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With the advancements in tissue engineering and three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting, physiologically relevant three-dimensional structures with suitable mechanical and bioactive properties that mimic the biological tissue can be designed and fabricated. However, the available bioinks are less than demanded. In this research, the readily available biomass sources, keratin and glycol chitosan, were selected to develop a UV-curable hydrogel that is feasible for the 3D bioprinting process. Keratin methacrylate and glycol chitosan methacrylate were synthesized, and a hybrid bioink was created by combining this protein-polysaccharide cross-linked hydrogel. While human hair keratin could provide biological functions, the other composition, glycol chitosan, could further enhance the mechanical strength of the construct. The mechanical properties, degradation profile, swelling behavior, cell viability, and proliferation were investigated with various ratios of keratin methacrylate to glycol chitosan methacrylate. The composition of 2% (w/v) keratin methacrylate and 2% (w/v) chitosan methacrylate showed a significantly higher cell number and swelling percentage than other compositions and was designated as the bioink for 3D printing afterward. The feasibility of stem cell loading in the selected formula was examined with an extrusion-based bioprinter. The cells and spheroids can be successfully printed with the synthesized bioink into a specific shape and cultured. This work provides a potential option for bioinks and delivers insights into personalization research on stem cell-laden biofabricated hydrogels in the future.

Noninvasive photothermal therapy (PTT) represents a promising direction for more modern and precise medical applications. However, PTT efficacy is still not satisfactory due to the existence of heat shock proteins (HSPs) and poorly targeted delivery. Herein, the design of a nanosystem with improved delivery efficacy for anticancer treatment employing the synergetic effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-driven chemodynamic therapy (CDT) to inactivated HSPs with photothermal-hyperthermia was therefore achieved through the development of pH-targeting glycol chitosan/iron oxide enclosed core polypyrrole nanoclusters (GCPI NCs). The designed NCs effectively accumulated toward cancer cells due to their acidic microenvironment, initiating ROS generation via Fenton reaction at the outset and performing site-specific near infrared (NIR)-photothermal effect. A comprehensive analysis of both surface and bulk material properties of the CDT/PTT NCs as well as biointerface properties were ascertained via numerous surface specific analytical techniques by bringing together heightened accumulation of CDT/PTT NCs, which can significantly eradicate cancer cells thus minimizing the side effects of conventional chemotherapies. All of these attributes act in synergy over the cancer cells succeeding in fashioning NC's able to act as competent agents in the MRI-monitored enhanced CDT/PTT synergistic therapy. Findings in this study evoke attention in future oncological therapeutic strategies.

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting techniques have emerged as the most popular methods to fabricate 3D-engineered tissues; however, there are challenges in simultaneously satisfying the requirements of high cell density (HCD), high cell viability, and fine fabrication resolution. In particular, bioprinting resolution of digital light processing–based 3D bioprinting suffers with increasing bioink cell density due to light scattering. We developed a novel approach to mitigate this scattering-induced deterioration of bioprinting resolution. The inclusion of iodixanol in the bioink enables a 10-fold reduction in light scattering and a substantial improvement in fabrication resolution for bioinks with an HCD. Fifty-micrometer fabrication resolution was achieved for a bioink with 0.1 billion per milliliter cell density. To showcase the potential application in tissue/organ 3D bioprinting, HCD thick tissues with fine vascular networks were fabricated. The tissues were viable in a perfusion culture system, with endothelialization and angiogenesis observed after 14 days of culture.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) holds tantalizing prospects of a prominent cancer treatment strategy. However, its efficacy remains limited by virtue of the hypoxic tumor microenvironment and the inadequate tumor-targeted delivery of photosensitizers, and these can be further exacerbated by the lack of development of a well-controlled nitric oxide (NO) release system at the target site. Inspired by Chinese medicine, we propose a revealing new keratin application. Keratin has garnered attention as an NO generator; however, its oncological use has rarely been investigated. We hypothesized that the incorporation of a phenylboronic acid (PBA) targeting ligand/methylene blue (MB) photosensitizer with a keratin NO donor would facilitate precise tumor delivery, enhancing PDT. Herein, we demonstrated that MB@keratin/PBA/d-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) nanoparticles (MB@KPTNPs) specifically targeted breast cancer cells and effectively suppressed their growth. Through MB-mediated biometabolism, the endocytic MB@KPTNPs produced a sufficient amount of intracellular NO that reduced the glutathione level while boosting the efficiency of PDT. A therapeutic combination of NO/PDT was therefore achieved, resulting in significant inhibition of both in vivo tumor growth and lung metastasis. These findings underscore the importance of utilizing keratin-based nanoparticles that simultaneously combine targeting of the tumor and self-generating NO with a cascading catalytic ability as a novel oxidation therapeutic strategy for enhancing PDT.

