Emergent Chirality and Hyperuniformity in an Active Mixture with Nonreciprocal Interactions.

We investigate collective dynamics in a binary mixture of programmable robots in experiments and simulations. While robots of the same species align their motion direction, interaction between species is distinctly nonreciprocal: species A aligns with B and species B antialigns with A. This nonreciprocal interaction gives rise to the emergence of collective chiral motion that can be stabilized by limiting the robot angular speed to be below a threshold. Within the chiral phase, increasing the robot density or extending the range of local repulsive interactions can drive the system through an absorbing-active transition. At the transition point, the robots exhibit a remarkable capacity for self-organization, forming disordered hyperuniform states.

[The effect of tumor spread through air spaces on the prognosis of patients with stage â non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis].

Objective: To systematically evaluate the effect of tumor spread through air spaces (STAS) on the prognosis of patients with stage Ⅰ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang Database and VIP were searched to collect papers related to NSCLC and STAS published from the establishment of aboves databases to November 2022. Papers were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and data were extracted. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) of stage Ⅰ NSCLC patients with or without STAS were compared. HR(95%CI) was used as effective indicator to evaluate the impact of STAS positivity on the prognosis of NSCLC. The quality of each included study was assessed using the Newcast-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Results: A total of 24 papers concerning 29 studies were included according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and there was no significant heterogeneity among the included papers(all I2<50%). A total of 10 883 patients with stage Ⅰ NSCLC were included in the studies, of which 3 298 (30.3%) were STAS-positive. The 29 studies showed that STAS-positive patients had a higher risk of 5-year recurrence than STAS-negative patients with stage Ⅰ NSCLC [HR=1.94(95%CI:1.74-2.16)];and a meta-analysis of 17 of the studies showed that that STAS-positive patients had a higher risk of 5-year death [HR=2.09 (95%CI:1.80-2.43)]. Compared with stage Ⅰ NSCLC patients who underwent other surgeries, STAS-positive patients who underwent sublobar resection had a higher risk of 5-year recurrence than patients with other procedures (HR=3.44, 95%CI: 2.49-4.76) and a higher risk of 5-year death (HR=3.40, 95%CI:2.05-5.64); and patients with stage Ⅰ NSCLC who had the pathologic histologic type of squamous carcinoma had a higher risk of 5-year recurrence (HR=2.48,95%CI:1.71-3.60) and a higher risk of 5-year death (HR=3.04, 95%CI: 1.90-4.86) than other patients with the type of squamous lung cancer. Conclusion: STAS positivity is a risk factor of poor prognosis in patients with stage Ⅰ NSCLC, especially for patients underwent sublobar resection or with squamous lung cancer.

[Brief analysis on the current status of medical education and specialty of allergy in China and abroad and the strategies for the development of allergology in China].

The increase in the prevalence of allergic diseases has brought a substantial medical, social and economic burden. The development of allergology is relatively lag behind the allergy prevalence in China. Both the numbers of allergy specialty and allergist are scarce and thus the diagnosis and treatment of allergic disease does not meet the needs of allergy patients. This article summarizes the status of medical education and specialty development of allergology in China and abroad. In addition, the key strategies for promoting the development of allergy education and specialty were discussed, including undergraduate and graduate education of allergology, the orientation of allergy specialty and related specialty/subspecialty, the integration of allergology into the standardized residents training system, training and certification of allergists, and multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment model.

[The myth background of "Five Flavors of Ganlu Fang" in Lum medicinal bathing of Sowa Rigpa].

It was believed, in Bon-pa mythology, that the war between gods and demons led to the "pollution" and "disease" from the demons' "poison". Then "dew" (bdud rtsi,Gan Lu) was claimed to detoxicate the poison. The "dew" (bdud rtsi, Gan Lu), therefore, was related to demons (bdud). The "dew" (bdud rtsi, Gan Lu) was demonstrated as "liquid to purify human (CAN)" when it was used to detoxicate, but shown as "medicine" when it was used to treat "disease". Since the "dew" (bdud rtsi, Gan Lu) was used for purification and treatment, hot springs which were made of the "dew" (bdud rtsi, Gan Lu) were also believed to have similar functions. In this sense, some medicines derived from the "dew" (bdud rtsi, Gan Lu) were taken as Lum medicinal bathing of Sowa Rigpa to imitate and replace hot springs by the Tibetan ancestors to treat diseases.

