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The rapid growth of the dye industry and the worsening water resource crisis have drawn significant focus to the treatment of dye wastewater. Membrane separation technology is increasingly being utilized in addressing this issue. However, traditional separation membranes face challenges such as susceptibility to contamination and significant decline in subsequent separation permeance. This work utilizes a straightforward brushing technique to effectively apply a coating comprising titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles and attapulgite (APT) onto a stainless steel mesh (SSM), equipping it with the capability for dye adsorption and separation. Studies show that coatings with different ratios yield varying degrees of coverage on the SSM. A higher concentration of TiO2/attapulgite results in improved coverage on the SSM, creating a denser coating on the mesh surface and the degree of cross-linking of the coating was as high as 92.22%. The coated meshes exhibited superhydrophilicity uniformly and excellent negatively charged properties. Separation experiments of the meshes with different TiO2/attapulgite ratios were conducted by separating simulated dye wastewater with methylene blue (MB) and safranine T (SaT). The results indicate that the prepared meshes achieved a maximum rejection of over 98.0% for MB and over 96.5% for SaT. In addition, the prepared meshes maintained high dye rejection efficiencies (>96%) even after 10 consecutive separation cycles. The above results indicate that the prepared meshes are promising for application in industrial dye wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Pregnancy and childbirth bring not only joy but also a concomitant sense of insecurity, which may adversely affect health, role adaptation, and relationships. This study aimed to explore the risk factors for postpartum mothers' sense of security. Methods: This cross‐sectional study used questionnaires on Parents' Postnatal Sense of Security, Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale, and the Emotional Inhibition Scale. Structural equation modeling was used to calculate the mediating effect. Results: The mean postnatal maternal security value was 44.77 ± 9.02. Multiple regression analyses revealed that several factors, including companionship of the partner during pregnancy, number of prenatal visits accompanied by the partner, complications during pregnancy, pregnancy distress, and emotional inhibition, independently predicted maternal security. Moreover, our structural equation model revealed that emotional inhibition significantly influenced maternal postpartum security directly (β = −0.30, P < 0.001). In addition, pregnancy distress affected maternal security directly (β = −0.45, P < 0.001) and indirectly (β = −0.129, P < 0.001) through emotional inhibition. Conclusion: This study indicated a lower level of postpartum maternal sense of security. Emotional inhibition partially mediates the relationship between postpartum maternal sense of security and pregnancy distress. Therefore, health care professionals providing guidance to pregnant and postpartum women on proper emotional regulation and early identification of pregnancy distress may be more effective in enhancing their postpartum sense of security. Synopsis: In China, postpartum mothers generally have a low sense of security, and emotional inhibition mediates the relationship between maternal postpartum security and pregnancy distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The coexistence of intrauterine twin pregnancy and ectopic pregnancy (EP), known as heterotopic pregnancy, is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. In this study, we aimed to investigate the pregnancy outcomes in women with intrauterine twin pregnancies complicated with EP after assisted reproductive technology., Methods: This retrospective study analyzed the medical records of 42 women diagnosed with intrauterine twin pregnancies complicated with EP via ultrasound or surgery at our hospital between January 2005 and December 2020. We collected data on patient general characteristics, high-risk factors, clinical symptoms, ultrasound features, treatment methods, and pregnancy outcomes., Results: Among the 42 included women, 47.6% (20/42) had a history of tubal surgery, while 52.4% (22/42) and 47.6% (20/42) received the transfer of 2 and 3 embryos, respectively. In terms of treatment, 21.4% (9/42) women received expectant management, whereas 78.6% (33/42) underwent surgical treatment, with laparoscopic surgery accounting for 71.4% (30/42). Tracking the pregnancy outcomes revealed a live birth rate of 81.0% (34/42) and a full-term birth rate of 50.0% (21/42). The preterm birth rate was 31.0% (13/42), with a breakdown of 1 singleton (7.7%, 1/13) and 12 twin births (92.3%, 12/13) among the total 13 premature deliveries. Among the neonates, 33.3% (14/42) were singletons and 47.6% (20/42) twins. Caesarean section accounted for 31 out of 34 deliveries (91.2%)., Conclusions: Though the incidence of EP in twin pregnancies has declined in the last decade, early diagnosis and proper management are still crucial for favorable outcomes in twin pregnancies with EP., (© 2024 American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.)

