Synergistic cobalt‑copper metal-organic framework anchored amino-functionalized cellulose for antibiotic degradation: Interfacial engineering and mechanism insight

Improving electron transfer rate of Co species and inhibiting aggregation of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) particles are essential prerequisites for activating advanced oxidation process in wastewater treatment field. Here, we exploit Cu species with variable valence states to accelerate electron transfer of Co species and then to boost the unsatisfactory degradation efficiency for refractory pharmaceuticals via in-situ growth of copper and cobalt species on l-lysine functionalized carboxylated cellulose nanofibers. Utilizing the synergistic interplay of Co sites and deliberately exposed Cu0/Cu1+ atoms, the subtly designed catalyst exhibited a surprising degradation efficiency (~100 %) toward tetracycline hydrochloride within 10 min (corresponding to a catalytic capacity of 267.71 mg/g) without adjusting temperature and pH. Meanwhile, the catalyst displays good recyclability, well tolerance for coexisting ions and excellent antibacterial performance derived from the intrinsic antibacterial property of Cu-MOF. This research provided a novel strategy to construct MOFs-cellulose materials toward degrading various stubborn antibiotic pollutants.

Airborne antibiotic and metal resistance genes - A neglected potential risk at e-waste recycling facilities

Heavy metal-rich environments can promote the selection of metal-resistance genes (MRGs) in bacteria, often leading to the simultaneous selection of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) through a process known as co-selection. To comprehensively evaluate the biological pollutants at electronic-waste (e-waste) recycling facilities, air, soil, and river samples were collected at four distinct Swiss e-waste recycling facilities and analyzed for ARGs, MRGs, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), endotoxins, and bacterial species, with correlations drawn to heavy metal occurrence. To our knowledge, the present work marks the first attempt to quantify these bio-pollutants in the air of e-waste recycling facilities, that might pose a significant health risk to workers. Although ARG and MRG's profiles varied among the different sample types, intl1 consistently exhibited high relative abundance rates, identifying it as the predominant MGE across all sample types and facilities. These findings underscore its pivol role in driving diverse bacterial adaptations to extreme heavy metal exposure by selection and dissemination of ARGs and MRGs. All air samples exhibited consistent profiles of ARGs and MRGs, with blaTEM emerging as the predominant ARG, alongside pbrT and nccA as the most prevalent MRGs. However, one facility, engaged in batteries recycling and characterized by exceptionally high concentrations of heavy metals, showcased a more diverse resistance gene profile, suggesting that bacteria in this environment required more complex resistance mechanisms to cope with extreme metal exposure. Furthermore, this study unveiled a strong association between gram-negative bacteria and ARGs and less with MRGs. Overall, this research emphasizes the critical importance of studying biological pollutants in the air of e-waste recycling facilities to inform robust safety measures and mitigate the risk of resistance gene dissemination among workers. These findings establish a solid foundation for further investigations into the complex interplay among heavy metal exposure, bacterial adaptation, and resistance patterns in such distinctive ecosystems.

Biodegradable and multifunctional black mulch film decorated with darkened lignin induced by iron ions for "green" agriculture

High-value utilization of bleached lignin has been widely used in different fields, whereas the investigation on darkened lignin in composite materials was often ignored. In this work, a sort of eco-friendly and structurally robust sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/sodium lignosulfonate (SLS) black composite mulch film was elaborately designed. The chelation and redox reaction effect between Fe ions and SLS lead to the formation of a more quinones structure on lignin, darkening both lignin and the mulch films. The chelation effect between Fe ions and biopolymer formed three-dimensional structures, which can be used as sacrifice bonds to dissipate energy and improve the mechanical properties of the composite films. In particular, the maximum elongation at break and toughness increased from 48.4 % and 1141 kJ/m3 for the CMC/PVA film to 210.9 % and 1426 kJ/m3 for the optimized CMC/PVA/SLS/Fe black mulch film, respectively. In addition, the optimized black mulch film also possesses good soil water retention, thermal preservation effect, controlled urea release, and well biodegradability. This work offered a novel strategy for designing eco-friendly black mulch with reinforced mechanical strength, slow-release urea, soil moisture retention, and heat preservation performances.

Carboxymethyl cellulose-based hydrogel with high-density crack microstructures inspired from the multi-tentacles of octopus for ultrasensitive flexible sensing microsystem

Constructing high-density contact-separation sites on conductive materials highly determines the sensitivity of flexible resistance-type sensors relying on the crack microstructures. Herein, inspired from the multiple-tentacle structures on octopus, we demonstrated a sort of novel carbonized ZIF-8@loofah (CZL) as conductive material to develop ultrasensitivity flexible sensor, in which the carbonized ZIF-8 nanoparticles (~100 nm) served as tentacles. Originating from the formation of high-density contact-separation sites, the fabricated CZL-based strain sensor delivered ultrahigh sensitivity of GFmax = 15,901, short response time of 22 ms and excellent durability over 10,000 cycles. These features enable the sensor with efficient monitoring capacity for complex human activities, such as pulse rate and phonation. Moreover, when CZL was assembled into triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), CZL-based TENG can effectively convert the irregular biomechanical energy into electric energy, providing sustainable power supply for the continuous operation of the sensing micro-system. Our findings established a novel platform to develop high-performance self-powered sensing systems of physiological parameter of human inspired from the nature.

Constructing high-density crack-microstructures within MXene interlayers for ultrasensitive and superhydrophobic cellulosic fibers-based sensors

Incorporating biopolymers into two-dimensional transition metal carbides and/or nitrides (2D MXene) has been demonstrated as an effective strategy to improve the mechanical behaviors of MXene-based composites. However, the insulate nature of biopolymers inevitably deteriorated the electrical conductivity and the sensitivity of assembled sensors. Herein, a novel cellulose nanofiber (CNF)/MXene/carbon black (CB) composite was demonstrated as the conductive layer in eco-friendly cellulose paper-based sensors by intercalating the CB into the MXene/CNF interlayer, followed by coating hydrophobic SiO2 for encapsulation. Befitting from the high-density crack-microstructures between CB and MXene, the fabricated superhydrophobic paper CB/CNF/MXene/SiO2 sensor delivered ultrahigh sensitivity of 729.52 kPa-1, low detect limit of 0.29 Pa, rapid response time of 80 ms and excellent stability over 10,000 cycles. Moreover, the fabricated sensor was capable of detecting the physiological parameter of human (e.g. huge/subtle movements) and spatial pressure distribution. Furthermore, the presence of SiO2 layer endowed the sensor with superhydrophobic performance (water contact angle ∼158.2 o) and stable electrical signals under high moisture conditions or even under water. Our work proposed a novel strategy to boost the sensitivity of MXene-based conductive layer in flexible electronic devices.

Bioconversion of spray corn husks into L-lactic acid with liquid hot water pretreatment

Agricultural by-products like rice husk, bran, and spray corn husks, often utilized as feed, are considered less desirable. This study aims to enhance the utilization rate of these materials by subjecting then to liquid hot water (LHW) pretreatment, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis to produce fermentable sugars. We investigated the production of L-lactic acid using two methods: simultaneous saccharification fermentation (SSF) and separate hydrolysis fermentation (SHF), following varying intensities of LHW pretreatment. The results showed that the optimal enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency was achieved from spray corn husks under the pretreatment conditions of 155 °C and 15 min. SHF was generally more effective than SSF. The glucose L-lactic acid conversion rate in SHF using spray corn husks can reach more than 90 %. Overall, this work proposed a novel, environmental-friendly strategy for efficient and for L- lactic acid production from spray corn husks.

