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Diabetes is one of the global chronic diseases, which is mainly caused by the abnormal increase of blood sugar level. Therefore, it is particularly important to monitor glucose in real time. In this work, based on the principle that phenylboronic acid can react with diol rapidly and reversibly in aqueous medium, phenylboronic acid functionalized reduced graphene oxide (rGO-PBA) and polyhydroxy modified carbon spot fluorescent probe (CD1) were designed for detecting important glucose molecules. Among them, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) has high specific surface area and strong fluorescence quenching performance. When CD1 is close to the surface of rGO-PBA, the fluorescence of carbon dots was quenched. With the addition of glucose, the fluorescence of carbon dots increased continuously. The detection of small molecule glucose can be realized quickly and sensitively by using the "on" and "off" strategies of fluorescence. [Display omitted] • Develop new rGO-PBA and polyhydroxy modified carbon spot fluorescent probe. • Show high specific surface area and strong fluorescence quenching performance. • Provide important strategies and ideas for carbon spot fluorescent probe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Decellularization can reduce the immune response to aortic valve allograft tissue, but the thrombogenicity and in vivo remolding of these grafts remain controversial. The aim of the present study was to modify the surface of decellularized valvular conduits with heparin—stromal cell–derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) polyelectrolyte multilayer film and to test the thrombogenicity and biocompatibility in vitro and recellularization in vivo. Methods The donor aortic valvular conduits were decellularized with a combination of different detergents and were coated with heparin and SDF-1α alternately to form a polyelectrolyte multilayer. Platelet adhesion and lactate dehydrogenase assay were used to evaluate the antiplatelet property. The adhesion, growth, and migration of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) to the scaffolds were assessed. For in vivo studies, the grafts were anastomosed to the infrarenal aorta, without or with heparin and SDF-1α multilayer. Functional assessment was performed by Doppler echography and micro–computed tomography at 2-week and 4-week time points after implantation. Explanted grafts were examined histologically and by immunohistochemistry. Results In vitro studies demonstrated that the heparin–SDF-1α multilayer film improved hemocompatibility with respect to a substantial reduction of platelet adhesion. BMSCs also achieved better adhesion, proliferation, and migration on the modified graft. For in vivo studies, the grafts in both groups remained patent after 4 weeks, but it was demonstrated that the modified decellularized grafts had better self-endothelialization and recruitment of endothelial progenitor cells. Conclusions These results indicate that heparin–SDF-1α multilayer film can be used to cover the decellularized aortic valvular graft to decrease platelet adhesion while precipitating regeneration of the decellularized aortic valve allograft in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate a lot of physiological and pathological processes, including myocardial ischemia/reperfusion. Recent studies reported that knockdown of miR-92a could attenuate ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial injury. In the present study, we examined the potential anti-apoptotic effects of miR-92a in a rat myocardiocyte cell line, and the possible role of Smad7 in such actions. Methodology and Results: In a preliminary bioinformatic analysis, we identified SMAD family member 7 (Smad7) as a potential target for miR-92a. A luciferase reporter assay indeed demonstrated that miR-92a could inhibit Smad7 expression. Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion was simulated in rat H9c2 cells with 24-h hypoxia followed by 12-h reoxygenation. Prior to hypoxia/reoxygenation, cells were transfected by miR-92a inhibitor. In some experiments, cells were co-transfected with siRNA-Smad7. The miR-92a inhibitor dramatically reduced the release of lactate dehydrogenase and malonaldehyde, and attenuated cardiomyocyte apoptosis. The miR-92a inhibitor increased SMAD7 protein level and decreased nuclear NF-κB p65 protein. Effects of the miR-92a inhibitor were attenuated by co-transfection with siRNA-Smad7. Conclusion: Inhibiting miR-92a can attenuate myocardiocyte apoptosis induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation by targeting Smad7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of industry, the problem of environmental pollution has become increasingly prominent. Exploring and preparing green, efficient, and low cost catalysts has become the key challenge for scientists. However, some conventional preparation methods are limited by conditions, such as cumbersome operation, high energy consumption, and high