Enhancing clinical decision-making: A novel nomogram for stratifying cancer-specific survival in middle-aged individuals with follicular thyroid carcinoma utilizing SEER data.

Background: Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common malignant tumor in the endocrine system, is also one of the head and neck tumor. Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma (FTC) plays an important role in the pathological classification of thyroid cancer. This study aimed to develop an innovative predictive tool, a nomogram, for predicting cancer specific survival (CSS) in middle-aged FTC patients. Methods: We collected patient data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The data from patients between 2004 and 2015 were used as the training set, and the data from patients between 2016 and 2018 were used as the validation set. To identify independent risk factors affecting patient survival, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed. Based on this, we developed a nomogram model aimed at predicting CSS in middle-aged patients with FTC. The consistency index (C-index), the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), and the calibration curve were used to evaluate the accuracy and confidence of the model. Results: A total of 2470 patients were enrolled in this study, in which patients from 2004 to 2015 were randomly assigned to the training cohort (N = 1437) and validation cohort (N = 598), and patients from 2016 to 2018 were assigned to the external validation cohort (N = 435) in terms of time. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that marriage, histological grade and TNM stage were independent risk factors for survival. The C-index for the training cohort was 0.866 (95 % CI: 0.805-0.927), for the validation cohort it was 0.944 (95 % CI: 0.903-0.985), and for the external validation cohort, it reached 0.999 (95 % CI: 0.997-1.001). Calibration curves and AUC suggest that the model has good accuracy. Conclusions: We developed an innovative nomogram to predict CSS in middle-aged patients with FTC. Our model after a rigorous internal validation and external validation process, based on the time proved that the high level of accuracy and reliability. This tool helps healthcare professionals and patients make informed clinical decisions.

Efficacy and Safety of Taletrectinib in Chinese Patients With ROS1+ Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: The Phase II TRUST-I Study.

PURPOSE: Taletrectinib, a highly potent, CNS-active, ROS1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), has demonstrated high and durable response rates, high intracranial objective response rate (ORR), prolonged progression-free survival (PFS), and activity against G2032R with a favorable safety profile. We report outcomes from the pivotal TRUST-I study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04395677) of taletrectinib for ROS1+ non-small cell lung cancer in China. METHODS: TRUST-I evaluated TKI-naїve and crizotinib-pretreated patients. The primary end point was confirmed ORR (cORR) by independent review committee; key secondary end points included duration of response (DOR), PFS, and safety. RESULTS: As of November 2023, 173 patients were enrolled (median age, 55 years; 58% female; 73% never smoked; TKI naїve: n = 106; crizotinib pretreated: n = 67). In TKI-naїve patients, cORR and intracranial cORR were 91% and 88%, respectively, and 52% and 73% in crizotinib-pretreated patients. In TKI-naїve patients, median DOR and median PFS were not reached (NR) with 22.1-month and 23.5-month follow-up, respectively. In crizotinib-pretreated patients, the median DOR was 10.6 months (95% CI, 6.3 months to NR; 8.4-month follow-up), and the median PFS was 7.6 months (95% CI, 5.5 to 12.0 months; 9.7-month follow-up). Eight of 12 patients (67%) with G2032R mutations responded. The most frequent treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were increased AST (76%), diarrhea (70%), and increased ALT (68%), most of which were grade 1-2. Incidences of neurologic TEAEs were low (dizziness: 23%; dysgeusia: 10%) and mostly grade 1. Discontinuations (5%) and dose reductions (19%) due to TEAEs were low. CONCLUSION: Taletrectinib continues to show high and durable overall responses, prolonged PFS, robust activity against intracranial lesions and acquired resistance mutations including G2032R, and a favorable safety profile with a low incidence of neurologic TEAEs.

Recent advances in the application of [2 + 2] cycloaddition in the chemical synthesis of cyclobutane-containing natural products.

Cyclobutanes are distributed widely in a large class of natural products featuring diverse pharmaceutical activities and intricate structural frameworks. The [2 + 2] cycloaddition is unequivocally the primary and most commonly used method for synthesizing cyclobutanes. In this review, we have summarized the application of the [2 + 2] cycloaddition with different reaction mechanisms in the chemical synthesis of selected cyclobutane-containing natural products over the past decade.

