Soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 associated with microvascular obstruction in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Microvascular obstruction (MVO) develops in approximately 50% of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) after undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). MVO is strongly linked to inflammation, myocardial fibrosis, and adverse clinical outcomes. Soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) serves as a biomarker for inflammation and myocardial fibrosis.

Comparative evaluation of BacT/ALERT VIRTUO and BACTEC FX400 blood culture systems for the detection of bloodstream infections.

Bloodstream infections (BSI) pose significant threats to patient health, necessitating timely and accurate diagnostics to reduce mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical performance of the BacT/ALERT VIRTUO blood culture system with FANPlus bottles compared to the BACTEC FX400 system in detecting bloodstream pathogens. A total of 1,772 blood specimens were collected from various hospital wards.

Deciphering the impact of aggregated autophagy-related genes TUBA1B and HSP90AA1 on colorectal cancer evolution: a single-cell sequencing study of the tumor microenvironment.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer worldwide, with the tumor microenvironment (TME) playing a crucial role in its progression. Aggregated autophagy (AA) has been recognized as a factor that exacerbates CRC progression. This study aims to study the relationship between aggregated autophagy and CRC using single-cell sequencing techniques.

Polymorphism of Niobium Phosphate Bronze NaNbPO Deduced by the Packings of Structural Units: A Centrosymmetric Phase.

Herein, a new centrosymmetric phase NaNbPO (referred to as CS-NaNbPO) was obtained by a molten salt method, which is a polymorph of niobium phosphate bronze NaNbPO. CS-NaNbPO displays high structural similarity to the noncentrosymmetric NaNbPO phase (referred to as NCS-NaNbPO): Distorted NbO octahedra are corner-coordinated to form ReO-type layers, which are further joined together by isolated PO tetrahedra. However, two polymorphous phases adopt different packings of structural units, resulting in distinct symmetries.

Co-substitution design: a new glaserite-type rare-earth phosphate KRbSc(PO) with high structural tolerance.

An alkali rare-earth phosphate KRbSc(PO) was successfully obtained as a derivative of glaserite-type KNa(SO) by co-substitution of K(1)O → RbO, K(2)O → KO, NaO → ScO and SO → PO, while maintaining the original anionic framework. KRbSc(PO) exhibits a layered [Sc(PO)] framework built from ScO octahedra and PO tetrahedra, with K and Rb residing in the interlayers. Its isostructural lanthanide analogues KRbEr(PO) and KRbLu(PO), inspired by an elemental substitution strategy, were also prepared by a high-temperature solid state reaction.

Anti-reflux effects of a novel esophagogastric asymmetric anastomosis technique after laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy.

Background: Reflux esophagitis is a common postoperative complication of proximal gastrectomy. There is an urgent need for a safer method of performing esophageal-gastric anastomosis that reduces the risk of reflux after proximal gastrectomy. We hypothesize that a novel technique termed esophagogastric asymmetric anastomosis (EGAA) can prevent postoperative reflux in a safe and feasible manner.

Gut microbiota alterations in children and their relationship with primary immune thrombocytopenia.

Introduction: Gut microbiota reportedly play a critical role in some autoimmune diseases by maintaining immune homeostasis. Only a few studies have examined the correlation between gut microbiota and the onset of primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), especially in children. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in the composition and diversity of the fecal microbiota of children with ITP, as well as the correlation between such microbiota and the onset of ITP.

Atomic Substitution to Tune ScO Distortion in BaMSc(BO) (M = Na, K, Ba) to Acquire a Large Birefringence.

Replacing alkali metals (K, Na atoms) by an alkaline-earth metal (Ba atom), α-BaSc(BO) (high-temperature phase) is successfully obtained by a molten salt method, taking BaKNaSc(BO) as the parent template. Although both of them exhibit similar layered structures composed of ScO and BO units, α-BaSc(BO) shows largely distorted ScO octahedra (Δ = 0.56) forced by the uniform tension of a larger space effect from BaO polyhedrons, rather than regular ScO octahedra like in BaKNaSc(BO).

Proton-Rich POM-Type KMoO(HPO)(PO)Cl with Ion-Exchange Capabilities.

A proton-rich POM-type molybdenum phosphate KMoO(HPO)(PO)Cl was successfully obtained. It crystallizes in a noncentrosymmetric tetragonal space group of -4 (No. 81) with the unit cell parameters of = 9.

Introducing a New d Sc Asymmetric Ion for Functional Materials: Large Birefringence Enhancement by ScO in Ba Sc (BO ).

Transition metal ions with d electronic states (Ti , Zr , Nb and Ta ) are widely investigated as functional materials. This work first illustrates that Sc ion, long-time ignored, displays a second-order Jahn-Teller (SOJT) effect similar to asymmetric oxide-coordinated transition metal ions, thus providing a new ground to seek for asymmetric functional materials with enhanced performances. In Ba Sc (BO ) , BO groups are parallelly arranged, satisfying the ideal arrangement to produce large birefringence.

Ca(TeO)(MO) (M = Mo, W): Mid-Infrared Nonlinear Optical Tellurates with Ultrawide Transparency Ranges and Superhigh Laser-Induced Damage Thresholds.

Intense interests in mid-infrared (MIR) nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals have erupted in recent years due to the development of optoelectronic applications ranging from remote monitoring to molecular spectroscopy. Here, two polar crystals Ca(TeO)(MO) (M = Mo, W) were grown from TeO-MO flux by high-temperature solution methods. Ca(TeO)(MoO) and Ca(TeO)(WO) are isostructural, which feature novel structures consisting of asymmetric MO tetrahedra and TeO trigonal pyramids.

