Self-Healing Guar Gum-Based Nanocomposite Hydrogel Promotes Infected Wound Healing through Photothermal Antibacterial Therapy.

Preventing bacterial infections is a crucial aspect of wound healing. There is an urgent need for multifunctional biomaterials without antibiotics to promote wound healing. In this study, we fabricated a guar gum (GG)-based nanocomposite hydrogel, termed GBTF, which exhibited photothermal antibacterial therapy for infected wound healing. The GBTF hydrogel formed a cross-linked network through dynamic borate/diol interactions between GG and borax, thereby exhibiting simultaneously self-healing, adaptable, and injectable properties. Additionally, tannic acid (TA)/Fe3+ nanocomplexes (NCs) were incorporated into the hydrogel to confer photothermal antibacterial properties. Under the irradiation of an 808 nm near-infrared laser, the TA/Fe3+ NCs in the hydrogel could rapidly generate heat, leading to the disruption of bacterial cell membranes and subsequent bacterial eradication. Furthermore, the hydrogels exhibited good cytocompatibility and hemocompatibility, making them a precandidate for preclinical and clinical applications. Finally, they could significantly promote bacteria-infected wound healing by reducing bacterial viability, accelerating collagen deposition, and promoting epithelial remodeling. Therefore, the multifunctional GBTF hydrogel, which was composed entirely of natural substances including guar gum, borax, and polyphenol/ferric ion NCs, showed great potential for regenerating infected skin wounds in clinical applications.

The Role of TPM3 in Protecting Cardiomyocyte from Hypoxia-Induced Injury via Cytoskeleton Stabilization.

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) remains a major global health concern, with ischemia-reperfusion injury exacerbating myocardial damage despite therapeutic interventions. In this study, we investigated the role of tropomyosin 3 (TPM3) in protecting cardiomyocytes against hypoxia-induced injury and oxidative stress. Using the AC16 and H9c2 cell lines, we established a chemical hypoxia model by treating cells with cobalt chloride (CoCl2) to simulate low-oxygen conditions. We found that CoCl2 treatment significantly upregulated the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) in cardiomyocytes, indicating the successful induction of hypoxia. Subsequent morphological and biochemical analyses revealed that hypoxia altered cardiomyocyte morphology disrupted the cytoskeleton, and caused cellular damage, accompanied by increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, indicative of oxidative stress. Lentivirus-mediated TPM3 overexpression attenuated hypoxia-induced morphological changes, cellular damage, and oxidative stress imbalance, while TPM3 knockdown exacerbated these effects. Furthermore, treatment with the HDAC1 inhibitor MGCD0103 partially reversed the exacerbation of hypoxia-induced injury caused by TPM3 knockdown. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and functional enrichment analysis suggested that TPM3 may modulate cardiac muscle development, contraction, and adrenergic signaling pathways. In conclusion, our findings highlight the therapeutic potential of TPM3 modulation in mitigating hypoxia-associated cardiac injury, suggesting a promising avenue for the treatment of ischemic heart disease and other hypoxia-related cardiac pathologies.

Identification and Validation of a Prognostic Signature Derived from the Cancer Stem Cells for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

The progression and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are highly influenced by cancer stem cells (CSCs) due to their unique self-renewal and plasticity. In this study, data were obtained from a single-cell RNA-sequencing dataset (GSE172577) in the GEO database, and LASSO-Cox regression analysis was performed on 1344 CSCs-related genes to establish a six-gene prognostic signature (6-GPS) consisting of ADM, POLR1D, PTGR1, RPL35A, PGK1, and P4HA1. High-risk scores were significantly associated with unfavorable survival outcomes, and these features were thoroughly validated in the ICGC. The results of nomograms, calibration plots, and ROC curves confirmed the good prognostic accuracy of 6-GPS for OSCC. Additionally, the knockdown of ADM or POLR1D genes may significantly inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OSCC cells through the JAK/HIF-1 pathway. Furthermore, cell-cycle arrest occurred in the G1 phase by suppressing Cyclin D1. In summary, 6-GPS may play a crucial role in the occurrence and development of OSCC and has the potential to be developed further as a diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic tool for OSCC.

