A marine bacteria-inspired electrochemical regulation for continuous uranium extraction from seawater and salt lake brine

Oceans and salt lakes contain vast amounts of uranium. Uranium recovery from natural water not only copes with radioactive pollution in water but also can sustain the fuel supply for nuclear power. The adsorption-assisted electrochemical processes offer a promising route for efficient uranium extraction. However, competitive hydrogen evolution greatly reduces the extraction capacity and the stability of electrode materials with electrocatalytic activity. In this study, we got inspiration from the biomineralisation of marine bacteria under high salinity and biomimetically regulated the electrochemical process to avoid the undesired deposition of metal hydroxides. The uranium uptake capacity can be increased by more than 20% without extra energy input. In natural seawater, the designed membrane electrode exhibits an impressive extraction capacity of 48.04 mg-U per g-COF within 21 days (2.29 mg-U per g-COF per day). Furthermore, in salt lake brine with much higher salinity, the membrane can extract as much uranium as 75.72 mg-U per g-COF after 32 days (2.37 mg-U per g-COF per day). This study provides a general basis for the performance optimisation of uranium capture electrodes, which is beneficial for sustainable access to nuclear energy sources from natural water systems.

Light-responsive and ultrapermeable two-dimensional metal-organic framework membrane for efficient ionic energy harvesting

Nanofluidic membranes offer exceptional promise for osmotic energy conversion, but the challenge of balancing ionic selectivity and permeability persists. Here, we present a bionic nanofluidic system based on two-dimensional (2D) copper tetra-(4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin framework (Cu-TCPP). The inherent nanoporous structure and horizontal interlayer channels endow the Cu-TCPP membrane with ultrahigh ion permeability and allow for a power density of 16.64 W m-2, surpassing state of-the-art nanochannel membranes. Moreover, leveraging the photo-thermal property of Cu-TCPP, light-controlled ion active transport is realized even under natural sunlight. By combining solar energy with salinity gradient, the driving force for ion transport is reinforced, leading to further improvements in energy conversion performance. Notably, light could even eliminate the need for salinity gradient, achieving a power density of 0.82 W m-2 in a symmetric solution system. Our work introduces a new perspective on developing advanced membranes for solar/ionic energy conversion and extends the concept of salinity energy to a notion of ionic energy.

Archaea-Inspired Switchable Nanochannels for On-Demand Lithium Detection by pH Activation

With the rapid development of the lithium ion battery industry, emerging lithium (Li) enrichment in nature has attracted ever-growing attention due to the biotoxicity of high Li levels. To date, fast lithium ion (Li+) detection remains urgent but is limited by the selectivity, sensitivity, and stability of conventional technologies based on passive response processes. In nature, archaeal plasma membrane ion exchangers (NCLX_Mj) exhibit Li+-gated multi/monovalent ion transport behavior, activated by different stimuli. Inspired by NCLX_Mj, we design a pH-controlled biomimetic Li+-responsive solid-state nanochannel system for on-demand Li+ detection using 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole (HPBO) units as Li+ recognition groups. Pristine HPBO is not reactive to Li+, whereas negatively charged HPBO enables specific Li+ coordination under alkaline conditions to decrease the ion exchange capacity of nanochannels. On-demand Li+ detection is achieved by monitoring the decline in currents, thereby ensuring precise and stable Li+ recognition (>0.1 mM) in the toxic range of Li+ concentration (>1.5 mM) for human beings. This work provides a new approach to constructing Li+ detection nanodevices and has potential for applications of Li-related industries and medical services.

Single Idiosyncratic Ionic Generator Working in Iso-Osmotic Solutions Via Ligand Confined Assembled in Gaps Between Nanosheets

Numerous reported bioinspired osmotic energy conversion systems employing cation-/anion-selective membranes and solutions with different salinity are actually far from the biological counterpart. The iso-osmotic power generator with the specific ionic permselective channels (e.g., K+ or Na+ channels) which just allow specific ions to get across and iso-osmotic solutions still remain challenges. Inspired by nature, we report a bioinspired K+ -channel by employing a K+ selective ligand, 1,1,1-tris{[(2'-benzylaminoformyl)phenoxy]methyl}ethane (BMP) and graphene oxide membrane. Specifically, the K+ and Na+ selectivity of the prepared system could reach up to ≈17.8, and the molecular dynamics simulation revealed that the excellent permselectivity of K+ mainly stemmed from the formed suitable channel size. Thus, we assembled the K+ -selective iso-osmotic power generator (KSIPG) with the power density up to ≈15.1 mW/m2 between equal concentration solutions, which is higher than traditional charge-selective osmotic power generator (CSOPG). The proposed strategy has well shown the realizable approach to construct single-ion selective channels-based highly efficient iso-osmotic energy conversion systems and would surely inspire new applications in other fields, including self-powered systems and medical materials, etc.

Changes in brain susceptibility in Wilson's disease patients: a quantitative susceptibility mapping study

AIM

To assess changes in the susceptibility of the caudate nucleus (CN), putamen, and globus pallidus (GP) in patients with neurological and hepatic Wilson's disease (WD) by quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The brain MRI images of 33 patients diagnosed with WD and 20 age-matched controls were analysed retrospectively. All participants underwent brain T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and QSM imaging using a 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. QSM maps were evaluated with the STISuite toolbox. The quantitative susceptibility levels of the CN, putamen, and GP were analysed using region of interest analysis on QSM maps. Differences among neurological WD patients, hepatic patients, and controls were determined.

RESULTS

Susceptibility levels were significantly higher for all examined structures (CN, putamen and GP) in patients with neurological WD compared with controls (all p<0.05) and hepatic WD patients (all p<0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in susceptibility levels between patients with hepatic WD and controls (all p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

The QSM technique is a valuable tool for detecting changes in brain susceptibility in WD patients, indicating abnormal metal deposition. Notably, the current findings suggest that neurological WD patients exhibit more severe susceptibility changes compared with hepatic WD patients. Therefore, QSM can be utilised as a complementary method to detect brain injury in WD patients.

[Preliminary application of recombinase -aided amplification in detection of Clonorchis sinensis metacercariae in freshwater fish]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the performance of recombinase-aided amplification (RAA) assay in detection of Clonorchis sinensis metacercariae in freshwater fish samples, so as to provide insights into standardization and field application of this assay.

METHODS

Wild freshwater fish samples were collected in the rivers of administrative villages where C. sinensis-infected residents lived in Jiangyan District, Xinghua County and Taixing County of Taizhou City, Jiangsu Province from June to September 2022. Genomic DNA was extracted from six freshwater fish specimens (5 g each) containing 0, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 C. sinensis metacercariae for fluorescent RAA assay, and the diagnostic sensitivity was evaluated. Fluorescent RAA assay was performed with genomic DNA from C. sinensis, Metorchis orientalis, Haplorchis pumilio and Centrocestus formosanus metacercariae as templates to evaluate its cross-reactions. In addition, the detection of fluorescent RAA assay and direct compression method for C. sinensis metacercariae was compared in field-collected freshwater fish samples.

RESULTS

Positive amplification was found in fresh-water fish specimens containing different numbers of C. sinensis metacercariae, and fluorescent RAA assay was effective to detect one C. sinensis metacercaria in 5 g freshwater fish specimens within 20 min. Fluorescent RAA assay tested negative for DNA from M. orientalis, H. pumilio and C. formosanus metacercariae. Fluorescent RAA assay and direct compression method showed 5.36% (93/1 735) and 2.88% (50/1 735) detection rates for C. sinensis metacercariae in 1 735 field-collected freshwater fish samples, with a statistically significant difference seen (χ2 = 478.150, P < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the detection of C. sinensis metacercariae in different species of freshwater fish by both the direct compression method (χ2 = 11.20, P < 0.05) and fluorescent RAA assay (χ2 = 20.26, P < 0.001), and the detection of C. sinensis metacercariae was higher in Pseudorasbora parva than in other fish species by both the direct compression method and fluorescent RAA assay (both P values < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Fluorescent RAA assay has a high sensitivity for detection of C. sinensis metacercariae in freshwater fish samples, and has no cross-reactions with M. orientalis, H. pumilio or C. formosanus metacercariae. Fluorescent RAA assay shows a higher accuracy for detection of C. sinensis infections in field-collected freshwater fish than the direct compression method.

