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A novel nanoporous analytical platform is reported to improve the stability of the dried droplet method (DDM). This nanoporous platform was made of tin dioxide (Np SnO2) substrate by electrochemical anodization from tin (Sn) slide. The DDM is a widely used sample pretreatment in analytical chemistry that involves placing a droplet of solution onto the substrate and drying for analytical testing. However, during the droplet drying process, the solutes would converge at the droplet edge and cause inhomogeneous solutes distribution. This is the coffee ring effect (CRE). The Np SnO2 has irregular nanopores, which allows droplet solutions to penetrate into the substrate rather than spreading out, effectively suppressing CRE. Theoretical models were built to explain the formation of CRE on blank tin (Sn) substrate and suppression of CRE on Np SnO2. Better results were obtained in detecting lithium (Li) using the Np SnO2 by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The line scanning results indicated that the Li emission line (670.8 nm) intensities on Np SnO2 substrate had lower relative standard deviation (RSD = 3.3%) than those on Sn substrate (RSD = 31.5%), which illustrate suppression of CRE and stability improvement on Np SnO2 substrate. Furthermore, Li calibration curves were built for LIBS with DDM. The curve using Np SnO2 substrate had better linearity (R2 = 0.997), higher precision (RSD = 4.2%), and higher sensitivity (LOD = 0.13 mg/L) than that by Sn substrate (R2 = 0.954, RSD = 17%, and LOD = 1.21 mg/L). All in all, the anodic Np SnO2 substrate can suppress CRE in DDM and hence improve the stability and precision of subsequent analysis. Graphical abstract.
The goal of this study is to investigate whether platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are effective in the management of adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder (AC). A triple-blind, randomized controlled trial was designed and conducted in a medical school hospital.

32 adult patients with adhesive capsulitis (21 female, 11 male with a mean age of 57, ranging from 23 to 70) were included in this study. Patients had to have shoulder pain and restrictions in movements (at least 25% when compared to the other side, and at least in two directions) for threemonths minimum and ninemonths maximum. Patients were randomized to two groups, and one group took PRP injections for three times every two weeks, while the other group took saline injections in same frequency and volume. A standardized exercise program was also applied to all patients. Patients were evaluated with Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), Visual Analogue Scales for pain and disability, ranges of movements, and use of analgesics in before, afs might point out PRP as a therapeutic option in the management of adhesive capsulitis.Coronary artery calcifications (CAC) are frequently observed in patients referred for coronary CT angiography (CTA). Calcification volume (in mm3) can accurately be assessed during catheterization by optical coherence tomography (OCT). The aim of the present study was to investigate the accuracy of CTA-derived assessment of calcification volume as compared with OCT. 66 calcified plaques (32 vessels) from 31 patients undergoing OCT-guided PCI with coronary CT acquired as a standard of care were included. Coronary CT and OCT images were matched using fiduciary points. Calcified plaques were reconstructed in three dimensions to calculate calcium volume. click here A Passing-Bablok regression analysis and the Bland-Altman method were used to assess the agreement between imaging modalities. Twenty-seven left anterior descending arteries and 5 right coronary arteries were analyzed. Median calcium volume by CTA and OCT were 18.23 mm3 [IQR 8.09, 36.48] and 10.03 mm3 [IQR 3.6, 22.88] respectively; the Passing-Bablok analysis showed a proportional without a systematic difference (Coefficient A 0.08, 95% CI - 1.37 to 1.21, Coefficient B 1.61, 95% CI 1.45 to 1.84) and the mean difference was 9.69 mm3 (LOA - 10.2 to 29.6 mm3). No differences were observed for minimal lumen area (Coefficient A 0.07, 95% CI - 0.46 to 0.15, Coefficient B 0.85, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.2). CTA volumetric calcium evaluation overestimates calcium volume by 60% compared to OCT. This may allow for an appropriate interpretation of calcific burden in the non-invasive setting. Even in presence of calcific plaques, a good agreement in the MLA assessment was found. Coronary CT may emerge as a tool to quantify calcium burden for invasive procedural planning.Near-infrared spectroscopy-intravascular ultrasound (NIRS-IVUS) studies have demonstrated that lipid core plaque (LCP) is frequently observed in the culprit segment of myocardial infarction (MI). However, little is known about the impact of clinical presentations such as chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) including unstable angina (UA), non ST-segment elevation MI (NSTEMI), and ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI) on LCP. The present prospective single-center registry included a total of 178 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention under NIRS-IVUS guidance. Patients were divided into CCS and ACS groups, and ACS patients were further sub-divided into the 3 groups according to the clinical presentation. The primary endpoint was coronary LCP in the target lesion assessed by NIRS-IVUS with maximal lipid core burden index over any 4 mm segment (maxLCBI4mm). The study population included 124 and 54 patients with CCS and ACS. MaxLCBI4mm in the target lesion was significantly higher in the ACS group than in the CCS group (503 [284-672] vs. 406 [250-557], p = 0.046). Among ACS patients, MaxLCBI4mm in the target lesion was also significantly different in those with UA (n = 18), NSTEMI (n = 21), and STEMI (n = 15) (288 [162-524] vs. 518 [358-745] vs. 646 [394-848], p = 0.021). In conclusion, LCP assessed by NIRS-IVUS, a surrogate of coronary plaque vulnerability, was significantly different according to the clinical presentations such as CCS, UA, NSTEMI, and STEMI.Microalgal oil is considered a promising candidate for edible oils. However, investigation of the refining processes of microalgal oil has been limited, especially deacidification. In this work, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was pretreated using different methods and utilized for the first time in the deacidification of microalgal oil. Detection results from FTIR and XRD indicated alkali pretreatment had a significant effect on the structure of MCC. Some inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonds in AMCC (alkali-pretreated MCC) were destroyed, and crystallinity index of cellulose decreased, which increased its adsorption capacity and the reaction of OH groups with free fatty acids. Some NaOH was adsorbed into AMCC through cellulose swelling, which also contributed to deacidification. The interaction with oil was also improved with many cracks and voids on the surface of AMCC. AMCC could reduce the acid value to about 2 mg KOH/g. Comparatively, original MCC and MCC pretreated with microwave or ultrasound did not exhibit the ability to deacidify.
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