Recyclable Composite Membrane of Polydopamine and Graphene Oxide-Modified Polyacrylonitrile for Organic Dye Molecule and Heavy Metal Ion Removal

Developing efficient and recyclable membranes for water contaminant removal still remains a challenge in terms of practical applications. Herein, a recyclable membrane constituted of polyacrylonitrile-graphene and oxide-polydopamine was fabricated and demonstrated efficient adsorption capacities with respect to heavy metal ions (62.9 mg g^-1 of Cu²⁺ ion, CuSO₄ 50 mg L^-1) and organic dye molecules (306.7 mg g^-1 of methylene blue and 339.6 mg g^-1 of eriochrome black T, MB/EBT 50 mg L^-1). The polyacrylonitrile fibers provide the skeleton of the membrane, while the graphene oxide and polydopamine endow the membrane with hydrophilicity, which is favorable for the adsorption of pollutants in water. Benefitting from the protonation and deprotonation effects of graphene oxide and polydopamine, the obtained membrane demonstrated promotion of the selective adsorption or desorption of pollutant molecules. This guarantees that the adsorbed pollutant molecules can be desorbed promptly from the membrane through simple pH adjustment, ensuring the reusability of the membrane. After ten adsorption-desorption cycles, the membrane could still maintain a desirable adsorption capacity. In addition, compared with other, similar membranes reported, this composite membrane displays the highest mechanical stability. This work puts forward an alternative strategy for recyclable membrane design and expects to promote the utilization of membrane techniques in practical wastewater treatment.

Electrochemically Controlled Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization for Electrochemical Aptasensing of Tumor Biomarkers

Tumor biomarkers are of great value in the liquid biopsy of malignant tumors. In this work, a simple and cost-friendly electrochemical aptasensor was presented for the highly sensitive and selective detection of glycoprotein tumor biomarkers. The DNA aptamer-modified electrode was used as the sensing interface to specifically capture the target glycoprotein tumor biomarkers, to which the alkyl halide initiators for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) were then attached via the esterification crosslinking between the boronic acid group and the cis-dihydroxyl sites of the conjugated oligosaccharide chains on glycoprotein tumor biomarkers followed by the growth of long-chain polymers through electrochemically controlled ATRP (eATRP) to efficiently recruit the ferrocene detection tags. As there are tens to hundreds of cis-dihydroxyl sites on a glycoprotein tumor biomarker for attaching ATRP initiators while each long-chain polymer can recruit hundreds to thousands of ferrocene detection tags, a significantly high current signal can be generated even in the presence of ultralow-abundance targets. Hence, the eATRP-based electrochemical aptasensor is capable of sensitively and selectively detecting glycoprotein tumor biomarkers. Using alpha-fetoprotein as the model target, the limit of detection was demonstrated to be 0.32 pg/mL. Moreover, the aptasensor has been successfully applied to detect glycoprotein tumor biomarkers in human serum samples. In view of its high sensitivity and selectivity, simple operation, and cost-friendliness, the eATRP-based electrochemical aptasensor shows great promise in the glycoprotein-based liquid biopsy of malignant tumors, even at the early stage of development.

Carbon-Based Transducers for Solid-Contact Calcium Ion-Selective Electrodes: Mesopore and Nitrogen-Doping Effects

Solid-contact ion-selective electrodes (SC-ISEs) exhibit great potential in the detection of routine and portable ions which rely on solid-contact (SC) materials for the transduction of ions to electron signals. Carbon-based materials are state-of-the-art SC transducers due to their high electrical double-layer (EDL) capacitance and hydrophobicity. However, researchers have long searched for ways to enhance the interfacial capacitance in order to improve the potential stability. Herein, three representative carbon-based SC materials including nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon (NMC), reduced graphene oxide (RGO), and carbon nanotubes (CNT) were compared. The results disclose that the NMC has the highest EDL capacitance owing to its mesopore structure and N-doping while maintaining high hydrophobicity so that no obvious water-layer effect was observed. The Ca²⁺-SC-ISEs based on the SC of NMC exhibited high potential stability compared with RGO and CNT. This work offers a guideline for the development of carbon-material-based SC-ISEs through mesoporous and N-doping engineering to improve the interfacial capacitance. The developed NMC-based solid-contact Ca²⁺-SC-ISE exhibited a Nernstian slope of 26.3 ± 3.1 mV dec^-1 ranging from 10 μM to 0.1 M with a detection limit of 3.2 μM. Finally, a practical application using NMC-based SC-ISEs was demonstrated through Ca²⁺ ion analysis in mineral water and soil leaching solutions.