Endoscopic Resection for Vascular Anomalies in Children: A New Standard.

OBJECTIVE: To report an innovative endoscopic surgery for subcutaneous vascular malformations and intramuscular fibro-adipose vascular anomaly (FAVA) at our center. BACKGROUND: Historically, open surgical resection has been the treatment of choice. Recent advances in minimally invasive surgery have led to the successful application of endoscopic resection techniques for the surgical management of diseases of soft tissue. METHODS: Patients who underwent endoscopic resection of vascular anomalies were included in this retrospective review. Data were extracted from our Vascular Anomalies Center database between September 2019 and October 2022, including sex, age, symptoms, diagnosis, sites of surgery, previous treatment, surgery, and follow-up. RESULTS: There were 13 females and 15 males in the current study, with ages ranging from 1 to 17 years. The diagnoses included microcystic lymphatic malformation (LM) (n = 8), Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome (n = 7), venous malformation (n = 6), FAVA (n = 6), and mixed cystic LM (n = 1). Surgical sites included the lower extremity (n = 24), abdominal wall (n = 2), upper extremity (n = 1), and thoracic wall (n = 1). Five patients had an intramuscular lesion (FAVA). The endoscopic technique used 2 or 3 small ports in a gas inflation manner. Surgery included thrombectomy, radical resection, and debulking of vascular anomalies. Postoperative sclerotherapy with bleomycin was performed through a drainage tube in 6 patients with microcystic LM. Technical success was obtained in 27 patients. The conversion to open surgery was performed in one patient owing to the deep location of the lesion. No wound-related complication was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive, effective, and safe treatment for subcutaneous vascular malformations and intramuscular FAVA. This approach can set a new standard that minimizes wound complications and reduces recovery time in patients undergoing resection for benign soft-tissue lesions.

Curettage and sclerotherapy technique: A hybrid approach to superficial lymphatic malformation.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the curettage and sclerotherapy technique, a hybrid approach to treatment for superficial lymphatic malformations. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a lymphatic malformation data base was performed. Patients with superficial lymphatic malformation treated by curettage and sclerotherapy technique with bleomycin were included in this study. Safety and efficacy of the curettage and sclerotherapy technique with bleomycin were evaluated. RESULTS: Between September 2019 and October 2021, 10 consecutive patients (male/female ratio: 4:6; mean age, 10.9 years; range, 3-35 years) presented with superficial lymphatic malformations that were subsequently treated by curettage and sclerotherapy technique with bleomycin. All lesions were located on the trunk and extremities. Each patient received one treatment session and a mean follow-up of 12 months. We observed minor complications. No postoperative infections occurred in this series. No patient developed skin ulceration or necrosis. Scarring and recurrence occurred in one patient. Complete regression was confirmed for all 10 patients by photographic evaluation. CONCLUSION: A curettage and sclerotherapy technique is proposed to treat superficial lymphatic malformation in this study. This technique seems to be safe and highly effective.

Sleep CLIP: A Multimodal Sleep Staging Model Based on Sleep Signals and Sleep Staging Labels.

Since the release of the contrastive language-image pre-training (CLIP) model designed by the OpenAI team, it has been applied in several fields owing to its high accuracy. Sleep staging is an important method of diagnosing sleep disorders, and the completion of sleep staging tasks with high accuracy has always remained the main goal of sleep staging algorithm designers. This study is aimed at designing a multimodal model based on the CLIP model that is more suitable for sleep staging tasks using sleep signals and labels. The pre-training efforts of the model involve five different training sets. Finally, the proposed method is tested on two training sets (EDF-39 and EDF-153), with accuracies of 87.3 and 85.4%, respectively.

Effects of shikonin from Zicao on high-fat diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in rats.

