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BACKGROUND: Unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis can be treated clinically with either total or partial knee arthroplasty. In the choice of treatment methods, a variety of factors lead to significant differences. There is little reliable evidence to guide the clinical surgical options OBJECTIVE: To compare the short-term curative effect of unicompartmental and total knee arthroplasties in the treatment of unicompartmental osteoarthritis and to explore the effects of two treatment methods on the balance function of patients. METHODS: This was a perspective trial. The patients with unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis were divided into unicompartmental knee arthroplasty group (22 cases, 23 knees) and total knee arthroplasty group (30 cases, 30 knees) based on surgical method. All patients signed the informed consents and the study was approved by the hospital ethical committee. The operation time, hospitalization time, Hospital for Special Surgery score, and the range of motion of the knee joint were compared between two groups to evaluate the early efficacy. The patients' balance function was evaluated using the Tecnobody Proprioception Test System, Timed Up and Go test, and Berg Balance Scale before and 3 months after surgery. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Compared with the total knee arthroplasty group, the unicompartmental knee arthroplasty group had shorter operation time and hospitalization time (P < 0.001 ). (2) At 3 months after surgery, there was no significant difference in the Hospital for Special Surgery score, range of motion of the knee joint, Timed Up and Go test or Berg Balance Scale score between two groups (P > 0.05). The Tecnobody Proprioception Test System scores at 3 months after surgery in the unicompartmental knee arthroplasty group were significantly higher than those in the total knee arthroplasty group (P < 0.001 ). (3) These results indicate that both unicompartmental and total knee arthroplasties have satisfactory short-term results in the treatment of unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis. Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty is superior to total knee arthroplasty in terms of operation time, hospitalization time, and balance function recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of polymer nanocomposites varies depending on the physics and chemistry at the polymer–nanoparticle interface. The physical aging of the nanocomposites is accelerated or retarded based on interfacial interactions and the state of polymer adsorption at the interfaces. In this study, we investigated the aging kinetics of silica–polystyrene nanocomposites using differential scanning calorimetry, focusing on the effect of local conformations of chains adsorbed on the nanofiller surface. The results show that the temperature dependence of the aging rate follows a Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann relationship at high temperatures, whereas it exhibits an Arrhenius-like behavior below a characteristic temperature (Tc). Notably, at T < Tc, the aging rate decreases with increasing loop height of the chains adsorbed on the filler surface, but the activation energy remains unchanged. We proposed that the suppression of the aging rate at T < Tc is likely related to an increase in the length scale over which the slow interfacial dynamics can propagate due to the increased topological interactions between the chain loops of a larger size and the free chains in the matrix. The increased packing frustration occurring at the filler surface occupied by the larger loops might also contribute to the decreased aging rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novelmethod was developed to detect the glass transition of thin and ultrathinpolystyrene (PS) films by correlating the relationships between thetemperature-dependent viscoelasticity of the PS films and stick–slipbehavior on their surfaces during dynamic wetting of glycerol or oligo-poly(ethyleneglycol) droplets. The peak temperature (Tjm) obtained from the jumping angle–film temperature curve,in which the jumping angle Δθ was employed to scale thestick–slip behavior, was nearly identical to the corresponding Tg(or Tα)of the PS film. This was confirmed by dynamic mechanical analysis(DMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The change of themeasured Tjmwith film thickness and substratechemistry (SiO2–Si and H–Si) further confirmedthat the developed method is very sensitive for detecting the dynamicsof ultrathin polymer films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a series of poly(styrene-b-isoprene-b-styrene) triblock copolymers (SIS),with different chemicalcomponents, was synthesized by anionic polymerization. The relationshipsbetween surface structures of these block copolymers and their stick–slipphenomena were investigated. There is a transition from stick–slipto a closely smooth motion for the SIS films with increasing PS content;the patterns almost vanish and the three-phase line appears to moveoverall smoothly on the film surface. The results show that the observedstick–slip pattern is strongly dependent on surface viscoelasticity.The jumping angle Δθ, which is defined as θ1– θ2(when a higher limit to θ1is obtained, the triple line “jumps” from θ1to θ2with increases in drop volume), wasemployed to scale the stick–slip behavior on various SIS filmsurfaces. Scanning force microscopy/atomic force microscopy (AFM)and sum frequency generation methods were used to investigate thesurface structures of the films and the contributions of various possiblefactors