Search

Unlike many studies that regulate transport and separation behaviour of photogenerated charge carriers through controlling the chemical composite, our work demonstrates this goal can be achieved through simply tuning the molecular π-π packing from short-range to long-range within hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) without altering the building blocks or network topology. Further investigations reveal that the long-range π-π stacking significantly promotes electron delocalization and enhances electron density, thereby effectively suppressing electron-hole recombination and augmenting the charge transfer rate. Simultaneously, acting as a porous substrate, it boosts electron density of Pd nanoparticle loaded on its surfaces, resulting in remarkable CO 2 photoreduction catalytic activity (CO generation rate: 48.1 μmol/g/h) without the need for hole scavengers. Our study provide insight into regulating the charge carrier behaviours in molecular assemblies based on hydrogen bonds, offering a new clue for efficient photocatalyst design., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

A photoactive covalent organic framework (COF) was built from metalloporphyrin and bipyridine monomers and single-atomic Pt sites were subsequently installed. Integrating photosensitizing metalloporphyrin and substrate-activating Pt(bpy) moieties in a single solid facilitates multielectron transfer and accelerates photocatalytic hydrogen evolution with a maximum production rate of 80.4 mmol h -1  g Pt -1 and turnover frequency (TOF) of 15.7 h -1 observed. This work demonstrates that incorporation of single-atomic metal sites with photoactive COFs greatly enhances photocatalytic activity and provides an effective strategy for the design and construction of novel photocatalysts., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background: The relationship between the intake of dietary fatty acids (FA) and bone mineral density (BMD) has been the subject of prior investigations. However, the outcomes of these studies remain contentious. The objective of this research is to examine the link between dietary FA consumption among adolescents and BMD., Methods: This study utilized high-quality data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database, spanning 2011 to 2018, to explore the association between dietary fatty acids and bone health indicators in adolescents, including BMD and bone mineral content (BMC). Analyses were performed using weighted multivariate linear regression models, incorporating detailed subgroup analysis., Results: The study included 3440 participants. Analysis demonstrated that intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA) was positively correlated with total BMD, left arm BMD, total BMC, and left arm BMC. Monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) intake was positively correlated with BMC across most body parts, though it showed no correlation with BMD. Intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was significantly inversely correlated with both BMD and BMC in most body parts. Additionally, subgroup analysis indicated that variables such as sex, age, standing height, and race significantly influenced the correlation between FA intake and BMD., Conclusions: Our study indicates that dietary intake of SFA may benefit to BMD in adolescents, in contrast to PUFA and MUFA. Therefore, we recommend that adolescents maintain a balanced intake of SFA to promote optimal bone mass development while preserving metabolic health., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wang, Fang and Xie.)

Objective: Exploring the correlation between bone turnover marks (BTMs) with lumbar BMD in middle-aged populations., Methods: The cross-sectional analysis fetched data came from NHANES. The level of serum bone alkaline phosphatase (sBAP) and urinary N-telopeptide (uNTx) were regarded as representative of bone turnover. Lumbar BMD was the outcome of the study. Multivariable linear regression models were utilized to detect the correlation of sBAP and uNTx with Lumbar BMD., Results: The level of sBAP and uNTx was negatively correlated with lumbar BMD in every multivariable linear regression. For sBAP, this inverse correlation was stable in both men and women (P < 0.01). uNTx indicated a negative association after all relevant covariables were adjusted (P < 0.01). The men group remained the negative correlation in gender subgroup analysis (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: This study indicated that the increased level of sBAP and uNTx associated with lumbar BMD decreased among middle-aged adults. This correlation could prompt researchers to explore further the relationship between bone turnover rate and BMD, which may provide information for the early detection of BMD loss and provide a new strategy for clinical practice., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

A two-dimensional metal-organic framework, FICN-12, was constructed from tris[4-(1 H -pyrazole-4-yl)phenyl]amine (H 3 TPPA) ligands and Ni 2 secondary building units. The triphenylamine moiety in the H 3 TPPA ligand readily absorbs UV-visible photons and sensitizes the Ni center to drive photocatalytic CO 2 reduction. FICN-12 can be exfoliated into monolayer and few-layer nanosheets with a "top-down" approach, which exposes more catalytic sites and increases its catalytic activity. As a result, the nanosheets (FICN-12-MONs) showed photocatalytic CO and CH 4 production rates of 121.15 and 12.17 μmol/g/h, respectively, nearly 1.4 times higher than those of bulk FICN-12.

Charge recombination severely restricts the photocatalytic efficiencies of materials. Loading cocatalysts on the surface of host photocatalysts is a promising strategy for charge separation, which, however, suffers from the large Schottky barrier at the cocatalyst/host interface. Herein, a series of Pt/PbTiO 3 compounds were constructed as a proof-of-concept utilizing the piezoelectric field of PbTiO 3 under acoustic vibrations to modulate the height of the interfacial Schottky barrier. These hybrid systems achieved highly efficient piezo-photocatalytic H 2 evolution under simultaneous ultrasonication and light illumination. The manipulation of the height of the Schottky barrier by the piezoelectric effect was validated by the I - V characteristics collected from conductive AFM. It is proposed that the acoustic-wave-induced piezoelectric field increased the electron flow from PbTiO 3 to Pt over the modulated Schottky barrier, which promoted the spatial separation of photo-generated charge carriers and consequently enhanced the H 2 evolution. These findings will extend the fundamental understanding of the synergistic piezo-photocatalysis mechanism and provide a new opportunity toward the rational design of novel materials systems for clean energy conversion.