pollution. Here, a simple and efficient seed-mediated method was designed and proposed to synthesize a highly efficient bimetallic catalyst for catalyzing nitro compounds. A Pd-Cu bimetallic composite (BCM) can be prepared by synthesizing the original seed crystal of precious metal palladium, then growing the mature nanocrystalline palladium and supporting the transition metal copper. Importantly, after eight consecutive catalytic cycles, the conversion of the catalyzed 2-NA was 84%, while the conversion of the catalyzed 4-NP was still 72%. And the catalytic first order rates of 2-NA and 4-NP constants were 0.015 s−1, and 0.069 s−1, respectively. Therefore, current research of nanocomposites catalyst showed great significance for serious environmental pollution problems and the protection of living environment, providing a new idea for the preparation of new bimetallic catalytic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of heterojunctions provides a promising strategy to improve photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. However, how to fabricate a nanoscale TiO2/g-C3N4 heterostructure and hinder the aggregation of bulk g-C3N4 using simple methods remains a challenge. In this work, we use a simple in situ construction method to design a heterojunction model based on molecular self-assembly, which uses a small molecule matrix for self-integration, including coordination donors (AgNO3), inorganic titanium source (Ti(SO4)2) and g-C3N4 precursor (melamine). The self-assembled porous g-C3N4 nanotube can hamper carrier aggregation and it provides numerous catalytic active sites, mainly via the coordination of Ag+ ions. Meanwhile, the TiO2 NPs are easily mineralized on the nanotube template in dispersive distribution to form a heterostructure via an N–Ti bond of protonation, which contributes to shortening the interfacial carrier transport, resulting in enhanced electron-hole pairs separation. Originating from all of the above synergistic effects, the obtained Ag/TiO2/g-C3N4 heterogenous photocatalysts exhibit an enhanced H2 evolution rate with excellent sustainability 20.6-fold-over pure g-C3N4. Our report provides a feasible and simple strategy to fabricate a nanoscale heterojunction incorporating g-C3N4, and has great potential in environmental protection and water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effective synthesis and self-assembly of nanocomposites were of key importance for a broad range of nanomaterial applications. In this work, new carbon nanotube (CNT)-Cu2O nanocomposites were successfully synthesized via a facile approach. CNT was selected as the anchoring substrate to load Cu2O nanoparticles to prepare composite catalysts with well stability and good reusability. It is discovered that the prepared CNT-Cu2O nanocomposite materials could be effectively controlled via regulating preparation temperature and time without the use of any stabilizing agents. The nanostructures of synthesized composites were well characterized by many techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). And the prepared CNT-Cu2O nanocomposites with optimized preparation conditions as new catalyst displayed excellent catalytic performance on the reduction reaction of p-nitrophenol, demonstrating potential applications for environmental governance and composite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nurses often face a variety of nursing-related stresses, making them more prone to symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We aimed to explore symptom characteristics, influencing factors, and their predictive value for PTSD in nurses, so as to prevent the occurrence of PTSD in nurses. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in two tertiary hospitals in Yangzhou. A total of 1290 valid questionnaires were received in our study, and 190 nurses (14.7%) were positive for PTSD symptoms. The results show that individuals with higher scores on the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7), and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies questionnaire (maladaptive CERS) were more likely to experience PTSD symptoms, whereas those with lower scores on the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) were more likely to experience PTSD symptoms. Compared with the PSS-10, PHQ-15, and PSSS, GAD-7 and maladaptive CERS had higher predictive value. This study provided the optimal threshold of relevant factors that may have a positive effect on the prevention of PTSD symptoms. This has guiding implications for active prevention and intervention in some institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Valvuloplasty for rheumatic aortic valve disease remains controversial. We conducted this study to explore whether aortic valvuloplasty is appropriate for the rheumatic population. A comprehensive search was conducted, and 7 eligible retrospective studies were identified from PubMed, Embase, Medline and Cochrane (up to April 7, 2020) according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data for hospital mortality, 5-year survival, 5-year reoperation, aortic insufficiency grade (AIG) and aortic valve gradient (AVG) were extracted by 2 independent reviewers and were analysed to evaluate the safety and availability of aortic valvuloplasty for rheumatic patients. The heterogeneity of the results was estimated using the Q test and I2 statistics. The fixed pooling model was used when I2 ≤ 50%; otherwise, the random pooling model was selected. 