Morin protects chicks with T-2 toxin poisoning by decreasing heterophil extracellular traps, oxidative stress and inflammatory response

1. Fusarium tritici widely exists in a variety of grain feeds. The T-2 toxin is the main hazardous component produced by Fusarium tritici, making a serious hazard to poultry industry. Morin, belonging to the flavonoid family, can be extracted from mulberry plants and possesses anticancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, but whether morin protects chicks with T-2 toxin poisoning remains unclear. This experiment firstly established a chick model of T-2 toxin poisoning and then investigated the protective effects and mechanism of morin against T-2 toxin in chicks.2. The function of liver and kidney was measured by corresponding alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cre) and uric acid (UA) kits. Histopathological changes were observed by haematoxylin-eosin staining. The status of oxidative stress was measured by MDA, SOD, CAT, GSH and GSH-PX kits. The mRNA levels of TNF-α, COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6, caspase-1, caspase-3 and caspase-11 were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Heterophil extracellular trap (HET) release was analysed by immunofluorescence and fluorescence microplate.3. The model with T-2 toxin poisoning in chicks was successfully established. Morin significantly decreased T-2 toxin-induced ALT, AST, ALP, BUN, Cre and UA, and improved T-2 toxin-induced liver cell rupture, liver cord disorder and kidney interstitial oedema. Oxidative stress analysis showed that morin ameliorated T-2 toxin-induced damage by reducing malondialdehyde (MDA), increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX). The qRT-PCR analysis showed that morin reduced T-2 toxin-induced mRNA expressions of TNF-α, COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6, caspase-1, caspase-3 and caspase-11. Moreover, morin significantly reduced the release of T-2 toxin-induced HET in vitro and in vivo.4. Morin can protect chicks from T-2 toxin poisoning by decreasing HETs, oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, which make it a useful compound against T-2 toxin poisoning in poultry feed.

Neuron-Inspired Nanofluidic Biosensors for Highly Sensitive and Selective Imidacloprid Detection

Pesticides have caused concerns about food safety due to their residual effects in vegetables and fruits. Imidacloprid, as the frequently used neonicotinoid pesticide, could harm cardiovascular and respiratory function and cause reproductive toxicity in humans. Therefore, reliable methods for portable, selective, and rapid detection are desirable to develop. Herein, we report a neuron-inspired nanofluidic biosensor based on a tyrosine-modified artificial nanochannel for sensitively detecting imidacloprid. The functional tyrosine is modified on the outer surface of porous anodic aluminum oxide to rapidly capture imidacloprid through π-π interactions and hydrogen bonds. The integrated nanofluidic biosensor has a wide concentration range from 10-8 to 10-4 g/mL with an ultralow detection limit of 6.28 × 10-9 g/mL, which outperforms the state-of-the-art sensors. This work provides a new perspective on detecting imidacloprid residues as well as other hazardous pesticide residues in environmental and food samples.

Skeleton engineering of rigid covalent organic frameworks to alter the number of binding sites for improved radionuclide extraction

Crystalline porous covalent frameworks (COFs) have been considered as a platform for uranium extraction from seawater and nuclear waste. However, the role of rigid skeleton and atomically precise structures of COFs is often ignored in the design of defined binding configuration. Here, a COF with an optimized relative position of two bidentate ligands realizes full potential in uranium extraction. Compared with the para-chelating groups, the optimized ortho-chelating groups with oriented adjacent phenolic hydroxyl groups on the rigid skeleton endow an additional uranyl binding site, thereby increasing the total number of binding sites up to 150%. Experimental and theoretical results indicate that the uranyl capture is greatly improved via the energetically favored multi-site configuration and the adsorption capacity reaches up to 640 mg g-1, which exceeds that of most reported COF-based adsorbents with chemical coordination mechanism in uranium aqueous solution. This ligand engineering strategy can efficiently advance the fundamental understanding of designing the sorbent systems for extraction and remediation technology.

Construction of a hierarchical membrane with angstrom-scale ion channels for enhanced Li+/Mg2+ separation

A biomimetic hierarchical membrane consisting of ZIF-8 and MXene with controllable morphology could be fabricated by the facile electrochemical deposition method, well-realizing Li⁺/Mg²⁺ sieving. This membrane could work stably in real brine with perm-selectivity of Li⁺/Mg²⁺ up to 47.4.

Confined Ionic-Liquid-Mediated Cation Diffusion through Layered Membranes for High-Performance Osmotic Energy Conversion

Ion-selective membranes act as the core components in osmotic energy harvesting, but remain with deficiencies such as low ion selectivity and a tendency to swell. 2D nanofluidic membranes as competitive candidates are still subjected to limited mass transport brought by insufficient wetting and poor stability in water. Here, an ionic-liquid-infused graphene oxide (GO@IL) membrane with ultrafast ion transport ability is reported, and how the confined ionic liquid mediates selective cation diffusion is revealed. The infusion of ionic liquids endows the 2D membrane with excellent mechanical strength, anti-swelling properties, and good stability in aqueous electrolytes. Importantly, immiscible ionic liquids also provide a medium, allowing partial dehydration for ultrafast ion transport. Through molecular dynamics simulation and finite element modeling, that GO nanosheets induce ionic liquids to rearrange, bringing in additional space charges, which can be coupled with GO synergistically, is proved. By mixing 0.5/0.01 m NaCl solution, the power density can achieve a record value of ≈6.7 W m^-2 , outperforming state-of-art GO-based membranes. This work opens up a new route for boosting nanofluidic energy conversion because of the diversity of the ILs and 2D materials.

Engineering Multi-field-coupled Synergistic Ion Transport System Based on the Heterogeneous Nanofluidic Membrane for High-Efficient Lithium Extraction

The global carbon neutrality strategy brings a wave of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries technique development and induces an ever-growing consumption and demand for lithium (Li). Among all the Li exploitation, extracting Li from spent LIBs would be a strategic and perspective approach, especially with the low energy consumption and eco-friendly membrane separation method. However, current membrane separation systems mainly focus on monotonous membrane design and structure optimization, and rarely further consider the coordination of inherent structure and applied external field, resulting in limited ion transport. Here, we propose a heterogeneous nanofluidic membrane as a platform for coupling multi-external fields (i.e., light-induced heat, electrical, and concentration gradient fields) to construct the multi-field-coupled synergistic ion transport system (MSITS) for Li-ion extraction from spent LIBs. The Li flux of the MSITS reaches 367.4 mmol m-2 h-1, even higher than the sum flux of those applied individual fields, reflecting synergistic enhancement for ion transport of the multi-field-coupled effect. Benefiting from the adaptation of membrane structure and multi-external fields, the proposed system exhibits ultrahigh selectivity with a Li+/Co2+ factor of 216,412, outperforming previous reports. MSITS based on nanofluidic membrane proves to be a promising ion transport strategy, as it could accelerate ion transmembrane transport and alleviate the ion concentration polarization effect. This work demonstrated a collaborative system equipped with an optimized membrane for high-efficient Li extraction, providing an expanded strategy to investigate the other membrane-based applications of their common similarities in core concepts.

[Comparison of the disease burden of schistosomiasis globally and in China and Zimbabwe]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the trends in the disease burden of schistosomiasis worldwide and in China, and Zimbabwe from 1990 to 2019, so as to provide insights into the formulation of the schistosomiasis control strategy in Zimbabwe.

METHODS

Based on Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 (GBD 2019) data sources, the age-standardized prevalence, mortality, disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rate of schistosomiasis were compared in the world, China, and Zimbabwe and the trends in the disease burden of schistosomiasis from 1990 to 2019 were investigated using Joinpoint regression analysis. In addition, the associations between the burden of schistosomiasis worldwide and in China and Zimbabwe from 1990 to 2019 and socio-demographic index (SDI) were examined using Pearson correlation analysis.