Purpose: To analyze the ultrasound characteristics, clinical management, and pregnancy outcomes of heterotopic intramural pregnancies (HIMPs) after embryo transfer., Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of women who were diagnosed with HIMPs. The ultrasound characteristics, clinical treatment, and pregnancy outcomes of patients with HIMPs were evaluated., Results: Eight women with HIMPs were included. Among them, 6 patients were diagnosed by transvaginal sonography, and 2 patients were misdiagnosed with heterotopic interstitial pregnancy. The diagnostic accuracy was 75% (6/8). Five patients with HIMPs were diagnosed at the time of the initial scan (5+6-6+3 weeks). An intramural gestational sac was observed in all 6 patients, and an embryo with cardiac activity was detected in one patient on the follow-up scans. Intrauterine pregnancies (IUPs) were revealed in all 6 patients, and embryo(s) with cardiac activity were observed in 5 patients at the time of the initial diagnosis or later. The patients receiving expectant treatment all presented with bagel signs, while patients with embryos with cardiac activity all underwent surgery. Among the 6 diagnosed women, 1 patient was initially treated medically, 4 were treated expectantly, and 1 was treated surgically. Among the 6 diagnosed patients, the IUPs of 5 patients resulted in live infants., Conclusion: Single ET should be recommended to decrease the possibility of HIMP. An accurate diagnosis of HIMP was reached in most cases by detailed ultrasound early in the first trimester. Most IUPs of HIMPs seem to have good outcomes with timely and proper management. Expectant management might be a possible choice for nonviable intramural pregnancies., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is one of the rarest ectopic pregnancies which may be associated with life-threatening complications. Owing to the rarity of CSP, little is known about it. This study aimed to evaluate the value of the first-trimester transvaginal sonography (TVS) diagnosis and the risk factors of CSP after in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET)., Methods: This was a retrospective study of women undergoing IVF-ET between January 2013 and December 2018. Women who were diagnosed with a CSP using TVS and confirmed by surgery and histological examination were included. The clinical data and ultrasound findings were collected and analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed for evaluation of possible influence factors. Diagnostic parameters including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of TVS were calculated for the diagnosis of CSP., Results: Overall, 75,438 consecutive women who underwent IVF-ET had received TVS during this period. Of these, 4,817 women (6.4%) had a history of cesarean section and 83 cases were found to have a CSP. Due to the absence of histological data, 19 cases treated conservatively were excluded. Finally, 64 cases were included, among whom 63 cases were correctly diagnosed [including 17 cases of heterotopic CSP (HCSP)] and 1 case was missed using TVS. Another 1 case of inevitable miscarriage was misdiagnosed as a CSP. The maternal age at the initial scan [34.0 (range, 26.0-44.0) years], the infertility duration [4.0 (range, 1-12) years], and the initial diagnostic time after ET [27 (range, 20-50) days] were recorded. A gestational sac (GS) was observed in all 63 cases during ultrasound examinations, including 28 with fetal pole, 25 with a yolk sac only, and 10 with an empty sac. The sensitivity and specificity of first-trimester TVS in diagnosing CSP were 98.44% and 99.98%, respectively; the PPV and NPV were 98.44% and 99.98%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed thinner endometrial thickness (ET) on transfer day [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.83; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.76-0.93, P<0.001] and multiple ET (aOR 53.60, 95% CI: 5.31-1,736.00, P=0.008) were independent risk factors for CSP and HCSP, respectively., Conclusions: First-trimester TVS performed by an experienced sonographer has a high sensitivity for making the correct diagnosis of CSP after IVF-ET, which is helpful for clinical intervention and avoiding severe complications. For patients with a history of cesarean section, thinner ET on the transfer day and bigger body mass index (BMI) seem to be risk factors for CSP; single blastocyst transfer should be recommended to decrease the possibility of HCSP. The clinical significance of this study still needs to be considered., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://qims.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/qims-23-1239/coif). All authors report the funding from the Research Grant of CITIC-Xiangya (Nos. YNXM-202220 and YNXM-202310) and Hunan Provincial Grant for Innovative Province Construction (No. 2019SK4012). The authors have no other conflicts of interest to declare., (2024 Quantitative Imaging in Medicine and Surgery. All rights reserved.)