The research of TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) in the field of biomedicine has been increasingly active. However, given the diversity of the nanoscale dimension and controversial reports, our understanding of ...the structure-property relationships of TNTs is not yet complete. In this paper, gradient TNTs with a wide diameter range of 20–350 nm were achieved by bipolar electrochemistry and utilized for a thorough high-throughput study of the effect of nanotube dimension and crystalline phase on protein adsorption and cell behaviors. Results indicated that protein adsorption escalated with nanotube dimension whereas cell proliferation and differentiation are preferred on small diameter (<70 nm) nanotubes. Large diameter anatase nanotubes had higher adsorption of serum proteins than as-prepared ones. But only as-prepared small diameter nanotubes presented slightly higher cell proliferation than corresponding annealed nanotubes whereas there was no discernible difference between as-prepared and annealed nanotubes on cell differentiation for the entire gradient. Those findings replenish previous research about how cell responses to TNTs with a wide diameter range and provide scientific guidance for the optimal design of biomedical materials.
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•Large-scale gradient TiO2 nanotubes were fabricated for high-throughput study.•Protein adsorption increased with increasing nanotube diameter.•Cell proliferation and differentiation reduced with increasing nanotube diameter.•Cells did not show significant preference between annealed and as-prepared nanotubes.
Objective:
Despite a wealth of treatment options for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), data on the subjective experience of treatments in ongoing clinical practice are sparse. This follow-up study ...assessed the individual usage of treatment modalities by IBS patients over time and investigated the patients’ subjective experience of therapeutic impact.
Methods:
The study was conducted at the Specialty Clinic for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders of the Heidelberg University Hospital. All patients who fulfilled the Rome III criteria for IBS and treated in our outpatient clinic between January 2012 and December 2016 were invited to the assessment. The primary outcome variables were individual usage of treatment modalities and the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) with treatments.
Results:
Three hundred and sixty-six patients fulfilled the Rome III criteria for IBS and thus were eligible for this study. Two hundred and seven patients dropped out from the study. The study could include 159 patients (43.7 ± 17.1 years; 71.1% female). The mean time since the first visit to the clinic was 2.8 ± 1.3 years (median 3.0 years). The mean time of symptom duration was 14.1 ± 11.1 years (median 10 years). The average number of treatment attempts was 12, ranging from 2 to 39). With respect to the subjective experience of therapeutic impact, there were no significant differences in the PGIC scores among different treatments (
p
= 0.183). The rates of non-response rates (minimally improved, no change, or minimally worse) ranged from 63.0% to 83.9%. The PGIC score was correlated negatively with the mean number of treatment attempts (
r
= −0.316,
p
< 0.01). The mean number of treatment attempts was correlated negatively with quality of life (
r
= −0.262,
p
< 0.01).
Conclusion:
A multidisciplinary treatment approach of IBS is characterized by high rates of non-response and a high number of frustrating treatment attempts. The connection between the various treatment attempts and the frustrating subjective experience of therapeutic impact puts a substantial burden on IBS patients.
The objective of this study is to explore the structure–property relationships of TiO
2
nanotubes (TNTs) with different crystalline phases that link to protein adsorption and cell responses. Given ...the formation of intact rutile nanotubular structures by furnace annealing is challenge, a combination of furnace annealing and flame annealing is employed for the preparation of rutile TNTs. TNTs with pure anatase phase and mixed anatase/rutile phases are obtained by simple furnace annealing of amorphous TNTs. Results show that BSA and FBS adsorptions are greatly enhanced on rutile TNTs, whereas no discernable difference on other crystalline phases. Rutile TNTs also present highest adsorption of fibronectin and collagen which are diminished on anatase and dual anatase–rutile phases. Interestingly, however, there is no significant difference in cell proliferation or differentiation on TNTs with different crystallites. Scrutinization of the surface properties involved in protein adsorption and cell activities, a synergistic effect of surface charge, hydroxyl groups, and roughness is found on protein adsorption which further regulates cell behaviors. Those findings provide a better understanding of the structure–property relationships of titanium-based biomaterials.
The solubilities of 1,1′-di(2-carboxyethyl)-2,2′-biimidazole in water (1) + acetic acid (2) solvent mixtures were determined in the temperature range from (292.3 to 355.1) K and mass fraction w 1 ...from 0.8 to 1.0. The solubility data were well correlated with an empirical equation.