Recent studies have shown a correlation between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and bone mineral density (BMD) in adults, but their relationship is unclear in adolescents. This study aimed to explore whether a correlation existed between them among adolescents aged 12-19. Data analyzed in our study was fetched from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database 2011-2018. The relationship between HDL-C level and total BMD value was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression models, fitted smoothing curves, and generalized additive models. 3770 participants participated in this analysis. After adjusting for all relevant covariates involved in this study, we found a negative correlation between HDL-C levels and total bone density in male adolescents.Furthermore, the stratified analysis showed that all covariables-adjusted models retained the negative correlation excepting female, black, or Mexican American subgroups. An inverted U-shaped curve represented the correlation of HDL-C and total BMD among adolescents aged 16 to 19, and the turning point was 1.06 mmol/L. After adjusting for all relevant covariates involved in this study, the study found a negative correlation between HDL-C levels and total BMD in male adolescents aged 12 to 19, particularly among those of races other than Black and Mexican. There was a saturation effect between HDL-C level and total BMD in 16-19-year-old adolescents. The turning point was 1.06 mmol/L. Therefore, HDL-C might be a biomarker to detect bone health and further perform a more detailed examination., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Previous studies have investigated the link between fatty acid intake and bone mineral density (BMD), but the results are controversial. This study aims to examine the relationship between fatty acid intake and BMD in adults aged 20-59., Methods: The association between fatty acid consumption and BMD was analyzed using a weighted multiple linear regression model with National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2011 to 2018. The linearity relationship and saturation value of the connection between fatty acid consumption and BMD were assessed by fitting a smooth curve and a saturation effect analysis model., Results: The study included 8,942 subjects. We found a significant positive correlation between the consumption of saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and polyunsaturated fatty acids and BMD. In subgroup analyses that were stratified by gender and race, this association was still shown to be significant. Based on the smooth curve and saturation effect analysis, we found no saturation effect for the three fatty acids and total BMD. However, there was a turning point (20.52 g/d) between MUFAs intake and BMD, and only MUFAs intake >20.52 g/d showed a positive correlation between MUFAs and BMD., Conclusion: We found that fatty acid intake is beneficial for bone density in adults. Therefore, according to our findings, it is recommended that adults consume moderate amounts of fatty acids to ensure adequate bone mass but not metabolic diseases., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Fang, Wang, Cai, Zhang, Liu, Chu, Li and Zhao.)

Objectives: The prevalence of obesity is on the rise and is connected to numerous factors. However, the relationship between obesity and nickel has never been investigated. Our study aimed to explore the association between urinary nickel and obesity Status in adults., Methods: From the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), 1,705 participants ≥18 years of age were enrolled. To explore further the relationship among urinary nickel, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference(WC), Weighted multivariate linear regression analyses and further subgroup analyzes were conducted., Results: Urinary nickel does not correlate with BMI level but positively correlates with WC. In the subgroup analyzed according to sex, Urinary nickel has a positive correlation with BMI and WC in males but has a negative correlation in females. Secondary stratification analysis according to sex and race, Urinary nickel positively correlates with BMI in White males. It also positively correlates with WC in both White and Black males., Conclusions: A correlation was found between urinary nickel levels and BMI and WC in adult males. Adult men, especially those already obese, may need to reduce nickel exposure., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Wang, Huang, Li, Fang, Feng, Zhao, Chu, Liu and Li.)

Objective: The United States healthcare system uses different methods for assigning medical center reimbursement (MCR) and professional reimbursement (PR) for clinical services. We hypothesized that PR has not increased proportionately to MCR for the same vascular services., Methods: MCR and PR were compared for commonly performed inpatient and outpatient vascular procedures between 2012 and 2021. MCR was calculated using the Medicare inpatient prospective payment system and outpatient prospective payment system. MCR is based on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services definition and criteria for comorbidities and the occurrence of complications; thus, changes in MCR were reported as a range based on the degree of comorbidities and complications using the Diagnosis Related Group. PR was calculated using the Medicare physician fee schedule, which assigns a numerical work relative value unit to each surgical service, with final compensation determined by an annually adjusted conversion factor to yield a final dollar amount. The expected reimbursement based on the observed inflation during the study period using the consumer price index was calculated and compared to the actual reimbursement., Results: From 2012 to 2021, MCR for inpatient procedures increased 20% to 26% for carotid endarterectomy, 24% to 27% for femoral endarterectomy, 24% to 27% for femoropopliteal bypass with vein, 14% to 19% for thoracic endovascular aortic repair, and 15% for aortobifemoral bypass. During the same period, PR increased 3.3% for carotid endarterectomy but decreased for femoral endarterectomy (-5.0%), femoropopliteal bypass (-4.6%), thoracic endovascular aortic repair (-4.2%), and aortobifemoral bypass (-5.0%). Comparing the expected reimbursement, adjusted for inflation, to the actual reimbursement, PR experienced a 10% to 17% reduction but MCR outpaced inflation by 3.7% to 10%. For outpatient procedures, MCR increased 117% for tibial angioplasty, 24% for superficial femoral artery (SFA) stenting, 62% for tunneled dialysis catheter (TDC) insertion, and 24% for iliac stenting but decreased 0.43% for arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation and 7.6% for radiofrequency ablation (RFA). PR increased 0.91% for SFA stenting but decreased for tibial angioplasty (-17%), AVF creation (-6.4%), TDC insertion (-7.1%), iliac stenting (-3.8%), and RFA (-22%). Comparing the expected reimbursement, adjusted for inflation, to the actual reimbursement, PR experienced a 13% to 32% reduction. In contrast, MCR outpaced inflation 7.5% to 88% for tibial angioplasty, SFA stenting, TDC insertion, and iliac stenting but experienced a reduction for AVF (-13%) and RFA (-19%)., Conclusions: MCR for commonly performed vascular procedures has increased and outpaced inflation. In contrast, PR for these same services has decreased across all procedure types. This decrease in PR was exacerbated when adjusted for inflation. This inequity in the reimbursement methods between MCR and PR poses a threat to the viability of the physician workforce. Either changes to the reimbursement methods or a reallocation of reimbursement to physicians are imperative to sustain physician practices., (Copyright © 2022 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Many epidemiological studies have investigated the connection between coffee intake and bone mineral density (BMD), but the results are controversial. This study aimed to assess the association between caffeine consumption and lumbar BMD in adults aged 20-49., Methods: From a cross-sectional study based on a large sample of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2018. After controlling for confounders, the weighted multivariate linear regression model was created and stratified by age, gender, and race for subgroup analysis. In addition, we simultaneously stratified analysis by age and sex and divided caffeine intake into quartiles to assess the association between coffee intake and BMD., Results: Caffeine intake was not significantly linked with lumbar BMD in this study of 7041 adults. In subgroup studies stratified by age, there was a significant correlation between lumbar BMD and caffeine consumption in participants aged 30-39 and 40-49. In females, there was a positive correlation between lumbar BMD and coffee consumption stratified by gender. When evaluated by race, the association between lumbar BMD and caffeine intake was independent of race. Consequently, when stratifying for age, sex, and coffee intake quartiles, a significant positive correlation was discovered between the fourth coffee intake quartile and lumbar BMD in females aged 30-39. In addition, a negative correlation was discovered between coffee consumption and lumbar BMD in males aged 40-49., Conclusions: Our research indicates that drinking coffee may benefit 30-39 women's lumbar BMD, but it may adversely affect men aged 40-49., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wang, Fang, Liu, Chu, Li and Zhao.)

