Three-dimensional hindfoot motion in adolescents with surgically treated unilateral clubfoot

Advances in imaging and computerized analyses have enabled three-dimensional bone motion in the treated clubfoot to be measured precisely. Three-dimensional translations and rotations of the talus, calcaneus, navicular, and cuboid of surgically treated clubfeet were less in magnitude and sometimes different in direction (or without motion in a specific plane) compared with the contralateral normal feet. Surgical techniques used for clubfoot treatment do not restore normal hindfoot bone motion when examined with high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging, computer reconstruction, and image analysis techniques. These data advance the knowledge of hindfoot bone motion and establish a new and quantitative objective.     

18F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography and the "underground map" appearance in imaging Horton's arteritis

A majority of the clinical use of positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) is related to cancer management. Its application in evaluating inflammatory diseases and pyrexia of unknown origin is becoming popular. We reviewed the fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET-CT findings of an 80-year-old woman with nonspecific clinical presentation consisting of generalised malaise, moderately high fever and weight loss. Prior CT and magnetic resonance imaging were not helpful in providing a clinical diagnosis. The diagnosis was Horton's arteritis, and the patient responded well to high-dose steroids.     

Mechanism of anti-inflammatory activity of umbelliferone 6-carboxylic acid isolated from Angelica decursiva

Aims of the study

We recently reported the potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of umbelliferone 6-carboxylic acid (UMC) isolated from the whole plants of Angelica decursiva. In this study, we elucidated the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of UMC in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

The inhibitory effects of UMC on the production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), the expression of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) were evaluated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation inhibitory activity of UMC was evaluated using t-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of UMC was evaluated using carrageenan induced mouse paw edema model.

Results

UMC dose-dependently inhibited NO and PGE₂ production by down-regulating iNOS and COX-2 protein expression in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. UMC also suppressed the production of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α in LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cells in a concentration dependent manner. In addition, UMC dose-dependently prevented LPS-induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, UMC exhibited the inhibitory activity against t-BHP-induced ROS generation in RAW 264.7 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 705.1 μg/ml. Moreover, UMC inhibited λ-carrageenan induced mouse paw edema by 70.40 and 60.20% at doses of 50 and 25 mg/kg body weight, respectively.

Conclusion

The combined results of this study indicate that UMC is an important anti-inflammatory constituent of A. decursiva and its anti-inflammatory effect was due to its ability to inhibit the production of inflammatory mediators via inhibition of NF-κB activation pathway.     

Enhanced ferromagnetism of ZnO@Co/Ni hybrid core@shell nanowires grown by electrochemical deposition method

The hybrid structure of ZnO NWs with the presence of different dopants recently has drawn many interests from researchers due to the possibility to integrate multiple functionalities into one single structure. In this article, we investigated the morphology, crystal structure and ferromagnetism of the ZnO@Co/Ni hybrid core@shell NWs prepared by a facile electrochemical deposition method. The results show that a thin layer of Ni and Co coated on the surface of ZnO NWs (confirmed by XRD, EDS, TEM and Raman scattering) can create a significant improvement of ferromagnetic property in such hybrid core@shell NWs. In which, for the coating time of 10, 15, 20 min, the value of M_s is around 0.67, 0.88 and 2.56 emu g⁻¹ for ZnO@Co NWs, and about 0.013, 0.022 and 0.031 emu g⁻¹ for ZnO@Ni NWs, respectively, in comparison with the number of 0.016 emu g⁻¹ for pure ZnO NWs. Interestingly, we also found the temperature dependence of ferromagnetism of such Co/Ni coated ZnO NWs. These results reveal the possibility to employ such hybrid core@shell NWs for many applications, e.g. spin field effect transistors.

Facile electrochemical synthesis of ZnO@Co and ZnO@Ni hybrid core@shell nanowires with enhanced ferromagnetism.     

Highly sensitive p-type 4H-SiC van der Pauw sensor

This paper presents for the first time a p-type 4H silicon carbide (4H-SiC) van der Pauw strain sensor by utilizing the strain induced effect in four-terminal devices. The sensor was fabricated from a 4H-SiC (0001) wafer, using a 1 μm thick p-type epilayer with a concentration of 10¹⁸ cm⁻³. Taking advantage of the four-terminal configuration, the sensor can eliminate the need for resistance-to-voltage conversion which is typically required for two-terminal devices. The van der Pauw sensor also exhibits an excellent repeatability and linearity with a significantly large output voltage in induced strain ranging from 0 to 334 ppm. Various sensors aligned in different orientations were measured and a high sensitivity of 26.3 ppm⁻¹ was obtained. Combining these performances with the excellent mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, thermal stability, and chemical inertness of 4H-SiC, the proposed sensor is promising for strain monitoring in harsh environments.