Porous carbon with the synergistic effect of cellulose fibers and MOFs as the anode for high-performance Li-ion batteries

The commercial graphene for Li ion batteries (LIBs) has high cost and low capacity. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a novel carbon anode. The cellulose nanowires (CNWs), which has advantages of low cost, high carbon content, is thought as a good carbon precursor. However, direct carbonization of CNWs leads to low surface area and less mesopores due to its easy aggregation. Herein, the metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been explored as templates to prepare porous carbon due to their 3D open pore structures. The porous carbon was developed with the coordination effect of CNWs and MOFs. The precursor of MOFs coordinates with the -OH and - COOH groups in the CNWs to provide stable structure. And the MOFs was grown in situ on CNWs to reduce aggregation and provide higher porosity. The results show that the porous carbon has high specific capacity and fast Li+/electronic conductivity. As anode for LIBs, it displays 698 mAh g-1 and the capacity retention is 85 % after 200 cycles. When using in the full-battery system, it exhibits energy density of 480 Wh kg-1, suggesting good application value. This work provides a low-cost method to synthesize porous carbon with fast Li+/electronic conductivity for high-performance LIBs.

Multifunctional soybean protein isolate-graft-carboxymethyl cellulose composite as all-biodegradable and mechanically robust mulch film for "green" agriculture

Multifunctional mulch films with robust mechanical behaviors of biopolymer-based biodegradable mulch materials were highly demanded in promoting the development of "green" agriculture. Herein, a sort of mechanically robust and all-biodegradable soybean protein isolate-graft‑sodium carboxymethyl cellulose composite mulch film was innovatively proposed through the amidation reactions between -COOH on protonated sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and -NH2 on soybean protein isolate. Arising from the reinforced intermolecular interactions upon chemical covalent bonds and physical hydrogen bonds, the maximum tensile strength and the elongation at break were increased from 10.61 MPa and 20.67 % for sodium carboxymethyl cellulose film to 42.15 MPa and 24.8 % for the optimized soybean protein isolate-graft‑sodium carboxymethyl cellulose composite mulch film, respectively. In addition, experimental results showed that the optimized soybean protein isolate-graft‑sodium carboxymethyl cellulose composite mulch film possesses soil moisture retention and controlled urea release properties. When employed as mulch film in practice, the cabbage seed presents higher germination when soil was covered with this versatile mulch film compared to commercial low-density polyethylene mulch film. Our discoveries build a prototype for the manufacture of eco-friendly mulch films with high mechanical strength, soil moisture retention, controlled urea release features.

Bioconversion of cellulose and hemicellulose in corn cob into L-lactic acid and xylo-oligosaccharides

With the banning of antibiotic chemical feed additives, multi-functional bioactive feed additives have been extensively sought after by the feed industry. In this study, low-cost and renewable corn cobs were treated with liquid hot water and converted into bioactive xylo-oligosaccharides and L-lactic acid after enzymatic hydrolysis, strain activation, and fermentation under mild conditions, which achieved a full utilization of cellulose and hemicellulose in corn cobs. Simultaneous saccharification fermentation after strain activation with enzymatic hydrolysate delivered the highest conversion rate of glucose to L-lactic acid (93.00 %) and yielded 17.38 g/L L-lactic acid and 2.68 g/L xylo-oligosaccharides. On this basis, batch-feeding fermentation resulted in a 78.03 % conversion rate of glucose to L-lactic acid, 18.99 g/L L-lactic acid, and 2.84 g/L xylo-oligosaccharides. This work not only provided a green and clean bioconversion strategy to produce multi-functional feed additives but can also boost the full utilization of renewable and cheap biomass resources.

Spatial and temporal distribution of endotoxins, antibiotic resistance genes and mobile genetic elements in the air of a dairy farm in Germany

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious issue that is continuously growing and spreading, leading to a dwindling number of effective treatments for infections that were easily treatable with antibiotics in the past. Animal farms are a major hotspot for AMR, where antimicrobials are often overused, misused, and abused, in addition to overcrowding of animals. In this study, we investigated the risk of AMR transmission from a farm to nearby residential areas by examining the overall occurrence of endotoxins, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in the air of a cattle farm. We assessed various factors, including the season and year, day and nighttime, and different locations within the farm building and its vicinity. The most abundant ARGs detected were tetW, aadA1, and sul2, genes that encode for resistances towards antibiotics commonly used in veterinary medicine. While there was a clear concentration gradient for endotoxin from the middle of the farm building to the outside areas, the abundance of ARGs and MGEs was relatively uniform among all locations within the farm and its vicinity. This suggests that endotoxins preferentially accumulated in the coarse particle fraction, which deposited quickly, as opposed to the ARGs and MGEs, which might concentrate in the fine particle fraction and remain longer in the aerosol phase. The occurrence of the same genes found in the air samples and in the manure indicated that ARGs and MGEs in the air mostly originated from the cows, continuously being released from the manure to the air. Although our atmospheric dispersion model indicated a relatively low risk for nearby residential areas, farm workers might be at greater risk of getting infected with resistant bacteria and experiencing overall respiratory tract issues due to continuous exposure to elevated concentrations of endotoxins, ARGs and MGEs in the air of the farm.

Design of amphoteric MOFs-cellulose based composite for wastewater remediation: Adsorption and catalysis

Water pollution remains a serious problem for aquatic organism and human beings. Developing an efficient material which can simultaneously remove and convert pollutants into low or no harmful compounds is an essential issue. Targeting at this goal, a multifunctional and amphoteric wastewater treatment material of Co-MOF and functionalized cellulose-based composite (CMC/SA/PEI/ZIF-67) was designed and prepared. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and sodium alginate (SA) were selected as support to construct an interpenetrating network structure and made it crosslinked with polyethyleneimine (PEI) for further in situ growth of ZIF-67 with good dispersion. The material was characterized using an appropriate set of spectroscopic and analytical techniques. When applied in the adsorption of heavy metal oxyanions with no adjustment of pH, the adsorbent could completely decontaminate Cr(VI) at both low and high initial concentrations with good reduction rates. The adsorbent maintained good reusability after five cycles. Meanwhile, the cobalt species of CMC/SA/PEI/ZIF-67 can activate peroxymonosulfate to generate high oxidizing substances (such as SO4-· and ·OH- radicals) to degrade cationic rhodamine B dye within 120 min, thus indicating the amphoteric and catalytic nature of our CMC/SA/PEI/ZIF-67 adsorbent. The mechanism of the adsorption and catalytic process was also discussed based with the assistance of different characterization analysis.

Waterproof and ultrasensitive paper-based wearable strain/pressure sensor from carbon black/multilayer graphene/carboxymethyl cellulose composite

Huge electronic wastes motivated the flourishing of biodegradable electrically conductive cellulosic paper-based functional materials as flexible wearable devices. However, the relatively low sensitivity and unstable output in combination with poor wet strength under high moisture circumstances impeded the practical application. Herein, a superhydrophobic cellulosic paper with ultrahigh sensitivity was proposed by innovatively employing ionic sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as bridge to reinforce the interfacial interaction between carbon black (CB) and multilayer graphene (MG) and SiO₂ nanoparticles as superhydrophobic layer. The resultant paper-based (PB) sensor displayed excellent strain sensing behaviors, wide working range (-1.0 %-1.0 %), ultrahigh sensitivity (gauge factor, GF = 70.2), and satisfied durability (>10,000 cycles). Moreover, the superhydrophobic surface offered well waterproof and self-cleaning properties, even stable running data without encapsulation under extremely high moisture conditions. Impressively, when the fabricated PB sensor was applied for electronic-skin (E-skin), the signal capture of spatial strain of E-skin upon bodily motion was breezily achieved. Thus, our work not only provides a new pathway for reinforcing the interfacial interaction of electrically conductive carbonaceous materials, but also promises a category of unprecedentedly superhydrophobic cellulosic paper-based strain sensors with ultra-sensitivity in human-machine interfaces field.

