Expansion of WallStents® After Initial Deployment in Nonthrombotic Iliac Vein Lesions.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the structural changes of Wallstents® (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA) in vivo following deployment in iliac veins. METHODS: This retrospective single-center study was performed from September 2012 to April 2013 and included 100 office-based patients who underwent initial stent placement for nonthrombotic iliac vein lesions with Wallstent® as well as a second procedure for stenting of the contralateral iliac vein. Measurements were obtained with marker balloons and the diameters of the stents were compared at the time of the index procedure to the secondary procedure. RESULTS: The average time between the two procedures was 28 days (range 3-237, SD ± 39.89). The overall average stent diameter after the index procedure was 16.38 mm (range 10.95-21.45, SD ± 2.24). The overall average stent diameter of the index stent when remeasured during the second intervention was 17.58 mm (range 12.84-24.11, SD ± 2.38, p=0.0003) which was significantly different from the initial measurements. There was no difference when comparing changes in stent diameter by gender or laterality of procedure. However, there was a significant difference in expansion of stents when placed in the common iliac vein vs the external iliac or common femoral veins. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that self-expanding Wallstents® can continue to expand days to weeks in vivo following initial deployment. Additionally, we found that the change in diameter from initial placement to follow up was more significant in stents placed in the proximal and middle segments of the common iliac vein. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Wallstents® are durable implants designed to last within a patient for the rest of their life, it is important to understand the structural changes occurring after their placement. This study allows for a better understanding of Wallstent® dynamics in vivo.

Efficient inference of large prokaryotic pangenomes with PanTA.

Pangenome inference is an indispensable step in bacterial genomics, yet its scalability poses a challenge due to the rapid growth of genomic collections. This paper presents PanTA, a software package designed for constructing pangenomes of large bacterial datasets, showing unprecedented efficiency levels multiple times higher than existing tools. PanTA introduces a novel mechanism to construct the pangenome progressively without rebuilding the accumulated collection from scratch. The progressive mode is shown to consume orders of magnitude less computational resources than existing solutions in managing growing datasets. The software is open source and is publicly available at https://github.com/amromics/panta and at 10.6084/m9.figshare.23724705 .

Straightforward electrochemical synthesis of a Co3O4 nanopetal/ZnO nanoplate p-n junction for photoelectrochemical water splitting.

Hydrogen production through photoelectrochemical (PEC) reactions is an innovative and promising approach to producing clean energy. The PEC working electrode of a Co3O4/ZnO-based p-n heterojunction was prepared by a straightforward electrochemical deposition with different deposition times onto an FTO (Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide) glass substrate. The successful synthesis of the materials was confirmed through analysis using XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDX, DRS, and PL techniques. Mott-Schottky plots and some characterization studies also checked the determination of the formation of the p-n junction. Co3O4/ZnO/FTO with a Co3O4 deposition time of 2 minutes exhibited the lowest onset potential of 0.82 V and the lowest overpotential of 470 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm -2. Furthermore, the photo-conversion efficiency of the Co3O4/ZnO/FTO sample showed 1.4 times higher current density than the ZnO/FTO sample. A mechanism is also proposed to enhance the Co3O4/ZnO/FTO electrode photo-electrocatalytic activity involved in the water-splitting reaction. The Co3O4/ZnO/FTO electrode shows significant potential as a promising PEC electrode to produce hydrogen.

Indocyanine green uptake by human tumor and non­tumor cell lines and tissue.

Indocyanine green (ICG) is a potential promising dye for a better intraoperative tumor border definition and an improved patient outcome by potentially improving tumor border visualization compared with traditional white light guided surgery. Here, the cellular uptake of ICG in human squamous cell carcinoma (SCC026) and immortalized non-cancer skin (HaCaT) cell lines was evaluated to study the tumor-specific cellular uptake of ICG. The spatial distribution of ICG inside tumor tissue was investigated in tissue sections of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma at a microscopic level. ICG uptake and internalization was observed in living cells after 2.5 h and in the nucleus after 24 h. In dead cells, higher and faster uptake was observed. In the tissue sections, higher ICG signal intensity could be detected in connective tissue and surrounding clusters and blood vessels. In conclusion, no distinct ICG uptake by tumor cells was detected in cancer cell lines and tumor tissue. ICG localization in certain regions of tumor tissue appears to be a result of enhanced tissue permeability and retention, but not specific to tumor cells.