7 articles with 418 patients were included. The pooled hospital mortality, 5-year survival and 5-year reoperation rates were 3.2%, 94.5% and 9.9%, respectively. The heterogeneities of the weighted mean differences (WMD) values of the AIG and AVG between preoperation and postoperation were extremely high (I2 = 81.5%, p < 0.001 in AIG, I2 = 97.6%, p = 0.003 in AVG). Subgroup analysis suggested that the AIG and AVG were improved by 3.03 grades (I2 = 0%, p < 0.001) and 3.16 mmHg (I2 = 0%, p < 0.001) in the European group, respectively. In the Asian group, the AIG and AVG were improved by 2.57 grades (I2 = 0%, p < 0.001) and 34.39 mmHg (I2 = 0%, p < 0.001), respectively. Compared with the values at discharge, the AIG was increased by 0.15 grades (I2 = 0%, p = 0.031) and the AVG was still decreased by 2.07 mmHg (I2 = 0%, p = 0.031) at the time of follow up. Valvuloplasty is safe and effective to treat rheumatic aortic insufficiency and stenosis, and the duration of maintenance required to improve stenosis was longer than that of insufficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: COVID-19 has become a global epidemic, and effective therapies have not been discovered up to now. We conducted this study to explore the effectiveness and safety of tocilizumab recently used for treating COVID-19. Method: A comprehensive search was conducted (up to September 27, 2020), and 19 eligible records were identified according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data of the studies were extracted by 2 independent reviewers and were analyzed to evaluate the safety and availability of tocilizumab for treating COVID-19. Results: Thirteen retrospective case-control studies (n = 2285 patients) and 6 retrospective single-armed studies (n = 208) were retrieved in this study. In the comparison of tocilizumab treatment group (TCZ) and standard treatment group (ST), significant associations with a lower risk of admission to ICU, use of ventilation, and mortality (OR, 95% CI: 0.53, 0.26~1.09; 0.66, 0.46~0.94; 0.44, 0.36~0.55) were found in the tocilizumab treatment group. What is more, patients treated with tocilizumab had better clinical improvement compared with the patients treated with ST (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.96~1.62). After taking tocilizumab, the patients had lower C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count (WBC), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (WMD, 95% CI: − 99.66, − 156.24~− 43.09; − 0.95, − 1.8~− 0.11; − 12.58, − 18.88~−6.29) but higher troponin (WMD, 7.61; 95% CI, 3.06~12.15) than before. In addition, tocilizumab did not have significant influence on patients' neutrophil count (Neut), lymphocyte count (Lymp), platelet count (Plt), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and creatine (WMD, 95% CI: − 0.29, − 2.91~2.33; 0.42, − 0.23~1.07; 5.2, − 2.85~13.25; 22.49, − 2.73~47.7; − 44.78, − 93.37~3.81). Conclusion: Tocilizumab may have potential effectiveness to treat COVID-19 according to the results of this study. However, more large-scale studies are needed for more accurate conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disease characterized by lower platelet count resulting from immune cells-mediated platelet clearance. Tacrolimus is an immunosuppressive agent which selectively inhibits T cell activation. Whether tacrolimus plays a role in ITP remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of tacrolimus on ITP in mice. An ITP mouse model was established by injection of rat anti-mouse integrin GPIIb/CD41 immunoglobulin and treated with tacrolimus followed by isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma. The mRNA expression of T-bet, GATA3, and Foxp3 was measured by RT-PCR, and level of IFN-γ, IL-12p70, IL-4, IL-13, and TGF-β in plasma was measured by ELISA. Tacrolimus inhibited antiplatelet antibody-mediated platelet clearance in ITP mouse model. Meanwhile, tacrolimus-treated ITP mice displayed a significant decrease in the mRNA expression of T-bet and plasma level of IFN-γ and IL-12p70 compared with ITP mice but without differences when compared with normal mice. Furthermore, the expression of GATA3, Foxp3, and plasma level of IL-4 and TGF-β were upregulated in tacrolimus-treated ITP mice without significant differences to normal mice (except TGF-β). Tacrolimus prevents antiplatelet antibody-mediated thrombocytopenia in ITP mice possibly through regulating T cell differentiations, suggesting it might be a novel approach for preventing ITP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Develop new composite materials via