Steering Micromotors via Reprogrammable Optoelectronic Paths.

Steering micromotors is important for using them in practical applications and as model systems for active matter. This functionality often requires magnetic materials in the micromotor, taxis behavior of the micromotor, or the use of specifically designed physical boundaries. Here, we develop an optoelectronic strategy that steers micromotors with programmable light patterns. In this strategy, light illumination turns hydrogenated amorphous silicon conductive, generating local electric field maxima at the edge of the light pattern that attracts micromotors via positive dielectrophoresis. As an example, metallo-dielectric Janus microspheres that self-propelled under alternating current electric fields were steered by static light patterns along customized paths and through complex microstructures. Their long-term directionality was also rectified by ratchet-shaped light patterns. Furthermore, dynamic light patterns that varied in space and time enabled more advanced motion controls such as multiple motion modes, parallel control of multiple micromotors, and the collection and transport of motor swarms. This optoelectronic steering strategy is highly versatile and compatible with a variety of micromotors, and thus it possesses the potential for their programmable control in complex environments.

[Study on the distribution pattern of allergen sIgE in patients with respiratory allergic diseases in a hospital in Shanxi Province].

To explore the allergen sensitization status of patients with respiratory allergic diseases in Shanxi Province, and to provide a basis for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of allergic diseases. It is a cross-sectional study, a total of 1 680 patients with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma diagnosed at the Department of Allergic Reaction of Shanxi Bethune Hospital from July 2021 to June 2023 who underwent allergen sIgE testing and/or skin prick test were retrospectively enrolled.There were 772 males and 908 females.The age range was 3 to 88 years. The median age was 35 years.There were 108 cases in the child group (≤12 years old), 102 cases in the adolescent group (13-17 years old), 819 cases in the youth group (18-40 years old), 498 cases in the middle-aged group (41-65 years old), and 153 cases in the elderly group (>65 years old). There were 333 cases in the allergic rhinitis group, 827 cases in the allergic asthma group, and 520 cases in the allergic rhinitis with asthma group. There were 1 254 urban patients and 426 rural patients.There were 253 cases in the northern Shanxi region, 1 195 cases in the central Shanxi region, and 232 cases in the southern Shanxi region. Statistical analyses were performed using the χ 2 test or Fisher's exact probability method to compare the differences in allergen sIgE positivity rates by sex, age, disease, living environment, and geography. The results showed that 1 027 patients (61.1%) were positive for at least one allergen sIgE, with Artemisia having the highest rate of positivity (603/1 680, 35.9%), followed by ragweed (302/1 680, 18.0%) and dust mite combinations (245/1 680, 14.6%). The number of individuals with single-allergen sIgE positivity was 357 (357/1 027, 34.8%), with the highest number of single-allergen sIgE positive results associated with Artemisia (114/357, 31.9%). The number of multiple-allergen sIgE positive results was 670 cases (670/1 027, 65.2%), with the highest number of patients having 2 allergen sIgE positive results (243/670, 36.3%). The overall positivity rate for allergen sIgE was significantly higher among males than among females (65.7% vs. 57.3%, χ2=12.405, P<0.001). Overall positivity for inhalant allergen sIgE was higher in the child and adolescent groups (88.0% vs. 88.2% vs. 59.8% vs. 40.2% vs. 19.0%, χ2=223.372, P<0.001), and food allergen sIgE positivity was highest in the child group (54.6% vs. 36.3% vs. 26.0% vs. 18.9% vs. 21.6%,χ2=66.383,P<0.001). The sIgE positivity rate of inhalant allergens was significantly higher in the allergic rhinitis group and the allergic rhinitis with asthma group than in the allergic asthma group, except for cockroaches and molds (P<0.05). The overall positive rate of allergen sIgE was significantly higher among urban patients than among rural patients (66.2% vs. 46.2%, χ2=53.230, P<0.001). The difference in the overall positive rate of allergen sIgE among patients from different regions was not statistically significant (56.1% vs. 62.0% vs. 62.1%, χ2=3.140, P=0.208). The sIgE positivity of dust mite combinations was significantly higher in the central Shanxi region and the southern Shanxi region than in the northern Shanxi region (15.5% vs. 18.1% vs. 7.1%,χ2=14.411, P=0.001). In conclusion, artemisia was the most important sensitizer for respiratory allergic diseases in Shanxi Province. The types of allergens and positivity rates were different for different sexes, ages, diseases, living environments, and regions. Therefore, patients with allergic diseases should be tested for allergens to help with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of allergic diseases.

