Acid-Doped Pyridine-Based Polybenzimidazole as a Positive Triboelectric Material with Superior Charge Retention Capability

The energy conversion efficiency of a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is severely limited by the charge density of triboelectric materials, while drastic and unavoidable charge decay happens during contact due to the insufficient charge retention capacity of positive triboelectric materials. Here, elaborately synthesized acid-ion-doped pyridine-based polybenzimidazole processing with strong charge retention capability is demonstrated to couple with negatively corona-polarized electrets. As illustrated by thermal stimulation and an ion mass spectrometer, the formation of acid-ion chimerism processes high activation energy for stored charges, and the selective anion migration can compensate the escape of polarized charge. Accordingly, the charge density can reach up to 596 μC m-2 and the charge retention rate reaches 49.7%, which is so far the highest intrinsic charge density obtained in the open air. Thus, the ionic chimerism strategy provides an effective way to suppress the charge escaping in the open air and gives a great expandable avenue for the material challenges of TENG's practical deployment.

[Detection rate and clinical characteristics of vulvar squamous intraepithelial lesion]

Objective: To explore the detection rate, clinical characteristics of vulvar squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL). Methods: Women diagnosed with vulvar high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) through colposcopy-guided biopsy from January 1, 2018 to August 31, 2022 in Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University were included in a 1∶1 ratio with patients diagnosed with vulvar low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) during the same period. Clinical characteristics including human papillomavirus (HPV) infection rate, genotype, cytology result, colposcopy impression, and lesion location were retrospectively analyzed. Results: (1) The proportion of vulvar SIL detected by colposcopy-guided biopsy increased annually from 2018 to 2022, with rates of 1.64% (740/45 057), 2.34% (1 110/47 402), 2.68% (1 108/41 335), 3.26% (1 536/47 078), 3.31% (667/20 155), with an average rate of 2.57% (5 161/201 027). (2) A total of 1 096 cases of vulvar HSIL and 1 096 cases of vulvar LSIL were included. The overall infection rate of HPV was 92.7% (1 993/2 150), with higher infection rate in vulvar HSIL patients than that in vulvar LSIL patients [96.0% (1 012/1 054) vs 89.5% (981/1 096); χ2=33.62, P<0.001]. Among vulvar HSIL patients, the common HPV genotype from high to low were HPV 16 (66.7%), HPV 52 (14.3%), and HPV 58 (10.0%). For vulvar LSIL patients, the most common HPV genotype were respectively HPV 16 (24.9%), HPV 6 (20.1%) and HPV 52 (17.1%). The overall sensitivity rate of cytology was 53.6%, with no significance difference between vulvar LSIL and HSIL groups (54.3% vs 52.9%; χ2=0.40, P=0.526). The accuracy of colposcopy impression for vulvar HSIL was lower than that for vulvar LSIL [40.2% (163/405) vs 81.7% (380/465); χ2=158.72, P<0.001]. About 57.3% (1 257/2 192) of the patients had concomitant cervical and vaginal lesions, with a higher rate in vulvar HSIL group than that in vulvar LSIL group [62.6% (686/1 096) vs 52.1% (571/1 096); χ2=24.67, P<0.001]. Unifocal lesion was the main type, with no significance difference between vulvar LSIL and HSIL groups [81.4% (381/468) vs 82.5% (386/468); χ2=0.18, P=0.671]. The most common lesion locations were the posterior commissure, followed by labia minora, vaginal vestibule, labia majora, perianal and clitoris. Conclusions: The detection rate of vulvar SIL under colposcopy is about 3%, and the infection rate of HPV is 92.7%. Vulvar SIL, especially vulvar HSIL, is likely to cause concomitant cervical and vaginal lesions. The accuracy of colposcopy in diagnosing vulvar HSIL is low. Therefore a comprehensive and careful examination of the vulva is necessary and suspicious vulvar lesions should be undergone colposcopy-guided biopsy for diagnosis.

[Comparative study of next generation sequencing and immunohistochemistry on molecular classification of endometrial carcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the differences in molecular classification of endometrial carcinoma (EC) between various technical methods and to explore molecular classification schemes suitable for Chinese population. Methods: The study used a comprehensive scheme of next generation sequencing (NGS) and immunohistochemistry for molecular classification of 254 EC cases that were obtained at Department of Pathology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China from April 2021 to March 2022. According to the recommended threshold of Sanger sequencing which was approximate-20% variant allele fraction (VAF), NGS data were extracted to simulate the results of Sanger sequencing. Results: The 254 EC patients had a mean age of 51 years (range, 24 to 89 years). Combination of POLE (9-14 exons), TP53 total exons and microsatellite instability (MSI) detection was a better single scheme than NGS alone, while combination of MSI fragment analysis and conventional immunohistochemistry was the best solution and seemed best aligned with TCGA data and recent studies. POLE ultramuted type, mismatch repair defect type, TP53 mutant type and non-specific molecular characteristic type accounted for 11.4% (29/254), 31.5% (80/254), 22.4% (57/254) and 34.6% (88/254) of the cases, respectively. If Sanger sequencing was adopted for POLE and TP53 detection, the frequencies of these EC types were 9.1% (23/254), 31.5% (80/254), 12.9% (33/254) and 46.6% (118/254), respectively, with greatly increasing non-specific molecular characteristics cases. If POLE was detected by Sanger sequencing and others by immunohistochemistry, they were 9.1% (23/254), 42.2% (92/218), 13.8% (35/254) and 40.9% (105/254), respectively, with increasing the false positive rates of the mismatch repair defect group. Conclusions: Small and medium-sized NGS panels with MSI detection is a better solution than NGS alone. Sanger sequencing is currently available for POLE mutation detection, which is not sensitive enough for TP53 mutation detection, and seems equivalent to the efficiency of TP53 by immunohistochemistry. Further optimization of small and medium-sized NGS panels covering MSI detection and POLE and TP53 full exons may be the best choice for the future to meet national conditions.

Eye tracking and eye expression decoding based on transparent, flexible and ultra-persistent electrostatic interface

Eye tracking provides valuable insight for analyzing visual attention and underlying thinking progress through the observation of eye movements. Here, a transparent, flexible and ultra-persistent electrostatic sensing interface is proposed for realizing active eye tracking (AET) system based on the electrostatic induction effect. Through a triple-layer structure combined with a dielectric bilayer and a rough-surface Ag nanowire (Ag NW) electrode layer, the inherent capacitance and interfacial trapping density of the electrostatic interface has been strongly enhanced, contributing to an unprecedented charge storage capability. The electrostatic charge density of the interface reached 1671.10 μC·m^-2 with a charge-keeping rate of 96.91% after 1000 non-contact operation cycles, which can finally realize oculogyric detection with an angular resolution of 5°. Thus, the AET system enables real-time decoding eye movements for customer preference recording and eye-controlled human-computer interaction, supporting its limitless potentiality in commercial purpose, virtual reality, human computer interactions and medical monitoring.

Large and Tunable Ranking Shift in Triboelectric Series of Polymers by Introducing Phthalazinone Moieties

Regulating the ranking of polymer in triboelectric series over a wide range is of great help for material's selection of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). Herein, fluorinated poly(phthalazinone ether)s (FPPEs) with tunable molecular structure and aggregate structure are synthesized by co-polycondensation, while the large positive ranking shift in the triboelectric series can be achieved by introducing phthalazinone moieties with strong electron donating capability. FPPE-5, which includes abundant phthalazinone moieties, is more positive than all of the previously reported triboelectric polymers. Hence, the regulating range of FPPEs in this work updates a new record in triboelectric series, which is wider than that of previous works. A peculiar crystallization behavior, capable of trapping and storing more electrons, has been observed in FPPE-2 with 25% phthalazinone moieties. Correspondingly, FPPE-2 is more negative than FPPE-1 without a phthalazinone moiety, which is an unexpected shift against the common changing tendency in triboelectric series. With FPPEs films as the probing material, a tactile TENG sensor is applied to enable material identification via electrical signal polarity. Hence, this study demonstrates a strategy to regulate the series of triboelectric polymers by copolymerization using monomers with distinct electrification capabilities, where both the monomer ratio and the peculiar nonlinear behavior can control triboelectric performance.