non-covalently assembly strategy. • Self-assembled composite prepared in an eco-friendly and effective manner. • Composite exhibit high selectivity for Cu(II) ion removal and good stability. • Significant potentials in self-assembled composite absorbent design. Functionalized nanocomposite adsorbents based on multiple sites of sorption are critically important for advancing removal of heavy metal ions. Herein, a non-covalently assembly strategy for fabrication of efficient adsorbent with multiple-site adsorption capability is introduced. A novel hybrid nanomaterial was fabricated by encapsulating chitosan molecules (CS) into charged polystyrene resin (PS) through electrostatic adsorption. The resulting hybrid absorbent (PS-CS) demonstrates highly efficient sorption toward cupric ion, mainly because of the electrostatic interactions of sulfonate group and chelation of NH 2 and OH groups of chitosan with cupric ion. Meanwhile, the obtained composites with interior well-dispersed chitosan molecules give specific selectivity for cupric ion in the present of divalent competition ions such as Ca2+ and Mg2+. Adsorption equilibrium data can be described with Freundlich isotherms model and the pseudo-second-order model. The kinetic rate constants have been determined for PS and PS-CS nanocomposite. In this paper, it is suggested that charged groups in host materials not only enhance the fixation and dispersion performance of embedded molecules but provide more target sites for nanocomposite, thus enhancing capacity for sorption of metal ions. Therefore, construction of multi-target nanocomposites provides conceivably promoted development of highly efficient adsorbents for toxic metals abatement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • develop new electrospun composite materials via SVA treatment. • self-assembled composite prepared in an eco-friendly and effective manner. • composite exhibits high-efficient catalytic capacities and good stability. • significant potentials in self-assembled composite films design. Abstract A new ternary poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)@AuNPs composite material with high catalytic activity and favorable structural stability has been successfully prepared. The prepared PCL/PEO composite fibers by electrospinning have been treated with an easy-to-operate solvent vapor annealing (SVA) process, demonstrating wrinkled fiber nanostructures, promoting the significantly high specific surface area and more active sites in the surface of electrospun fiber. Then NaBH 4 was used as a reducing agent to reduce HAuCl 4 to form gold nanoparticles, resulting in the targeted PCL/PEO@AuNPs composite material. The obtained PCL/PEO@AuNPs composites demonstrated potential catalytic ability and good reusability in the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol and 2-nitroaniline systems, showing promising and wide applications in catalytic composite materials and self-assembled films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Develop new polypyrrole-diamond core-shell composite materials. • Self-assembled composite prepared in an eco-friendly and effective manner. • Composite exhibit elevated electrochemical performances. • Significant potentials in polypyrrole composite material design. Abstract The fabrication of graphitized diamond covered with polypyrrole (D@G@PPy) core-shell nanocomposites has been achieved by using a superficial electrochemical polymerization and self-assembly strategy. The conductivity of the core-shell nanocomposites was influenced by polymerization time, current as well as the concentration of ions. The obtained excellent conductivity appeared with the current of 0.6 mA and the duration time of 1 h. In addition, the corresponding enhanced electrochemical performance of polypyrrole grown on graphitized diamond substrate is demonstrated compared with pristine polypyrrole. The morphologies of the obtained composites were illuminated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the conductivity was demonstrated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The characteristic peaks of polypyrrole and qualitative analysis of surface elements have been investigated by Raman spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The present research could demonstrate a new aspiration for the design and preparation of novel polypyrrole core-shell composites materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical modification and organized self-assembly of MXene-based nanocomposites demonstrate critical importance to a wide range of material applications. Herein, we have investigated the preparation of new hierarchical core-shell type MXene-based composite materials for high-efficient dye removal in wastewater treatment via layer-by-layer (LbL) strategy. From the carboxyl functionalization of the MXene material, the negative functional groups were obtained on the surface of the shell composite layer. Carboxyl functionalized MXene materials are immersed in polyimide and polyacrylic acid solution