A Dual‐Encoded Bead‐Based Immunoassay with Tunable Detection Range for COVID‐19 Serum Evaluation

Serological assay for coronavirus 2019 (COVID‐19) patients including asymptomatic cases can inform on disease progression and prognosis. A detection method taking into account multiplex, high sensitivity, and a wider detection range will help to identify and treat COVID‐19. Here we integrated color‐size dual‐encoded beads and rolling circle amplification (RCA) into a bead‐based fluorescence immunoassay implemented in a size sorting chip to achieve high‐throughput and sensitive detection. We used the assay for quantifying COVID‐19 antibodies against spike S1, nucleocapsid, the receptor binding domain antigens. It also detected inflammatory biomarkers including interleukin‐6, interleukin‐1β, procalcitonin, C‐reactive protein whose concentrations range from pg mL⁻¹ to μg mL⁻¹. Use of different size beads integrating with RCA results in a tunable detection range. The assay can be readily modified to simultaneously measure more COVID‐19 serological molecules differing by orders of magnitude.

Electrochemical Detection of Femtomolar DNA via Boronate Affinity-Mediated Decoration of Polysaccharides with Electroactive Tags

In view of their high efficiency and cost-effectiveness, polymers are of great promise as carriers for signal tags in amplified detection. Herein, we present a polysaccharide-amplified method for the electrochemical detection of a BRCA1 breast cancer gene-derived DNA target at the femtomolar levels. Briefly, peptide nucleic acid (PNA) with a complementary sequence was tethered as the capture probe for the DNA target, to which carboxyl group-containing polysaccharides were then attached via facile phosphate-Zr(IV)-carboxylate crosslinking, followed by the decoration of polysaccharide chains with electroactive ferrocene (Fc) signal tags via affinity coupling between a cis-diol site and phenylboronic acid (PBA) group. As the polysaccharide chain contains hundreds of cis-diol sites, boronate affinity can enable the site-specific decoration of each polysaccharide chain with hundreds of Fc signal tags, efficiently transducing each target capture event into the decoration of many Fc signal tags. As polysaccharides are cheap, renewable, ubiquitous, and biodegradable natural biopolymers, the use of polysaccharides for signal amplification offers the benefits of high efficiency, cost-effectiveness, excellent biocompatibility, and environmental friendliness. The linear range of the polysaccharide-amplified method for DNA detection was demonstrated to be from 10 fM to 10 nM (R² = 0.996), with the detection limit as low as 2.9 fM. The results show that this method can also discriminate single base mismatch with satisfactory selectivity and can be applied to DNA detection in serum samples. In view of these merits, the polysaccharide-amplified PNA-based electrochemical method holds great promise in DNA detection with satisfactory sensitivity and selectivity.

Evaluation of Pathology Residency Training Curriculum and Practice in the Hubei Province of China

CONTEXT.—

The pathology residency program began in China in 2014. There has been no competency assessment on training programs in the Hubei province of China.

OBJECTIVE.—

To evaluate the current residency training curriculum and resident performance in Hubei Province.

DESIGN.—

A 37-question online questionnaire was designed to cover general demographic information, diagnostic competency, expectations of ideal caseload for gross and preview, teaching patterns, examinations, research activities, weak points, and other topics in pathology practice.