Background: The effect of obesity status on bone mineral density (BMD) in adolescents and whether there is a saturation effect is still insufficient. A cross-sectional study of adolescents aged 12-19 was conducted to investigate them., Methods: Weighted multivariate linear regression models were used to assess the relationship between obesity status and BMD via datasets from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2018. The nonlinear relationships and saturation values were ascertained by fitting smooth curves and analyzing saturation effects. At the same time, the subgroup stratified analysis was also performed., Results: 4056 adolescents were included in this study. We found that body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were significantly associated with total BMD, which remained significant in subgroups stratified by age, gender, standing height, and ethnicity. We also noticed an inverse correlation between left leg fat/lean mass and left leg BMD, which was only significant in males and other races. Fitting smooth curve and saturation effect analysis showed that BMI, WC, left leg fat/lean mass, and BMD had a specific saturation effect. There was a saturation effect on bone mineral density in adolescents with a BMI of 22 kg/m 2 , a WC of 70.5 cm, or a left leg fat/lean mass of 0.2994., Conclusions: We found a positive saturation effect of BMI and WC with BMD and a negative saturation effect of left leg fat/lean mass with BMD. Appropriate obesity status allows adolescents to have better bone mass development but not excessive obesity., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wang, Fang, Li, Liu, Chu and Zhao.)

Pine wilt disease has caused huge losses in ecological and economic values in China, especially in the southern parts. Analyzing the spatial distribution of pine wilt disease and quantifying the impact of environmental factors on its occurrence were of great significance for its prevention and control. In this study, we examined the spatial pattern of pine wilt disease occurrence and its response to environmental variables in Nankang District, Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, using kernel-smoothing density, Ripley's K function, and point process model. The results showed that the occurrence of pine wilt disease in the study region was not randomly distributed, but was obviously clustered at some areas. Terrain, vegetation, and human activity were the main factors affecting the heterogeneous distribution of pine wilt disease. Spatial point pattern analysis showed that altitude, slope, distance to the nearest road, road density, distance to nearest settlement, canopy closure, and vegetation type had significant effects on the occurrence of pine wilt disease. In addition to strengthening the control of disease transmission caused by human activities, we should also consider the effects of terrain and vegetation types for early warning and monitoring in forest disease management.

In natural photosynthesis, the architecture of multiproteins integrates more chromophores than redox centers and simultaneously creates a well-controlled environment around the active site. Herein, we demonstrate that these features can be emulated in a prototype hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF) through simply varying the proportion of metalated porphyrin in the structure. Further studies demonstrate that changing the metalloporphyrin content not only realizes a fine tuning of the photosensitizer/catalyst ratio, but also alters the microenvironment surrounding the active site and the charge separation efficiency. As a result, the obtained material achieves the challenging overall CO 2 reduction with a high HCOOH production rate (29.8 μmol g -1  h -1 , scavenger free), standing out from existing competitors. This work unveils that the degree of metalation is vital to the catalytic activity of the porphryinic framework, presenting as a new strategy to optimize the performance of heterogeneous catalysts., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Objectives: The objective of this research aimed to investigate the correlation involving serum albumin with diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)., Methods: From 2011 to 2020, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) surveyed 45462 participants. We used the relevant data to conduct descriptive statistics, linear regression, and Logistic regression analysis., Results: After adjusting for age, sex, and race, as well as all other variables, serum albumin was significantly negatively related to DR (P<0.001). Furthermore, after controlling for confounding factors, the third quartile (Q3) and the fourth quartile (Q4) had quite a negative significant relationship with the incidence of DR (P<0.01). The second quartile had a significant positive correlation with DR, whereas the observed negative correlations were not statistically meaningful (P>0.05)., Conclusion: Albumin levels in the serum have a quantitatively significant negative correlation with DR. Serum albumin levels in the blood can be used as a reference point for protracted follow-up of people with T2DM., Competing Interests: NO authors have competing interests.

Photocatalytic CO 2 reduction is one of the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly techniques of converting CO 2 into high-value compounds and/or fuels. However, the performance of most current photocatalytic CO 2 reduction catalysts is less than satisfactory for practical applications. Here, we synthesized a heterogeneous structure by integrating Cu 2 O and a porphyrin hydrogen-bonded organic framework (PFC-45), which was then fabricated into a thin-film catalyst on carbolic paper (CP) using a facile electrophoretic deposition technology. With improved electron-hole separation efficiency and visible-light-harvesting ability, this film (PFC-45/Cu 2 O@CP) significantly enhanced CO 2 -to-CO photoreduction, exceeding 2.4 and 3.2 times that of PFC-45@CP and PFC-45/Cu 2 O particles, respectively. Remarkably, PFC-45/Cu 2 O@CP also exhibited high selectivity (99%) and outstanding activity (11.81 μmol g -1 h -1 ) for photocatalytic CO 2 reduction in pure water without any sacrificial agent. This work demonstrates a new strategy to design photocatalysts for efficient CO 2 reduction.