[The efficacy and safety of Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors as monotherapy in the treatment of newly diagnosed patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia]

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi) ibrutinib or zanubrutinib monotherapy in newly diagnosed patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) . Methods: The efficacy and adverse effects of 58 patients with newly diagnosed WM receiving BTKi monotherapy in Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine were analyzed retrospectively from January 2018 to August 2022. Results: The response of 55 patients may be examined. Forty patients received ibrutinib monotherapy for a median of 15 months, with an overall response rate (ORR) of 85%, a main remission rate (MRR) of 70%, and a very good partial remission (VGPR) rate of 10%. Fifteen patients received zanubrutinib monotherapy for a median of 13 months, with an ORR of 93%, an MRR of 73%, and a VGPR rate of 0%. For various reasons, 10 patients were converted from ibrutinib to zanubrutinib. Ibrutinib treatment lasted an average of 7.5 months before conversion. The median duration of zanubrutinib therapy after conversion was 3.5 months. The ORRs before and after conversion were 90% and 100%, MRRs were 80% and 80%, and VGPR rates were 10% and 50%, respectively. After a median of 16 months, the 24-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate of patients who received both BTKi was 86%. PFS did not differ statistically across individuals with low, medium, and high-risk ISS scores (P=0.998). All of the patients survived. The most common side effects of BTKi were neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, which occurred in 12% and 10% of all patients, respectively. Ibrutinib accounts for 5% of atrial fibrillation, and zanubrutinib has a 7% risk of bleeding. Conclusions: In treating WM, ibrutinib or zanubrutinib provides good efficacy and tolerable adverse effects.

The value of microbiology rapid on-site evaluation of sepsis caused by pulmonary infection

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate the value of microbial rapid on-site evaluation (M-ROSE) of sepsis, and septic shock caused by pulmonary infection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty-six patients with sepsis and septic shock due to hospital-acquired pneumonia were analyzed. Accuracy and time were compared with M-ROSE, traditional culture, and next-generation sequencing (NGS).

RESULTS

A total of 48 strains of bacteria and 8 strains of fungi were detected by bronchoscopy in 36 patients. The accuracy rate of bacteria and fungi was 95.8% and 100%, respectively. M-ROSE took an average of 0.34±0.01 hours, much faster than NGS (22h±0.01 h, p<0.0001) and traditional culture time (67.50±0.91 h, p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

M-ROSE may quickly identify common bacteria and fungi, so it may be a useful method for the etiological diagnosis of sepsis and septic shock caused by pulmonary infection.

HMGB1 acts as an agent of host defense at the gut mucosal barrier

Mucosal barriers provide the first line of defense between internal body surfaces and microbial threats from the outside world. ¹ In the colon, the barrier consists of two layers of mucus and a single layer of tightly interconnected epithelial cells supported by connective tissue and immune cells. ² Microbes colonize the loose, outer layer of colonic mucus, but are essentially excluded from the tight, epithelial-associated layer by host defenses. ³ The amount and composition of the mucus is calibrated based on microbial signals and loss of even a single component of this mixture can destabilize microbial biogeography and increase the risk of disease. ^4-7 However, the specific components of mucus, their molecular microbial targets, and how they work to contain the gut microbiota are still largely unknown. Here we show that high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), the prototypical damage-associated molecular pattern molecule (DAMP), acts as an agent of host mucosal defense in the colon. HMGB1 in colonic mucus targets an evolutionarily conserved amino acid sequence found in bacterial adhesins, including the well-characterized Enterobacteriaceae adhesin FimH. HMGB1 aggregates bacteria and blocks adhesin-carbohydrate interactions, inhibiting invasion through colonic mucus and adhesion to host cells. Exposure to HMGB1 also suppresses bacterial expression of FimH. In ulcerative colitis, HMGB1 mucosal defense is compromised, leading to tissue-adherent bacteria expressing FimH. Our results demonstrate a new, physiologic role for extracellular HMGB1 that refines its functions as a DAMP to include direct, virulence limiting effects on bacteria. The amino acid sequence targeted by HMGB1 appears to be broadly utilized by bacterial adhesins, critical for virulence, and differentially expressed by bacteria in commensal versus pathogenic states. These characteristics suggest that this amino acid sequence is a novel microbial virulence determinant and could be used to develop new approaches to diagnosis and treatment of bacterial disease that precisely identify and target virulent microbes.

Advances in Application of Cellulose-MOF Composites in Aquatic Environmental Treatment: Remediation and Regeneration

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have gained remarkable interest in water treatment due to their fascinating characteristics, such as tunable functionality, large specific surface area, customizable pore size and porosity, and good chemical and thermal stability. However, MOF particles tend to easily agglomerate in nanoscale, thus decreasing their activity and processing convenience. It is necessary to shape MOF nanocrystals into maneuverable structures. The in situ growth or ex situ incorporation of MOFs into inexpensive and abundant cellulose-family materials can be effective strategies for the stabilization of these MOF species, and therefore can make available a range of enhanced properties that expand the industrial application possibilities of cellulose and MOFs. This paper provides a review of studies on recent advances in the application of multi-dimensional MOF-cellulose composites (e.g., aerogels, membranes, and bulk materials) in wastewater remediation (e.g., metals, dyes, drugs, antibiotics, pesticides, and oils) and water regeneration by adsorption, photo- or chemocatalysis, and membrane separation strategies. The advantages brought about by combining MOFs and cellulose are described, and the performance of MOF-cellulose is described and compared to its counterparts. The mechanisms of relative MOF-cellulose materials in processing aquatic pollutants are included. Existing challenges and perspectives for future research are proposed.

Ammonia and sodium sulfite synergistically pretreat reed to enhance enzymatic saccharification

Pretreatment is important to overcome the structural recalcitrance of reed (a viable energy grass) to produce fermentable sugar. Herein, the study reported the pretreatment of reed using different alkali chemicals (sodium hydroxide/anthraquinone, sodium hydroxide/sodium sulfite, sodium hydroxide/sodium sulfide, ammonia/hydrogen peroxide, triethanolamine, and ammonia/sodium sulfite). The comparative study showed that the pretreatment using ammonia and sodium sulfite (NS) performed the best among them. The NS pretreatment of reed was further optimized using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The results showed that about 90.36% lignin was removed when reed was pretreated with 10 wt% of ammonia and 10% of sodium sulfite at 172 °C for 20 min. The excellent lignin removal performance was attributable to the synergistic effects between ammonia and sodium sulfite. The NS pretreated reed achieved 85.6% of enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency and 64.83% of total sugar yield.

Bacterial antibiotic resistance among cancer inpatients in China: 2016-20

BACKGROUND

The incidence of infections among cancer patients is as high as 23.2-33.2% in China. However, the lack of information and data on the number of antibiotics used by cancer patients is an obstacle to implementing antibiotic management plans.

AIM

This study aimed to investigate bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance in Chinese cancer patients to provide a reference for the rational use of antibiotics.

DESIGN

This was a 5-year retrospective study on the antibiotic resistance of cancer patients.