[Efficacy of Hintermann calcaneal lengthening osteotomy for flexible flatfoot]

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of Hintermann osteotomy (H-LCL) for flexible flatfoot. Methods: A follow-up study. Clinical data of 30 patients with flexible flatfoot treated with H-LCL operation from January 2020 to December 2021 in Sports Medical Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. There were 8 males and 22 females, with a mean age of (39.0±15.2) years. The mean time from symptom onset to the diagnosis［M（Q₁，Q₃）］was 24.0 (5.5, 102.0) months. The functional and imaging scores of the patients before and after the last follow-up were compared to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the operation. The functional scores included American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain, pain interference (PI) and physical function (PF) index in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). And the imaging scores included Meary's angle, calcaneal pitch angle, calcaneal valgus angle and talonavicular coverage angle. Results: The mean operation time was (82.3±24.4) min, and the follow-up periods was (17.9±6.9) months. At the last follow-up, VAS of pain [M(Q₁, Q₃)] decreased from 5 (4, 6) to 2 (1, 2); PI decreased from 59.8±5.0 to 44.6±5.7; AOFAS increased from 65.2±10.0 to 85.8±3.3; PF increased from 50 (48.5,51.0) to 58.5 (54.0, 66.0); Meary's angle (antero-posterior image) decreased from 15.7° (10.1°, 29.2°) to 3.9° (2.6°, 5.3°); Meary's angle (lateral image) decreased from 13.5°±6.8° to 4.4°±2.6°; calcaneal pitch angle increased from 14.0°±3.3° to 18.6°±4.2°; calcaneal valgus angle decreased from 12.6°±7.3° to 4.3°±2.5°; and talonavicular coverage angle decreased from 20.9°±10.7° to 7.7°±5.2°. The up-mentioned parameters were all improved statistically significant at the last follow-up when compared with those before the operation (all P<0.05). Conclusion: H-LCL brings a significant improvement of clinical outcome scores and good radiological correction of flatfoot deformities in correcting flexible flatfoot, it conforms to the anatomical characteristics of the subtalar joint.

A curtain purification system based on a rabbit fur-based rotating triboelectric nanogenerator for efficient photocatalytic degradation of volatile organic compounds

Efficient removal of air pollution caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM) through distributed energy collected from the environment is an effective strategy to achieve both energy conservation and better air quality. Herein, a curtain purification system based on a rabbit fur-based rotary triboelectric nanogenerator (RR-TENG) and a collaborative photocatalysis technology was designed for indoor air purification. The high electrostatic field from RR-TENG enhances formaldehyde adsorption, while it can also efficiently adsorb PM_2.5 simultaneously. More interestingly, the ultrahigh electric field provided by RR-TENG promotes the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs of the g-C₃N₄/TiO₂ composite photocatalyst, generating more superoxide radicals (⋅O₂^-), hydroxyl radicals (⋅OH), and holes (h⁺) and thereby improving the photocatalytic efficiency. In a simulated reaction chamber of 9 L, the formaldehyde removal rate of the system can reach 79.2% within 90 min and RR-TENG rapidly reduces PM_2.5 from 999 μg m^-3 to 50 μg m^-3 within 60 s. This study proposes a curtain purification system integrating the function of energy collection and photocatalytic purification, which can be applied for improving air quality and human health.

[Genetic variations in four geographical isolates of Gohieria fusca based on cytochrome b and internal transcribed spacer genes]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the genetic diversity and genetic differentiation of different geographical isolates of Gohieria fusca.

METHODS

G. fusca isolates were sampled from Wuhu (WH), Bengbu (BB) and Bozhou cities (BZ) of Anhui Province and Jiaxing City of Zhejiang Province (JX). Mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cytb) and ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) genes were amplified in WH, BB, BZ and JX isolates of G. fusca using PCR assay. The gene sequences were edited and aligned using the software Chromas 2 and DNASTAR 1.00, and the haplotype, haplotype diversity (Hd) and nucleotide polymorphism (Pi) of each isolate were calculated using the software DnaSP 5.10.00. The genetic differentiation among isolates (F_st) and gene flow value (N_m) were estimated using the software MEGA 10.2, and a phylogenetic tree was built. Tests of neutrality and analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) were performed using the software Arlequin 3.1 and a haplotype network was built based on the Median-Joining network using the software Network 10.2.

RESULTS

PCR assay showed that the sizes of the Cytb and ITS genes were 372 bp and 1 301 to 1 320 bp, respectively. All four isolates of G. fusca presented high genetic diversity based on mitochondrial Cytb and ITS genes (Hd = 0.804, Pi = 0.006 91). AMOVA showed genetic differentiation among geographical isolates of G. fusca (F_st = 0.202 40, P < 0.05), and the genetic variation was mainly caused by intra-population variations (79.76%). Gene flow analysis showed a high level of gene flow among G. fusca isolates (N_m > 1). Tests of neutrality based on Cytb gene measured a Tajima's D value of -1.796 31 (P < 0.05) and a Fu's FS value of -3.293 98 (P < 0.05) in WH isolate of G. fusca, indicating population expansion in WH isolate of G. fusca. Haplotype network analysis and phylogenetic analysis revealed no remarkable geographical distribution pattern among different geographical isolates of G. fusca. All four isolates of G. fusca presented high genetic diversity (Hd = 0.985, Pi = 0.011 97). AMOVA showed moderate level of genetic differentiation between four isolates (F_st = 0.104 62, P < 0.05). The tests of neutrality based on ITS genes measured a Tajima's D value of -6.088 20 and a Fu's FS value of -1.935 99 (both P > 0.05) in the whole isolate of G. fusca, indicating no obviously population expansion.

CONCLUSIONS

The four geographical isolates of G. fusca have high genetic diversity and remarkable genetic differentiation. Since a high level of gene flow is detected among different geographical isolates of G. fusca, no obvious geographical distribution pattern of G. fusca is found.

Self-Cleaning and Shape-Adaptive Triboelectric Nanogenerator-Contained TiO2 Nanoparticle Coating

With the rapid development of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) for flexible wearable devices and electronic skins, challenges have gradually emerged related to the electrification surface, such as pollutant contamination and sophisticated surface adaptability. Hence, we report a simple spraying method to produce a shape-adaptive photocatalytic (SAP) triboelectric material with both self-cleaning and shape-adaptive functions. By spraying the polyvinyl alcohol solution with TiO2 photocatalysts and pre-drying cyclic, the SAP film can be adapted to a varied and intricate substrate. The highest transferred charge density of the SAP film reaches 197.5 μC/m2, when it contacts with the PTFE film. At the same time, it can degrade 74.4% of simulated pollutants under sunlight illumination, and 97% of the transferred charge density can be maintained after the degradation process, indicating good self-cleaning function and stable electrical output. Moreover, the spraying method of this allows it to have shape-adaptive functions. Accordingly, the SAP film can be deposited on the rectangular pyramid and hemispherical surface for fabricating TENGs with special shapes. This low-cost and simple spraying method further promotes the commercialized application of TENGs in the field of wearable devices and skin sensors.

[Low-dose helical CT projection data restoration using noise estimation]

OBJECTIVE

To build a helical CT projection data restoration model at random low-dose levels.

METHODS

We used a noise estimation module to achieve noise estimation and obtained a low-dose projection noise variance map, which was used to guide projection data recovery by the projection data restoration module. A filtering back-projection algorithm (FBP) was finally used to reconstruct the images. The 3D wavelet group residual dense network (3DWGRDN) was adopted to build the network architecture of the noise estimation and projection data restoration module using asymmetric loss and total variational regularization. For validation of the model, 1/10 and 1/15 of normal dose helical CT images were restored using the proposed model and 3 other restoration models (IRLNet, REDCNN and MWResNet), and the results were visually and quantitatively compared.