Previous studies on syntheses of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for photocatalytic CO 2 reduction are mainly focused on the exquisite control over the net topology and the functionality of metal clusters/organic building blocks. This contribution demonstrates that the rational design of MOF-based photocatalyst can be further extended to the hierarchical structure at micrometer scales well beyond the conventional MOF design at the molecular level. By taking advantage of the disparity of two selective MOFs in nucleation kinetics, a hierarchical core-shell MOF@MOF structure is successfully constructed through a simple one-pot synthesis. Besides inheriting the high porosity, crystallinity, and robustness of parent MOFs, the obtained heterojunction exhibits extended photoresponse, optimized band alignment with large overpotential, and greatly enhanced photogenerated charge separation, which would be hardly realized by the merely molecular-level assembly. As a result, the challenging overall CO 2 photoreduction is achieved, which generates a record high HCOOH production (146.0 µmol/g/h) without using any sacrificial reagents. Moreover, the core-shell structure exhibits a more effective use of photogenerated electrons than the individual MOFs. This work shows that harnessing the hierarchical architecture of MOFs present a new and effective alternative to tuning the photocatalytic performance at a mesoscopic level., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Under topological guidance, the self-assembly process based on a tetratopic porphyrin synthon results in a hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF) with the predicted square layers topology (sql) but unsatisfied stability. Strikingly, simply introducing a transition metal in the porphyrin center does not change the network topology but drastically causes noticeable change on noncovalent interaction, orbital overlap, and molecular geometry, therefore ultimately giving rise to a series of metalloporphyrinic HOFs with high surface area, and excellent stability (intact after being soaked in boiling water, concentrated HCl, and heated to 270 °C). On integrating both photosensitizers and catalytic sites into robust backbones, this series of HOFs can effectively catalyze the photoreduction of CO 2 to CO, and their catalytic performances greatly depend on the chelated metal species in the porphyrin centers. This work enriches the library of stable functional HOFs and expands their applications in photocatalytic CO 2 reduction., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Porous materials have been investigated as efficient photochromic platforms for detecting hazardous radiation, while the utilization of hydrogen bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) in this field has remained intact. Herein, two HOFs were synthesized through self-assembly of tetratopic viologen ligand and formic acid (PFC-25, PFC-26), as a new class of "all-organic" radiochromic smart material, opening a gate for HOFs in this field. PFC-26 is active upon both X-ray and UV irradiation, while PFC-25 is only active upon X-ray irradiation. The same building block yet different radiochromic behaviors of PFC-25 and PFC-26 allow us to gain a deep mechanistic understanding of the factors that control the detection specificity. Theoretical and experimental studies reveal that the degree of π-conjugation of viologen ligand is highly related to the threshold energy of triggering a charge transfer, therefore being a vital factor for the particularity of radiochromic materials. Thanks to its convenient processibility, nanoparticle size, and UV silence, PFC-25 can be further fabricated into a portable naked-eye sensor for X-ray detection, which shows obvious color change with the merits of high transmittance contrast, good sensitivity (reproducible dose threshold of 3.5 Gy), and excellent stability. The work exhibits the promising practical potentials of HOF materials in photochromic technology., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the healthcare system in the United States. The redistribution of resources and suspension of elective procedures and other services has resulted in financial stress across all service lines. The financial effects on the practice of vascular surgery have not yet been quantified. We hypothesized that vascular surgery divisions have experienced losses affecting the hospital and professional sides that will not be recoupable without significant productivity increases., Methods: Administrative claims data for clinical services performed by the vascular surgery division at a tertiary medical center for March and April 2019 and for March and April 2020 were analyzed. These claims were separated into two categories: hospital claims (inpatient and outpatient) and professional claims (professional reimbursement for all services provided). Medicare reimbursement methods were used to assign financial value: diagnosis-related group for inpatient services, ambulatory payment classification for outpatient services, and the Medicare physician fee schedule for professional reimbursement and work relative value units (wRVUs). Reimbursements and productivity (wRVUs) were compared between the two periods. A financial model was created to determine the increase in future productivity over baseline required to mitigate the losses incurred during the pandemic., Results: A total of 11,317 vascular surgery claims were reviewed. Hospital reimbursement during the pandemic decreased from $4,982,114 to $2,649,521 (-47%) overall (inpatient, from $3,505,775 to $2,128,133 [-39%]; outpatient, from $1,476,339 to $521,388 [-65%]) and professional reimbursement decreased from $933,897 to $430,967 (-54%) compared with the same period in 2019. Professional productivity as measured by wRVUs sustained a similar decline from 10,478 wRVUs to 5386 wRVUs (-51%). Modeling sensitivity analyses demonstrated that if a vascular division were able to increase inpatient and outpatient revenue to greater than prepandemic levels by 10%, 5%, or 3%, it would take 9, 19, or 31 months, respectively, for the hospital to recover their pandemic-associated losses. Similarly, professional reimbursement recovery would require 11, 20, or 36 months with corresponding increases in productivity., Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound and lasting effects on the world in terms of lives lost and financial hardships. The financial effects on vascular surgery divisions has resulted in losses ranging from 39% to 65% compared with the prepandemic period in the previous year. Because the complete mitigation of losses is not feasible in the short term, alternative and novel strategies are needed to financially sustain the vascular division and hospital during a prolonged recovery period., (Copyright © 2021 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology has led to great advances in understanding the causes of Mendelian and complex neurological diseases. Owing to the complexity of genetic diseases, the genetic factors contributing to many rare and common neurological diseases remain poorly understood. Selecting the correct genetic test based on cost-effectiveness, coverage area, and sequencing range can improve diagnosis, treatments, and prevention. Whole-exome sequencing and whole-genome sequencing are suitable methods for finding new mutations, and gene panels are suitable for exploring the roles of specific genes in neurogenetic diseases. Here, we provide an overview of the classifications, applications, advantages, and limitations of NGS in research on neurological diseases. We further provide examples of NGS-based explorations and insights of the genetic causes of neurogenetic diseases, including Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, spinocerebellar ataxias, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. In addition, we focus on issues related to NGS-based analyses, including interpretations of variants of uncertain significance, de novo mutations, congenital genetic diseases with complex phenotypes, and single-molecule real-time approaches.