In this study, we aim to investigate whether shikonin prevents against NAFLD. After feeding high-fat diet (HFD) for 10 weeks, Sprague-Dawley rats were received different doses of shikonin (5mg/kg/day, 10mg/kg/day and 20mg/kg/day) by gavage for the last 12 weeks of a total of 22 weeks of a HFD. Our results showed that total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were significantly increased, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was decrease, accompanied by hepatic injury and lipid accumulation in HFD-fed rats. Shikonin treatment attenuated the above biochemical and histopathological changes. Similarly, HFD-induced the increase of hepatic TC and TG levels were also ameliorated by shikonin treatment. Furthermore, shikonin observably mitigated HFD-induced the liver fibrosis and the increase of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1, connective tissue growth factor, collagen III and IV expression. Additionally, shikonin markedly inhibited HFD-induced the decrease of proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) expression and the increase of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) expression in liver tissue. This study demonstrates that shikonin ameliorates hepatic lipid dysregulation and fibrosis through PPARγ and MMP-9/TIMP-1 axis, suggesting that shikonin may be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of NAFLD.

Hydrogen Gas Attenuates Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion Injury Independent of Postconditioning in Rats by Attenuating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Autophagy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To study the effect of inhaling hydrogen gas on myocardial ischemic/reperfusion(I/R) injury in rats. METHODS: Seventy male Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups at random as the sham group (Sham). The I/R group (I/R), The ischemic postconditioning group (IPo), The I/R plus hydrogen group (IH2) and the ischemic postconditioning plus hydrogen group (IPoH2). The Sham group was without coronary occlusion. In I/R group, Ischemic/reperfusion injury was induced by coronary occlusion for 1 hour. Followed by 2 hours of reperfusion. In the IPo and IPoH2 group, four cycles of 1 min reperfusion/1 min ischemia was given at the end of 1 hour coronary occlusion. While 2% hydrogen was administered by inhalation 5 min before reperfusion till 2 hours after reperfusion in both the IPoH2 and IH2 group. The heart and blood samples were harvested at the end of the surgical protocol. Then the myocardium cell endoplasmic reticulum(ER) stress and autophagy was observed by electron microscope. In addition, the cardiac ER stress and autophagy related proteins expression were detected by Western blotting analysis. RESULTS: Both inhaling 2% hydrogen and ischemic postconditioning treatment reduced the ischemic size and serum troponin I level in rats with I/R injury, and inhaling hydrogen showed a more curative effect compared with ischemic postconditioning treatment. Meanwhile inhaling hydrogen showed a better protective effect in attenuating tissue reactive oxygen species. Malondialdehyde levels and immunoreactivities against 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and inhibiting cardiac endoplasmic reticulum stress and down-regulating autophagy as compared with ischemic postconditioning treatment. CONCLUSION: These results revealed a better protective effect of hydrogen on myocardial ischemic/reperfusion injury in rats by attenuating endoplasmic reticulum stress and down-regulating autophagy compared with ischemic postconditioning treatment.

GaN-based light-emitting diodes on various substrates: a critical review.

GaN and related III-nitrides have attracted considerable attention as promising materials for application in optoelectronic devices, in particular, light-emitting diodes (LEDs). At present, sapphire is still the most popular commercial substrate for epitaxial growth of GaN-based LEDs. However, due to its relatively large lattice mismatch with GaN and low thermal conductivity, sapphire is not the most ideal substrate for GaN-based LEDs. Therefore, in order to obtain high-performance and high-power LEDs with relatively low cost, unconventional substrates, which are of low lattice mismatch with GaN, high thermal conductivity and low cost, have been tried as substitutes for sapphire. As a matter of fact, it is not easy to obtain high-quality III-nitride films on those substrates for various reasons. However, by developing a variety of techniques, distincts progress has been made during the past decade, with high-performance LEDs being successfully achieved on these unconventional substrates. This review focuses on state-of-the-art high-performance GaN-based LED materials and devices on unconventional substrates. The issues involved in the growth of GaN-based LED structures on each type of unconventional substrate are outlined, and the fundamental physics behind these issues is detailed. The corresponding solutions for III-nitride growth, defect control, and chip processing for each type of unconventional substrate are discussed in depth, together with a brief introduction to some newly developed techniques in order to realize LED structures on unconventional substrates. This is very useful for understanding the progress in this field of physics. In this review, we also speculate on the prospects for LEDs on unconventional substrates.

