Efficacy of adjunctive azithromycin versus single-dose cephalosporin prophylaxis for caesarean scar defect : Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Octadecyltrimethoxysilane functionalized ZnO nanorods as a novel coating for solid-phase microextraction with strong hydrophobic surface

National Natural Scientific Foundation of China [21105123, 21105084]; Science and Technology Projects of Fujian Province [2011Y0007]; Shandong Young Scientist Awards [BS2012CL037]In this paper, we have, for the first time, proposed an approach by combining self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and nanomaterials (NMs) for the preparation of novel solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coatings. The self-assembly of octadecyltrimethoxysilane (OTMS) on the surface of ZnO nanorods (ZNRs) was selected as a model system to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach. The functionalization of OTMS on the surface of ZNRs was characterized and confirmed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The OTMS-ZNRs coated fiber exhibited stronger hydrophobicity after functionalization, and its extraction efficiency for non-polar benzene homologues was increased by a factor of 1.5-3.6 when compared to a ZNRs fiber with almost identical thickness and facade. In contrast, the extraction efficiency of the OTMS-ZNRs coated fiber for polar aldehydes was 1.6-4.0-fold lower than that of the ZNRs coated fiber, further indicating its enhanced surface hydrophobicity. The OTMS-ZNRs coated fiber revealed a much higher capacity upon increasing the OTMS layer thickness to 5 mm, leading to a factor of 12.0-13.4 and 1.8-2.5 increase in extraction efficiency for the benzene homologues relative to a ZNRs coated fiber and a commercial PDMS fiber, respectively. The developed HS-SPME-GC method using the OTMS-ZNRs coated fiber was successfully applied to the determination of the benzene homologues in limnetic water samples with recovery ranging from 83 to 113% and relative standard deviations (RSDs) of less than 8%

Fluorescence sensing of chromium (VI) and ascorbic acid using graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets as a fluorescent "switch"

通讯作者地址: Chen, XUsing graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets, an effective and facile fluorescence sensing approach for the label-free and selective determination of chromium (VI) (Cr(VI)) was developed. The fluorescence of the solution of g-C3N4 nanosheets was quenched effectively by Cr(VI) via the inner filter effect. Under optimal conditions, a wide detection linear range for Cr(VI) was found to be from 0.6 mu M to 300 mu M with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.15 mu M. In addition, the fluorescence of the solution of g-C3N4 nanosheets-Cr(VI) could be sensitively turned on in the presence of a reductant such as ascorbic acid (AA) via an "on-off-on" fluorescence response through the oxidation-reduction between Cr(VI) and AA. And a wide detection linear range for AA was found to be from 0.5 mu M to 200 mu M with an LOD of 0.13 mu M. Furthermore, the proposed method has the potential application for detection of Cr(VI) in lake waters and AA in biological fluids.National Nature Scientific Foundation of China 21175112 21375112 National Basic Research Program of China 2010CB732402 program of Science and Technology of Xiamen for University Innovation 3502Z2014302

Pediatric myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease in southern China: analysis of 93 cases

ObjectiveTo study the clinical features of children diagnosed with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) in southern China.MethodsClinical data of children diagnosed with MOGAD from April 2014 to September 2021 were analyzed.ResultsA total of 93 children (M/F=45/48; median onset age=6.0 y) with MOGAD were involved. Seizures or limb paralysis was the most common onset or course symptom, respectively. The most common lesion locations in brain MRI, orbital MRI, and spinal cord MRI were basal ganglia and subcortical white matter, the orbital segment of the optic nerve, and the cervical segment, respectively. ADEM (58.10%) was the most common clinical phenotype. The relapse rate was 24.7%. Compared with the patients without relapse, relapsed patients had a longer interval from onset to diagnosis (median: 19 days VS 20 days) and higher MOG antibody titer at onset (median: 1:32 VS 1:100) with longer positively persistent (median: 3 months VS 24 months). All patients received IVMP plus IVIG at the acute phase, and 96.8% of patients achieved remission after one to three courses of treatment. MMF, monthly IVIG, and maintaining a low dose of oral prednisone were used alone or in combination as maintenance immunotherapy for relapsed patients and effectively reduced relapse. It transpired 41.9% of patients had neurological sequelae, with movement disorder being the most common. Compared with patients without sequelae, patients with sequelae had higher MOG antibody titer at onset (median: 1:32 VS 1:100) with longer persistence (median: 3 months VS 6 months) and higher disease relapse rate (14.8% VS 38.5%).ConclusionsResults showed the following about pediatric MOGAD in southern China: the median onset age was 6.0 years, with no obvious sex distribution difference; seizure or limb paralysis, respectively, are the most common onset or course symptom; the lesions of basal ganglia, subcortical white matter, the orbital segment of the optic nerve, and cervical segment were commonly involved in the CNS MRI; ADEM was the most common clinical phenotype; most had a good response to immunotherapy; although the relapse rate was relatively high, MMF, monthly IVIG and a low dose of oral prednisone might effectively reduce relapse; neurological sequelae were common, and possibly associated with MOG antibody status and disease relapse