A novel stilbene-based salicylhydrazone compound {systematic name: (E)-4,4'-(ethene-1,2-diyl)bis[(N'E)-N'-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)benzohydrazide] dimethyl sulfoxide disolvate, C 30 H 24 N 4 O 4 ·2C 2 H 6 OS or L·2DMSO} was synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction and luminescence spectroscopy. The title compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2 1 /c, with half a symmetry-independent L molecule and one dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent molecule in the asymmetric unit. The L molecule adopts an almost planar structure, with a small dihedral angle between the planes of the stilbene and salicylhydrazone groups. There are multiple π-π stacking interactions between adjacent L molecules. The DMSO solvent molecules act as proton donors and acceptors, forming hydrogen bonds of various strengths with the L molecules. In addition, the geometry optimization of a single molecule of L and its luminescence properties either in solution, as a solvated solid or as a desolvated solid were studied. The compound shows an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect and exhibits switchable luminescence colouration in the solid state by the simple removal or re-addition of the DMSO solvent.

Background: Health care quality metrics are crucial to medical institutions, payers, and patients. Obtaining current and reliable quality data is challenging, as publicly reported databases lag by several years. Vizient Clinical Data Base (previously University Health Consortium) is utilized by over 5,000 academic and community medical centers to benchmark health care metrics with results based on predetermined Vizient service lines. We sought to assess the accuracy and reliability of vascular surgery service line metrics, as determined by Vizient., Methods: Vizient utilizes encounter data submitted by participating medical centers and generates a diverse array of health care metrics ranging from mortality to costs. All inpatient cases captured by Vizient under the vascular surgery service line were identified at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center (fiscal year 2016). Each case within the service line was reviewed and categorized as "vascular" or "nonvascular" based on care provided by UMass vascular surgery faculty: vascular = vascular surgery was integral part of care, nonvascular = vascular surgery had minimal or no involvement. Statistical analysis comparing length of stay (LOS), cost, readmission, mortality, and complication rates between vascular and nonvascular cohorts was performed. All inpatient cases discharged by a vascular surgeon National Provider Identifier number were also reviewed and categorized according to Vizient service lines., Results: Vizient's vascular surgery service line identified 696 cases, of which 556 (80%) were vascular and 140 (20%) were nonvascular. When comparing these 2 cohorts, vascular cases had a significantly lower LOS (3.4 vs. 8.7 days; P < 0.0001), cost ($8,535 vs. $16,498; P < 0.0001), and complication rate (6.5% vs. 18%; P < 0.0001) than nonvascular. Mortality was also lower (1.6% vs. 5.7%; P < 0.01), but after risk-adjustment, this difference was not significant. When discharging vascular surgeon National Provider Identifier was used to identify vascular surgery cases, only 69% of these cases were placed within the vascular surgery service line., Conclusions: Health care quality metrics play an important role for all stakeholders but obtaining accurate and reliable data to implement improvements is challenging. In this single institution experience, inpatient cases that were not under the direction or care of a vascular surgeon resulted in significantly negative impacts on LOS, cost, complication rate, and mortality to the vascular surgery service line, as defined by a national clinical database. Therefore, clinicians must understand the data abstracting and reporting process before implementing effective strategic plans., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The recombination of electron-hole pairs severely detracts from the efficiency of photocatalysts. This issue could be addressed in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) through optimization of the charge-transfer kinetics via rational design of structures at atomic level. Herein, a pyrazolyl porphyrinic Ni-MOF (PCN-601), integrating light harvesters, active catalytic sites, and high surface areas, has been demonstrated as a superior and durable photocatalyst for visible-light-driven overall CO 2 reduction with H 2 O vapor at room temperature. Kinetic studies reveal that the robust coordination spheres of pyrazolyl groups and Ni-oxo clusters endow PCN-601 with proper energy band alignment and ultrafast ligand-to-node electron transfer. Consequently, the CO 2 -to-CH 4 production rate of PCN-601 far exceeds those of the analogous MOFs based on carboxylate porphyrin and the classic Pt/CdS photocatalyst by more than 3- and 20-fold, respectively. The reaction avoids the use of hole scavengers and proceeds in a gaseous phase which can take full advantage of the high gas uptake of MOFs. This work demonstrates that the rational design of coordination spheres in MOF structures not only reconciles the contradiction between reactivity and stability but also greatly promotes the interfacial charge transfer to achieve optimized kinetics, providing guidance for the design of highly efficient MOF photocatalysts.

A facile method, post-synthetic exchange of modulators (PSEm), has been demonstrated here to prepare chiral metal-organic frameworks for enantioseparation. Based on this method, three chiral porous Zr-based metal-organic frameworks have been prepared through exchanging the coordinated modulators on metal clusters of MOFs with commercially available chiral carboxylic acid molecules. In addition, the obtained materials show enantioselectivity toward three different enantiomers, which presents a proof of concept for the design of MOF materials for enantioseparation by an easy and low-cost method.

Hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) show great potential in many applications, but few structure-property correlations have been explored in this field. In this work, we report that self-assembly of a rigid and planar ligand gives rise to flat hexagonal honeycomb motifs which are extended into undulated two-dimensional (2D) layers and finally generate three polycatenated HOFs with record complexity. This kind of undulation is absent in the 2D layers built from a very similar but nonplanar ligand, indicating that a slight torsion of ligand produces overwhelming structural change. This change delivers materials with unique stepwise adsorption behaviors under a certain pressure originating from the movement between mutually interwoven hexagonal networks. Meanwhile, high chemical stability, phase transformation, and preferential adsorption of aromatic compounds were observed in these HOFs. The results presented in this work would help us to understand the self-assembly behaviors of HOFs and shed light on the rational design of HOF materials for practical applications.

