[Recent advances in the development and application of effervescence-assisted microextraction techniques].

Effervescence-assisted microextraction (EAM) is a novel sample pretreatment method based on the reaction of CO2 and H+ donors to generate CO2 bubbles and promote rapid dispersion of the extractant. During this process, the unique dispersion method increases the contact area between the target molecule and the extraction solvent, and the adsorption/extraction efficiency of the adsorbent/extractant toward the target molecule is also enhanced. The EAM technique is of particular interest due its convenient application, low running costs, reduced solvent consumption, high extraction efficiency, and environmental friendliness. Benefiting from the rapid development of extractants, the evolution and application of the EAM technology is becoming more tuned and diversified. Indeed, the synthesis of new extractants, such as nanomaterials with multi-pore structures, large specific surface areas, and rich active sites, has attracted extensive attention, as has the development of ionic liquids with strong extraction abilities and high selectivities. As a result, the EAM technology has been widely applied to the pretreatment of target compounds in various samples, such as food, plant, biological, and environmental samples. However, since these samples often contain polysaccharides, peptides, proteins, inorganic salts, and other interfering substrates, it is necessary to remove some of these substances prior to extraction by EAM. This is commonly achieved using methods such as vortexing, centrifugation, and dilution, among others. The treated samples can then be extracted using the EAM method prior to detection using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) to detect substances such as heavy metal ions, pesticide residues, endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), and antibiotics. Using effervescence as a novel assisted method for the dispersion of solvents or adsorbents, the concentrations of Pb2+, Cd2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, bisphenol, estrogen, and the pyrethyl pesticides have previously been successfully determined. Moreover, many influencing factors have been evaluated during method development, including the composition of the effervescent tablet, the solution pH, the extraction temperature, the type and mass/volume of extractant, the type of eluent, the eluent concentration, the elution time, and the regeneration performance. Generally, the cumbersome single factor optimization and multi-factor optimization methods are also required to determine the optimal experimental conditions. Following determination of the optimal experimental conditions, the EAM method was validated by a series of experimental parameters including the linear range, the correlation coefficient (R2), the enrichment factor (EF), the limit of detection (LOD), and the limit of quantification (LOQ). In addition, the use of this method has been demonstrated in actual sample testing, and the obtained results have compared with those achieved using similar detection systems and methods to ultimately determine the accuracy, feasibility, and superiority of the developed method. In this paper, the construction of an EAM method based on nanomaterials, ionic liquids, and other emerging extractants is reviewed, wherein the preparation method, application range, and comparison of similar extractants were evaluated for the same extraction system. In addition, the current state-of-the-art in relation to EAM research and application when combined with HPLC, cold flame AAS, and other analytical techniques is summarized in terms of the detection of harmful substances in complex matrices. More specifically, the samples evaluated herein include dairy products, honey, beverages, surface water, vegetables, blood, urine, liver, and complex botanicals. Furthermore, issues related to the application of this technology are analyzed, and its future development trend in the field of microextraction is forecasted. Finally, the application prospects of EAM in the analysis of various pollutants and components are proposed to provide reference for monitoring pollutants in food, environmental, and biological samples.

The association of childhood maltreatment with Internet addiction: the serial mediating effects of cognitive emotion regulation strategies and depression.

OBJECTIVES: Childhood maltreatment, cognitive emotion regulation strategies (CERSs), and depression can be important in adolescents' Internet addiction. The current study aims to investigate the direct effect of childhood maltreatment on Internet addiction and its indirect effects via CERSs and depression. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: 4091 adolescents (age M = 13.64, SD = 1.59; 48.9 % males) were recruited from a public school in China. METHODS: In a cross-sectional design, participants completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire-Short version (CERQ-Short), the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). A latent structural equation model was used to test the hypotheses. RESULTS: After controlling for age, childhood maltreatment was directly associated with adolescents' Internet addiction (ß = 0.12, p < 0.001). Meanwhile, the serial mediating effect via maladaptive CERSs and depression was 0.02 (95 % CI [0.01, 0.04]), and via adaptive CERSs and depression was 0.001 (95 % CI [0.0004, 0.002]), demonstrating significant serial mediating role of CERSs and depression in this relationship. No gender difference was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that maladaptive CERSs and depression can be potential mechanisms relating childhood maltreatment to adolescents' Internet addiction, while adaptive CERSs can be a less influential factor for reducing Internet addiction.

