Efficacy of medical thoracoscopy combined with fibrinolytic therapy in the treatment of complicated parapneumonic effusions and empyema.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy, safety, and feasibility of medical thoracoscopy combined with fibrinolytic therapy for the treatment of complicated parapneumonic effusions and empyema, with a focus on therapeutic outcomes and recovery duration.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving 108 patients treated at Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, between January 2015 and May 2024. Patients were categorized into two groups: the medical thoracoscopy group (n = 33) and the traditional treatment group (n = 75).

Update on aquaporin-4 antibody detection: the early diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune-mediated primary inflammatory myelinopathy of the central nervous system that primarily affects the optic nerve and spinal cord. The aquaporin 4 antibody (AQP4-Ab) is a specific autoantibody marker for NMOSD. Most patients with NMOSD are seropositive for AQP4-Ab, thus aiding physicians in identifying ways to treat NMOSD.

Wavelength dependency and photosensitizer effects in UV-LED photodegradation of iohexol.

Iodinated X-ray contrast media (ICM) are ubiquitously present in water sources and challenging to eliminate using conventional processes, posing a significant risk to aquatic ecosystems. Ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LED) emerge as a promising technology for transforming micropollutants in water, boasting advantages such as diverse wavelengths, elimination of chemical additives, and no induction of microorganisms' resistance to disinfectants. The research reveals that iohexol (IOX) degradation escalates as UV wavelength decreases, attributed to enhanced photon utilization efficiency.

Validation of the ANDON KD-595 automated upper-arm blood pressure monitor according to the universal standard.

Objective: To validate the ANDON KD-595 automated upper-arm blood pressure monitor for clinical use and self-measurement blood pressure measurement according to the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation/European Society of Hypertension/International Organization for Standardization (AAMI/ESH/ISO) Universal Standard.

Methods: Same left-arm blood pressure was sequentially measured in 90 qualified adult participants and compared with a standard mercury sphygmomanometer. A total of 270 comparison pairs were obtained and analyzed according to the universal standard.

Degradation kinetics and disinfection by-products formation of benzophenone-4 during UV/persulfate process.

The degradation kinetics, reaction pathways, and disinfection by-products formation of an organic UV filter, benzophenone4 (BP4) during UV/persulfate oxidation were investigated. BP4 can hardly be degraded by UV alone, but can be effectively decomposed by UV/persulfate following pseudo-first order kinetics. BP4 degradation rate was enhanced with increasing persulfate dosage and decreasing pH from 8 to 5.

Validation of the Wellvii VitalDetect blood pressure monitor in general population according to the International Standardization Organization 81060-2:2018.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of the Wellvii VitalDetect automated oscillometric finger blood pressure monitor (single cuff size) for self/home blood pressure measurement according to the AAMI/ESH/ISO Universal Standard (ISO 81060-2:2018).

Methods: According to the universal standard, a total of 92 participants were recruited and finally blood pressure of 85 eligible participants was sequentially measured and compared with a standard mercury sphygmomanometer.

Results: A total of 255 comparison pairs were obtained and analyzed based on the universal standard.

Enhancing membrane separation performance in the conditions of different water electrical conductivity and fouling types via surface grafting modification of a nanofiltration membrane, NF90.

A commercialized and widely applied nanofiltration membrane, NF90, was in-situ modified through a surface grafting modification method by using 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate potassium salt and initiators. The effects of water electrical conductivity (EC) and fouling types on membrane separation efficiency were examined before and after membrane modification. Results reveal that both the pristine membrane (PTM) and surface grafting modification membrane (SGMM) had a declining permeate flux and salt (NaCl) removal efficiency but an increasing trend of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) removal with increasing water EC from 250 to 10,000 μs cm.

Surfactant incorporated preyssler polyoxoanion: a transition metal substituted Mo-PHP complex and its applications.

The complex was prepared with preyssler polyoxoanion and transition metal (Mo), a cationic surfactant as a connector. It has tuneable physical and chemical potential which has been exploited to study novel properties. A new technique of shock wave impulses is also used on the Mo-PHP complex.

Novel morphological mono-metallic substituted polyoxometalate immobilized 3-(aminopropyl)-imidazole photocatalysts for visible-light driven degradation: Anti-bacterial activity, membrane bacterial activity applications.

A novel keggin-type tetra-metalates substituted polyoxometalate was functionalized by 3-(aminopropyl)-imidazole (3-API) supporting a ligand substitution method. In this paper, polyoxometalate (POMs) (NH) [PMoO] and transition metal substituted of (NH) [{PMMoO}.(HO)] (M = Mn, V) are used as one of the adsorbents.

Role of microglial metabolic reprogramming in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common age-related neurodegenerative disorder characterized by damage to nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. Key pathogenic mechanisms underlying PD include alpha-synuclein misfolding and aggregation, impaired protein clearance, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. However, to date, no study has confirmed the specific pathogenesis of PD.

Degradation of odorous 2,4,6-trichloroanisole in chlorinated water by UV-LED/chlorination: kinetics and influence factors.