Although many ionic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been reported, little is known about how the charge of the skeleton affects the properties of the MOF materials. Herein we report how the chemical stability of MOFs can be substantially improved through embedding electrostatic interactions in structure. A MOF with a cationic skeleton is impervious to extremely acidic, oxidative, reductive, and high ionic strength conditions, such as 12 m HCl (301 days), aqua regia (86 days), H 2 O 2 (30 days), and seawater (30 days), which is unprecedented for MOFs. DFT calculations suggested that steric hinderance and the repulsive interaction of the cationic framework toward positively charged species in microenvironments protects the vulnerable bonds in the structure. Diverse functionalities can be bestowed by substituting the counterions of the charged framework with identically charged functional species, which broadens the horizon in the design of MOFs adaptable to a demanding environment with specific functionalities., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Ultrathin semiconductors have been proposed as an excellent platform to promote solar conversion due to their ultra-large specific surface area and unique surface structures. So far, the researchers designed and constructed some multi-component heterostructure photocatalysts, but they are still unable to avoid the recombination of photoexcited electron-hole pairs. This study introduces a built-in electric field in a one-component nanosheet to promote photo-generated carrier separation. For this reason, CdS nanosheets with both photocatalytic and piezoelectric properties were selected as research objects. The combination of these two properties renders CdS an excellent candidate for efficiently utilizing both light and vibrational energy for photocatalytic water splitting, without the need for coupling it to other materials or using an external bias. The result shows that the photocatalytic and piezoelectric coupling effect of CdS can make hydrogen production reach 633 μL h-1, which was more than twice the superposition of light and vibration. The development of this coupling effect contributes to the application of green energies, such as the use of natural sunlight and noise or vibration.

Objective: Hyperglycemia is a common occurrence in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. It has been identified in several surgical cohorts that improved perioperative glycemic control reduced postoperative morbidity and mortality. A significant portion of the population with peripheral arterial disease suffers from the sequelae of diabetes or metabolic syndrome. A paucity of data exists regarding the relationship between perioperative glycemic control and postoperative outcomes in vascular surgery patients. The objective of this study was to better understand this relationship and to determine which negative perioperative outcomes could be abated with improved glycemic control., Methods: This is a retrospective review of a vascular patient database at a large academic center from 2009 to 2013. Eligible procedures included carotid endarterectomy and stenting, endovascular and open aortic aneurysm repair, and all open bypass revascularization procedures. Data collected included standard demographics, outcome parameters, and glucose levels in the perioperative period. Perioperative hyperglycemia was defined as at least one glucose value >180 mg/dL within 72 hours of surgery. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality, with secondary outcomes of complications, need to return to the operating room, and readmission., Results: Of the total 1051 patients reviewed, 366 (34.8%) were found to have perioperative hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemic patients had a higher 30-day mortality (5.7% vs 0.7%; P < .01) and increased rates of acute renal failure (4.9% vs 0.9%; P < .01), postoperative stroke (3.0% vs 0.7%; P < .01), and surgical site infections (5.7% vs 2.6%; P = .01). In addition, these patients were also more likely to undergo readmission (12.3% vs 7.9%; P = .02) and reoperation (6.3% vs 1.8%; P < .01). Furthermore, multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that perioperative hyperglycemia had a strong association with increased 30-day mortality and multiple negative postoperative outcomes, including myocardial infarction, stroke, renal failure, and wound complications., Conclusions: This study demonstrates a strong association between perioperative glucose control and 30-day mortality in addition to multiple other postoperative outcomes after vascular surgery., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: During the past decade, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has increased as a treatment option for a variety of aortic pathologic processes. Despite this rise in the use of thoracic stent grafts, real-world outcomes from a robust, adjudicated, contemporary data set have yet to be reported. Previous studies have shown periprocedural mortality rates between 1.5% and 9.5% and procedure-related stroke rates of 2.3% to 8.2%. With advances in device engineering and increased experience of physicians, we hypothesized that the rates of these complications would be reduced in a more recent sample set. The purpose of this study was to determine current rates of mortality and stroke after TEVAR, to identify risk factors that contribute to 30-day mortality, and to develop a simple scoring system that allows risk stratification of patients undergoing TEVAR., Methods: We examined the 30-day mortality rate after TEVAR using the 2013 to 2014 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients undergoing TEVAR for all aortic disease were identified using procedure codes. Bivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the association of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables with 30-day mortality, followed by multivariable logistic analysis using preoperative variables only, with P < .10 as the criterion for model entry. The predictive logistic model was internally validated by cross-validation. Variables included in the multivariable model were used to develop a risk score., Results: There were 826 patients included. The 30-day mortality and stroke rates were 7.63% (n = 63) and 4.5% (n = 37), respectively. In regression analysis, mortality was independently associated with age ≥80 years (odds ratio [OR], 2.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25-4.31), emergency case (OR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.39-4.90), American Society of Anesthesiologists classification >3 (OR, 2.89; 95% CI, 1.34-6.24), transfusion >4 units in the 72 hours before surgery (OR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.30-6.28), preoperative creatinine concentration ≥1.8 mg/dL (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.05-4.08), and preoperative white blood cell count ≥12 × 10 9 /L (OR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.41-4.96). Incorporating these factors, a 6-point risk score was generated and demonstrated high predictability for overall 30-day mortality., Conclusions: Recent data from a national, retrospective data set demonstrate that high perioperative mortality and stroke rates have persisted during the last decade. The risk score derived from this data set is simple and convenient and serves as a prognostic tool in the preoperative risk stratification of patients being evaluated for TEVAR., (Copyright © 2017 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: 8-iso-Prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) is a potential biomarker of oxidative stress. This study clarified whether plasma 8-iso-PGF2α concentrations were affected and its underlying relevance to prognosis in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH)., Methods: In this prospective, observational study, a total of 170 controls and 170 aSAH patients were enrolled. Plasma 8-iso-PGF2α concentrations were detected using an ELISA. Severity was assessed by World Federation of Neurological Surgeons (WFNS) scale and modified Fisher grading scale. Clinical outcomes included 6-month mortality and poor outcome referred to as Glasgow outcome scale score of 1-3., Results: As compared to controls, admission plasma 8-iso-PGF2α concentrations were significantly enhanced. Increased concentrations of plasma 8-iso-PGF2α correlated with WFNS scores and modified Fisher scores. 8-iso-PGF2α in plasma was an independent predictor for clinical outcomes. Under ROC curve, the predictive values of 8-iso-PGF2α concentrations resembled those of WFNS scores and modified Fisher scores for clinical outcomes., Conclusions: An elevation in plasma 8-iso-PGF2α concentrations is associated with the severity and poor outcome after aSAH, substantializing 8-iso-PGF2α as a potential prognostic biomarker of aSAH., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Objective: Preoperative clinical frailty is increasingly used as a surrogate for predicting postoperative outcomes. Patients undergoing major lower extremity amputation (LEA) carry a high risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality, including high 30-day mortality and readmission rates. We hypothesized that preoperative frailty would be associated with an increased risk of postoperative mortality and readmission., Methods: A retrospective review was performed for all patients who underwent transfemoral or transtibial amputation for any indication within a multi-institution system during a 5-year period. Standard demographics and all components of the Modified Frailty Index (mFI) were used to determine preoperative frailty status for each patient. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality, with secondary outcomes of 30-day readmission, unplanned revision, and composite adverse events., Results: Among 379 patients who underwent LEA, the overall readmission and mortality rates for the group were 22.69% and 6.06%, respectively. Readmission rates increased with increasing mFI score: rates were 8.6%, 13.5%, 16.3%, 19.7%, 31.4%, and 37.0% for mFI scores of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and ≥5, respectively (P = .015). On multivariate logistic regression, only mFI (odds ratio, 1.49, 95% confidence interval, 1.24-1.77) and sex (odds ratio, 1.81, 95% confidence interval, 1.00-2.98) were significant predictors of 30-day readmission., Conclusions: Preoperative clinical frailty is associated with an increased 30-day readmission rate in patients undergoing LEA and should be incorporated into preoperative counseling and risk stratification, as well as postoperative planning and care., (Copyright © 2016 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To observe the effect of intravenous injection of chlorine on postoperative analgesia and blood oxygen saturation in patients with nasal endoscopic surgery. Method: According to the standard of American Society of anesthesiologists(ASA) grading assessment for Ⅰ-Ⅱ, undergoing nasal endoscopic surgery of 120 patients were randomly divided into two groups, 60 cases in each group. Control group dezocine 0.8 g/kg+ physiological saline to 100 ml; on the basis of the experimental group with flurbiprofen 2 mg/kg+ physiological saline to 100 ml. Respectively in the postoperative recovery and postoperative 2, 4, 12, 24 and 48 h recording vital signs, pain scores(visual analogue score, VAS) and sedation score(Ramsay score) and observe the adverse reaction rate and patient surveys on the satisfaction of postoperative analgesia. Result: The two groups compared test of TKA group after 4, 8, 12, 24, 36 h, 48 h, 72 h resting VAS score and postoperative 24 h, 48 h, 72 h activities of VAS score were lower than the control group, the difference is statistically significant ( F =1 873.26, P < 0.05). After 2 h, 6 h, 2 groups of pH, PaO₂, PaCO₂, SpO₂ compared statistically significant ( P > 0.05). After 24h, 48h after test group, PaO₂, PaCO₂, SpO₂ is better than that of the control group( P < 0.05); after 6 h, 24 h, 48 h after the test group patients Ramsay Sedation score than the control group, the difference is statistically significant( F =1 031.35, P < 0.05). The experimental group after TKA patients of pain control education satisfaction and to control or reduce pain method of satisfaction were superior to the control group, the difference significant (χ²=11.02, P < 0.05;χ²=9.33, P < 0.05). Conclusion: The application of intravenous injection of intravenous injection of chlorine in the postoperative pain of nasal endoscopic surgery can significantly improve the analgesic effect, improve the blood gas analysis, improve the analgesic effect, it is worthy of popularization and application., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Editorial Department of Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.)