Experimental study on cryotherapy for fungal corneal ulcer.

BACKGROUND: Fungal corneal ulcer is one of the major causes of visual impairment worldwide. Treatment of fungal corneal ulcer mainly depends on anti-fungal agents. In the current study, we developed an integrated combination therapy of cryotherapy and anti-fungal agents to facilitate effective treatment of fungal corneal ulcer. METHODS: Rabbit models of cornea infection were established using a combined method of intrastromal injection and keratoplasty. After treatment with cryotherapy and anti-fungal agents, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and confocal microscopy were conducted to observe changes in microstructure in the rabbits. Periodic acid Schiff A and hematoxylin and eosin staining were used for detection of histological changes. RESULTS: Continuous scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy observations showed that cryothermal treatment inhibited growth of fungal mycelium by destroying fungal cellular structures. Typical cryotherapy was effective in curing fungal corneal ulcer. Different fungi showed different susceptibilities to treatment. The curative effect of Candida albicans was the best, while that of Aspergillus fumigates was the worst. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides a novel method of a combination of cryotherapy and anti-fungal agents for treatment of fungal corneal ulcer. This treatment could help facilitate the practice of fungal keratitis treatment in the future.

Short-term forecasting of vegetable prices based on LSTM model-Evidence from Beijing's vegetable data.

The vegetable sector is a vital pillar of society and an indispensable part of the national economic structure. As a significant segment of the agricultural market, accurately forecasting vegetable prices holds significant importance. Vegetable market pricing is subject to a myriad of complex influences, resulting in nonlinear patterns that conventional time series methodologies often struggle to decode. In this paper, we exploit the average daily price data of six distinct types of vegetables sourced from seven key wholesale markets in Beijing, spanning from 2009 to 2023. Upon training an LSTM model, we discovered that it exhibited exceptional performance on the test dataset. Demonstrating robust predictive performance across various vegetable categories, the LSTM model shows commendable generalization abilities. Moreover, LSTM model has a higher accuracy compared to several machine learning methods, including CNN-based time series forecasting approaches. With R2 score of 0.958 and MAE of 0.143, our LSTM model registers an enhancement of over 5% in forecast accuracy relative to conventional machine learning counterparts. Therefore, by predicting vegetable prices for the upcoming week, we envision this LSTM model application in real-world settings to aid growers, consumers, and policymakers in facilitating informed decision-making. The insights derived from this forecasting research could augment market transparency and optimize supply chain management. Furthermore, it contributes to the market stability and the balance of supply and demand, offering a valuable reference for the sustainable development of the vegetable industry.

Enhanced sensitivity and linear-response in iontronic pressure sensors for non-contact, high-frequency vibration recognition.

Monitoring non-contact high-frequency vibrations requires improving the sensitivity and linear response of iontronic pressure sensors (IPSs). In this study, we incorporate composite electrodes comprising silver nanowires (Ag NWs) and MXene into IPSs to enhance electronic conduction and pseudocapacitance. Moreover, we utilize a novel surface-pillar microstructure, along with an internally randomized multi-bubble structure within the dielectric layer, to significantly expand the linear response range of the sensor. The resulting IPS device demonstrates exceptional linear sensitivity, measuring approximately 153.83 kPa-1, across a broad pressure range of up to 260 kPa. Additionally, it exhibits long-term stability, rapid response and recovery characteristics, and remains functional underwater. Notably, these devices exhibit remarkable capabilities in monitoring ultrasonic vibrations and accurately identifying sound wave vibrations. The integration of composite electrodes, microstructure designs, and their compatibility with underwater applications positions these IPSs as highly promising tools for precise measurements and advancements in flexible electronics technology.

