Programmable Chemical Evolution with Natural/Non-Natural Building Blocks.

Non-natural building blocks (BBs) present a vast reservoir of chemical diversity for molecular recognition and drug discovery. However, leveraging evolutionary principles to efficiently generate bioactive molecules with a larger number of diverse BBs poses challenges within current laboratory evolution systems. Here, we introduce programmable chemical evolution (PCEvo) by integrating chemoinformatic classification and high-throughput array synthesis/screening.

A Highly Sustainable Supramolecular Bioplastic Film with Superior Hydroplasticity and Biodegradability.

Massive accumulation of postconsumer plastic waste in eco-system has raised growing environmental concerns. Sustainable end-of-life managements of the indispensable plastic are highly demanding and challenging in modern society. To relieve the plastic menace, herein we present a full life cycle sustainable supramolecular bioplastic made from biomass-derived polyelectrolyte (chitosan quaternary ammonium salt, QCS) and natural sodium fatty acid (sodium laurate, SL) through solid-phase molecular self-assembly (SPMSA), by which the QCS-SL complexes, precipitated from mixing the aqueous solutions, self-assemble to form bioplastic film by mildly pressing at room temperature.

Practice Algorithm of Rotational Thromboelastometry-Guided (ROTEM-Guided) Bleeding Management in Liver Transplantation.

Liver transplantation (LT) is frequently complicated by coagulopathy associated with end-stage liver disease, which is often multifactorial and associated with hemostatic disturbances affecting both the procoagulant and anticoagulant systems. This rebalanced coagulation system may lead to bleeding diathesis or increased clot formation. Conventional coagulation tests cannot reflect these complex changes because they can only illustrate deficiencies in the procoagulant system.

The Role of TGF-β during Pregnancy and Pregnancy Complications.

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), a multifunctional cytokine, is one of the most important inflammatory cytokines closely related to pregnancy. It plays significant roles in hormone secretion, placental development, and embryonic growth during pregnancy. TGF-β is implicated in embryo implantation and inhibits the invasion of extraepithelial trophoblast cells.

A novel noninvasive brain-computer interface by imagining isometric force levels.

Physiological circuits differ across increasing isometric force levels during unilateral contraction. Therefore, we first explored the possibility of predicting the force level based on electroencephalogram (EEG) activity recorded during a single trial of unilateral 5% or 40% of maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MVC) in right-hand grip imagination. Nine healthy subjects were involved in this study.

Formation of Size-Controllable Tetragonal Nanoprisms by Crystallization-Directed Ionic Self-Assembly of Anionic Porphyrin and PEO-Containing Triblock Cationic Copolymer.

The creation of anisotropic nanostructures with precise size control is desirable for new properties and functions, but it is challenging for ionic self-assembly (ISA) because of the non-directional electrostatic interactions. Herein, the formation of size-controllable tetragonal nanoprisms is reported via crystallization-directed ionic self-assembly (CDISA) through evaporating a micellar solution on solid substrates. First, ISA is designed with a crystalline polyethylene oxide (PEO) containing cationic polymer poly(2-(2-guanidinoethoxy)ethyl methacrylate)-b-poly(ethyleneoxide)-b-poly(2-(2-guanidinoethoxy)-ethylmethacrylate) (PG -PEO -PG ) and an anionic 5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrin (TPPS) to form micelles in aqueous solution.

Trio-pharmacophore DNA-encoded chemical library for simultaneous selection of fragments and linkers.

The split-and-pool method has been widely used to synthesize chemical libraries of a large size for early drug discovery, albeit without the possibility of meaningful quality control. In contrast, a self-assembled DNA-encoded chemical library (DEL) allows us to construct an m x n-member library by mixing an m-member and an n-member pre-purified sub-library. Herein, we report a trio-pharmacophore DEL (T-DEL) of m x l x n members through assembling three pre-purified and validated sub-libraries.

Combining high throughput array synthesis and growth algorithm to discover TNF-α binders with new structures and properties.

