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Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in... Jun 2024Layered oxides with ultrahigh nickel content are considered promising high energy cathode materials. However, their cycle stability is constrained by a series of...
Layered oxides with ultrahigh nickel content are considered promising high energy cathode materials. However, their cycle stability is constrained by a series of heterogeneous structural transformations during the complex solid-state lithiation process. By in-depth investigation into the solid-state lithiation process of LiNi0.92Co0.04Mn0.04O2, it is found that the protruded parts on the surface of precursor particles tend to be surrounded by locally excessive LiOH, which promotes the formation of a rigid and dense shell during the early stage of lithiation process. The shell will hinder the diffusion of lithium and topotactic lithiation within the particles, culminating in spatially heterogeneous intermediates that can impair the electrochemical properties of the cathode material. The spheroidization of the precursor can enhance uniformity in structural evolution during solid-phase lithiation. Ultrahigh nickel cathodes derived from spherical precursors demonstrate high initial discharge specific capacity (234.2 mAh g-1, in the range of 2.7-4.3V) and capacity retention (89.3% after 200 cycles), significantly superior to the non-spherical samples. This study not only sheds light on the intricate relationship between precursor shape and structural transformation but also introduces a novel strategy for enhancing cathode performance through precursor spheroidization.
PubMed: 38847074
DOI: 10.1002/anie.202407477 -
Endoscopy International Open Jun 2024Colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is increasingly used for treating early-stage colorectal cancer, including large, protruded lesions (LPL). However,...
Colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is increasingly used for treating early-stage colorectal cancer, including large, protruded lesions (LPL). However, the challenges posed by LPLs, especially those accompanied by severe fibrosis or muscle-retracting sign (MRS), remain unclear. This study aims to investigate ESD outcomes for LPL, focusing on factors such as tumor size and, submucosal fibrosis. In a multicenter retrospective study (June 2012 to May 2023), data from 526 patients with 542 LPL lesions (≥ 2 cm) were analyzed. Parameters included lesion size, procedure time, dissection speed, physician experience, submucosal fibrosis, and adverse events. The tunnel method, including the double tunnel method, was used for cases with severe fibrosis or MRS. Multivariate analysis assessed factors affecting procedure difficulty, particularly LPLs ≥ 4 cm. The study revealed an impressive en bloc resection rate of 97.8% and a curative resection rate of 78.6% for LPLs. Notably, fibrosis and MRS were present in 25% and 18% of 4-cm LPLs, respectively, and their frequency tended to increase as the tumor diameter increased. One treatment strategy for LPLs was the tunneling method, which was used most frequently (41 cases, 7.6%). Factors affecting dissection speed included larger tumor size, submucosal fibrosis, MRS, and physician experience. Treating LPLs through colorectal ESD presents significant challenges, especially in patients with fibrosis and MRS. This study highlights the importance of recognizing these complexities, and that more reliable resection strategy must be established for accurate pathological evaluation.
PubMed: 38847018
DOI: 10.1055/a-2316-7755 -
Small (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Jun 2024DNA nanostructures offer a versatile platform for precise dye assembly, making them promising templates for creating photonic complexes with applications in photonics...
DNA nanostructures offer a versatile platform for precise dye assembly, making them promising templates for creating photonic complexes with applications in photonics and bioimaging. However, despite these advancements, the effect of dye loading on the hybridization kinetics of single-stranded DNA protruding from DNA nanostructures remains unexplored. In this study, the DNA points accumulation for imaging in the nanoscale topography (DNA-PAINT) technique is employed to investigate the accessibility of functional binding sites on DNA-templated excitonic wires. The results indicate that positively charged dyes on DNA frameworks can accelerate the hybridization kinetics of protruded ssDNA through long-range electrostatic interactions. Furthermore, the impacts of various charged dyes and binding sites are explored on diverse DNA frameworks with varying cross-sizes. The research underscores the crucial role of electrostatic interactions in DNA hybridization kinetics within DNA-dye complexes, offering valuable insights for the functionalization and assembly of biomimetic photonic systems.
PubMed: 38844986
DOI: 10.1002/smll.202402870 -
The Spine Journal : Official Journal of... Jun 2024Reports of Cutibacterium acnes isolated in cultures of intervertebral disc samples suggest it as possibly responsible for inflammatory conditions causing Modic changes...
BACKGROUND CONTEXT
Reports of Cutibacterium acnes isolated in cultures of intervertebral disc samples suggest it as possibly responsible for inflammatory conditions causing Modic changes on spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
PURPOSE
Our objective was to investigate the prevalence of C. acnes in samples of intervertebral disc of patients with lumbar disc herniation; to investigate prognostic factors and the relationship of Modic changes with infection 1 year after microdiscectomy.
STUDY DESIGN
Prospective cohort study.
PATIENT SAMPLE
In this single-center study, patients consecutively operated on for disc herniation had samples of the disc, multifidus muscle and ligamentum flavum (as an indication of contamination) extracted for culture.
