Adhesive polydopamine coated avermectin microcapsules for prolonging foliar pesticide retention.

In this work, we report a conceptual strategy for prolonging foliar pesticide retention by using an adhesive polydopamine (PDA) microcapsule to encapsulate avermectin, thereby minimizing its volatilization and improving its residence time on crop surfaces. Polydopamine coated avermectin (Av@PDA) microcapsules were prepared by emulsion interfacial-polymerization and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscopy. The in situ synthesis route confers Av@PDA microcapsules with remarkable avermectin loading ability of up to 66.5% (w/w). Kinetic study of avermectin release demonstrated that Av@PDA microcapsules exhibit sustained- and controlled-release properties. The adhesive property of Av@PDA microcapsules on different surfaces was verified by a comparative study between Av@PDA and passivated Av@SiO2 and Av@PDA@SiO2 capsules with silica shell. Moreover, PDA shell could effectively shield UV irradiation and so protect avermectin from photodegradation, making it more applicable for foliar spraying. Meanwhile, it is determinated that Av@PDA microcapsules have good mechanical stability property.

[Application of three-dimensional technology in assessment of burn area and treatment strategy of burns].

Accurate area assessment of a burn injury and its treatment according to its depth of injury are the foundation of burn treatment due to its complexity, and various techniques and methods have been employed to solve these problems for many years. As the demand of modern medicine calls for individualized and precise therapeutic measures, it is clear that the traditional diagnostic and treatment measures are insufficient. The flourishing development of three-dimensional (3D) technology seems to provide new research approaches and technical opporturities for burn surgery. A series of techniques such as 3D model, 3D scanning, and 3D printing may be promising in advancing burn surgery through basic research to achieve rational clinical applications in the future. In this paper, the applications and achievements of 3D technology in burn surgery in recent years are summarized.

BurnCalc assessment study of computer-aided individual three-dimensional burn area calculation.

BACKGROUND: Accurate estimation of a burned area is crucial to decisions about fluid resuscitation, surgical options, nutritional support, and prognosis. Widely used clinical methods to estimate a burn area are two-dimensional. They do not consider age, sex, body mass, physical deformities, or other relevant factors. Computer-aided methods have improved the accuracy of estimating burned areas by including data analysis and reducing subjective differences. Three-dimensional (3D) scanning allows us to determine body dimensions rapidly and reproducibly. We describe an individualized, cost-efficient, portable 3D scanning system, BurnCalc, that can create an individual 3D model and then calculate body surface area (BSA) and the burn area accurately and quickly. METHODS: The BurnCalc system was validated by verifying the accuracy and stability of BSA calculation. We measured 10 regular objects in experiment 1, using Student's t-test and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) in the analysis. In experiment 2, artificial paper patches of known dimensions were attached to various parts of the body of 40 volunteers. Their sizes were then calculated using BurnCalc. The BurnCalc data were compared to actually measured values to verify accuracy and stability. Total BSAs of these 40 volunteers were also calculated by BurnCalc and compared to those derived from an accepted formula. In experiment 3, four experts using Chinese Rule-of-Nines or Rule-of-Palms methods calculated the percentages of the total BSA in 17 volunteers. Student's t-test and ICC, respectively, were used to compare the results obtained with the BurnCalc technique. RESULTS: Statistically, in experiment 1, p = 0.834 and ICC = 0.999, demonstrating that there was no difference between the BurnCalc and real measurements. Also, the hypothesis of null difference among measures (experiment 2) was true because p > 0.05 and ICC = 0.999, indicating that calculations of the total BSA and the burn area were more accurate using the BurnCalc technology. The reliability of the BurnCalc program was 99.9%. In experiment 3, only the BurnCalc method exhibited values of p > 0.05 (p = 0.774) and ICC = 0.999. CONCLUSIONS: BurnCalc technology produced stable, accurate readings, suggesting that BurnCalc could be regarded as a new standard clinical method.

Risk factors for postoperative recurrence of cardiac myxoma and the clinical managements: a report of 5 cases in one center and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Recurrence or metastasis of myxomas is not rare and can lead to malignancy. We aimed to analyze the risk factors for postoperative cardiac myxoma recurrence and to summarize its clinical characteristics, treatments and classification. METHODS: The clinical data of 5 patients with recurrent cardiac myxoma were retrospectively analyzed and our clinical experience was summarized. Moreover, the relevant literatures were reviewed. RESULTS: All the five cases of primary myxomas were derived from atypical positions. One patient had early distant metastasis, one had family history, and two suffered malignant recurrence. The recurrence interval was (2.30 ± 2.16) years and the recurrent tumors were all found in different chambers from those of the corresponding primary tumors. Re-operation was performed after recurrence. One patient died of heart failure after malignant recurrence, and the other 4 cases had satisfactory therapeutic outcomes after re-operations. Our experience advocated a clinical classification of "typical" and "atypical" cardiac myxoma, the typical myxomas referred to the tumors locating at the left atria, with single pedicle, rooted at or around the fossa ovalis, involving no genetic causes, and the atypical myxomas included the familial tumors, tumors stemming from multiple chambers, rooted in abnormal positions of the left atrium, with evident genetic mutation, or with malignant tendency. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative follow-up is of vital importance for patients with myxomas characterized by multi-chamber distribution, early distant metastasis, atypical origin, and family history. Once recurs, re-operation is necessary and should be performed immediately.