RESULTS

Quantitative comparisons of the restored images showed that the proposed helical CT projection data restoration model increased the structural similarity index by 5.79% to 17.46% compared with the other restoration algorithms (P < 0.05). The image quality scores of the proposed method rated by clinical radiologists ranged from 7.19% to 17.38%, significantly higher than the other restoration algorithms (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The proposed method can effectively suppress noises and reduce artifacts in the projection data at different low-dose levels while preserving the integrity of the edges and fine details of the reconstructed CT images.

[An adaptive CT metal artifact reduction algorithm that combines projection interpolation and physical correction]

OBJECTIVE

To propose an adaptive weighted CT metal artifact reduce algorithm that combines projection interpolation and physical correction.

METHODS

A normalized metal projection interpolation algorithm was used to obtain the initial corrected projection data. A metal physical correction model was then introduced to obtain the physically corrected projection data. To verify the effectiveness of the method, we conducted experiments using simulation data and clinical data. For the simulation data, the quantitative indicators PSNR and SSIM were used for evaluation, while for the clinical data, the resultant images were evaluated by imaging experts to compare the artifact-reducing performance of different methods.

RESULTS

For the simulation data, the proposed method improved the PSNR value by at least 0.2 dB and resulted in the highest SSIM value among the methods for comparison. The experiment with the clinical data showed that the imaging experts gave the highest scores of 3.616±0.338 (in a 5-point scale) to the images processed using the proposed method, which had significant better artifact-reducing performance than the other methods (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The metal artifact reduction algorithm proposed herein can effectively reduce metal artifacts while preserving the tissue structure information and reducing the generation of new artifacts.

Monitoring the Degree of Comfort of Shoes In-Motion Using Triboelectric Pressure Sensors with an Ultrawide Detection Range

Shoes play an important role in sports and human daily life. Here, an in-shoe sensor pad (ISSP) attached to the vamp lining is based on a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) for monitoring the real-time stress distribution on the top side of a foot. Each sensor unit on this ISSP is an air-capsule TENG (AC-TENG) consisting of activated carbon/polyurethane (AC/PU) and microsphere array electrodes. The detection range of each AC-TENG reaches 7.27 MPa, which is enough for monitoring the pressure change during different sports. This multifunctional ISSP can realize many typical functions of conventional smart shoes, including step counting and human-machine interaction. Moreover, it can also reveal special information, including the fitness of shoes, the stress concentration on toes, and the in-motion comfort degree. The signal processing and data transmission modules in the system have a hybrid power supply with wireless power transfer, while the real-time information about feet can be observed on a cell phone. Hence, this ISSP provides a potential approach to study the feet motion and comfort degree of shoes in long-term operations, which can guide both athlete training and the customized design of shoes.

Fish-Wearable Data Snooping Platform for Underwater Energy Harvesting and Fish Behavior Monitoring

Conventional approaches to studying fish kinematics pose a great challenge for the real-time monitoring of fish motion kinematics. Here, a multifunctional fish-wearable data snooping platform (FDSP) for studying fish kinematics is demonstrated based on an air sac triboelectric nanogenerator (AS-TENG) with antibacterial coating. The AS-TENG not only can harvest energy from fish swimming but also serves as the self-powered sensory module to monitor the swimming behavior of the fish. The peak output power generated from each swing of the fishtail can reach 0.74 mW, while its output voltage can reflect the real-time behavior of the fishtail. The antibacterial coating on the FDSP can improve its biocompatibility and the elastic texture of the FDSP allows it to be tightly attached to fish. The wireless communication system is designed to transmit the sensory data to a cell phone, where the detailed parameters of fish motion can be obtained, including swing angle, swing frequency, and even the typical swing gestures. This FDSP has broad application prospects in underwater self-powered sensors, wearable tracking devices, and soft robots.

[Molecular characterization of Staphylococcus aureus ST6 and ST7 isolates from food-borne illness outbreaks]

Objective: To analyze the Staphylococcal enterotoxins, Staphylococcal enterotoxin genes, drug resistance and molecular typing of 41 Staphylococcus aureus isolates from 2 food-borne illness outbreaks on 21 August and 27 September 2020 in Guangzhou. Methods: A total of 41 Staphylococcus aureus isolates from 2 outbreaks were analyzed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and spa typing. The Staphylococcal enterotoxins typing and the Staphylococcal enterotoxin genes of the isolates were analyzed by ELISA and PCR, respectively. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates was performed by disc diffusion. 21 Staphylococcus aureus isolates were characterized using whole genome sequencing (WGS). Based on the whole genome single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), the phylogenetic tree was constructed by Snippy. Results: 41 Staphylococcus aureus isolates were divided into 2 types by MLST and spa typing: ST6-t701 and ST7-t091. 2 ST7-t091 isolates were identified as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). 25 ST7-t091 isolates and 14 ST6-t701 isolates were methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), and were resistant to 7 and 6 antibiotics, respectively. All isolates were positive for sea by PCR. WGS revealed all 21 isolates carried scn, sak, sea, hla, hld, hlgA, hlgB, hlgC, lukD virulence genes. The results showed the isolates contained an immune evasion cluster type D which located in bacteriophage ϕSa3. The SNP phylogenetic tree showed 2 MRSA ST7-t091 were constituted a separate clade from the 12 MSSA ST7-t091 isolates and 7 ST6-t701 isolates showed high similarity to each other. Conclusion: Base on the results of phylogenetic analysis, the 2 food-borne illness outbreaks occurred on 21 August and 27 September 2020 are caused by the combination of the MRSA ST7-t091 strain and the MSSA ST7-t091 strain, and the MSSA ST6-t701 strain, respectively. All isolates have high level of antibiotic resistance and carry high virulent genes.

[Identification of traditional Chinese drugs containing active ingredients for treating myocardial infarction and analysis of their therapeutic mechanisms by network pharmacology and molecular docking]

OBJECTIVE

To identify traditional Chinese drugs that contain active ingredients for treatment of myocardial infarction (MI) and explore their therapeutic mechanisms using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology.

METHODS

The TCMSP database was used for screening the traditional Chinese drugs containing active ingredients for treating MI, and the related targets of MI and the candidate drugs were obtained from Genecards, OMIM, PharmGkb and PharmMapper databases. The common target network of the drug targets and disease targets was established using Venny2.1.0 software. GO and KEGG signal pathway enrichment analysis of the common targets was performed, and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed for the targets. The targets in the PPI network were analyzed to identify the key targets, for which GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed. Molecular docking was performed for the candidate ingredients and the key targets, and a total score ≥6 was used as the criteria for screening the therapeutic ingredients and their docking binding with key targets was verified. A human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) model of oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) was used to validate the candidate ingredients and the key therapeutic targets for MI by Western blotting.

RESULTS

Our analysis identified Salvia miltiorrhiza and Dalbergiae odoriferae as the candidate drugs rich in active ingredients for treatment of MI. These ingredients involved 16 key therapeutic targets for MI, which participated in such biological processes as inflammatory response, angiogenesis, energy metabolism and oxidative stress and the pathways including HIF-1, VEGF, and TNF pathways. Sclareol and PTGS2 in Salvia miltiorrhiza and formononetin and KDR in Dalbergiae odoriferae all had high docking total scores. Western blotting showed that at medium and high doses, sclareol significantly inhibited PTGS2 expression and formononetin promoted KDR expressions in the cell models in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Both Salvia miltiorrhiza and Dalbergiae odoriferae have good therapeutic effects on MI. Sclareol in Salvia miltiorrhiza and formononetin in Dalbergiae odoriferae regulate the expressions of KDR and PTGS2, respectively, to modulate the inflammatory response, angiogenesis, oxidative stress and energy metabolism and thus produce myocardial protective effects.

