Patching sulfur vacancies: A versatile approach for achieving ultrasensitive gas sensors based on transition metal dichalcogenides.

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) garner significant attention for their potential to create high-performance gas sensors. Despite their favorable properties such as tunable bandgap, high carrier mobility, and large surface-to-volume ratio, the performance of TMDCs devices is compromised by sulfur vacancies, which reduce carrier mobility. To mitigate this issue, we propose a simple and universal approach for patching sulfur vacancies, wherein thiol groups are inserted to repair sulfur vacancies. The sulfur vacancy patching (SVP) approach is applied to fabricate a MoS2-based gas sensor using mechanical exfoliation and all-dry transfer methods, and the resulting 4-nitrothiophenol (4NTP) repaired molybdenum disulfide (4NTP-MoS2) is prepared via a sample solution process. Our results show that 4NTP-MoS2 exhibits higher response (increased by 200 %) to ppb-level NO2 with shorter response/recovery times (61/82 s) and better selectivity at 25 °C compared to pristine MoS2. Notably, the limit of detection (LOD) toward NO2 of 4NTP-MoS2 is 10 ppb. Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) and density functional theory (DFT) reveal that the improved gas sensing performance is mainly attributed to the 4NTP-induced n-doping effect on MoS2 and the corresponding increment of surface absorption energy to NO2. Additionally, our 4NTP-induced SVP approach is universal for enhancing gas sensing properties of other TMDCs, such as MoSe2, WS2, and WSe2.

Network-based pharmacological study of the mechanism of kaiyuzhongyutang in the treatment of tubal fimbria obstruction.

To apply a network pharmacological approach to explore the targets and possible mechanisms of Kai Yu Zhong Yu Tang (KYZYT) in the treatment of tubal fimbria obstruction. The target information of KYZYT was extracted from TCMSP and HERB database. Genes related to tubal fimbria obstruction were searched using the GENECARD database. Target protein network maps (PPI) were drawn using string database analysis and Cytoscape 3.7.1 software. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis and gene function analysis (GO) enrichment analysis were performed with the help of Perl language and biological program package in R language. To explore the multiple pharmacological mechanisms of action of KYZYT in the interventional treatment of tubal fimbria obstruction and to lay the foundation for further experimental validation. Through the collection and analysis of multiple databases, 355 biological targets of KYZYT were identified. 168 targets of tubal fimbria obstruction were obtained from disease database. The "drug-component" and "drug-target" networks of KYZYT were constructed, and the protein interaction network (PPI) of overlapping targets was analyzed to identify the key targets of the drug affecting the disease. In addition, KEGG pathway analysis and GO enrichment analysis were performed on the overlapping targets to explore the mechanism of KYZYT in the treatment of tubal fimbria obstruction. KYZYT has the characteristics of multi-component, multi-target and multi-pathway in the treatment of tubal fimbria obstruction, which provides new ideas and scientific basis for further clarification of the molecular mechanism.

A Photovoltaic Self-Powered Gas Sensor Based on All-Dry Transferred MoS2 /GaSe Heterojunction for ppb-Level NO2 Sensing at Room Temperature.

Traditional gas sensors are facing the challenge of low power consumption for future application in smart phones and wireless sensor platforms. To solve this problem, self-powered gas sensors are rapidly developed in recent years. However, all reported self-powered gas sensors are suffering from high limit of detection (LOD) toward NO2 gas. In this work, a photovoltaic self-powered NO2 gas sensor based on n-MoS2 /p-GaSe heterojunction is successfully prepared by mechanical exfoliation and all-dry transfer method. Under 405 nm visible light illumination, the fabricated photovoltaic self-powered gas sensors show a significant response toward ppb-level NO2 with short response and recovery time and high selectivity at room temperature (25 °C). It is worth mentioning that the LOD toward NO2 of this device is 20 ppb, which is the lowest of the reported self-powered room-temperature gas sensors so far. The discussed devices can be used as building blocks to fabricate more functional Internet of things devices.