METHODS

In this 5-year surveillance study, we collected bacterial and antibiotic resistance data from 20 provincial cancer diagnosis and treatment centers and three specialized cancer hospitals in China. We analyzed the resistance of common bacteria to antibiotics, compared to common clinical drug-resistant bacteria, evaluated the evolution of critical drug-resistant bacteria and conducted data analysis.

FINDINGS

Between 2016 and 2020, 216 219 bacterial strains were clinically isolated. The resistance trend of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae to amikacin, ciprofloxacin, cefotaxime, piperacillin/tazobactam and imipenem was relatively stable and did not significantly increase over time. The resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains to all antibiotics tested, including imipenem and meropenem, decreased over time. In contrast, the resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii strains to carbapenems increased from 4.7% to 14.7%. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) significantly decreased from 65.2% in 2016 to 48.9% in 2020.

CONCLUSIONS

The bacterial prevalence and antibiotic resistance rates of E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii, S. aureus and MRSA were significantly lower than the national average.

[Surgical skills and precautions of pelvic exenteration combined with pelvic wall resection]

The treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) or locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) has been a difficulty and challenge in the field of advanced rectal cancer, while pelvic exenteration (PE), as an important way to potentially achieve radical treatment of LARC and LRRC, has been shown to significantly improve the long-term prognosis of patients. The implementation of PE surgery requires precise assessment of the extent of invasion of LARC or LRRC and adequate preoperative preparation through multidisciplinary consultation before surgery. The lateral pelvis involves numerous tissues, blood vessels, and nerves, and resection is most difficult, and the ureteral and Marcille triangle approaches are recommended; while the supine transabdominal approach combined with intraoperative change to the prone jacket position facilitates adequate exposure of the surgical field and enables precise overall resection of the bony pelvis and pelvic floor muscle groups invaded by the tumor. Empty pelvic syndrome has always been an major problem to be solved during PE. The application of extracellular matrix biological mesh to reconstruct pelvic floor defects and isolate the abdominopelvic cavity is expected to reduce postoperative pelvic floor related complications. Reconstruction of the urinary system and important vessels after PE is essential, and the selection of appropriate reconstruction methods helps to improve the patient's postoperative quality of life, while more new methods are also being continuously explored.

[Clinical study of using basement membrane biological products in pelvic floor reconstruction during pelvic exenteration]

Objective: To investigate the value of reconstruction of pelvic floor with biological products to prevent and treat empty pelvic syndrome after pelvic exenteration (PE) for locally advanced or recurrent rectal cancer. Methods: This was a descriptive study of data of 56 patients with locally advanced or locally recurrent rectal cancer without or with limited extra-pelvic metastases who had undergone PE and pelvic floor reconstruction using basement membrane biologic products to separate the abdominal and pelvic cavities in the Department of Anorectal Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Military Medical University from November 2021 to May 2022. The extent of surgery was divided into two categories: mainly inside the pelvis (41 patients) and including pelvic wall resection (15 patients). In all procedures, basement membrane biologic products were used to reconstruct the pelvic floor and separate the abdominal and pelvic cavities. The procedures included a transperitoneal approach, in which biologic products were used to cover the retroperitoneal defect and the pelvic entrance from the Treitz ligament to the sacral promontory and sutured to the lateral peritoneum, the peritoneal margin of the retained organs in the anterior pelvis, or the pubic arch and pubic symphysis; and a sacrococcygeal approach in which biologic products were used to reconstruct the defect in the pelvic muscle-sacral plane. Variables assessed included patients' baseline information (including sex, age, history of preoperative radiotherapy, recurrence or primary, and extra-pelvic metastases), surgery-related variables (including extent of organ resection, operative time, intraoperative bleeding, and tissue restoration), post-operative recovery (time to recovery of bowel function and time to recovery from empty pelvic syndrome), complications, and findings on follow-up. Postoperative complications were graded using the Clavien-Dindo classification. Results: The median age of the 41 patients whose surgery was mainly inside the pelvis was 57 (31-82) years. The patients comprised 25 men and 16 women. Of these 41 patients, 23 had locally advanced disease and 18 had locally recurrent disease; 32 had a history of chemotherapy/immunotherapy/targeted therapy and 24 of radiation therapy. Among these patients, the median operative time, median intraoperative bleeding, median time to recovery of bowel function, and median time to resolution of empty pelvic syndrome were 440 (240-1020) minutes, 650 (200-4000) ml, 3 (1-9) days, and 14 (5-105) days, respectively. As for postoperative complications, 37 patients had Clavien-Dindo < grade III and four had ≥ grade III complications. One patient died of multiple organ failure 7 days after surgery, two underwent second surgeries because of massive bleeding from their pelvic floor wounds, and one was successfully resuscitated from respiratory failure. In contrast, the median age of the 15 patients whose procedure included combined pelvic and pelvic wall resection was 61 (43-76) years, they comprised eight men and seven women, four had locally advanced disease and 11 had locally recurrent disease. All had a history of chemotherapy/ immunotherapy and 13 had a history of radiation therapy. The median operative time, median intraoperative bleeding, median time to recovery of bowel function, and median time to relief of empty pelvic syndrome were 600 (360-960) minutes, 1600 (400-4000) ml, 3 (2-7) days, and 68 (7-120) days, respectively, in this subgroup of patients. Twelve of these patients had Clavien-Dindo < grade III and three had ≥ grade III postoperative complications. Follow-up was until 31 October 2022 or death; the median follow-up time was 9 (5-12) months. One patient in this group died 3 months after surgery because of rapid tumor progression. The remaining 54 patients have survived to date and no local recurrences have been detected at the surgical site. Conclusion: The use of basement membrane biologic products for pelvic floor reconstruction and separation of the abdominal and pelvic cavities during PE for locally advanced or recurrent rectal cancer is safe, effective, and feasible. It improves the perioperative safety of PE and warrants more implementation.

Biosurfactant promoted enzymatic saccharification of alkali‑pretreated reed straw

The decrease of cellulase activity and unproductive adsorption of lignin are important obstructive factors for inefficient enzymatic hydrolysis. This paper applied five different kinds of biosurfactants including rhamnolipid, sophorolipid, chitin, tea saponin, and sodium lignosulfonate in the enzymatic hydrolysis process of alkali-pretreated reed straw (RS) to enhance the saccharification efficiency. When 8 g/L sophorolipid is added, the efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis is 91.68 %, which is 30.65 % higher than that without using any biosurfactant. The efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis can be further increased to 99.56 % when 7.5 g/L sophorolipid and 1.5 g/L tea saponin are added together. This is because the sophorolipid, rhamnolipid, and chitin can synergistically hamper the enzymatic inactivation during enzymatic hydrolysis, while tea saponin and sodium lignosulfonate can inhibit the non-productive adsorption of lignin. This work proposed a very effective method to improve the efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis and reduce the dosage of the enzyme by adding biosurfactants.

High-performance carboxymethyl cellulose-based composite film tailored by versatile zeolitic imidazolate framework

Robust biopolymer-based composite film with multifunctional performances significantly contributes to the packaging field. Herein, we proposed a sort of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) based composite film via incorporating versatile zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) materials. Compared to pristine CMC film, the OTR, WVTR, and tensile strength of CMC/ZIF composite film with 1 wt ‰ Zn/Co-ZIF were improved from 64.89 cm³*μm/(m²*d*kPa), 1579.21 g/(m²*24h) and 16.9 MPa to 20.79 cm³*μm/(m²*d*kPa), 1209.58 g/(m²*24h) and 70.1 MPa, respectively. Notably, owing to the reduced band gap and intrinsic chemical and thermal stability of Zn/Co-ZIF, the fabricated Zn/Co-ZIF/CMC composite film presented well UV protection capability within the whole UV region and excellent UV-blocking durability after being exposed to UV-light at 365 nm for 12 h. In practice, the photocatalytic degradation of RhB solutions under UV light could be effectively suppressed when using Zn/Co-ZIF/CMC film as UV protection layer. Our findings proposed the potential application of these versatile ZIF materials as functional nanofiller within biopolymer substances for UV protection and transparent packaging area.