RESULTS.—

A total of 166 participants, including 62 postgraduate year (PGY) 2, 49 PGY3, and 55 new practicing pathologists, responded to the survey. PGY3 residents were found to be more competent than PGY2 in diagnostic competency. Forty-five of 55 new practicing pathologists (81.8%) reported that they could sign out cases independently, whereas 10 of 55 (18.2%) were found to still need transitional time for learning before working independently. Some residents could sign out cytopathology cases and gained knowledge in immunohistochemistry and histochemical staining, while some residents did not receive adequate training in molecular pathology. The ideal caseloads for gross and preview during residency were greater than 5000 and 7000, respectively. Nonneoplastic diseases, neuropathology, dermatopathology, hematopathology, and soft tissue pathology were considered difficult subspecialties in pathology practice.

CONCLUSIONS.—

While residents trained in Hubei Province have met the basic requirements for qualified pathologists, more efforts need to be made in many areas, such as well-structured training curriculum and better-designed proficiency examinations. The findings of this study are of great importance to prioritizing training in the future.

Hierarchical Heterostructure Engineering of Layered Double Hydroxides on Nickel Sulfides Heteronanowire Arrays as Efficient Cathode for Alkaline Aqueous Zinc Batteries

Aqueous alkaline rechargeable nickel-zinc (Ni-Zn) batteries possess great potential for large-scale energy storage systems because of their high output voltage, cheap cost, and intrinsic safety. However, the practical applicability of Ni-Zn batteries has been limited by traditional Ni-based cathodes with low capacity and poor cycle stability. Rational design of electrode structure and composition is highly desired but still significantly challenging. Herein, uniform self-supported hierarchical heterostructure composites interacting NiCo-layered double hydroxide with 1D nickel sulfides heteronanowire rooted on Ni foam (NF\Ni₃ S₂ /NiS@NiCo-LDH) are successfully developed by a hydrothermal sulfurization-electrodeposition process. The self-supported 3D hierarchical heterostructured composites nanoarray provides abundant reactive sites, rapid ion diffusion channels, and fast electron transfer routes, as well as strong structural stability. More significantly, the strong interfacial charge transfer between Ni₃ S₂ /NiS heteronanowire and NiCo-LDH effectively modifies the electronic structure of the composites and thereby improving the reaction kinetics. Consequently, the NF\Ni₃ S₂ /NiS@NiCo-LDH electrode presents a superior capacity of 434.5 mAh g^-1 (1.73 mAh cm^-2 ) at 3 mA cm^-2 . In addition, the fabricated NF\Ni₃ S₂ /NiS@NiCo-LDH//Zn battery can offer a maximal energy density and power density as large as 556.3 Wh kg^-1 and 26.3 kW kg^-1 , respectively, as well as an exceptional cycling performance.

Interrupted time series analysis for the impact of integrated medical insurance on direct hospitalization expense of catastrophic illness

In 2016, China initiated the merge of the urban resident basic medical insurance scheme and new rural cooperative medical scheme into one unified health insurance scheme: the urban and rural resident basic medical insurance. This study investigates the impact of integrated insurance on the direct hospitalization cost of inpatients with catastrophic illnesses. An interrupted time series analysis was conducted based on a sample of 6174 inpatients with catastrophic illness from January 2014 to December 2018. The factors surveyed included per capita total inpatient expense, out-of-pocket expense, and reimbursement ratio. Univariate analysis indicated that after the implementation of the unified urban and rural medical insurance, the reimbursed expense increased from 9398 to 13,842 Yuan (P < 0.001), average reimbursement ratio increased from 0.57 to 0.59 (P < 0.05). Expenses on both western and traditional medicines increased, although the proportion of medicine expense decreased after the integration. Interrupted time series analysis showed that per capita total inpatient expense and per capita out-of-pocket expense increased but showed a gradually decreasing trend after the integration. After the integration of urban and rural medical insurance, the average reimbursement ratio increased slightly, which had limited effect on the alleviation of patients' financial burden. Furthermore, the integration effect on inpatient expense is offset by increased out-of-pocket medical expense due to suspected supplier-induced demand.

