Backgrounds. Patients with COPD often visit the emergency department (ED) due to exacerbation of respiratory symptoms (dyspnea, cough, and sputum production). Because manifestations of acute ...exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) are nonspecific, differential diagnosis is critical in this acute setting. The causes for emergency visiting and the in-hospital outcomes are varied in patients with COPD. This study aimed to investigate the distributions of etiologies and the in-hospital outcomes of patients with COPD who presented to the ED because of exacerbation of respiratory symptoms. Methods. This was a retrospective study on COPD patients who had visited the ED and been hospitalized in a tertiary hospital because of worsening respiratory symptoms including cough, sputum production, and dyspnea from January 2017 to April 2020. Demographics, clinical manifestations, and laboratory studies in the ED were collected as the baseline data. The primary diagnosis at discharge or death was recorded. The hospitalization settings (general wards and ICU), the in-hospital outcomes, and associated factors were analyzed. Results. During the study period, 392 patients with COPD (male 302 (77.0%)), with a median age of 78 years, visited the ED and hospitalized in this hospital. The first 3 causes for emergency visit were AECOPD (n = 314, 80.1%), acute coronary artery syndrome with or without congestive heart failure (n = 24, 6.1%), and pulmonary embolism (n = 13, 3.3%). For patients with AECOPD (n = 314), 51.6% (n = 162) was admitted to ICU, and 6.4% (n = 20) died. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that age, atrial fibrillation, NT-pro BNP ≥300 pg/ml, and blood pH <7.3 were independent risk factors for ICU admission. Age, comorbid malignancy, NT-pro BNP ≥1800 pg/ml, and pneumonia on CT scan were independent risk factors for hospital mortality in patients with AECOPD. Conclusion. In COPD patients visiting the ED because of worsening respiratory symptoms, nearly 20% were due to non-AECOPD causes. For those with AECOPD, age, atrial fibrillation, NT-pro BNP ≥300 pg/ml, and blood pH <7.3 were independent risk factors for ICU admission, while advanced age, underlying malignancy, elevated NT-pro BNP, and pneumonia on CT scan were risk factors for hospital mortality.
Sandblasting with large grit and acid-etching (SLA) treatment is considered to be a reliable modification to achieve excellent titanium surface. However, contamination of hydrocarbons would make SLA ...surface hydrophobic and influence its bioactivity. Thus, appropriate methods of preservation or further treatments could be used for improvement. In present study, preservation in deionized water (dH(2)O) and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation were, respectively, applied to achieve modSLA and UV-SLA surfaces. Surface characteristics were assessed by scanning electron microscopy, optical profilometer and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as well as wettability by optical contact angle analyzer. Additionally, biocompatibility was evaluated by the response to osteoblast-like MG63 cells. Prevented from further contamination, modSLA surface with fewer hydrocarbons (25.31%) remained hydrophilic and showed better affinity to mineralization of MG63 cells than hydrophobic polluted SLA surface (p < 0.01). Furthermore, with the lowest content of hydrocarbons (14.26%) and super-hydrophilicity, UV-SLA surface, which had the hydrocarbons effectively decomposed by photocatalysis and meanwhile acquired abundant hydroxyl groups, had most greatly promoted the attachment, proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of MG63 cells (p < 0.05). Therefore, hydrocarbons were found to be an important influencing factor to compatibility of biomaterials. In addition, UV irradiation was recognized as a trustworthy method for surface cleaning without change of topography and roughness and could ever lead to greater biocompatibility of sandblasted and acid-etched titanium surface.
The widespread organic pollutants in wastewater are one of the global environmental problems. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are widely used because of their characteristics of high efficiency ...and strong oxidation. However, AOPs may have some defects, such as incomplete mineralization of organic pollutants and the generation of toxic by-products during the degradation process, thus it is essential to seek efficient and green wastewater treatment technologies. Coupling different AOPs or other processes is beneficial for the mineralization of pollutants and reduces ecological risks to the environment. It is worth noting that carbonaceous materials (CMs) have received widespread attention and application in the degradation of organic pollutants in water by advanced oxidation coupling processes (C-AOPs) due to their excellent physicochemical properties in recent years. However, the behaviors and mechanisms of C-AOPs based on CMs on the degradation of organic pollutants are still unknown. Therefore, it is essential to comprehensively summarize the recent research progress. In this review, the applications of different CMs in C-AOPs were reviewed first. Secondly, the synergistic mechanisms of the C-AOPs based on different CMs were discussed. Then, toxic intermediates were explored and important toxicity assessment methods were proposed. Finally, the application potential of the C-AOPs in the future and the challenges were proposed. This review provides an important reference for the application and optimization of the C-AOPs in organic wastewater treatment in the future.
Graphical Abstract
Highlights
The effects of CMs on the reactive oxygen species and active sites in the C-AOPs were summarized.
The synergistic mechanisms of the interaction between CMs and C-AOPs were explored.
The C-AOPs to reduce the generation of toxic by-products were elaborated.
The importance of the combination of toxicity assessment methods was highlighted.
Current application status, challenges, and prospects of C-AOPs were proposed.
