A biocompatible polypyrrole membrane for biomedical applications

Polypyrrole (PPy) is the most widely investigated electrically conductive biomaterial. However, because of its intrinsic rigidity, PPy has only been used either in the form of a composite or a thin coating. This work presents a pure and soft PPy membrane that is synergically reinforced with the electrospun polyurethane (PU) and poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) fibers. This particular reinforcement not only renders the originally rather fragile PPy membrane easy to manipulate, it also prevents the membrane from deformation in an aqueous environment. Peel and mechanical tests confirmed the strong adhesion of the fibers and the significantly increased tensile strength of the reinforced membrane. Surface electrical conductivity and long-term electrical stability were tested, showing that these properties were not affected by the reinforcement. Surface morphology and chemistry were analyzed with scanning electron spectroscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Material thermal stability was investigated with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Finally, the adhesion and proliferation of human skin keratinocytes on the membrane were assessed by Hoechst staining and the methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. In conclusion, this membrane proves to be the first PPy-based soft conductive biomaterial that can be practically used. Its electrical conductivity and cytocompatibility promise a wide range of biomedical applications.

A reinforced soft polypyrrole membrane.     

Synthesis of an urushiol derivative and its use for hydrolysis resistance in dentin adhesive

Hydrolysis resistance is essential to the durability of the dentin bonding interface. Urushiol is a natural monomer that has been used in different fields over thousands of years but has the disadvantage of a long drying time. In this study, we evaluated a novel photocurable derivative of urushiol as the main monomer for polymerization in dentin adhesive and its effect on hydrolysis resistance. The derivative was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Compared with the Adper Single Bond 2, the experimentally synthesized adhesives had higher contact angles. In particular, the water sorption/solubility of the experimental samples were significantly lower than that of Adper Single Bond 2. The microtensile bond strengths of the test groups were higher than that of the control group, even after 5000 thermocycles. Cytotoxicity test results showed that adhesives based on the original derivative induced low toxicity to L929 cells. The results of this study may shift the focus of future research to natural monomers and even their derivatives which may perform well in dentistry.

Synthesis of a natural plant monomer (urushiol) derivative and achieving a good performance in dentistry.     

An asymmetric supercapacitor based on controllable WO3 nanorod bundle and alfalfa-derived porous carbon

A novel asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) is assembled on the basis of an inerratic hexagonal-like WO₃ nanorod bundle as a negative electrode and graphene-like alfalfa-derived porous activated carbon (APAC) as the positive electrode in 1 M H₂SO₄ aqueous electrolyte. The WO₃ nanostructures prepared at pH of 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 display hexagonal disc-like, nanorod bundle, inerratic hexagonal-like, sphere-like, and needle-shaped nanorod morphology. WO₃-2.0, which was prepared at a pH of 2.0, exhibits high specific capacitance (415.3 F g⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹). APAC-2, which had the mass ratios of dried alfalfa and ZnCl₂ as 1 : 2, showed a 3D porous structure, large surface area (1576.3 m² g⁻¹), high specific capacitance (262.1 F g⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹), good cycling stability with 96% of initial specific capacitance after 5000 consecutive cycles. The ASC assembled with WO₃-2.0 and APAC-2 exhibits high energy density (27.3 W h kg⁻¹ at a power density of 403.1 W kg⁻¹), as well as good electrochemical stability (82.6% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles). Such outstanding electrochemical behavior implies that the electrode materials are promising for practical energy-storage systems.

A asymmetric supercapacitor is assembled on the basis of an inerratic hexagonal-like WO₃ nanorod bundle as a negative electrode and graphene-like alfalfa-derived porous activated carbon as the positive electrode in 1 M H₂SO₄ aqueous electrolyte.     

Rapid large-scale synthesis of ultrathin NiFe-layered double hydroxide nanosheets with tunable structures as robust oxygen evolution electrocatalysts

Transition metal layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) structures, especially NiFe-based LDH nanosheets, have been extensively developed as advanced oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts for water splitting. Nevertheless, traditional synthetic approaches for these promising catalysts usually involve tedious pretreatment procedures and a subsequent time-consuming exfoliation process, and the obtained products possess a wide dispersion of thickness and limited production yield. Here, a sequence of ultrathin NiFe-LDH nanosheets with tunable components were prepared on a large scale via a rapid room-temperature method under ambient conditions, and were further used as a desired material model for studying the influence of Ni/Fe ratio modulation on the OER performance. Due to the synergetic effect of more exposed active sites, efficient electron transport and optimized OER kinetics, the resulting LDH samples manifest outstanding electrocatalytic performance toward water oxidation.

A sequence of ultrathin NiFe-LDH nanosheets with tunable components were prepared via a rapid room-temperature method, which were further used as efficient electrocatalysts for water oxidation.     

