Characteristics and outcome of a territory-wide cohort study of patients with acquired hemophilia A in Hong Kong.

Introduction: Acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is a rare bleeding disorder with destruction of factor VIII by autoantibodies. Comprehensive data for Chinese patients are lacking. Predictors of hospital stay have not been investigated.

Single-nucleus multiomic mapping of mA methylomes and transcriptomes in native populations of cells with sn-m6A-CT.

N-methyladenosine (mA) RNA modification plays important roles in the governance of gene expression and is temporally regulated in different cell states. In contrast to global mA profiling in bulk sequencing, single-cell technologies for analyzing mA heterogeneity are not extensively established. Here, we developed single-nucleus m6A-CUT&Tag (sn-m6A-CT) for simultaneous profiling of mA methylomes and transcriptomes within a single nucleus using mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs).

Nano-Sized Calcium Copper Titanate for the Fabrication of High Dielectric Constant Functional Ceramic-Polymer Composites.

A novel calcium copper titanate (CaCuTiO)-polyvinylidene fluoride composite (CCTO@PVDF) with Cu-deficiency was successfully prepared through the molten salt-assisted method. The morphology and structure of polymer composites uniformly incorporated with CCTO nanocrystals were characterized. At the same volume fraction, the CCTOs with Cu-deficiency displayed higher dielectric constants than those without post-treatment.

Three-dimensional electron temperature measurement of inertial confinement fusion hotspots using x-ray emission tomography.

We present a novel approach to reconstruct three-dimensional (3D) electron temperature distributions of inertially confined fusion plasma hotspots at the National Ignition Facility. Using very limited number of two-dimensional (2D) x-ray imaging lines of sight, we perform 3D reconstructions of x-ray emission distributions from different x-ray energy channels ranging from 20 to 30 keV. 2D time-integrated x-ray images are processed using the algebraic reconstruction technique to reconstruct a 3D hotspot x-ray emission distribution that is self-consistent with the input images.

DNA sequencing based on electronic tunneling in a gold nanogap: a first-principles study.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing has found wide applications in medicine including treatment of diseases, diagnosis and genetics studies. Rapid and cost-effective DNA sequencing has been achieved by measuring the transverse electronic conductance as a single-stranded DNA is driven through a nanojunction. With the aim of improving the accuracy and sensitivity of DNA sequencing, we investigate the electron transport properties of DNA nucleobases within gold nanogaps based on first-principles quantum transport simulations.

Rational Design of Embedded CoTe Nanoparticles in Freestanding N-Doped Multichannel Carbon Fibers for Sodium-Ion Batteries with Ultralong Cycle Lifespan.

Although sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have high potential for applications in large-scale energy storage, their limited cycle life and unsatisfactory energy density hinder their commercial applications. Here, a superior stable CoTe/carbon anode, in which CoTe nanoparticles are embedded in freestanding N-doped multichannel carbon fiber (CoTe@NMCNFs), with ultralong cycle life for SIBs, is reported. Specifically, CoTe nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed in the carbon matrix to inhibit its volume expansion and agglomeration during the desodiation/sodiation process, enabling a high-capacity and stable energy storage (retains 204.

Physical stability and in vivo brain delivery of polymeric ibuprofen nanoparticles fabricated by flash nanoprecipitation.

Ibuprofen (IBP), a common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with a log P of 3.51, has been shown to possess potential benefit in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. However, the bioavailability of IBP to the brain is poor, which can be linked to its extensive binding to plasma proteins in the blood.

Interplay between Amphiphilic Stabilizers and Cholesterol in the Stabilization of Itraconazole Nanoparticles Prepared by Flash Nanoprecipitation.

While flash nanoprecipitation (FNP) has proven to be an extremely rapid and highly efficient nanoparticle fabrication process for hydrophobic drugs, physical instability associated with nonequilibrium molecular orientation of amphiphilic stabilizers (ASs) in nanoparticles remains a major snag in the general application of this nanotechnology, particularly for a drug with ACDLog P in the range of ∼2-9. This study was aimed at elucidating the costabilizing role of cholesterol (CLT) in the FNP of AS-stabilized nanoparticles of itraconazole (ITZ), a model drug with an ACDLog P of 4.35 ± 1.

Five-year effectiveness of short messaging service (SMS) for pre-diabetes.

Objective: An observational post-randomized controlled trial (RCT) design was adopted to evaluate the long-term sustainability and maintenance of improved glycemic control, lipid profile, reduced progression to diabetes at 3-year following a 2-year short messaging service (SMS). We performed a naturalistic follow-up to the 104 participants of SMS intervention, a 2-year randomized controlled trial comparing the SMS to non-SMS for pre-diabetes. All participants were arranged screening for diabetes at 5-year assessment.

Silver-nanoparticles-loaded chitosan foam as a flexible SERS substrate for active collecting analytes from both solid surface and solution.

Here, we report a dual-use surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate based on a flexible three-dimensional (3D) chitosan foam, onto which silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are firmly immobilized through amino groups from chitosan chains. The SERS substrate can actively collect analytes either on solid surface by swabbing or in solution by adsorption. The compressible characteristic of chitosan foam enables easy removal of solvent through gentle pressing, which can achieve fast pre-concentrating of analytes before measurements.

Impact of molecular rearrangement of amphiphilic stabilizers on physical stability of itraconazole nanoparticles prepared by flash nanoprecipitation.

Flash nanoprecipitation (FNP) is a controlled antisolvent precipitation process that has proven effective for consistent production of drug nanoparticles with a defined mean particle size and narrow particle size distribution. However, physical instability of the generated nanoparticles remains a major challenge in the application of this technology in pharmaceutical formulation. Aimed at resolving this problem, the present study has investigated the FNP process and associated stabilization mechanism of itraconazole (ITZ) nanoparticles through in-depth nanoparticle characterization.