respectively, which leads to formation of shell structure on the surface of MXene layer. Alternating self-assembly processes in the solutions of the polyimide and polyacrylic acid polymers are investigated until the desired number of shell layers is fabricated around MXene layer structures. Finally, the core-shell nanocomposites were characterized by morphological and spectral techniques, demonstrating that the core-shell nanocomposites have more reaction sites and mesoporous structures. The as-obtained core-shell nanocomposites were evaluated with well adsorption capacities via three kinds of dyes. Thus the study of MXene based composites assembled by LbL provides a new choice for the application of MXene composite nanomaterials in wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design and preparation of functional beta-cyclodextrin-based composite films are of key importance for wide application fields. This study demonstrates a new route to construct composite films by Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) method via cholesterol-modified beta-cyclodextrin derivative (CD-CHOL). The inclusion complex formation of CD-CHOL and azobenzene derivative (N-Azo) at the air/water interface was investigated. It has been found that the interfacial host-guest recognition could easily occur in the in situ formed CD-CHOL/N-Azo composite films and relatively difficult to occur in the ex situ immersed composite films, because there exist host-guest interaction as well as intermolecular hydrogen bonding interaction. The inclusion complex formation was confirmed by changes in the surface pressure-area isotherms, circular dichroism (CD) and UV–vis spectra of the transferred LB films. And the solvent effect of the composite CD-CHOL/N-Azo films was also investigated, indicating that host-guest interaction between N-Azo and CD-CHOL could occur rather in the nonpolar solvent than the polar solvent. The present research work about beta-cyclodextrin-based composite films by LB method may provide new exploration to prepare organized composite films and demonstrate potential applications in many fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene oxide (GO)-based nanocomposite films via facile and appropriate self-assembly methods have demonstrated many potential applications in wide fields. This study demonstrates a facile and clean route to prepare graphene oxide-dye composite films using Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique at room temperature. By electrostatic interaction between cationic dye molecules and negatively charged GO sheets as well as π-π interactions, GO-dye composite LB films were formed spontaneously. As a soft platform for dye molecules, GO sheets induce dye molecules to self-assemble and form highly ordered structures containing H-aggregates and/or J-aggregates. The morphological characterization results show the formation of GO-dye composite films with smooth and dense surfaces. And the spectral results reveal that dye molecules stack in well-organized aggregates on the surface of GO sheets corresponding to monomers in bulk solution. The present research work about GO-dye composite films by LB method may provide new clues to prepare organized composite films and demonstrate potential applications in many fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate a lot of physiological and pathological processes, including myocardial ischemia/reperfusion. Recent studies reported that knockdown of miR-92a could attenuate ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial injury. In the present study, we examined the potential anti-apoptotic effects of miR-92a in a rat myocardiocyte cell line, and the possible role of Smad7 in such actions. Methodology and Results: In a preliminary bioinformatic analysis, we identified SMAD family member 7 (Smad7) as a potential target for miR-92a. A luciferase reporter assay indeed demonstrated that miR-92a could inhibit Smad7 expression. Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion was simulated in rat H9c2 cells with 24-h hypoxia followed by 12-h reoxygenation. Prior to hypoxia/reoxygenation, cells were transfected by miR-92a inhibitor. In some experiments, cells were co-transfected with siRNA-Smad7. The miR-92a inhibitor dramatically reduced the release of lactate dehydrogenase and malonaldehyde, and attenuated cardiomyocyte apoptosis. The miR-92a inhibitor increased SMAD7 protein level and decreased nuclear NF-κB p65 protein. Effects of the miR-92a inhibitor were attenuated by co-transfection with siRNA-Smad7. Conclusion: Inhibiting miR-92a can attenuate myocardiocyte apoptosis induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation by targeting Smad7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Composite catalyst Ag 3 PO 4 /Ni-Ti L DH/GO prepared by a simple in-situ deposition method. • Composite catalyst exhibits highly efficient and sustainable catalytic activity. • Provide new clue for the design of new Ag 3 PO 4 -based hybrid photocatalysts. A novel catalyst composed of Ag 3 PO 4 