[Effects of extramedullary disease on patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma]

Objective: To summarize the characteristics of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) admitted at Ruijin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine. We compared the clinical characteristics and prognoses among patients with non-extramedullary disease (EMD), bone-related extramedullary (EM-B) disease, and extraosseous extramedullary (EM-E) disease and further explored the effects of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for EMD. Methods: From January 2015 to January 2022, data of 114 patients (22%) with EMD out of 515 patients with NDMM were retrospectively analyzed; 91 (18%) and 23 (4%) patients comprised the EM-B and EM-E groups, respectively. The clinical characteristics of patients in all groups were compared with the Chi-square test. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Independent prognostic factors were determined using multivariate Cox proportional hazard model. Results: There were no significant differences in age, gender, ISS stage, light chain, creatinine clearance, cytogenetic risk, 17p deletion, ASCT, and induction regimens among the three groups. Overall, 13% of EM-E patients had IgD-type M protein, which was significantly higher than that in EM-B patients (P=0.021). The median PFS of patients in the non-EMD, EM-B, and EM-E groups was 27.4, 23.1, and 14.0 months; the median OS was not reached, 76.8 months, and 25.6 months, respectively. The PFS (vs non-EMD, P=0.004; vs EM-B, P=0.036) and OS (vs non-EMD, P<0.001; vs EM-B, P=0.002) were significantly worse in patients with EM-E, while those were not significantly different between patients with EM-B and those with non-EMD. In the multivariate analysis, EM-E was an independent prognostic factor for OS in patients with NDMM (HR=8.779, P<0.001) and negatively impacted PFS (HR=1.874, P=0.050). In those who did not undergo ASCT, patients with EM-B had significantly worse OS than those with non-EMD (median 76.8 months vs. not reached, P=0.029). However, no significant difference was observed in the PFS and OS of patients with EM-B and those with non-EMD who underwent ASCT. Conclusions: Compared to patients with either non-EMD or EM-B, those with EM-E had the worst prognosis. EM-E was an independent risk factor for OS in patients with NDMM. ASCT can overcome the poor prognosis of EM-B.

Pembrolizumab versus cetuximab concurrent with radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck unfit for cisplatin (GORTEC 2015-01 PembroRad): a multicenter, randomized, phase II trial

BACKGROUND

To evaluate potential synergistic effect of pembrolizumab with radiotherapy (RT) compared with a standard-of-care (SOC) cetuximab-RT in patients with locally advanced-squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (LA-SCCHN).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with nonoperated stage III-IV SCC of oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx and unfit for receiving high-dose cisplatin were enrolled. Patients received once-daily RT up to 69.96 Gy in 33 fractions with weekly cetuximab (cetuximab-RT arm) or 200 mg Q3W pembrolizumab during RT (pembrolizumab-RT arm). The primary endpoint was locoregional control (LRC) rate 15 months after RT. To detect a difference between arms of 60%-80% in 15-month LRC, inclusion of 66 patients per arm was required to achieve a power of at least 0.85 at two-sided significance level of 0.20.

RESULTS

Between May 2016 and October 2017, 133 patients were randomized to cetuximab-RT (n = 66) and pembrolizumab-RT (n = 67). Two patients (one in each arm) were not included in the analysis (a consent withdrawal and a progression before treatment start). The median age was 65 years (interquartile range 60-70 years), 92% were smokers, 60% were oropharynx (46% of oropharynx with p16+) and 75% were stage IV. Median follow-up was 25 months in both arms. The 15-month LRC rate was 59% with cetuximab-RT and 60% with pembrolizumab-RT ]odds ratio 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43-2.59; P = 0.91]. There was no significant difference between arms for progression-free survival (hazard ratio 0.85, 95% CI 0.55-1.32; P = 0.47) and for overall survival (hazard ratio 0.83, 95% CI 0.49-1.40; P = 0.49). Toxicity was lower in the pembrolizumab-RT arm than in the cetuximab-RT arm: 74% versus 92% patients with at least one grade ≥3 adverse events (P = 0.006), mainly due to mucositis, radiodermatitis, and rash.

CONCLUSION

Compared with the SOC cetuximab-RT, pembrolizumab concomitant with RT did not improve the tumor control and survival but appeared less toxic in unfit patients with LA-SCCHN.

All-biodegradable soy protein isolate/lignin composite cross-linked by oxidized sucrose as agricultural mulch films for green farming

Microplastics produced from the discarded traditional non-degradable mulch film deteriorate the ecological environment and pose a great threat to human health. Developing eco-friendly and biodegradable materials to substitute traditional plastic mulch film highly contributed to the progress of green agriculture. Herein, a category of eco-friendly and all-biodegradable soy protein isolate (SPI)/oxidized sucrose (OS)/Lignin mulch film was innovatively proposed by employing OS as green cross-linker and lignin as nanofiller under chemical/physical interaction. The cross-linking effect and hydrogen bonds between biopolymers act as sacrificial bonds for energy dissipation and effectively reinforced the intermolecular interactions as well as tensile strength from 6.67 MPa of pristine SPI film to 8.45 MPa of SPI/OS/Lignin film. Moreover, the SPI/OS/Lignin mulch film also presented excellent UV-shielding, moisture retention, heat preservation effect and sustained urea release properties. Benefitting from the above-mentioned merits, higher germination rate of cabbage seed was achieved when the natural soil was covered by such multifunctional mulch film compared to traditional low-density PE film. Our findings paved a solid way in rational designing and fabricating eco-friendly, low-cost and all-biodegradable mulch film to facilitate the crops growth, boosting the development of green farming.

High-performance carboxymethyl cellulose-based hydrogel film for food packaging and preservation system

Most traditional food packaging and preservation films suffer from limited stretchability and relatively simple functionality, which severely restricts their practical application. In this study, a highly stretchable and versatile sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/poly(ethylene imine) (PEI)/tannic acid (TA) hydrogel film was elaborately designed and demonstrated as an efficient food packaging and preservation system. The dynamic reversible non-covalent within three-dimensional (3D) network structures served as sacrificial bonds to dissipate the loaded energy and endowed the hydrogel film with excellent elongation ~400 %, which is much larger than that of conventional food packaging films (<50 %). Furthermore, the optimized CMC/PVA/PEI/TA₃ hydrogel film delivers versatile performances, including self-healing, whole UV-blocking (<400 nm), strong adhesive strength (234.08 KPa), antioxidation virtues, oxygen barrier (32.64 cm³*μm/(m²*d*KPa)) and water vapor barrier (642.92 g/(m²*24 h)). Notably, the shelf life of fresh strawberries, mangoes, and cherries was prolonged by at least one week under ambient conditions when the packaging box was covered by the fabricated CMC/PVA/PEI/TA₃ film. Thus, our work not only provides a highly stretchable and versatile hydrogel film but also boosts the in-depth comprehension and rational design of robust food packaging and preservation films.