Materials in advanced design of personal protective equipment: a review

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has aroused tremendous attention toward personal protective equipment (PPE) in both scientific research and industrial manufacture. Despite decades of development in PPE design and fabrication, there's still much room for further optimization, in terms, of both protection performance and wear comfort. Interdisciplinary efforts have been devoted to this research field in recent years. Significantly, the innovation of materials, which brings about improved performance and versatile new functions for PPEs, has been widely adopted in PPE design. In this minireview, recent progress in the development of novel materials and structural designs for PPE application are presented in detail with the introduction of various material-based strategies for different PPE types, as well as the examples, which apply auxiliary components into face masks to enrich the functionalities and improve the personal feelings in the pandemic period.

Study of Contact Electrification at Liquid-Gas Interface

It is known that the suspended liquid droplets in clouds can generate electrostatic charges, which finally results in the lightning. However, the detailed mechanism related to the contact-electrification process on the liquid-gas (L-G) interfaces is still poorly understood. Here, by introducing an acoustic levitation method for levitating a liquid droplet, we have studied the electrification mechanism at the L-G interface. The tribo-motion between water droplets and air induced by the ultrasound wave leads to the generation of positive charges on the surface of the droplets, and the charge amount of water droplets (20 μL) gradually reaches saturation within 30 s. The mixed solid particles in droplets can increase the amount of transferred charge, whereas the increase of ion concentration in the droplet can suppress the charge generation. This charge transfer phenomenon at L-G interfaces and the related analysis can be a guidance for the study in many fields, including anti-static, harvesting rainy energy, micro/nano fluidics, triboelectric power generator, surface engineering, and so on. Moreover, the surface charge generation due to L-G electrification is an inevitable effect during ultrasonic levitation, and thus, this study can also work for the applications of the ultrasonic technique.

[Mid-and-long term follow-up of autogenous tibial periosteum-bone complex transplantation for treatment of cystic osteochondral lesion of talus]

Objective: To further clarify the mid-and-long term follow-up results of self-designed tibial periosteum-bone complex transplantation in the treatment of Hepple V osteochondral lesion of the talus(OLTs). Methods: The clinical data of 30 patients with Hepple V OLTs who received treatment in the Sports Medicine Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Military Medical University from October 2011 to January 2019 were analyzed. There were 19 males and 11 females with a mean age of (40±11) years. Patients were treated with autogenous tibial periosteum-bone complex transplantation and were followed up for at least 2 years. The Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, the visual analog scale score (VAS) of pain, the simplified symptomatology evaluation (SSE) and imaging results before the operation and at the follow-up were recorded and compared. Results: The cohort were followed-up for a mean of 63.9 months (range 24-110 months). Twenty-nine (96.7%) patients were satisfied with the curative effect. The FAOS score was improved from 53.5±6.2 preoperatively to 88.4±6.6 at the final follow-up (P<0.001). The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scale improved from 61.6±8.2 preoperatively to 90.8±6.8 at the last follow-up (P<0.001). The VAS score decreased from 4.3±0.2 preoperative to 0.7±0.7 at the last follow-up (P<0.001). The SSE score was poor in 14 cases (46.7%), average in 16 cases (53.3%) before the operation; and it was excellent in 23 cases (76.7%), good in 6 cases (20%), average in 1 case (3.3%) at the last follow-up. Imaging examination showed cystic change cure rate was 83.3%, cartilage defects were completely infilled with repair tissue, which didn't show any signs of degeneration. However, repair tissue showed varying degrees of heterogeneous signal compared to the normal articular cartilage. Conclusion: The autograft of tibial periosteum-bone complex transplantation is a safe and feasible method for the treatment of osteochondral lesion of the talus in Hepple V type, with good mid-and-long term clinical effect.

[Risk stratified management of cervical adenocarcinoma in situ based on cone margin state]

Objective: To investigate the hierarchical management scheme of cervical adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) based on cervical conization margin state. Methods: All medical records of 249 patients diagnosed as AIS by loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) conization from Jan. 2010 to Dec. 2015 in Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University were retrospectively reviewed, to explore the relationship between the status of the resection margin and the residual lesion after LEEP, and the multivariate logistic regression method was used to analyze the related factors that affect the residual lesion after LEEP in cervical AIS patients. Results: (1) The age of 249 cervical AIS patients was (40±8) years old (range: 23-71 years old). Of the 249 patients, 19 (7.6%, 19/249) had residual lesions; 69 cases were pathologically diagnosed as AIS after LEEP, and the residual lesion rate was 13.0% (9/69), which was significantly higher than that of AIS + high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion [5.6% (10/180); χ²=3.968,P=0.046]; 33 cases were multifocal lesions, the residual rate of lesions was 21.2% (7/33), which was significantly higher than that of single focal lesions patients [5.6% (12/216); χ²=7.858, P=0.005]; 181 patients underwent endocervical curettage (ECC) before surgery, the residual rate of lesions in ECC-positive patients was 14.0% (14/100) , significantly higher than that of ECC-negative patients [4.9% (4/81); χ²=4.103, P=0.043]. (2) Among 249 cases of AIS patients, the positive rate of resection margins after LEEP was 35.3% (88/249); the residual rate of lesions in patients with positive resection margins (14.8%, 13/88) was significantly higher than those with negative margins [3.8%(6/156); χ²=9.355, P=0.002]. The age of patients underwent total hysterectomy after LEEP was (43±7) years old, which was significantly higher than that of patients who did not undergo total hysterectomy [(37±8) years old; t=6.518, P<0.01].Among the patients underwent total hysterectomy after LEEP, 3 cases (2.0%, 3/152) had fertility requirements, while 38 cases (39.2%, 38/97) did not underwent total hysterectomy, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ²=59.579, P<0.01). Among the 152 patients who underwent total hysterectomy after LEEP, the residual rate of lesions was 11.8% (18/152); the residual rate of lesions in patients with positive resection margins was significantly higher than that of patients with negative resection margins [18.8% (12/64) vs 7.0% (6/86); χ²=4.861, P=0.028]. The median follow-up time of 97 patients who did not undergo total hysterectomy after LEEP was 32 months (range: 4-70 months). During the follow-up period, 3 cases of cervical AIS recurrence (3.1%, 3/97) and were followed by hysterectomy,no invasive adenocarcinoma were seen. (3) Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the positive resection margin (OR=4.098, 95%CI: 1.235-13.595, P=0.021), multifocal lesions (OR=5.464, 95%CI: 1.494-19.981, P=0.010) were independent risk factors that affected the residual lesions in patients with cervical AIS after LEEP. Conclusions: The cervical AIS patients after LEEP conization suggested be stratified by cone margin state as the first-line stratified index, age and fertility needs as the second-line stratified management index. The individualized management plan should be developed based on comprehensive assessment of high-risk factors of residual lesions.

P–563 Assessing ovarian age: Could we use leukocyte telomere length as a surrogate marker of cumulus cells telomere content?

Study question

Is leukocyte telomere length (LTL) correlated with cumulus cells telomere length (CCTL) in an age-heterogeneous women population?

Summary answer

LTL showed a positive correlation with CCTL in the studied population. Hence, its potential value as indicator of ovarian age would deserve further evaluation.

What is known already

Progressive telomere shortening has been related to ovarian aging and genomic instability during early development. A positive correlation between short telomere length of the first polar body and aneuploidy rate has been reported. CCTL has shown to be a biomarker of oocyte and embryo quality, but its assessment is impractical. LTL has been proposed as a surrogate of TL of follicular cells, but telomere lengthening through folliculogenesis could be controlled by different mechanisms. Thus, we aimed to determine if LTL in an age-heterogeneous population is correlated with CCTL and therefore considered an accurate surrogate for telomere length in the ovary.