Humans display automatic action tendencies toward emotional stimuli, showing faster automatic behavior (i.e., approaching a positive stimulus and avoiding a negative stimulus) than regulated behavior ...(i.e., avoiding a positive stimulus and approaching a negative stimulus). Previous studies have shown that the primary motor cortex is involved in the processing of automatic actions, with higher motor evoked potential amplitudes during automatic behavior elicited by single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation. However, it is unknown how intracortical circuits are involved with automatic action tendencies. Here, we measured short-interval intracortical inhibition and intracortical facilitation within the primary motor cortex by using paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation protocols during a manikin task, which has been widely used to explore approaching and avoiding behavior. Results showed that intracortical facilitation was stronger during automatic behavior than during regulated behavior. Moreover, there was a significant negative correlation between reaction times and intracortical facilitation effect during automatic behavior: individuals with short reaction times had stronger faciliatory activity, as shown by higher intracortical facilitation. By contrast, no significant difference was found for short-interval intracortical inhibition between automatic behavior and regulated behavior. The results indicated that the intracortical facilitation circuit, mediated by excitatory glutamatergic neurons, in the primary motor cortex, plays an important role in mediating automatic action tendencies. This finding further supports the link between emotional perception and the action system.
•Machine learning algorithms are used to define experimental boundary conditions and facilitate micropattern optimization.•Integrating classification and regression models in the learning loops, we ...improve the accuracy of model predictions.•Through active learning, we accelerate the optimization process of fabricating micropatterns with the least experiments.•The optimal micropattern has a diameter range of 27-470 nm, much wider than the widest diameter range ever reported.•The optimal gradient micropattern further shows superior performance in high-throughput screening for biomedical use.
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Micropatterning has been widely applied in electronics, biomaterials engineering, and microfluidics studies. A key challenge in using bipolar electrochemistry for fabricating titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotube micropatterns (TNMs) with desired properties is to balance interrelated experimental parameters and define experimental boundary conditions. For example, it is challenging to determine the anodization voltage boundary as high anodization voltage with certain conditions might induce titanium foils rupture. Here, we utilize active learning to facilitate the optimization process of fabricating TNMs with a wide dimension range within one sample using bipolar electrochemistry. Starting with a small dataset, the decision tree model differentiates normal data from abnormal data (i.e., titanium foils ruptured), which helps define the experimental boundaries. Then gradient boosted regression tree (GBRT) model analyzes the data and provides predictions and directions for optimizing TNMs. Then predictions are verified by experiments, and new results update the training dataset for the next learning loop. Results show that ML algorithms well define the experimental boundary conditions. And only within several iterations, we obtained the optimal TNMs with a diameter range of 27–470 nm, expanding the gradient to the largest extend without tedious experiments. Those results indicate that machine learning algorithms are effective in accelerating materials manufacture and optimization. Further silver nanoparticle doping demonstrates that large-scale TNMs are effective platforms for high-throughput screening.
ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to describe the body mass index (BMI) distribution in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) based on the Rome III criteria and to evaluate the association of ...BMI with symptom severity and quality of life (QOL).MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out in patients visiting our outpatient functional gastrointestinal disorders specialty clinic. IBS diagnosis was made based on Rome III criteria. IBS symptom severity was investigated using the IBS severity score system. QOL was assessed using the Short Form 36 Health Survey, which consists of physical health and mental health.Results366 patients (252 women) who fulfilled Rome III criteria and provided complete BMI data (23.90±5.22 kg/m2) were included. Overall, 59.0% of patients with IBS were in the normal weight range, 30.3% were overweight or obese, and 10.7% were underweight. Both physical and mental health decreased significantly with the severity of symptoms (all p<0.01), while controlling for several covariates (age, gender, family status, education status and IBS subtypes). Obesity and symptom severity (β=−0.177,△R2=0.037, p<0.01; β=−0.387,△R2=0.147, p<0.01) were significant negative factors that influencing physical health. Symptom severity (β=−0.301,△R2=0.084, p<0.01) was significant negative factor that influencing mental health. However, BMI didn’t account for additional variance in mental health (p>0.05).ConclusionBeing overweight is a common phenomenon in patients with IBS regardless of IBS subtype. The association between QOL and symptom severity followed a negative dose-response pattern. Patients with higher BMI, especially obese patients, were more frequently in poor physical health. However, this kind of relationship was not found in BMI and mental health.
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