RESULTS

The age-standardized prevalence, mortality, and DALY rate of schistosomiasis were 1 804.95/10⁵, 0.14/10⁵ and 20.92/10⁵ in the world, 707.09/10⁵, 0.02/10⁵ and 5.06/10⁵ in China, and 2 218.90/10⁵, 2.39/10⁵ and 90.09/10⁵ in Zimbabwe in 2019, respectively. The global prevalence, mortality, and DALY rate of schistosomiasis appeared a tendency towards a rise followed by a decline with age in 2019, while the prevalence and DALY rate of schistosomiasis appeared a tendency towards a sharp rise followed by a fluctuating decline in both China and Zimbabwe, and the mortality of schistosomiasis appeared a tendency towards a rise. The age-standardized prevalence [average annual percent change (AAPC) = -1.31%, -2.22% and -6.12%; t = -20.07, -83.38 and -53.06; all P values < 0.05)] and DALY rate of schistosomiasis (AAPC = -1.91%,-4.17% and -2.08%; t = -31.89, -138.70 and -16.45; all P values < 0.05) appeared a tendency towards a decline in the world, China and Zimbabwe from 1990 to 2019, and the age-standardized mortality of schistosomiasis appeared a tendency towards a decline in the world and China (AAPC = -3.46% and -8.10%, t = -41.03 and -61.74; both P values < 0.05), and towards a rise followed by a decline in Zimbabwe (AAPC = 1.35%, t = 4.88, P < 0.05). In addition, Pearson correlation analysis showed that the age-standardized prevalence (r = -0.75, P < 0.05), mortality (r = -0.73, P < 0.05), and DALY rate of schistosomiasis (r = -0.77, P < 0.05) correlated negatively with SDI in the world, China and Zimbabwe from 1990 to 2019.

CONCLUSIONS

The disease burden of schistosomiasis appeared a remarkable decline in China from 1990 to 2019, and the prevalence of schistosomiasis showed a tendency towards a decline in Zimbabwe from 1990 to 2019; however, the mortality and DALY rate of schistosomiasis in Zimbabwe topped in the world. A schistosomiasis control strategy with adaptations to local epidemiology and control needs of schistosomiasis is needed to facilitate the elimination of schistosomiasis in Zimbabwe.

Efficient Solar-osmotic Power Generation from Bioinspired Anti-fouling 2D WS2 Composite Membranes

Nanofluidic reverse electrodialysis provides an attractive way to harvest osmotic energy. However, most attention was paid to monotonous membrane structure optimization to promote selective ion transport, while the role of external fields and relevant mechanisms are rarely explored. Here, we demonstrate a Kevlar-toughened tungsten disulfide (WS2) composite membrane with bioinspired serosa-mimetic structures as an efficient osmotic energy generator coupling light. As a result, the output power could be up to 16.43 W m-2 under irradiation, outperforming traditional two-dimensional (2D) membranes. Both the experiment and simulation uncover that the generated photothermal and photoelectronic effects could synergistically promote the confined ion transport process. In addition, this membrane also possesses great anti-fouling properties, endowing its practical application. This work paves new avenues for sustainable power generation by coupling solar energy.

A Bioinspired Free-Standing 2D Crown-Ether-Based Polyimine Membrane for Selective Proton Transport

Biological proton channels play important roles in the delicate metabolism process, arousing great interest in mimicking selective proton transport. Herein, we designed a bioinspired proton transport membrane by bringing flexible 14-crown-4 (14C4) units into rigid frameworks of polyimine films by an interfacial Schiff base reaction. The Young's modulus of the membrane reaches ~8.2 GPa. The 14C4 units could grab water forming hydrogen bond-water networks and acting as jumping sites to lower the energy barrier of proton transport. The molecular chains present a vertical orientation to the membrane, and the ions travel between the quasi-planar molecular sheets. Also, the 14C4 moieties could bond alkali ions via host-guest interaction. Thus, the ion conductance follows H+ ≫ K+ > Na+> Li+, and an ultrahigh selectivity of H+/Li+ (~215) is resulted. This study provides an effective avenue for developing ion-selective membranes by embedding macrocycles motif with inherent cavities.

[Publication and citation analyses of Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control from 2011 to 2020]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the publications and citations of Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control from 2011 to 2020, so as to provide insights into improving the journal quality and impact.

METHODS

All publications were retrieved from 60 issues of 10 volumes of Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control from 2011 to 2020, and publication and citation analyses were performed using a bibliometric method.

RESULTS

A total of 1 867 articles were published in Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control from 2011 to 2020, with the largest number in 2012 (220 publications) and the lowest in 2020 (135 publications), and original article (36.48%), control experience (17.14%) and control study (10.34%) were the three most common article type. The overall proportion of grant-supported articles was 59.08% (1 103/1 867), and the number of grant per article was (2.34±1.58) grants. The mean duration from submission to publication was (173.48±105.84) days per article, and there was a significant difference in the mean duration from submission to publication among years (F = 30.883, P < 0.01). Jiangsu Province (492 publications, 26.35%), Shanghai Municipality (264 publications, 14.14%) and Hubei Province (230 publications, 12.32%) were the three most productive provinces where the first author lived, and disease control and prevention institutions were the predominant affiliations of the first author (67.22%), with Jiangsu Institute of Schistosomiasis Control, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Wannan Medical College as the three most productive affiliations. The number of authors was 5.94 authors per publication, and the proportion of co-authored publications was 95.45% in Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control from 2011 to 2020. Journal article was the predominant type of cited (89.97%), and the mean number of citations was (15.70±11.56) citations per publication, with a significant difference in the mean number of citations per publication among years (F = 2.205, P < 0.05). The impact factors of Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control ranged from 0.877 to 1.676 during the period from 2011 to 2020, and the overall Price index was 47.59%.

CONCLUSIONS

Both the academic impact and national transmissibility of Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control appeared a tendency towards a rise from 2011 to 2020. Seeking high-quality contributions, increasing interdisciplinary integration, shortening the duration from submission to publication, expanding the coverage of publication services and enhancing impact are the future priorities of the journal.

Tunable Ion Transport in Two-Dimensional Nanofluidic Channels

Layered two-dimensional (2D) materials with interlayer channels at the nanometer scale offer an ideal platform to control ion transport behaviors, including high-precision separation, ultrafast diffusion, and tunable permeation flux, which show great potential for energy conversion and storage, water treatment, catalysis, biosynthesis, and sensing. Recent advances in controlling the structure and functionality of 2D nanofluidic channels sustainably open doors for more revolutionary applications. In this Perspective, we first present a brief introduction to the fundamental mechanisms for ion transport in 2D nanofluidic channels and an overview of state-of-the-art assembly technologies of nanochannel membranes. We then point out new avenues for developing advanced nanofluidics, combining molecular-level cross-linking, and surface modification in nanoconfinement. Finally, we outline the potential applications of these 2D nanofluidic channel membranes and their technical challenges that need to be addressed to afford for practical applications.

The lateral cervical stria approach to selective neck dissection: a preliminary study

BACKGROUND

This study aims to propose a lateral cervical stria approach for selective neck dissection (SND) in patients of early-stage oral malignancies.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The lateral cervical stria approach was used in 11 patients undergoing SND between December 2020 and March 2022. The surgical incision was located in submandibular cervical stria, with a length of 5.0 cm. The ipsilateral SND was performed according to the pathological type, covering part or all of I-V levels. Perioperative variables including operation time, blood loss, drainage volume, number of lymph node as well as complications were assessed. The score of appearance using the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire (UW-QOL) was recorded 6-month postoperatively.

RESULTS

Direct closure of primary lesion was performed in ten patients and a forearm free flap reconstruction was used in one patient. No wound breakdown or infection was found in all cases. The mean operative time of SND was 157.63±27.39 min. The volume of intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage was 120.45±36.77 ml and 314.09±98.82 ml, respectively. The mean number of retrieved lymph nodes was 17.89±6.03 (ranging from 12 to 31). Postoperative complications included mild static lower lip deviation (n=1), shoulder discomfort (n=1) and mild auricular paraesthesia (n=1). The mean score of appearance was 86.36±13.06, with 100 scores in 5 patients and 75 scores in 6 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The lateral cervical stria approach for SND in early-stage oral malignancies is reliable, achieving to satisfactory functional and aesthetic outcomes.