Cardiac Xenotransplantation: A Narrative Review.

Cardiac xenotransplantation (cXT) has emerged as a solution to heart donor scarcity, prompting an exploration of its scientific, ethical, and regulatory facets. The review begins with genetic modifications enhancing pig hearts for human transplantation, navigating through immunological challenges, rejection mechanisms, and immune responses. Key areas include preclinical milestones, complement cascade roles, and genetic engineering to address hyperacute rejection. Physiological counterbalance systems, like human thrombomodulin and endothelial protein C receptor upregulation in porcine xenografts, highlight efforts for graft survival enhancement. Evaluating pig and baboon donors and challenges with non-human primates illuminates complexities in donor species selection. Ethical considerations, encompassing animal rights, welfare, and zoonotic disease risks, are critically examined in the cXT context. The review delves into immune control mechanisms with aggressive immunosuppression and clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) technology, elucidating hyperacute rejection, complement activation, and antibody-mediated rejection intricacies. CRISPR/Cas9's role in creating pig endothelial cells expressing human inhibitor molecules is explored for rejection mitigation. Ethical and regulatory aspects emphasize the role of committees and international guidelines. A forward-looking perspective envisions precision medical genetics, artificial intelligence, and individualized heart cultivation within pigs as transformative elements in cXT's future is also explored. This comprehensive analysis offers insights for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers, addressing the current state, and future prospects of cXT.

Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Pathogens Isolated from Patients with Wound Infection at a Teaching Hospital in Vietnam.

Purpose: At a teaching Hospital in Vietnam, the persistently high incidence of diagnosed wound infection poses ongoing challenges to treatment. This study seeks to explore the causative agents of wound infection and their antimicrobial and multidrug resistance patterns. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Microbiology, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam. Data on microorganisms that caused wound infection and their antimicrobial resistance patterns was recorded from hospitalized patients from 2014 to 2021. Using the chi-square test, we analyzed the initial isolation from wound infection specimens collected from individual patients. Results: Over a third (34.9%) of wound infection samples yielded bacterial cultures. Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent bacteria, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Worryingly high resistance rates were observed for several antibiotics, particularly among Gram-negative bacteria. Ampicillin displayed the highest resistance (91.9%), while colistin and ertapenem remained the most effective. In Gram-positive bacteria, glycopeptides like teicoplanin and vancomycin (0% and 3.3% resistance, respectively) were most effective, but their use was limited. Clindamycin and tetracycline showed decreasing effectiveness. Resistance rates differed between surgical and non-surgical wards, highlighting the complex dynamics of antimicrobial resistance within hospitals. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was substantial, with Gram-negative bacteria exhibiting a 63.6% MDR rate. Acinetobacter baumannii showed the highest MDR rate (88.0%). Conclusion: This study investigated wound infection characteristics, antibiotic resistance patterns of common bacteria, and variations by hospital ward. S. aureus was the most prevalent bacteria, and concerning resistance rates were observed, particularly among Gram-negative bacteria. These findings highlight the prevalence of multidrug resistance in wound infections, emphasizing the importance of infection control measures and judicious antibiotic use.

Comparative genomics revealed new insights into the plastome evolution of Ludwigia (Onagraceae, Myrtales).