bridged by Ni/Ti LDH-graphene heterojunction structure was successfully prepared by a simple in-situ deposition method, which has excellent catalytic performance for 4-NP and 2-NA. Various characterizations to the samples such as XRD, SEM, TEM, STEM-EDS, XPS, TG–DSC, and UV–vis DRS were adopted. Because the ternary structure is mixed with each other to form more heterojunctions and higher specific surface area, the ternary composite Ag 3 PO 4 /Ni-Ti LDH/GO has excellent catalytic and cycle performance. Compared to the precursors Ag 3 PO 4 /GO and Ni-Ti LDH/GO, the finally as-obtained nanocomposite Ag 3 PO 4 /Ni-Ti LDH/GO degraded 4-NP and 2-NA solutions represented more dominant degradation efficiency. In addition, the pseudo-first-order rate constants of the composite catalyst for 4-NP and 2-NA are 0.178 min−1 and 0.089 min−1, respectively. The complex and irregular surfaces of Ni-Ti LDH/GO provided an ideal carrier with abundant active sites for in-situ depositing and stabilizing of Ag 3 PO 4 NPs, formed the Ag 3 PO 4 /Ni-Ti LDH/GO hybrid possessed an acceptable catalytic performance on the degradation of azo dyes, which could be applied in the efficient treatment of wastewater from industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The functionalization and self-assembly of two-dimensional layered materials (such as graphene, black phosphorus) play an important role in the wide application of nanomaterials. In present study, the graphene oxide (GO) was reduced by adding l -ascorbic acid to obtain a reduced graphene oxide (rGO) hydrogel. rGO hydrogel can be considered as an ideal support due to its wrinkled structure and residual oxygen atoms in GO surface, which can effectively reduce the aggregation of palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs). The effect of adding black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNS) to the rGO-Pd hydrogel on the catalytic performance was also studied. The results show that the rGO-BP-Pd composite hydrogels exhibit enhanced catalytic performance compared to the rGO-Pd hydrogel due to the strong interaction between Pd and the P atom of the BPNS. The current research provides new clues for the preparation of functionalized composite hydrogel and BP nanomaterials. Unlabelled Image • Black phosphorus-based composite hydrogel materials developed via simple reduction method. • rGO-BP-Pd composite hydrogels exhibited different morphologies and catalytic performance. • Compared to the rGO-Pd hydrogel, rGO-BP-Pd composite hydrogels exhibited enhanced catalytic performance for 4-NP. • This work provides ideas for potential important applications in wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Develop new composite film materials via non-covalent assembly strategy. • Self-assembled GO composite films prepared in an effective manner. • Composite films contain highly ordered aggregate structures. • Significant potentials in self-assembled composite film design. Constructing graphene oxide (GO)-based 2D nanomaterials via facile and appropriate methods have aroused much attention due to their potential applications in many fields. Herein, by Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique, we have successfully fabricated GO-based films composited with porphyrin molecules. By the reaction of diazotization and Fischer osazone, different surface states of GO sheets with sulfonate groups were obtained. The amphiphilic GO and surface modified GO sheets could spontaneously form composite films at the air/water interface with porphyrin molecules (TMPyP) by electrostatic interactions and π-π stacking. Since the sheets can perfectly float on the interface, the TMPyP molecules were adsorbed on the floating-layers and self-assembled into highly ordered J-aggregate structures. The morphological characterization results showed the composite films with smooth and dense surface. Due to the different surface state of the nanosheets, the aggregate states of porphyrin molecules were different which could be demonstrated in the UV–vis spectra. The results indicated that the induction of sulfonate groups and the types of oxygen-containing groups have played important roles for regulating the aggregate state of porphyrin molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogels have attracted great attention due to their soft and moist properties, but the preparation of hydrogels with good mechanical properties requires further investigation. In this study, we report on the preparation of polyelectrolyte-based polyion complex (PIC) hydrogels polymerized sequentially via two monomers with cationic and anionic groups. The PIC hydrogel was doped with graphene oxide (GO), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and layered double hydrotalcites (LDHs) with different weight ratios, respectively. The structures and mechanical properties of the formed composite hydrogels were investigated by SEM, BET, nanoindentation, and tensile tests. The addition of GO, CNTs, and LDHs improved the mechanical properties compared to the original