Association of Multiple Urinary Phthalates Metabolites with Diabetes Risk in Elderly Population.

As a common environmental endocrine disruptor, phthalate exposure could affect the diabetes risk. However, it remains unclear whether phthalate exposure in the elderly population alters diabetes risk. We conducted a cross-sectional survey to explore the effect of urinary phthalate metabolites on diabetes in the elderly.

Ultra-Tough, yet Rigid and Healable Supramolecular Polymers with Variable Stiffness for Multimodal Actuators.

Variable stiffness materials have shown considerable application in soft robotics. However, previously reported materials often struggle to reconcile high stiffness, stretchability, toughness, and self-healing ability, because of the inherently conflicting requisite of these properties in molecular design. Herein, we propose a novel strategy that involves incorporating acid-base ionic pairs capable of from strong crosslinking sites into a dense and robust hydrogen-bonding network to construct rigid self-healing polymers with tunable stiffness and excellent toughness.

A novel method for precise implantation of tracheal Y-shaped stent.

The tracheal Y-shaped stent is mainly used for the treatment of critical patients with airway stenosis or esophagotracheal fistula near carina. A novel method for precise implantation of Y-shaped tracheal stents was developed using double-lumen endotracheal intubation and flexible bronchoscopy. This approach aims to address the limitations associated with X-ray or rigid bronchoscopy guidance, such as operational difficulties and the risk of inaccurate stent placement leading to implantation failure or suffocation.

Ultra-Highly Stiff and Tough Shape Memory Polyurea with Unprecedented Energy Density by Precise Slight Cross-Linking.

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) have attracted significant attention and hold vast potential for diverse applications. Nevertheless, conventional SMPs suffer from notable shortcomings in terms of mechanical properties, environmental stability, and energy density, significantly constraining their practical utility. Here, inspired by the structure of muscle fibers, an innovative approach that involves the precise incorporation of subtle, permanent cross-linking within a hierarchical hydrogen bonding supramolecular network is reported.

Regional disparities, age-related changes and sex-related differences in knee osteoarthritis.

Background: The objective of the study is to analyse the regions, age and sex differences in the incidence of knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Methods: Data were extracted from the global burden of diseases (GBD) 2019 study, including incidence, years lived with disability (YLD), disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) and risk factors. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were calculated to quantify the temporal trends in age standardized rate (ASR) of KOA.

Effects of Ambient O on Respiratory Mortality, Especially the Combined Effects of PM and O.

Background: In China, the increasing concentration of ozone (O) has emerged as a significant air pollution issue, leading to adverse effects on public health, particularly the respiratory system. Despite the progress made in managing air pollution in China, it is crucial to address the problem of environmental O pollution at present.

Methods: The connection between O exposure and respiratory mortality in Shenyang, China, from 2014 to 2018 was analyzed by a time-series generalized additive regression model (GAM) with quasi-Poisson regression.

Fatigue-Free and Skin-like Supramolecular Ion-Conductive Elastomeric Interphases for Stable Lithium Metal Batteries.

The heterogeneity and continuous cracking of the static solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) are one of the most critical barriers that largely limit the cycle life of lithium (Li) metal batteries. Herein, we report a fatigue-free dynamic supramolecular ion-conductive elastomeric interphase (DSIEI) for a highly efficient and dendrite-free lithium metal anode. The soft phase poly(propylene glycol) backbone with loosely Li-O coordinating interaction was responsible for fast ion transport.

Colloid Electrolyte with Weakly Solvated Structure and Optimized Electrode/Electrolyte Interface for Zinc Metal Batteries.

Aqueous zinc batteries are considered as a viable candidate for cost-effective and environmentally sustainable energy storage technology but are severely hampered by the notorious dendrite growth and parasitic reactions at the zinc anode side. Herein, we propose a bifunctional colloidal electrolyte design that utilizes upconversion nanocrystals, i.e.

Cationic Oxidative Leaching Engineering Modulated Self-Reconstruction of Nickel Sulfide for Superior Water Oxidation.

Tuning the electroactive surface species of electrocatalysts remains a significant challenge for achieving highly efficient oxygen evolution reactions. Herein, we propose an innovative leaching strategy, modulated by cationic oxidation, to achieve active self-reconstruction of these catalysts. Vanadium is introduced as a cation into NiS and oxidized under low oxidative potential, leading to subsequent leaching into the electrolyte and triggering self-reconstruction.

Room-Temperature Self-Healing Soft Composite Network with Unprecedented Crack Propagation Resistance Enabled by a Supramolecular Assembled Lamellar Structure.

Soft self-healing materials are compelling candidates for stretchable devices because of their excellent compliance, extensibility, and self-restorability. However, most existing soft self-healing polymers suffer from crack propagation and irreversible fatigue failure due to easy breakage of their dynamic amorphous, low-energy polymer networks. Herein, inspired by distinct structure-property relationship of biological tissues, a supramolecular interfacial assembly strategy of preparing soft self-healing composites with unprecedented crack propagation resistance is proposed by structurally engineering preferentially aligned lamellar structures within a dynamic and superstretchable poly(urea-ureathane) matrix (which is elongated to 24 750× its original length).

Sulfur vacancy and p-n junction synergistically boosting interfacial charge transfer and separation in ZnInS/NiWO heterostructure for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Constructing a p-n heterojunction with vacancy is advantageous for speeding up carrier separation and migration due to the synergy of the built-in electric field and electron capture of the vacancy. Herein, a sulfur vacancy riched-ZnInS/NiWO p-n heterojunction (VZIS/NWO) photocatalyst was rationally designed and fabricated for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. The composition and structure of VZIS/NWO were characterized.