Study design, size, duration

In this prospective non-interventional cohort study, 35 egg donors and 17 women undergoing Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A) treatment were included during sixteen months. Following controlled ovarian stimulation determined by treating physicians, oocyte retrieval was performed 36 hours after final maturation induction. Cumulus cells (CC) for telomere length (TL) measurement were obtained after the pick-up and oocyte stripping. A blood sample was collected through peripheral venous access for LTL measurement.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

Genomic DNA of CC and leukocytes from the 52 subjects was isolated. Average delta cycle threshold (ΔCt) was determined using a SYBR green quantitative real-time PCR protocol for relative TL. For normalization of measurements, a Taqman assay for the multicopy gene Alu was performed. ΔCtL and ΔCtCC were compared by a paired t-test analysis and the fold change was calculated. Additionally, the association between them and patient age was analyzed by a Pearson correlation test.

Main results and the role of chance

Mean participant’s age was 29.94 ± 7.55 years and mean values for ΔCtL and ΔCtCC were 7.99 ± 0.53 and 7.46 ± 0.75, respectively. A positive significant correlation was found between age and ΔCt (ΔCtL: R2=0.71, p-value=5.18e–09; ΔCtCC: R2=0.47, p-value=0.00049). Since ΔCt values are inversely proportional to the amount of nucleic acids amplified and, therefore, to the telomere length, this correlation means that TL in both cell types decreases as women age. Additionally, ΔCtL was significantly higher than ΔCtCC (ΔCt fold change: 0.93, p-value=9e–07), meaning that CC showed significantly longer telomeres than leukocytes, thus supporting our previous published results in young egg donors. When analyzing the ΔCtL and ΔCtCC in these age-heterogeneous sample, a positive moderate and significant correlation was observed (R2=0.42, p-value=0.002). Thus, LTL could be suggested as a potential indicator of CCTL and therefore as a candidate for a biological marker of ovarian aging.

Limitations, reasons for caution

The sample size of this study was moderate and perhaps increasing the number of subjects might give additional strength to our findings. In addition, although relative telomere length allowed for adequate comparison between subjects, this method did not allow for absolute TL measurement.

Wider implications of the findings: While reproductive implications of LTL measurement need to be further studied, our results support the potential usefulness of LTL measurement as an indicator of CCTL and ovarian aging when analyzing an age-heterogeneous population. Further, our findings suggest that CC could possess different mechanisms to cope against telomere length shortening.

Trial registration number

Not applicable

Comparison of long non-coding RNAs in adipose and muscle tissues between seven indigenous Chinese and the Yorkshire pig breeds

lncRNAs play crucial roles in fat metabolism in animals. Previously, we have compared the mRNA transcriptome profiles between seven fat-type Chinese pig breeds and one lean-type Western breed (Yorkshire, YY). The associations between differentially expressed (DE) genes and phenotypical traits were investigated. In the present study, to further explore the underlying regulatory mechanisms, lncRNAs were sequenced and compared between YY and Chinese indigenous breeds. The results showed 9114 and 7538 DE lncRNAs between at least one Chinese breed and the YY breed in the adipose and muscle tissue respectively. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the target genes of these DE lncRNAs mainly influenced the glucolipid metabolism, which is an important process affecting meat quality. Correlation analyses between the DE lncRNA and DE mRNA genes related to meat quality and growth traits were performed. The results showed that LTCONS_00073280 was associated with intramuscular fat content. Four lncRNAs (LTCONS_00101781, LTCONS_00037879, LTCONS_00088260 and LTCONS-00128343) might mediate backfat thickness. Overall, this study provides candidate lncRNAs that potentially affect meat quality, which might be useful for molecular breeding of pig breeds in future.

Effect of Photo-Excitation on Contact Electrification at Liquid-Solid Interface

Liquid-solid triboelectric nanogenerator (L-S TENG) is one of the major techniques to collect energy from tiny liquids, while the saturated charge density at the L-S interface is the key element to decide its performance. Here, we found that the saturated charge density of L-S contact electrification (CE) can be further increased under the illumination of an ultraviolet (UV) light. The fluorine-containing polymers and SiO₂ are chosen as the electrification materials and with and without UV illumination on the L-S TENG. A series of experiments have been done to rule out the possible influences of anion generation, chemical change of solid surface, ionization of water, and so on. Therefore, we proposed that electrons belonging to water molecules can be excited to high energy states under UV illumination, which then transfer to solid surface and captured by the solid surface. Finally, a photoexcited electron transfer model is proposed to explain the enhancement of CE under the UV illumination. This work not only helps to further understand CE at L-S interface, but also offers an approach to further enhance the performance of L-S TENG, which can promote the TENG applications in the field of microfluidic systems, liquid energy harvesting, and droplet sensory.

[Early clinical efficacy analysis of personalized three-dimensional printing talus prosthesis in the treatment of collapse talus necrosis]

Object To examine the preliminary clinical efficacy of custom-made three-dimensional(3D) printed talus prosthesis in the treatment of collapse talus necrosis. Methods: The clinical data of 8 patients who received 3D printed custom-made talus prostheses replacement for severe collapsed necrosis of the talus at the Orthopaedic Sports Medical Center, the First Affiliated Hospital to Army Medical University were analyzed retrospectively.All patients were male,with an average age of 38.0 years (range:22 to 65 years).There were 5 cases of left talus collapse and 3 cases of right talus collapse,with the course of disease of 29.7 weeks (range:6 to 96 weeks).The CT data of contralateral healthy talus were used for mirror image design references for the prosthesis,and the electron-beam 3D printing technology was used to prepare the prosthesis.Titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) was taken as the material for the preparation of the talus body prosthesis,and Co-Cr-Mo material was used as the material for the preparation of the tibialis talus lateral joint surface prosthesis,and the subtalar joint surface of the prosthesis was made from a microporous casting technique.The prosthesis was analyzed preoperatively by digital three-dimensional finite element analysis and solid comparison techniques to measure anatomic match of the prosthesis.A longitudinal incision on medial ankle was made.The necrotic talus was completely removed and the prosthesis was then implanted.The patient was reexamined in the outpatient department 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery.Primary outcome measures were the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS) ankle-hind foot score,visual analogue scale(VAS) and ankle range of motion.Changes in imaging data and plantar pressure were also assessed.Repeated measures analysis of variance and paired-t test were used to compare the data. Results: The talus prosthesis measure preoperatively was completely consistent with that contralateral healthy talus and there was no operation-related complication. All the wounds healed primarily. The patients were followed up effectively for 23.17 months (range:12 to 48 months).The preoperative dorsiflexion of patients was (7.6±5.7)°,it increased to(14.2±6.6)° at 12 month after surgery (t=-2.67,P=0.03).The plantar flexion increased from (22.0±9.9)°preoperatively to (29.2±8.7)° at 12 month after surgery (t=-8.95,P<0.01).Preoperative AOFAS ankle-hind foot score was 26.3±6.6,and it increased to 70.1±2.2,76.0±3.4 and 79.3±4.2 at 3 month,6 month and 12 month after surgery(F=56.81,P<0.01);Pre-operative VAS was[M(Q_R)]3.0(0.8),and it increased to 2.5(1.0),1.5(1.0),1.0(1.0)at 3 month,6 month and 12 month after surgery(F=20.00,P<0.01).At the last follow-up,imaging reexamination showed that the prosthesis of all patients were in stable position with no sign of subsidence.No secondary ankle fusion or revision was required.The talus height increased from (27.6±6.0)mm preoperatively to (34.6±3.5)mm (t=-2.94,P<0.01).The plantar pressure showed that the maximum pressure on the healthy ankle was(629.9±26.1)N,and that on the affected side was(521.4±14.4)N.The pressure on the healthy ankle was(350.6±29.6)N,and that on the necrotic side was (212.3±9.7)N.The load on the contralateral forefoot was(38.1±2.8)% and that on the necrotic side was(11.5±2.0)%.The load on the contralateral hindfoot was (24.6±2.5)% and that on the necrotic side was (21.1±1.8)%. Conclusions: The custom-made 3D printed talus prosthesis could restore the talus anatomy,recover the ankle joint function,relieve the pain of patients and improve the life quality of patients.The effect on plantar pressure is mainly achieved by adjusting the center of gravity of plantar pressure backwards and the increase of weight bearing of the healthy foot.