Deep learning promoted target volumes delineation of total marrow and total lymphoid irradiation for accelerated radiotherapy: A multi-institutional study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: One of the current roadblocks to the widespread use of Total Marrow Irradiation (TMI) and Total Marrow and Lymphoid Irradiation (TMLI) is the challenging difficulties in tumor target contouring workflow. This study aims to develop a hybrid neural network model that promotes accurate, automatic, and rapid segmentation of multi-class clinical target volumes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent TMI and TMLI from January 2018 to May 2022 were included. Two independent oncologists manually contoured eight target volumes for patients on CT images. A novel Dual-Encoder Alignment Network (DEA-Net) was developed and trained using 46 patients from one internal institution and independently evaluated on a total of 39 internal and external patients. Performance was evaluated on accuracy metrics and delineation time. RESULTS: The DEA-Net achieved a mean dice similarity coefficient of 90.1 % ± 1.8 % for internal testing dataset (23 patients) and 91.1 % ± 2.5 % for external testing dataset (16 patients). The 95 % Hausdorff distance and average symmetric surface distance were 2.04 ± 0.62 mm and 0.57 ± 0.11 mm for internal testing dataset, and 2.17 ± 0.68 mm, and 0.57 ± 0.20 mm for external testing dataset, respectively, outperforming most of existing state-of-the-art methods. In addition, the automatic segmentation workflow reduced delineation time by 98 % compared to the conventional manual contouring process (mean 173 ± 29 s vs. 12168 ± 1690 s; P < 0.001). Ablation study validate the effectiveness of hybrid structures. CONCLUSION: The proposed deep learning framework achieved comparable or superior target volume delineation accuracy, significantly accelerating the radiotherapy planning process.

A novel nomogram to predict testicular torsion in children with acute scrotal pain: a single-center retrospective study in western China.

Background: Acute scrotal pain (ASP) is the most common urological emergency in pediatrics, and its causes include testicular torsion (TT), testicular appendage torsion, and epididymo-orchitis. Among them, TT requires prompt and accurate diagnosis and urgent surgical exploration to prevent testicular loss. Conservative anti-infective treatment is recommended for epididymo-orchitis, and surgery is considered only when scrotal abscess formation and sepsis occur. Improving the understanding of TT in primary care doctors, early diagnosis, and timely surgical exploration are essential to improve the survival rate of TT and avoid excessive treatment. This study aimed to explore the risk factors for TT in children with ASP and construct a predictive model. Methods: Clinical data of children who presented with ASP and underwent emergency scrotal exploration surgery were retrospectively analyzed, including general information, physical examination, laboratory tests, and color Doppler ultrasonography (CDU) findings. Based on surgical exploration, the outcomes were categorized as confirmed TT or not. Results: A total of 283 children were included in this study, among whom 134 had TT. The mean age of all patients was 105±47.9 months, with the majority being of Han ethnicity (87.6%) and residing in urban areas (83%). Most patients had normal C-reactive protein levels and negative results in urine routine white blood cell tests (63.3%). After conducting univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, we identified laterality, neutrophil count, mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate, epididymal blood flow signal, testicular parenchymal echogenicity, and testicular blood flow signal as independent risk factors influencing the occurrence of TT in ASP patients. Conclusions: This study is the report with the largest sample size on the construction of prediction models for ASP in children in southwestern China. The predictive model we developed demonstrated excellent performance and higher accuracy in predicting TT in children compared to the traditional Testicular Workup for Ischemia and Suspected Torsion (TWIST) score. It can assist pediatric surgeons in diagnosing and treating children with ASP.

Fluorescence Sensing Properties of a Bibranched Cyanostilbene Derivative Containing -NH2 for Trace Water and Picric Acid Determination.

In order to design organic small molecule fluorescent materials with multiple sensing, a bibranched -NH2 modified cyanostilbene derivative (AM) was synthesized. It exhibits solvent and aggregation-induced emission effects, with a solid-state quantum yield of 28%, which is seven times higher than that in THF. The synthesized sample AM demonstrated high sensitivity to trace water via a fluorescence "turn-off" response, achieving a low detection limit of 0.41 µM in THF and 0.80 µM in EtOH. AM also exhibits a "turn-off" response to picric acid, attributed to the photo-induced electron transfer effect it induces. The recognition of picric acid by AM demonstrates specificity and resistance to interference from nitro explosives, with a detection limit of 300 ppb and a linear relationship (R2 = 0.9981) at the range of 0-4 equivalents AM. Such acid recognition can facilitate the design of qualitative test papers and safety inks. Additionally, AM can function as a temperature sensor with a linear relationship (R2 = 0.9976) within the temperature range of 25-110 °C. Leveraging these unique characteristics, a series of methods were proposed for the direct quantitative determination of trace water in nonaqueous solvents, picric acid, and temperature.