Two reagent-controlled regiodivergent annulation protocols for Achmatowicz products with vinylogous nucleophiles have been developed, which furnished a series of bicyclic cyclopenta[ib/i]pyrans and 8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane derivatives in 28-90% yields. Plausible mechanisms were proposed to involve either Pd-catalyzed Tsuji-Trost allyl-allyl coupling and concomitant Michael cyclization or quinine-promoted cascade stepwise [5 + 2] cycloaddition and intramolecular Michael cyclization.

Near-infrared (NIR)-light-modulated photothermal thrombolysis has been investigated to overcome the hemorrhage danger posed by clinical clot-busting substances. A long-standing issue in thrombosis fibrinolytics is the lack of lesion-specific therapy, which should not be ignored. Herein, a novel thrombolysis therapy using photothermal disintegration of a fibrin clot was explored through dual-targeting glycol chitosan/heparin-decorated polypyrrole nanoparticles (GCS-PPY-H NPs) to enhance thrombus delivery and thrombolytic therapeutic efficacy. GCS-PPY-H NPs can target acidic/P-selectin high-expression inflammatory endothelial cells/thrombus sites for initiating lesion-site-specific thrombolysis by hyperthermia using NIR irradiation. A significant fibrin clot-clearance rate was achieved with thrombolysis using dual-targeting/modality photothermal clot disintegration in vivo. The molecular level mechanisms of the developed nanoformulations and interface properties were determined using multiple surface specific analytical techniques, such as particle size distribution, zeta potential, electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), wavelength absorbance, photothermal, immunofluorescence, and histology. Owing to the augmented thrombus delivery of GCS-PPY-H NPs and swift treatment time, dual-targeting photothermal clot disintegration as a systematic treatment using GCS-PPY-H NPs can be effectively applied in thrombolysis. This novel approach possesses a promising future for thrombolytic treatment.

Nanoparticles are widely used in biomedical applications and cancer treatments due to their minute scale, multi-function, and long retention time. Among the various nanoparticles, the unique optical property derived from the localized surface plasmon resonance effect of metallic nanoparticles is a primary reason that metallic nanoparticles are researched and applied. Copper and Iron nanoparticles have the potential to generate hydroxyl radicals in excess H2O2 via Fenton or Fenton-like reactions. On the other hand, gold nanoparticles equipped with a photosensitizer can transfer the energy of photons to chemical energy and enhance the production of singlet oxygen, which is suitable for cancer treatment. With the actions of these two reactive oxygen species in the tumor microenvironment, cell apoptosis can further be induced.In this work, we first synthesized dual metal nanoparticles with poly[styrene-alt-(maleic acid, sodium salt)( Cu ferrite@PSMA) by a simple one-step hydrothermal reduction reaction. Then, gold(III) was reduced and doped into the structure, which formed a triple metal structure, Au-doped Cu ferrite nanoparticles (Au/Cu ferrite@PSMA NPs). The metal ratio of the product could be controlled by manipulating the Fe/Cu ratio of reactants and the sequence of addition of reactants. The core-shell structure was verified by transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, the hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen generation ability of Au/Cu ferrite@PSMA was proved. The chemodynamic and photodynamic effect was measured, and the in vitro ROS generation was observed. Furthermore, the behavior of endocytosis by cancer cells could be controlled by the magnetic field. The result indicated that Au/Cu ferrite@PSMA is a potential agent for chemodynamic/photodynamic synergetic therapy.