Objective: CXC chemokine ligand-12 (CXCL12) is involved in the innate immune system. Elevation of its level in the peripheral blood is associated with severity and outcome of ischemic stroke. This study aimed to investigate its relation to severity and prognosis following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH)., Methods: Serum CXCL12 levels were determined in a total of 182 controls and 182 aSAH patients. Hemorrhagic severity was assessed using the World Federation of Neurological Surgeons (WFNS) scale and modified Fisher grading scale. Unfavorable outcome was defined as Glasgow outcome scale score of 1-3. Prognostic predictors of 6-month mortality and unfavorable outcome were identified using multivariate analysis., Results: The serum CXCL12 levels were significantly higher in patients as compared to controls (14.5±6.7ng/mL vs. 1.7±0.6ng/mL, P<0.001) and were independently associated with WFNS scores (t=5.927, P<0.001) and modified Fisher scores (t=5.506, P<0.001). Serum CXCL12 levels predicted 6-month mortality and 6-month unfavorable outcome with the area under curves of 0.815 [95% confidence (CI), 0.751-0.868] and 0.809 (95% CI, 0.745-0.864) respectively and were related independently to 6-month mortality (odds ratio, 4.428; 95% CI, 1.977-12.031; P=0.004) and 6-month unfavorable outcome (odds ratio, 3.821; 95% CI, 1.097-9.251; P=0.001). Moreover, the predictive values of CXCL12 levels were in the range of WFNS scores and modified Fisher scores., Conclusions: Elevation of serum CXCL12 levels is associated highly with hemorrhagic severity and poor outcome after aSAH, suggesting CXCL12 might have the potential to be a prognostic predictive biomarker of aSAH., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Differential display is a powerful technique for analyzing differences in gene expression. Oligo-dT cDNAstart codon targeted marker (cDNA-SCoT) technique is a novel, simple, cheap, rapid, and efficient method for differential gene expression research. In the present study, the oligo-dT anchored cDNA-SCoT technique was exploited to identify differentially expressed genes during several stress treatments in mango. A total of 37 primers combined with oligo-dT anchor primers 3side amplified approximately 150 fragments of 150 bp to 1500 bp in length. Up to 100 fragments were differentially expressed among the stress treatments and control samples, among which 92 were obtained and sequenced. Out of the 92 transcript derived fragments (TDFs), 70% were highly homologous to known genes, and 30% encoded unclassified proteins with unknown functions. The expression pattern of nine genes with known functions involved in several abiotic stresses in other species was confirmed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) under cold (4 °C), salinity (NaCl), polyethylene glycol (PEG, MW 6000), and heavy metal treatments in leaves and stems at different time points (0, 24, 48, and 72 h). The expression patterns of the genes (TDF4, TDF7, TDF23, TDF45, TDF49, TDF50, TDF57, TDF91 and TDF92) that had direct or indirect relationships with cold, salinity, drought and heavy metal stress response were analyzed through qRT-PCR. The possible roles of these genes are discussed. This study suggests that the oligo-dT anchored cDNA-SCoT differential display method is a useful tool to serve as an initial step for characterizing transcriptional changes induced by abiotic stresses and provide gene information for further study and application in genetic improvement and breeding in mango., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We have developed a biomimetic sensor for the detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) related protein (glycoprotein 41, gp41) based on epitope imprinting technique. gp41 is the transmembrane protein of HIV-1 and plays an important role in membrane fusion between viruses and infected cells. It is an important index for determining the extent of HIV-1 disease progression and the efficacy of therapeutic intervention. In this work, dopamine was used as the functional monomer and polymerized on the surface of quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) chip in the presence of template, a synthetic peptide with 35 amino acid residues, analogous to residues 579-613 of the gp41. This process resulted in grafting a hydrophilic molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) film on the QCM chip. QCM measurement showed that the resulting MIP film not only had a great affinity towards the template peptide, but also could bind the corresponding gp41 protein specifically. The dissociation constant (K(d)) of MIP for the template peptide was calculated to be 3.17 nM through Scatchard analysis, which was similar to those of monoclonal antibodies. Direct detection of the gp41 was achieved quantitatively using the resulting MIP-based biomimetic sensor. The detection limit of gp41 was 2 ng/mL, which was comparable to the reported ELISA method. In addition, the practical analytical performance of the sensor was examined by evaluating the detection of gp41 in human urine samples with satisfactory results., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To analyze the discipline of intraocular pressure (IOP) variation, through circadian intraocular pressure monitoring in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients and normal controls, with a view to provide basis for individualized treatment of glaucoma., Methods: Subjects were enrolled from the outpatients of Shanghai Beizhan Hospital and Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, which were diagnosed as primary open angle glaucoma, from April 2006 to April 2009. Totally there were 102 cases of patients and 83 cases of normal volunteers. All the subjects accepted 24-hour IOP measurements using non-contact tonometer every two hours starting from 8:00 am. And the IOP between 00:00 to 06:00 am was measured in sitting position immediately after wake up., Results: The differences of peak IOP [(16.0 ± 2.7) mm Hg of right eye and (16.2 ± 2.7) mm Hg of left eye in normal group; (25.3 ± 5.6) mm Hg of right eye and (24.8 ± 5.1) mm Hg of left eye in POAG group], valley IOP (11.1 ± 2.5) mm Hg of right eye and (11.0 ± 2.3) mm Hg of left eye in normal group; (16.3 ± 3.7) mm Hg of right eye and (16.2 ± 3.3) mm Hg of left eye in POAG group, average IOP (13.4 ± 2.5) mm Hg of right eye and (13.4 ± 2.5) mm Hg of left eye in normal group; (19.9 ± 4.3) mm Hg of right eye and (19.8 ± 3.8) mm Hg of left eye in POAG group), and IOP fluctuations (5.0 ± 1.6) mm Hg of right eye and (5.2 ± 1.7) mm Hg of left eye in normal group; (9.1 ± 3.6) mm Hg of right eye and (8.6 ± 3.8) mm Hg of left eye in POAG group between two groups were all of statistically significance (P < 0.01). Notably, the peak IOP of 59.6% in normal control group and 73.5% in POAG group were outside working hours, especially in the time period from 00:00 to 06:00 am. The peak value of 50% in normal group and 64.7% in POAG group located between 00:00 to 06:00 in the morning., Conclusions: By comparison and analysis, 24-hour intraocular pressure measurement could provide us pre-treatment basic state, so as to provide detailed information for individualized treatment. If possible, it is suggested that 24-hour IOP monitoring should be added as a routine examination of primary open angle glaucoma.