CXCL10 could be a prognostic and immunological biomarker in bladder cancer.

INTRODUCTION: As proteins that promote immune cell differentiation, chemokines have attracted great interest regarding their role in anti-tumor immune responses within the cancer environment. However, the exact role of CXCL10, a chemokine, in bladder cancer (BLCA) is still not fully elucidated. METHOD: In the present study, we employed bioinformatics approaches to examine the expression pattern, prognostic value, and immune infiltration of CXCL10 in BLCA. Furthermore, we focused on examining the impact of CXCL10 on immune therapy in BLCA. Additionally, we validated the expression of CXCL10 in various BLCA cell lines using PCR techniques. RESULTS: We observed an upregulation of CXCL10 in BLCA tissues as well as in different cell lines. Additionally, upregulation of CXCL10 indicates a better prognosis for BLCA patients. ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms suggest that CXCL10 is closely associated with the immune microenvironment of BLCA. Through multiple immune therapy cohorts, we also identified that CXCL10 has shown promising predictive value for assessing the efficacy of immune therapy in in BLCA. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that CXCL10 has the potential to serve as a favorable prognostic factor and is strongly associated with immune infiltration in BLCA.

Three new phenols and one new lignan from Clematis terniflora var. manshurica (Rupr.) Ohwi with their anti-inflammatory activity.

Three undescribed phenols, mandshusica C-E (1-3) and a new lignan, mandshusica F (5), along with six known compounds (4, 6-10) were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Clematis terniflora var. manshurica (Rupr.) Ohwi. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis as well as NMR and ECD calculations. Moreover, the possible biosynthetic pathways of compounds 1-3 were also discussed. All compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activities in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Compounds 1, 3, 4 significantly reduced the levels of NO and TNF-α, while compounds 2 and 8 significantly inhibited NO production in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells.

Enrichment of ER tubule-derived microsomes by differential centrifugation and immunoprecipitation.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an essential component of the endomembrane system in eukaryotes and plays a crucial role in protein and lipid synthesis, as well as the maintenance of calcium homeostasis. Morphologically, the ER is composed primarily of sheets and tubules. The tubular ER is composed of a network of tubular membrane structures, each with diameters ranging from 30 to 50 nanometers. In recent years, there has been in-depth research on the molecular mechanisms of membrane shaping and membrane fusion of the tubular ER. However, there is still limited understanding of the specific physiological functions of the tubular ER. Here, we report a protocol that combines differential centrifugation and immunoprecipitation to specifically enrich microsomes originating from the tubular ER in yeast. The ER tubule-derived microsomes can be further used for proteomic and lipidomic studies or other biochemical analyses.

Post-marketing risk analysis of bendamustine: a real-world approach based on the FAERS database.

Objective: Bendamustine was approved for treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia and indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Despite its therapeutic benefits, the long-term safety of bendamustine in a large population remains inadequately understood. This study evaluates the adverse events (AEs) associated with bendamustine, using a real-world pharmacovigilance database to support its clinical application. Methods: We conducted a post-marketing risk analysis to assess the association between bendamustine and its AEs. Data were extracted from the US FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), covering the period from January 2017 to September 2023. The characteristics of bendamustine-associated AEs and the onset time were further analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using MYSQL 8.0, Navicat Premium 15, Microsoft EXCEL 2016, and Minitab 21.0. Results: 9,461,874 reports were collected from the FAERS database, 9,131 identified bendamustine as the "primary suspected" drug. We identified 331 significant disproportionality preferred terms (PTs). Common AEs included pyrexia, neutropenia, infusion site reaction, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), injection site vasculitis, and pneumonia-all documented on bendamustine's label. Notably, 16 unexpected and significant AEs were discovered, including hypogammaglobulinemia, which is concerning due to its potential to increase infection susceptibility following bendamustine treatment. Other significant findings were anaphylactic reactions, PML, and cutaneous malignancies, suggesting updates to the drug's label may be necessary. Physicians should monitor for neurological and skin changes in patients and discontinue treatment if PML is suspected. Moreover, the median onset time for bendamustine-associated AEs was 13 days, with an interquartile range [IQR] of 0-59 days, predominantly occurring on the first day post-initiation. The ß of bendamustine-related AEs suggested risk reduction over time. Conclusion: Our study uncovered some potential pharmacovigilance signals for bendamustine, providing important insights for its safe and effective clinical use.