The emission of air pollutants from various industries is a major contributor to environmental pollution. The removal of these pollutants before they are discharged into the environment has become an ...important means of controlling air pollution. Biochar has attracted increasing attention because of its low cost, high porosity, large specific surface area, abundant surface functional groups, and high removal capacity. The physicochemical properties of biochar are greatly affected by feedstock types, preparation, and modification conditions. For this reason, the capacity and propensity of biochar for removing air pollutants are rather variable. To understand the existing research status and grasp the latest research progress, a systematic review on the removal of different air pollutants by biochar is highly needed. Based on the recent research, this paper systematically analyzes and summarizes the preparation and modification methods of biochar commonly used for the removal of six air pollutants (SO
2
, H
2
S, CO
2
, Hg
0
, VOCs, and NH
3
), as well as the removal performance and mechanisms. Then, the potential influencing factors (preparation parameters, physicochemical characteristics of biochar, and removal conditions) are discussed. Finally, the regeneration of biochar, suggestions, and future perspectives are proposed.
Graphical Abstract
Highlights
Common preparation and modification methods of biochar for removing air pollutants are introduced.
Removal performance and mechanisms of biochar for air pollutants are discussed.
The influencing factors and regeneration methods of biochar for the removal of air pollutants are explored.
Bronchogenic cysts are congenital malformations caused by aberrant foregut budding. They major occur in the thorax, with subdiaphragmatic cases being uncommon. Here, we present a series of 19 ...patients diagnosed with subdiaphragmatic bronchogenic cysts histopathologically at a single institution in China from 2012 to 2021. A literature review was also conducted by searching the PubMed database using keywords related to “bronchogenic cysts” and “subdiaphragmatic,” yielding 107 cases. Taken together, the 126 cases had a median age of 41.0 years (interquartile range, 30.0–51.0 years) and 62 of them were male (49.2%). The cysts were most commonly detected in the left adrenal region (36.2%), followed by the pancreatic region (11.5%) and gastric cardia/lesser curvature of the stomach (9.2%). All patients except two underwent surgery for a definite diagnosis, symptom alleviation, and (or) malignancy prevention. Most patients recovered fast and were discharged from the hospital within 1 week after surgery, and the surgical complications were infrequent. The prognosis was generally favorable, as no recurrence was reported during the follow-up as long as 77 months.
Core Ideas
We quantified heterogeneity and reproducibility of repacked sand column microstructure.
The averaged pore geometric properties were quantified using Minkowski functionals.
Spatial ...heterogeneity was analyzed using a mathematical morphological operation.
Column experiments are widely used for mechanism and application studies in different fields. A major challenge and an advantage of the repacked porous column are its uniformity and reproducibility. Bulk density is a commonly used parameter to evaluate the uniformity and consistency of random packing. The internal structure of pore space is usually ignored and lumped into the bulk density. However, flow and transport characteristics of the repacked porous media are not fully defined from the bulk density but also depend on the internal structure. In this paper, we quantitatively assessed the heterogeneity and reproducibility of repacked sand columns using integral geometry methodology. X‐ray computed tomography is applied to visualize the pore space of the column repacked with different silica sands. The acquired tomography images are processed and quantitatively analyzed using Minkowski measures. The Minkowski functionals combined with the granulometric density function were applied to describe the spatial heterogeneity of microstructures. The results have demonstrated that the Minkowski functionals proportional to the well‐known geometric quantities are able to characterize the average geometrical properties of complex pore space. The pore size distributions of sand column are obtained through morphological opening operation. The two‐parameter Weibull distribution has been found reasonably describe the granulometric density acquired from the morphology analysis. The Minkowski densities joint with the critical pore diameter as well as parameters of Weibull function at different locations of each column have demonstrated the heterogeneity of the sand column. The small variation in the finer sand column indicates the heterogeneity is relatively smaller than that of the coarser ones. The relatively small differences among the repetitions of finer sand columns suggest more reliable reproducibility in comparison to the coarser sand columns.
Compared to ground-based observation, space-based observation is an effective approach to catalog and monitor increasing space objects. In this paper, space object detection in a video satellite ...image with star image background is studied. A new detection algorithm using motion information is proposed, which includes not only the known satellite attitude motion information but also the unknown object motion information. The effect of satellite attitude motion on an image is analyzed quantitatively, which can be decomposed into translation and rotation. Considering the continuity of object motion and brightness change, variable thresholding based on local image properties and detection of the previous frame is used to segment a single-frame image. Then, the algorithm uses the correlation of object motion in multiframe and satellite attitude motion information to detect the object. Experimental results with a video image from the Tiantuo-2 satellite show that this algorithm provides a good way for space object detection.