Heterogeneous Electrospinning Nanofiber Membranes with pH-regulated Ion Gating for Tunable Osmotic Power Harvesting

Biological ion channels existing in organisms are critical for many biological processes. Inspired by biological ion channels, the heterogeneous electrospinning nanofiber membranes (HENM) with functional ion channels are constructed by electrospinning technology. The HENM successfully realizes ion-gating effects, which can be used for tunable energy conversions. Introduction of pyridine and carboxylic acid groups into the HENM plays an important role in generating unique and stable ion transport behaviors, in which gates become alternative states of open and close, responding to symmetric/asymmetric pH stimulations. Then we used the HENM to convert osmotic energy into electric energy which reach a maximum value up to 12.34 W m^-2 and the output power density of HENM-based system could be regulated by ion-gating effects. The properties of the HENM provide widespread potentials in application of smart nanofluidic devices, energy conversion, and water treatment.

[Identification of metabolic biomarkers associated with the onset of type 2 diabetes based on a nested case-control study]

Objective: To explore metabolic biomarkers associated with the onset of type 2 diabetes. Methods: Cluster random sampling method was used to select 10 867 local residents aged ≥ 20 years in Liangxi district of Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province in 2007. The baseline survey and physical examination were conducted to collect participants' information, including demographic characteristics, behavior and lifestyles, disease history, family history of diabetes, height, weight, waist circumference and blood pressure, etc. Blood samples were collected and biochemical indexes (high density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting blood glucose, etc.) were tested. By June 30, 2020, 220 newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes during the follow-up were selected as cases, and 220 healthy individuals were matched as controls with age (±5 years) and the same sex. High performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometer was used to detect and identify metabolites in serum samples of two groups at baseline. Lasso regression and multivariate conditional logistic regression were used to explore the metabolites associated with the onset of type 2 diabetes. Results: The age of participants at baseline was (53±7) years, and 41.82% were male. 25 out of 1 579 metabolites were selected to be potentially associated with the onset of type 2 diabetes in the lasso regression model. The multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis showed that only 7-Methylxanthine had an independent effect on type 2 diabetes (P=0.019). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) (95%CI) of the prediction model of type 2 diabetes based on traditional risk factors was 0.80 (0.76-0.85). After the 7-methylxanthine in the model, the AUC (95%CI) increased to 0.92 (0.89-0.95) (P<0.001). From the second year, 7-methylxanthine could improve the prediction performance (P=0.007). Conclusion: The level of 7-methylxanthine is related to the onset of type 2 diabetes, and can be used as a biomarker to predict its incidence risk.

[Advances of tight junction damage in the corneal epithelial barrier in the pathogenesis of corneal diseases]

The cornea is a transparent tissue with significant refractive and barrier functions. Corneal epithelium constitutes the first line of defense against foreign pathogens. Corneal epithelial cells interact to form a functionally selective permeability barrier. Dysfunction of this barrier leads to corneal impairment followed by a series of ocular surface diseases and even blindness. Tight junctions (TJ), located at the top of the intercellular space of corneal epithelial superficial cells, play a critical role in establishing and maintaining the barrier function. Previous studies have shown that destruction of the TJ acts as a crucial step of the occurrence and progression of multiple ocular surface diseases. Understanding the fundamental features and functions of the TJ, noticing the risk factors of TJ disruption, and clarifying the key role of TJ in the pathogenesis of various ocular surface diseases will help to better understand and treat ocular surface diseases.

[Effect of dyslipidemia on clinical outcome of infertility patients receiving donor eggs]

Objective: To explore the effect of dyslipidemia on the clinical outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (ICSI-ET) in infertility patients receiving donor eggs. Methods: A total of 118 patients were selected to receive egg donors and ICSI-ET at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between April 2007 and December 2020. According to the levels of triacylglycerol, serum cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), and low density lipoprotein, they were divided into dyslipidemia group (35 cases) and normal blood lipids group (83 cases). The influence of body mass index (BMI) and age was adjusted by 1∶1 propensity score matching, and the general condition and clinical outcome of the two groups were analyzed retrospectively. Finally, the relationship between lipid composition and clinical outcome was analyzed according to patients' age and BMI. Results: (1) Comparing the pre-matching dyslipidemia group with the normal blood lipids group, the BMI of the dyslipidemia group was significantly higher than that of the normal blood lipids group [(23.5±2.4) vs (22.4±2.7) kg/m²], and the embryo implantation rate was significantly lower than that of the normal blood lipids group [13.6% (8/59) vs 27.3% (36/132)], the differences were statistically significant (both P<0.05). (2) There were no significant differences in years of infertility, number of pregnancies, number of abortions, number of transplanted embryos, protocol of endometrial preparation, endometrial thickness on transplantation day and high quality embryo rate between the two groups, through propensity score matching (all P>0.05). The biochemical pregnancy rate [28.6% (10/35)], embryo implantation rate [13.6% (8/59)] and live birth rate [20.0% (7/35)] in dyslipidemia group were significantly lower than those in the normal blood lipids group (P<0.05). The clinical pregnancy rate was lower than that of the normal blood lipids group (P>0.05). (3) The results of stratified analysis showed that the level of HDL in the clinically non-pregnant group was significantly lower than that in the pregnant group in patients ≤ 35 years old [(1.5±0.3) vs (1.8±0.5) mmol/L; P<0.05]. In the overweight recipient patients, the level of HDL of the clinically non-pregnant group was lower than that of the pregnant group (P>0.05). Conclusions: Dyslipidemia significantly reduces the biochemical pregnancy rate, embryo implantation rate and live birth rate in patients with receiving donor eggs. Especially in patients aged ≤35 years old, the reduction of HDL is closely related to adverse pregnancy outcomes.

[Surgical treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma involving larynx and trachea]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of surgical treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) involving larynx and trachea. Methods: A total of 1 436 cases of thyroid malignant tumors were admitted to the Department of Otolaryngology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University from 2004 to 2019, including 110 cases of PTC involving larynx and trachea, and of which 105 cases with complete follow-up data were retrospectively analyzed. There were 42 males and 63 females, with a male/female ratio of 1∶1.5, aged from 28 to 81 years. All lesions involved trachea, including 11 cases involving both trachea and larynx. Of those 83 cases underwent laryngeal and airway wall tumor excision, and 22 cases underwent radical tumor excision plus laryngeal and trachea repair. Extubation rate was analyzed and the postoperative survival curve of patients was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Among 105 cases, 16 cases underwent tracheotomy and 12 cases were successfully extubated. The overall 3- 5- and 10-year survival rates were 100.0%, 86.4% and 72.5%, and the disease-free survival rates were 93.1%, 81.6% and 57.7%, respectively. There was significant difference in survival curve between the two groups (χ²=4.21, P=0.040). The 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 94.6% and 77.3% in laryngeal and tracheal tumor exclusion group, and 85.7% and 51.4% in the radical tumor resection group. There was no significant difference in the survival curves between the two groups (χ²=3.50, P=0.061). Conclusion: PTC patients with laryngeal and tracheal involvement can achieve long survival and good quality of life through reasonable surgical treatment.

Wetting-Induced Water Promoted Flow on Tunable Liquid-Liquid Interface-Based Nanopore Membrane System

Membrane separation provides effective methods for solving the global water crisis. Contemporary membrane systems depend on interfacial interactions between liquid and solid membrane matrixes. However, it may lead to a limiting permeate flux due to the large flow resistance at hydrophobic liquid-solid interfaces. Herein, the liquid-liquid interface with improved interface energy is reversibly introduced in membrane systems to boost wetting and reduce transport resistance. A series of interfaces were systematically explored to reveal mechanisms of wetting and boosted flow performances, which are further supported by simulations. Findings of this study highlight that interfacial liquids with lower surface energies, lower viscosities, and higher solubilities can effectively improve water flow without sacrificing rejection performance, achieving by transforming a solid-liquid interface into liquid-liquid interface interaction. It provides a concept to design advanced membrane systems for water purification (e.g., desalination and oil-water separation) and energy conversion processes.

