Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation in adult patients receiving gastrectomy/colorectal resection:A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND Acupuncture promotes the recovery of gastrointestinal function and provides analgesia after major abdominal surgery.The effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation(TEAS)remain unclear.AIM To explore the potential effects of TEAS on the recovery of gastrointestinal function after gastrectomy and colorectal resection.METHODS Patients scheduled for gastrectomy or colorectal resection were randomized at a 2:3:3:2 ratio to receive:(1)TEAS at maximum tolerable current for 30 min immediately prior to anesthesia induction and for the entire duration of surgery,plus two 30-min daily sessions for 3 consecutive days after surgery(perioperative TEAS group);(2)Preoperative and intraoperative TEAS only;(3)Preoperative and postoperative TEAS only;or(4)Sham stimulation.The primary outcome was the time from the end of surgery to the first bowel sound.RESULTS In total,441 patients were randomized;405 patients(58.4±10.2 years of age;247 males)received the planned surgery.The time to the first bowel sounds did not differ among the four groups(P=0.90;log-rank test).On postoperative day 1,the rest pain scores differed significantly among the four groups(P=0.04;Kruskal–Wallis test).Post hoc comparison using the Bonferroni test showed lower pain scores in the perioperative TEAS group(1.4±1.2)than in the sham sti-mulation group(1.7±1.1;P=0.04).Surgical complications did not differ among the four groups.CONCLUSION TEAS provided analgesic effects in adult patients undergoing major abdominal surgery,and it can be added to clinical practice as a means of accelerating postoperative rehabilitation of these patients.

Electrochemical Role of Transition Metals in Sn-Fe Alloy Revealed by Operando Magnetometry

As promising materials,alloy-type anode materials have been intensively investigated in both academia and industry.To release huge volume expansion during alloying/dealloying process,they are usually doped with transition metals.However,the electrochemical role of transition metals has not been fully understood.Here,pure Sn_(3)Fe films were deposited by sputtering,and the electrochemical mechanism was systematically investigated by operando magnetometry.We confirmed that Fe particles liberated by Li insertion recombine partially with Sn during the delithiation,while the stepwise increase in magnetization with the cycles demonstrates growth of Fe nanoparticles.In addition,we also found an unconventional increase of magnetization in the charging process,which can be attributed to the space charge storage at the interface of Fe/Li_(x)Sn.These critical findings pave the way for the mechanism understanding and development of high-performance Sn based alloy electrode materials.

Middle Jurassic climate oscillations from paleosol records of the Sichuan Basin,SW China

The Middle Jurassic is characterized by major plate tectonic changes,variable atmospheric CO_(2)concentrations(pCO_(2)),and climate oscillations in both marine and terrestrial realms.However,the limited evidence from the terrestrial sedimentary records hampers a comprehensive understanding of global climate state in this period.Well-exposed strata of the Shaximiao Formation in the Sichuan Basin,Southwest China,preserve successions of paleosols that offer the possibility of evaluating the terrestrial paleoclimatic changes during the Middle Jurassic(Bajocian to Callovian).A total of 151 paleosol profiles belonging to four paleosol types(Entisol-like,Inceptisol-like,Aridisol-like and argillic Inceptisol-like paleosols)were identified and characterized.The quantitative paleoclimate reconstructions based on the bulk geochemistry of paleosol horizons and depths of carbonate nodules indicate a generally semiarid-subhumid climate alternating with arid-humid and cool/warm-temperate climates during this time interval.This dynamic climate terminated in a dry,subhumid,humid/perhumid and superhumid moisture regime characterized by steppe/wet or rain forest floral provinces.We suggest that these climatic fluctuations may have been related to global geodynamic(e.g.,the fragmentation of Pangea,“megamonsoonal”circulation,and bolide impacts)and regional tectonic uplift(e.g.,the uplift of the Longmenshan Mountains in the South China Block)during the Middle Jurassic.The pCO_(2)estimates suggest relatively low pCO_(2)levels within the range of~100 ppm-~890 ppm during the Bajocian to Callovian.Our results coincide with the threshold for the initiation of glaciation and may help to explain the occurrence of cool intervals in the generally warm Jurassic.These pCO_(2)fluctuations,which coincide with paleotemperature variations in the low paleolatitudes of the Northern Hemisphere,are possibly attributable to global geological events(e.g.,wildfire events,eustatic sea-level oscillations,and the transient development of glaciations)in the Middle Jurassic.

In situ construction of a favorable cathode electrolyte interphase through a fluorosilane additive for high-performance Li-rich cathode materials

Li-rich manganese-based oxides (LRMO) with high capacities are attractive cathode materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries.However,poor cycling stability is one of the key issues impeding their commercialization.Here,for the first time,we employed trimethoxy(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)silane (TMTFS) as a multifunctional electrolyte additive to stabilize the LRMO cathode interphase and elevate its cycling performance.The LRMO electrode delivered a high reversible capacity of 250.4 mAh·g^(-1) with a stable capacity retention of 91% after 200 cycles.

An on-line solid phase extraction-liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of perfluoroalkyl substances in the Antarctic ice core samples

An on-line solid phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the analysis of perfluoroalkyl substances（PFASs） in water samples was developed.The optimal analytical conditions were obtained through the optimization of the extraction efficiency of online solid phase extraction column,sample loading rate and loading volume,and the concentration of ammonium acetate in mobile phase.Under the optimal condition,the analytical method displayed good linearity（r^2〉0.99） for 12 PFASs（C5-C14 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and C6/C8 perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids） over a concentration range of 0.5-100 ng/L.The limits of quantitation for samples were between 0.025 ng/L and 0.5 ng/L and the relative standard deviations（RSD） of five consecutive analyses were less than 10%for 1 ng/L standard solution.Satisfactory results were obtained using this analytical method for the analysis of perfluoroalkyl substances in Antarctic ice core samples.The recoveries of all perfluoroalkyl substances were in a range of 73%-117%when the samples were spiked with standards at the concentrations of 2.5 ng/L and 25 ng/L.

Safety and efficacy of a low frame rate protocol for percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusions

Chronic total occlusion(CTO)is the complete obstruction of a coronary artery for>3 months,combined with thrombolysis in myocardial infarction(TIMI)flow grade 0.Percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)is widely used to treat CTO but is less used than coronary artery bypass graft surgery(CABG).[1]However,PCI for CTO may increase the exposure of patients and operating physicians to radiation compared with non-CTO PCIs,[2]and higher radiation exposure is linked to long-term adverse outcomes.[3]PCI operators are exposed to significantly less radiation than patients during each procedure;however,repeated exposure during a lifetime may cause health problems.Therefore,reducing the exposure of PCI cardiologists to radiation without compromising the surgical success rate and clinical outcomes of patients is crucial.A low frame rate(LFR)protocol and/or selective fluoroscopy image storage decreases the exposure of PCI operators and patients to radiation during PCIs.The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an LFR protocol for managing CTO patients.