A Lignin-Based Carbon Anode with Long-Cycle Stability for Li-Ion Batteries

Due to its wide source and low cost, biomass-based hard carbon is considered a valuable anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Lignins, as the second most abundant source in nature, are being intensively studied as candidate anode materials for next generation LIBs. However, direct carbonization of pure lignin usually leads to low specific surface area and porosity. In this paper, we design a porous carbon material from natural lignin assisted by sacrificing a metal-organic framework (MOF) as the template. The MOF nanoparticles can disperse the lignin particles uniformly and form abundant mesopores in the composites to offer fast transfer channels for Li⁺. The as-prepared carbon anode shows a high specific capacity of 420 mAh g^-1 with the capacity retention of 99% after 300 cycles at 0.2 A g^-1. Additionally, it keeps the capacity retention of 85% after long cycle of 1000 cycles, indicating the good application value of the designed anode in LIBs. The work provides a renewable and low-cost candidate anode and a feasible design strategy of the anode materials for LIBs.

[Potential application of improved hard tissue section technique in the clinical pathological diagnosis of bone and bone marrow]

Objective: To discuss the application value of hard tissue section in the clinicopathology diagnosis. Methods: From March 2021 to December 2021, bone slices of 19 patients (1 patient with osteochondroma, 2 patients with chondrosarcoma, 4 patients with osteosarcoma, 2 patients with fibrous dysplasia, 2 patients with bone metastasis from thyroid papillary carcinoma, 2 patients with osteomyelitis, 4 patients with giant cell tumor of bone, 2 patients with Ewing sarcoma) and 16 hemopathy patients were collected from the Department of Pathology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital. Of the osteopathy patients, there were 14 male and 5 female with a median age of 31 (10-66) years. Meanwhile, there were 7 male and 9 female with a median age of 28 (16-65) years among these hemopathy patients. Thirty-five cases were treated with modified hard tissue slicing technique and paraffin embedding technique, respectively. The advantages and disadvantages of the two methods for clinical diagnosis of bone disease were compared by Hematoxylin-Eosin staining (H&E staining), immunohistochemical staining (IHC), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and Sanger sequencing. Results: The improved resin-embedded method showed better histological morphology and cell structure. Besides, the expression of Ki67, SATB2, CD34, SMA, CD68,MPO,CD4 and CD33 in immunohistochemical staining in bone tissues which were embedded in resin were more clear in the accurate positive localization than those using paraffin-embedded. MDM2 of FISH exhibited a higher fluorescence intensity and more accurate location. Meanwhile, both methods treated with Sanger sequencing met the requirements of DNA purity and mutation detection. Conclusion: The improved hard tissue section method is simple and short time-consuming, which is suitable for optimizing the clinical bone and bone marrow pathological diagnosis process.

A porous carbon based on the surface and structural regulation of wasted lignin for long-cycle lithium-ion battery

Lignin, as the second most abundant source in nature, is considered as a good precursor for hard carbon. However, direct carbonization of pure lignin leads to low surface area and porosity. Herein we develop a method to prepare lignin-based porous carbon by a self-template method assisted with surface modification. The oxygen-containing functional groups are introduced to regulate the surface chemistry of lignin. And the metal ions are chosen to coordinate with the oxygen-containing group in the lignin, which can form the carbonates to act as the self template to regulate the pores structure. The aromatic skeleton of lignin can also disperse the metal ions to bring uniform pore-forming sites. The results show that the carbonized lignin modified by chloroacetic acid (CCL) shows mesopores with surface area of 233.4384 m² g^-1. As anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the CCL shows a specific capacity of 500 mAh g^-1 at 50 mA g^-1. The capacity retention was 99 % after 1000 cycles at 1000 mA g^-1, which are superior to most reported carbon anode. This work proposes a low-cost anode for LIBs and put forward a regulation strategy for bio-mass carbon. Besides, it would reduce the discard of lignin and alleviate the pollution.

[Clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with newly-diagnosed multiple myeloma with t(11;14)]

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics and prognosis of multiple myeloma (MM) patients with t(11;14). Methods: The clinical data of patients newly diagnosed with MM with t(11;14), which confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), from January 1, 2016 to May 31, 2021 in Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine was retrospectively collected. A total of 45 patients were included. Bortezomib based induction therapy were given to 88.9% (40/45) patients, while 11.1% (5/45) received Imids-based therapy. Fourteen patients underwent the autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT). The clinical characteristics, overall response rate (ORR), progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and risk factors affecting survival were analyzed. Results: The average age of patients were (58.8±9.6) years, and 62.2%(28/45)were male. A relatively high incidence of bone lesion 82.2%(37/45)was observed. After 4 cycles induction therapy, the ORR was 66.7% (30/45), and ≥very good partial response (VGPR) was 31.3% (14/45). The rate of ≥VGPR increased to 92.9% (13/14) after AHSCT. The follow-up time [M(Q₁,Q₃)] was 27(20,42)months. The PFS was 34 (95%CI: 23-45) months, the median OS was 44 (95%CI:33-51) months. Median PFS were 48 (only 3 cases of progressive disease, CI not available) months and 24 (95%CI:13-35) months in the transplantation group and non-transplant group respectively (P=0.115). Median OS were 60 (only 1 case of death, CI not available) months and 48 (95%CI:22-74) months in the transplantation group and non-transplantation group, respectively (P=0.238). Cox regression analysis indicated that the number of plasma cell ≥50% in bone marrow and CD20 expression on myeloma cells were the risk factors for PFS[OR=3.272,95%CI:1.167-9.170,P=0.024;OR=3.480,95%CI:1.082-11.234,P=0.036]. No significant effective factor on OS was found. Conclusions: For multiple myeloma patient with t(11;14), the response rate with novel agents induction therapy is not high, but autologous stem cell transplantation can deepen remission. The high burden of bone marrow plasma cells and the expression of CD20 may be associated with the poor prognosis.

Assembly of Ultralong Hydroxyapatite Nanowires into Enamel-like Materials

To develop dental restorative materials with enamel-like structures, ultralong hydroxyapatite (HA) nanowires were synthesized by a hydrothermal method, followed by functionalization with 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH-570). The mixture of HA nanowires, KH-570, and light initiator was stirred and centrifuged. The precipitate was vacuum filtered to remove excessive KH-570 and then pressured under cold isostatic pressing (10 MPa × 24 h). Finally, the block was polymerized by lighting. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy showed that HA nanowires with aspect ratios >1,000 were assembled into enamel rod-like microstructures and evenly dispersed in the polymerized KH-570 silane matrix to form enamel-like structures. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that the content of HA nanowires reached 72 wt% in the composite. The enamel-like composite showed a similar hardness, frictional property, and acid-etching property to those of enamel and a comparable or even better diametral tensile strength and compressive strength than some commercial composite resins in mechanical tests in vitro. In addition, the enamel-like composite had good cytocompatibility. Such enamel-like composites may have the potential to be used in biomimetic tooth restorations in the future.