A Titanium and Tantalum Phosphate LiNaTiTa P O with An Open Framework hosting Li and Na Ions.

Herein, we report a detailed structural, electric, thermal and optical analysis of a titanium and tantalum phosphate LiNaTiTa P O . The title compound is comprised of typical ReO -type layers constituted by corner-sharing TiO and TaO octahedra, bridged by PO tetrahedra, and the structure is closely related to monophosphate niobium bronzes. The existence of pentagonal tunnels, hosting the Li and Na ions, endows LiNaTiTa P O a moderate ion transportation behavior (4.

Incidence of and risk factors for surgical site infection after colorectal surgery: A multiple-center prospective study of 3,663 consecutive patients in China.

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) after colorectal surgery (CRS) remains a significant problem for its negative clinical outcomes. However, it is poorly understood in China. This study aims to investigate the incidence, risk factors and microbiology of SSI after CRS.

Efficacy of Serum Total Bilirubin in Predicting the Severity of Ulcerative Colitis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: Several serum parameters can be used to assess ulcerative colitis (UC) disease activity. However, the value of these parameters for predicting UC severity has not been studied in depth. Therefore, we sought to investigate the value of serum total bilirubin (TB) as a predictor of UC severity.

Prevalence of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial use in China: Results from the 2018 point prevalence survey in 189 hospitals in Guangdong Province.

Background: Limited data on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are available from the developing world, thus a point prevalence survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of HAIs and antimicrobial use in Guangdong Province, China.

Methods: A standardized methodology for point prevalence surveys on HAIs and antimicrobial use has been developed by the Chinese Nosocomial Infection Control and Quality Improvement Center. The prevalence of HAIs, antimicrobial use, and baseline hospital-level variables were collected in 189 hospitals from June 2017 to May 2018.

Fecal microbiota transplantation treatment for refractory ulcerative colitis with allergy to 5-aminosalicylic acid: A case report.

Introduction: Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is currently being explored as a potential therapy for ulcerative colitis (UC). Here, we report the first case of a UC patient with allergy to 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) who underwent FMT and achieved clinical remission.

Case Presentation: This patient had a 9-year history of UC and was allergic to 5-ASA.

MicroRNA-615-5p targets insulin-like growth factor 2 and exerts tumor-suppressing functions in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

To investigate the expression pattern, clinical significance and functional roles of microRNA (miR)-615-5p in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), , quantitative real-time PCR was performed to detect expression levels of miR‑615‑5p in ESCC tissues and cell lines. Associations between miR‑615‑5p expression and various clinicopathological features of ESCC patients were also statistically evaluated. The candidate targets of miR‑615‑5p were identified by integrating bioinformatics miRNA target prediction, western blot analysis and luciferase reporter assay.

Atomically thin tin dioxide sheets for efficient catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide.

The thinner the better: SnO2 sheets that are five atomic layers thick are an efficient catalyst for the oxidation of CO. These sheets, which have 40% surface atom occupancy and are fabricated by a scalable ethylenediamine-assisted pathway, show remarkably improved catalytic performances compared to other SnO2 species, with the apparent activation energy lowered to 59.2 kJ mol(-1) and the full-conversion-temperature lowered to 250 °C.

Defect-rich MoS2 ultrathin nanosheets with additional active edge sites for enhanced electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Defect-rich MoS2 ultrathin nanosheets are synthesized on a gram scale for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution. The novel defect-rich structure introduces additional active edge sites into the MoS2 ultrathin nanosheets, which significantly improves their electrocatalytic performance. Low onset overpotential and small Tafel slope, along with large cathodic current density and excellent durability, are all achieved for the novel hydrogen-evolution-reaction electrocatalyst.

Nanopatterning on silicon surface using atomic force microscopy with diamond-like carbon (DLC)-coated Si probe.

Atomic force microscope (AFM) equipped with diamond-like carbon (DLC)-coated Si probe has been used for scratch nanolithography on Si surfaces. The effect of scratch direction, applied tip force, scratch speed, and number of scratches on the size of the scratched geometry has been investigated. The size of the groove differs with scratch direction, which increases with the applied tip force and number of scratches but decreases slightly with scratch speed.

Preface to special topic: surface modification, wetting, and biological interfaces (guest editors: john ralston and jingfang zhou).

This Special Topic section of Biomicrofluidics on "Surface Modification, Wetting, and Biological Interfaces," is discussed. The topic is very timely and one that is tremendously relevant to the microfluidics and nanofluidics community.

Design of pyrimidine-based photoresponsive surfaces and light-regulated wettability.

Photoresponsive surfaces were prepared by attaching pyrimidine-terminated molecules to flat gold substrates (as thiol self-assembled monolayers) or by dip-coating quartz surfaces. Both types of films underwent photodimerization (two pyrimidine rings react with one another and form a cyclobutane type dimer through the C5=C6 double bond) when irradiated with light of 280 nm wavelength. The reverse reaction was carried out by irradiating the dimerized surface with light of 240 nm wavelength.

Functionalized gold nanoparticles: synthesis, structure and colloid stability.

Gold nanoparticles and their arrays are some of the most studied nanomaterials, with promising applications in many fields such as electronics, optoelectronics, catalysis and biology. In order to protect bare gold nanoparticles from aggregation, to manipulate the optical, electronic and catalytic properties of the gold core, as well as to control interfacial properties, the gold nanoparticles are generally capped by an organic layer. Previous studies [C.