A sustainable, eco-friendly Tb/Eu-modified HOFs for ultrasensitive detection and efficient adsorption of carcinogens in complex water environments.

Developing a multifunctional material that can detect and remove carcinogens in water environments, simultaneously monitor their toxic metabolites in living organisms is significant for environmental remediation and human health. However, most research only focused on detection or adsorption carcinogens due to the difficulty of integrating multiple functions into one material, let alone monitoring their toxic metabolites. Here, a multifunctional Tb/Eu@TATB-HOF (1) is first developed to monitor two carcinogens, malachite green (MG) and its metabolites leucomalachite green (LMG), and simultaneously remove MG from the contaminated water. 1, as the dual-emission fluorescence sensor, can achieve ultrasensitive and highly visualized sensing for MG and LMG with different response modes. Even in actual samples, 1 still exhibits satisfactory sensing performances. As the adsorbent, 1 displays good recyclability and high adsorption capacity for MG. The sensing and adsorption mechanisms are explored through experiments and theoretical calculations. This work not only provides a novel insight for environmental remediation and human health through detection and removal of carcinogens, simultaneously monitoring their toxic metabolites, but first reveals the enormous potential of HOFs as multifunctional materials simultaneously for fluorescence sensing and adsorption.

γ-Gammaglutamyl transferase predicts all-cause mortality within three-year intervals in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

OBJECTIVES: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) serves as a vital renal replacement therapy for patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). γ-Gamma-glutamyl transferase (γ-GGT) is a recognized predictor of oxidative stress and mortality. This study aimed to assess the prognostic significance of γ-GGT in predicting all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among PD patients. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted, enrolling 640 PD patients from a single center. The one-year, three-year, and five-year mortality rates for all causes and cardiovascular causes were evaluated. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: Within five years of initiating PD, the observed all-cause mortality rates at one, three, and five years were 11.72%, 16.09%, and 23.44%, while cardiovascular mortality rates were 2.97%, 7.34%, and 11.09%, respectively. Lower γ-GGT levels were associated with decreased all-cause mortality during one-, three-, and five-year follow-ups, along with reduced cardiovascular mortality in the first and third years, as indicated by Kaplan-Meier analysis on median γ-GGT groupings. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed significantly decreased hazard ratios (HRs) for one- to five-year all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in the lower γ-GGT group compared to higher groups. However, when sex differences were eliminated using separate tertile groupings for males and females, only the one- and three-year all-cause mortality rates demonstrated significantly reduced hazard ratios (HRs) in the lower γ-GGT groups. CONCLUSION: This retrospective study suggests that γ-GGT levels have prognostic significance in predicting one- and three-year all-cause mortality among PD patients when accounting for sex differences.

The diagnostic value of image-enhanced endoscopy system in sinonasal inverted papilloma.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of image-enhanced endoscopy (IEE) in detecting sinonasal inverted papilloma (SNIP). METHODS: Overall, 86 patients with unilateral nasal papillary or lobulated neoplasms were included between July 2018 and June 2019. All patients underwent IEE examinations, and the diagnosis of all neoplasms was confirmed through postoperative pathology. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to screen for independent predictors of various types of vascular patterns of SNIP. Furthermore, a prognostic nomogram was constructed using the independent predictors screened by logistic regression analysis to evaluate its usefulness in distinguishing SNIP from nasal polyp (NP) and papillary mucosa folds (PMF). RESULTS: In total, 86 consecutive cases were observed, including 37 with SNIP, 40 with NP, and 9 with PMF. Logistic regression analysis showed that spot, corkscrew, and multilayered vascular patterns were independent predictors of SNIP diagnosis. Furthermore, a nomogram comprising the three independent risk factors was constructed with scores of 5, 2, and 3. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting SNIP was 0.954, 0.66, 0.71, and 0.76 for the nomogram model, spot vascular pattern, corkscrew vascular pattern, and multilayered vascular pattern, respectively. CONCLUSION: The nomogram model based on spot, corkscrew, and multilayered vascular patterns in SNIP observed using IEE can be a useful diagnostic tool for predicting and distinguishing between NP and PMF.