to the observed stick–slip behavior. It was found thatthere is a linear relationship between jumping angle Δθand the slope of the approach curve obtained from AFM force measurement.This means that the stick–slip behavior may be attributed mainlyto surface viscoelasticity for SIS block copolymers. The measurementof jumping angle Δθ may be a valuable method for studyingsurface structure relaxation of polymer films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The effects of solvents, fluorinated monomer content and film-formation methods on the surface structures of random copolymers composed of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 2-perfluorooctylethyl methacrylate (FMA) were investigated by contact angle goniometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy and surface tension measurement. It is found that, with cyclohexanone as the solvent, there is a critical FMA content of 9mol%, below which the copolymer films by spin coating have a more surface segregation extent of fluorinated moieties than those by solution casting; above which the copolymer films by solution casting have a more surface segregation extent of fluorinated moieties than those by spin coating. However, with toluene as solvent, the critical FMA content lowers down to 3mol%. We believe that the solvent nature and the content of fluorinated moieties in the random copolymer have the great effect because the combined effect of these two factors can determine the random copolymer chain conformations and their thermodynamic dominating factors in the solution and at the solution–air interface. A thermodynamic analysis combining the entropic and enthalpic effects is suggested to explain the observed phenomenon. This research is believed to obtain an enhanced understanding of the surface formation mechanism of the polymer films and thus demonstrate how to promote the segregation of fluorinated moieties at the polymer film surfaces. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background. The composition and metabolic activities of gut microbiota are strongly interconnected with cardiac fibrosis (CF) and heart failure (HF). Qige Huxin formula (QHF), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulation originating from a classical Fangji Huangqi decoction, has been widely used to clinically treat HF for decades. However, it is still unclear whether QHF alleviates CF by modulating gut microbiota and intestinal integrity. Purpose. This study aimed to investigate the cardioprotective effects of QHF in isoprenaline-induced CF through modulating gut microbiota and intestinal integrity. Methods. Fifty mice were randomly divided into five groups after one week of acclimatization feeding: control group, model group, 2.56 g/kg/d group (low-dose QHF), 5.12 g/kg/d group (high-dose QHF), and meto group (15 mg/kg/d). The CF model was established by subcutaneously injecting the mice with isoprenaline (10 mg/kg/d for 14 days), followed by QHF treatment. The heart volume, cardiac weight index (CWI), serum myocardial enzymes, serum inflammatory cytokines, serum lipopolysaccharide, histopathology of the heart and colon tissues, ZO-1, and occludin of colon tissues were then measured. Fecal samples from mice were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. Results. QHF treatment significantly reduced heart volume, CWI, and serum CK and CK-MB levels, attenuated cardiac histopathological alterations, and alleviated CF. QHF treatment also downregulated TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in serum. Moreover, QHF treatment decreased the serum level of lipopolysaccharide and maintained intestinal integrity by upregulating ZO-1 and occludin. The 16S rRNA microbiota analysis revealed that QHF treatment increased the relative abundance of Marvinbryantia and Phascolarctobacterium. Conclusions. QHF treatment exerts cardioprotective effects through modulating gut microbiota, protecting intestinal integrity, and alleviating inflammation. This study shows that gut microbiota may enhance heart-gut interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Low energy density is the major obstacle for the practical all-solid-state supercapacitors, which may be raised by the combination of the pseudocapacitance with the electrochemical double-layer capacitance. Although graphene and polyaniline have been demonstrated two effective materials, the synthetic route of graphene and their hybrid mode largely dictated the capacitive performances and cyclability of graphene/polyaniline nanocomposites. Herein , we employed commercial graphite fluoride as the precursor to obtain graphene with a well-preserved carbon lattice. After graphite fluoride functionalization by p -phenylenediamine (p PDA) and in situ oxidative polymerization of anilines, polyaniline (PANI) chains were covalently attached to graphene framework through p PDA bridges. Multiple characterizations were performed to confirm the covalent binding mode between graphene scaffolds and PANI partners, and electrochemical tests unraveled the as-prepared G– p PDA–PANI triads delivered a gravimetric capacitance as high as 638F g−1 and a further amplified volumetric capacitance (up to 759F cm−3). The bendable all-solid-state supercapacitors yielded an encouraging energy density of over 18 W h L−1 at a power density high to 5,950 W L−1, while exhibiting an exceptional rate capability, cycling stability and mechanical flexibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: At present. extrusion is widely used in total knee arthroplasty. Studies have shown that extrusion can aggravate early pain and increase the risk of romplications after operation. Therefore, a safer and more effective method it is urgently needed in clinic. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of elevation and extrusion of blood-expelling method on clinical outcomes during total knee arthroplasty. METHODS: Sixty-four patients who were scheduled to undergo unilateral total knee arthroplasty for the first time were randomly divided into two groups. During total knee arthroplasty, the control group received extrusion method, while the experimental group received elevation method. The main outromes of the two groups were rompared: visual analogue scale score, knee joint swelling, C-reactive protein, serum creatine kinase activity and postoperative complications; secondary outcomes: tourniquet use time, Hospital for Special Surgery score, and SF-36 score. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Visual analogue scale scores in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group on the first day, the seventh day, the first month and the third month after operation (P < 0.05). (2) Knee swelling, serum creatine kinase and C-reactive protein increased in both groups after operation, but the increase in experimental group was significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0.05). (3) In terms of postoperative complications, the incidences of tension vesicles and deep vein thrombosis in the control group were higher than those in the experimental group (P < 0.05). The total complication rate was signifJCSnUy higher in the control group than in the experimental group (P < 0.05). (4) There was no significant difference in tourniquet use tine between the two groups (P > 0.05). (5) Hospital for Special Surgery score and SF-36 score were assessed at 1, 3 and 6 months. The results showed that it was better than before, but there was no signifiCant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). (6) In conclusion, elevation of blood-expelling method could alleviate early pain response, reduce inflammation reaction and soft tissue injury, and decrease the incidence of skin tension blisters and thromboembolism. It is in line with the concept of rapid recovery. Therefore, during total knee arthroplasty, elevation of blood-expelling method is a safer and more effective method than extrusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annealing a supported polymer film in the melt state results in the growth of an irreversibly adsorbed layer, which has been shown to influence thin film properties such as diffusion and glass transition temperature. Adsorbed layer growth is attributed to many simultaneous interactions between individual monomer units and the substrate, stabilizing chains against desorption. In this study, adsorbed layers of polystyrene (PS), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and their random copolymers are isolated by select solvents. While PS adsorbed layer thickness is largely unaffected by the choice of washing solvent, the PMMA adsorbed layer completely desorbs when washed with tetrahydrofuran and chloroform, as opposed to toluene. Scaling relationships between adsorbed layer thickness and degree of chain adsorption at the substrate enable the use of adsorbed layer thickness to probe specific polymer‐substrate interactions. Composition‐dependent desorption trends indicate non‐preferential adsorption between styrene and methyl methacrylate repeat units at the substrate, despite differences in substrate interaction strength. This insight contributes to the developing mechanism for the adsorption of random copolymers during melt‐state annealing, further extending the ability to predict processing‐inducted changes to the properties of polymer thin films to heterogeneous systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method based on the PeakForce QNM atomic force microscopic (AFM) adhesion measurement is employed to investigate the glassy dynamics of polystyrene (PS) single-chain particles end-grafted to SiO2—Si substrates with different diameters, D0, of 3.4 nm–8.8 nm and molar masses, Mn, of 8–123 kg/mol. As temperature was increased, the adhesion force, Fad, experienced by the AFM tip on pulling off the single chains after loading demonstrated a stepwise increase at an elevated temperature, which we identified to be Tg based on previous works. Our result shows that Tg of our grafted single chains increases with Mn in a manner consistent with the Fox–Flory equation, but the coefficient quantifying the Mn dependence of Tg is only (36 ± 6)% the value of bulk PS. In addition, the value of Tg in the Mn → ∞ limit is about 25 °C below the bulk Tg but more than 15 °C above that of (untethered) PS nanoparticles with D0 ≈ 100 nm suspended in a solution. Our findings are consistent with Tg of our single chains being dominated by simultaneous effects of the interfaces, which depress Tg, and end-grafting, which enhances Tg. The latter is believed to exert its influence on the glass transition dynamics by a mechanism reliant on chain connectivity and does not vary with chain length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sterol o-acyltransferase 1 (Soat1, also known as ACAT1) is an endoplasmic reticulum enzyme that catalyzes free cholesterol to cholesterol ester. We identified four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (A421C, A439G, C454T, and C613T) within the coding region of Soat1 between mouse strains C57BL/6 (B6) and C3H and two of the SNPs led to amino-acid substitutions (IIe147Val and His205Tyr). We then sequenced the coding region of Soat1 in 33 additional mouse strains and found three Soat1 protein variants, including 147IIe 205His, 147Va1205His, and 147Va1205Tyr. When fed a high fat/cholesterol diet