[Study on efficacy, recurrence rate and related risk factors between ablation index and contact force guided radiofrequency ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in elderly patients].

Objective: To compare the efficacy, safety and recurrence rate between ablation index (AI) and contact force (CF) guided radiofrequency ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in elderly patients. Methods: Elderly patients (age ≥60 years) with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who received radiofrequency ablation for the first time at Department of Cardiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital from April 2018 to April 2019 were enrolled. Patients were divided into 2 groups: AI-group (n=40) and CF group (n=37) depending on their ablation methods. Follow-up was performed until 1 year post the procedure, and efficacy related indexes like first-pass pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) rate, ablation duration, operation duration and major complications were compared between 2 groups. The recurrence rates between 2 groups and related risk factors after radiofrequency ablation were analyzed. Results: A total of 77 patients [mean age (68.5±6.4) years, 40 were male] were enrolled at last. In AI guided patients, frequency of first-pass PVI rate was higher [52.5%(21 cases) vs 29.7%(3 cases), P=0.011] with a shorter ablation duration [(24.5±1.7) min vs (33.7±2.2) min, P<0.001] and operation duration [(136.6±6.1) min vs (139.7±7.4) min, P=0.048] compared with CF guided group. At 1 year follow-up, AI group showed an amendatory recurrence rate in Kaplan-Meier analysis (22.5% vs 40.5%,log-rank P=0.048). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that CF guided ablation (HR=3.272,95%CI:1.319-8.114,P=0.011), enlarged anteroposterior diameter of the left atrium (HR=4.233,95%CI:1.511-11.862,P=0.006) and complicated with coronary heart disease (HR=4.829,95%CI:1.399-16.666,P=0.013) were independent risk factors for recurrence of atrial fibrillation in elderly patients. Conclusions: Compared with CF guided ablation, radiofrequency ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in elderly patients guided by AI showed a higher first-pass PVI rate, shorter procedure duration of both ablation time and total operation time, meanwhile a lower recurrence rate. Further analysis revealed that different ablation alternation (AI or CF), enlarged anteroposterior diameter of left atrium, and complicated with coronary heart disease are independent risk factors for recurrence after radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation in elderly patients.

[Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with a new stent graft:early results from a multicenter study].

Objective: To examine the safety and effectiveness of a new stent graft system for endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm(AAA). Methods: This is a prospective,multi-center,single-arm clinical trial. The patients with AAA treated with a new stent graft system were enrolled at 21 centers from September 2018 to September 2019 in China. Follow-up was performed before discharge, and at 30, 180, 360 days after operation, respectively. The primary safety endpoint was the incidence of major adverse events(MAE) within 30 days. The primary efficacy endpoint was the success rate of AAA treatment at 360 days. Secondary safety endpoints were the incidence of perioperative access complications and acute lower limb ischemia,all-cause mortality, AAA related mortality and incidence of serious adverse events (SAE) at 180 and 360 days. Secondary efficacy endpoints were the incidence of type Ⅰ or Ⅲ endoleak,stent displacement,and conversion to open surgery or re-intervention at 180 and 360 days. Results: One hundred and fifty-six patients were enrolled,including 137 males and 19 females. The age was (68.9±6.9) years (range:48.2 to 84.6 years).Maximum aneurysm diameter was (50.8±11.2) mm (range:25.0 to 85.0 mm),diameter of proximal landing zone was (21.2±2.5) mm (range:17.0 to 29.5 mm),and length of proximal landing zone was (31.4±13.0) mm (range:11.0 to 75.0 mm).The incidence of MAE was 1.3% (2/156) at 30 days,both were all-cause death cases. The success rate of AAA treatment was 88.5% (138/156) at 360 days. No perioperative access complication and acute lower limb ischemia occurred. All-cause mortality was 2.0% (3/154) at 180 days and 2.6% (4/153) at 360 days,and there was no AAA related death. The incidence of SAE was 23.0%(35/152) at 180 days and 30.5%(46/151) at 360 days, and no device-related SAE occurred. The incidence of type Ⅰor Ⅲ endoleak was 3.4% (5/147) at 180 days and 3.5% (5/144) at 360 days. Conclusion: The new stent graft system is easy to operate,and early-term safety and effectiveness results are expected.