hydrogel, and the GO doped composite hydrogel showed the maximum fracture strain above 800%. We also studied the dye adsorption capacities of the prepared hydrogels for methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RhB), and the doped composite hydrogels showed different adsorption properties compared to the original PIC hydrogel. This work provides new clues in the preparation of composite hydrogel materials with enhanced mechanical properties and wider applications. Unlabelled Image • Develop new polyelectrolytes-based polyion composite hydrogels materials • Self-assembled composite hydrogels doped with graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes and layered double hydrotalcites • Composite hydrogels exhibit superior mechanical properties including maximum fracture strain above 800%. • Significant potentials in self-assembled composite materials design [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Develop new self-assembled hydrogels via host-guest polymers. • Self-assembled hydrogels prepared in an eco-friendly and effective manner. • Hydrogels exhibit highly efficient MB and BPA removal. • Significant potentials in self-assembled composite absorbent design. In this study, new self-assembled hydrogels constructed by cyclodextrin polymer (P-CD)/ferrocene-modified poly acrylic acid (PAA-Fc) were designed and prepared via host-guest interactions. These obtained hydrogels were characterized by different methods such as Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric (TG) and specific surface area tests. SEM images confirmed that the prepared hydrogels had a three-dimensional (3D) porous network structure with pore size ranging from several hundred nanometers to several tens of micrometers. The network structure of the hydrogels could be adjusted by varying the concentrations of P-CD. In addition, the gel-sol transition process would occur when the gel has redox stimulation. In particular, the prepared hydrogels have different adsorption mechanisms in the adsorption of poisonous organic molecules, including bisphenol A (BPA) and methylene blue (MB). It was found that the adsorption process had high pH dependence. The adsorption data for BPA and MB were found to be consistent with the pseudo-first-order model and the pseudo-second-order model, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of the hydrogel material reached 23.61 mg/g for BPA and 24.64 mg/g for MB. Present hydrogels removed BPA mainly via host-guest interaction and removed MB by hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction. Present obtained hydrogels provided new clues for the design of environmentally friendly hydrogel adsorbents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a systematic review of research in artificial intelligence (AI) for retinal fundus photographic images. We highlighted the use of various AI algorithms, including deep learning (DL) models, for application in ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic (i.e., systemic) disorders. We found that the use of AI algorithms for the interpretation of retinal images, compared to clinical data and physician experts, represents an innovative solution with demonstrated superior accuracy in identifying many ophthalmic (e.g., diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), optic nerve disorders), and non-ophthalmic disorders (e.g., dementia, cardiovascular disease). There has been a significant amount of clinical and imaging data for this research, leading to the potential incorporation of AI and DL for automated analysis. AI has the potential to transform healthcare by improving accuracy, speed, and workflow, lowering cost, increasing access, reducing mistakes, and transforming healthcare worker education and training., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Rationale: Dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD) is a rare autosomal dominant hereditary disorder with a prevalence of 0.5 per million population. The disease is characterized by onset of dystonia in childhood, progressive aggravation of the dystonia with diurnal fluctuation, and complete or near complete alleviation of symptoms with low-dose oral levodopa. The incidence of DRD is low, and only a few publications have described this disorder connected with anesthesia., Patient Concerns: We present a case involving a pregnant woman with DRD who continued levodopa/benserazide throughout the pregnancy. The perioperative anesthesia management was described. We used chloroprocaine 3% for epidural anesthesia during cesarean section., Diagnoses: Dopa-responsive dystonia., Interventions: Levodopa/benserazide., Outcomes: In summary, levodopa/benserazide was continued throughout our patient's pregnancy with a good obstetric outcome, and chloroprocaine was safely used in epidural anesthesia without deterioration of her dystonic symptoms., Lessons: Chloroprocaine was safely used in epidural anesthesia without deterioration of her dystonic symptoms., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)