Correlates of extinction risk in Chinese endemic birds

Abstract Background China has a relative high degree of endemism of birds due to its large area, diversified topography, and varied climates and habitats. Among the 77 Chinese endemic birds, 29 species are classified as threatened according to the officially released China Biodiversity Red List in 2015. Chinese endemic birds should be the focus of conservation because their local extinction in China means complete global extinction. However, to date, no study has explicitly examined the patterns and processes of extinction and threat in Chinese endemic birds. Methods We obtained eleven biological traits and four extrinsic factors that are commonly hypothesized to influence extinction risk. After phylogenetic correction, these factors were used separately and in combination to assess their associations with extinction risk. Results We found that 37.7% of Chinese endemic birds were listed as threatened (Vulnerable, Endangered and Critically Endangered). Small range size, high hunting vulnerability, and high human population density were important predictors of high extinction risk in Chinese endemic birds. Conclusions Our study is the first to systematically investigate the patterns and processes of extinction risk in Chinese endemic birds. We suggest that endemic species with small range size and living in area with high human densities require conservation priorities. Conservation efforts should also focus on the reduction of human threats, such as human hunting and habitat degradation, for the effective preservation of Chinese endemic birds

Data from: Ecological correlates of extinction risk in Chinese birds

China is one of the countries with the richest bird biodiversity in the world. Among the 1372 Chinese birds, 146 species are considered threatened and three species are regionally extinct according to the officially released China Biodiversity Red List in 2015. Here, we conducted the first extensive analysis to systematically investigate the patterns and processes of extinction and threat in Chinese birds. We addressed the following four questions. First, is extinction risk randomly distributed among avian families in Chinese birds? Second, which families contain more threatened species than would be expected by chance? Third, which species traits are important in determining the extinction risk in Chinese birds using a multivariate phylogenetic comparative approach? Finally, is the form of the relationship between traits additive or nonadditive (synergistic)? We found that the extinction risk of Chinese birds was not randomly distributed among taxonomic families. The families that contained significantly more threatened species than expected were the hornbills, cranes, pittas, pheasants and hawks and eagles. We obtained eleven species traits that are commonly hypothesized to influence extinction risk from the literature: body size, clutch size, trophic level, mobility, habitat specificity, geographical range size, nest type, nest site, flocking tendency, migrant status and hunting vulnerability. After phylogenetic correction, model selection based on Akaike’s information criterion identified the synergistic interaction between body size and hunting vulnerability as the single best correlate of extinction risk in Chinese birds. Our results suggest that, in order to be effective, priority management efforts should be given both to certain extinction-prone families, particularly the hornbills, pelicans, cranes, pittas, pheasants and hawks and eagles, and to bird species with large body size and high hunting vulnerability

Development of relatively selective, chemically and mechanically robust solid-phase microextraction fibers based on methacrylic acid-trimethylolpropanetrimethacrylate co-polymers

A versatile, relatively selective, chemically and mechanically robust solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber based on methacrylic acid-trimethylolpropanetrimethacrylate (MAA/TRIM) co-polymers was developed in a simple way and directly coupled with gas chromatography. Thus, using a glass capillary as a, "mold", MAA/TRIM co-polymers were immobilized on a stainless steel wire base as a novel coating for SPME. The extraction performance of the MAA/TRIM-coated fiber was evaluated in detail using four triazines as model compounds, and several typical and important species of chemical compounds including opioids, xanthic alkaloids and phenoxyacetic acid herbicides were selected as additional examples to further illustrate the extraction mechanism and applicability of the fiber. The fiber showed high extraction efficiency for highly functionalized molecules (typically containing multiple amino, hydroxy, carbonyl and carboxy groups) via a hydrogen-bonding extraction mechanism. The maximum extraction ability and selectivity of the fiber could be obtained only in non-polar (aprotic) organic solvents, which are effective for the hydrogen-bonding interaction. The inherent chemical stability of MAA/TRIM co-polymers and the mechanical strength of the stainless steel wire as the fiber support made the MAA/TRIM-coated fiber highly durable in practical use. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Program for New Century Excellent Talents in Chinese Universities (NCET) ; National Natural Scientific Foundation of China [20775064, 20735002]; Science and Technology Projects of Fujian Province [2007Y0032]; NFFTBS [J0630429