Beyond Nonactin: Potentiometric Ammonium Ion Sensing Based on Ion-selective Membrane-free Prussian Blue Analogue Transducers

The determination of ammonium ions (NH₄⁺) is of significance to environmental, agriculture, and human health. Potentiometric NH₄⁺ sensors based on solid-contact ion selective electrodes (SC-ISEs) feature point-of-care testing and miniaturization. However, the state-of-the-art SC-ISEs of NH₄⁺ during the past 20 years strongly rely on the organic ammonium ionophore-based ion selective membrane (ISM), typically by nonactin for the NH₄⁺ recognition. Herein, we report a Prussian blue analogue of copper(II)-hexacyanoferrate (CuHCF) for an ISM-free potentiometric NH₄⁺ sensor without using the ionophores. CuHCF works as a bifunctional transducer that could realize the ion-to-electron transduction and NH₄⁺ recognition. CuHCF exhibits competitive analytical performances regarding traditional nonactin-based SC-ISEs of NH₄⁺, particularly for the selectivity toward K⁺. The cost and preparation process have been remarkably reduced. The theoretical calculation combined with electrochemical tests further demonstrate that relatively easier intercalation of NH₄⁺ into the lattices of CuHCF determines its selectivity. This work provides a concept of the ISM-free potentiometric NH₄⁺ sensor beyond the nonactin ionophore through a CuHCF bifunctional transducer.

Boronate-Affinity Cross-Linking-Based Ratiometric Electrochemical Detection of Glycoconjugates

Despite the widespread application of the boronate-affinity cross-linking (BAC) in the separation, enrichment, and sensing of glycoconjugates, it remains a huge challenge to integrate the BAC into the selective electrochemical detection of glycoconjugates due to the poor selectivity of the BAC. Herein, we demonstrate a BAC-based ratiometric electrochemical method for the simple, low-cost, and highly sensitive and selective detection of glycoconjugates. Briefly, the methylene blue (MB)-tagged nucleic acid aptamer is exploited as the recognition element to selectively capture target glycoconjugate, to which a large number of ferrocene (Fc) tags are subsequently labeled via the BAC between the phenylboronic acid (PBA) group and the cis-diol site of the oligosaccharide chains on the captured targets. Using the MB tag as the internal reference and the Fc tag as the reporter of the target capture, the dual-signal output enables the ratiometric detection. Due to the presence of a high density of the cis-diol sites on a glycoconjugate, sufficiently high sensitivity can be obtained even without using any amplification strategies. Using glycoprotein mucin 1 (MUC1) as the model target, the signal ratio (I_Fc/I_MB) exhibits good linearity over the range from 0.05 to 50 U/mL, with a detection limit of 0.021 U/mL. In addition to the high sensitivity and selectivity, the results of the analysis of MUC1 in serum samples are acceptable. By virtue of its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and high robustness and reproducibility, this BAC-based ratiometric electrochemical method holds great promise in the highly sensitive and selective detection of glycoconjugates.

[Prevalence and risk factors of deep venous thrombosis of lower extremity in patients with stage and pressure ulcers on admission]

