Polydopamine particles were used as fillers for constructing multifunctional composites for the first time.

Background The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of scalp nerve block (SNB) and local anesthetic infiltration (LA) with 0.75% ropivacaine on postoperative inflammatory response, intraoperative hemodynamic response, and postoperative pain control in patients undergoing craniotomy. Methods Fifty-seven patients were admitted for elective craniotomy for surgical clipping of a cerebral aneurysm. They were randomly divided into three groups: Group S (SNB with 15 mL of 0.75% ropivacaine), group I (LA with 15 mL of 0.75% ropivacaine) and group C (that only received routine intravenous analgesia). Pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in plasma for 72 h postoperatively, hemodynamic response to skin incision, and postoperative pain intensity were measured. Results The SNB with 0.75% ropivacaine not only decreased IL-6 levels in plasma 6 h after craniotomy but also decreased plasma CRP levels and increased plasma IL-10 levels 12 and 24 h after surgery compared to LA and routine analgesia. There were significant increases in mean arterial pressure 2 and 5 mins after the incision and during dura opening in Groups I and C compared with Group S. Group S had lower postoperative pain intensity, longer duration before the first dose of oxycodone, less consumption of oxycodone and lower incidence of PONV through 48 h postoperatively than Groups I and C. Conclusion Preoperative SNB attenuated inflammatory response to craniotomy for cerebral aneurysms, blunted the hemodynamic response to scalp incision, and controlled postoperative pain better than LA or routine analgesia. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03073889 (PI:Xi Yang; date of registration:08/03/2017).

In 2019, the Chinese government implemented the first round of the National Centralized Drug Procurement (NCDP) pilot (so-called “4 + 7” policy) in mainland China, in which 25 drugs were included. We conducted this study to examine the impacts of NCDP policy on drug utilization and expenditures, and to clarify the main factors contributing to drug expenditure changes. This study used drug purchasing order data from the Centralized Drug Procurement Survey in Shenzhen 2019. Drugs related to the “4 + 7” policy were selected as study samples, including 23 “4 + 7” policy-related varieties and 15 basic alternative drugs. Driving factors for drug expenditures changes were analyzed using A.M. index system analysis (Addis A. & Magrini N.’ method). After the implementation of the NCDP policy, the volume of “4 + 7” policy-related varieties increased by 73.8%, among which winning products jumped by 1638.2% and non-winning products dropped by 70.8%; the expenditures of “4 + 7” policy-related varieties decreased by 36.9%. Structure effects (0.47) and price effects (0.78) negatively contributed to the increase in drug expenditures of “4 + 7” policy-related varieties, while volume effects (1.73) had positive influence. NCDP policy successfully decreased drug expenditures of “4 + 7” policy-related varieties with structure effects playing a leading role. However, total drug expenditures were not effectively controlled due to the increasing use of alternative drugs.

Purpose The primitive recycling of electronic waste (ewaste) in developing countries is causing serious environmental pollution. The objective of this study was to determine the contamination and toxicity of surface sediment of Nanguan River, which runs through the ewaste recycling area of Taizhou, East China. Materials and methods Surface sediments were collected from Nanguan River, including one from the control site, four near the household workshops, and two near the industrial parks. Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and heavy metals/metalloid (Ni, Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn, Cu, Hg, and As), which are most widely detected in e-waste contaminated surroundings, were determined. Acute toxicity and genetic toxicity were evaluated by luminescence inhibition assay in luminescent bacterium Vibrio qingaiensis sp. nov. (Q67) and Vicia faba roots tip micronucleus assay, respectively. Results and discussion The surface sediment has been seriously contaminated by PCBs, PAHs, and heavy metals/ metalloid due to the e-waste disassembly process. Significant acute and genetic toxicity of the sediments presented a big threat to the aquatic life and human health through food chain, as the river is an extent water source for local residents.Conclusions The environmental issue of e-waste recycling is emergent and measures should be taken to mitigate the adverse impacts of e-waste disassembly.

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A simple treatment approach has been performed to achieve enhanced surface properties of ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers by incorporation of nano‐silicon dioxide (SiO2) in the presence of silane coupling agent during gel‐spinning process. The SiO2‐treated UHMWPE (UHMWPE/SiO2) nanocomposite fibers with different nano‐SiO2 compositions were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectra, scanning electron microscopy, and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, and their interfacial adhesion and mechanical properties were also investigated. The nano‐SiO2 can be trapped on the surface of the fibers to form rough surface for UHMWPE/SiO2 fibers, and diffused into the inner of fibers to induce the lower crystal sizes and higher crystallinity of polyethylene in UHMWPE/SiO2 fibers. The resulting UHMWPE/SiO2 fibers therefore exhibit a dramatic enhancement in the adhesive properties because of the combination of rougher surface compared with those of UHMWPE fiber and polar groups absorbed on the surface of fibers. The mechanical properties of UHMWPE/SiO2 nanocomposite fibers are enhanced simultaneously because of the influence of nano‐SiO2 on the structure of UHMWPE crystalline regions and fibrils. POLYM. COMPOS., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers