Multifunctional fish-skin collagen-based hydrogel sealant with dual-dynamic-bond cross-linked for rapid hemostasis and accelerated wound healing.

Collagen (COL) is the most widespread functional protein. Designing and developing dual-dynamic-bond cross-linked COL adhesive hydrogel sealants with multifunctional is highly advantageous for achieving a superior wound closure effect and hemostasis. In this study, we developed hybrid hydrogels consisting of fish-skin COL, oxidized sodium alginate (OSA), borax and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to enhance full-thickness wound healing. The hydrogels were furnished with first-rate self-healing capabilities through the dual-dynamic-bond cross-linking of dynamic Schiff base bonds (COL-OSA) and diol boric acid bonds (OSA-borax) with reversible breakage and re-formation. Moreover, the incorporation of PVA stimulated the formation of hydrogen bonds in the system, bolstering the stability of the hydrogel framework. The prepared hydrogel manifests self-healing, injectability, multifunctional adhesiveness and biodegradability. In vivo assessment of the hemostatic capacity of COSP20 hydrogel was superior to gauze both in the mice liver injury model and mice tail amputation model. In addition, a full-thickness skin wound model in mice revealed that the COSP20 hydrogel facilitated faster wound closure by accelerating reepithelialization, COL deposition and angiogenesis. These findings illustrate the potential of hybrid fish-skin COL-based hydrogels to enhance wound healing and promote rapid tissue repair, and provide new possibilities for the effective utilization of marine fishery resources.

[Emission Characteristics of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in a Typical Agricultural Small Watershed in Tuojiang River Basin].

The emission of nitrogen and phosphorus via non-point source pollution from a small watershed has become the main pollution source of river waters, while climatic conditions and human activities directly affect the changes in rainfall-runoff and types of land use that are closely related to nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. In this study, we explore the runoff loss, nitrogen and phosphors concentration, and nitrogen and phosphorus emission in Huajiaogou small watershed on the upper reaches of Yangtze River. The rainfall, runoff, and temporal changes of nitrogen and phosphorus were analyzed using the continuous position monitoring data. The results showed that:① the runoff volumes were 10.05×105 m3 and 3.34×105 m3 from July 1st to September 30th, accounting for 76.58% and 56.51% in 2012 and 2013, respectively, and they were positively correlated to rainfall. The peak concentrations of ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) from April 1st to June 30th were 11.51 mg ·L-1 and 4.44 mg ·L-1in 2012 and 2013, respectively. ② The NH4+-N emission risk period was from July 1st to September 30th, accounting for 78.45% and 62.24% in 2012 and 2013, respectively. The peak concentration and emission risk period of total nitrogen (TN) and nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N) were from July 1st to September 30th, and NO3--N was the main form of the total nitrogen emission. The peak concentration of NO3--N was 6.06 mg ·L-1 and 11.43 mg ·L-1in 2012 and 2013, respectively, and the loss in NO3--N from July 1st to September 30th accounted for 88.74% and 65.55% in 2012 and 2013, respectively. ③The emission risk period of total phosphorus (TP), dissolved total phosphorus (DTP), and particulate phosphorus (PP) was also from July 1st to September 30th, and the particulate phosphorus was the main form of the total phosphorus emission. The particulate phosphorus emission from July 1st to September 30th accounted for 36% and 68% in 2012 and 2013, respectively, and the ration of particle phosphorus to total phosphorus was easily affected by rainfall.