Anion Concentration Gradient-Assisted Construction of a Solid-Electrolyte Interphase for a Stable Zinc Metal Anode at High Rates

Coulombic efficiency (CE) and cycle life of metal anodes (lithium, sodium, zinc) are limited by dendritic growth and side reactions in rechargeable metal batteries. Here, we proposed a concept for constructing an anion concentration gradient (ACG)-assisted solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) for ultrahigh ionic conductivity on metal anodes, in which the SEI layer is fabricated through an in situ chemical reaction of the sulfonic acid polymer and zinc (Zn) metal. Owing to the driving force of the sulfonate concentration gradient and high bulky sulfonate concentration, a promoted Zn²⁺ ionic conductivity and inhibited anion diffusion in the SEI layer are realized, resulting in a significant suppression of dendrite growth and side reaction. The presence of ACG-SEI on the Zn metal enables stable Zn plating/stripping over 2000 h at a high current density of 20 mA cm^-2 and a capacity of 5 mAh cm^-2 in Zn/Zn symmetric cells, and moreover an improved cycling stability is also observed in Zn/MnO₂ full cells and Zn/AC supercapacitors. The SEI layer containing anion concentration gradients for stable cycling of a metal anode sheds a new light on the fundamental understanding of cation plating/stripping on metal electrodes and technical advances of rechargeable metal batteries with remarkable performance under practical conditions.

POS0521 RISKS OF SEVERE INFECTION AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF bDMARDs IN NEWLY DIAGNOSED RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS: A POPULATION-BASED INTERRUPTED TIME-SERIES ANALYSIS

Background

Biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) are effective in suppressing inflammation and preventing joint damage. But bDMARDs may be associated with increased risk of severe infection. Evidence on this is contradictory with some studies showing increased risk, whereas others reporting no significant changes.

Objectives

To determine the impact of the introduction of bDMARDs on severe infection among patients newly diagnosed with RA compared with non-RA individuals.

Methods

In this age- and gender-matched cohort study using administrative health data for the population of BC, Canada, all incident RA patients diagnosed between 1995–2007 were identified. Non-RA individuals were randomly selected from the general control population to match with RA. Incident RA/non-RA individuals were then divided into quarterly cohorts according to their diagnosis date. Two outcomes were examined: (1) first severe infection (FSI) after RA onset necessitating hospitalization or occurring during hospitalization; and (2) all severe infections (ASI) after RA onset. We calculated the 8-year FSI and ASI rate for each cohort. We conducted interrupted time-series analyses to compare levels and trends of FSI and ASI in RA and non-RA individuals diagnosed during pre-bDMARDs (1995–2001) and post-bDMARDs (2003–2007) periods. Adjusted 8-year FSI and ASI rates for RA and non-RA cohorts diagnosed five years after bDMARDs introduction were compared with expected rates assuming no bDMARDs introduction, based on extrapolation of pre-bDMARDs trends.

Results

A total of 60,226 and 588,499 incident RA/non-RA individuals were identified. We identified 8,954 FSI and 14,245 ASI in RA, and 56,153 FSI and 79,819 ASI in non-RA. The 8-year FSI rates among RA patients diagnosed in the pre-bDMARDs period decreased over time but leveled off among those diagnosed in the post-period (Figure 1). The adjusted difference between the post- and pre-bDMARDs secular trends of 8-year FSI rates was 0.68 (p=0.03) in RA and 0.03 (p=0.67) in non-RA (Table 1). The 8-year ASI rates among RA patients diagnosed in the pre-bDMARDs period decreased over time but increased significantly among those diagnosed in the post-period (Figure 1). The adjusted difference between the post- and pre-bDMARDs secular trends of 8-year ASI rates was 1.85 (p=0.001) in RA and 0.12 (p=0.29) in non-RA (Table 1). For RA cohort diagnosed 5 years after bDMARDs introduction, ASI rate increased by 20.4% than expected rates assuming no bDMARDs introduction. In contrast, ASI rate in non-RA increased by only 10.9%.

Table 1.

Results of interrupted time-series analysis of FSI/ASI rates, adjusting for age, gender, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Romano Charlson Comorbidity Index, diabetes, chronic kidney diseases, alcoholism, cancer, prior hospitalization with infection and socio-economic status at disease diagnosis year, using stepwise model selection

OutcomeParameterRANon-RAUnadj. Diff (95% CI)Adj. Diff (95% CI)Unadj. Diff (95% CI)Adj. Diff (95% CI)p-valuep-valuep-valuep-valueFSITrend0.63 (0.03, 1.22) 0.04410.68 (0.09, 1.27) 0.02920.08 (-0.08, 0.25) 0.32370.03 (-0.12, 0.19) 0.6728Level (1 year post-intervention)0.50 (-2.00, 2.99) 0.69890.31 (-1.88, 2.49) 0.78470.41 (-0.21, 1.03) 0.20410.26 (-0.24, 0.75) 0.31035 years post-intervention3.01 (-0.85, 6.87) 0.13313.02 (-0.48, 6.52) 0.09860.75 (-0.24, 1.73) 0.14330.39 (-0.46, 1.25) 0.3721ASITrend1.84 (0.83, 2.84) 0.00091.85 (0.81, 2.89) 0.00110.28 (0.04, 0.53) 0.03050.12 (-0.10, 0.34) 0.2877Level (1 year post-intervention)-1.21 (-5.41, 3.00) 0.5763-1.44 (-5.44, 2.56) 0.48501.46 (0.42, 2.49) 0.00851.20 (0.38, 2.02) 0.00645 years post-intervention6.14 (0.26, 12.01) 0.04665.97 (0.02, 11.93) 0.05602.60 (1.08, 4.12) 0.00171.69 (0.45, 2.92) 0.0109Figure 1.

Unadjusted rates.

Conclusion

Arthritis onset after bDMARDs introduction is associated with an elevated risk of severe infection in RA patients, compared with matched non-RA individuals.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Ministry of Health of British Columbia and Population Data BC for providing access to the administrative data. All inferences, opinions, and conclusions drawn in this publication are those of the authors, and do not reflect the opinions or policies of the Data Stewards or the [British Columbia] Ministry of Health. No personal identifying information was made available as part of this study. Procedures used were in compliance with British Columbia’s Freedom in Information and Privacy Protection Act. Ethics approval was obtained from the University of British Columbia’s Behavioral Research Ethics Board (H15-00887).

Disclosure of Interests

None declared.

POS0503 RISKS OF CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF bDMARDs IN NEWLY DIAGNOSED RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS: A POPULATION-BASED INTERRUPTED TIME-SERIES ANALYSIS

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) events. Biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) are effective in suppressing inflammation and preventing joint damage and may help lower the risk of CV events. However, recent epidemiological studies have shown mixed results with some suggesting a lower risk of CV events, while others reporting no significant differences.

Objectives

To determine the impact of the introduction of bDMARDs on incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) among patients newly diagnosed with RA compared with matched non-RA individuals.

Methods

In this age- and gender-matched cohort study using administrative health data for the population of BC, Canada, all incident RA patients diagnosed between 1995–2007 were identified. Non-RA individuals were randomly selected from the general control population to match with RA. Incident RA and non-RA individuals were then divided into quarterly cohorts according to their diagnosis date. The outcome of interest was incident CVD event after RA onset, which include acute myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, and venous thromboembolism. We calculated the 8-year incident CVD rate for each cohort. We conducted interrupted time-series analyses to compare levels and trends of CVD in RA and non-RA individuals diagnosed during pre-bDMARDs (1995–2001) and post-bDMARDs (2003–2007) periods with intervention time set at year of 2002. Adjusted 8-year CVD rates for RA and non-RA cohorts diagnosed five years after bDMARDs introduction were compared with expected rates assuming no bDMARDs introduction, based on extrapolation of pre-bDMARDs trends.

Results

A total of 60,226 and 588,499 incident RA and non-RA individuals were identified. We identified 6,740 and 48,653 incident CVD events in total in RA and non-RA individuals, respectively. We observe no change in the secular trends of the 8-year CVD rates in both RA and non-RA individuals diagnosed in pre- and post-bDMARDS periods (Figure 1): the adjusted difference between the post- and pre-bDMARDs secular trends of 8-year CVD rates was 0.23 (p=0.26) for RA patients and -0.07 (p=0.33) for non-RA individuals (Table 1). However, we observed a reduction in the level of CVD rates among RA patients diagnosed in the post-bDMARDs period and no change in non-RA (Figure 1): the adjusted difference in level comparing points immediately before and after the intervention, and accounting for pre-intervention trend was -1.61 (p=0.03) in RA, while it was -0.02 (p=0.93) in non-RA (Table 1).

Table 1.