A universal managing circuit with stabilized voltage for maintaining safe operation of self-powered electronics system

Harvesting mechanical energy via a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is a promising strategy for solving energy problems. However, it is necessary to develop an effective and safe energy managing circuit for preventing high voltage breaking electronic devices. Here, a universal managing circuit is developed to optimize TENG's output performance, which for the first time allows the TENG to safely power various sensor systems with a safe and stable voltage. Based on the circuit, TENG's output can be transformed into a stable voltage with tunable amplitude, while an enhanced short-circuit current of 94 mA with an energy loss lower than 5% is achieved. For demonstrations, three different types of TENGs, respectively, targeting at ocean energy, wind energy, and walking energy have been prepared to reveal the capability of the circuit. This study offers a strategy to greatly enhance the output performance of TENGs to provide useful guidance for constructing self-powered and distributed sensor systems.

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UMC is designed for a TENG to maintain stable voltage with a lower resistance

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UMC provides a short-circuit current of 94 mA with an energy loss lower than 5%

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UMC can completely avoid the breakdown of electronic devices due to TENG's high voltage

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Three self-powered sensor systems have been successfully established

[Clinicopathological features of adenocarcinoma of the rete testis]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features, immunophenotype, and differential diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the rete testis. Methods: Four adenocarcinoma cases of the rete testis diagnosed at West China Hospital, Chengdu, China (3 cases, including 2 consultation cases) and the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China (1 case) between January 2009 and December 2017 were included. Their clinical, morphologic and immunohistochemical features were analyzed using histological analysis and immunohistochemical staining. Related literature was reviewed to reveal the characteristics of this tumor. Results: The 4 patients' age range was 26-64 years. The maximum diameters of the tumors were 3.0 and 4.5 cm in 2 cases, respectively. On gross examination, adenocarcinomas of the rete testis appeared as a solid, white to gray or tan to yellow mass that raised at the hilum of the testis. Microscopically, all tumors showed multiple histologic patterns, including corded/trabecular (4/4), glandular, nested, sarcomatoid (3/4), solid (2/4), papillary, cribriform, and slit-like (1/4). Three types of adenocarcinoma cells included cuboidal to columnar (4/4), polygonal (4/4) and spindle-shaped (2/4) with pale eosinophilic and clear cytoplasm. The tumor cell nuclei appeared moderately to markedly atypical and pleomorphic, with a various number of mitoses. Transition from benign to malignant rete epithelium was seen in all cases. Eosinophilic hyaloid globules were found in 1 case. On immunohistochemical study, the tumor cells were diffusely, strongly positive for CKpan (4/4), EMA (4/4), Ber-EP4 (3/3) and CAⅨ(2/2), and focally positive for CK7 (4/4), vimentin (4/4), CD10 (4/4), PAX8 (3/3), PAX2 (3/3). The Ki-67 proliferative index was all>50% (4/4). The prognosis was poor. Two of the 3 patients died within 1 year after the surgical resection. Conclusions: Adenocarcinoma of the rete testis is a rare malignant tumor with several histologic patterns. Transition from benign to malignant rete epithelium is an important diagnostic clue. Detailed clinical history, tumor growth site and immunohistochemistry are helpful for its diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

Contributions of epiphytic microbiota on the fermentation characteristics and microbial composition of ensiled six whole crop corn varieties

AIMS

The present study is aimed to reveal the variations in epiphytic microbial composition among six whole crop corn (WCC) varieties and their contributions on ensiling characteristics and microbial composition of WCC silage.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Six WCC varieties (JS06, YS23, BS20, JS39, JS40 and JS26) were ensiled for 90 days. All WCC varieties were well fermented with low pH value (<4·0) and high LA (73·6-124 g kg^-1 DM, dry matter) concentration. Of six varieties, JS40 had the highest LA (124 g kg^-1 DM) concentration, which was supported by highest relative abundance of Lactobacillus. Pantoea was the most dominant epiphytic bacteria in all fresh WCC varieties; however, the secondary dominant genera among six WCC were absolutely difference. Lactobacillus became predominant genus in 90-day silages except YS23. YS23 kept the more bacterial genus from fresh to 90-day silages than other silages, meanwhile Acinetobacter and Enterobacter were the dominant bacteria in YS23 silages.

CONCLUSIONS

Among six WCC varieties, JS40 silage had the highest LA. The variations in epiphytic microbiomes among fresh WCC affected terminal microbial community of 90-day silages. There were differences in fermentation characteristics among six WCC varieties, which might be partly attributed to variations in epiphytic microbiomes among fresh WCC.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The study not only enriches the research on microbial communities of plant phyllosphere but also provides theoretical basis for selecting WCC varieties and inoculants for the forage production.

Characterization and identification of cellulase-producing Enterococcus species isolated from Tibetan yak (Bos grunniens) rumen and their application in various forage silages

AIMS

Cellulase-producing Enterococcus species isolated from the rumen of Tibetan yak (Bos grunniens) were characterized, and their combined effects on the silage quality of various forages were studied.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The two isolated strains with high cellulolytic potential were identified as Enterococcus faecalis (EF85) and E. faecium (EF83) by 16S rRNA sequencing. Both EF85 and EF83 could grow well at 15-55°C, pH 3·0-6·0 and in 3·0-6·5% NaCl. The cellulase secreted by EF85 and EF83 showed good stability at temperatures from 20 to 45°C and pH from 4·5 to 7·0. A commercial inoculant (CLP), a commercial cellulase (CE) and the two cellulolytic strains (EF85 + EF83) were added to whole-crop corn, sweet sorghum and Napier grass ensiling for 120 days respectively. In Napier grass silage, all inoculants significantly increased lactic acid content and ratio of lactic to acetic acid and decreased pH, butyric acid and ammonia nitrogen contents. The acid detergent fibre and cellulose contents in EF85 + EF83 treatment were significantly lower than those in the other treatments. In whole-crop corn and sweet sorghum silages, all additives had no significant effect on the fermentation quality, while CE and EF85 + EF83 markedly enhanced cellulose degradation and increased free sugar content.

CONCLUSION

The combined inoculation of the cellulolytic strain EF85 and EF83 to various forages reduced the fibre content of the resulting silages.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Few studies involved inoculation of silage with Enterococcus species in different forage types. The isolated cellulolytic strains of E. faecalis EF85 and E. faecium EF83 could be a great alternative for commercial inoculants and enzymes in silage production.

Self-Powered Room-Temperature Ethanol Sensor Based on Brush-Shaped Triboelectric Nanogenerator

Highly sensitive ethanol sensors have been widely utilized in environmental protection, industrial monitoring, and drink-driving tests. In this work, a fully self-powered ethanol detector operating at room temperature has been developed based on a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). The gas-sensitive oxide semiconductor is selected as the sensory component for the ethanol detection, while the resistance change of the oxide semiconductor can well match the "linear" region of the load characteristic curve of TENG. Hence, the output signal of TENG can directly reveal the concentration change of ethanol gas. An accelerator gearbox is applied to support the operation of the TENG, and the concentration change of ethanol gas can be visualized on the Liquid Crystal Display. This fully self-powered ethanol detector has excellent durability, low fabrication cost, and high selectivity of 5 ppm. Therefore, the ethanol detector based on TENG not only provides a different approach for the gas detection but also further demonstrates the application potential of TENG for various sensory devices.