The primrose-willow (Ludwigia L.), a well-defined genus of the Onagraceae family, comprises 87 species widely distributed worldwide. In this study, we sequenced and characterized the complete chloroplast (cp) genomes of three species in the genus, including Ludwigia adscendens, Ludwigia hyssopifolia, and Ludwigia prostrata. Three Ludwigia cp genomes ranged from 158,354 to 159,592 bp in size, and each contained 113 genes, including 79 unique protein-coding genes (PCGs), four rRNA genes, and 30 tRNA genes. A comparison of the Ludwigia cp genomes revealed that they were highly conserved in gene composition, gene orientation, and GC content. Moreover, we compared the structure of cp genomes and reconstructed phylogenetic relationships with related species in the Onagraceae family. Regarding contraction/expansion of inverted repeat (IR) region, two kinds of expansion IR region structures were found in Oenothera, Chamaenerion, and Epilobium genera, with primitive IR structures in Ludwigia and Circeae genera. The regions clpP, ycf2, and ycf1 genes possessed highly divergent nucleotides among all available cp genomes of the Onagraceae family. The phylogenetic reconstruction using 79 PCGs from 39 Onagraceae cp genomes inferred that Ludwigia (including L. adscendens, L. hyssopifolia, L. prostrata, and Ludwigia octovalvis) clade was monophyletic and well-supported by the bootstrap and posterior probability values. This study provides the reference cp genomes of three Ludwigia species, which can be used for species identification and phylogenetic reconstruction of Ludwigia and Onagraceae taxa.

Lineage-informative microhaplotypes for recurrence classification and spatio-temporal surveillance of Plasmodium vivax malaria parasites.

Challenges in classifying recurrent Plasmodium vivax infections constrain surveillance of antimalarial efficacy and transmission. Recurrent infections may arise from activation of dormant liver stages (relapse), blood-stage treatment failure (recrudescence) or reinfection. Molecular inference of familial relatedness (identity-by-descent or IBD) can help resolve the probable origin of recurrences. As whole genome sequencing of P. vivax remains challenging, targeted genotyping methods are needed for scalability. We describe a P. vivax marker discovery framework to identify and select panels of microhaplotypes (multi-allelic markers within small, amplifiable segments of the genome) that can accurately capture IBD. We evaluate panels of 50-250 microhaplotypes discovered in a global set of 615 P. vivax genomes. A candidate global 100-microhaplotype panel exhibits high marker diversity in the Asia-Pacific, Latin America and horn of Africa (median HE = 0.70-0.81) and identifies 89% of the polyclonal infections detected with genome-wide datasets. Data simulations reveal lower error in estimating pairwise IBD using microhaplotypes relative to traditional biallelic SNP barcodes. The candidate global panel also exhibits high accuracy in predicting geographic origin and captures local infection outbreak and bottlenecking events. Our framework is open-source enabling customised microhaplotype discovery and selection, with potential for porting to other species or data resources.

Memory B cell responses induced by pneumococcal conjugate vaccine schedules with fewer doses: analysis of a randomised-controlled trial in Viet Nam.

The use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) schedules with fewer doses are being considered to reduce costs and improve access, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. While several studies have assessed their immunogenicity, there are limited data on their potential for long-term immune protection, as assessed by pneumococcal serotype-specific memory B cell (Bmem) responses. This current study reports secondary outcome data that aims to compare Bmem responses following reduced-dose (0 + 1 and 1 + 1) schedules of PCV10 and PCV13 in Vietnamese infants from our randomised-controlled trial (trial registration number NCT03098628). Following vaccination at 12 months of age, Bmem levels for most serotypes peaked seven days post-vaccination and were higher in magnitude for the 1 + 1 than 0 + 1 schedules and for PCV13 than PCV10. Furthermore, Bmem did not wane as rapidly as IgG levels by 24 months of age. Further studies are needed to assess the use of Bmem as markers of long-term protection against pneumococcal carriage and disease, which is crucial to generate data for immunisation program decision-making.

Rapid and efficient dual detection of Zn2+ ions and oxytetracycline hydrochloride using a responsive fluorescent "on-off" sensor based on simple salen-type Schiff base ligand.