Clinical efficacy of thalidomide for various genotypes of beta thalassemia.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of thalidomide across various genotype presentations of ß-thalassemia so as to facilitate the early screening of thalidomide-sensitive thalassemia cases and to understand the impact of iron overload on thalidomide. METHODS: From our initial sample of 52 patients, we observed 48 patients with ß-thalassemia for two years after administration of thalidomide. This cohort included 34 patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) and 14 patients with non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia (NTDT). We recorded the values of hemoglobin (Hb), fetal hemoglobin (HbF), and serum ferritin (SF) in the baseline period and at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after enrollment, as well as the pre- and post-treatment blood transfusion volume in all 48 cases. According to the increase in Hb levels from baseline during the 6-month observation period, the response to thalidomide was divided into four levels: main response (MaR), minor response (MiR), slow response (SLR), and no response (NR). A decrease in serum ferritin levels compared to baseline was considered alleviation of iron overload. We calculated the overall response rate (ORR) as follows: ORR = MaR + MiR + SLR/number of observed cases. RESULTS: The ORR was 91.7% (44/48 cases), and 72.9% showed MaR (35/48 cases). Among the 34 patients with TDT, 21 patients (61.8%) were free of blood transfusion, and the remaining 13 patients still required blood transfusion, but their total blood transfusion volume reduced by 31.3% when compared to the baseline. We found a total of 33 cases with 10 combinations of advantageous genes, which included 5 cases with ßCD41-42/ßCD17 and 6 cases with ßCD41-42/ß-28. Based on the treatment outcomes among the 48 cases in the observation group, there were 33 cases in the MaR group and 15 cases in the SLR/NR group. There was a difference in HbF between the two groups at baseline (P = 0.041). There were significant differences between the two groups in Hb and HbF at the time points of 6 and 12 months, respectively (P < 0.001). Compared to the baseline measurement, there was a significant decrease in the level of SF at months 12 and 24 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In this study, we identified 10 ß-thalassemia gene combinations that were sensitive to thalidomide. These gene combinations can be used for initial screening and to predict the therapeutic effect of thalidomide in clinical practice. We examined the therapeutic response to thalidomide and found that the administration of thalidomide in combination with standardized iron removal was more beneficial in reducing iron overload.

Extraordinary anisotropy of ultrafast laser writing in glass.

The unusual dependence of femtosecond laser writing on the light polarization and direction of raster scanning is demonstrated in silica and chalcogenide glasses. Two different mechanisms contributing to the observed anisotropy are identified: the chevron-shaped stress induced by the sample movement and the pulse front tilt of ultrashort light pulse. Control of anisotropies associated with the spatio-temporal asymmetry of an ultrashort pulse beam and scanning geometry is crucial in the ultrafast laser machining of transparent materials.

Accelerated Capacity and Cycling Performance via Facile Instantaneous Precipitation Induced Amorphization for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Conversion-alloying anodes have garnered escalating attention with high theoretical capacity, however, they are seriously hindered by large volume distortion and capacity fading. To counter, structural modification needs more exploration. Herein, advantageous structure and high-performance are realized in new amorphous PbSb2 O6 (PSO-a) nanosphere via facile instantaneous precipitation induced amorphization; conversion-alloying mechanism endows it with prominent lithium-storage capability; nanostructure can shorten ion-transfer distance and accommodate volume change outside the bulk of PSO-a; and loosely-stacked isotropic amorphous structure can enhance kinetics both at electrode/electrolyte interfaces and in the bulk. Volume change is synergistically stabilized from within to outside the bulk, leading to accelerated capacity and cycling. As expected, when employed in half-cells with 1 m LiPF6 in ethylene carbonate/diethyl carbonate/dimethyl carbonate/fluoroethylene carbonate (3:3:3:1 by mass) as electrolyte, glass microfiber filter as separator, and pure lithium foil as counter electrode, it realizes eminent performance with high specific capacity of 1512.6 mA h g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 and 755.1 mA h g-1 after 1000 cycles at 3 A g-1 . To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first time PbSb2 O6 is utilized as high-performance anode for lithium-ion batteries. Furthermore, this facile strategy provides a promising direction for high-performance amorphous anode material.