OBJECTIVES Blunt chest trauma is often associated with severe pain, reduced lung function and decreased sleep quality. This study aims to investigate the immediate and long-term effect of acupuncture on these factors using a randomized control double-blind design. METHODS A total of 72 patients were randomized into 2 groups: treatment group (press tack acupuncture) and control group (press tack placebo). The face rating scale, numerical rating scale (NRS), portable incentive spirometer and Verran Snyder-Halpern sleep scale were measured at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at the 4th day, with 2-weeks and 3-months follow-ups. RESULTS There were no significant changes between the groups at the baseline measurements, with the exception of hypertension comorbidity. Immediately after the intervention and on the 4th day follow-up, the patients in the treatment group showed a significantly lower face rating scale when compared to the control (P 0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed that the NRS for turn over on the 4th day was reduced significantly in the treatment group of patients without lung contusion (P CONCLUSIONS This study showed that press tack acupuncture effects on pain reduction were inconclusive. However, future studies on the effect of acupuncture on blunt chest trauma patients are needed. Clinical trial registration clinicaltirl.gov: NCT04318496.

The combination of photothermal and photodynamic therapy (PTT/PDT) shows pronounced potential as a prominent therapeutic strategy for tumor treatment. However, the efficacy is limited by insufficient tumor-targeted delivery of PTT and PDT reagents and the hypoxic nature of the tumor microenvironment. To overcome these limitations, tumor acidity-responsive lipid membrane-enclosed perfluorooctyl bromide oil droplet nanoparticles (NPs) surface modified with N-acetyl histidine-modified D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (PFOB@IMHNPs) were developed, capable of co-delivering oxygen, IR780 (a photothermal agent) and mTHPC (a photodynamic sensitizer) into tumors. Through self-sufficient oxygen transportation in combination with promotion of cellular uptake upon acid-triggered generation of surface positive charge, the PFOB@IMHNPs effectively delivered IR780 and mTHPC and produced singlet oxygen within hypoxic TRAMP-C1 cells following exposure to irradiation at 660 nm. This led to effective killing of hypoxic cancer cells in vitro. Importantly, when irradiation at 808 and 660 nm was carried out, PT/PD combination therapy utilizing PFOB@IMHNPs dramatically suppressed the growth of TRAMP-C1 tumors through effective tumor-targeted cargo delivery and relief of tumor hypoxia. Our results suggest the high potential of the PFOB@IMHNPs developed in this study in clinical application for cancer treatment.

Hyaline cartilage regeneration remains clinically challenging. In this study, microbial transglutaminase was used to cross-link gelatin. The articular cartilage extracellular matrix (cECM), mainly comprising collagen type II and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), which can support chondrogenesis, was enclosed in this enzyme-catalyzed hydrogel. After human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) were encapsulated in the hydrogel enriched with the cECM, the results demonstrated that the enzymatic cross-linking reaction is of low cytotoxicity. Moreover, the stem cells showed great proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation potential in the hydrogel. Most importantly, we assessed the therapeutic effects of applying a hydrogel enriched with the cECM and hASCs to repair a full-thickness osteochondral defect. At 8 weeks after surgery, the GCC group (hydrogel encapsulating cells and the cECM) exhibited a smooth articular surface with transparent new hyaline-like tissue macroscopically. According to histological analysis, inflammatory responses were hardly observed, and sound chondrocytes were aligned in the newly formed chondral layer. In addition, the GCC group exhibited significant improvement in the GAG content between weeks 4 and 8. In summary, the implantation of a gelatin hydrogel enriched with the cECM and hASCs could facilitate the hyaline cartilage regeneration significantly in rabbit knee joint models.

For advanced esophageal cancer, the clinical significance of pretreatment nodal status (cN) as determined by different examinations remains unclear. Patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiation and surgery were analyzed in this study. Pretreatment cN status assessed by CT, EUS, and PET/CT and clinicopathological features were used to evaluate tumor recurrence and long-term survival. Two hundred and twenty-two patients were identified in this study. Pretreatment PET/CT cN0 [odds ratio (OR) cN0 versus cN+, 5.316, p