Evaluations of treatment efficacy of depression from perspective of both patients\u27 symptoms and general sense of mental health and wellbeing: a large scale, multi-centered, longitudinal study in China

Relying on the absence, presence of level of symptomatology may not provide an adequate indication of the effects of treatment for depression, nor sufficient information for the development of treatment plans that meet patients\u27 needs. Using a prospective, multi-centered, and observational design, the present study surveyed a large sample of outpatients with depression in China (n=9855). The 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD-17) and the Remission Evaluation and Mood Inventory Tool (REMIT) were administered at baseline, two weeks later and 4 weeks, to assess patients\u27 self-reported symptoms and general sense of mental health and wellbeing. Of 9855 outpatients, 91.3% were diagnosed as experiencing moderate to severe depression. The patients reported significant improvement over time on both depressive symptoms and general sense after 4-week treatment. The effect sizes of change in general sense were lower than those in symptoms at both two week and four week follow-up. Treatment effects on both general sense and depressive symptomatology were associated with demographic and clinical factors. The findings indicate that a focus on both general sense of mental health and wellbeing in addition to depressive symptomatology will provide clinicians, researchers and patients themselves with a broader perspective of the status of patients

ZnO nanorod coating for solid phase microextraction and its applications for the analysis of aldehydes in instant noodle samples

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods based solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coating was directly prepared on stainless steel wires using in situ hydrothermal growth method. This coating has high surface-to-volume ratio with a diameter in the range of 300-500 nm and a thickness of about 3-5 mu m. A guiding tube was introduced into the laboratory-made SPME fiber to protect the ZnO nanorods coating from shaving, which significantly improved the method repeatability and prolonged the service life of the coating. The extraction properties of the prepared fiber were investigated using headspace SPME (HS-SPME) coupled to gas chromatography (GC) for the determination of aldehydes in instant noodle samples. The extraction efficiency of the coating for the five aldehydes was comparable to that of a commercial 85 mu m Carboxen/Polydimethylsiloxane fiber, which has been reported to have best affinity towards aldehydes among all commercial fibers. The linear ranges of the proposed HS-SPME-GC method were from 0.05 to 5 mu g g(-1) (hexanal, nonanal and decanal) and 0.1-5 mu g g(-1) (heptanal and octanal), with the correlation coefficients from 0.990 to 0.999. The method developed was successfully applied to the determination of five aldehydes in instant noodle samples, and the recoveries were found to be 70.5-129% at the spiking level of 2 mu g g(-1). (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

A new strategy for basic drug extraction in aqueous medium using electrochemically enhanced solid-phase microextraction

Science and Technology Projects of Fujian Province [2010Y0050]; Program of Science and Technology of Xiamen for University Innovation [3502Z20093004]; National Nature Scientific Foundation of China-Korea [20911140274]; NFFTBS [J1030415]This work describes an electrochemically enhanced solid-phase microextraction (EE-SPME) method using a mild negative potential (-0.6 V) for the enhanced extraction of the selected basic drugs in a pure aqueous matrix and urine samples. The EE-SPME method gave a more effective extraction of drugs (primarily via electrophoresis and complementary charge interaction) compared to that obtained with SPME (without applying a potential, and which is based on passive partitioning). The EE-SPME method eliminated the need for alkalizing, derivatizing the drugs, or modifying the fiber coating before extraction. The analysis of methamphetamine (MA) and amphetamine (AM) was selected as a typical example to demonstrate in detail the advantages of EE-SPME over SPME. Based on the results obtained, 3-min extraction efficiency for both the amphetamines using EE-SPME was better than that of 30-min using SPME. The developed EE-SPME-GC method exhibited wide linear ranges (2-1000 ng mL(-1)) for both the amphetamines with R(2) larger than 0.99, and the method detection limits (MDLs) for AM and MA were 0.26 and 0.12 ng mL(-1), respectively. In addition, the EE-SPME method developed was also successfully applied to enhance the extraction of several other basic drugs (ephedrine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), atropine, methadone, cocaine, codeine, acetylcodeine and papaverine) with preconcentration factors from 157 to 2199, indicating the potential applicability of this method in the field of forensic, clinical and pharmaceutical analysis. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved