion. Up to now, these are no consensus about the etiology and pathogenesis of PVNS. Because of the lack of typical clinical features, misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis are not uncommon, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can assist diagnosis and histopathological examination is recognized as the gold standard for the final diagnosis. Because this disease is so rare, there is no standard treatment. Surgical resection of the lesion is considered the preferred treatment, but postoperative recurrence is a problem that cannot be ignored. Postoperative radiotherapy is necessary, especially for patients with diffuse PVNS of the knee. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 27-year-old female teacher presented with 3 years chronic pain of the right knee, and progressive swelling aggravated for 1 week. The range of motion of the knee was limited. DIAGNOSES: Clinical and laboratory examination failed to provide definitive diagnosis. Imaging can assist in diagnosis, and pathology is the gold standard. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), antihemolytic streptococcus O (ASO), and rheumatoid factors (RF) were all negative. Joint puncture revealed giant cell tumor of the synovial membrane. PVNS was confirmed by postoperative pathology. The characteristic T2 weighted low signal of MRI suggests the recurrence of PVNS. INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent 2 stages of treatment: open synovectomy was performed in the first place and postoperative external radiotherapy was not considered. After 2 years of disease-free remission, she was diagnosed with a recurrence of the disease by MRI. Further, arthroscopic total synovectomy of the right knee was performed and external beam radiotherapy was carried out after the operation. OUTCOMES: Up to now, the patient was followed up for 3 years without any sign of recurrence. LESSONS: Adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy can improve the local control rate, it is a reliable treatment method for diffused PVNS.

Carotid artery stiffness evaluated early by wave intensity in normal left ventricular function in post-radiotherapy patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

PURPOSE: This study aims to assess carotid elasticity early in normal left ventricular function in post-radiotherapy patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by wave intensity. METHODS: Sixty-seven post-radiotherapy patients all with normal left ventricular function were classified into group NPC1 and group NPC2 based on their carotid intima-media thickness. Thirty age- and sex-matched NPC patients without any history of irradiation and chemotherapy were included as a control group. Carotid parameters, including stiffness constant (ß), pressure-strain elastic modulus (Ep), arterial compliance (AC), stiffness constant pulse wave velocity (PWVß), and wave intensity pulse wave velocity (PWVWI) were measured. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in conventional echocardiographic variables among the three groups. In comparison with the control group, ß, Ep, PWVß, and PWVWI were significantly increased, while AC was significantly decreased in the NPC1 and NPC2 groups, and there were differences between the NPC1 group and NPC2 group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that carotid artery stiffness increased with reduced carotid compliance in post-RT with NPC.

PbS Quantum Dots Sensitized TiO2 Solar Cells Prepared by Successive Ionic Layer Absorption and Reaction with Different Adsorption Layers.

Lead sulfide (PbS) quantum dots (QDs) have been synthesized via successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) on a titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoporous film for the fabrication of quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs). The reaction is environmental friendly and energy saving. The green synthesized PbS QDs match the maximum remittance region of the solar spectrum and are suitable as sensitizers for TiO2 electrodes for cell devices application. PbS QDs were adsorbed in different adsorption layers in order to improve the solar cell performance. The optical properties of PbS sensitized TiO2 films were studied by scanning electron microscopy and UV-Vis absorbance spectroscopy. The photovoltaic characteristics of the PbS QDSCs were analyzed by I-V characteristics and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. As a result, the light harvesting was enhanced with increasing SILAR adsorption layers. The maximum photovoltaic conversion efficiency of the PbS QDSCs (3.14%) was obtained at the 12 adsorption layers with the highest short circuit current density and lowest charge transfer resistance.