Confronted with the increasingly serious water pollution in China, companies are implementing scientific measures to strive for sustainable drinking water source regions (DWSRs). The challenge lies ...in how to evaluate available DWSRs. Considering the complexity and uncertainty existing in the evaluation process, we deem this process a complicated multi-criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) problem. It involves fuzzy decision information, prioritized relationships among different criteria, and distinctively allocated weights of decision makers regarding different alternatives. By utilizing the asymmetrical weak probabilistic hesitant fuzzy elements (P-HFES) to depict fuzzy data, this paper leads a direction to investigating a data-driven MCGDM approach and its application to evaluate available DWSRs. First, considering the common sense that criteria are not always given symmetrical priority, we propose a series of aggregation operators for integrating weak P-HFEs by including the prioritized relationship of criteria. Moreover, the importance weights of criteria and decision makers are objectively determined through a priority-based basic unit interval and monotonic (P-BUM) function and some novel distance measures, respectively. Finally, an evaluation approach is established. It aims to handle MCGDM problems with incomplete weight information regarding the criteria and decision makers in weak probabilistic hesitant fuzzy circumstance. Practically, focusing on evaluating three DWSRs, a realistic example of application is furnished to verify the feasibility of the proposed approach.
Sorafenib is a first-line drug for liver cancer treatment, but its clinical efficacy is still limited by drawbacks such as drug tolerance, toxic effects, and low bioavailability. Therefore, it is ...urgent to find efficient ways to synergize sorafenib with other agents and increase its bioavailability in order to enhance its clinical efficacy. Herein, we report the successful development of a carrier-free nanoplatform of an artesunate prodrug to potentiate the efficacy of sorafenib against hepatocellular carcinoma. The artesunate prodrug was synthesized by conjugating artesunate and linoleic acid through a thioketone (TK) bond. This prodrug can self-assemble in an aqueous solution via a one-step precipitation method. Furthermore, the inclusion of sorafenib during the self-assembly process results in a carrier-free artesunate/sorafenib mixed nanomedicine (SA@NPs) with a uniform and stable particle size. In addition, SA@NPs possess ROS-responsive drug-releasing ability by breaking up thioketone bonds under high H2O2 levels in tumors. The synergistic anticancer effects of SA@NPs have been demonstrated both in vivo and in vitro. SA@NPs can achieve significantly enhanced synergetic ferroptosis of tumor cells and show potentiated sorafenib efficacy against hepatocellular carcinoma. Moreover, SA@NPs have a tumor inhibition rate of 84.2%, which is 1.63-, 4.22-, and 1.29-fold higher than that in the experimental groups treated with free sorafenib, artesunate, and the simplified combined medication of sorafenib/artesunate, respectively. Overall, this work presents a significant advancement in the clinical chemotherapy of liver cancer and may pave the way for promising developments in the compatibility and clinical combination application of traditional Chinese medicine.
Preparation of encapsulated sorafenib nanodrug based on ROS-responsive artesunate prodrug for enhancing the effect of chemotherapy. Released ART with Sor can impair mitochondrial function, reduce GPX4 expression, and ultimately lead to ferroptosis of tumor cells. Display omitted
•Combine Chinese medicine like artemisinin nano-prodrug with sorafenib for better tumor therapy.•The Created stable SA@NPs possess uniform size & negative charge.•SA@NPs show promising cytotoxic effects, ROS creation, & promote ferroptosis.•SA@NPs have 84.2% tumor inhibition, exhibiting promising potential for liver cancer treatment.
Background/Aim. Macroangiopathy is the major cause of death and disability in type 2 diabetic patients. Studies have shown that liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, can ...protect cardiovascular system by inhibiting chronic inflammation of diabetes. However, a study about the effects of liraglutide on peripheral blood vessels and peripheral blood leukocytes has not been reported yet. The aim of this study was to determine vasculoprotective effect, vascular protection and mechanism of action of liraglutide in addition to its hypoglycemic effect. Methods. A total of 60 hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited from December 2013 to December 2014 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, PR China. Before the treatment with liraglutide, height and weight were measured to calculate body mass index (BMI). Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and so on were detected. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and islet ? cell function (HOMA-?) were computed. After applying liraglutide for three months, all indexes were measured again. The effects of liraglutide on these indexes were analyzed by paired sample t-test. Results. After the treatment with liraglutide, values of glycosylated hemoglobin ? HbA1c (8.46 ? 1.62 vs. 7.26 ? 1.40%) and 2h postprandial blood glucose ? 2hPBG (11.95 vs. 9.6 mmol/L) decreased significantly (p < 0.05). Body weight (87.3 vs. 82.5 kg) and BMI (30.37 vs. 28.63 kg/m2) decreased by 5.5% and 5.7%, respectively (p < 0.05). Also, levels of triglycerides (TG) (2.57 ? 1.54 vs. 1.81 ? 0.70 mmol/L) and LDL-cholesterol (2.92 ? 0.78 vs. 1.89 ? 0.66 mmol/L) reduced significantly (p < 0.05). Ankle-brachial index (ABI) decreased from 1.24 ? 0.10 to 1.14 ? 0.06 cm/s by 8%, while brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) decreased from 1,442.15 ? 196.26 to 1,316.85 ? 146.63 cm/s by 8.7%, and both differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion. Liraglutide, with a good hypoglycemic effect, can significantly reduce postprandial blood glucose and HbA1c, but cannot significantly improve fasting plasma glucose, insulin resistance and islet ? cell function. It also considerably decreased body weight, BMI and TG. Liraglutide can significantly lower ba-PWV and ABI to protect peripheral blood vessels.
PDF