Objective: To investigate the incidence and risk factors of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of lower extremity in patients with stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ pressure ulcer on admission. Methods: A retrospective case series study was conducted. A total of 241 patients with stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ pressure ulcers who met the inclusion criteria and were discharged from the Department of Wound Repair of the First People's Hospital of Zhengzhou from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019 were enrolled in this study, including 134 males and 107 females, aged 22 to 93 years, with a median age of 68 years; 37 patients were with stage Ⅲ pressure ulcers and 204 patients were with stage Ⅳ pressure ulcers. The DVT occurrence of patients was recorded. According to whether DVT of lower extremity veins was diagnosed by color Doppler ultrasound within 48 h after admission or not, the patients were divided into DVT group (n=37) and non-DVT group (n=204). Data of patients in the two groups were collected and compared, including gender, age, duration of pressure ulcer, time in bed, and combination with diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, cerebral infarction, pneumonia, sepsis/septic shock, and paraplegia, and the plasma D-dimer level and Caprini score within 24 h after admission. Data were statistically analyzed with independent sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact probability test. The indicators with statistically significant differences between the two groups were analyzed with multivariate logistic regression analysis to screen the independent risk factors influencing the DVT of lower extremity in 241 patients with stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ pressure ulcers on admission. Results: The incidence of DVT of lower extremity was 15.4% (37/241), of which 86.5% (32/37) were asymptomatic DVT. Among the DVT of 46 lower limbs, only 29 involved the inferior genicular veins, accounting for 63.0%. There were no statistically significant differences in gender, duration of pressure ulcer, combination with diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, cerebral infarction, pneumonia, and sepsis/septic shock of patients between the two groups (P>0.05), while there were statistically significant differences in age, time in bed, combination with paraplegia, the plasma D-dimer level and Caprini score of patients between the two groups(t=-3.19, Z=-2.04, χ2=4.44, Z=-3.89, t=-2.14, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age and plasma D-dimer level were independent risk factors influencing the DVT of lower extremity in 241 patients with stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ pressure ulcers on admission (with odds ratios of 1.03 and 1.18, respectively, with 95% confidence intervals of 1.00-1.06 and 1.05-1.33, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusions: The patients with stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ pressure ulcers have a higher incidence of DVT on admission, with age and plasma D-dimer level being the independent risk factors for DVT of lower extremity. It is necessary to pay attention to the targeted screening of DVT and education of its prevention.

[Treatment of finger spasm after stroke with wheat grain moxibustion at Shixuan (EX-UE 11) combined with rehabilitation training: a randomized controlled trial]

OBJECTIVE

To compare the clinical effect of wheat grain moxibustion combined with rehabilitation training and simple rehabilitation training on finger spasm after stroke.

METHODS

A total of 80 patients with finger spasm after stroke were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 40 cases in each group. The control group was given routine rehabilitation training, once a day, 30 min each time. The observation group was given wheat grain moxibustion at Shixuan (EX-UE 11) on the basis of the control group, 8~10 moxibustion cones at each point, once a day. Both groups were treated for 6 days as one course of treatment for 4 courses. The motor function of the affected hand (Fugl-Meyer assessment [FMA] score) and muscle tension (modified Ashworth scale [MAS] grading), surface EMG indexes (wrist dorsiflexor muscle and flexor carpal metacarpal muscle mean square [RMS] value), hand muscle strength (neurological deficit score [NDS]) and daily living ability (modified Barthel index [MBI] score) were compared between the two groups before and after treatment, and clinical efficacy was evaluated.

RESULTS

After treatment, FMA and MBI scores in the 2 groups were increased compared with before treatment (P<0.05), and those in the observation group were higher than the control group (P<0.05). The RMS value of wrist dorsiflexor muscle and flexor carpal metacarpal muscle in relaxation and passive function testsand and NDS in the 2 groups were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). MAS grading in the 2 groups was improved compared with before treatment (P<0.05), and that in the observation group was better than the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate of the observation group was 92.5% (37/40), which was higher than that of the control group (80.0%, 32/40, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Wheat grain moxibustion at Shixuan (EX-UE 11) combined with rehabilitation training can improve the hand motor function and daily living ability of patients with finger spasm after stroke, improve the degree of spasm and the function of wrist dorsiflexor muscle and flexor carpal metacarpal muscle, the clinical effect is better than simple rehabilitation training.