[Efficacy of selective bronchial occlusion in the treatment of intractable pneumothorax].

Objective: To analyze the effect of selective bronchial occlusion (SBO) in the treatment of intractable pneumothorax. Methods: A total of 86 patients with refractory pneumothorax treated with SBO in the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021 were included in this study. The basic information, diagnosis and treatment of the patients were collected and analyzed based on their inpatient records. Results: The age of the subjects was (62±11) years old, and 83 cases (96.5%) were male. The first time SBO cure rate was 30.2% (26/86). The effective rate of the first time SBO treatment was 38.4% (33/86), and the final cure rate of SBO was 59.3% (51/86). The total cure rate of SBO combined with other therapies was 73.3% (63/86). The median time [M (Q1, Q3)] from the first plugging to the complete cessation of air leakage in SBO cured patients was 6.5 (3, 7) days, which was shorter than that in the final extubation patients after SBO [11 (7, 19) days] (H=30.24, P<0.001). The median [M (Q1, Q3)] length of hospital stay of the first SBO cured patients was 19 (14, 25) days, which was shorter than that of all patients [28 (19, 37) days] (H=12.89, P=0.002). The median [M (Q1, Q3)] hospitalization expenses of patients with first SBO cure, effective SBO treatment and ineffective SBO treatment were 23 187 (18 906, 27 798), 41 580 (29 388, 50 762) and 38 462 (27 542, 51 720) yuan, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (H=18.58, P<0.001). The incidence of complications after SBO was 7.59% (11/145). Conclusion: SBO has good efficacy and relative high safety in the treatment of intractable pneumothorax.

Colloidal Stochastic Resonance in Confined Geometries.

We investigate the dynamical properties of a colloidal particle in a double cavity. Without external driving, the particle hops between two free-energy minima with transition mean time depending on the system's entropic and energetic barriers. We then drive the particle with a periodic force. When the forcing period is set at twice the transition mean time, a statistical synchronization between particle motion and forcing phase marks the onset of a stochastic resonance mechanism. Comparisons between experimental results and predictions from the Fick-Jacobs theory and Brownian dynamics simulation reveal significant hydrodynamic effects, which change both resonant amplification and noise level. We further show that hydrodynamic effects can be incorporated into existing theory and simulation by using an experimentally measured particle diffusivity.

Liquid-like atoms in dense-packed solid glasses.

Revealing the microscopic structural and dynamic pictures of glasses is a long-standing challenge for scientists1,2. Extensive studies on the structure and relaxation dynamics of glasses have constructed the current classical picture3-5: glasses consist of some 'soft zones' of loosely bound atoms embedded in a tightly bound atomic matrix. Recent experiments have found an additional fast process in the relaxation spectra6-9, but the underlying physics of this process remains unclear. Here, combining extensive dynamic experiments and computer simulations, we reveal that this fast relaxation is associated with string-like diffusion of liquid-like atoms, which are inherited from the high-temperature liquids. Even at room temperature, some atoms in dense-packed metallic glasses can diffuse just as easily as they would in liquid states, with an experimentally determined viscosity as low as 107 Pa·s. This finding extends our current microscopic picture of glass solids and might help establish the dynamics-property relationship of glasses4.

Programmable, Spatiotemporal Control of Colloidal Motion Waves via Structured Light.