Relief of Extracellular Matrix Deposition Repression by Downregulation of IRF1-Mediated TWEAK/Fn14 Signaling in Keloids.

Keloids represent a fibrotic disorder characterized by the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM). However, the mechanisms through which ECM deposition in keloids is regulated remain elusive. In this study, we found that the expression of both TWEAK and its cognate receptor Fn14 was significantly downregulated in keloids and that TWEAK/Fn14 signaling repressed the expression of ECM-related genes in keloid fibroblasts. The IRF1 gene was essential for this repression, and the TWEAK/Fn14 downstream transcription factor p65 directly bound to the promoter of the IRF1 gene and induced its expression. Furthermore, in patients with keloid, the expression of TWEAK and Fn14 was negatively correlated with that of ECM genes and positively correlated with that of IRF1. These observations indicate that relief of TWEAK/Fn14/IRF1-mediated ECM deposition repression contributes to keloid pathogenesis, and the identified mechanism and related molecules provide potential targets for keloid treatment in the future.

[Risk Assessment Method of Non-point Source Pollution Output for Watershed Using High Resolution Data].

In recent years, non-point source pollution has become the main cause of water quality deterioration in some reservoirs in China. Taking the Panjiakou Reservoir as an example, the classical output risk model was improved by introducing a precipitation factor and terrain factor. Combined with high-resolution satellite precipitation products (GPM) and GF-6 satellite images, a high-resolution data-driven risk assessment method for non-point source pollution output was established to study the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of non-point source pollution output risk in the Panjiakou Reservoir basin. The results showed that the non-point source pollution output risk was high in the study area in 2018. The areas with higher and highest risk of nitrogen pollution output accounted for approximately 70.6% of the total watershed area, whereas the higher risk of phosphorus pollution output accounted for approximately 21.9%. The temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of non-point source pollution output risk in the Panjiakou Reservoir basin were analyzed. It was found that the non-point source pollution output risk in the Panjiakou Reservoir basin increased first and then decreased from April to September. This was consistent with the spatial and temporal distribution of precipitation in the basin. Combined with the analysis of land use distribution characteristics, the upstream area of the basin was mainly cultivated land, whereas cities were concentrated in the downstream portion of the basin. Affected by agricultural production and human activities, the risk of non-point source pollution output was higher in these regions. In view of the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of non-point source pollution output risk, it is necessary to formulate a reasonable agricultural fertilization method, plan the landscape layout of source-sinks, and construct vegetation buffer zones.

TSP1 promotes fibroblast proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition via the IL6/JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway in keloids.

Keloids are benign fibroproliferative diseases with abnormally proliferated bulges beyond the edge of the skin lesions, and they are characterized by uncontrolled fibroblast proliferation and excessive extracellular matrix deposition in the dermis. However, the definite mechanisms that increase fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition in keloids remain unclear. Thrombospondin 1 (TSP1) has been suggested to play an important role in wound healing and fibrotic disorders, but its role in keloids is unknown. In this study, we aimed to clarify the specific role of TSP1 in keloids and explore the potential mechanism. Our results demonstrated that TSP1 was highly expressed in keloid lesions compared to normal skin. Knockdown of TSP1 in keloid fibroblasts decreased cell proliferation and collagen I deposition. Exogenous TSP1 treatment increased cell proliferation and collagen I deposition in normal fibroblasts. We further investigated the underlying mechanism and found that TSP1 promoted fibroblast proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition by upregulating the IL6/JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Moreover, we verified that TSP1 expression was positively correlated with IL6/STAT3 signalling activity in keloids. Taken together, our findings indicate that TSP1 promotes keloid development via the IL6/JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway and blocking TSP1 may represent a potential strategy for keloid therapy.

