Development and validation of a scoring system to predict esophagogastroduodenoscopy necessity.

Objective: This study aimed to develop and validate a scoring system for predicting the need for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in clinical practice to enhance accuracy and reduce misapplications.

Methods: From February 2021 to April 2022, outpatients scheduled for EGD at the Department of Gastroenterology in our hospital were recruited. Patients completed the system evaluation by providing clinical symptoms, relevant medical history, and endoscopic findings.

Oxide Materials for Thermoelectric Conversion.

Thermoelectric technology has emerged as a prominent area of research in the past few decades for harnessing waste heat and improving the efficiency of next-generation renewable energy technologies. There has been rapid progress in the development of high-performance thermoelectric materials, as measured by the dimensionless figure of merit ( =  ·  · ). Several heavy-metal-based thermoelectric materials with commercial-level performance ( = 1) have so far been proposed.

Multigenerational variation in the nutrients and digestion of western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) depends on the nutritive quality of different foods.

Western flower thrips (WFTs), Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera, Thripidae), is one of the most serious pests that attack rose flowers. Little is known about the effect of different parts of the rose flower on nutritional contents and digestive enzyme activities in thrips. This study assessed variations in the nutritional contents and digestive enzyme activities in the second-instar larvae and adults WFTs fed on 3 food types (rose petals, rose flowers, and honey solution + kidney bean pods) for multiple generations.

One-step detection for two serological biomarker species to improve the diagnostic accuracy of hepatocellular carcinoma.

At present, the accuracy of clinical hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis needs to be further improved. In this work, two kinds of serological biomarker species, microRNA and protein biomarker, have been detected simultaneously to identify HCC. Herein, a dual-aptamer hairpin DNA oligonucleotide is designed as the electrochemical sensing probe (ESP) to achieve this goal.

[Sublethal effects of spinetoram and azadirachtin on development and reproduction of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande).].

To evaluate the sublethal effects of spinetoram and azadirachtin on western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, leaf dipping method was used to determine their sublethal concentrations (LC) on the 2 instar nymph, and their influences on development and reproduction of F. occidentalis were studied. The results showed exposure of sublethal concentrations of spinetoram and azadirachtin to F.

Dynamic Electrochemical Control of Cell Capture-and-Release Based on Redox-Controlled Host-Guest Interactions.

Artificial control of cell adhesion on smart surface is an on-demand technique in areas ranging from tissue engineering, stem cell differentiation, to the design of cell-based diagnostic system. In this paper, we report an electrochemical system for dynamic control of cell catch-and-release, which is based on the redox-controlled host-guest interaction. Experimental results reveal that the interaction between guest molecule (ferrocene, Fc) and host molecule (β-cyclodextrin, β-CD) is highly sensitive to electrochemical stimulus.

An electrochemical biosensor for the assay of alpha-fetoprotein-L3 with practical applications.

The detection of alpha-fetoprotein-L3 (AFP-L3) is of great importance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis, but remains unsatisfactory owing to poor sensitivity and complex operating steps. In this work, a simple and sensitive method has been proposed for the detection of AFP-L3. Firstly, biotinylated Lens culinaris agglutinin-integrated silver nanoparticles (B-LCA-AgNPs) is fabricated.

[Inhibitory effect of total flavonoids of Malus hupehensis on hepatic fibrosis induced by Schistosoma japonicum in mice].

Objective: To investigate the effects of total flavonoids of Malus hupehensis on hepatic fibrosis in mice induced by Schistosoma japonicum.

Methods: The mice model of hepatic fibrosis which infected by cercariae of S. japonicum were randomly divided into 6 groups: Group A as a blank control, Group B as a model, Group C as a positive control by complex liver soften tablet of turtle, Group D, E, F treated with a high dose of 114 mg/(kg x d), middle dose of 57 mg/(kg d), and low dose of 28.