Introduction: Blunt chest trauma (BCT) accounts for up to 65% of polytrauma patients. In patients with 0 to 2 rib fractures, treatment interventions are typically limited to oral analgesics and breathing exercises. Patients suffering from BCT experience symptoms of severe pain, poor sleep, and inability to perform simple daily life activities for an extended period of time thereafter. In this trial, we aim to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture as a functional and reliable treatment option for blunt chest trauma patients. Methods: The study is designed as a double-blind randomized control trial. We will include 72 patients divided into 2 groups; the acupuncture group (Acu) and placebo group (Con). The acupuncture group will receive true acupuncture using a uniquely designed press tack needle. The control group will receive placebo acupuncture treatment through the use of a similarly designed press tack needle without the needle element. The acupoints selected for both groups are GB 34, GB 36, LI 4, LU 7, ST 36, and TH 5. Both groups will receive 1 treatment only following the initial visit to the medical facility and upon diagnosis of BCT. Patient outcome measurements include: Numerical Rating Scale, Face Rating Scale, respiratory function flowmeter, Verran Snyder-Halpern sleep scale, and the total amount of allopathic medication used. Follow-up time will be scheduled at 4 days, 2 weeks, and lastly 3 months. Expected outcome: The results of this study can potentially provide a simple and cost-effective analgesic solution to blunt chest trauma patients. This novel study design can serve as supporting evidence for future double-blind studies within the field of acupuncture. Other information: The study will be conducted in the thoracic surgical department and acupuncture department in China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. The study will be conducted on blunt chest trauma patients and is anticipated to have minimum risk of adverse events. Enrollment of the patients and data collection will start from March 2020. Study completion time is expected in March 2022. Protocol Registration: (CMUH109-REC1-002), (NCT04318496).

Background The impact of poor oral health on older adults’ quality of life is a public health problem. In this study, the mediating effects of dental status, occlusal condition, dysphagia, and masticatory performance on the association between xerostomia and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) were assessed in the older adult population. Methods Stratified cluster sampling was used to recruit 1076 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older from Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Community care centers were randomly selected according to their geographic classifications (urban, rural, or mountainous areas). Assessments of dental status and occlusal condition were performed by dentists. Information on demographics, physical function, xerostomia, dysphagia and depression was collected through face-to-face interviews. Masticatory performance was evaluated using color-changeable chewing gum. OHRQoL was measured using the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index. Hierarchical regression models were used to assess the relationships between OHRQoL and physical function, dental status and oral function in older adults. Path analysis was used to estimate direct and indirect pathways between xerostomia and OHRQoL. Results Participants with xerostomia exhibited a 0.20 OHRQoL reduction (p p p p p Conclusions Dysphagia and masticatory performance may serve as pathways through which xerostomia affects quality of life. Early oral function intervention may be a valuable and actionable target for older adults to maintain quality of life. Our results further suggest that checkup and screening for oral dysfunction are essential to prevent or delay the onset of complications.

Background: The adverse impact of poor oral conditions in older adults on their quality of life is a public health problem. This study assessed the mediating effects of dental status, occlusal condition, dysphagia and masticatory performance on the association between xerostomia and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in the older population. Methods: A total of 1100 representative community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older were recruited from a large-scale survey conducted in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Dental status and occlusal condition were performed by dentists. Information on demographics, physical function, xerostomia, and dysphagia was collected using face-to-face interview. Masticatory performance was evaluated using color-changeable chewing gum. OHRQoL was measured using Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index. Results: Comparing with non-xerostomia, participants with xerostomia had a 0.20 decrease in the level of OHRQoL (p< .001), and the direct effect was accounted for 83.3% of the total effect. The dysphagia and the masticatory performance were found to have a significant mediating effect on the association between xerostomia and OHRQoL (βs = 0.20 and −0.13, respectively; βs = 0.05 and −0.08, respectively) and 10.8% of the effect was attributed to dysphagia mediation. Furthermore, the functional teeth and occlusal condition had a significant mediating effect on the association between xerostomia and masticatory performance , and the functional teeth was accounted for 43.6% of the effect. Conclusions: Xerostomia had the greatest effect on OHRQoL. The mediating role of dysphagia and masticatory performance on the association between xerostomia and OHRQoL was significant and deserves further attention. Older adults could improve their OHRQoL through a community-based oral function intervention. Our results further suggest that early screening for swallowing and masticatory function is essential to prevent or delay the onset of complications.