with cholate for 8 weeks, mouse strains with the 147Va1205His variant had significantly higher non-HDL levels (343 ± 161 vs. 140 ± 43 or 129 ± 70, P = 9.9E-05 in female; 331 ± 240 vs. 127 ± 47 or 122 ± 93; P = 0.0039 in male), smaller body weight (13 ± 1 vs. 23 ± 5 or 26 ± 5, P = 0.0009 in female; 15 ± 1 vs. 28 ± 6 or 30 ± 4; P = 0.0002 in male), and were absent in aortic fatty streak lesions (0 vs. 343 ± 501 or 259 ± 690 in female P =0.65; and 553 ± 961 or 287 ± 1036 in male; P =0.58). Thus, these results support Soat1 to be an important gene contributing to hyperlipidemia, body weight, and atherosclerosis in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two challenging scientific disciplines, i.e., the physics of glasses [Anderson, Science 267, 1615 (1995); Kennedy and Norman, Science 309, 75 (2005)] and interface chemistry [Sanders, 125 Questions: Exploration and Discovery (Science/AAAS, 2021); Yates and Campbell, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 108, 911 (2011)], converge in research on the dynamics of glass surfaces. In recent decades, studies have revealed that glasses exhibit profound alterations in their dynamics within nanometers of interfaces. Rather, at the free surfaces of glassy materials with arrested bulk dynamics, a highly mobile ultrathin layer is present, wherein molecular mobility is much faster than in the bulk. Enhanced surface mobility has become an important scientific concept and is intrinsic and universal to various categories of glasses (e.g., molecular, metallic, and polymeric glasses), thus having technological implications for processing and applications of glasses. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the historical evolution of the concept, characterization, theoretical modeling, and unique features of dynamics at the surfaces of glasses. Additionally, this paper also illustrates potential advantages of incorporating this concept into designing improved materials with extraordinary properties. We hope this review article will contribute to the current understanding of the unique surface dynamics of glassy materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a global pandemic since its outbreak in Wuhan, China. It is an urgent task to prevent and treat COVID-19 effectively early. In China's experience combating the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has played an indispensable role. A large number of epidemiological investigations have shown that mild to moderate COVID-19 accounts for the largest proportion of cases. It is of great importance to treat such COVID-19 cases, which can help control epidemic progression. Many trials have shown that CHM combined with conventional therapy in the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 was superior to conventional therapy alone. This review was designed to evaluate the add-on effect of CHM in the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19. Methods: Eight electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Clinical Trials.gov website, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), Wanfang Database and China Biology Medicine (CBM) were searched from December 2019 to March 2021 without language restrictions. Two reviewers searched and selected studies, and extracted data according to inclusion and exclusion criteria independently. Cochrane Risk of Bias (ROB) tool was used to assess the methodological quality of the included RCTs. Review Manager 5.3.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: Twelve eligible RCTs including 1393 participants were included in this meta-analysis. Our meta-analyses found that lung CT parameters [RR = 1.26, 95% CI (1.15, 1.38), P<0.00001] and the clinical cure rate [RR = 1.26, 95%CI (1.16, 1.38), P<0.00001] of CHM combined with conventional therapy in the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 were better than those of conventional therapy. The rate of conversion to severe cases [RR = 0.48, 95%CI (0.32, 0.73), P = 0.0005], TCM symptom score of fever [MD = -0.62, 95%CI (-0.79, -0.45), P<0.00001], cough cases [RR = 1.43, 95%CI (1.16, 1.75), P = 0.0006], TCM symptom score of cough[MD = -1.07, 95%CI (-1.29, -0.85), P<0.00001], TCM symptom score of fatigue[MD = -0.66, 95%CI (-1.05, -0.28), P = 0.0007], and CRP[MD = -5.46, 95%CI (-8.19, -2.72), P<0.0001] of combination therapy was significantly lower than that of conventional therapy. The WBC count was significantly higher than that of conventional therapy[MD = 0.38, 95%CI (0.31, 0.44), P<0.00001]. Our meta-analysis results were robust through sensitivity analysis. Conclusion: Chinese herbal medicine combined with conventional therapy may be effective and safe in the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19. More high-quality RCTs are needed in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer coatings of nanometric thickness are about to enter in everyday life as part of a wide range of applications such as protective layers, stimuli-responsive membranes or as components of flexible electronics devices. In the past 30 years, these polymer nanomaterial systems have been at the center of research interest due to the opportunities to control relevant material properties like the phase transition temperature, viscosity, permeability, or thermal expansion by variation of the film thickness. One of the key factors responsible for the deviation from bulk behavior is known as 1D confinement that describes the increasing impact of interfacial layers when reducing film thickness. This review provides a comprehensive discussion of the role of the free surface at the boundary with air and the interfacial layer in proximity of a supporting