Fibro-adipose vascular anomaly (FAVA) - diagnosis, staging and management.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis and treatment of fibro-adipose vascular anomaly (FAVA) of the limb remains challenging since this entity is rare and complex. This paper is aimed to describe the clinical and imaging features, staging and management of this underrecognized disease of the limb. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Patients diagnosed with FAVA and managed between September 2019 and May 2022 in department of pediatric surgery & vascular anomalies of Xi'an international medical center hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Data extracted include age at presentation, previous diagnosis, affected muscles, symptoms, previous treatment, our management, and follow-up. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients with FAVA were diagnosed and managed in our center. There was a female sex predominance, with 23 female (72%) and 9 male (28%) in the cohort. Only one lesion was noticed during infancy; the remaining presented at age 1 to 20 years (median, 7 years). The most commonly involved muscles were gastrocnemius (14/32, 44%) and soleus (13/32, 40%). Swelling (mass), pain and contractures were the most common presentations. MRI featured a heterogeneous and ill-defined intramuscular high signal intensity. Diseases were staged according to clinical features: stage I (pain stage, n = 4), stage II (contracture stage, n = 20) and stage III (deformity stage, n = 8). Patients with stage I disease underwent radical resection and obtained a cure. Patients with stage II disease received radical resection and possible Achilles lengthening, having an outcome of cure. Personalized treatment was required in patients with stage III disease, including radical/partial/staged resection, Achilles lengthening/tenotomy, joint capsulotomy, neurolysis/neurectomy, tendon transfer, stretching exercises, and oral sirolimus/alpelisib. Significant improvement of symptoms was achieved in most. CONCLUSION: The most distinct features of FAVA include enlarging mass, severe pain and contracture. Based on distinct clinical and radiologic features, it is not difficult to make the diagnosis of FAVA. Earlier awareness of this disease can reduce misdiagnoses. Surgery-based comprehensive management can typically improve pain and contracture. Oral sirolimus or alpelisib plays an important role in treatment of unresectable lesions and major nerve involvement. Surgery alone can be curative in early stage FAVA.

Gastrointestinal involvement in Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome: pathophysiology, evaluation, and management.

Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome is typically a complex combined capillary-lymphatic-venous malformation in lower limb. Gastrointestinal involvement is not infrequent in Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome. Rectal bleeding is the most common complication. In recent years, this condition has been increasingly reported. However, most authors simply described extreme manifestations or various combinations of clinical observations. The underlying pathophysiology of gastrointestinal involvement in Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome has been underrecognized. Pathophysiologically, some seemingly adequate managements are pitfalls in treatment. Anorectosigmoid vascular malformations in KTS have distinct and more complicated pathophysiologies than anorectal vascular malformation. Once understanding the pathophysiology, some patients can be successfully managed with a staged plan in our practice. Therefore, recognizing the pathophysiologies of gastrointestinal involvement is needed to evaluate, prevent pitfalls, and determine adequate managements for practitioners. Because of the complexity and rarity of this condition, prospective controlled study or a large cohort of patients is impossible. Based on literature review and our practice, we discuss pathophysiologies, evaluation, pitfalls, and treatment strategies for gastrointestinal involvement in Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome.

Reliable and Scalable Piezoresistive Sensors with an MXene/MoS2 Hierarchical Nanostructure for Health Signals Monitoring.