Efficacy and Safety of Programmed Cell Death 1 Inhibitor Monotherapy Versus Chemotherapy as Second-Line Treatment for Advanced Esophageal Cancer: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: With programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) inhibitors approved for second-line treatment of advanced esophageal cancer, immunotherapy and chemotherapy have gradually become the main treatments for second-line treatment of patients with advanced esophageal cancer (AEC). This meta-analysis and systematic review were conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PD-1 inhibitors monotherapy versus chemotherapy in second-line treatment of AEC. METHODS: Eligible randomized controlled trials were searched in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library and abstracts presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology or European Society of Medical Oncology were reviewed to assess the efficacy and tolerability of PD-1/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors relative to chemotherapy for AEC from January 2016 to October 2020. Patients diagnosed with AEC and progressing after first-line therapy were included in this study. Hazard ratios (HRs) of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), risk ratios (RRs) of objective response rate (ORR), and the odds ratios (ORs) of adverse effects (AEs) were calculated. FINDINGS: The study included 4 randomized controlled trials with 1683 patients. The results indicated that PD-1 inhibitors prolonged the OS (HR = 0.79; 95% CI, 0.71-0.88; P < 0.01) and improved the ORR (RR = 3.00; 95% CI, 2.36-3.82; P = 0.01) but did not improve the PFS (HR = 0.96; 95% CI, 0.76-1.20; P = 0.692) compared with chemotherapy in the second-line treatment of AEC. PD-1 inhibitors alone were associated with a lower incidence of all treatment-related AEs (OR = 0.29; 95% CI, 0.09-0.89; P = 0.03) and grade 3 to 5 treatment-related AEs (OR = 0.26; 95% CI, 0.16-0.44; P < 0.01) versus chemotherapy. PD-1 inhibitors prolonged OS mainly in the following patient groups: male, age <65 years, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 1, or PD-L1 tumor proportion score ≥10%. Asian patients had a longer OS than non-Asian patients (P = 0.01). IMPLICATIONS: The available evidence indicates that the efficacy and tolerability of PD-1 inhibitors were better than chemotherapy in the second-line treatment of AEC, and the benefiting population of these patients was limited to males, those <65 years of age, those with a Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 1, or those with a PD-L1 tumor proportion score ≥10%. Notably, Asian patients receiving immune monotherapy had longer OS than non-Asian patients.

Single-cell RNA-seq reveals fibroblast heterogeneity and increased mesenchymal fibroblasts in human fibrotic skin diseases.

Fibrotic skin disease represents a major global healthcare burden, characterized by fibroblast hyperproliferation and excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix. Fibroblasts are found to be heterogeneous in multiple fibrotic diseases, but fibroblast heterogeneity in fibrotic skin diseases is not well characterized. In this study, we explore fibroblast heterogeneity in keloid, a paradigm of fibrotic skin diseases, by using single-cell RNA-seq. Our results indicate that keloid fibroblasts can be divided into 4 subpopulations: secretory-papillary, secretory-reticular, mesenchymal and pro-inflammatory. Interestingly, the percentage of mesenchymal fibroblast subpopulation is significantly increased in keloid compared to normal scar. Functional studies indicate that mesenchymal fibroblasts are crucial for collagen overexpression in keloid. Increased mesenchymal fibroblast subpopulation is also found in another fibrotic skin disease, scleroderma, suggesting this is a broad mechanism for skin fibrosis. These findings will help us better understand skin fibrotic pathogenesis, and provide potential targets for fibrotic disease therapies.