XEN引流管植入联合丝裂霉素C治疗开角型青光眼

目的：探讨XEN引流管植入联合丝裂霉素C(MMC)治疗开角型青光眼(OAG)的临床疗效和安全性。

方法：回顾性纳入OAG患者37例37眼,按初始接受抗青光眼手术治疗与否分为初次青光眼手术组17例17眼,多次青光眼手术组20例20眼,记录各随访时间点眼压、降眼压药物种类及并发症,术后随访时间大于1 a。

结果：术后1 a,初次与多次青光眼手术组眼压分别从术前27.56±9.94、28.43±14.18 mmHg降至15.16±3.65、17.18±5.83 mmHg,分别下降55.01%和60.43%(t=4.863,P<0.001; t=3.255,P=0.004)。术后不同时间点两组眼压均较术前降低,时间有差异(F_时间=6.876,P_时间<0.001),组间及交互均无差异(F_组间=0.242,P_组间=0.626; F_{时间×组间}=0.959,P_{时间×组间}=0.458)。两组手术完全成功率分别为47%、45%,条件成功率为76%、75%(Z=-0.115,P=0.909),完全成功与条件成功累积生存率分析均无差异(χ²=0.042,P=0.838; χ²=0.004,P=0.949)。术后1 a随访时两组降眼压药物均由术前的3(2,3)种减少为1(0,2)种(Z=-3.289、-3.796,均P<0.001),组间无差异(Z=-0.581,P=0.561)。术后短期并发症以低眼压为主,前房出血次之,远期并发症以滤过泡包裹为主,除外引流管暴露及脱落各1眼,无其他严重并发症发生。

结论：XEN引流管植入联合MMC治疗初次与多次青光眼手术OAG患眼均安全有效,但多次青光眼手术组滤过泡包裹发生率高。     

苓桂术甘汤对肺动脉高压致右心衰大鼠心功能、神经内分泌因子水平及心脏组织NF-κB蛋白表达的影响

目的:探讨苓桂术甘汤对野百合碱所致肺源性心力衰竭大鼠的疗效及可能的作用机制.方法:将60只雄性SD大鼠随机分为空白对照组、 模型组、 呋塞米组及苓桂术甘汤高、 低剂量组,每组12只.除空白对照组外,其余各组采用野百合碱诱导肺动脉高压致右心心力衰竭模型.苓桂术甘汤高、低剂量组给药剂量分别为12 g/(kg·d)和2.5 ...     

异甘草酸镁的药理作用及临床应用研究进展

异甘草酸镁（MgIG）是18α-甘草酸立体异构体的镁盐,属于第四代甘草酸类制剂。MgIG通过促进肝细胞增殖、降酶或抗自由基、提高抗氧化酶活性等方式,呈现明显的抗炎、抗氧化、保肝护肝等效应。近年来相关研究显示MgIG对除肝脏外的其他器官如肾、心、肺等也具有较好的保护作用。现本文对MgIG药理作用及临床应用作一综述。     

颈动脉硬化斑块成分的影像量化分析

目的探讨在体、体外颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的超声影像表现与斑块内病理成分的相关性,并对超声图像进行灰度值量化分析。方法对经过动脉内膜切除术的20例颈动脉狭窄患者的22条血管行术前和术后标本的超声检查,记录主要斑块的形态及特点,斑块标本沿与纵轴垂直方向做不同层面的病理切片,将斑块超声影像与病理切片相匹配,分析在体、体外斑块内纤维组织、脂质、钙化、出血及血栓的超声表现,将各种病理成分的超声影像用256级灰度值进行量化。结果在体斑块中钙化、纤维组织、出血/血栓、脂质的超声影像灰度值分别为89±12、53±8、37±6和39±3,体外斑块中上述不同成分的超声影像灰度值分别为168±11、136±12、85±12和89±10,钙化、纤维组织与出血/血栓、脂质灰度值有显著性差异。结论灰度值分析可以对动脉硬化斑块中不同病理成分的超声影像进行量化处理,为判定斑块的稳定性提供客观依据。     

长期酒精摄入对小鼠小脑颗粒层场电位的影响及其机制

目的:建立小鼠长期酒精注射中毒模型,探讨长期酒精摄入对小鼠小脑皮层苔藓纤维-颗粒细胞感觉信息突触传递的影响机制。方法:20只6～8周龄的健康雄性ICR小鼠按照随机数字表法分为生理盐水组(对照组)和酒精摄入组(酒精组),每组10只。酒精摄入组每日腹腔注射浓度为20%的酒精,对照组则注射同等剂量的生理盐水,注射周期均为28...     

Combined strategy of knowledge‐based rule selection and historical data percentile‐based range determination to improve an autoverification system for clinical chemistry test results

BackgroundCurrent autoverification, which is only knowledge‐based, has low efficiency. Regular historical data analysis may improve autoverification range determination. We attempted to enhance autoverification by selecting autoverification rules by knowledge and ranges from historical data. This new system was compared with the original knowledge‐based system.MethodsNew types of rules, extreme values, and consistency checks were added and the autoverification workflow was rearranged to construct a framework. Criteria for creating rules for extreme value ranges, limit checks, consistency checks, and delta checks were determined by analyzing historical Zhongshan laboratory data. The new system''s effectiveness was evaluated using pooled data from 20 centers. Efficiency improvement was assessed by a multicenter process.ResultsEffectiveness was evaluated by the true positive rate, true negative rate, and overall consistency rate, as compared to manual verification, which were 77.55%, 78.53%, and 78.3%, respectively for the new system. The original overall consistency rate was 56.2%. The new pass rates, indicating efficiency, were increased by 19%‒51% among hospitals. Further customization using individualized data increased this rate.ConclusionsThe improved system showed a comparable effectiveness and markedly increased efficiency. This transferable system could be further improved and popularized by utilizing historical data from each hospital.