Identifying new chemical structures against protein targets of interest represents one of the major challenges in drug discovery. As the major experimental method, high throughput screenings are performed with existing chemical libraries, thus restricting its capability to explore high molecular diversity. Herein, we report the use of high throughput array synthesis technology, in combination with growth algorithm, to discover binders for proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α.

Surface Hydrophobization Provides Hygroscopic Supramolecular Plastics Based on Polysaccharides with Damage-Specific Healability and Room-Temperature Recyclability.

Supramolecular materials with room-temperature healability and recyclability are highly desired because they can extend materials lifetimes and reduce resources consumption. Most approaches toward healing and recycling rely on the dynamically reversible supramolecular interactions, such as hydrogen, ionic and coordinate bonds, which are hygroscopic and vulnerable to water. The general water-induced plasticization facilitates the healing and reprocessing process but cause a troubling problem of random self-adhesion.

The timing of intravenous oxytocin administration is crucial to minimize perioperative blood loss during first-trimester suction curettage for missed abortion.

Background: Oxytocin is commonly used to reduce blood loss during suction curettage for missed abortion. However, the potential of oxytocin to mitigate blood loss in early pregnancy remains controversial. Based on the hypothesis that the "timing" of oxytocin administration may be a critical factor, we investigated whether the timing of intravenous (IV) administration is associated with reduced perioperative blood loss during first-trimester suction curettage for missed abortion.

A Self-Assembled Matrix System for Cell-Bioengineering Applications in Different Dimensions, Scales, and Geometries.

Stem cell bioengineering and therapy require different model systems and materials in different stages of development. If a chemically defined biomatrix system can fulfill most tasks, it can minimize the discrepancy among various setups. By screening biomaterials synthesized through a coacervation-mediated self-assembling mechanism, a biomatrix system optimal for 2D human mesenchymal stromal cell (hMSC) culture and osteogenesis is identified.

SePnanoparticles confined within porous carbon as a lithium-ion battery anode with superior electrochemical performance.

The exploration of advanced anode materials through rational structure/phase design is the key to developing high-performance rechargeable batteries. Herein, tetraphosphorus tetraselenide (SeP) nanoparticles confined within porous carbon (named SeP@C) are developed for lithium-ion batteries. The designed SeP@C shows a set of structural/compositional advantages as lithium-ion battery anodes including high electrical conductivity, low ion diffusion barrier, and relieved lithiation stress.

Controlling Surface Wettability for Automated In Situ Array Synthesis and Direct Bioscreening.

The in situ synthesis of biomolecules on glass surfaces for direct bioscreening can be a powerful tool in the fields of pharmaceutical sciences, biomaterials, and chemical biology. However, it is still challenging to 1) achieve this conventional multistep combinatorial synthesis on glass surfaces with small feature sizes and high yields and 2) develop a surface which is compatible with solid-phase syntheses, as well as the subsequent bioscreening. This work reports an amphiphilic coating of a glass surface on which small droplets of polar aprotic organic solvents can be deposited with an enhanced contact angle and inhibited motion to permit fully automated multiple rounds of the combinatorial synthesis of small-molecule compounds and peptides.

Adjunctive dexmedetomidine infusion in open living donor hepatectomy: A way to enhance postoperative analgesia and recovery.

Background: Open living donor hepatectomy (OLDH) is a highly painful procedure. Advanced strategies for enhancing perioperative analgesia and accelerating recovery are needed for patients undergoing OLDH. This study evaluated the effects of intravenous infusion of dexmedetomidine (DEX) during OLDH on postoperative analgesia and recovery.

Does hyoscine N-butylbromide shorten the active phase in labor? A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objectives: The objective of the study is to evaluate the therapeutic effect of hyoscine N-butylbromide (HBB) in active phase of labor and its safety to mother and fetus.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted on Cochrane Library, Pubmed, EMBASE, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov and three databases in Chinese up to March 31, 2020.

Comparison of maternal and fetal outcomes between delayed and immediate pushing in the second stage of vaginal delivery: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: The second stage of labor begins with complete dilatation of the cervix until delivery of the fetus. After the cervix has fully dilated, the caregiver/nurse will provide guidance to the mother regarding the push technique for delivering the fetus (immediate pushing, IP). Because some women receive analgesic medications during labor, they might not be able to push correctly.