This research has progressed a effective dual detection chemosensor of zinc ion and oxytetracycline hydrochloride antibiotic based on fluorescence technique. A straightforward method utilizing microwave irradiation was employed to synthesize the salen-type Schiff base ligand N,N'-bis(salicylaldehyde)4,5-dichloro-1,2-phenylenediamine (H2I), providing a good 70% yield. In ethanol, the H2I sensor demonstrated remarkable rapidity, selectivity, and sensitivity in detecting zinc ions. The fluorescence spectrum exhibited a 44-fold substantial enhancement at 522 nm and achieved a low limit of detection (LOD) of 1.47 µM. The ability to recognize zinc ions in different real water samples demonstrated from 98.67% to 103.31% in recovery. Interestingly, a naked-eye visible fluorescence color of H2I solution impregnated filter papers turned colorless into yellow under UV irradiation by adding Zn2+ ion, renders it suitable for developing a practical zinc ion detection kit test. In particular, the I-Zn2+ complex effectively quenched the fluorescence toward oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC) with a LOD value of 1.49×10-2 µM in DMSO: H2O (6:4, v/v). This is a novel and effective procedure in sensing OTC antibiotic by the I-Zn2+ complex. These findings hold immense potential for the development of dual fluorescent probes, thereby enhancing sensitivity and specificity in identifying metal ions and antibiotics in wide range of applications.

A comprehensive study on factors influencing online impulse buying behavior: Evidence from Shopee video platform.

The rapid expansion of online commerce has significantly altered consumer behavior, particularly among digitally-savvy Generation Z individuals. This research analyzes the influence of product presentation videos on online impulsive buying behaviors in this demographic, using the Shopee video platform as a case study. The study aims to investigate how various external factors, including time pressure (TP), quantity pressure (QP), economic benefits (EB), social influence (SI), visual (VS), and sound (SO), affect online impulse buying by mediating emotions of arousal (AR) and pleasure (PL). This study employed a quantitative approach, and data was collected through a Likert scale questionnaire using a non-probability sampling technique. PLS-SEM statistical analysis was utilized to assess the research model, exploring the interplay of these stimuli in shaping impulsive buying behavior on the Shopee platform, among 438 Vietnamese Generation Z. The study's results indicate significant impacts of all factors on arousal, while time pressure, quantity pressure, and economic benefits did not significantly influence pleasure. Notably, arousal and pleasure emerged as mediators shaping impulsive buying decisions among Generation Z. These findings indicate that strategic use of external factors can effectively trigger emotions, leading to impulsive buying among digital natives. This also offers valuable insights for marketers looking to enhance e-commerce strategies on platforms such as Shopee video. Marketers can trigger customers' impulsive buying by creating a sense of urgency (e.g. flash sales, limited quantities), useful online reviewing, and personalizing discounts. Additionally, using visual and sound strategies in a positive online experience can further enhance this behavior and shape preferences. This study's findings contribute to a deeper understanding of consumer behavior theories in the digital era, highlighting the intricate roles of arousal and pleasure in online impulse buying.

Impact of ligand fields on Kubas interaction of open copper sites in MOFs with hydrogen molecules: an electronic structural insight.

We investigate hydrogen sorption on open copper sites in various ligand coordinations of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), including the triangular T(CuL3) in MFU-4l, the linear L(CuL2) in NU2100, and the paddlewheel P(CuL4)2 in HKUST-1 from an electronic structure perspective using DFT calculations. The ligand-field-induced splitting of d states and spd hybridizations in copper are thoroughly examined. The hybridization between Cu s, p, and d orbitals occurs in various forms to optimize the Coulomb repulsion of different ligand fields. Despite the Cu+ oxidation state, which is typically conducive to strong Kubas interactions with hydrogen molecules, the vacant spd z 2 hybrid orbitals of the open copper site in the L(CuL2) coordination are unsuitable for facilitating electron forward donation, thereby preventing effective hydrogen adsorption. In contrast, the vacant spd z 2 hybrid orbitals in the T(CuL3) and P(CuL4)2 coordinations can engage in electron forward donations, forming bonding states between the Cu spd z 2 and H2 σ bonding orbitals. The forward donation in the T(CuL3) configuration is significantly stronger than in the P(CuL4)2 configuration due to both the lower energy of the vacant orbitals and the larger contributions of p and d z 2 characters to the hybrid orbital. Additionally, the occupied Cu pd xz/yz and pd x 2-y 2 hybrid orbitals in the T(CuL3) configuration promote electron back donation to the H2 σ* antibonding orbital, leading to the formation of π bonding states. In the P(CuL4)2 coordination, the repulsion from the electron density distributed over the surrounding ligands prevents the H2 molecule from approaching the copper center closely enough for the back donation to occur. The complete Kubas interaction, involving both forward and back electron donations, results in a large dihydrogen-copper binding energy of 37.6 kJ mol-1 in the T(CuL3) coordination. In contrast, the binding energy of 10.6 kJ mol-1 in the P(CuL4)2 coordination is primarily driven by electrostatic interactions with a minor contribution of the Kubas-like forward donation interaction. This analysis highlights the pivotal role of coordination environments in determining the hydrogen sorption properties of MOFs.