[Study on the clinical significance and correlation of arginase-1 and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in hepatocellular carcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the clinical significance and correlation of arginase 1 (Arg-1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: The expression of Arg-1and iNOS in 146 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and corresponding adjacent tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. The clinicopathological characteristics and the correlation between the expressions and prognosis were determined by chi square test, Spearman's rank correlation, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis. Results: The positive rates of Arg-1 and iNOS were 18.7% (23/123) and 37.0% (54/146), respectively, which was significantly lower than the adjacent tissues [100%(146/146) and 93.8% (137/146)] and the difference was statistically significant (χ (2) = 212.521, P < 0.01, χ (2) = 104.276, P < 0.01). There was a positive correlation between the both expression (r = 0.331, P < 0.01). Arg-1 low expression was correlated with preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, tumor size, differentiation degree, histological types and Edmondson's grade. iNOS low expression was correlated with the differentiation degree and Edmondson's grade (P < 0.05). Kaplan Meier survival analysis showed that in patients with recurrence-free survival (RFs), Arg-1 (+) group > Arg-1 (-) group and Arg-1 (+) iNOS (+) group > Arg-1 (+) iNOS (-) group > Arg-1 (-) iNOS (-) group (P < 0.05). Cox multivariate analysis showed that age, tumor size, Edmondson's grade, vascular tumor emboli were significantly correlated with RFs (P < 0.05). Conclusion: There is a positive correlation between Arg-1 and iNOS expressions in HCC, and both may reflect the HCC malignant degree. The reduced/absent expression of both may participate in the occurrence and development of HCC. The combined detection of Arg-1 and iNOS on HCC may have certain significance for the judgment of differentiation degree and prognosis.

Protective effects of Lactobacillus plantarum strain P1 against toxicity of the environmental oestrogen di-n-butyl phthalate in rats

Phthalates are contaminants widely distributed in the food-chain, and they are considered as important environmental oestrogens in our lives. In the present study, eight strains of lactic acid bacteria were isolated for their ability to adsorb di-n-butyl-phthalate (DBP), and one of the strains, Lactobacillus plantarum strain P1, was selected for more detailed analyses of its phthalate adsorption capacity in vitro. This study also evaluated the in vivo protective effects of strain P1 against DBP toxicity in rats. Sixteen rats were divided into four groups, and animals received by oral gavage every other day for a period of one month saline with or without strain P1 at 2×10¹¹ cfu/kg followed by maize oil with or without DBP (50 mg/kg). Strain P1 could adsorb more DBP than saline alone, and the concentration of mono-n-butyl phthalate in urine was decreased in animals receiving P1. Furthermore, oestrogenic effects of the different treatments were assessed through counting of sperm and observation of testis, and strain P1 could protect the sexual organs of male rats. Our results suggested that P1 is effective against phthalate toxicity due to its ability to adsorb DBP in vivo and could be considered as a new dietary therapeutic strategy against environmental phtalate toxicity.

Effect of sorbic acid and dual-purpose inoculants on the fermentation quality and aerobic stability of high dry matter rice straw silage

AIMS

This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of sorbic acid (SA) as a silage additive and its effects on fermentation quality and aerobic stability of high dry matter (DM) silage.

METHODS AND RESULTS

High DM rice straw was ensiled with distilled water (C), 1 × 10⁶  CFU per gram fresh weight (FW) Lactobacillus plantarum and 1 × 10⁶  CFU per gram FW Lactobacillus buchneri (LP+LB) or SA for 45 days with a subsequent aerobic stability test. After ensiling, LP+LB silage had the highest lactic acid (LA) content and the lowest pH value, whereas SA silage had the highest DM and water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) contents, and the lowest ethanol and ammonia nitrogen (NH₃ -N) contents among all silages (P < 0·001). Compared to C silage, SA significantly (P < 0·01) reduced the counts of yeasts but not lactic acid bacteria (LAB). During 6-day aerobic exposure, the continuous pH increase and LA decrease were observed in C and LP+LB silages, and there was no significant change in pH, DM, NH₃ -N and WSC contents of SA silage over the whole aerobic exposure. The SA addition slowed the decline of LA and acetic acid (AA) contents as well as the growth of yeasts and aerobic bacteria under aerobic exposure.

CONCLUSION

In this study, L. buchneri could not function in high DM rice straw silage while SA effectively improved both the fermentation quality and aerobic stability.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The SA was more effective than dual-purpose inoculants to improve the aerobic stability of high DM rice straw silage. Thus, SA can be served as a potential antifungal additive for silage with high DM.

Childhood COVID-19: a multicentre retrospective study

Objectives

To investigate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of paediatric patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19).

Methods

Paediatric patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between January 15 and March 15, 2020, from seven hospitals in Zhejiang Province, China, were collected retrospectively and analysed.

Results

Thirty-two children with COVID-19, ranging in age from 3 months to 18 years, were enrolled. Family aggregation occurred in 87.5% of infant and preschool-aged children (7/8), and also school-aged children (14/16), but in only 12.5% (1/8) of adolescents (p < 0.05, p < 0.001). Most of these patients had mild symptoms: mainly fever (20/32) followed by cough (10/32) and fatigue (4/32). The average durations of viral RNA in respiratory samples and gastrointestinal samples were 15.8 d and 28.9 d, respectively. Detox duration in faeces decreased with age: 39.8 d, 27.5 d and 20.4 d in infants and preschool children, school children, and adolescents respectively (p_{0–6, –18} <0.01, p_{0–6, –14} <0.05). Pneumonia was found in 14 children, but there was no statistical significance in the incidence of pneumonia between different age groups. Thirty patients were treated with antiviral drugs, and all patients were stable and gradually improved after admission.

Conclusions

Most children with COVID-19 had a mild process and a good prognosis. More attention should be paid to investigation of household contact history in the diagnosis of COVID-19 in young children. Viral RNA lasts longer in the gastrointestinal system than in the respiratory tract, especially in younger children.

Contributions of Different Functional Groups to Contact Electrification of Polymers

Polymers are commonly used to fabricate triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). Here, several polymer films with similar main chains but different functional groups on the side chain are employed to clarify the contributions of each functional group to contact electrification (CE). The results show that the electron-withdrawing (EW) ability and density of these functional groups on the main chain can determine both the polarity and density of CE-induced surface charges. Similar results are obtained for CE in both the polymer-polymer and polymer-liquid modes. A theoretical mechanism involving electron cloud overlap is proposed to explain all of these results. More importantly, the unsaturated groups on poly(tetrafluoroethylene) molecular chain are proved to have a much stronger EW ability than the saturated groups. The density of these unsaturated groups can be increased using a sputtering technique, suggesting that this is a facile and effective method of enhancing the performance of TENGs. These results clarify the correlation between the molecular structure and macroscopic electrification behavior of polymers.

THU0544 MULTIMODAL PHOTOACOUSTIC/ULTRASONIC IMAGING SYSTEM: A NEW IMAGING METHOD FOR EVALUATING RA

Background:

Photoacoustic imaging (PAI), a new imaging technique which can be integrating with ultrasound (US) imaging, has shown potential in visualizing small joints. We have developed a multimodal photoacoustic/ultrasound (PA/US) imaging system, equipped with a handheld probe, which can provide dual-wavelength PA/US imaging to identify the micro-vessels of the inflamed articular regions and measure the oxygenation level of human inflamed synovium.

Objectives:

To validate the potential value for RA of the imaging system.

Methods:

A total of 32 RA patients received PA/US examination on seven small joints (MCP2, MCP3, PIP2, PIP3, MTP2, MTP5, and wrist of the clinically dominant side). The 0-3 score was used to semi-quantify the PA and PD signals of the inflammatory articular lesions, and the sums of PA and PD scores (PA-sum and PD-sum) were utilized. The relative oxygen saturation (SO2) values of the inflamed regions were measured by calculating the ratio of PA signals at the wavelength of 750nm and 830nm. All the patients were classified to 3 PA+SO2 patterns (Pattern 1: no or minimal PA signals; Pattern 2: evident PA signals and hyperoxia; Pattern 3: evident PA signals and hypoxia). The correlations between imaging scores and laboratory data, as well as clinical scoring systems were assessed.

Results:

A total of 32 patients of RA were recruited aged from 25-71 years-old were examined. PD-sum had moderate correlation with the clinical scores (r=0.529, 0.546, 0.490, 0.493 for DAS28ESR, DAS28CRP, SDAI, CDAI), moderate correlations with TJC (r=0.575) and SJC (r=0.491), fair correlation with VAS (r=0.239), poor correlation with PGA (r=0.153), and moderate correlation with EGA (r=0.457). The PA-sum had substantial correlations with the clinical scores (r= 0.699, 0.746, 0.723, 0.736 for DAS28ESR, DAS28CRP, SDAI, CDAI), substantial correlations with TJC (r=0.787) and SJC (r=0.694), moderate correlations with VAS (r=0.544) and PGA (r=0.529), and substantial correlation with EGA (r=0.708).