This paper presents for the first time a p-type 4H silicon carbide (4H-SiC) van der Pauw strain sensor by utilizing the strain induced effect in four-terminal devices.     

Polypyrrole/tannin biobased nanocomposite with enhanced electrochemical and physical properties

In this research, tannin (TA) extracted from Acacia mangium and a cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), were used to modify and enhance the physical and electrochemical properties of a polypyrrole (PPy) composite. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis presented a higher degree of surface area and porosity for the PPy/TA/CTAB nanocomposite. A highly porous and rod like structure with a lumpy surface was observed for PPy/TA prepared in the presence of CTAB by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Cyclic voltammograms of the modified SPE electrode using PPy/TA/CTAB displayed an enhanced current response compared to the electrode modified with only PPy or PPy/TA. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) exhibited a lower value of charge transfer resistance (R_ct) and higher electron transfer for the modified electrode, making the nanocomposite a promising candidate for biosensor application.

Tannin (TA) extracted from Acacia mangium and a cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), were used to modify and enhance the physical and electrochemical properties of polypyrrole (PPy) composite.     

Salbutamol in acute organophosphorus insecticide poisoning – a pilotdose-response phase II study

Background: Treatment of acute organophosphorus (OP) insecticide poisoning is difficult, with many patients dying despite best care. Pre-clinical studies have shown benefit from salbutamol, possibly due speeding alveolar fluid clearance or reducing bronchoconstriction. In this small pilot dose-response study, we aimed to explore whether addition of nebulized salbutamol to standard care might improve resuscitation.

Methods: We performed a single-blind phase II study comparing the effect of two different doses of nebulized salbutamol versus saline placebo, in addition to standard treatment. Primary outcome was oxygen saturations over the first 60?min of resuscitation; secondary outcomes included heart rate, incidence of dysrhythmias, time to ‘atropinization’, atropine dose required, and mortality.

Result: Seventy-five patients were randomized to receive 5?mg (Salb5, n?=?25) or 2.5mg (Salb2.5, n?=?25) of salbutamol, or saline placebo (NoSalb, n?=?25), by nebulizer. Oxygen saturations did not differ between groups over the first 60?min of resuscitation (median AUC NoSalb: 1376 [95% CI 1282 to 1470], Salb2.5: 1395 [1305 to 1486], Salb5: 1233 [1100 to 1367]; p?=?.9898). Heart rate was also similar across the three arms. Median time to full atropinization, and atropine dose required, were the same for all three arms (NoSalb 15.0 [10–16] min and 12.6 [8.0–13.4] mg, Salb2.5 15.0 [10–16] min and 12.6 [9.3–16.8] mg, and Salb5 15.0 [10–20] min and 12.6 [10.7–20.6] mg; p?=?.4805 and p?=?.1871, respectively). Three (12%) patients died in the Salb2.5 and Salb5 groups and two (8%) in the NoSalb group.

Conclusion: This pilot study, within the limitations of its small size and variation between patients, found no apparent evidence that administration of nebulized salbutamol improved resuscitation of patients with acute OP insecticide self-poisoning. The data obtained provides a basis to design further studies to ultimately test the role of salbutamol in OP insecticide poisoning.     

Recent progress in biochar-supported photocatalysts: synthesis,role of biochar,and applications

Incorporating photocatalytic nanoparticles with biochar templates can produce biochar-supported photocatalysts (BSPs) and combine the advantages of biochar with catalytic nanoparticles. The obtained composite exhibits excellent surface properties, crystallinity, chemical stability, recoverability, and higher photocatalytic competency than the bare semiconductor photocatalyst. The literature and advances in BSPs based on the combination of low-cost biochar and catalytic nanoparticles are presented in this review. Various synthetic techniques and physicochemical properties of BSPs are summarized. The article then discusses in detail the important role of biochar in influencing the photocatalytic performance of BSPs such as supporting nanoparticles, increasing the surface area and the number of active sites, shuttling electrons, acting as an electron reservoir, increasing charge separation, and reducing band gap energy. Furthermore, the synergistic effects of adsorption and photodegradation of organic pollutants by BSPs are discussed with in-depth mechanistic evidence. Finally, the application of BSPs in various fields and constructive suggestions for their future development are reported.

Incorporating photocatalytic nanoparticles with biochar templates can produce biochar-supported photocatalysts (BSPs) and combine the advantages of biochar with catalytic nanoparticles.