Comparative efficacy and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors versus platinum-based chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a meta analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of inhibitors of programmed cell death receptor 1 (PD-1) and its ligand, programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1), in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors relative to platinum-based chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane libraries from 2015 to 2020 were searched, along with review of studies at American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and European society for Medical Oncology (ESMO). Pooled hazard ratios (HR) for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) and odds ratios (OR) for adverse events (AE) were calculated using STATA and Revman software. RESULTS: PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors alone or combined with chemotherapy significantly improved OS (HR = 0.82, 95% CI:0.74-0.91, P = 0.01 or HR = 0.74, 95% CI:0.67-0.82, P = 0.001). PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors alone did not benefit PFS (HR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.89-1.10, P = 0.892), while combination therapy led to prolonged PFS (HR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.56-0.67, P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that in NSCLC with PD-L1 ≥ 50%, treatment with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors alone significantly improved both PFS and OS. In patients subjected to the combined treatment regimen, we observed significant differences in PFS among groups stratified by PD-L1 expression (p < 0.001), immune drug type (p = 0.029), gender (p = 0.014) and liver metastasis (p = 0.035) and OS among groups stratified by immune drug type (p < 0.001), gender (P = 0.001) and smoking status (P = 0.041). Safety analysis showed that combination therapy increased chemotherapy-induced adverse events (AE), while PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors alone were associated with a lower incidence of any grade of treatment-related AEs (TRAE). A higher incidence of Grade 3-5 TRAEs and hypothyroidism was observed with PD-1 inhibitors than PD-L1 inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: First-line treatment of advanced NSCLC with immune monotherapy or immunochemotherapy confers a greater survival benefit than chemotherapy alone. Combination of chemotherapy with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors leads to an increase in adverse events, and PD-1 inhibitors offer enhanced survival benefits and fewer adverse events than PD-L1 inhibitors. Remarkably, female patients undergoing combination therapy had longer overall survival than male patients.

Asymmetry of Cerebral Peduncles for Predicting Motor Function Restoration in Young Patients Before Hemispherectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Hemispherectomy has been used successfully for patients with medically intractable epilepsy. However, it is difficult to predict postoperative motor function. The aim of the present study was to analyze whether the preoperative asymmetry of cerebral peduncles could be used to predict motor function restoration before hemispherectomy for young patients with medically intractable epilepsy. METHODS: The clinical record and magnetic resonance imaging data of 53 patients were analyzed retrospectively. The correlation between preoperative cerebral peduncle asymmetry ratio (pCPAR) and pre- and postoperative changes in motor function was evaluated, as well as the influencing factors for pCPAR, such as duration and etiology factors. The restoration of motor function was defined as changes in pre- and postoperative hemiparesis. RESULTS: The pCPARs of patients with improved and unchanged hemiparesis were significantly greater than that of worsened patients. Patients with a pCPAR of more than 1.5 had an obvious restorative capacity of motor function of the intact hemisphere, and these patients had a lower risk of worsening hemiparesis. The duration in the improved/unchanged and worsened groups was 5.84 ± 3.85 years and 2.67 ± 2.03 years, respectively. Furthermore, there were more patients with no-progressive pathology in the group in whom pCPAR was more than 1.5. CONCLUSIONS: pCPAR is a useful and objective indicator for predicting the restoration of motor function in pediatric patients with medically intractable epilepsy before hemispherectomy. Most patients with nonprogressive pathology and a duration of more than 5 years presented with greater pCPARs, exhibited better restoration of motor function, and had less risk of worsening hemiparesis.

Carboxylate-functionalized sugarcane bagasse as an effective and renewable adsorbent to remove methylene blue.

This study prepared a carboxylate-functionalized sugarcane bagasse (CF-SCB) from sugarcane bagasse (SCB) via a simple and low-toxicity chemical modification to enhance its capacity for adsorbing methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions. The success of chemical modification was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), the pore area and porosity, and zeta potential measurement analysis. The adsorption capacity of CF-SCB was investigated at different pHs, ionic strengths, temperatures, contact times and initial dye concentrations. Equilibrium data were best described by the Langmuir isotherm model, and the maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of CF-SCB (296.74 mg g-1) was greatly improved compared with SCB (77.16 mg g-1) at 30 °C. The thermodynamic study indicated that MB adsorption onto CF-SCB was a spontaneous, endothermic and entropy increased process. Adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order mode, and the adsorption mechanism was based on electrostatic interactions. The reusability study showed that CF-SCB had reasonably good reuse potential. All the results suggested that CF-SCB has high potential to be used as an effective and renewable adsorbent for MB removal from wastewater.