In situ synthesis of iron sulfide embedded porous carbon hollow spheres for sodium ion batteries.

Iron sulfide embedded porous carbon hollow spheres (FeS@CS) have been successfully synthesized through a facile and environment friendly in situ synthetic method. Using this method, a porous carbon matrix and uniformly dispersed iron sulfide nanoparticles were formed simultaneously and assembled into hollow spheres. The as-synthesized FeS@CS material showed high reversible capacity, outstanding cycle performance, and excellent rate capability when it was applied as an anode material for sodium ion batteries.

Novel Silicon Doped Tin Oxide-Carbon Microspheres as Anode Material for Lithium Ion Batteries: The Multiple Effects Exerted by Doped Si.

Silicon doped tin oxide embedded porous carbon microspheres (Si Sn O @C) are synthesized. It is found that the doped Si not only improves the reversibility of lithiation/delithiation reactions, but also prevents Sn from aggregation. In addition, the doped Si introduces extra defects into the carbon matrix and produces Li conductive Li SiO , which accelerates Li diffusion.

Ionic liquid decorated mesoporous silica nanoparticles: a new high-performance hybrid electrolyte for lithium batteries.

We report a novel hybrid electrolyte based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles decorated with an ionic liquid, which exhibits a superior lithium ion transference number of >0.8, and an excellent electrochemical window of >5 V with attractive ionic conductivity. The insights obtained pave a new way for the preparation of high-performance electrolytes with mesoporous structures.

Cost-Effectiveness of a Short Message Service Intervention to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes from Impaired Glucose Tolerance.

Aims. To investigate the costs and cost-effectiveness of a short message service (SMS) intervention to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Methods.

Development of highly stabilized curcumin nanoparticles by flash nanoprecipitation and lyophilization.

The influence of critical operating parameters on the Flash Nanoprecipitation (FNP) and resulting material properties of curcumin (CUR) nanoparticles has been evaluated using a confined impinging jets-with-dilution mixer (CIJ-D-M). It has been shown that the mixing rate, molecular weight of polymeric stabilizer (i.e.

Simple non-laboratory- and laboratory-based risk assessment algorithms and nomogram for detecting undiagnosed diabetes mellitus.

Background: The aim of the present study was to develop a simple nomogram that can be used to predict the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the asymptomatic non-diabetic subjects based on non-laboratory- and laboratory-based risk algorithms.

Methods: Anthropometric data, plasma fasting glucose, full lipid profile, exercise habits, and family history of DM were collected from Chinese non-diabetic subjects aged 18-70 years. Logistic regression analysis was performed on a random sample of 2518 subjects to construct non-laboratory- and laboratory-based risk assessment algorithms for detection of undiagnosed DM; both algorithms were validated on data of the remaining sample (n = 839).

Conductive polymer nanocomposites with hierarchical multi-scale structures via self-assembly of carbon-nanotubes on graphene on polymer-microspheres.

A novel and highly conductive 3-dimensional (3D) hierarchical multi-scale structure is formed by a new, simple, facile, and water-based method that enables practical production of conductive carbon nanofiller/polymer composites. More specifically, the π-π interaction between CNTs and graphene oxide (GO) is exploited to disperse conductive but non-polar CNTs with amphiphilic GO sheets to form a stable aqueous colloidal solution. Aqueous-dispersible latex-polystyrene microspheres are then added to enable the self-assembly processes of anchoring CNTs on GO and wrapping microspheres with GO-stabilized CNTs for the formation of an intriguing 3D hierarchical multi-scale structure.

The impact of work nature, lifestyle, and obesity on health-related quality of life in Chinese professional drivers.

Objective: To assess the association of work nature, lifestyle and obesity with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in professional drivers.

Methods: A total of 3376 Chinese professional drivers aged 18 to 70 years were recruited to assess the HRQOL by SF-12 summary scores (Physical Component Summary [PCS]; Mental Component Summary [MCS]), and collect data for work nature, lifestyle, and body mass index. Factors associated with HRQOL were examined by multiphase regression analyses.

From nanoplates to microtubes and microrods: a surfactant-free rolling mechanism for facile fabrication and morphology evolution of Ag2S films.

By a simple and facile wet-chemistry technique without any surfactant, various shapes of Ag(2)S crystals--including leaflike pentagonal nanoplates, crinkly nanoscrolls, hexagonal prismlike microtubes, and microrods--were fabricated in situ on a large-area silver-foil surface separately. Detailed experiments revealed that the Ag(2)S nanoplates were formed just by immersing the silver foil in a sulfur/ethanol solution at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, and they subsequently rolled into nanoscrolls and further grew into microtubes and microrods under solvothermal conditions. Inspired by the natural curling of a piece of foliage, we proposed a surfactant-free rolling mechanism to interpret the observed morphological evolution from lamellar to tubular structures.

Self-assembled chitosan nanotemplates for biomineralization of controlled calcite nanoarchitectures.

Three-dimensional chitosan self-assembled nanostructures are reported whose morphology can be adjusted by tuning of the processing parameters, including the rate of solvent removal, the surface roughness of the substrate, and the polarity of the solvent used. Upon this, chitosan nanostructures of more interesting morphology and even higher complexity can be prepared, which can serve as nanotemplates for subsequent biomineralization of calcium carbonate, leading to controllable three-dimensional biominerals having the same complex morphology as that exhibited by the self-assembled chitosan nanotemplates.

Oral health status of low-income, middle-aged to elderly Hong Kong Chinese with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Purpose: To study oral health conditions, diabetic medical complications and their association in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).

Materials And Methods: Cross-sectional survey of 364 type 2 DM patients (63.6 +/- 10.