Circadian pattern influence on the incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) has been demonstrated. However, the effect of temporal difference on the clinical outcomes of OHCA remains ...inconclusive. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective study in an urban city of Taiwan between January 2018 and December 2020 in order to investigate the relationship between temporal differences and the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), sustained (≥24 h) ROSC, and survival to discharge in patients with OHCA. Of the 842 patients with OHCA, 371 occurred in the daytime, 250 in the evening, and 221 at night. During nighttime, there was a decreased incidence of OHCA, but the outcomes of OHCA were significant poor compared to the incidents during the daytime and evening. After multivariate adjustment for influencing factors, OHCAs occurring at night were independently associated with lower probabilities of achieving sustained ROSC (aOR = 0.489, 95% CI: 0.285–0.840, p = 0.009) and survival to discharge (aOR = 0.147, 95% CI: 0.03–0.714, p = 0.017). Subgroup analyses revealed significant temporal differences in male patients, older adult patients, those with longer response times (≥5 min), and witnessed OHCA. The effects of temporal difference on the outcome of OHCA may be a result of physiological factors, underlying etiology of arrest, resuscitative efforts in prehospital and in-hospital stages, or a combination of factors.
Background and Aims: Cases of Clostridioides difficile infection have been rising among the pediatric and adolescent population. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as an alternative ...therapy for recurrent C. difficile infection. We aim to perform the first systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation for C. difficile infection in children and adolescents. Methods: A literature search was performed using variations of the keywords “pediatrics”, “C. difficile infection”, and “fecal microbiota transplantation” in PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane, and Google Scholar from inception to 30 June 2022. The resulting 575 articles were independently screened by three authors. Fourteen studies that satisfied the eligibility criteria were included in the meta-analysis. Results: The pooled success rate of FMT in the overall cohort was 86% (95% confidence interval: 77−95%; p < 0.001; I2 = 70%). There were 38 serious adverse events in 36 patients with a pooled rate of 2.0% (95% confidence interval: 0.0−3.0%; p = 0.1; I2 = 0.0%) and 47 adverse events in 45 patients with a pooled rate of 15% (95% confidence interval: 5.0−25.0%; p = 0.02; I2 = 54.0%). There was no death associated with FMT. Conclusions: FMT was concluded to be an effective and safe therapy in pediatric and adolescent patients with C. difficile infection. Underlying comorbidities may impede the efficacy. A rigorous screening process of the donors is recommended prior to embarking on FMT. There is no universal and cost-effective way to monitor the long-term outcomes of FMT. While promising, metagenomic sequencing may not be available in settings with limited resources. Robust data from randomized clinical trials is warranted.
Arsenic (As) is a human carcinogen, and arsenic contamination in groundwater is a worldwide public health concern. Arsenic-affected areas are found in many places but are reported mostly in ...agricultural farmlands, yet the interaction of fertilizers, microorganisms, and arsenic mobilization in arsenic-contaminated aquifers remains uncharacterized. This study investigates the effects of fertilizers and bacteria on the mobilization of arsenic in two arsenic-contaminated aquifers. We performed microcosm experiments using arsenic-contaminated sediments and amended with inorganic nitrogenous or phosphorus fertilizers for 1 and 4 months under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The results show that microcosms amended with 100 mg/L phosphorus fertilizers (dipotassium phosphate), but not nitrogenous fertilizers (ammonium sulfate), significantly increase aqueous As(III) release in arsenic-contaminated sediments under anaerobic condition. We also show that concentrations of iron, manganese, potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium are increased in the aqueous phase and that the addition of dipotassium phosphate causes a further increase in aqueous iron, potassium, and sodium, suggesting that multiple metal elements may take part in the arsenic release process. Furthermore, microbial analysis indicates that the dominant microbial phylum is shifted from α-proteobacteria to β- and γ-proteobacteria when the As(III) is increased and phosphate is added in the aquifer. Our results provide evidence that both phosphorus fertilizers and microorganisms can mediate the release of arsenic to groundwater in arsenic-contaminated sediments under anaerobic condition. Our study suggests that agricultural activity such as the use of fertilizers and monitoring phosphate concentration in groundwater should be taken into consideration for the management of arsenic in groundwater.