Keratin/chitosan composite is a readily available source for a hybrid hydrogel in tissue engineering. While human hair keratins could provide biological functions, chitosan could further enhance the mechanical strength of the hybrid hydrogels. However, hair keratin is a group of natural proteins, and the uncontrolled hair protein contents in a hydrogel may lead to the batch-to-batch inconsistent gel properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of hair protein composition, including the keratin-associated proteins (KAPs, 6−30 kDa) and keratin intermediate filaments (KIFs, 45−60 kDa) on gel characteristics of the keratin/chitosan hydrogel. The various compressive and tensile modulus of the gel was observed based on the selection of different protein fractions as the significant gel components. These results thus suggest a straightforward method of preparing hair keratin/chitosan hydrogel with much more controllable gel properties by merely modulating the KAPs/KIFs ratios in a gel.

Tumor recurrence is an important issue for patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and adjuvant therapy is considered of no benefit to a tumor less than 4 cm. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) on tumor recurrence in patients with a completely resected pN0 NSCLC less than 4 cm.Between January 2011 and December 2016, 211 consecutive patients with diagnoses of stage I NSCLC less than 4 cm after complete resection were included. The maximum of standard uptake value (SUVmax) of primary tumor and the presence of positive lymph nodes on PET/CT scans were documented. Disease-free survival was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method and recurrence risk factors were identified by univariable and multivariable analyses.Patients with positive lymph nodes on PET/CT had a lower 5-year disease-free survival (37.6% vs 72.7%, p 0.001). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that the tumor SUVmax2.93, the presence of positive lymph nodes on PET/CT, and poor differentiation were significant factors for tumor recurrence. Patients with the tumor SUVmax2.93 and positive lymph nodes on PET/CT simultaneously had 5.33-fold increase in the risk of recurrence (p 0.001).The presence of positive lymph nodes on PET/CT scans can be a good indicator in predicting patients with high risk of developing recurrence in pN0 NSCLC less than 4 cm. This result helps identify patients likely to benefit from adjuvant therapy.

The combination therapy, as an emerging strategy for improved clinical efficacy of cancer therapy, may not achieve effective response owing to the lack of highly selective and efficient tumor targeting. Herein, a dual stimuli-guided chemo/magnetothermal combination therapy system based upon histamine dodecyl carbamate (HDC)-coated doxorubicin (DOX)/magnetite-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) was developed for enhanced anticancer effects. Taking advantage of the dual pHe-induced electrostatic and magnetic guidance, the in vitro cellular uptake of these functionalized SLNs by TRAMP-C1 cancer cells was highly enhanced, leading to remarkably increased anticancer ability. With the highly selective delivery of the therapeutics toward tumor via the dual stimuli-mediated guidance, the effective growth inhibition of tumors with the small initial size (ca 50 mm3) by only chemotherapy was observed whereas the combination therapy was essentially required to fully inhibit the growth of large tumors (200 mm3). The IHC staining of tumor tissue sections with the combination therapy against large tumors showed the appreciable increase of tumor cell apoptosis and reduction of tumor angiogenesis. The results suggest that the dual stimuli-guided combination therapy system developed herein be prominent in fully inhibiting tumor growth even with the solid tumors of large size at the onset of the treatment.

Purpose To evaluate the outcomes of patients who underwent thoracoscopic wedge resection without chest drain placement. Methods The subjects of this retrospective study were 89 patients, who underwent thoracoscopic wedge resection at our hospital between January, 2013 and July, 2015. A total of 45 patients whose underlying condition did not meet the following criteria were assigned to the “chest drain placement group” (group A): peripheral lesions, healthy lung parenchyma, no intraoperative air leaks, hemorrhage or effusion accumulation, and no pleural adhesion. The other 44 patients whose underlying condition met the criteria were assigned to the “no chest drain placement group” (group B). Patient characteristics, specimen data, and postoperative conditions were analyzed and compared between the groups. Results Group A patients had poorer forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) values, less normal spirometric results, significantly higher resected lung volume, a greater maximum tumor-pleura distance, and a larger maximum tumor size. They also had a longer postoperative hospital stay. There was no difference between the two groups in postoperative complications. Conclusions Avoiding chest drain placement after a thoracoscopic wedge resection appears to be safe and beneficial for patients who have small peripheral lesions and healthy lung parenchyma.