substrate on the crystallization of thin polymer films. First, the dynamics of polymers near the free surface and its impact on the crystallization of films is discussed. Subsequently, the effect of solid substrates on crystallization in thin films is elaborated, including the formation of irreversible adsorption layers, alteration of crystalline structure and the kinetics of crystallization. Subsequently, the competition between surface and interface effects on the formation of ordered structures in thin polymer films is discussed. A perspective on challenges and opportunities in the field of thin film crystallization is provided to inspire future research and development in the field. This review thus provides an up-to-date analysis of current understanding of crystallization of polymer glasses under 1D confinement, aimed at supporting the manipulation and control of the properties of polymer-based nanodevices. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by reproductive, endocrine, and metabolic disorders. Icariin has been shown to regulate endocrine and metabolic imbalances. This study aimed to determine the therapeutic effect and pharmacological mechanism of icariin in PCOS rats. Rats were fed a high-fat diet and gavaged with letrozole to induce PCOS. Thirty-six female rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, model, low-dose, and high-dose icariin. After 30 days of treatment, we evaluated the therapeutic effects on weight and diet, sex hormone levels, ovarian morphology, estrous cycle, inflammatory factors, and indicators of glucolipid metabolism. Combined with the ovarian transcriptome, we verified the key markers of apoptosis and the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway by RT-qPCR for mRNA level, western blot, and immunohistochemistry for protein expression. Icariin significantly improved ovarian function and reproductive endocrine disorders by regulating sex hormones, restoring the estrous cycle, and reducing ovarian morphological damage in PCOS rats. Icariin-treated rats had lower weight gain and reduced triglycerides, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, TNF-α, and interleukin-6 with higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than PCOS rats. TUNEL staining showed icariin improved apoptosis in the ovaries. This was supported by an increase in Bcl2 and a decrease in Bad and Bax. Icariin decreased the ratios of p-JAK2/JAK2, p-STAT1/STAT1, p-STAT3/STAT3, and p-STAT5a/STAT5a, decreased IL-6, gp130 expression, and increased cytokine-inducible SH2-containing protein (CISH) and suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) expression. The pharmacological mechanism may be related to the reduction in ovarian apoptosis and inhibition of the IL-6/gp130/JAK2/STATs pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In this article, the fluorinated amphiphilic V-shaped brushes with two highly incompatible arms of mPEG42 and PMMA38- b-PFMAy were produced by reacting COOH in the PAA segment in methoxypoly(ethylene glycol)- b-poly(acrylic acid)- b-poly(methyl methacrylate)- b-poly(2-perfluoro-octylethyl methacrylate) (mPEG42- b-PAA11-b-PMMA38- b-PFMAy) with an epoxy group on the functionalized SiO2 substrate. It was found that the resulting phase separation structures of the V-shaped brushes can be adjusted by altering the degree of polymerization ( y) of PFMA. The brush surface with y = 8 showed an alternating phase separation structure, in which one domain was water-soluble PEG and the other was ultralow surface energy domain with a crystalline fluorinated side group. Protein adsorption studies indicated that this surface structure exhibited desirable protein-resistant performance. The reason was attributed to the stimuli-responsive PEG domain, in which PEG chains stretch out at the interface in water, while the PFMA domain remains relatively stable. The synergistic effect of the hydrophilic PEG domain and the hydrophobic PFMA domain in water prevents protein adsorption. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 54, 2599-2610 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphite fluoride‐launched graphene functionalization has attracted increasing interest in recent years. Highly basic nucleophiles are normally employed for ultrastrong CF bonding. However, frequently, an appreciable majority of C–F units of graphite fluoride are reductively eliminated, leading to low functionalization degrees. It is hypothesized that graphite fluoride could likely be functionalized to a larger degree by lowering the basicity of the nucleophiles. Herein, ultraweakly basic NH3·H2O is adopted as a nucleophile to react with extremely inert graphite fluoride, and the resulting reaction affords amino/hydroxyl cofunctionalized graphene (NH2–G–OH). As expected, the NH2/OH functionalization degree and the ratio of substituted C–F units to reduced ones reach high values of 0.34 and 1.62, respectively. Due to the dual energy‐storage mechanisms of the electrochemical double‐layer capacitance coupled with Faradaic pseudocapacitance, the NH2–G8–OH‐based all‐solid‐state supercapacitors are flexible and robust and deliver state‐of‐the‐art capacitive characteristics, while exhibiting high rate capability and electrochemical cycling stability. In addition, NH2/OH moieties remain highly reactive to be post‐functionalized by versatile electrophiles, not only achieving an umpolung of graphite fluoride, but also enabling NH2–G8–OH a competitive alternative to monopolistic GO, and opening up an innovative pathway for development of high‐performance graphene derivatives amenable to multifarious applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]