[Exploring the detection of MYD88 mutation in patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia by different methods and specimens]

Objective: To improve the positivity rate and accuracy of MYD88 mutation detection in patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) . Methods: MYD88 mutation status was retrospectively evaluated in 66 patients diagnosed with WM in Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from June 2017 to June 2021. The positivity rate and accuracy of the different methods and specimens for MYD88 mutation detection were analyzed. Results: MYD88 mutations were detected in 51 of 66 patients with WM, with an overall positivity rate of 77%. The positivity rate of the next-generation sequencing (NGS) or allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR) was significantly higher than that of the first-generation Sanger sequencing (84% vs 71% vs 46%, P<0.05) . For the different specimens, the positivity rate for the lymph nodes or bone marrow was significantly higher than that of peripheral blood (79% vs 84% vs 52%, P<0.05) . The positivity rate of the MYD88 mutation in the lymph nodes, bone marrow, and peripheral blood determined by NGS was 86%, 90%, and 67%, respectively. The positivity rate in the lymph nodes, bone marrow, and peripheral blood detected by AS-PCR was 78%, 81%, and 53%, respectively. Thirty-nine patients with WM underwent ≥ 2 MYD88 mutation detections. The final MYD88 mutational status for each patient was used as the standard to determine the accuracy of the different methods and in different specimens. The accuracy of MYD88 mutation detection in the lymph nodes (n=18) and bone marrow (n=13) by NGS was significantly higher than that in the peripheral blood (n=4) (100% vs 100% vs 75%, P<0.05) . There was no statistically significant difference in the accuracy of MYD88 mutation detection by AS-PCR in the lymph nodes (n=15) , bone marrow (n=11) , or peripheral blood (n=16) (93% vs 91% vs 88%, P>0.05) . Conclusions: In the detection of the MYD88 mutation in patients diagnosed with WM, NGS or AS-PCR is more sensitive than Sanger sequencing. Lymph nodes and bone marrow specimens are better than peripheral blood specimens.

High-performance cellulose acetate-based gas barrier films via tailoring reduced graphene oxide nanosheets

Improving the gas molecule barrier performance and structural stability of bio-plastic films dramatically contribute to packaging and protective fields. Herein, we proposed a novel nanocomposite film consisting of cellulose acetate (CA)/polyethyleneimine (PEI)/reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-NiCoFeO_x) with high gas barrier property by applying "molecular glue" and "nano-patching" strategies. Systematical investigations demonstrated that the CA/rGO interfacial interaction was effectively enhanced due to the "molecular glue" role of PEI chains via physical/chemical bonds and the defective regions in rGO plane were nano-patched through hydrophilic interactions between edged oxygen-containing functional groups and ultrafine NiCoFeO_x nanoparticles (~3 nm). As a result, the oxygen and moisture transmission rates of the prepared CA/PEI/rGO-NPs hybrid film were significantly reduced to 0.31 cm³ ∗ μm/(m² ∗ d ∗ kPa) and 314.23 g/m² ∗ 24 h, respectively, which were 99.60% and 54.69% lower than pristine CA films. Meanwhile, the tensile strength of hybrid film was increased from 25.90 MPa to 40.67 MPa. More importantly, the designed nanocomposite film possesses excellent structural stability without obvious GO layer shedding and hydrophobicity attenuation after persistent bending at least 100 times. The exceptional robust and high gas barrier film displays great promising application in food, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and electronic instruments packaging industry.

Measurement of Differential Branching Fractions of Inclusive B→X_{u}ℓ^{+}ν_{ℓ} Decays

The first measurements of differential branching fractions of inclusive semileptonic B→X_{u}ℓ^{+}ν_{ℓ} decays are performed using the full Belle data set of 711  fb^{-1} of integrated luminosity at the ϒ(4S) resonance and for ℓ=e, μ. With the availability of these measurements, new avenues for future shape-function model-independent determinations of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element |V_{ub}| can be pursued to gain new insights in the existing tension with respect to exclusive determinations. The differential branching fractions are reported as a function of the lepton energy, the four-momentum-transfer squared, light-cone momenta, the hadronic mass, and the hadronic mass squared. They are obtained by subtracting the backgrounds from semileptonic B→X_{c}ℓ^{+}ν_{ℓ} decays and other processes, and corrected for resolution and acceptance effects.

Chitosan-based multifunctional flexible hemostatic bio-hydrogel

Realizing the potential application of chitosan as an effective biomedical hemostatic agent has become an emerging research hotspot. However, fabricating a flexible chitosan-based hemostatic bio-hydrogel with self-adhesion feature in humid conditions and rapid hemostasis capability remains a challenge. Herein, we reported the development of chitosan-based hydrogels (DCS-PEGSH gels) with typical multilevel pore structures, which were cross-linked by 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) propionic acid-modified chitosan (DCS) and sebacic acid-terminated polyethylene glycol modified by p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (PEGSH). By precisely regulating the proportion of PEGSH, the fabricated bio-hydrogels displayed favorable cytocompatibility, suitable stretchability (∼780%), and blood absorbability (1300% ± 50%). Moreover, the strong adhesion (∼68.5 kPa) of the assembled bio-hydrogel ensured its firm adherence on pigskin and on bleeding wound in both static and dynamic humid environments without shedding, thus providing a long service life. The fabricated hydrogels exhibited shorter blood clotting time (50 s) and lower blood clotting index (BCI, 41) than the commercial chitosan sponge (288 s, BCI 65). Notably, the amount of blood loss from the liver in mice was reduced by almost 90% as compared to that for the control group. This study paves a solid way for developing a chitosan-based hydrogel with self-adhesive, self-healing, stretchability, biocompatibility, and antibacterial and antioxidant properties through molecular design and structural regulation, which will enable the biomedical application of chitosan in emergency hemostasis, particularly in joints and extremities. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The design and preparation of multifunctional integrated green adhesive bio-hydrogels while avoiding the use of organic solvents and toxic chemical reagents has been an emerging challenge. Herein, a flexible chitosan-based hemostatic bio-hydrogel that integrates multifunctional properties was successfully synthesized. The bio-hydrogel displayed suitable stretchability (780%) and blood absorbability (1300% ± 50%). Moreover, the strong adhesion (68.5 kPa) ensured firm adherence of the assembled hydrogel on pigskin and on the bleeding wound site in both static and dynamic humid environments without shedding, thus providing a long service life. In addition, the designed hydrogel showed good compatibility and antibacterial performance. The dynamic Schiff base endowed the bio-hydrogel with excellent self-healing performance without any external stimuli.

A mussel-inspired flexible chitosan-based bio-hydrogel as a tailored medical adhesive

The significant progress in efforts to design hydrogel adhesive mimicking mussels' functions has been witnessed in recent years. However, it is still an arduous challenge to fabricate self-adhesive hydrogel adhesive that tradeoff of exalting features containing scalability, self-healing, degradability, biocompatibility, and antibacterial properties. Herein, we manufactured a multi-functional physical hydrogel adhesive by integrating catechol groups modified chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Intriguingly, the physical gels reinforce durable and repeatable adhesiveness due to the limited auto-oxidation of catechol groups of the 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) propionic acid modified chitosan (DCS), which can be adhered diametrically on human skin without shedding and residue. Additionally, the dynamic H-bonds between DCS and PVA endows the hydrogel to self-heal under a relatively mild stimulation. The assembly of silver nano armor remarkably enhances the mechanical strength and antibacterial of the hydrogel. Meanwhile, the metal coordination formed between the nano-silver and the hydroxyl groups of catechol and the electrostatic interaction between the silver ions and the hydroxyl groups also contribute to the hydrogel to achieve self-healing. This work provides a neoteric prospect in designing degradable hydrogels with stretchability, self-adhesion, self-healing, antibacterial and biocompatibility for potential applications in tissue adhesion and wound healing.