Preoperative intravenous glucocorticoids can reduce postoperative acute pain following total knee arthroplasty: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The ability of preoperative intravenous glucocorticoids to control pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been examined in many studies, but it remains controversial. Therefore, we undertook a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of preoperative intravenous glucocorticoids for postoperative pain management after TKA. METHODS: We systematically searched RCTs from electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, the Chinese Wanfang Database, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database. The outcomes included visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after TKA; the occurrence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV); blood glucose at 6 and 24 hours after TKA; and the occurrence of infection. RESULTS: Of the identified studies, a total of 11 RCTs involving 1000 patients (glucocorticoids = 501, control = 499) were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with a placebo, preoperative intravenous glucocorticoids significantly reduced VAS scores at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours, with decreases of 3.63 points, 6.81 points, 10.40 points, and 3.15 points, respectively, on a 110-point VAS. Moreover, intravenous glucocorticoids were associated with significant decreases of 19.4% and 16.8% in the occurrence of nausea and vomiting, respectively. However, intravenous glucocorticoids were also associated with increased blood glucose with no clinical importance at 6 hours after TKA. No significant difference was found in the occurrence of infection or in blood glucose at 24 hours after TKA. CONCLUSION: Preoperative intravenous glucocorticoids are an effective and safe method to reduce postoperative pain and PONV in patients following TKA. More studies are necessary to identify the optimal dose and type of glucocorticoids for maximal pain control.

A comparison of combined intravenous and topical administration of tranexamic acid with intravenous tranexamic acid alone for blood loss reduction after total hip arthroplasty: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The optimal dose and protocol of tranexamic acid (TXA) for reducing blood loss in total hip arthroplasty (THA) is controversial. Intravenous TXA (IV-TXA) and combined IV-TXA with topical TXA are the two common protocol after THA. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare the efficacy and safety of combined IV and topical TXA with IV-TXA alone in reducing blood loss after THA. METHODS: PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, China Wanfang database and Google database were searched from the inception to February 2017 to identify RCTs that comparing combined IV and topical TXA with IV-TXA alone for patients prepared for primary THA. Total blood loss, hidden blood loss, transfusion rate, hemoglobin drop, length of hospital stay and the occurrence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) were pooled to comprehensive analyses the efficacy and safety of combined IV and topical TXA with IV-TXA alone. Software Stata 12.0 was used to calculated relevant data. RESULTS: Six RCTs involving 747 patients were finally included in the meta-analysis. Combined TXA decrease the volume of total blood loss and hidden blood loss by 250.37 ml (MD = -250.37; 95% CI: -376.43 to -124.31, P = 0.000) and 117.23 ml respectively (MD = -117.23; 95% CI: 228.38 to -6.07, P = 0.091). Meanwhile, combined TXA can also decrease the transfusion rate by 9.1% (RR = 0.32; 95% CI: 0.17 to 0.63; P = 0.001). No significant differences were seen in hemoglobin drop, the length of hospital stay and the occurrence of DVT between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis suggests that the combined application of IV and topical TXA for patients undergoing THA may reduce the total blood loss compared with IV use alone without increasing the risk of postoperative complications. However, due to the quality and number of included studies, more studies were need to further identify the optimal dose for combine IV-TXA.

[Antibiotic-loaded cement articulating spacer made by a self-made mold system in the treatment of the infected hip replacement].

OBJECTIVES: To summarize the experience and lessons of the using of antibiotic-loaded cement articulating spacer made by a self-made mold system for the treatment of the infected hip replacement, and to evaluate its efficiency and role in the two-stage revision of infected total hip arthroplasty (THA). METHODS: The patients with infected THA treated with two-stage revision protocol from August 2005 to December 2009 were reviewed. All of the 127 patients were debridement thoroughly and followed by implantation of an antibiotic-loaded cement articulated spacer made by a self-made mold system; Two-stage revisions were not followed until the infection were controlled. Among of them, 106 patients, 107 hips were gotten fully followed up. Evaluations were made for the efficiency of infection control, convenience of making, implanting and removing of the spacers, occurrence of complications, the deal of the special circumstances, the function and satisfaction of the patients. RESULTS: The 107 hips were gotten an average of 34.3 months' (3 - 55 months) follow-up. The infection control rate was 96.3% after the first-stage surgery, the infection control rate was 94.4% at last follow-up after two-stage revisions. The breakage rate of the spacer was 4.7%, dislocation rate was 2.8%, removal of the spacers with difficulty were seen in 15 patients (14.0%). The satisfactory rate of the patients was 93.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic-loaded cement articulating spacer made by a self-made mold system is an effective methods for the two-stage revision of the infected hip replacement, characterized by simple, good reproducible, high rates of infection control, better joint function after surgeries, high rate of patients satisfaction and other advantages. And it can decrease the complications, such as the breakage, spacer dislocation of hip joint and difficulty in removal of spacer at the second stage revision. Using of metallic internal fixation or allograft bone combined with spacer does not affect the results of infection controlling.