OUTCOME MEASURES
Age, sex, alcohol and tobacco consumption, body mass index; function, pain, and Modic chances in MRI before surgery and MRI 1 year later; rate of disc, muscle and ligament infection (primary outcome); diabetes and corticoid use (confoundings).
METHODS
The protruded disc, muscle and ligament samples were sent for culture analysis in up to 30 minutes. A subsample of 17 patients underwent next-generation sequencing (NGS) molecular analysis too. We performed descriptive analysis and comparison of groups of patients with and without infection or contamination using Student's t, Mann-Whitney, chi-square, or Fisher's exact tests as appropriate, and pre- and postsurgical comparisons with the Wilcoxon test.
RESULTS
From January 2018 to September 2019, 112 patients underwent open lumbar microdiscectomy, 67 (59.8%) men. Cultures showed 7 (6.3%) positive cases in the disc (2 with C. acnes), 3 (2.7%) in the ligament, and 12 (10, 7%) in muscle. No evidence of a difference in Modic alterations pre- or postoperatively was found between patients with and without positive culture 1 year after surgery. No association was found between culture positivity and functional or pain differences either. NGS results were all negative for C. acnes.
CONCLUSIONS
We identified infective bacterial presence in the herniated disc in less than 2% of patients with disc herniation. C. acnes was not identified in any disc microbiome analysis. No significant association was observed between positivity for tissue infection and any clinical prognostic factor.
PubMed: 38843958
DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2024.05.015 -
Digestive Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024In the post-Helicobacter pylori era, autoimmune gastritis (AIG) is attracting increasing attention as an origin of gastric cancer. Here, we performed clinicopathological...
INTRODUCTION
In the post-Helicobacter pylori era, autoimmune gastritis (AIG) is attracting increasing attention as an origin of gastric cancer. Here, we performed clinicopathological examination of gastric cancer complicating AIG treated in our hospital.
METHODS
Eighty-six early gastric cancer lesions complicating AIG in 50 patients were treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) at our hospital in 2008-2022. Their clinicopathological characteristics were compared with those of a control group comprising 2,978 early gastric cancer lesions (excluding lesions in the remnant stomach after surgery) in 2,278 patients treated by ESD during the same period.
RESULTS
Mean age was significantly higher in the AIG group than in the control group (74.7 years vs. 70.9 years; p < 0.01). In the respective groups, the occurrence rate of synchronous/metachronous lesions was 38.0% and 20.4% (p < 0.01), the ratio of longitudinal cancer locations (upper/middle/lower third [U/M/L]) was 27/32/27 and 518/993/1,467 (p < 0.01), the ratio of circumferential cancer locations (lesser curvature/greater curvature/anterior wall/posterior wall) was 25/31/12/18 and 1,259/587/475/657 (p < 0.01), the ratio of major macroscopic types (I/IIa/IIb/IIc) was 13/38/5/30 and 65/881/220/1,812 (p < 0.01). The rates of multiple gastric cancer and cancers in the U region, at the greater curvature, and of protruding types were significantly higher in the AIG group.
CONCLUSION
The occurrence rate of multiple gastric cancer was significantly higher in gastric cancer complicating AIG (approximately 40%), and compared with the control group, the proportions of cancers at the U region, at the greater curvature, and of protruding types were significantly higher.
PubMed: 38834042
DOI: 10.1159/000539639 -
European Journal of Gastroenterology &... Jul 2024Meckel diverticulum (MD) is an important cause of gastrointestinal bleeding in children. Small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) is a first-line examination method applied...
BACKGROUND
Meckel diverticulum (MD) is an important cause of gastrointestinal bleeding in children. Small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) is a first-line examination method applied to patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, but there are few studies on its application in children with MD. This article aims to provide evidence in favor of the auxiliary diagnosis of MD in children by analyzing its characteristics using SBCE.
METHODS
We retrospectively collected the clinical data of patients with suspected MD.
RESULTS
A total of 58 children were included in this study. All 58 children presented overt gastrointestinal bleeding (bloody stool or melena). Capsule endoscopy identified protruding lesions in 2 cases, double-lumen changes in 30 cases (all considered as MD), vascular lesions in 7 cases, intestinal mucosal inflammatory lesions in 3 cases, ulcers or erosion in 3 cases, and no obvious abnormalities in SBCE in 12 cases. Both SBCE and technetium-99 scans were performed for 24 cases, 22 of which were diagnosed MD by their combined results, giving a diagnostic coincidence rate of 91.7%. Eight cases were highly suspected as MD but were negative for the technetium-99 scan and positive for SBCE.
CONCLUSION
SBCE has high accuracy in the diagnosis of MD in children, especially when performed in combination with a technetium-99 scan, which can greatly improve the diagnostic rate of MD in children.