[Biological mesh versus primary closure for pelvic floor reconstruction following extralevator abdominoperineal excision: a meta-analysis]

Objective: To compare the morbidity of perineum-related complication between biological mesh and primary closure in closing pelvic floor defects following extralevator abdominoperineal excision (ELAPE). Methods: A literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Wanfang database, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP database, and China Biological Medicine database for published clinical researches on perineum-related complications following ELAPE between January 2007 and August 2020. Literature inclusion criteria: (1) study subjects: patients undergoing ELAPE with rectal cancers confirmed by colonoscopy pathological biopsy or surgical pathology; (2) study types: randomized controlled studies or observational studies comparing the postoperative perineum-related complications between the two groups (primary perineal closure and reconstruction with a biological mesh) following ELAPE; (3) intervention measures: biological mesh reconstruction used as the treatment group, and primary closure used as the control group; (4) outcome measures: the included literatures should at least include one of the following postoperative perineal complications: overall perineal wound complications, perineal wound infection, perineal wound dehiscence, perineal hernia, chronic sinus, chronic perineal pain (postoperative 12-month), urinary dysfunction and sexual dysfunction. Literature exclusion criteria: (1) data published repeatedly; (2) study with incomplete or wrong original data and unable to obtain original data. Two reviewers independently performed screening, data extraction and assessment on the quality of included studies. Review Manager 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis. The mobidities of perineum-related complications, including overall perineal wound (infection, dehiscence, hernia, chronic sinus) and perineal chronic pain (postoperative 12-month), were compared between the two pelvic floor reconstruction methods. Finally, publication bias was assessed, and sensitivity analysis was used to evaluate the stability of the results. Results: A total of five studies, including two randomized controlled studies and three observational controlled studies, with 650 patients (399 cases in the biological mesh group and 251 cases in primary closure group) were finally included. Compared with primary closure, biological mesh reconstruction had significantly lower ratio of perineal hernia (RR=0.37, 95%CI: 0.21-0.64, P<0.001). No significant differences in ratios of overall perineal wound complication, perineal wound infection, perineal wound dehiscence, perineal chronic sinus and perineal chronic pain (postoperative 12-month) were found between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: Compared with primary closure, pelvic floor reconstruction following ELAPE with biological mesh has the advantage of a lower incidence of perineal hernia.

Preparation of bio-based cellulose acetate/chitosan composite film with oxygen and water resistant properties

Plastic pollution has inspired the preparation of environmentally friendly bio-based plastics that can replace petroleum-based plastics. Herein, a composite film with oxygen and water resistant properties was prepared by a fluidized bed method, employing bio-based cellulose acetate (CA) as raw material, glycerol as a plasticizer, and chitosan and silica as additives. The addition of 15% chitosan greatly reduced the oxygen transmission rate of the CA film by 83.5%, and increased the tensile stress and tensile strain of the composite membrane, reaching 26.5 MPa and 22.2%, respectively. The deposition of silica particles is able to compensate for the undesired increase in the hydrophilicity caused by the addition of chitosan, and tune the hydrophilic nature of the surface of the CA/CS films to the hydrophobic nature, which is desirable for water-resistant applications. The prepared composite film displays good oxygen and water resistant properties and can be used for food packaging and related applications.

Biological functions and potential therapeutic applications of huntingtin-associated protein 1: progress and prospects

Huntington disease (HD) is a single-gene autosomal dominant inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by a polyglutamine expansion of the protein huntingtin (HTT). Huntingtin-associated protein 1 (HAP1) is the first protein identified as an interacting partner of huntingtin, which is directly associated with HD. HAP1 is mainly expressed in the nervous system and is also found in the endocrine system and digestive system, and then involves in the occurrence of the related endocrine diseases, digestive system diseases, and cancer. Understanding the function of HAP1 could help elucidate the pathogenesis that HTT plays in the disease process. Therefore, this article attempts to summarize the latest research progress of the role of HAP1 and its application for diseases in recent years, aiming to clarify the functions of HAP1 and its interacting proteins, and provide new research ideas and new therapeutic targets for the treatment of cancer and related diseases.

A priori quality assurance using a benchmark case of the randomized phase 2 GORTEC 2014-14 in oligometastatic head and neck cancer patients

PURPOSE

A Benchmark Case (BC) was performed as part of the quality assurance process of the randomized phase 2 GORTEC 2014-14 OMET study, testing the possibility of multisite stereotactic radiation therapy (SBRT) alone in oligometastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) as an alternative to systemic treatment and SBRT.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Compliance of the investigating centers with the prescription, delineation, planning and evaluation recommendations available in the research protocol was assessed. In addition, classical dosimetric analysis was supplemented by quantitative geometric analysis using conformation indices.

RESULTS

Twenty centers participated in the BC analysis. Among them, four major deviations (MaD) were reported in two centers. Two (10%) centers in MaD had omitted the satellite tumor nodule and secondarily validated after revision. Their respective DICE indexes were 0.37 and 0 and use of extracranial SBRT devices suboptimal There were significant residual heterogeneities between participating centers, including those with a similar SBRT equipment, with impact of plan quality using standard indicators and geometric indices.

CONCLUSION

A priori QA using a BC conditioning the participation of the clinical investigation centers showed deviations from good SBRT practice and led to the exclusion of one out of the twenty participating centers. The majority of centers have demonstrated rigorous compliance with the research protocol. The use of quality indexes adds a complementary approach to improve assessment of plan quality.

[The distribution of peripheral anterior synechiae in patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma]

Objective: To describe the distribution and characteristics of peripheral anterior synechiae (PAS) in patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). Methods: Retrospective case study. A total of 285 PACG patients (406 eyes) diagnosed in the Eye Hospital, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University from January 2017 to August 2019 were included. They were 102 males and 183 females, with a median age of 67 years old (range, 21 to 95 years old). The PAS range was detected by gonioscopy examination, and the frequency distribution of PAS at 12 clock points was counted by clockwise. The PAS distribution at the middle point of PAS with continuous distribution and ≤6 clock points was assessed. Results: In all cases, PAS of the right eye was concentrated at 11:00 to 4:00 regions [range, 62.0% (129/208) to 78.8% (164/208)]. PAS of the left eye was concentrated at 7:00 to 1:00 regions [range, 50.0% (99/198) to 75.8% (150/198)]. When the PAS range of the atrial angle was ≤6 clock regions, it was mainly at 12:00 to 3:00 [range, 58.3% (74/127) to 67.7% (86/127)] in the right eye and at 10:00 to 12:00 [range, 54.8% (68/124) to 66.1% (82/124)] in the left eye. Among 121 cases (242 eyes) with both eyes involved, the PAS region was at 11:00 to 5:00 [range, 52.1% (63/121) to 79.3% (96/121)] in the right eye and at 8:00 to 1:00 [range, 50.4% (61/121) to 76.9% (93/121)] in the left eye. When the PAS range of the atrial angle was ≤6 clock regions, it was mainly at 12:00 to 4:00 [range, 53.2% (41/77) to 71.4% (55/77)] in the right eye and at 10:00 to 12:00 [range, 50.6% (39/77) to 64.9% (50/77)] in the left eye. In all cases, there were 171 cases of right eyes and 175 cases of left eyes with continuous angle PAS. The central PAS clock position of the right eye was mainly at 11:00 to 3:00 [range, 15.2% (26/171) to 24.0% (41/171)], and that of the left eye was mainly at 8:00 to 12:00 [range, 15.4% (27/175) to 20.6% (36/175)]. Among cases with both eyes involved, there were 98 cases of right eyes and 104 cases of left eyes with continuous angle PAS. The clock distribution of the middle position of the right eye angle PAS was concentrated at 11:00 to 3:00 [range, 17.3% (17/98) to 26.5% (26/98)], and that of the left eye was concentrated at 8:00 to 12:00 [range, 13.5% (14/104) to 20.2% (21/104)]. Conclusions: The PAS of PACG patients is mainly located in the upper and nasal sides, and the closer to the temporal side, the smaller the PAS frequency, showing a gradual downward trend. The PAS distribution of binocular angles is of obvious mirror symmetry. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2021, 57: 666-671).