Comparing Electrical Stimulation With and Without Ultrasound Guidance for Phenol Neurolysis to the Musculocutaneous Nerve

Background

Ultrasound guidance is increasingly being used for neurolytic procedures that have traditionally been done with electrical stimulation (e-stim) guidance alone. Ultrasound visualization with e-stim?guided neurolysis can potentially allow adjustments in injection protocols that will reduce the volume of neurolytic agent needed to achieve clinical improvement.

Angiotensin 1‐7 modulates electrophysiological characteristics and calcium homoeostasis in pulmonary veins cardiomyocytes via MAS/PI3K/eNOS signalling pathway

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia, and pulmonary veins (PVs) play a critical role in triggering AF. Angiotensin (Ang)‐(1‐7) regulates calcium (Ca²⁺) homoeostasis and also plays a critical role in cardiovascular pathophysiology. However, the role of Ang‐(1‐7) in PV arrhythmogenesis remains unclear.

Materials and methods

Conventional microelectrodes, whole‐cell patch‐clamp and the fluo‐3 fluorimetric ratio technique were used to record ionic currents and intracellular Ca²⁺ in isolated rabbit PV preparations and in single isolated PV cardiomyocytes, before and after administration of Ang‐(1‐7).

Results

Ang (1‐7) concentration dependently (0.1, 1, 10 and 100 nmol/L) decreased PV spontaneous electrical activity. Ang‐(1‐7) (100 nmol/L) decreased the late sodium (Na⁺), L‐type Ca²⁺ and Na⁺‐Ca²⁺ exchanger currents, but did not affect the voltage‐dependent Na⁺ current in PV cardiomyocytes. In addition, Ang‐(1‐7) decreased intracellular Ca²⁺ transient and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ content in PV cardiomyocytes. A779 (a Mas receptor blocker, 3 μmol/L), L‐NAME (a NO synthesis inhibitor, 100 μmol/L) or wortmannin (a specific PI3K inhibitor, 10 nmol/L) attenuated the effects of Ang‐(1‐7) (100 nmol/L) on PV spontaneous electric activity.

Conclusion

Ang‐(1‐7) regulates PV electrophysiological characteristics and Ca²⁺ homoeostasis via Mas/PI3K/eNOS signalling pathway.     

Formamidinium-based planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells with alkali carbonate-doped zinc oxide layer

We herein demonstrate n-i-p-type planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells employing spin-coated ZnO nanoparticles modified with various alkali metal carbonates including Li₂CO₃, Na₂CO₃, K₂CO₃ and Cs₂CO₃, which can tune the energy band structure of ZnO ETLs. Since these metal carbonates doped on ZnO ETLs lead to deeper conduction bands in the ZnO ETLs, electrons are easily transported from the perovskite active layer to the cathode electrode. The power conversion efficiency of about 27% is improved due to the incorporation of alkali carbonates in ETLs. As alternatives to TiO₂ and n-type metal oxides, electron transport materials consisting of doped ZnO nanoparticles are viable ETLs for efficient n-i-p planar heterojunction solar cells, and they can be used on flexible substrates via roll-to-roll processing.

Planar formamidinium perovskite solar cells have been fabricated with an alkali carbonate-doped zinc oxide layer.     

The application of novel mussel-inspired compounds in dentistry

ObjectiveTo give a current review of the mechanism of mussel adhesion, the application of mussel-inspired compounds in dentistry and the challenges associated with clinical application.MethodsInspired by the wet adhesion property of 3,4-dihydroxyphenol-l-alanine (Dopa) in mussel plaques, various chemical compounds have been synthesized to mimic the mussel as an adhesion model for medical applications. Similar to mussels in the marine environment, dental materials in the oral environment have to endure long-term water hydrolysis, mechanical stress and other chemical challenges. These challenges have influenced an increasing number of studies that are exploring the translation of mussel-inspired adhesion to clinical applications. Therefore, this review discusses the mussel adhesion chemistry and its related application in dentistry.ResultsMussel-inspired compounds have achieved relatively acceptable performances in various dental fields, including surface coating, metal ions chelation, dentin bonding and mucosal adhesion. However, two practical problems remain to be comprehensively addressed, namely the protection of catechol groups from oxidation, and the feasibility for clinical application.SignificanceThe mussel’s wet adhesion ability has attracted much research interest in the dental field because of its properties of moisture-resistant adhesion and surface coating. Despite the emergence of several mussel-inspired compounds in recent years, a comprehensive and timely review of their applications in dentistry is lacking. Therefore, the current review hopes to provide valuable information around the application of mussel-inspired compounds in dentistry with their pros and cons discussed.