In this study, we propose a time‐ and energy‐saving method using biodegradable gelatin as a green template and a low‐toxicity inorganic aluminum salt (Al(NO3)3·9H2O) as a low‐cost aluminum source for ...the preparation of mesoporous alumina (γ‐Al2O3). The effects of pH (pH 8.0–10.0), gelatin to aluminum source ratio (0–1.9), and the hydrothermal treatment time (0–72 h) are thoroughly explored. The gelatin can assemble with the aluminum species γ‐AlOOH via hydrogen bonding to prevent the self‐condensation of the γ‐AlOOH during the hydrothermal treatment. Distinctly, the mesoporous γ‐Al2O3 was obtained from the calcination of the resulting gelatin–γ‐AlOOH composites. Without gelatin, high‐crystallinity γ‐AlOOH formed after the hydrothermal treatment, which transformed into the nonporous γ‐Al2O3 with a small surface area (20 m2/g). Finally, it was found that with a gelatin/aluminum ratio of 0.81, reaction pH value of 8.0, and hydrothermal treatment time of 24 h, high‐surface‐area mesoporous γ‐Al2O3 (262 m2/g) with pore diameter of 6.3 nm could be synthesized.
We propose a time‐ and energy‐saving method using biodegradable gelatin as a green template and a low‐toxicity inorganic aluminum salt (Al(NO3)3·9H2O) as a low‐cost aluminum source for the preparation of mesoporous alumina.
For infants with very low birth weights (VLBW), their neurodevelopmental outcomes are thought to be associated with extra-uterine growth retardation (EUGR). In this study, based on a single ...institute, we analyzed the association between different levels or severity of EUGR of VLBW infants and their neurodevelopmental outcomes later at a corrected age of 24 months.
This is a hospital-based retrospective cohort study. The severity of EUGR was classified into three categories according to the z-score of discharge weight: z < -2.0, <-2.5, and <-3.0. The outcomes were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II (BSID-II) at a corrected age of 24 months. We then estimated the association of EUGR with low mental developmental index (MDI) or low psychomotor developmental index (PDI). Multiple logistic regression and stratified analyses were used to adjust for the possible confounding factors.
In total, 224 VLBW infants were enrolled in this study from 1997 to 2006. In the univariate analysis, EUGR for weight at discharge from hospital was associated with MDI <85 at the corrected age of 24 months, and this association was related to the severity of EUGR (z < -2.5, OR: 1.92 (1.04-3.53); z < -3.0, OR: 2.83 (1.26-6.36)). In addition, the relationship was not confounded by gender nor small for gestational age. The stratified analysis against hemodynamic significant patent ductus arteriosus also revealed that EUGR was an independent predictor for neurodevelopmental outcomes.
In VLBW preterm infants, EUGR was significantly associated with low MDI scores assessed at a corrected age of 24 months. Early evaluation and recognition of EUGR should be emphasized when caring for preterm infants.
Charge density waves spontaneously breaking lattice symmetry through periodic lattice distortion, and electron–electron and electron–phonon interactions, can lead to a new type of electronic band ...structure. Bulk 2H-TaS2 is an archetypal transition metal dichalcogenide supporting charge density waves with a phase transition at 75 K. Here, it is shown that charge density waves can exist in exfoliated monolayer 2H-TaS2 and the transition temperature can reach 140 K, which is much higher than that in the bulk. The degenerate breathing and wiggle modes of 2H-TaS2 originating from the periodic lattice distortion are probed by optical methods. The results open an avenue to investigating charge density wave phases in two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides and will be helpful for understanding and designing devices based on charge density waves.
Hollow Li2FeSiO4 spheres have been successfully prepared using hollow silica spheres as both reactant and template, for which the thickness of the nanoscale Li2FeSiO4 thin shells are about 50 nm. ...Then, the hollow Li2FeSiO4 spheres were coated by phenolic resin as a carbon precursor to obtain the hollow Li2FeSiO4/Carbon sphere (HLFS/C) composite. The structure characterizations by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy show that the HLFS/Cs are hollow structures with high purity. When used as the cathode material under charge/discharge rates at 0.05C (1C = 166 mAh g−1), the HLFS/C exhibited a capacity of 155 mAh g−1 with good cycle stability. Furthermore, the HLFS exhibited capacities of 820, 650 and 420 mAh g−1 for 0.15C, 0.3C and 0.6C rates for anode application, respectively, with good cycle stability. The hollow structure of HLFS/C enables us to overcome the aggregation and structural instability problems, which is essential for the improvement of the electrochemical performance.
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•Hollow Li2FeSiO4 spheres (HLFS) have been successfully prepared.•The HLFS were coated by carbon to obtain the hollow HLFS/C sphere composite.•The HLFS exhibited capacities of 820 mAh g−1 for 0.15C rates for anode application.