Results of interrupted time-series analysis of incident CVD rates, adjusting for age, gender, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Romano Charlson Comorbidity Index, diabetes, angina, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, peripheral vascular disease, atrial fibrillation, glucocorticoid, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, CVD medications, fibrates, contraceptives, and aspirin use at disease diagnosis year, using stepwise model selection

OutcomeParameterRANon-RAUnadj. Diff (95% CI)Adj. Diff (95% CI)Unadj. Diff (95% CI)Adj. Diff (95% CI)p-valuep-valuep-valuep-valueCVDTrend-0.15 (-0.72, 0.42) 0.60860.23 (-0.17, 0.64) 0.2620-0.09 (-0.27, 0.08) 0.3084-0.07 (-0.20, 0.07) 0.3290Level (1 year post-intervention)-1.36 (-3.17, 0.45) 0.1474-1.61 (-2.96, -0.25) 0.02510.22 (-0.41, 0.84) 0.5011-0.02 (-0.44, 0.40) 0.93455 years post-intervention-1.96 (-4.48, 0.55) 0.1332-0.67 (-2.80, 1.46) 0.5418-0.15 (-1.06, 0.75) 0.7421-0.29 (-0.97, 0.39) 0.4102Figure 1.

Unadjusted rates.

Conclusion

Arthritis onset after bDMARDs introduction is associated with a significant reduction in the risk of incident CVD events among RA patients, but not in the matched non-RA individuals.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Ministry of Health of British Columbia and Population Data BC for providing access to the administrative data. All inferences, opinions, and conclusions drawn in this publication are those of the authors, and do not reflect the opinions or policies of the Data Stewards or the [British Columbia] Ministry of Health. No personal identifying information was made available as part of this study. Procedures used were in compliance with British Columbia’s Freedom in Information and Privacy Protection Act. Ethics approval was obtained from the University of British Columbia’s Behavioral Research Ethics Board (H15-00887).

Disclosure of Interests

None declared.

Covalent organic frameworks embedded in polystyrene membranes for ion sieving

A mixed matrix membrane composed of COF-300 and polystyrene (PS) with controllable thickness and porosity achieves ion sieving performance, which is dependent on the regular pore size and surface functional groups of COF-300. Hence, the selectivity of the COF-300/PS membrane for K⁺/Li⁺ and Mg²⁺/Li⁺ reached 31.5 and 14.7, respectively.

[Clinical characteristics of human adenovirus infection in hospitalized children with acute respiratory infection in Beijing]

Objective: To compare the clinical characteristics of different types of human adenovirus (HAdV) infection in hospitalized children with acute respiratory infection in Beijing, and to clarify the clinical necessity of adenovirus typing. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 9 022 respiratory tract specimens collected from hospitalized children with acute respiratory infection from November 2017 to October 2019 in Affiliated Children's Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics were screened for HAdV by direct immunofluorescence (DFA) and (or) nucleic acid detection. Then the Penton base, Hexon and Fiber gene of HAdV were amplified from HAdV positive specimens to confirm their HAdV types by phylogenetic tree construction. Clinical data such as laboratory results and imaging data were analyzed for children with predominate type HAdV infection using t, U, or χ² test. Results: There were 392 cases (4.34%) positive for HAdV among 9 022 specimens from hospitalized children with acute respiratory infection. Among those 205 cases who were successfully typed, 131 were male and 74 were female, age of 22.6 (6.7, 52.5) months,102 cases (49.76%) were positive for HAdV-3 and 86 cases (41.95%), HAdV-7, respectively, while 17 cases were confirmed as HAdV-1, 2, 4, 6, 14 or 21. In comparison of clinical characteristics between the predominate HAdV type 7 and 3 infection, significant differences were shown in proportions of children with wheezing (10 cases (11.63%) vs. 25 cases (24.51%)), white blood cell count >15 ×10⁹/L (4 cases (4.65%) vs.14 cases (13.73%)), white blood cell count <5×10⁹/L (26 cases (30.23%) vs.11 cases (10.78%)), procalcitonin level>0.5 mg/L (43 cases (50.00%) vs. 29 cases (28.43%)), multilobar infiltration (45 cases (52.33%) vs.38 cases (37.25%)), pleural effusion (23 cases (26.74%) vs. 10 cases (9.80%)), and severe adenovirus pneumonia (7 cases (8.14%) vs. 2 cases (1.96%)) with χ²=5.11, 4.44, 11.16, 9.19, 4.30, 9.25, 3.91 and P=0.024, 0.035, 0.001, 0.002, 0.038, 0.002, 0.048, respectively, and also in length of hospital stay (11 (8, 15) vs. 7 (5, 13) d, Z=3.73, P<0.001). Conclusions: HAdV-3 and 7 were the predominate types of HAdV infection in hospitalized children with acute respiratory tract infection in Beijing. Compared with HAdV-3 infection, HAdV-7 infection caused more obvious inflammatory reaction, more severe pulmonary symptoms, longer length of hospital stay, suggesting the clinical necessity of further typing of HAdVs.

Ionic Crosslinking-Induced Nanochannels: Nanophase Separation for Ion Transport Promotion

Charge-governed ion transport is crucial to numerous industries, and the advanced membrane is the essential component. In nature, the efficient and selective ion transport is mainly governed by the charged ion channels located in cell membrane, indicating the architecture with functional differentiation. Inspired by this architecture, a membrane by ionic crosslinking sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketone) and imidazolium-functionalized poly(arylene ether sulfone) is designed and fabricated to make full use of the charges. This ionic crosslinking is designed to realize nanophase separation to aggregate the ion pathways in the membrane, which results in excellent ion selectivity and high ion conductivity. With the excellent ion transport behavior, ionic crosslinking membrane shows great potential in osmotic energy conversion, which maximum power density can be up to 16.72 W m^-2 . This design of ionic crosslinking-induced nanophase separation offers a roadmap for ion transport promotion.

Efficacy of surgical navigation in zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures: randomized controlled trial

Accurate reduction is of vital importance in the treatment of zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) fractures. Computer-assisted navigation systems (CANS) have been employed in ZMC fractures to improve the accuracy of surgical reduction. However, randomized controlled trials on this subject are rare and the benefits of CANS remain controversial. The aim of this study was to compare reduction errors between navigation-aided and conventional surgical treatment for ZMC fractures. Thirty-eight patients with unilateral type B ZMC fractures were enrolled. Preoperative computed tomography data were imported into ProPlan software for virtual surgical planning. Open reduction and internal fixation was performed with CANS (experimental group) or without CANS (control group). Postoperative computed tomography scans were obtained to examine the difference between surgical planning and the actual postoperative outcome, namely reduction errors. The median translational reduction errors in the X, Y, and Z axes were 0.80 mm, 0.40 mm, and 0.80 mm, respectively, in the experimental group and 0.53 mm, 0.86 mm, and 0.83 mm, respectively, in the control group (P > 0.05). The median rotational reduction errors in pitch, roll, and yaw were 0.92°, 2.47°, and 1.54°, respectively, in the experimental group and 1.45°, 3.68°, and 0.76°, respectively, in the control group (P > 0.05). In conclusion, compared with conventional reduction surgery, navigation-aided surgery showed no significant improvement in reduction accuracy in the treatment of type B ZMC fractures (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, registration number ChiCTR1800015559).

Crown Ether-Based Supramolecular Polymers: From Synthesis to Self-Assembly

Supramolecular polymers not only possess many advantages of traditional polymers, but also have many unique characteristics. Supramolecular polymers can be constructed by self-assembly of various noncovalent interactions. Host-guest interaction, as one important type of noncovalent interactions, has been widely applied to construct supramolecular polymers. From the perspective of classification of the recognition system motifs, host-guest recognition motifs mainly include crown ether, cyclodextrin, calixarene, cucurbituril, and pillararene-based host-guest recognition pairs. Crown ethers, as the first-generation macrocyclic hosts, have played a very important part in the development of supramolecular chemistry. Due to the easy modification of crown ethers, various crown ether derivatives have been prepared by attaching some functional groups to the edges of crown ethers, which endowed them with some interesting properties and made them ideal candidates for the fabrication of supramolecular polymers. This review gives a review of the preparation of crown ether-based supramolecular polymers (CSPs) and summarizes crown ether-based recognition pairs, organization methods, topological structures, stimuli-responsiveness, and functional characteristics.