Financial toxicity in patients with cancer: a cross-sectional study at an oncology hospital in central Vietnam.

PURPOSE: Cancer imposes a substantial financial burden on patients because of the high out-of-pocket expenses and the significant hardships. Financial toxicity describes the impact of cancer care costs at the patient level. Although the financial impact of cancer has been recognized, understanding the extent and determinants of financial toxicity in specific contexts is crucial. This study investigated the level of financial toxicity and its associated factors among patients with cancer at an oncology hospital in central Vietnam. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 334 patients with cancer. Direct interviews and medical record reviews were used for data collection. Financial toxicity was assessed using the 11-item Comprehensive Score for financial Toxicity (COST). A logistic regression model was used to determine factors associated with financial toxicity. RESULTS: A notable 87.7% of patients experienced financial toxicity due to cancer cost, with 37.7% experiencing mild financial toxicity and 49.7% suffering from moderate financial toxicity, 0.3% reporting severe financial toxicity. Individuals with low household income exhibited a higher proportion of financial toxicity compared to that of those with higher income (odds ratio (OR) = 5.78, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.29-25.68). Compared with that of participants in the early stages, a higher burden was found in patients with advanced-stage cancer (OR = 3.88, 95% CI: 1.36-11.11). CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that patients with cancer in Vietnam facefinancial toxicity. It is thus necessary for interventions to mitigate the financial burden on patients with cancer, focusing on vulnerable individuals and patients in the advanced stages.

NLRP3 inflammasome activation contributes to the development of the pro-fibrotic phenotype of lung fibroblasts.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an irreversible progressive interstitial lung disease of unknown cause. The poorly understood pathophysiology of IPF poses substantial challenges to the development of effective anti-lung fibrotic drugs. The NLRP3 inflammasome, a key component of the innate immune system, has recently been linked to the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis. However, the specific contributions of NLRP3 inflammasomes to determination of the pro-fibrotic phenotype of lung fibroblasts, which play a central role in the production of extracellular matrix protein, remain to be investigated. Therefore, the present study was performed to elucidate the involvement of NLRP3 inflammasome signalling pathways in modulation of lung fibroblast proliferation and differentiation. We found that activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes increased in lung fibroblasts derived from individuals with pulmonary fibrosis and in normal lung fibroblasts stimulated with transforming growth factor ß and platelet-derived growth factor. Importantly, blockage of NLRP3 inflammasome signalling, either by gene silencing of NLRP3 or using pharmacological inhibitors of NLRP3, caspase-1, or IL-1 receptor, inhibited the proliferation, differentiation, and extracellular matrix protein synthesis of activated lung fibroblasts. Moreover, induction of the reactive oxygen species/thioredoxin-interacting protein axis, an upstream signalling pathway of NLRP3 inflammasomes, was essential for maintenance of the pro-fibrotic phenotype of lung fibroblasts. Interestingly, treatments with pharmacological inhibitors of NLRP3 inflammasomes prevented the progression of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. Collectively, these findings suggest that aberrant activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes is a critical event in the pathogenesis of IPF and that targeting NLRP3 inflammasomes may serve as a therapeutic strategy for IPF.

