Combined low dose local anesthetics and opioids versus single use of LA for transurethral urological surgery: a meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

The combination of reduced dose of local anesthetics (LA) and highly lipid-soluble synthetic opioids for patients undergoing transurethral surgery could reduce block duration and side-effects. However, it remains unclear what are the most appropriate levels of low dose and the extent to which the side-effects could be controlled. A meta-analysis was conducted to address this concern.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Based on twelve randomized controlled trials, this meta-analysis pooled previous results to generate integrated evidence.

RESULTS

Combined low dose of LA and opioids had similar sensory block and significantly shorter motor block duration (weighted mean difference: -39.31 min, 95% confidence interval (CI): -50.58--28.05, P < 0.00001) compared with single use of LA. There was no evidence of higher risk of analgesic failure in the combination group. In addition, combined low dose LA and opioids was associated with significantly reduced rate of postoperative hypotension (risk ratios (RR): 0.60, 95% CI: 0.37-0.96, P = 0.03) and shivering (RR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.11-0.64, P = 0.003), but with higher rate of sedation (RR: 3.14, 95% CI: 1.02-9.66, P = 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Combined low dose LA and opioids is a better choice for patients received transurethral surgery compared with single use of intrathecal LA.

A bio-inspired sensor coupled with a bio-bar code and hybridization chain reaction for Hg2+ assay

In this article, a bio-inspired DNA sensor is developed, which coupled with bio-bar code and hybridization chain reaction. This bio-inspired sensor has high sensitivity to Hg²⁺, and has been used to assay Hg²⁺ in the extraction of traditional Chinese medicine.

Sensing applications of luminescent carbon based dots

Carbon based dots (CDs) including carbon quantum dots and graphene quantum dots exhibit unique luminescence properties, such as photoluminescence (PL), chemiluminescence (CL) and electrochemiluminescence (ECL).

Design of charge exchange recombination spectroscopy for the joint Texas experimental tokamak

The old diagnostic neutral beam injector first operated at the University of Texas at Austin is ready for rejoining the joint Texas experimental tokamak (J-TEXT). A new set of high voltage power supplies has been equipped and there is no limitation for beam modulation or beam pulse duration henceforth. Based on the spectra of fully striped impurity ions induced by the diagnostic beam the design work for toroidal charge exchange recombination spectroscopy (CXRS) system is presented. The 529 nm carbon VI (n = 8 - 7 transition) line seems to be the best choice for ion temperature and plasma rotation measurements and the considered hardware is listed. The design work of the toroidal CXRS system is guided by essential simulation of expected spectral results under the J-TEXT tokamak operation conditions.

Photoluminescence, chemiluminescence and anodic electrochemiluminescence of hydrazide-modified graphene quantum dots

Single-layer graphene quantum dots (SGQDs) were refluxed with hydrazine (N2H4) to prepare hydrazide-modified SGQDs (HM-SGQDs). Compared with SGQDs, partial oxygen-containing groups have been removed from HM-SGQDs. At the same time, a lot of hydrazide groups have been introduced into HM-SGQDs. The introduced hydrazide groups provide HM-SGQDs with a new kind of surface state, and give HM-SGQDs unique photoluminescence (PL) properties such as blue-shifted PL emission and a relatively high PL quantum yield. More importantly, the hydrazide-modification made HM-SGQDs have abundant luminol-like units. Accordingly, HM-SGQDs exhibit unique and excellent chemiluminescence (CL) and anodic electrochemiluminescence (ECL). The hydrazide groups of HM-SGQDs can be chemically oxidized by the dissolved oxygen (O2) in alkaline solutions, producing a strong CL signal. The CL intensity is mainly dependent on the pH value and the concentration of O2, implying the potential applications of HM-SGQDs in pH and O2 sensors. The hydrazide groups of HM-SGQDs can also be electrochemically oxidized in alkaline solutions, producing a strong anodic ECL signal. The ECL intensity can be enhanced sensitively by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The enhanced ECL intensity is proportional to the concentration of H2O2 in a wide range of 3 μM to 500 μM. The detection limit of H2O2 was calculated to be about 0.7 μM. The results suggest the great potential applications of HM-SGQDs in the sensors of H2O2 and bio-molecules that are able to produce H2O2 in the presence of enzymes.

Graphene quantum dots, graphene oxide, carbon quantum dots and graphite nanocrystals in coals

Six coal samples of different ranks have been used to prepare single-layer graphene quantum dots (S-GQDs). After chemical oxidation and a series of centrifugation separation, every coal could be treated into two fractions, namely, CoalA and CoalB. According to the characterization results of TEM, AFM, XRD, Raman and FTIR, CoalA was revealed to be mainly composed of S-GQDs, which have an average height of about 0.5 nm and an average plane dimension of about 10 nm. The obtained S-GQDs showed excitation-dependent fluorescence and excellent electrochemiluminescence. CoalB was found to be some other carbon-based nanomaterials (CNMs), including agglomerated GQDs, graphene oxide, carbon quantum dots and agglomerated carbon nanocrystals. Generally, low-ranked coals might be more suitable for the preparation of S-GQDs. The production yield of S-GQDs from the six investigated coals decreased from 56.30% to 14.66% when the coal rank increased gradually. In contrast, high-ranked coals had high production yield of CoalB and might be more suitable for preparing other CNMs that were contained in CoalB, although those CNMs were difficult to separate from each other in our experiment.

An ultrasensitive aptameric sensor for proteins based on hyperbranched rolling circle amplification

A novel fluorescent aptameric sensor for thrombin has been developed by combination of the high amplification efficiency of HRCA and the specific function of aptameric recognition.

Graphene quantum dots/L-cysteine coreactant electrochemiluminescence system and its application in sensing lead(II) ions

A new coreactant electrochemiluminescence (ECL) system including single-layer graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and L-cysteine (L-Cys) was found to be able to produce strong cathodic ECL signal. The ECL signal of GQD/L-Cys coreactant system was revealed to be mainly dependent on some key factors, including the oxidation of L-Cys, the presence of dissolved oxygen and the reduction of GQDs. Then, a possible ECL mechanism was proposed for the coreactant ECL system. Furthermore, the ECL signal of the GQD/L-Cys system was observed to be quenched by lead(II) ions (Pb(2+)). After optimization of some important experimental conditions, including concentrations of GQDs and L-Cys, potential scan rate, response time, and pH value, an ECL sensor was developed for the detection of Pb(2+). The new methodology can offer a rapid, reliable, and selective detection of Pb(2+) with a detection limit of 70 nM and a dynamic range from 100 nM to 10 μM.

Nitrogen-doped carbon-based dots prepared by dehydrating EDTA with hot sulfuric acid and their electrocatalysis for oxygen reduction reaction

Nitrogen doped carbon-based dots were synthesized by dehydrating ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and were used for electro-catalyzing oxygen reduction.