[Clinical characteristics of children infected with different subtypes/genotypes of human respiratory syncytial virus in Beijing from 2009 to 2017]

Objective: To explore the different clinical characteristics of children infected with different subtype/genotype of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) in Beijing. Methods: Respiratory specimens for positive HRSV were randomly collected from children with acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) in the epidemic season of HRSV from November of each year to January of the next year during 2009 and 2017. G genes of HRSV were amplified and sequenced for subtyping and genotyping by bioinformatics analysis. Clinical data were collected and analyzed. Results: Out of 590 children, 376 (63.7%) with subtype A, and 214 (36.3) with subtype B. The annual dominant subtypes of HRSV from 2009 to 2017 were B-A-A-B-AB-A-A-B-A, respectively, whilst a total of 10 genotypes were detected with 95.8% assigned to genotype ON1 and NA1 of subtype A, and genotype BA9 of subtype B. Children infected with subtype B (96 cases, 44.9%) were more likely aged 0-3 month old than those with subtype A (118 cases, 31.4%) (P=0.001), and more likely to be admitted to Intensive Care Unit(ICU) ((124 cases, 57.9%) than those with subtype A (172 cases, 45.7%)) (P=0.005). Statistical significance were shown among children infected with genotype ON1, NA1 or BA9, in the possibility of infection in children aged 0-3 month (P=0.003), proportion of admission into ICU (P=0.007), length of stay in hospital (P=0.001), and clinical outcome (P=0.001), respectively. Conclusion: Children infected with different subtype or genotype of HRSV have different clinical characteristics, which stresses the important role of the monitoring HRSV subtypes and genotypes among children.

Biomimetic Nanocomposite Membranes with Ultrahigh Ion Selectivity for Osmotic Power Conversion

Ion transport in nanoconfinement exhibits significant features such as ionic rectification, ionic selectivity, and ionic gating properties, leading to the potential applications in desalination, water treatment, and energy conversion. Two-dimensional nanofluidics provide platforms to utilize this phenomenon for capturing osmotic energy. However, it is challenging to further improve the power output with inadequate charge density. Here we demonstrate a feasible strategy by employing Kevlar nanofiber as space charge donor and cross-linker to fabricate graphene oxide composite membranes. The coupling of space charge and surface charge, enabled by the stabilization of interlayer spacing, plays a key role in realizing high ion selectivity and the derived high-performance osmotic power conversion up to 5.06 W/m2. Furthermore, the output voltage of an ensemble of the membranes in series could reach 1.61 V, which can power electronic devices. The system contributes a further step toward the application of energy conversion.

[Psychological and behavioral functioning of children and adolescents during long-term home-schooling]

Objective: To study the characteristics and risk factors of psychological and behavioral problems of children and adolescents of different ages and genders in long-term home-schooling during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic. Further, to provide scientific basis for more targeted psychological intervention and coping strategies in the future. Methods: A cross-sectional survey using an online questionnaire was conducted on students aged 6-16 years old in five representative cities of North (Beijing), East (Shanghai), West (Chongqing), South (Guangzhou) and Middle (Wuhan) in China. In this study, the social behavior and psychological abnormalities which was defined as the positive of any dimension were investigated in multiple dimensions during long-term home-schooling. The influencing factors of psycho-behavioral problems were analyzed by Logistic regression, and the confounding factors were corrected with graded multivariable adjustment. Results: A total of 6 906 valid questionnaires were collected including 3 592 boys and 3 314 girls, of whom 3 626 were children (6-11 years old) and 3 280 were adolescents (12-16 years old). The positive detection rate of psychosocial-behavioral problems were 13.0% (900/6 906) totally, 9.6% (344/3 592) in boys and 16.8% (556/3 314) in girls respectively, and 7.3%(142/1 946) in boys aged 6-11, 14.0%(235/1 680) in girls aged 6-11, 12.3%(202/1 646) in boys aged 12-16, 19.6%(321/1 634) in girls aged 12-16 respectively. There were significant differences between the psychological problems group and the non-psychological problems group in gender, parent-offspring conflict, number of close friends, family income change, sedentary time, homework time, screen exposure time, physical activity, dietary problems (χ²=78.851, 285.264, 52.839, 26.284, 22.778, 11.024, 10.688, 36.814, 70.982, all P<0.01). The most common symptoms in boys aged 6-11 years were compulsive activity, schizoid and depression, in girls aged 6-11 years were schizoid/compulsive activity, hyperactivity and social withdrawal, in boys aged 12-16 years were hyperactivity, compulsive activity and aggressive behavior, and in girls aged 12-16 years were schizoid, anxiety/compulsive activity and depression/withdrawal, respectively. After graded multivariable adjustment, besides the common risk factors, homework time and online study time were the risk factors of 6-11 years old groups [boys OR(95%CI): 1.750 (1.32-2.32), 1.214(1.00-1.47), girls: 1.579(1.25-1.99), 1.222(1.05-1.42), all P<0.05], videogames time were the risk factors of 12-16 years old groups [ boys: 2.237 (1.60-3.13), girls: 1.272 (1.00-1.61), all P<0.05]. Conclusions: Some children and adolescents may have psychological and behavioral problems during long-term home-schooling. The psychological and behavioral manifestations differed in age and gender subgroups, which deserve special attention in each subgroups. Schools, families and specialists should actively provide precise psychological support and comprehensive intervention strategies according to special features and risk factors.

Characterizing the impact of high temperature during grain filling on phytohormone levels, enzyme activity and metabolic profiles of an early indica rice variety

Global warming results in high temperature stress (HTS), which presents severe challenges worldwide for modern agricultural production and will have significant impacts on the yield and quality of crops. Accumulation of photosynthetic products, activity of enzymes involved in sucrose-starch metabolism, phytohormone levels and metabolic profiling using LC-MS were analysed in the flag leaves and/or developing grains subjected to HTS during the grain-filling stage of an indica rice. HTS induced significant yield loss and reduced the grain quality, with lower amylose content. HTS reduced photosynthetic product accumulation in flag leaves and reduced starch accumulation in developing grains, compared to growth under normal temperatures. The activity of enzymes related to sucrose-starch metabolism were dis-regulated in developing grains grown under high temperature (HT). Moreover, phytohormone homeostasis in flag leaves and developing grains was also dramatically disturbed by HT. Metabolic profiling detected many metabolites with remarkably different relative fold abundances at different time points in the developing grain at HT versus normal temperatures, these metabolites were enriched in several HTS response pathways. The change in phytohormone ratio and auxin level might be associated with the reduction in photosynthetic products and their translocation, and ultimately with reduced starch accumulation in the developing grain. The detected metabolites might have different roles in response to the HTS in developing grain at different development stages. These results provide a theoretical reference and basis for future rice production towards higher quality and yield when grown under HTS.

[Molecular epidemiology of norovirus associated with pediatric acute gastroenteritis in Beijing in 2020]

Objective: To investigate the molecular epidemiology of norovirus associated with pediatric acute gastroenteritis in Beijing under the Working Mechanism for Joint Prevention and Control of the Epidemic in 2020. Methods: This was a retrospective, repeated cross-sectional study. Fecal or vomit samples (1 213 cases) were collected from children visited the Capital Institute of Pediatrics Affiliated Children's Hospital for acute gastroenteritis from January 1 to December 31, 2020. First, real-time reverse PCR (RT-PCR) was used to screen the samples for norovirus, and then RdRp gene and capsid gene VP1 of norovirus-positive samples were amplified by conventional RT-PCR for genotyping based on the nucleotide sequence. The χ² test was used to compare the positive rates and genotypes of norovirus among different specimen types, genders of children, and different age groups. Results: Among the 1 213 samples were collected, 215 samples were positive for norovirus, with a positivity rate of 17.7% for the whole year. The peak of norovirus infection observed mainly in the cold seasons, as the positive rates were 28.6% (18/63), 26.2% (16/61), 22.8% (77/338) and 17.1% (89/520) in January, October, November and December, respectively. The positive rate of norovirus in fecal sample was significantly higher than that in vomit sample (χ² = 9.692, P<0.01). There was no significant difference between genders (χ²=0.041, P>0.05), but significant difference was found between age groups with the highest rate in the 6-48 months group (χ²=103.112, P<0.01). Three genogroups (GⅠ, GⅡ and GⅨ) of the circulating virus were detected by G-gene typing, and GⅡgenogroup was predominant, accounting for 98.5% (196/199). Among the GⅡ positive samples, genotype GⅡ.4 Sydney (55.1%, 108/196) was the most common, followed by GⅡ.2 (29.6%, 58/196), while the GⅡ.3 norovirus (10.2%, 20/196) which was common in previous years was not as much as before. Based on the P-type, GⅡ.P16 was predominant (61.5%, 96/156), followed by GII.P31 (19.9%, 31/156). The dual genotyping revealed that GⅡ.4 Sydney [P16] (36.4%, 56/154) and GⅡ.2 [P16] (24.7%, 38/154) were predominant. Conclusion: The prevalence of norovirus in children in 2020 in Beijing is not much different from those of the previous years, but the genotypes composition has changed significantly, and there are multiple genotypes circulating simultaneously.