Effects of lung protective ventilation on postoperative pulmonary outcomes for prolonged oral cancer combined with free flap surgery.

The intraoperative lung protective ventilation with low tidal volume, positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) and intermittent lungs recruitment was found to decrease postoperative pulmonary complications. In this retrospective medical records study, we investigated the effects of lung protective ventilation on postoperative pulmonary outcomes among the patients received prolonged oral cancer combined with free flap surgery.We collected the medical records of the patients received oral cancer surgery with the operation time more than 12 hours from January 2011 to December 2015.

Modified transcanal cochlear implantation in CHARGE syndrome: A case report.

Rationale: Cochlear implantation (CI) in CHARGE syndrome is technically challenging because of the anatomical anomalies. This case aims to report a successful case of CI in CHARGE syndrome by using the modified transcanal approach with external auditory canal (EAC) obliteration.

Patient Concerns: The 3-year-old girl presented at the outpatient department with bilateral hearing loss and nasal obstruction since birth.

Propofol vs desflurane on the cytokine, matrix metalloproteinase-9, and heme oxygenase-1 response during living donor liver transplantation: A pilot study.

Background: We investigated the effects of propofol vs desflurane on ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI)-induced inflammatory responses, especially in matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) downregulation and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) upregulation, which may result in different clinical outcomes in liver transplant recipients.

Methods: Fifty liver transplant recipients were randomized to receive propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA group, n = 25) or desflurane anesthesia (DES group, n = 25). We then measured the following: perioperative serum cytokine concentrations (interleukin 1 receptor antagonist [IL-1RA], IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10); MMP-9 and HO-1 mRNA expression levels at predefined intervals.

Using a PCR-Based Method To Analyze and Model Large, Heterogeneous Populations of DNA.

The study of populations of large size and high diversity is limited by the capability of collecting data. Moreover, for a pool of individuals, each associated with a unique characteristic feature, as the pool size grows, the possible interactions increase exponentially and quickly go beyond the limit of computation and experimental studies. Herein, the design of DNA libraries with various diversity is reported.

Evaluation of thirty patients with eustachian tube dysfunction in Taiwan by questionnaire survey.

Background: Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is a common otolaryngological disorder. The seven-item Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire (ETDQ-7) was used for the assessment of symptoms related to ETD and treatment outcome. Currently, there is no traditional Chinese version of the ETDQ-7 to diagnose ETD in Taiwan.

Fentanyl-based intravenous patient-controlled analgesia with low dose of ketamine is not inferior to thoracic epidural analgesia for acute post-thoracotomy pain following video-assisted thoracic surgery: A randomized controlled study.

Background: Thoracic epidural analgesia is the preferred method for postoperative analgesia following thoracic surgery. However, intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IVPCA) may be an effective alternative. This study was conducted because few scientific reports exist comparing fentanyl-based IVPCA including a low dose of ketamine (fk-IVPCA) with thoracic patient-controlled epidural analgesia (t-PCEA) for the treatment of postoperative pain after video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS).

Highly Conductive, Stretchable, and Cell-Adhesive Hydrogel by Nanoclay Doping.

Electrically conductive materials that mimic physical and biological properties of tissues are urgently required for seamless brain-machine interfaces. Here, a multinetwork hydrogel combining electrical conductivity of 26 S m , stretchability of 800%, and tissue-like elastic modulus of 15 kPa with mimicry of the extracellular matrix is reported. Engineering this unique set of properties is enabled by a novel in-scaffold polymerization approach.

Effects of intraoperative propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia on postoperative pain in spine surgery: Comparison with desflurane anesthesia - a randomised trial.

Background: As reported, patients experience less postoperative pain after propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA). In the present study, we investigated the postoperative analgesic effects between propofol-based TIVA and desflurane anesthesia after spine surgery.

Methods: Sixty patients were included who received (surgical time >180 minutes) lumbar spine surgery.