Efficacy of Collagen Sponges and Gelatine Sponges as Dressing for Palatal Wounds: A Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial.

Aim: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of collagen sponges (CSs) on wound healing following palatal graft harvesting and compare their efficacy with gelatine sponges (GSs).

Materials And Methods: Thirty-two participants who had undergone free gingival grafts or de-epithelialised gingival grafts were randomised into the CS group or the GS group. Wound healing rate was calculated as the percentage of the healed wound area divided by the initial wound area.

Regional variations in plantar fascia elasticity and their association with pain in plantar fasciitis: a cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between plantar fascia (PF) elasticity, pain, visual analog scale (VAS) score, and plantar fascia thickness (PFT) in adults with plantar fasciitis (PFis). PF elasticity and PFT were measured in 40 subjects by ultrasonic shear wave elastography (USWE), and their VAS score and localized pressure pain threshold (PPT) were determined. Then, the correlations between PF elasticity and PFT, VAS score, and PPT were analyzed.

Laboratory and field evaluation of integrated insecticide-fungicide treatments for controlling Euwallacea interjectus and its symbiotic Fusarium fungi.

As an emerging forestry pest characterized by rapid spread, wide distribution, and significant damage, Euwallacea interjectus necessitates comprehensive and scientifically validated chemical control measures. Currently, there is a lack of large-scale and precise experimental data on the efficacy of insecticides and fungicides for chemical control. Even for closely related ambrosia beetles, existing chemical control methods have unresolved aspects.

Efficacy of Botulinum Toxin Type A for Acute Acquired Comitant Esotropia: An Age-Stratified 2-Year Follow-Up Study.

Purpose: To assess and compare the 2-year follow-up efficacy of botulinum toxin type A (BTXA) in the treatment of acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE) across five age groups.

Design: Retrospective clinical cohort study.

Methods: A total of 276 patients with AACE who received BTXA injections were enrolled from a single institution between January 2019 and January 2023 (Notably, surgery was recommended for patients >12 years with large-angle esotropia (>50 prism diopters) to reduce failure or recurrence risk).

Cancer-associated fibroblasts derived amphiregulin promotes HNSCC progression and drug resistance of EGFR inhibitor.

In clinical oncology, lack of sustained treatment response is very common in cancer patients and largely limits the efficiency of most anticancer targeted-therapies. While anti-EGFR therapeutics have been extensively employed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) management, their clinical efficacy remains limited due to unresolved resistance mechanisms. Notably, the functional role of EGFR ligand proteins in both tumor progression and therapeutic response has not been fully elucidated.

Approaching infinite selectivity in membrane-based aqueous lithium extraction via solid-state ion transport.

As the gap between lithium supply and demand continues to widen, the need to develop ion-selective technologies, which can efficiently extract lithium from unconventional water sources, grows increasingly crucial. In this study, we investigated the fundamentals of applying a solid-state electrolyte (SSE), typically used in battery technologies, as a membrane material for aqueous lithium extraction. We find that the anhydrous hopping of lithium ions through the ordered and confined SSE lattice is highly distinct from ion migration through the hydrated free volumes of conventional nanoporous membranes, thus culminating in unique membrane transport properties.

Gypsum heterogenous nucleation pathways regulated by surface functional groups and hydrophobicity.

Gypsum (CaSO·2HO) plays a critical role in numerous natural and industrial processes. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms governing the formation of gypsum crystals on surfaces with diverse chemical properties remain poorly understood due to a lack of sufficient temporal-spatial resolution. Herein, we use in situ microscopy to investigate the real-time gypsum nucleation on self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) terminated with -CH, -hybrid (a combination of NH and COOH), -COOH, -SO, -NH, and -OH functional groups.

Investigating the characteristics of mumps outbreaks in Fujian Province, China.

Objectives: Identifying the specifics and potential causes of mumps outbreaks in the Fujian Province during the period of 2017 to 2022.

Methods: Mumps cases reported by the National Notifiable Communicable Disease Report System (NNCDRS) in China during the observation period of the 5 years were investigated annually and by age to detect homogeneity of the spread of the disease over time. If specific age-peaks may appear, we investigated those figures by analysing group characteristics in mumps cases presented as outbreaks.

Evaluation and application of a Chinese version symptom questionnaire for visual dysfunctions (CSQVD) in school-age children.

Objective: To develop and evaluate a Chinese version of the Symptom Questionnaire for Visual Dysfunctions (CSQVD) to quantify visual dysfunction symptoms in school-age children with various eye diseases, and to explore the relationship between ophthalmological disorders and visual dysfunction symptoms.

Methods: Following standard scale adaptation procedures, the Symptom Questionnaire for Visual Dysfunctions (SQVD) was translated into Chinese (CSQVD). We employed random sampling to survey 198 outpatients aged 7-18 to assess the psychometric properties of the CSQVD.

The physical basis for solvent flow in organic solvent nanofiltration.

Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) is an emerging membrane technology that could revolutionize chemical separations in numerous vital industries. Despite its significance, there remains a lack of fundamental understanding of solvent transport mechanisms in OSN membranes. Here, we use an extended Flory-Rehner theory, nonequilibrium molecular dynamic simulations, and organic solvent transport experiments to demonstrate that solvent flow in OSN membranes is driven by a pressure gradient.

Estimated Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Coverage Among Females 9-45 Years of Age - China, 2017-2022.

What Is Already Known On This Topic?: There is a lack of comprehensive data on the coverage of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in China. The limited published literature hampers our ability to accurately assess the current situation.

What Is Added By This Report?: This study aimed to determine the rates of HPV vaccine coverage based on data from the electronic vaccination registry reported to the China Immunization Information System between 2017 and 2022.