Our previous in vitro results demonstrated that 11-dehydrosinulariolide significantly reduced 6-hydroxydopamine-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in a human neuroblastoma cell line, SH-SY5Y, and ...suppressed the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophage cells. The neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of 11-dehydrosinulariolide may be suitable for treating spinal cord injury (SCI).
In the present study, Wistar rats were pretreated with 11-dehydrosinulariolide or saline through intrathecal injection after a thoracic spinal cord contusion injury induced using a New York University (NYU) impactor. The apoptotic cells were assessed using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. The expression and localization of proinflammatory, apoptosis-associated and cell survival-related pathway proteins were examined through immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry.
11-Dehydrosinulariolide attenuated SCI-induced cell apoptosis by upregulating the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and cell survival-related pathway proteins p-Akt and p-ERK, 8 h after SCI. Furthermore, the transcription factor p-CREB, which regulates Bcl-2 expression, was upregulated after 11-dehydrosinulariolide treatment. On day 7 after SCI, 11-dehydrosinulariolide exhibited an anti-inflammatory effect, attenuating SCI-induced upregulation of the inflammatory proteins iNOS and tumor necrosis factor-α. 11-Dehydrosinulariolide also induced an increase in the expression of arginase-1 and CD206, markers of M2 microglia, in the injured spinal cord on day 7 after SCI. Thus, the anti-inflammatory effect of 11-dehydrosinulariolide may be related to the promotion of an alternative pathway of microglia activation.
The results show that 11-dehydrosinulariolide exerts antiapoptotic effects at 8 h after SCI and anti-inflammatory effects at 7 days after SCI. We consider that this compound may be a promising therapeutic agent for SCI.
In this manuscript, we provided a new synthetic method to conveniently synthesize the mesoporous carbon platelets of high surface area (>1,000 m2/g), large pore size (≈8.0 nm), and short channel ...length (<100 nm) for the application in high‐power supercapacitor. A co‐assembly approach to prepare the phenol formaldehyde‐Pluronic F127‐calcium phosphate composite was proposed. In such composites, the PF‐F127 organic parts occluded within the Ca3(PO4)2 crystals can be converted to mesoporous carbon platelets and the calcium phosphate is easily removed in an acidic aqueous solution rather than using a highly corrosive HF solution for silica removal. In practice, the platelets of relatively large mesopores, short pore channels, high specific surface area, and good electronic conductivity to meet the high power demands. It shows that the mesoporous carbon can have a rectangle‐like shape i‐E curve measured at a very high scan rate of 4,000 mV/s in 4.0 M H2SO4. The novel mesoporous carbon platelets electrode exhibits only 29% loss when the scan rate is varied from 100 to 4,000 mV/s. The above perfect capacitive performances confirm the promising applicability of this novel mesoporous carbon for supercapacitors of ultrahigh power.
Mesoporous carbon platelets of high surface area (>1,000 m2/g), large pore size (>10.0 nm), and short channel length (<100 nm) for the application in high‐power supercapacitor have been synthesized via a co‐assembly approach for the formation of the phenol formaldehyde‐Pluronic F127‐calcium phosphate composite.
A benzimidazole-containing diamine monomer was prepared via a simple one-step synthesis process. A two-step procedure involving polycondensation in the presence of aromatic dianhydrides ...(4,4′-oxydiphthalic anhydride, ODPA) followed by thermal imidization was then performed to prepare a benzimidazole-based polyimide (BI-PI). BI-PI membranes were fabricated using an electrospinning technique and were hot pressed for 30 min at 200 °C under a pressure of 50 kgf /cm2. Finally, the hot-pressed membranes were assembled into supercapacitors, utilizing high-porosity-activated water chestnut shell biochar as the active material. The TGA results showed that the BI-PI polymer produced in the two-step synthesis process had a high thermal stability (Td5% = 527 °C). Moreover, the hot-press process reduced the pore size in the BI-PI membrane and improved the pore-size uniformity. The hot-press procedure additionally improved the mechanical properties of the BI-PI membrane, resulting in a high tensile modulus of 783 MPa and a tensile strength of 34.8 MPa. The cyclic voltammetry test results showed that the membrane had a specific capacitance of 121 F/g and a capacitance retention of 77%. By contrast, a commercial cellulose separator showed a specific capacitance value of 107 F/g and a capacitance retention of 49% under the same scanning conditions. Finally, the membrane showed both a small equivalent series resistance (Rs) and a small interfacial resistance (Rct). Overall, the results showed that the BI-PI membrane has significant potential as a separator for high-performance supercapacitor applications.
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