Strictly-controlled techniques are required in laparoscopic appendectomy for elemental mercury sequestration in the appendix: a case report.

Elemental mercury impaction in the appendix can cause subsequent local and systemic complications. We present a case of a teenage boy who ingested approximately 10 mL of elemental mercury, resulting in residual mercury sequestration in the appendix after conservative management. We performed laparoscopic appendectomy to remove the residual mercury. The patient made a complete clinical recovery without adverse events related to mercury poisoning over the 6-month follow-up. We highlight the advantages of laparoscopic appendectomy, abdominal computed tomography (CT), negative pressure operating rooms, and surgeon protection to improve surgical success rates. This case report adds to the literature on the management of elemental mercury impaction in the appendix and provides valuable insights for clinical decision-making.

Callose deposited at soybean sieve element inhibits long-distance transport of Soybean mosaic virus.

The function of callose and its deposition characteristics at phloem in the resistance to the long-distance transportation of Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) through phloem was studied. Two different methods of SMV inoculation were used in the study, one was direct friction of the virus on seedling leaves and the other was based on grafting scion and rootstock to create different resistance and sensitivity combinations. Veins, petioles of inoculated leaves and rootstock stems were stained with callose specific dye. Results from fluorescence microscope observation, pharmacological test, and PCR detection of SMV coat protein gene (SMV-CP) showed the role of callose in long-distance transportation of SMV through phloem during infection of soybean seedlings. When the inhibitor of callose synthesis 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DDG) was used, the accumulation of callose fluorescence could hardly be detected in the resistant rootstocks. These results indicate that callose deposition in phloem restricts the long-distance transport of SMV, and that the accumulation of callose in phloem is a main contributing factor for resistance to this virus in soybean.

Risk factors for cholesterol polyp formation in the gallbladder are closely related to lipid metabolism.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the risk factors for cholesterol polyp formation in the gallbladder. METHODS: This was a multicenter retrospective study based on pathology. From January 2016 to December 2019, patients who underwent cholecystectomy and non-polyp participants confirmed by continuous ultrasound follow-ups were reviewed. Patients in the cholesterol polyp group were recruited from three high-volume centers with a diagnosis of pathologically confirmed cholesterol polyps larger than 10 mm. Population characteristics and medical data were collected within 24 h of admission before surgery. The non-polyp group included participants from the hospital physical examination center database. They had at least two ultrasound examinations with an interval longer than 180 days. Data from the final follow-up of the non-polyp group were analyzed. The risk factors for cholesterol polyp formation were analyzed by comparing the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 4714 participants were recruited, including 376 cholesterol polyp patients and 4338 non-polyp participants. In univariate analysis, clinical risk factors for cholesterol polyps were age, male sex, higher body mass index (BMI), higher low-density lipoprotein (LDL), lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and higher aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. In multivariate logistic analysis, independent risk factors were age > 50 years (odds ratio [OR] = 3.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.33-3.91, P < 0.001], LDL > 2.89 mmol/L (OR = 1.38, 95% CI 1.08-1.78, P = 0.011), lower HDL (OR = 1.78 95% CI 1.32-2.44, P < 0.001), AST > 40 IU/L (OR = 3.55, 95% CI 2.07-6.07, P < 0.001), and BMI > 25 kg/m 2 (OR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.01-1.72, P = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: Age, LDL, HDL, AST, and BMI are strong risk factors for cholesterol polyp formation. Older overweight patients with polyps, accompanied by abnormal lipid levels, are at high risk for cholesterol polyps.

Epitaxial Crystallization of Poly(ε-caprolactone) on Reduced Graphene Oxide at a Low Shear Rate by In Situ SAXS/WAXD Methods.

The interfacial interaction between polymers and reinforcements has a positive effect on the properties of polymer nanocomposites, and a further study on the evolution of this interfacial interaction under a shear field is conducive to reasonable regulation of the properties of polymer nanocomposites. For this purpose, epitaxial crystallization of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) is investigated by shearing at the shear rate of 3 s-1 by in situ synchrotron radiation. In situ two-dimensional small-angle X-ray scattering (2D SAXS) results suggest that the imposed shear field promotes the orientation of the polymer chains, resulting in the formation of a large periodic structure of PCL on the RGO surface. In addition, higher shear temperatures facilitate the conformational adjustment of the PCL molecular chain on RGO at the shear rate of 3 s-1, resulting in the formation of thicker lamellae. In situ two-dimensional wide-angle X-ray diffraction (2D WAXD) results show that shear enhances the crystallinity of the PCL/RGO nanocomposite and promotes the oriented growth of epitaxial and bulk crystals. The current findings can improve the understanding of the structural evolution behavior of PCL/RGO nanocomposites after shear and especially enhance dramatically our understanding of the underlying mechanism of influence of shear on interfacial epitaxial crystallization in polymer/graphene nanocomposite systems.