Detecting genomic mosaicism in "de novo" genetic epilepsy by amplicon-based deep sequencing.

Aim: To investigate the occurrence of mosaicism in epilepsy probands and their parents using amplicon-based deep sequencing (ADS).

Methods: Patients were recruited from the outpatient of Peking University First Hospital. Two hundred and sixty-four probands with pathogenic variants tested by next-generation sequencing (NGS) were enrolled.

-related epilepsy in mosaic males: The phenotypic implication of genotype and variant allele frequency.

Objective: To analyze the genotypes and phenotypes of mosaic male patients with -related epilepsy (-RE) and explore the correlation between genotype, variant allele frequency (VAF), and phenotypic severity.

Methods: Clinical data and peripheral blood samples of 11 male mosaic patients were collected and analyzed in our study. The VAF of the gene from peripheral blood was quantified using amplicon-based deep sequencing.

Multiple chemical valences induced interface regulation in perovskite nickelate/carbon nitride for boosting photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Recent developments in transition metal-based photocatalysts have heightened the need for superior solar utilization. Evidence suggests that properly adjusting the chemical valence of the transition metal elements could simultaneously achieve broad-spectrum absorption and efficient charge separation for the photocatalysts. However, the understanding and application of this strategy remain a significant challenge.

-Related Epilepsy: The Phenotypic Spectrum, Treatment and Prognosis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the phenotypic spectrum, treatment, and prognosis of 72 Chinese children with variants.

Methods: The variants were detected by next-generation sequencing. All patients were followed up at a pediatric neurology clinic in our hospital or by telephone.

Application of Machine Vision in Classifying Gait Frailty Among Older Adults.

Frail older adults have an increased risk of adverse health outcomes and premature death. They also exhibit altered gait characteristics in comparison with healthy individuals. In this study, we created a Fried's frailty phenotype (FFP) labelled casual walking video set of older adults based on the West China Health and Aging Trend study.

Phenotypes of Variants in a Chinese Cohort.

This study aimed to analyze the genotypes and phenotypes of variants in a Chinese cohort. Seven male and four female patients with variants were enrolled, including siblings of brothers. Ten different variants (nine missense and one splicing site) were identified, among which six were novel.

Dravet syndrome-associated mutations in , and define the genetic landscape of defects of GABA receptors.

Dravet syndrome is a rare, catastrophic epileptic encephalopathy that begins in the first year of life, usually with febrile or afebrile hemiclonic or generalized tonic-clonic seizures followed by status epilepticus. variants in genes that mediate synaptic transmission such as and are often associated with Dravet syndrome. Recently, GABA receptor subunit genes () encoding α1 (), β3 () and γ2 (), but not β2 () or β1 (), subunits are frequently associated with Dravet syndrome or Dravet syndrome-like phenotype.

Assessing right ventricular systolic function using ultrasonic speckle-tracking imaging in repaired Tetralogy of Fallot with different pulmonary artery branch angles.

Objective: This study assessed whether ultrasonic speckle-tracking imaging (STI) could help evaluate right ventricular systolic function in repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) with different pulmonary artery branch angles.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 64 patients who underwent surgery for TOF and 60 normal children. The angle between the left pulmonary artery and main pulmonary artery was measured using echocardiography and computed tomography angiography (CTA).

Study on the views and methods of ultrasonic screening and diagnosis for abnormal aortic arch in infants.

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore echocardiographic views and methods of aortic arch anomalies in infants, so as to improve the screening sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy.

Methods: 140 children with abnormal aortic arch diagnosed by ultrasound in Children's Hospital of Hebei Province from January 2014 to December 2019 were selected for retrospective analysis. All were confirmed by surgery or/and computerized tomography angiography.

A Fast Room-Temperature Self-Healing Glassy Polyurethane.

We designed and synthesized a colorless transparent glassy polyurethane assembled using low-molecular-weight oligomers carrying a large number of loosely packed weak hydrogen bonds (H-bonds), which has a glass transition temperature (T ) up to 36.8 °C and behaves unprecedentedly robust stiffness with a tensile Young's modulus of 1.56±0.

Phenotypic spectrum of patients with GABRB2 variants: from mild febrile seizures to severe epileptic encephalopathy.

Aim: To characterize the different phenotypes of GABRB2-related epilepsy and to establish a genotype-phenotype correlation.

Method: We used next-generation sequencing to identify GABRB2 variants in 15 patients.

Results: Eleven GABRB2 variants were novel and 12 were de novo.

Double aortic arch with atretic left arch distal to the origin of left subclavian artery accompanied by dyspnea: A case report and literature review.

Double aortic arch with atretic left arch distal to the origin of left subclavian artery is a rare type of vascular ring, and it can be easily confused with the right aortic arch with mirror branching. We provided a rare case of a 10-month-old infant with dyspnea. Echocardiography showed a suspicious double aortic arch with atretic left arch distal to the origin of left subclavian artery, which was confirmed intra-operatively.

CHD2-related epilepsy: novel mutations and new phenotypes.

The aim of this report was to refine the genotypes and phenotypes of chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 2 (CHD2)-related epilepsy. Seventeen patients with CHD2 mutations were enrolled. CHD2 mutations were identified by application of next-generation sequencing of epilepsy or whole exome sequencing.