The increased popularity of wearable electronic devices has led to a greater need for advanced sensors. However, fabricating pressure sensors that are flexible, highly sensitive, robust, and compatible with large-scale fabrication technology is challenging. This work investigates a piezoresistive sensor constructed from an MXene/MoS2 hierarchical nanostructure, which is obtained through an easy and inexpensive fabrication process. The sensor exhibits a high sensitivity of 0.42 kPa-1 (0-1.5 kPa), rapid response (∼36 ms), and remarkable mechanical durability (∼10,000 cycles at 13 kPa). The sensor has been demonstrated to be successful in detecting human motion, speech recognition, and physiological signals, particularly in analyzing human pulse. These data can be used to alert and identify irregularities in human health. Additionally, the sensing units are able to construct sensor arrays of various sizes and configurations, enabling pressure distribution imaging in a variety of application scenarios. This research proposes a cost-effective and scalable approach to fabricating piezoresistive sensors and sensor arrays, which can be utilized for monitoring human health and for use in human-machine interfaces.

Liposuction-Like Sclerotherapy Technique for Microcystic Lymphatic Malformation.

Background The treatment for microcystic lymphatic malformation (LM) remains challenging. We describe the liposuction-like sclerotherapy technique, a new treatment for extensive microcystic LM. Methods LM data was retrospectively reviewed. This study included patients with a microcystic LM component treated by liposuction-like technique with bleomycin sclerotherapy. Results Between June 2016 and October 2019, 39 consecutive patients (male/female ratio: 21:18; mean age, 33.6 months; range: 5 months to 15 years) with microcystic LM were treated by liposuction-like sclerotherapy (LS-LS) technique. Fifty-six sessions of LS-LS were performed (mean of 1.44 sessions per patient; range: one to four sessions). Follow-up ranged 6-30 months (mean of 21 months). We observed no major complications. Transient minor complications included: postoperative noninfectious fever, vomiting, temporary skin edema, pigmentation, mild local depressions, and/or irregularities, and a small hyperpigmented scar at the incision. No postoperative infection, skin ulcer, or necrosis occurred. The patients' symptoms were successfully resolved or stable. A sub-complete response and partial response were observed for 26 (76%) and 13 patients (33%), respectively. Conclusion The LS-LS technique for microcystic LMs is safe, feasible, and effective. This technique is an effective intervention with which it is possible to manage and potentially cure microcystic LM clinically.

Internal Iliac Vein Reflux: An Underrecognized Pathophysiology in Klippel-Trénaunay Syndrome With Pelvis Involvement.

Background and objective Internal iliac vein reflux (IIVR) has been underrecognized in Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome (KTS) with pelvis involvement. In this study, our aim was to report clinical and radiological characteristics, modified phlebography technique, and diagnostic and treatment algorithm and outcomes of IIVR in KTS patients with pelvis involvement. Materials and methods KTS patients diagnosed between May 2014 and January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The medical records and imaging studies of all patients with KTS of the lower extremities were included and reviewed. KTS was defined as the triad of capillary malformation, venous malformation, and limb overgrowth. Pelvis involvement was evaluated with MRI. Phlebography was performed if IIVR was suspected. IIVR ablation and sclerotherapy were performed if IIVR was confirmed in KTS patients with external genitalia/perineum manifestation and bleeding. Patients were followed up via outpatient consultations. Episodes of gross bleeding were specifically investigated. Results A total of 211 patients with lower limb KTS diagnosed by our team were included in the study. Unilateral IIVR was diagnosed in 97 patients, and bilateral IIVR in two patients; 117 KTS patients were managed with radiological intervention and/or hybrid surgery by our team. Eleven patients underwent an IIVR ablation procedure due to recurrent bleeding from pelvic organs. Postprocedural complications included transient fever (n=2) and mild anaphylactic reaction (n=1). A small hyperpigmented scar at the incision and/or accessing site was noticed in patients receiving bleomycin during the procedure (n=6). Bleeding episodes and anemia resolved in all patients during the follow-up period. Correspondingly, the involved IIV and its tributaries were found to have disappeared on imaging during the follow-up. Conclusion IIVR is common in KTS patients, and it can cause bleeding from pelvic organs. Bleeding can be managed with IIVR ablation and sclerotherapy in KTS with pelvis involvement.