Novel risk scoring system for prediction of pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: The available prediction models for clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) do not incorporate both preoperative and intraoperative variables. AIM: To construct a new risk scoring system for CR-POPF that includes both preoperative and intraoperative factors. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) or pylorus-preserving PD (PPPD) between January 2011 and December 2016 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. Patients were divided into a study (01/2011 to 12/2014) or validation (01/2015 to 12/2016) group according to the time of admission. POPF severity was classified into three grades: Biochemical leak (grade A) and CR-POPF (grades B and C). Logistic regression was used to create a predictive scoring system. RESULTS: Preoperative serum albumin ≥ 35 g/L [P = 0.032, odds ratio (OR) = 0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.85-0.99], hard pancreatic texture (P = 0.004, OR = 0.25, 95%CI: 0.10-0.64), pancreatic duct diameter ≥ 3 mm (P = 0.029, OR = 0.50, 95%CI: 0.27-0.93), and intraoperative blood loss ≥ 500 mL (P = 0.006, OR = 1.002, 95%CI: 1.001-1.003) were independently associated with CR-POPF. We established a 10-point risk scoring system to predict CR-POPF. The area under the curve was 0.821 (95%CI: 0.736-0.905) and the cut-off value was 3.5. Including drain amylase levels improved the predictive power of the model. CONCLUSION: This study established a 10-point scoring system to predict CR-POPF after PD/PPPD using preoperative and intraoperative parameters. Ultimately, this system could be used to distinguish between high- and low-risk populations in order to facilitate timely interventions after PD.

A Panel of Three Biomarkers Identified by iTRAQ for the Early Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer.

PURPOSE: Due to a lack of early diagnostic markers, pancreatic cancer (PC) remains a lethal disease. Proteomic approaches are now being applied to identify novel PC biomarkers. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: In this study, iTRAQ and LC-MS/MS are used to perform comparative analyses of serum from PC patients and healthy controls (HC), to identify specific serum biomarkers for PC. Serum levels of candidate proteins are determined using ELISA. RESULTS: Among 869 proteins identified, 55 are potential biomarkers; Vitamin K-dependent protein Z (PROZ) and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 6b (TNFRSF6B) are selected for further analysis. Serum levels of PROZ and TNFRSF6B are significantly higher in PC patients than in HC or pancreatic benign controls (BC) (p < 0.01). The AUCs range from 0.816 to 0.971 for PROZ, TNFRSF6B, and carbohydrate antigen 19-9, either individually or in combination, in PC versus HC+BC, and from 0.711 to 0.932 in PC Stage I versus HC+BC. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: It is demonstrated that PROZ and TNFRSF6B are novel serum biomarkers for detecting early stage PC, and for distinguishing PC from pancreatic benign tumor and healthy individuals. Additional large cohort studies are needed to develop PROZ and TNFRSF6B as clinical PC biomarkers.

New Predictive Model at 11+0 to 13+6 Gestational Weeks for Early-Onset Preeclampsia With Fetal Growth Restriction.

The aim of the present study was to determine a predictive model for early-onset preeclampsia with fetal growth restriction (FGR) to be used at 11+0 to 13+6 gestational weeks, by combining the maternal serum level of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), placental growth factor (PLGF), placental protein 13 (PP13), soluble endoglin (sEng), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and uterine artery Doppler. This was a retrospective cohort study of 4453 pregnant women. Uterine artery Doppler examination was conducted in the first trimester. Maternal serum PAPP-A, PLGF, PP13, and sEng were measured. Mean arterial pressure was obtained. Women were classified as with/without early-onset preeclampsia, and women with preeclampsia were classified as with/without FGR. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to determine the value of the model. There were 30 and 32 pregnant women with early-onset preeclampsia with and without FGR. The diagnosis rate of early-onset preeclampsia with FGR was 67.4% using the predictive model when the false positive rate was set at 5% and 73.2% when the false positive rate was 10%. The predictive model (MAP, uterine artery Doppler measurements, and serum biomarkers) had some predictive value for the early diagnosis (11+0 to 13+6 gestational weeks) of early-onset preeclampsia with FGR.

The influence of pore shapes on the band structures in phononic crystals with periodic distributed void pores.

The influence of the pore shapes on the band structures in phononic crystals with periodic distributed void pores are investigated in this paper. By using finite difference time domain (FDTD) scheme, the dispersion properties of the in-plane x-y mode waves in the materials with triangular, circular or square pores are discussed respectively. The influence of the pore shapes and the porosity on the band gap structures is analyzed. The results show that for x-y mode waves, the stop bands are easily formed in the materials with triangular pores, but hard for square ones. Moreover, a critical porosity exists for the formation of the absolute band gaps. Along with the increase of the porosity, the width of the absolute band gap is increased, but the centre frequency is dropped.