Traveling waves in a reaction-diffusion system are essential for long-range communication in living organisms and inspire biomimetic materials of similar capabilities. One recent example is the traveling motion waves among photochemically oscillating, silver (Ag)-containing colloids. Being able to manipulate these colloidal waves holds the key for potential applications. Here, we have discovered that these motion waves can be confined by light patterns and that the chemical clocks of silver particles are moved forward by reducing local light intensity. Using these discoveries as design principles, we have applied structured light technology for the precise and programmable control of colloidal motion waves, including their origins, propagation directions, paths, shapes, annihilation, frequency, and speeds. We have also used the controlled propagation of colloidal waves to guide chemical messages along a predefined path to activate a population of micromotors located far from the signal. Our demonstrated capabilities in manipulating colloidal waves in space and time offer physical insights on their operation and expand their usefulness in the fundamental study of reaction-diffusion processes. Moreover, our findings inspire biomimetic strategies for the directional transport of mass, energy, and information at micro- or even nanoscales.

[Study of clinical characteristics in patients with gp210 antibody-positive primary biliary cholangitis].

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognostic value of liver function in a large samples of patients with anti-glycoprotein 210 (gp210 antibody) positive primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 931 PBC cases in Beijing You'an Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University from 2010 to 2019. According to the detection of gp210 antibody, 318 cases were divided into gp210 antibody positive group (positive group) and 613 cases were divided into gp210 antibody negative group (negative group). The differences in demographic, medical history, clinical indicators, B-ultrasound and pathological indicators as well as the histopathological basis were compared between the two groups. SPSS 16.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Measurement data were analyzed by t-test or rank sum test, and enumeration data by χ2 test. Multivariate analysis was used for logistic test, and and survival analysis was used for prognosis. Results: The positive and the negative groups were compared. The ratio of male to female was significantly higher in positive than negative group (1:5.35 vs. 1:9.73, P＜0.05), and the difference was statistically significant. The proportion of hormone use in history of past diagnosed and treated was higher in positive than negative group (12.9% vs. 3.47%, P＜0.05), and the difference was statistically significant. The detection of biochemical indexes such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) were higher in positive than the negative group (51.1 U/L vs. 41.1 U/L, 62.6 U/L vs. 49.6 U/L, 24.1 µmol/L vs. 17.9 µmol/L, 228.3 U/L vs. 169.6 U/L, 203.9 U/L vs. 147.6 U/L), (P＜0.05), and the differences were statistically significant. Antinuclear antibody (ANA)-positive rate, high titer ratio and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels were higher in positive than negative group (95.2% vs. 81.6%, 69.7% vs. 48.8%, 17.2 g/L vs. 16.2 g/L), (P＜0.05), and the differences were statistically significant. The incidence of liver failure was higher in positive than negative group (P＜0.05). CK7 and inflammation score were higher in positive group than negative group in liver histopathological observations (0.83±0.53 vs. 0.28±0.47; 1.06±0.39 vs. 0.54±0.65), (P＜0.05), and the differences were statistically significant. Conclusion: The illness condition of patients with gp210 antibody positive PBC is more severe than patients with gp210 antibody negative PBC, and the incidence of liver failure is significantly increased. Cholangiocytes may be the histopathological basis of the clinical characteristics of gp210 antibody positive PBC patients.

Unraveling the physiochemical nature of colloidal motion waves among silver colloids.

Traveling waves are common in biological and synthetic systems, including the recent discovery that silver (Ag) colloids form traveling motion waves in H2O2 and under light. Here, we show that this colloidal motion wave is a heterogeneous excitable system. The Ag colloids generate traveling chemical waves via reaction-diffusion, and either self-propel through self-diffusiophoresis ("ballistic waves") or are advected by diffusio-osmotic flows from gradients of neutral molecules ("swarming waves"). Key results include the experimental observation of traveling waves of OH- with pH-sensitive fluorescent dyes and a Rogers-McCulloch model that qualitatively and quantitatively reproduces the key features of colloidal waves. These results are a step forward in elucidating the Ag-H2O2-light oscillatory system at individual and collective levels. In addition, they pave the way for using colloidal waves either as a platform for studying nonlinear phenomena, or as a tool for colloidal transport and for information transmission in microrobot ensembles.