Risk factors of postoperative complications and their effect on survival after laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Background: The association between postoperative complications and long-term survival after laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) for gastric cancer (GC) remains uncertain. This study aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors of postoperative complications and evaluate their impact on survival outcomes in patients undergoing LG. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 621 patients who underwent LG for gastric adenocarcinoma between March 2015 and December 2021. Postoperative complications were classified according to the Clavien-Dindo classification, with major complications defined as Grade III or higher. Logistic regression models with stepwise backward procedure were used to identify risk factors for complications. To assess the impact of postoperative complications on survival, uni- and multi-variable Cox proportional hazard models were used for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Results: Overall rate of postoperative complications was 17.6% (109 patients); 33 patients (5.3%) had major complications. Independent risk factors for major complications were Charlson comorbidities index (OR [95% CI], 1.87 [1.09-3.12], p-value = 0.018 for each one score increase), and type of anastomosis (OR [95% CI], 0.28 [0.09-0.91], p-value = 0.029 when comparing Billroth II with Billroth I). Multivariable analysis identified major complications as an independent prognostic factor to reduce OS (HR [95% CI], 2.32 [1.02-5.30], p-value = 0.045) and DFS (HR [95% CI], 2.63 [1.37-5.06], p-value = 0.004). Other prognostic factors for decreased survival outcomes were tumor size, presence of invasive lymph nodes, and T4a stage. Conclusions: Major complications rate of LG for GC was approximately 5.3%. Charlson comorbidities index and type of anastomosis were identified as risk factors for major postoperative complications. Major complications were demonstrated to pose adverse impact on survival outcomes.

The Effectiveness of Albumin-to-Globulin Ratio as a Prognostic Biomarker in Primary Gastrointestinal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR) is a cheap, widely accessible component of common blood work that has been implicated in the prognosis of various cancers. This effect is attributed to the cooperative relationship between albumin reflecting the body's nutritional status and globulin serving as an indicator of immune status. With the high morbidity and mortality associated with gastrointestinal cancer and the increasing necessity for cost-effective health care, research into AGR's potential as an indicator of prognosis is warranted. A database search, including key terms between AGR and gastrointestinal cancer, was performed. Random-effects meta-analysis was completed on extracted hazard ratios with two-sided p-values <0.05 being deemed significant. A total of 8,384 patients with gastrointestinal cancer were included. A low AGR was found to be associated with increased risk for reduced overall survival in cancer of the primary GI tract (HR: 1.82, 1.35-2.45, p < 0.001), esophageal cancer (HR: 1.57, 1.19-2.06, p < 0.001), colon cancer (HR: 3.36, 2.02-5.58, p < 0.001), and colorectal cancer (HR: 2.27, 1.15-4.48, p = 0.02) populations. A low AGR is significantly associated with increased risk for reduced overall survival in primary gastrointestinal cancer. Due to the ease of access and low cost to physicians and patients, incorporation of AGR into clinical evaluation of prognosis in these cancers should prove beneficial to patient outcomes.

Phytochemical composition, antioxidant, antibacterial, and enzyme inhibitory activities of organic extracts from flower buds of Cleistocalyx operculatus (Roxb.) Merr. et Perry.

Cleistocalyx operculatus flower buds have been widely used in traditional medicine because of their rich content of bioactive constituents. In this study, we obtained seven solvent extracts from the flower buds and evaluated their total phenolic (TPC), flavonoid (TFC), tannin (TTC), triterpenoid saponin (TSC), and alkaloid (TAC) contents. We assessed antioxidant activities using the DPPH assay and also looked at antimicrobial and enzyme inhibitory effects. The water extract possessed the highest TPC (328.9 mg GAE/g extract), followed by ethanol, methanol, and hexane extracts (85.4-101.5 mg GAE/g extract). Chloroform, butanol, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extracts had high TSCs (245.4-287.2 mg OAE/g extract). The hexane extract was richest in TTC and TFC (32.7 mg CE/g extract and 81.1 mg QE/g extract, respectively). Ethanol and methanol extracts exhibited the strongest antioxidant activities (IC50 values of 25.2 and 30.3 µg/ml, respectively), followed by the water extract (IC50 of 40.2 µg/ml). The hexane extract displayed the most growth-inhibitory activity against Helicobacter pylori ATCC51932 and ATCC43504 strains and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium ATCC13311 (MIC values of 0.06, 0.13, and 0.4 mg/ml, respectively). Moreover, the hexane extract revealed the strongest inhibition of H. pylori urease activity (IC50 of 4.51 µg/ml), whereas the water and methanol extracts had potent inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase activity (IC50 values of 9.9 and 15.1 µg/ml, respectively). These flower bud extracts could be used for health protection, especially in preventing bacterial infections and inhibiting enzymes associated with various human diseases. Further investigation into the application of C. operculatus flower buds in the food and pharmaceutical industries is necessary.