Topics: Humans; Meckel Diverticulum; Capsule Endoscopy; Male; Female; Retrospective Studies; Child; Child, Preschool; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Adolescent; Infant; Intestine, Small; Predictive Value of Tests; Radionuclide Imaging; Radiopharmaceuticals
PubMed: 38829942
DOI: 10.1097/MEG.0000000000002783 -
Clinical Case Reports Jun 2024Vaginal cuff dehiscence post-hysterectomy is rare yet significant. Early recognition and prompt surgical intervention are crucial to prevent complications like bowel...
KEY CLINICAL MESSAGE
Vaginal cuff dehiscence post-hysterectomy is rare yet significant. Early recognition and prompt surgical intervention are crucial to prevent complications like bowel infarction. Consider second-look laparotomy in cases of uncertain bowel viability.
ABSTRACT
Vaginal cuff dehiscence (VCD) is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication following a hysterectomy characterized by the separation of the vaginal vault. This condition, which may result in vaginal evisceration (VE), presents a significant risk of pelvic contents, particularly the small bowel, protruding into the vagina. Early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention are paramount to prevent severe complications, including bowel infarction, obstruction, and peritonitis. Although VCD and VE are rare, they require urgent surgical management to avoid adverse outcomes. We reported a case of small bowel evisceration in a woman with a history of total abdominal hysterectomy 6 months ago. VCD and VE are very rare but life-threatening complications of hysterectomy. Discussing the symptoms with patients who have multiple risk factors is crucial to avoid severe sequels following hysterectomy. Based on our experience, performing a second-look laparotomy is a reliable approach to ensure the viability of the intestinal loop. However, it will likely increase the risk of infection.
PubMed: 38827941
DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.8910 -
Frontiers in Genetics 2024Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorder. A retrospective analysis predicted that the live birth prevalence of SRS in Estonia...
Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorder. A retrospective analysis predicted that the live birth prevalence of SRS in Estonia is 1:15,886 [Yakoreva et al., Eur J Hum Genet, 2019, 27(11), 1649-1658]. The most common causative genetic mechanism in the proband is loss of paternal methylation in the imprinted control region 1 (ICR1) at 11p15.5 chromosome. A few studies suggested that inherited or loss-of-function alterations of the gene, including the whole-gene deletion and intragenic pathogenic variants, could cause a rare type of SRS. To date, less than 20 unrelated -related SRS cases have been reported, and the clinical information about these cases is limited. We report the first prenatal case of SRS with 8q12 deletion (including the gene). The fetus presented with intrauterine growth retardation, small for gestational age, relative macrocephaly at birth, and a protruding forehead. Unlike classical SRS cases, the fetus had micrognathia and did not show body asymmetry. We hope that the literature review in this study provides new insights into genotype-phenotype relationships of -related SRS.
PubMed: 38826801
DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1387649 -
Cureus Apr 2024Caesarean scar ectopic pregnancy is the rarest form of ectopic pregnancy. Nowadays, with the rise in caesarean deliveries, along with better awareness and improvement...
Caesarean scar ectopic pregnancy is the rarest form of ectopic pregnancy. Nowadays, with the rise in caesarean deliveries, along with better awareness and improvement in ultrasound diagnosis, there is an increase in the number and detection of caesarean scar ectopic pregnancy. A 28-year-old female patient with one previous caesarean delivery and a spontaneous abortion at three months visited the obstetrics emergency department due to three months of amenorrhea, abdominal pain, and vaginal bleeding on and off for two days. The patient was noticed to have severe anemia. After stabilizing the patient with blood transfusion, a laparotomy was performed with the presentation of hemoperitoneum and caesarean scar rupture. Fetus and soft vascular mass seen protruding from the previous scar were extracted. The caesarean scar site was repaired in layers.
PubMed: 38826599
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.59422 -
Research Square May 2024Stereocilia are unidirectional F-actin-based cylindrical protrusions on the apical surface of inner ear hair cells and function as biological mechanosensors of sound and...
Live-cell single-molecule fluorescence microscopy for protruding organelles reveals regulatory mechanisms of MYO7A-driven cargo transport in stereocilia of inner ear hair cells.
Stereocilia are unidirectional F-actin-based cylindrical protrusions on the apical surface of inner ear hair cells and function as biological mechanosensors of sound and acceleration. Development of functional stereocilia requires motor activities of unconventional myosins to transport proteins necessary for elongating the F-actin cores and to assemble the mechanoelectrical transduction (MET) channel complex. However, how each myosin localizes in stereocilia using the energy from ATP hydrolysis is only partially understood. In this study, we develop a methodology for live-cell single-molecule fluorescence microscopy of organelles protruding from the apical surface using a dual-view light-sheet microscope, diSPIM. We demonstrate that MYO7A, a component of the MET machinery, traffics as a dimer in stereocilia. Movements of MYO7A are restricted when scaffolded by the plasma membrane and F-actin as mediated by MYO7A's interacting partners. Here, we discuss the technical details of our methodology and its future applications including analyses of cargo transportation in various organelles.
PubMed: 38826223
DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4369958/v1