BeM(CO)3- (M = Co, Rh, Ir) and BeM(CO)3 (M = Ni, Pd, Pt): Triply bonded terminal beryllium in zero oxidation state.

We perform detailed potential energy surface explorations of BeM(CO)3- (M = Co, Rh, Ir) and BeM(CO)3 (M = Ni, Pd, Pt) using both single-reference and multireference-based methods. The present results at the CASPT2(12,12)/def2-QZVPD//M06-D3/def2-TZVPPD level reveal that the global minimum of BeM(CO)3- (M = Co, Rh, Ir) and BePt(CO)3 is a C3v symmetric structure with an 1A1 electronic state, where Be is located in a terminal position bonded to M along the center axis. For other cases, the C3v symmetric structure is a low-lying local minimum. Although the present complexes are isoelectronic with the recently reported BFe(CO)3- complex having a B-Fe quadruple bond, radial orbital-energy slope (ROS) analysis reveals that the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) in the title complexes is slightly antibonding in nature, which bars a quadruple bonding assignment. Similar weak antibonding nature of HOMO in the previously reported BeM(CO)4 (M = Ru, Os) complexes is also noted in ROS analysis. The bonding analysis through energy decomposition analysis in combination with the natural orbital for chemical valence shows that the bonding between Be and M(CO)3q (q = -1 for M = Co, Rh, Ir and q = 0 for M = Ni, Pd, Pt) can be best described as Be in the ground state (1S) interacting with M(CO)30/- via dative bonds. The Be(spσ) → M(CO)3q σ-donation and the complementary Be(spσ) ← M(CO)3q σ-back donation make the overall σ bond, which is accompanied by two weak Be(pπ) ← M(CO)3q π-bonds. These complexes represent triply bonded terminal beryllium in an unusual zero oxidation state.

A novel nomogram model based on Ki-67 characteristic expression to predict prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine Ki-67's correlation with clinicopathological characteristics of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), evaluate its prognostic significance, and develop a Ki-67 integrated prognostic model. Methods: The retrospective study included 764 HNSCC patients hospitalized from 2012 to 2022. Data were sourced from medical records and immunohistochemical analysis of surgical specimens. Results: Ki-67 expression was significantly associated with sex, pathological grade, clinical stage, and metastasis, but not with age or recurrence. Higher Ki-67 levels were linked to poorer prognosis, as indicated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Utilizing a Cox proportional hazards model, four prognostic factors were identified: age, recurrence, metastasis, and Ki-67 expression. These factors were used to construct a prognostic model and a nomogram. The model's predictive accuracy was confirmed by a high concordance index and a reliable calibration curve. Conclusion: Ki-67 expression in HNSCC patients correlates with several clinicopathological features and serves as a negative prognostic marker. A prognostic model incorporating Ki-67 was successfully developed, offering a new tool for patient prognosis assessment in HNSCC.

Chinese surgical robot-assisted surgery for parotid tumor: a case report.

Robotic surgery is known as the "third technological revolution" in the field of surgery, and is an important milestone in the development of modern surgery. However, our country's innovative surgical robot industry is still in its early stages, and it is only being utilized in certain surgical fields. To explore the effectiveness of the application of domestic surgical robot in oral and maxillofacial surgery, the author successfully completed a case of benign parotid tumor resection with the assistance of a domestic autonomous robot. The operation was successful, facial nerve function was preserved, and postoperative wound healing was good.

Effect-directed analysis of androgenic compounds from sewage sludges in China.

The safety of municipal sewage sludge has raised great concerns because of the accumulation of large-scale endocrine disrupting chemicals in the sludge during wastewater treatment. The presence of contaminants in sludge can cause secondary pollution owing to inappropriate disposal mechanisms, posing potential risks to the environment and human health. Effect-directed analysis (EDA), involving an androgen receptor (AR) reporter gene bioassay, fractionation, and suspect and nontarget chemical analysis, were applied to identify causal AR agonists in sludge; 20 of the 30 sludge extracts exhibited significant androgenic activity. Among these, the extracts from Yinchuan, Kunming, and Shijiazhuang, which held the most polluted AR agonistic activities were prepared for extensive EDA, with the dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-equivalency of 2.5 - 4.5 ng DHT/g of sludge. Seven androgens, namely boldione, androstenedione, testosterone, megestrol, progesterone, and testosterone isocaproate, were identified in these strongest sludges together, along with testosterone cypionate, first reported in sludge media. These identified androgens together accounted for 55 %, 87 %, and 52 % of the effects on the sludge from Yinchuan, Shijiazhuang, and Kunming, respectively. This study elucidates the causative androgenic compounds in sewage sludge and provides a valuable reference for monitoring and managing androgens in wastewater treatment.