[The effect of periodontal initial therapy on chronic periodontitis and subgingival periodontal pathogen].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of periodontal initial therapy on clinical parameters and subgingival periodontal pathogen in patients with chronic periodontitis. METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients with chronic periodontitis were included. Probing depth (PD), attachment loss (AL), plaque index (PLI) and gingival index (GI) were evaluated at baseline and after-initial therapy. P.g and A.a in subgingival plaque were investigated by real-time PCR. Data was statistically analyzed by SAS6.12 software for Student's t test. RESULTS: The PD, AL, PLI and GI were significantly decreased after periodontal initial therapy (P<0.01), and meanwhile the ratio of P.g versus total bacteria was significantly decreased after-initial therapy (P<0.05). However, the change of ratio of A.a versus total bacteria was not significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Periodontal initial therapy could effectively control the inflammation of chronic periodontitis, and decrease the ratio of P.g in subgingival plaque.

[A study on the mechanism of copper-induced resistance to potato virus Y-vein necrosis strain (PVY(N)) in tobacco].

In order to reveal the induced resistance mechanism of tobacco treated with copper solution to potato virus Y-vein necrosis strain (PVY(N)), disease indexes, contents of virus and some physiological and biochemical indexes in tobacco were studied. The results showed that when treated at the copper concentration of 0.8 mg x L(-1), the symptom displayed and vein necrosis on tobacco were postponed, the disease index and content of virus sharply decreased , and the content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity remarkably increased. Furthermore, vein necrosis closely linked to contents of total phenol and flavonoid. In this study, the contents of total phenol and flavonoid were promoted when treated with a solution at the copper concentration of 0.8 mg x L(-1). But the contents of total phenol and flavonoid reached to the first peak at the 3rd day after inoculation, and then decreased to the lowest levels which even were lower than those of the control after inoculating PVY(N). Then the contents of total phenol and flavonoid increased slowly from the 6td but still lower than those of the control. The result implied that spraying copper solution might play an important role in induced resistance of tobacco to vein necrosis disease and strengthen the antiviral capability to PVY(N).

[A study on the state of periodontal health of 400 professional adults by random sampling in Shanghai].

PURPOSE: To investigate and analyze the state of periodontal health of 400 adults at their post and risk factors in Shanghai. METHODS: 400 subjects (249 male, 151 female), aged from 25 to 59, were requested to fill a questionnaire. The probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), tooth mobility (TM) and bleeding on probing(BOP) on 6 sites of each indicated tooth were measured and recorded. SAS 6.12 software package was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: OHI-S of Shanghai adults at their post was 2.16 +/- 0.99 and GI = 1.2227, indicating moderate gingivitis. The difference of periodontal disease among the adults at varied occupations in Shanghai municipality was significant. Periodontal destruction of the clerk group was the lightest The difference of periodontal disease among the adults at varied age groups in Shanghai municipality was also significant. Periodontal destruction of the elder group was heavier than of the lower age group. 146 subjects suffered from initial to moderate periodontitis. 140 subjects suffered from advanced periodontitis. 79, 317 and 4 subjects had received college education, high school education and postgraduate school education respectively. There was no relationship between the severity of periodontitis and educational level. 330 out of 400 (82.5%) subjects had never been treated, 70 out of 400 (12.5%) had scaling,and only 3.25% of subjects had received regular periodontal treatment. CONCLUSION: It is very important to develop an education program on oral health for people in Shanghai. Supported by National "Tenth Five-Year" Key Project (Grant No.2004BA720A26), Research Fund of the Science and Technology Committee of Shanghai Municipality (Grant No.0352nm126) and Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project(Grant No.94-III-008).

[The relationship between the calcaneus density and the degree of inflammation in patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between the calcaneus density and the degree of inflammation in patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis. METHODS: Thirty one volunteers with healthy periodontium (as control group) and 38 patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis (as experimental group) were involved in this study. The average ages of the two groups were 27 and 23 years respectively. The clinical periodontal indexes and panoramic films were measured first. And the broadband ultrasonic attenuation(BUA) and T-score of the calcaneus were then determined using ultrasonic bone densitometer. SAS6.12 software package was used to analyse the data obtained. RESULTS: The BUA values of the two groups were 62.76+/-4.61 and 70.47+/-4.41 respectively, the BUA value of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.001). Moreover, T-score was different between the two groups and the score in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The BUA and T-score in patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis were significantly lower than that in the controls with healthy periodontium, which indicated that patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis had overall bone density decrease.