Integrated Aptasensor Array for Sweat Drug Analysis

Drug abuse is seriously endangering human health and jeopardizing society. There is an urgent need for rapid, sensitive, portable, and easy-to-operate methods for the daily detection of drugs in biological matrices. However, current drug detection methods based on chromatography, spectroscopy, immunosorbent assays, etc. are limited by the requirements of high logistical instruments and laboratory. Herein, we proposed a wearable electrochemical aptasensor with high sensitivity and specificity for the direct capture and rapid detection of multiple drugs in sweat. The single aptamer and dual aptamers with different base compositions were designed to compose the aptasensor array. Molecular docking simulations demonstrated different binding affinities between bioamines and aptamers. The developed aptasensor array is shown to be sufficient to generate distinct electrochemical fingerprints for different psychoactive drugs and interfering substances by extracting variable features from electrochemical signals. Sixteen analytes in the same concentration or gradient concentrations were identified with 100% accuracy. In addition, the wearable sensor platform was demonstrated to discriminate various drugs with similar chemical structures in artificial sweat and human sweat samples. The sensor array not only provided a new rapid method for the detection of drugs but also served as a reference for developing wearable sensors for onsite and daily testing of human biochemical information.

Superhydrophobic Functionalized Ti3C2Tx MXene-Based Skin-Attachable and Wearable Electrochemical pH Sensor for Real-Time Sweat Detection

Sweat pH is a critical indicator for evaluating human health. With the extensive attention on the wearable and flexible biosensing devices, the technology for the monitoring of human sweat can be realized. In this study, a sensitive, miniaturized, and flexible electrochemical sweat pH sensor was developed for the continuous and real-time monitoring of the hydrogen-ion concentration in human sweat. A flexible electrode was fabricated on the poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) substrate by a simple and low-cost screen-printing technology, which was based on the integration of fluoroalkyl silane-functionalized Ti₃C₂T_x (F-Ti₃C₂T_x) and the polyaniline (PANI) membrane technology instead of the traditional ion-sensitive membrane. The surface functionalization strategy for Ti₃C₂T_x with perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane can provide environmental stability. Functionalized Ti₃C₂T_x (F-Ti₃C₂T_x) was doped with PANI to obtain improved responsiveness, sensitivity, and reversibility. The constructed microsize, portable, and wearable F-Ti₃C₂T_x/PANI pH sensor aimed to real-time monitor the pH value of human sweat during exercise. On-body sweat pH monitoring for females and males, respectively, exhibited high accuracy and continuous stability compared with ex situ analyses. This study thus offers a facile and practical solution for developing a highly reliable MXene-based mini-type pH sensor to realize the online monitoring of human sweat pH.

Recent Advances in Wearable Potentiometric pH Sensors

Wearable sensors reflect the real–time physiological information and health status of individuals by continuously monitoring biochemical markers in biological fluids, including sweat, tears and saliva, and are a key technology to realize portable personalized medicine. Flexible electrochemical pH sensors can play a significant role in health since the pH level affects most biochemical reactions in the human body. pH indicators can be used for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases as well as the monitoring of biological processes. The performances and applications of wearable pH sensors depend significantly on the properties of the pH–sensitive materials used. At present, existing pH–sensitive materials are mainly based on polyaniline (PANI), hydrogen ionophores (HIs) and metal oxides (MO_x). In this review, we will discuss the recent progress in wearable pH sensors based on these sensitive materials. Finally, a viewpoint for state–of–the–art wearable pH sensors and a discussion of their existing challenges are presented.

Two cases of mammary acinic cell carcinomas with microglandular structures mimicking microglandular adenosis

Acinic cell carcinoma (AcCC) of breast is a rare subtype of triple-negative breast carcinoma demonstrating a wide morphologic spectrum. In this study, we perform a detailed morphologic and immunohistochemical description of two cases of the rare entity and review the published relative literature. Histologically, the two cases both showed predominantly microglandular and solid structures overlapping with the histological features of microglandular adenosis (MGA), and one case presented spindle cell metaplastic carcinoma with chondromyxoid matrix as a minor morphologic pattern. In two cases, most of the cancer cells were positive for lysozyme and antitrypsin strongly and extensively, but negative for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), androgen receptors (AR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). The true relationship between breast AcCC and MGA or carcinoma arising in MGA(CAMGA) may remain unclear; re-excision is advised when the MGA-like content extends to the surgical margins in the setting of breast AcCC. More cases and further molecular investigations are required to elucidate the true histogenesis and give the patients appropriate treatment.