Combined and interactive effects of alcohol drinking and cigarette smoking on the risk of severe illness and poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19: a multicentre retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Cigarette smoking is an established risk factor for illness severity and adverse outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Alcohol drinking may also be a potential risk factor for disease severity. However, the combined and interactive effects of drinking and smoking on COVID-19 have not yet been reported. This study aimed to examine the combined and interactive effects of alcohol drinking and cigarette smoking on the risk of severe illness and poor outcomes in patients with COVID-19. STUDY DESIGN: This was a multicentre retrospective cohort study. METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed the data of 1399 consecutive hospitalised COVID-19 patients from 43 designated hospitals. Patients were grouped according to different combinations of drinking and smoking status. Multivariate mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to estimate the combined and interactive effects of drinking and smoking on the risk of severe COVID-19 and poor clinical outcomes. RESULTS: In the study population, 7.3% were drinkers/smokers, 4.3% were drinkers/non-smokers and 4.9% were non-drinkers/smokers. After controlling for potential confounders, smokers or drinkers alone did not show a significant increase in the risk of severe COVID-19 or poor clinical outcomes compared with non-drinkers/non-smokers. Moreover, this study did not observe any interactive effects of drinking and smoking on COVID-19. Drinkers/smokers had a 62% increased risk (odds ratio = 1.62, 95% confidence interval: 1.01-2.60) of severe COVID-19 but did not have a significant increase in the risk for poor clinical outcomes compared with non-drinkers/non-smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Combined exposure to drinking and smoking increases the risk of severe COVID-19, but no direct effects of drinking or smoking, or interaction effects of drinking and smoking, were detected.

[Efficacy observation of long-segment pedicle screw reduction and internal fixation combined with kyphoplasty in the treatment of stage â ¢ reducible Kummell disease].

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of long-segment pedicle screw reduction and internal fixation combined with kyphoplasty in the treatment of stage Ⅲ reducible Kummell disease. Methods: The clinical data of 32 patients with stage Ⅲ reducible Kummell disease treated at the Department of Orthopedics, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine from January 2012 to March 2017 were analyzed retrospectively.There were 7 males and 25 females,aged (71.8±6.7)years(range:61 to 86 years).The injured segment was T10 in 1 patient,T11 in 8 patients,T12 in 13 patients,L1 in 7 patients,L2 in 2 patients and L3 in 1 patient.Preoperative American spinal injury association(ASIA) classification of patients all showed grade D.Bone mineral density (BMD),spinal X-ray,CT and MRI were examined before operation.All patients were treated with postural reduction, long-segment pedicle screw reduction and internal fixation combined with kyphoplasty.The operation time,intraoperative blood loss,length of stay and postoperative complications were recorded.The visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI) as well as the BMD of hip were collected before and after operation.The Cobb angle of involved segment kyphosis and the height of anterior edge of diseased vertebrae were measured before operation,3 days and 12 months after operation.CT-related parameters were measured before and 3 days after operation,including sagittal anterior and posterior diameter of spinal canal,cross-sectional anterior and posterior diameter of spinal canal and cross-sectional spinal canal area.Paired sample t test and repeated measures were used to compare the data before and after operation. Results: All patients received the operation successfully.The operation time was (131.3±16.9) minutes (range:95 to 180 minutes),the blood loss was (82.5±27.1) ml (range:50 to 150 ml),and the length of stay was (8.3±2.4) days (range:5 to 14 days).All patients were followed up for more than 12 months.The VAS decreased gradually at 3 days,3 months,6 months and 12 months after operation,and the differences were statistically significant compared with the VAS before surgery (all P<0.01).ODI at 3,6 and 12 months after surgery was significantly improved compared with that before surgery(All P<0.01).The CT-related parameters at 3 days after operation were significantly higher than those before operation (All P<0.05).At 12 months after surgery,the Cobb angle decreased from (35.2±7.6) ° preoperatively to (4.3±1.7) ° (t=22.630,P<0.01),the height of anterior edge of diseased vertebrae increased from (4.3±1.0) mm preoperatively to (16.9±2.5) mm(t=-25.845,P<0.01),the bone mineral density of hip increased from -(2.2±0.6) preoperatively to -(2.8±0.6)(t=-0.040,P<0.01).Up to the last follow-up,2 patients had distal pedicle screw loosening, 1 patient had proximal junctional kyphosis,and there was no new vertebral fracture. Conclusions: Based on postural reduction,long-segment pedicle screw reduction and internal fixation combined with kyphoplasty is a safe and effective treatment method for stage Ⅲ reducible Kummell disease,which can reconstruct the stability of the diseased vertebrae.Postoperative standard anti-osteoporosis treatment is the basis to ensure the efficacy.