Surface Charge Regulated Asymmetric Ion Transport in Nanoconfined Space

The asymmetric ion transport in the nanoconfined space, similar to that of natural ion channels, has attracted broad interest in sensor, energy conversion, and other related fields. Among these systems, the surface charge plays an important role in regulating ion transport behaviors. Herein, this surface charge-regulated asymmetric ion transport behavior is systematically explored in the nanoconfined space and the influence on the performance of nanofluidic energy conversion system. The ion transport behaviors in the nanoconfined space are classified into pure diffusion, electrical double layer, and the polarization controlled state. The asymmetric solution environment or surface charge distribution induces asymmetric ion transport behavior which is largely controlled by the low concentration side. The ion-selectivity and the energy conversion performance can be effectively enhanced by improving the local apparent surface charge (more active sites and higher charge strength) or introducing a selective layer with dense surface charge on the low concentration side. These material design concepts for asymmetric ion transport are further supported by both simulation and experiment. The results provide a significant comprehension for ion behaviors in nanoconfined space and the development of high-performance energy storage and conversion systems.

Genome sequencing of pancreatic cancer: differential expression by location

The results demonstrated that pancreatic ductal carcinoma (PDAC) of the body/tail was associated with more transcriptional and genomic changes, and correlated with worse prognosis, than PDAC of the pancreatic head. The different mutation types and gene expression of tumour locations provide deep insight into the carcinogenesis or metastasis of PDAC, and suggest different early diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. SNV, single-nucleotide variations; NLS, Nuclear localization sequence; MB, million base-pairs; UTR, untranslated region.

[Implication of enhanced recovery after surgery in the surgical management of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in the clinical management of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC). Methods: In this retrospective study, a total of 168 patients with pyriform sinus carcinoma in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University from January 2015 to January 2019 were divided into two groups, based on the different perioperative interventions that patients received, i.e. the ERAS group (n=64) and the conventional group (n=104), including 164 males and 4 females, whose ages ranged from 42 to 84 years old. The difference between two groups in the operative time, postoperative nutritional status, incidences of postoperative complications and postoperative hospitalization time were compared using the student's t test, Chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test. Results: Compared with the conventional group, patients in the ERAS group had significantly shorter operative time [(166.8±58.2) min vs. (183.3±39.9) min,t=-2.72, P=0.031], higher levels of postoperative serum albumin [(38.3±4.2) μmol/L vs. (36.6±3.3) μmol/L, t=2.73, P=0.007] and more body weight [(65.4±9.4) kg vs. (62.1±9.4) kg, t=2.22, P=0.028], lower incidences of postoperative subcutaneous infection [7.8% (5/64) vs. 20.2% (21/104), χ²=4.64, P=0.03] and severe pneumonia [4.7% (3/64) vs. 15.4% (16/104), χ²=4.52, P=0.03], and shorter postoperative hospitalization time [(16.5±3.9) d vs. (18.2±4.3) d, t=-2.65, P<0.05]. Conclusion: ERAS is effective and safe in the surgical management of HSCC, with benefits in reducing the operative stress via saving operation time, shortening the hospitalization time, ameliorating nutritional status and decreasing the incidences of complications.

The long non-coding RNA DDX11-AS1 facilitates cell progression and oxaliplatin resistance via regulating miR-326/IRS1 axis in gastric cancer

OBJECTIVE

The long non-coding RNA DDX11 antisense RNA 1 (DDX11-AS1) was found to be highly expressed in gastric cancer (GC). This study was to explore the role and molecular mechanism in oxaliplatin (OXA) resistance.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The levels of DDX11-AS1, microRNA-326 (miR-326) and insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) were measured by quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis were examined by methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT), transwell and flow cytometry assays, respectively. Levels of all protein were detected using Western blot. The correlation between miR-326 and DDX11-AS1/IRS1 was confirmed by Dual-Luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. The xenograft model was constructed to explore the effect of DDX11-AS1 in vivo.

RESULTS

DDX11-AS1 was overexpressed in OXA-resistant GC tissues and cells, and DDX11-AS1 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion and OXA resistance, and promoted apoptosis in OXA-resistant GC cells. Mechanically, DDX11-AS1 directly targeted miR-326 and miR-326 could bind to IRS1 in OXA-resistant GC cells. Functionally, silencing DDX11-AS1 repressed the progression and OXA resistance in OXA-resistant GC cells by down-modulating IRS1 expression via sponging miR-326 in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

DDX11-AS1 accelerated the progression and OXA chemoresistance of GC cells in vitro and in vivo by sponging miR-326, thus increasing the expression of IRS1, suggesting DDX11-AS1 might be a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in GC.

[Probability of premature mortality caused by four major non-communicable diseases and its impact on life expectancy in Wuxi, 2008-2018]

Objective: To analyze the trend of premature death of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Wuxi from 2008 to 2018 and evaluate the influence of premature mortality probability caused by four main NCDs on life expectancy. Methods: Based on the mortality data collected by Wuxi Mortality Registration System and the population data collected by Wuxi Public Security Bureau during 2008-2018, this study analyzes the trend of the probability of premature death on malignant tumors, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes. The impact on life expectancy was analyzed by using the methods of abridged life table, Joinpoint regression, and life expectancy contribution decomposition. Results: From 2008 to 2018, the total probability of premature death of four main NCDs in Wuxi were declined consistently from 11.25% to 9.25% (AAPC = -2.0%, 95%CI: -2.6--1.5), higher in female (from 7.74% to 5.91%) than that in male (from 14.49% to 12.51%). The Wuxi resident's life expectancy increased by 1.86 years (from 78.66 to 80.52 years), in males and 1.26 years (from 83.85 to 85.11 years) in females, respectively. The decline of premature death of malignant tumors, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and chronic respiratory system diseases had a positive contribution to life expectancy, which contributed 0.34 years (23.90%), 0.15 years (10.50%), and 0.03 years (2.36%) to the life expectancy growth, respectively. Among which, premature death of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in men aged 40-55y had a negative contribution to life expectancy (-0.04 years). The probability of premature death of males with diabetes was on the rise (AAPC = 7.1%, 95%CI: 2.8-11.6), which negatively contributed to life expectancy for both males and females, reducing life expectancy by 0.03 years (-2.14%) in Wuxi. Conclusion: The premature death probability of four main NCDs in Wuxi declined consistently from 2008 to 2018, which played a positive role in the growth of life expectancy. Compared with females, males had a higher premature death probability and a slower rate of decline. More intervention and health management of premature male death on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and diabetes should be conducted to improve life expectancy further.

Bioinspired hydrogel-based nanofluidic ionic diodes: nano-confined network tuning and ion transport regulation

Biological ion channel-based mass transport and signal transduction play a crucial role in physiological activities, and biomimetic nanochannels in aqueous solutions for ion transport regulation have been extensively studied. Few studies on non-aqueous systems, gel-based nanochannels, mainly focus on the charged gel network or embedded electrolytes. However, the basic issue of how a nanoscale gel network affects the ion transport in nanochannels has been neglected. Here, we demonstrate a non-aqueous biomimetic nanochannel system by employing the agarose hydrogel in conical nanochannels. To tune the hydrogel network by adjusting the gel concentration, the ion transport behavior in gel-based nanochannels is systemically investigated. The experimental results show that the ion transport behaviors in gel-nanochannels with 2% gel present similar ion selectivity and rectification performance to the aqueous system, indicating fast investigation of gel-based systems with the knowledge of the extensively studied aqueous systems. Furthermore, a gel-based solid-state diode and logic circuits were fabricated.