Engineered skin that can facilitate tissue repair has been a great advance in the field of wound healing. A well-designed dressing material together with active biological cues such as cells or growth factors can overcome the limitation of using auto-grafts from patients. Recently, many studies showed that human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) can be used to promote wound healing and skin tissue engineering. hASCs have already been widely applied for clinical trials. hASCs can be harvested abundantly because they can be easily isolated from fat tissue known as the stromal vascular fraction (SVF). On the other hand, increasing studies have proven that cells from spheroids can better simulate the biological microenvironment and can enhance the expression of stemness markers. However, a three-dimensional (3D) scaffold that can harbor implanted cells and can serve as a skin-repaired substitute still suffers from deficiency. In this study, we applied a gelatin/microbial transglutaminase (mTG) hydrogel to encapsulate hASC spheroids to evaluate the performance of 3D cells on skin wound healing. The results showed that the hydrogel is not toxic to the wound and that cell spheroids have significantly improved wound healing compared to cell suspension encapsulated in the hydrogel. Additionally, a hydrogel with cell spheroids was much more effective than other groups in angiogenesis since the cell spheroid has the possibility of cell&ndash, cell signaling to promote vascular generation.

Wound dressing, which prevents dehydration and provides a physical barrier against infection to wound beds, can improve wound healing. The interactions between extracellular matrix (ECM) and growth factors is critical to the healing process. Electrospun nanofibers are promising templates for wound dressings due to the structure similarity to ECM of skin. Otherwise, the ECM secreted by human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) is rich in growth factors known to enhance wound healing. Accordingly, we propose that the PLGA nanofibrous template incorporated with hASCs-secreted ECM may enhance wound healing. In this study, PLGA nanofibrous matrixes with an aligned or a random structure were prepared by electrospinning. Human ASCs cultured on the aligned matrix had a better viability and produced a larger amount of ECM relative to that of random one. After 7 days&rsquo, cultivation, the hASCs on aligned PLGA substrates underwent decellularization to fabricate cECM/PLGA dressings. By using immunohistochemical staining against F-actin and cell nucleus, the removal of cellular components was verified. However, the type I collagen and laminin were well preserved on the cECM/PLGA nanofibrous matrixes. In addition, this substrate was hydrophilic, with appropriate mechanical strength to act as a wound dressing. The L929 fibroblasts had good activity, survival and proliferation on the cECM/PLGA meshes. In addition, the cECM/PLGA nanofibrous dressings improved the wound healing of surgically created full-thickness skin excision in a mouse model. This hASCs-secreted ECM incorporated into electrospun PLGA nanofibrous could be a promising dressing for enhancing wound healing.

Liver transplant is now considered to be a successful treatment modality for early hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition, advances in immunosuppressive therapy have greatly prolonged posttransplant survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. However, both the posttransplant physiologic condition and immunosuppressive therapy affect the patient's natural immunity, resulting in accumulating and more problematic complications. Three years after a male patient with hepatocellular carcinoma underwent living-donor liver transplant, he presented with esophageal metastasis from recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma. This is an extremely rare complication, perhaps with an ominous prognosis, and, to the best of our knowledge, the first such case to be published in the English literature.

In this study, optical properties of the nitrogen-doped β -Ga 2 O 3 nanowires (N-doped β -Ga 2 O 3 NWs) were synthesized by exposing β -Ga 2 O 3 NWs under high input power nitrogen plasma (2 kW), using a microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (MPECVD) system. The nitrogen contents in the NWs were as-prepared about 7.4, 8.9, 9.7, 13.9, 19.3, and 26.6 at.%, respectively. Low temperature (10 K) cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra exhibit significantly different optical properties for the different nitrogen contents. The CL result of the N-doped β -Ga 2 O 3 NWs (210 s N 2 plasma treatment) exhibited four distinct emission peaks at 378, 516, 759, and 970 nm. The possible light emission mechanism including the effect of the nitrogen dopant was discussed.

Transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia (TIH) caused by violent coughing is a rare clinical diagnosis. Most patients diagnosed with TIH have a chronic condition consisting of a hernia that can be reduced completely by surgical intervention. Our patient presented with acute abdomen resulting from mechanical bowel obstruction secondary to an incarcerated hernia. Acute TIH presents a diagnostic challenge because of its rarity and lack of specific signs or symptoms in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen. We recommend performing diagnostic computed tomography (CT) early if there is suspicion of TIH. Surgical intervention is always needed. Surgical intervention was complicated in this case, necessitating both transthoracic and abdominal exposure to resect the ischemic bowel segment. Nonetheless, the patient recovered uneventfully.