Electrochemical Determination of Levodopa Using Zinc Sulfide Nanospheres-Reduced Graphene Oxide.

Zinc sulfide nanospheres (ZnS NSs) were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis and graphene oxide (GO) was prepared by the Hummer's method. ZnS NSs-rGO/ITO electrode was synthesized by heat treatment at a certain temperature, which was used for the detailed electrochemical determination of levodopa (LD). Finally, they were annealed to form the ZnS NSs-rGO/ITO electrode for detecting levodopa (LD). The results reveal that the ZnS NSs with the diameter of ~1 µm are covered by rGO. The ZnS NSs-rGO/ITO electrode has a good sensitivity of 1.43 µA µM -1 for the determination of LD in the concentration range of 1-40 µM. Moreover, it also shows a good selectivity, reproducibility and stability. In order to verify the practicability, we also use the electrode to detect LD in human serum. The detection results also prove that the electrode can be used in real life.

Circular swimming motility and disordered hyperuniform state in an algae system.

Active matter comprises individually driven units that convert locally stored energy into mechanical motion. Interactions between driven units lead to a variety of nonequilibrium collective phenomena in active matter. One of such phenomena is anomalously large density fluctuations, which have been observed in both experiments and theories. Here we show that, on the contrary, density fluctuations in active matter can also be greatly suppressed. Our experiments are carried out with marine algae ([Formula: see text]), which swim in circles at the air-liquid interfaces with two different eukaryotic flagella. Cell swimming generates fluid flow that leads to effective repulsions between cells in the far field. The long-range nature of such repulsive interactions suppresses density fluctuations and generates disordered hyperuniform states under a wide range of density conditions. Emergence of hyperuniformity and associated scaling exponent are quantitatively reproduced in a numerical model whose main ingredients are effective hydrodynamic interactions and uncorrelated random cell motion. Our results demonstrate the existence of disordered hyperuniform states in active matter and suggest the possibility of using hydrodynamic flow for self-assembly in active matter.

Bioinformatic analysis for the identification of potential gene interactions and therapeutic targets in atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVE: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of tachycardia. The major injury caused by AF is a systemic embolism. Although AF therapies have evolved substantially, the success rate of sinus rhythm maintenance is relatively low. The reason is the incomplete understanding of the AF mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset (GSE79768) was downloaded. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by bioinformatic analysis. Enriched terms and pathways were identified by gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to determine regulatory genes. CytoHubba and the Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE) algorithm were used to identify potential hub genes and important modules. The Predicting Associated Transcription Factors From Annotated Affinities (PASTAA) method was used to predict transcription factors (TFs). RESULTS: Two hundred thirty-five upregulated DEGs and seventy-seven downregulated DEGs were identified. In the GO biological process, cellular component, and molecular function analyses, positive regulation of cell migration, anchoring junctions, and cell adhesion molecule binding were enriched significantly. The Hippo signalling pathway was the most significantly enriched pathway. In the PPI network analysis, we found that Class A/1 (rhodopsin-like receptors) may be the critical module. Ten hub genes were extracted, including 6 upregulated genes and 4 downregulated genes. CXCR2, TLR4, and CXCR4 may play critical roles in AF. In the TF prediction, we found that Irf-1 may be implicated in AF. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the CXCR4, TLR4, CXCR2 genes, the Hippo signalling pathway and the class A/1 (rhodopsin-like receptors) module may play critical roles in AF occurrence and maintenance, which may provide novel targets for AF treatment.