Macmillanself2922

Antimony (Sb), a typical group VA semimetal, has rarely been studied both experimentally and theoretically in plasmonic photothermal therapy, possibly due to the lack of effective morphology-controllable methods for the preparation of high-quality Sb nanocrystals. In this study, an effective ligand-guided growth strategy to controllably synthesize Sb nanopolyhedrons (Sb NPHs) with ultrahigh photothermal conversion efficiency (PTCE), good photothermal stability, as well as biocompatibility is presented. Furthermore, the modulation effect of different morphologies on localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of Sb NPHs in experimentation is successfully observed. When the resonance frequency of the Sb NPHs is matched well with the excitation wavelength (808 nm), the PTCE of the Sb NPHs is as high as 62.1%, which is noticeably higher compared to most of the reported photothermal agents. The Sb NPHs also exhibit good photothermal stability. In addition, Sb-NPHs-based multifunctional nanomedicines are further constructed via loading 1-methyl-d-tryptophan on PEGylated Sb NPHs for a highly efficient photoacoustic-imaging-guided synergistic photothermal/immune-therapy of tumors in vivo. This work can stimulate further theoretical and experimental investigations of Sb NPHs and other semimetal nanomaterials regarding their LSPR properties and inspire various potential applications of semimetals in biomedicine and sensors.Chronic sleep insufficiency is common in our society and has negative cognitive and health impacts. It can also alter sleep regulation, yet whether it affects subsequent homeostatic responses to acute sleep loss is unclear. We assessed sleep and thermoregulatory responses to acute sleep deprivation before and after a '3/1' chronic sleep restriction protocol in adult male Wistar rats. The 3/1 protocol consisted of continuous cycles of wheel rotations (3 h on/1 h off) for 4 days. Sleep latency in a 2-h multiple sleep latency test starting 26 h post-3/1 was unchanged, whereas non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS) and associated electroencephalogram delta power (a measure of sleep need) over a 24-h period beginning 54 h post-3/1 were reduced, compared to respective pre-3/1 baseline levels. However, in response to acute sleep deprivation (6 h by 'gentle handling') starting 78 h post-3/1, the compensatory rebounds in NREMS and rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) amounts and NREMS delta power were unaltered. Body temperature increased progressively across the 3/1 protocol and returned to baseline levels on the second day post-3/1. The acute sleep deprivation also increased body temperature, followed by a decline below baseline levels, with no difference between before and after 3/1 sleep restriction. Non-sleep-restricted control rats showed responses to acute sleep deprivation similar to those observed in the sleep-restricted animals. These results suggest that the process of sleep homeostasis is altered on the third recovery day after a 4-day 3/1 sleep restriction protocol, whereas subsequent homeostatic sleep and temperature responses to brief sleep deprivation are not affected.Lithium metal anodes (LMAs) with high energy density have recently captured increasing attention for development of next-generation batteries. However, practical viability of LMAs is hindered by the uncontrolled Li dendrite growth and infinite dimension change. Even though constructing 3D conductive skeleton has been regarded as a reliable strategy to prepare stable and low volume stress LMAs, engineering the renewable and lithiophilic conductive scaffold is still a challenge. Herein, a robust conductive scaffold derived from renewable cellulose paper, which is coated with reduced graphene oxide and decorated with lithiophilic Au nanoparticles, is engineered for LMAs. The graphene cellulose fibres with high surface area can reduce the local current density, while the well-dispersed Au nanoparticles can serve as lithiophilic nanoseeds to lower the nucleation overpotential of Li plating. The coupled relationship can guarantee uniform Li nucleation and unique spherical Li growth into 3D carbon matrix. Moreover, the natural cellulose paper possesses outstanding mechanical strength to tolerate the volume stress. In virtue of the modulated deposition behaviour and near-zero volume change, the hybrid LMAs can achieve reversible Li plating/stripping even at an ultrahigh current density of 10 mA cm-2 as evidenced by high Coulombic efficiency (97.2 % after 60 cycles) and ultralong lifespan (1000 cycles) together with ultralow overpotential (25 mV). Therefore, this strategy sheds light on a scalable approach to multiscale design versatile Li host, promising highly stable Li metal batteries to be feasible and practical.

The coupling of increased life expectancy and improvements in both quality and access to chronic liver disease care, is culminating in an expanding population of septuagenarians (≥70years) in need of liver transplantation (LT). The objective of this study is to partially alleviate this knowledge deficit and to add clarity to the current status and role of LDLT in this recipient population.

Of 295 adult patients underwent LDLT between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2016. Twelve (4%) of these patients were septuagenarians and this group was compared to younger cohort (n=283).