2,4,6-Trichloroanisole (2,4,6-TCA) has aroused a special concern for their odor problem and potential threats. In this study, the degradation of 2,4,6-TCA by UV/chlorination with different UV sources was compared, including low-pressure mercury lamp (LPUV, 254 nm) and ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV-LED, 275 and 285 nm). The maximum removal of 2,4,6-TCA can be achieved by 275-nm UV-LED/chlorination in neutral and alkaline conditions which was 80.

Case series: Montgomery T-tube placement for subglottic tracheal stenosis: a report of 3 cases.

Rationale: Subglottic tracheal stenosis is stenosis of the trachea between the vocal cords and the lower margin of the cricoid cartilage. The Montgomery T-tube is used as a tracheostomy tube and a combined tracheal stent to avoid postoperative tracheal stenosis.

Patient Concerns: Because the stenosis is close to the glottis, surgical treatment is complex, and many complications may arise.

Angiopoietin-like protein 8 deficiency attenuates thoracic aortic aneurysm/dissection development in β-aminopropionitrile monofumarate-induced model mice.

Thoracic aortic aneurysm/dissection (TAAD) is a life-threatening cardiovascular disorder. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) apoptosis are involved in TAAD progression. The Protein kinase R (PKR)-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) pathway is associated with VSMC apoptosis.

Update on the application of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in the treatment of Parkinson's disease: A systematic review.

Parkinson's disease (PD) has become the second largest neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease, and its incidence is increasing year by year. Traditional dopamine replacement therapy and deep brain stimulation can only alleviate the clinical symptoms of patients with PD but cannot cure the disease. In recent years, stem cell therapy has been used to treat neurodegenerative diseases.

Chlorine dioxide-based oxidation processes for water purification：A review.

Chlorine dioxide (ClO) has emerged as a broad-spectrum, safe, and effective disinfectant due to its high oxidation efficiency and reduced formation of organochlorinated by-products during application. This article provides an updated overview of ClO-based oxidation processes used in water treatment. A systematic review of scientific information and experimental data on ClO-based water purification procedures is presented.

Membrane Fouling Control in Water Treatment.

The stress of freshwater scarcity has become a severe problem worldwide and drives the development of technologies for water recycling and reuse [...

Insight into the formation of iodinated trihalomethanes during chlorination, monochloramination, and dichloramination of iodide-containing water.

In this study, the formation of iodinated trihalomethanes (I-THMs) was systematically evaluated and compared for three treatment processes - (i) chlorination, (ii) monochloramine, and (iii) dichloramination - under different pH conditions. The results demonstrated that I-THM formation decreased in the order of monochloramination > dichloramination > chlorination in acidic and neutral pH. However, the generation of I-THMs increased in the dichloramination < chlorination < monochloramination order in alkaline condition.

Validation of the KANG KC-2850 oscillometric upper-arm ambulatory blood pressure monitor in general population according to the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation/European Society of Hypertension/International Organization for Standardization universal standard.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of the KANG KC-2850 ambulatory blood pressure monitor (ABPM) for clinical blood pressure (BP) measurement according to the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation/European Society of Hypertension/International Organization for Standardization (AAMI/ESH/ISO) universal standard (ISO 81060-2:2018).

Methods: BP was sequentially measured and compared with a standard mercury sphygmomanometer in 85 eligible participants. A standard adult cuff (22-3232 cm) was used for test device measurements.

Organic chloramines attenuation and disinfection by-product formation during UV, chlorination and UV/chlorine processes.

Organic chloramines (OCs) have become one of the research focuses in the field of drinking water treatment due to its limited oxidation and sterilization ability as well as potential cytotoxicity and genetic toxicity to the public. Among widespread OCs, produced by chlorinating cytosine are a typical one exists during chlorine disinfection. OCs degradation during UV, chlorination and UV/chlorine processes were systematically investigated.

Enhanced degradation of emerging contaminants by permanganate/quinone process: Case study with bisphenol A.

Permanganate (Mn(VII)) is widely used as a mild oxidant in water treatment. However, the reaction rates of some emerging contaminants with Mn(VII) are extremely low. In this study, benzoquinone (BQ), a redox mediator with the important component in dissolved organic matter (DOM), enhanced the oxidation of bisphenol A (BPA) by Mn(VII) in a wide pH range of 4.

Degradation of 2-phenylbenzimidazole 5-sulfonic acid by UV/chlorine advanced oxidation technology: Kinetic model, degradation byproducts and reaction pathways.

In this study, the degradation kinetic model and pathways of a UV filter, 2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid (PBSA) during UV/chlorination were investigated. PBSA hardly degraded under UV irradiation or chlorination alone, but its degradation in UV/chlorination was efficient and followed pseudo-first order kinetics at pH 7. Increasing the chlorine dosage from 12.

Validation of the G.LAB MD41A0 upper arm blood pressure monitor in patients with diabetes mellitus according to the AAMI/ESH/ISO 81060-2:2018 Universal Standard.

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the accuracy of the G.LAB MD41A0 upper-arm oscillometric blood pressure (BP) monitor for self/home BP measurement in patients with diabetes according to the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation /European Society of Hypertension /International Organization for Standardization (AAMI/ESH/ISO) Universal Standard (ISO 81060-2:2018).

Methods: Patients with diabetes were recruited according to AAMI/ESH/ISO Universal Standard using the same arm sequential BP measurement method.