Multitrack and multianchor point screw technique combined with the Wiltse approach for lesion debridement for lumbar tuberculosis

BACKGROUND The incidence of lumbar tuberculosis is high worldwide,and effective treatment is a continuing problem.AIM To study the safety and efficacy of the multitrack and multianchor point screw technique combined with the contralateral Wiltse approach for lesion debridement to treat lumbar tuberculosis.METHODS The C-reactive protein(CRP)level,erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),visual analogue scale(VAS)score,oswestry disability index(ODI)and American Spinal Injury Association(ASIA)grade were recorded and analysed pre-and postoperatively.RESULTS The CRP level and ESR returned to normal,and the VAS score and ODI were decreased at 3 mo postoperatively,with significant differences compared with the preoperative values(P<0.01).Neurological dysfunction was relieved,and the ASIA grade increased,with no adverse events.CONCLUSION The multitrack,multianchor point screw fixation technique combined with the contralateral Wiltse approach for debridement is an effective and safe method for the treatment of lumbar tuberculosis.

High-efficiency stretchable organic light-emitting diodes based on ultra-flexible printed embedded metal composite electrodes

Stretchable organic light-emitting diodes(OLEDs)are important components for flexible/wearable electronics.However,the efficiency of the existing stretchable OLEDs is still much lower as compared with their rigid counterparts,one of the main reasons being the lack of ideal flexible transparent electrodes.Herein,we propose and develop a printed embedded metal composite electrode(PEMCE)strategy that enables the fabrication of ultra-thin,highly flexible transparent electrodes with robust mechanical properties.With the flexible transparent electrodes serves as the anodes,flexible/stretchable white OLEDs have been successfully constructed,achieving a current efficiency of up to 77.4 cd A^(-1)and a maximum luminance of 34787 cd m^(-2).The current efficiency of the resulting stretchable OLEDs is the highest ever reported for flexible/stretchable white OLEDs,which is about 1.2 times higher than that of the reference rigid devices based on ITO/glass electrodes.The excellent optoelectronic properties of the printed embedded transparent electrodes and the light extraction effect of the Ag-mesh account for the significant increase in current efficiency.Remarkably,the electroluminescence performance still retains~83%of the original luminance even after bending the device 2000 cycles at a radii of~0.5 mm.More importantly,the device can withstand tensile strains of up to~100%,and even mechanical deformation of 90%tensile strain does not result in a significant loss of electroluminescence performance with current efficiency and luminance maintained at over 85%.The results confirm that the PEMCE strategy is effective for constructing ultra-flexible transparent electrodes,showing great promise for use in a variety of flexible/stretchable electronics.

Cognitive decline is related to high blood glucose levels in older Chinese adults with the ApoE ε3/ε3 genotype

Background:Few studies have investigated the effects of blood glucose(BG)on cognitive function in communitydwelling elderly individuals carrying the apolipoprotein E(APOE)ε3 allele.Objective:To explore the effect of high BG levels on cognitive function in APOEε3-carrying,non-demented,community-dwelling older adults,as compared to their counterparts carrying the APOEε4 or APOEε2 alleles.Methods:Within the China Longitudinal Ageing Study,we recruited 282 elderly adults without dementia.Data collected included demographic information;psychological measures;laboratory test results,including BG and plasma lipid levels;and APOE genotypes.We divided the participants into APOEε2(ε2/ε2,ε2/ε3),ε3(ε3/ε3),andε4(ε3/ε4,ε4/ε4)groups.Partial correlation analyses and multivariate linear regression analyses were utilized to compare the cognitive function and laboratory data between the APOE groups.White matter hyperintensity(WMH)was measured on magnetic resonance images in 77 participants.Results:With adjustment for age,sex,education,and diabetes,higher BG in non-demented community-dwelling older adults was associated with cognitive decline in immediate memory and executive function.In the APOEε3 group,elevated BG was associated with cognitive decline in immediate memory,executive function,and perceptual reasoning.In the APOEε4 group,higher BG was also correlated with a decline in abstract reasoning.There was a trend for association between higher BG and more severe WMHs.Conclusion:Worse cognitive function was correlated withApoEε3/ε3 genotype carriers with higher BG in community-dwelling older adults.

Who can benefit more from its twelve-week treatment:A prospective cohort study of blonanserin for patients with schizophrenia

BACKGROUND Blonanserin(BNS)is a well-tolerated and effective drug for treating schizophrenia.AIM To investigate which types of patients would obtain the most benefit from BNS treatment.METHODS A total of 3306 participants were evaluated in a 12-week,prospective,multicenter,open-label post-marketing surveillance study of BNS.Brief psychiatric rating scale(BPRS)scores were calculated to evaluate the effectiveness of BNS,and its safety was assessed with the incidence of adverse drug reactions.Linear regression was used to screen the influencing factors for the reduction of BPRS total score,and logistic regression was used to identify patients with a better response to BNS.RESULTS The baseline BPRS total score(48.8±15.03)decreased to 27.7±10.08 at 12 weeks(P<0.001).Extrapyramidal symptoms(14.6%)were found to be the most frequent adverse drug reactions.The acute phase,baseline BPRS total score,current episode duration,number of previous episodes,dose of concomitant antipsychotics,and number of types of sedative-hypnotic agents were found to be independent factors affecting the reduction of BPRS total score after treatment initiation.Specifically,patients in the acute phase with baseline BPRS total score≥45,current episode duration<3 months,and≤3 previous episodes derived greater benefit from 12-week treatment with BNS.CONCLUSION Patients in the acute phase with more severe symptoms,shorter current episode duration,fewer previous episodes,and a lower psychotropic drug load derived the greatest benefit from treatment with BNS.