Ligand-Bound CO as a Nonclassical Route toward Efficient Photocatalytic CO Reduction with a Ni N-Confused Porphyrin.

Implementing the synergistic effects between the metal and the ligand has successfully streamlined the energetics for CO activation and gained high catalytic activities, establishing the important breakthroughs in photocatalytic CO reduction. Herein, we describe a Ni(II) N-confused porphyrin complex () featuring an acidic N-H group. It is readily deprotonated and exists in an anion form during catalysis.

Genetic associations between circulating immune cells and periodontitis highlight the prospect of systemic immunoregulation in periodontal care.

Periodontitis drives irreversible destruction of periodontal tissue and is prone to exacerbating inflammatory disorders. Systemic immunomodulatory management continues to be an attractive approach in periodontal care, particularly within the context of 'predictive, preventive, and personalized' periodontics. The present study incorporated genetic proxies identified through genome-wide association studies for circulating immune cells and periodontitis into a comprehensive Mendelian randomization (MR) framework.

Accelerating Charge Kinetics in Photocatalytic CO Reduction by Modulating the Cobalt Coordination in Heterostructures of Cadmium Sulfide/Metal-Organic Layer.

Artificial photocatalytic CO reduction (COR) holds great promise to directly store solar energy into chemical bonds. The slow charge and mass transfer kinetics at the triphasic solid-liquid-gas interface calls for the rational design of heterogeneous photocatalysts concertedly boosting interfacial charge transfer, local CO concentration, and exposure of active sites. To meet these requirements, in this study heterostructures of CdS/MOL (MOL = metal-organic layer) furnishing different redox Co sites are fabricated for COR photocatalysts.

Rapid, Selective, and Chemical-Free Removal of Dissolved Silica from Water via Electrosorption: Feasibility and Mechanisms.

The unavoidable and detrimental formation of silica scale in engineered processes necessitates the urgent development of effective, economic, and sustainable strategies for dissolved silica removal from water. Herein, we demonstrate a rapid, chemical-free, and selective silica removal method using electrosorption. Specifically, we confirm the feasibility of exploiting local pH dynamics at the electrodes in flow-through electrosorption, achieved through a counterintuitive cell configuration design, to induce ionization and concomitant electrosorption of dissolved silica.

Natural killer cells at the forefront of cancer immunotherapy with immune potency, genetic engineering, and nanotechnology.

Natural killer (NK) cells are vital components of the human immune system, acting as innate lymphocytes and playing a crucial role in immune surveillance. Their unique ability to independently eliminate target cells without antigen contact or antibodies has sparked interest in immunological research. This review examines recent NK cell developments and applications, encompassing immune functions, interactions with target cells, genetic engineering techniques, pharmaceutical interventions, and implications in cancers.

A "Trinity" Design of Li-O Battery Engaging the Slow-Release Capsule of Redox Mediators.

Nonaqueous Li-O battery (LOB) represents one of the promising next-gen energy storage solutions owing to its ultrahigh energy density but suffers from problems such as high charging overpotential, slow redox kinetics, Li anode corrosion, etc., calling for a systemic optimization of the battery configuration and structural components. Herein, an ingenious "trinity" design of LOB is initiated by implementing a hollowed cobalt metal organic framework (MOF) impregnating iodized polypyrrole simultaneously as the cathode catalyst, anode protection layer, and slow-release capsule of redox mediators, so as to systemically address issues of impeded mass transport and redox kinetics on the cathode, dendrite growth, and surface corrosion on the anode, as well as limited intermediate solubility in the low donor-number (DN) solvent.

Comparative genomics analysis provide insights into evolution and stress responses of Lhcb genes in Rosaceae fruit crops.

Background: Light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b b evelopment of higher plants and in response to abiotic stress. Previous works has demonstrated that that Lhcb genes were involved in the phytochrome regulation and responded to the different light and temperature conditions in Poaceae (such as maize). However, the evolution and functions of Lhcb genes remains poorly characterized in important Rosaceae species.

Genetic evidence strengthens the bidirectional connection between gut microbiota and periodontitis: insights from a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Recent research has established the correlation between gut microbiota and periodontitis via oral-gut axis. Intestinal dysbiosis may play a pivotal bridging role in extra-oral inflammatory comorbidities caused by periodontitis. However, it is unclear whether the link is merely correlative or orchestrated by causative mechanistic interactions.

Proton Shuttling by Polyaniline of High Brønsted Basicity for Improved Electrocatalytic Ethylene Production from CO.

Hybrid organic/inorganic composites with the organic phase tailored to modulate local chemical environment at the Cu surface arise as an enchanting category of catalysts for electrocatalytic CO reduction reaction (CO RR). A fundamental understanding on how the organics of different functionality, polarity, and hydrophobicity affect the reaction path is, however, still lacking to guide rational catalyst design. Herein, polypyrrole (PPy) and polyaniline (PANI) manifesting different Brønsted basicity are compared for their regulatory roles on the CO RR pathways regarding *CO coverage, proton source and interfacial polarity.

Efficacy of augmented-dosed surgery versus botulinum toxin A injection for acute acquired concomitant esotropia: a 2-year follow-up.

Background/aims: This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of botulinum toxin type A (BTXA) injection and augmented-dosed surgery in the treatment of acute acquired concomitant esotropia (AACE), and explore potential risk factors associated with recurrence.

Methods: A total of 104 patients diagnosed with AACE between October 2020 and January 2021 were included and voluntarily chose to undergo augmented surgery or BTXA injection. The follow-up assessments ended in November 2022.