Analysis of risk factors for gallbladder polyp formation - A retrospective study based on serial ultrasounds.

AIM: To evaluate gallbladder polyp (GBP) formation related risk factors based on serial ultrasounds (US). METHODS: Risk factors related GBP formation were retrospectively investigated among participants, who had US reexamination and interval >180 days in 5 years. After groups were divided based on US, we compared final data and initial data in GBP new incidence group. Then compared the data in GBP new incidence group and GBP(-) group. RESULTS: Overall 20 447 participants were recruited, including 18 243 in GBP (-) group and 2204 in GBP group. The mean diameters of polyps were 0.455 ± 0.198 mm in initial and 0.420 ± 0.180 mm in final examination. GBP new incidence group included 797 participants. Percentage of GBP new incidence participants was higher than GBP resolved (36.16% vs. 11.71%). Participants in middle age were more likely have GBP size increase or new incidence, and participants in old age (≥60 years old) were with GBP size decrease or resolved. In GBP new incidence group, participants in final US showed higher FBG, higher LDL, lower HDL, higher ALT and higher AST than initial US. Compared with GBP (-) group and, same risk factors, in addition with age, were shown in GBP new incidence group, Logistic regression analysis show that higher LDL, lower HDL and higher AST were risk factors for GBP formation. CONCLUSION: Participants in middle age were more likely to have GBP new incidence. Higher LDL, lower HDL and higher AST were independently risk factors for GBP formation.

Microbeam two-dimensional small-angle X-ray scattering investigating the effects of reduced graphene oxide on local microstructures of high-density polyethylene/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite bars.

It has been reported that the introduction of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) can enhance the crystallization and orientation of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix and thus improve the mechanical properties of HDPE/RGO nanocomposites. In this study, the local microstructures and orientations in different regions of HDPE/RGO bars with varied RGO contents were further explored by two-dimensional small-angle X-ray scattering using a microbeam technique. It is unveiled that the orientation orderings of each position is intensified with increasing RGO amount, and of particular interest is the observation of the slight change of the ordering degrees in diverse zones of HDPE/RGO nanocomposite bars, indicating that RGO imposes a uniform enhancing effect upon HDPE matrix within different areas and consequently induces an effective increase of the mechanical properties of HDPE/RGO nanocomposites.

Callose deposition at plasmodesmata is a critical factor in restricting the cell-to-cell movement of Soybean mosaic virus.

Callose is a ß-l,3-glucan with diverse roles in the viral pathogenesis of plants. It is widely believed that the deposition of callose and hypersensitive reaction (HR) are critical defence responses of host plants against viral infection. However, the sequence of these two events and their resistance mechanisms are unclear. By exploiting a point inoculation approach combined with aniline blue staining, immuno-electron microscopy and external sphincters staining with tannic acid, we systematically investigated the possible roles of callose deposition during viral infection in soybean. In the incompatible combination, callose deposition at the plasmodesmata (PD) was clearly visible at the sites of inoculation but viral RNA of coat protein (CP-RNA) was not detected by RT-PCR in the leaf above the inoculated one (the upper leaf). In the compatible combination, however, callose deposition at PD was not detected at the site of infection but the viral CP-RNA was detected by RT-PCR in the upper leaf. We also found that in the incompatible combination the fluorescence due to callose formation at the inoculation point disappeared following the injection of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (DDG, an inhibitor of callose synthesis). At same time, in the incompatible combination, necrosis was observed and the viral CP-RNA was detected by RT-PCR in the upper leaf and HR characteristics were evident at the inoculation sites. These results show that, during the defensive response of soybean to viral infection, callose deposition at PD is mainly responsible for restricting the movement of the virus between cells and it occurs prior to the HR response.