Comorbidity profiles between the two groups were similar and no statistically significant differences were noted in warm/cold ischemia times, operative duration, or blood product utilization. ICU and total hospital stays were comparable. Septuagenarian 1-and 5-year graft and patient survivals were identical at 91.7%. Their younger counterparts had 1-and 5-year patient survivals of 91.1% and 84.0 % accompanied by 1-and 5-year graft survivals of 89.8% and 82.7%, respectively.

Our study highlights a recognition that LDLT can afford highly-selected elderly patients to access to transplant with equivalent outcomes to those realized by younger recipients.

Our study highlights a recognition that LDLT can afford highly-selected elderly patients to access to transplant with equivalent outcomes to those realized by younger recipients.

The small intestine plays a central role in gut immunity, and enhanced lymphocyte migration is involved in the pathophysiology of various enteropathy. Bile acid (BA) is closely related to lipid metabolism and gut microbiota and essential for gut homeostasis. However, the effects of BA on gut immunity have not been studied in detail, especially on the small intestine and lymphocyte migration. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of BA on small intestinal lymphocyte microcirculation.

The effect of deoxycholic acid (DCA), taurocholic acid (tCA), or cholic acid (CA) on the indomethacin (IND)-induced small intestinal enteropathy in mice was investigated. Lymphocyte movements were evaluated after exposure to BA using intravital microscopy. The effects of BA on surface expression of adhesion molecules on the vascular endothelium and lymphocytes through BA receptors were examined in vitro.

IND-induced small intestinal enteropathy was histologically aggravated by DCA treatment alone. The expression of adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 was significantly enhanced by DCA. Exposure to DCA increased lymphocyte adhesion in the microvessels of the ileum, which was partially blocked by anti-α4β1 integrin antibody in vivo. The expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 was significantly enhanced by DCA in vitro, which was partially suppressed by the sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 2 (S1PR2) antagonist. The S1PR2 antagonist significantly ameliorated IND-induced and DCA-exaggerated small intestinal injury.

DCA exacerbated IND-induced small intestinal enteropathy. DCA directly acts on the vascular endothelium and enhances the expression levels of adhesion molecules partially via S1PR2, leading to enhanced small intestinal lymphocyte migration.

DCA exacerbated IND-induced small intestinal enteropathy. DCA directly acts on the vascular endothelium and enhances the expression levels of adhesion molecules partially via S1PR2, leading to enhanced small intestinal lymphocyte migration.

Mixed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is a extremely rare congenital heart disease.

We report the initial management of a case of Mixed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection associated to right extralobar bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS).

Mixed TAPVC associated to right extra-lobar BPS was diagnosed at birth in a full-term newborn. At one month of age, the patient underwent embolization of the BPS, complicated by coil entrapment in the right common iliac artery requiring urgent laparotomy. Few days later, the congenital cardiac repair was accomplished uneventfully. At 12-months follow-up, the patient did not have pulmonary hypertension, but presented a moderate stenosis of the right femoral artery, which was effectively treated with anticoagulation therapy.

The multidisciplinary approach allowed a successful treatment of these complex anomalies and the related potential complications.

The multidisciplinary approach allowed a successful treatment of these complex anomalies and the related potential complications.

The aim of the second quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) reconstruction challenge (Oct 2019, Seoul, Korea) was to test the accuracy of QSM dipole inversion algorithms in simulated brain data.

A two-stage design was chosen for this challenge. The participants were provided with datasets of multi-echo gradient echo images synthesized from two realistic in silico head phantoms using an MR simulator. At the first stage, participants optimized QSM reconstructions without ground truth data available to mimic the clinical setting. At the second stage, ground truth data were provided for parameter optimization. Submissions were evaluated using eight numerical metrics and visual ratings.

A total of 98 reconstructions were submitted for stage 1 and 47 submissions for stage 2. Iterative methods had the best quantitative metric scores, followed by deep learning and direct inversion methods. Priors derived from magnitude data improved the metric scores. Algorithms based on iterative approaches and total varia translates to more realistic scenarios, where background fields and dipole-incompatible phase contributions are included.

To report our single-center experience of the management of children with prostatic utricle cysts.

We retrospectively analyzed 15 children who were incidentally found to have a prostatic utricle cyst and were admitted to our department between October 2013 and August 2020. selleck Clinical characteristics and management were collected and catalogued.

Recurrent genitourinary tract infections were the most frequent complaint, and two-thirds of patients also had hypospadias. A connection between the posterior urethra and the prostatic utricle cyst was found in all cases. Two patients directly had their progressively enlarging prostatic utricle cyst resected laparoscopically. Endoscopic techniques were used in 13 patients, two of whom underwent laparoscopic excision for repeated symptoms. The mean (range) follow-up period was 34.9 (2-82)months. No recurrences were observed in four patients who underwent prostatic utricle cyst excision and eight patients who received endoscopic treatment. Three patients had recurrent symptoms after endoscopic treatment and were managed by nonsurgical treatment.