Formation of Zwitterionic and Self-Healable Hydrogels via Amino-yne Click Chemistry for Development of Cellular Scaffold and Tumor Spheroid Phantom for MRI.

In situ-forming biocompatible hydrogels have great potential in various medical applications. Here, we introduce a pH-responsive, self-healable, and biocompatible hydrogel for cell scaffolds and the development of a tumor spheroid phantom for magnetic resonance imaging. The hydrogel (pMAD) was synthesized via amino-yne click chemistry between poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine-co-2-aminoethylmethacrylamide) and dialkyne polyethylene glycol. Rheology analysis, compressive mechanical testing, and gravimetric analysis were employed to investigate the gelation time, mechanical properties, equilibrium swelling, and degradability of pMAD hydrogels. The reversible enamine and imine bond mechanisms leading to the sol-to-gel transition in acidic conditions (pH ≤ 5) were observed. The pMAD hydrogel demonstrated potential as a cellular scaffold, exhibiting high viability and NIH-3T3 fibroblast cell encapsulation under mild conditions (37 °C, pH 7.4). Additionally, the pMAD hydrogel also demonstrated the capability for in vitro magnetic resonance imaging of glioblastoma tumor spheroids based on the chemical exchange saturation transfer effect. Given its advantages, the pMAD hydrogel emerges as a promising material for diverse biomedical applications, including cell carriers, bioimaging, and therapeutic agent delivery.

Effective treatment of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene from aqueous media using a sono-photo-Fenton-like process with a zero-valent iron nanoparticle (nZVI) catalyst.

In this study, we examine the effectiveness of using a combination of a sono-photo-Fenton-like procedure and nano zero-valent iron catalyst (nZVI) to treat 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in an aquatic environment. Zero-valent iron particles were generated by a chemical reduction technique. nZVI nanoparticles were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to characterize the nanocatalyst. The resulting nZVI nanoparticles were used as an addition in a sono-photo-Fenton method to remediate an aqueous solution contaminated with TNT. Furthermore, influences of operational factors such as temperature, catalyst dosage, wavelength, ultraviolet power, ultrasonic frequency and power, pH level, H2O2/nZVI ratio, initial TNT concentration, and reaction duration on the treatment of TNT were investigated. Under the conditions of an ideal pH of 3, temperature range of 40-45 °C, concentration of 50 mg per L TNT, dose of 2 mM of nZVI, and ratio of H2O2/Fe0 of 20, a treatment efficiency of 95.2% was achieved after a duration of 30 minutes. The sono-photo-Fenton process combined with nZVI showed a higher TNT removal efficiency compared to the Fenton, sono-Fenton, and photo-Fenton processes under the same conditions. Moreover, it promises a potential solution to treat TNT at the pilot scale while allowing reuse of the nZVI catalyst and the limitation of sludge.

Takotsubo syndrome after concomitant surgical ablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing minimally invasive mitral valve surgery: A clinical case and review.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a reversible form of acute heart failure often triggered by physical or emotional stressors. Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) has become a prevalent approach for treating mitral valve pathologies, yet its association with TTS remains underexplored. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a female patient undergoing MIMVS with concomitant Maze ablation, who developed TTS postoperatively. Despite a normal coronary angiogram, transient coronary spasm due to an imbalance in autonomic nervous activity was considered. The patient exhibited preoperative risk factors including sequelae of cerebral infarction. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Female patients undergoing MIMVS with preoperative risk factors such as cerebral infarction sequelae may be at increased risk of developing TTS postoperatively. CONCLUSION: The InterTAK Diagnostic score, in conjunction with the International Expert Consensus Document on Takotsubo Syndrome, aids in promptly diagnosing TTS and differentiating it from acute coronary syndrome. Further research is warranted to elucidate the relationship between MIMVS and TTS.