Ten patients were classified as Pattern 1, 12 as Pattern 2, 9 as Pattern 3. The PA+ SO2 patterns presented substantial correlations with the clinical scores (DAS28ESR r=0.690, DAS28CRP r=0.782, SDAI r=0.805, CDAI r=0.799, SJC r=647, TJC r=0.676, respectively), substantial correlation with VAS (r=0.714), and moderate correlation with PGA (r=0.476) and EGA (r=0.502). Significant differences between those who were classified as hypoxia and hyperoxia with evident PA signals, were detected in VAS (p=0.020) and PGA (p=0.026).

Conclusion:

The PA-sum scores and the PA+SO2 patterns can be utilized as objective imaging parameters reflecting the disease activity of RA. PAI may serve as a supplement to conventional US examinations for RA patients.

References:

[1]Backhaus, M., et al., Evaluation of a novel 7-joint ultrasound score in daily rheumatologic practice: a pilot project. Arthritis Rheum, 2009. 61(9): p. 1194-201.

[2]Colebatch, A.N., et al., EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging of the joints in the clinical management of rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis, 2013. 72(6): p. 804-14.

Figure 1.

the photo of the multimodal PA/US imaging system

Figure 2.

an example of the PA/US imaging

Disclosure of Interests:

Chenyang Zhao: None declared, Qian Wang: None declared, Xixi Tao: None declared, Chen Yu: None declared, Sirui Liu: None declared, Mengtao Li: None declared, Xinping Tian: None declared, Zhenhong Qi: None declared, Jianchu Li: None declared, Fang Yang: None declared, Lei Zhu: None declared, Xiaofeng Zeng Consultant of: MSD Pharmaceuticals, Meng Yang: None declared, Yuxin Jiang: None declared

Comparison of microRNAs in adipose and muscle tissue from seven indigenous Chinese breeds and Yorkshire pigs

Elucidation of the pig microRNAome is essential for interpreting functional elements of the genome and understanding the genetic architecture of complex traits. Here, we extracted small RNAs from skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, and we compared their expression levels between one Western breed (Yorkshire) and seven indigenous Chinese breeds. We detected the expression of 172 known porcine microRNAs (miRNAs) and 181 novel miRNAs. Differential expression analysis found 92 and 12 differentially expressed miRNAs in adipose and muscle tissue respectively. We found that different Chinese breeds shared common directional miRNA expression changes compared to Yorkshire pigs. Some miRNAs differentially expressed across multiple Chinese breeds, including ssc-miR-129-5p, ssc-miR-30 and ssc-miR-150, are involved in adipose tissue function. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs are associated mainly with signaling pathways rather than metabolic and biosynthetic processes. The miRNA-target gene and miRNA-phenotypic traits networks identified many hub miRNAs that regulate a large number of target genes or phenotypic traits. Specifically, we found that intramuscular fat content is regulated by the greatest number of miRNAs in muscle tissue. This study provides valuable new candidate miRNAs that will aid in the improvement of meat quality and production.

[A comparative study of the calcaneal closing-wedge calcaneal osteotomy versus posterior-superior prominence removal in both sides with Haglund syndrome]

Objective: To compare the clinical outcome of removal of calcaneal posterior-superior prominence and that of calcaneal closing-wedge osteotomy for Haglund syndrome. Methods: From February 2009 to July 2014, 36 patients with Haglund syndrome were included.They were divided into two groups, and each group included 18 patients and underwent removal of calcaneal posterior-superior prominence and calcaneal closing-wedge osteotomy respectively.They were evaluated preoperatively and after 6 , 12 months and 24 months postoperatively by American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, VAS score, VISA-A questionnaire and Maryland Foot Score.Fowler-Philip angle and calcaneal posterior slope of the two groups were compared preoperatively and after 6 months.All data were analysis utilizing SPSS 18.0. Results: At six months of follow-up, the weight-bearing lateral X-rays reveals that removal of calcaneal posterior-superior prominence did not change Fowler-Philip angle and calcaneal posterior slope and calcaneal closing-wedge osteotomy decreased Fowler-Philip angle and calcaneal posterior slope significantly[from preoperation (56.5±5.4)°, (120.0±1.3)°to postoperation (48.4±4.6)°, (109.0±5.3)°]. At six months of follow-up, the AOFAS score, VAS score, VISA-A questionnaire and Maryland Foot Score were worse in the wedge calcaneal osteotomy group.At twelve months of follow-up, no significant difference (P>0.05)was found between the two groups in terms of VAS score, and Maryland Foot Score, while the AOFAS score, and VISA-A questionnaire in the wedge calcaneal osteotomy group were better than those of posterior-superior prominence removal group.At twenty-four months of follow-up, the AOFAS score, VAS score, VISA-A questionnaire and Maryland Foot Score were better in the wedge calcaneal osteotomy group (P<0.05). Conclusions: Both the two surgical methods are effective for Haglund syndrome.Calcaneal closing-wedge osteotomy decreased Fowler-Philip angle and calcaneal posterior slope of calcaneus and its clinical outcome appears better than that removal of calcaneal posterior-superior prominence.

[Synchronous mucinous metaplasia and neoplasia of the female genital tract]

Objective: To describe the clinicopathological features of synchronous mucinous metaplasia and neoplasia of the female genital tract (SMMN-FGT). Methods: The sample consisted of 7 cases of SMMN-FGT recorded from November 2014 to September 2017 at Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University.PAP method was used in immunohistochemistry.Clinical histories were retrieved and pathological slides were reviewed. Results: The patients were 37 to 70 years old(mean 54 years old). All patients showed endometrial mucinous lesions associated with cervical lesions. Three cases were an admixture of minimal deviation adenocarcinoma(MDA) and gastrictype adenocarcinoma(GAS). Three cases were an admixture of lobular endocervical glandular hyperplasia (LEGH), atypical LEGH and focal gastrictype adenocarcinoma in situ, one of which had early invasive gastrictype adenocarcinoma.Endometrium showed a structure of LEGH in one patient with focal simple gastric mucinous metaplasia in her cervix. Gastric mucinous differentiation was found in unilateral fallopian tube in 6 patients. Ovarian mucinous lesions were found in 3 patients. p16 was negative staining in 6 cases and positive in 1 case. CK7 was diffusely positive in all lesions. CK20 and CDX2 were negative or only focally positive.The expression of MUC6 was strongly positive staining or focal staining. p53 in GAS and GAS in situ had mutant expression, but wild expression in MDA region. Patients were followed up for 2 to 34 months and no recurrence was found. Conclusions: SMMN-FGT is a series of rare mucinous lesions involving multiple areas of the female genital tract, including benign or malignant lesions with gastric differentiation. It is not related to infection with high-risk human papilloma virus. When cervical gastrictype lesions are found, SMMN-FGT should be considered and should be differentiated from metastatic mucinous adenocarcinoma.

[Determination of methylenedianiline in urine by high performance liquid chromatography-tandemmass spectrometry]

Objective: To develop a method for determination of metabolites of diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) in urine, i.e. methylenedianiline (MDA) by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass (LC-MS-MS) . Methods: Urine samples were prepared by hydrolyzation with sulfuric acid and extraction by acetonitrile, and then separated on a Shim-pack XR-ODS column, analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) . The external solvent standard calibration were tested. Results: The linearity ranges were 0.05~20.00 μg/L, The related coefficients were 0.999 5. The limit of detection was 0.02 μg/L. The rats of recovery were 91.0%~103.4%. The relative standard deviations were between 2.7%~7.3%. Conclusion: The method was sensitive, accurate and suitable for the MDA determination in urine of MDI exposed population.