Meta-analysis unravels the complex combined toxicity of microplastics and antibiotics in aquatic ecosystems.

The aquatic ecosystem, a repository for various pollutants, has been identified as a crucial zone where microplastics (MPs) serve as vectors for antibiotics, facilitating their spread. Despite this, the influence of MPs on the toxicity of antibiotics remains a topic of debate. In this study, we conduct a global meta-analysis, examining 730 datasets from 29 laboratory studies. Our findings reveal that the impact of MPs on antibiotic toxicity is highly dependent on biological response pathways, microplastic concentration, antibiotic properties, and exposure time. We observed that MPs amplify the accumulation of antibiotics in aquatic organisms, significantly heightening their adverse effects on growth, development, and immune functions. Intriguingly, MPs appear to mitigate the reproductive toxicity caused by antibiotics. A notable inverse relationship was identified between antibiotic toxicity and microplastic concentration and exposure time. Furthermore, antibiotic concentration predominantly affects growth, development, and reproductive health, whereas exposure time is critical in determining antibiotic accumulation and immune-related toxicity. These insights underscore that microplastic co-exposure can modify the toxicological profile of antibiotics. The outcomes of this research enhance our comprehensive understanding of the intricate combined effects of MPs and antibiotics on aquatic life, emphasizing the necessity for informed scientific management of these emerging contaminants.

A 2D Acridine-Based Covalent Organic Framework for Selective Detection and Efficient Extraction of Gold from Complex Aqueous-Based Matrices.

Developing candidate materials which possess the ability of both selective detection and efficient capture of precious metal gold is highly desirable for environment and economy. However, most of reported materials only focus on single function, which seriously restricts their practical application as probes or adsorbents. Herein, a two dimensional (2D) acridine-based covalent organic framework (TpDa-COF) is prepared via the linkage of imine bonds for gold detection and adsorption. The synthesized COF can achieve both fluorescence and colorimetric dual sensing for Au3+ in a low concentration range (0.1-1.5 ppm) with the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.036 ppm. Impressively, the selectivity of TpDa-COF for the detection of Au3+ is admirable (Fe3+, Fe2+ and Cu2+ for negligible influence on its fluorescence). In addition, TpDa-COF exhibits ultrahigh adsorption capacity of 982.5 mg ⋅ g-1 for gold at pH=4, which is attributed the synergistic effect of both selective coordination and reductive process of Au(III) to Au(0). Meanwhile, both positive entropy change (ΔS=76.07 J ⋅ mol-1 ⋅ K-1) and high distribution coefficient (Kd=12484.8 mL ⋅ g-1) confirm the good affinity between TpDa-COF framework and gold. This work gives us a new insight to prepare COF with pyridine nitrogen sites for gold detection and adsorption.

Application of Oral Retractor for Lip Injury Protection in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeries: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: Iatrogenic lip injury may occur during oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of oral retractors on iatrogenic lip injury prevention during intraoral procedures of oral and maxillofacial surgery. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial and included patients who underwent intraoral procedures of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Patients were randomly allocated to receive oral retractor (intervention group) or traditional procedure without lip protection (control group). The incidence of lip injury was the outcome variable. Other study variables included surgical time and satisfaction of patients and surgeons with treatment experience evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS). Student t test and χ 2 test were used to compare both groups' variables and measure the relationship between the predictor variable and the outcome variable. P <0.05 was considered significant for all analyses. RESULTS: A total of 114 patients were included, with 56 allocated to intervention group and 58 to control group. The results showed that the application of an oral retractor did not significantly increase surgical time ( P =0.318). A total of 12 patients had lip injury, with 1 in the intervention group and 11 in the control group ( P =0.003). For the assessment of satisfaction with treatment experience, the intervention group had significantly higher VAS scores for doctors and patients ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We found that the oral retractor was a good tool for iatrogenic lip injury prevention in oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures and could be considered in clinical treatment.