Objective: To explore the relationship between Heart Meridian (HM) and cardiac function., Methods: Forty-eight rabbits with acute myocardial ischemia resulting from intravenous pituitrin injection was conducted. Electroacupunture(EA) on the HM and the Lung meridian, 3 points for each, was applied and their change of arterial pressure was observed., Results: The distinct difference existed in the improvement of arterial pressure on the HM and Lung Meridian with EA. The regulatory action of EA in HM on the cardiac function was significantly better than that of EA in Lung Meridian., Conclusion: HM was closely related to the cardiac function.

Experiments were carried out on 48 rabbits anaesthetized with urethane (1 g/kg). The animals were immobilized with gallamine triethiodide and ventilated artificially. Both intravenous injection of diazepam (0.5 mg/kg) and intracerebroventricular injection of flurazepam (2 mg in 50 microliters) or gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) (300 micrograms in 50 microliters) decreased the peak value of left ventricular pressure area of cardiac force loop and dp/dtmax. These suppressive effects of diazepam and flurazepam were prevented by intracerebroventricular injection of picrotoxin (15 micrograms in 50 microliters) or microinjection of bicuculline (3 micrograms in 0.5 microliter) into bilateral rostral ventrolateral medulla (gamma VLM). The results suggest that the inhibitory effects of diazepam on cardiac function may be mediated by activation of GABA receptor in gamma VLM.