Cryptic Sulfur and Oxygen Cycling Potentially Reduces N2O-Driven Greenhouse Warming: Underlying Revision Need of the Nitrogen Cycle

Increasing global deoxygenation has widely formed oxygen-limited biotopes, altering the metabolic pathways of numerous microbes and causing a large greenhouse effect of nitrous oxide (N₂O). Although there are many sources of N₂O, denitrification is the sole sink that removes N₂O from the biosphere, and the low-level oxygen in waters has been classically thought to be the key factor regulating N₂O emissions from incomplete denitrification. However, through microcosm incubations with sandy sediment, we demonstrate here for the first time that the stress from oxygenated environments does not suppress, but rather boosts the complete denitrification process when the sulfur cycle is actively ongoing. This study highlights the potential of reducing N₂O-driven greenhouse warming and fills a gap in pre-cognitions on the nitrogen cycle, which may impact our current understanding of greenhouse gas sinks. Combining molecular techniques and kinetic verification, we reveal that dominant inhibitions in oxygen-limited environments can interestingly undergo triple detoxification by cryptic sulfur and oxygen cycling, which may extensively occur in nature but have been long neglected by researchers. Furthermore, reviewing the present data and observations from natural and artificial ecosystems leads to the necessary revision needs of the global nitrogen cycle.

Estimating uncertainty in a socioeconomic index derived from the American community survey

Socioeconomic indexes are widely used in public health to facilitate neighborhood-scale analyses. Although they are calculated with high levels of precision, they are rarely reported with accompanying measures of uncertainty (e.g., 90% confidence intervals). Here we use the variance replicate tables that accompany the United States Census Bureau's American Community Survey to report confidence intervals around the Yost Index, a socioeconomic index comprising seven variables that is frequently used in cancer surveillance. The Yost Index is reported as a percentile score from 1 (most affluent) to 100 (most deprived). We find that the average uncertainty for a census tract in the United States is plus or minus 8 percentiles, with the uncertainty a function of the value of the index itself. Scores at the extremes of the distribution are more precise and scores near the center are less precise. Less-affluent tracts have greater uncertainty than corresponding more-affluent tracts. Fewer than 50 census tracts of 72,793 nationally have unusual distributions of socioeconomic conditions that render the index uninformative. We demonstrate that the uncertainty in a census-based socioeconomic index is calculable and can be incorporated into any analysis using such an index.

Comparative Study of Modified Silver Nitrate Staining for the Detection of Helicobacter pylori

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection is associated with a variety of diseases, such as benign lesions, precancerous lesions, and malignant lesions, especially diseases in the digestive system. Most people with Hp infection have mild early symptoms that are not easily noticed. Therefore, the diagnosis and treatment of Hp infection is particularly important. At present, there are many methods to detection Hp infection, but there is a lack of effective detection method with high sensitivity and specificity. On the basis of the existing detection methods, the modified silver nitrate staining method in this study improved the sensitivity and specificity of Hp detection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We selected gastric antrum and gastric angle mucosal biopsy tissues from 60 inpatients that were archived in the Pathology Department of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from July to December 2020. An Hp immunohistochemical assay, histochemical assay kit (methylene blue), and modified silver nitrate staining were used to measure the Hp infection positivity rate.

RESULTS

Comparison of Hp sensitivity and specificity among the 3 methods showed that the modified silver nitrate staining method was the most excellent. The sensitivity of modified silver nitrate staining method was 98.3%, which is statistically significantly higher compared with the other 2 methods.

CONCLUSION

The modified silver nitrate staining method for Hp detection is convenient and effective, and could be widely used for clinical Hp detection.