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Macrocyclic conformations play a crucial role in regulating their properties. Our understanding of the determinants to control macrocyclic conformation interconversion is still in its infancy. Here we present a macrocycle, octamethyl cyclo[4](1,3-(4,6)-dimethylbenzene)[4]((4,6-benzene)(1,3-dicarboxylate) (OC-4), that can exist at 298 K as two stable atropisomers with C2v and C4v symmetry denoted as C2v-OC-4 and C4v-OC-4, respectively. Heating induces the efficient stepwise conversion of C2v- to C4v-OC-4 via a Cs-symmetric intermediate (Cs-OC-4). It differs from the typical transition state-mediated processes of simple C–C single bond rotations. Hydrolysis and further esterification with a countercation dependence promote the generation of C2v- and Cs-OC-4 from C4v-OC-4. In contrast to C2v-OC-4, C4v-OC-4 can bind linear guests to form pseudo-rotaxans, or bind C60 or C70 efficiently. The present study highlights the differences in recognition behavior that can result from conformational interconversion, as well as providing insights into the basic parameters that govern coupled molecular rotations. The three-dimensional conformation of macrocycles determine their chemical and recognition properties and the factors that influence the interconversion between macrocyclic forms are poorly understood. Here the authors describe a macrocycle existing as two stable atropisomers and the mechanism behind the thermally-induced transition between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiological heart damage (RIHD) is damage caused by unavoidable irradiation of the heart during chest radiotherapy, with a long latency period and a progressively increasing proportion of delayed cardiac damage due to conventional doses of chest radiotherapy. There is a risk of inducing diseases such as acute/chronic pericarditis, myocarditis, delayed myocardial fibrosis and damage to the cardiac conduction system in humans, which can lead to myocardial infarction or even death in severe cases. This paper details the pathogenesis of RIHD and gives potential targets for treatment at the molecular and cellular level, avoiding the drawbacks of high invasiveness and immune rejection due to drug therapy, medical device implantation and heart transplantation. Injectable hydrogel therapy has emerged as a minimally invasive tissue engineering therapy to provide necessary mechanical support to the infarcted myocardium and to act as a carrier for various bioactive factors and cells to improve the cellular microenvironment in the infarcted area and induce myocardial tissue regeneration. Therefore, this paper combines bioactive factors and cellular therapeutic mechanisms with injectable hydrogels, presents recent advances in the treatment of cardiac injury after RIHD with different injectable gels, and summarizes the therapeutic potential of various types of injectable hydrogels as a potential solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aims to develop an original product design using elements of intangible cultural heritage (ICH). It attempts to evaluate the attractiveness of design with elements of ICH in individual countries and on the world stage. A Master of Art History from Korea National University of Arts participated in the analysis and research of ICH objects. Based on the Gmarket online store, the authors conducted fake door testing to determine the attractiveness of this design for consumers. The method of paired comparisons allowed the authors to assess the attractiveness of a design with the ICH elements on the world stage. Following the project's objectives, the study demonstrated 211 thousand views of the product page with the developed design and 767 thousand views of pages with similar products during one calendar month. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare clinical efficacy of robot-assisted (RA) and remote sensing navigation alignment (RSNA) system-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA)., Methods: From March 2023 to June 2023, 60 patients who underwent the first unilateral TKA due to severe knee osteoarthritis (KOA) were admitted and divided into RSNA group and RA group according to different treatment methods, with 30 patients in each group. There were 5 males and 25 females in RSNA group, aged from 56 to 81 years old with an average of(66.33±7.16) years old;body mass index(BMI) ranged from 19.87 to 38.54 kg·m -2 with an average of (28.40±6.18) kg·m -2 ;the courses of disease ranged from 5 to 36 months with an average of (18.20±8.98) months; RSNA system was used to assist the positioning of osteotomy. There were 7 males and 23 females in RA group, aged from 55 to 82 years old with an average of (67.83±8.61) years old;BMI ranged from 19.67 to 37.25 kg·m -2 with an average of (28.01±4.89) kg·m -2 ; the courses of disease ranged from 3 to 33 months with an average of (17.93±9.20) months;RA was performed. Operation time, incision length, latent blood loss at 2 weeks after operation and incidence of lower extremity thrombosis were compared between two groups. Hip-knee ankle angle (HKAA), HKAA deviation, lateral distal femoral angle ( LDFA), medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA) and posterior tibial slope (PTS) were compared between two groups;Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Knee Society score (KSS) were used to evaluate functional recovery before operation, 3 and 6 months after operation., Results: The operation was performed successfully in both groups, and there were no serious complications such as vascular and nerve injury during operation. The wound healed well at stageⅠafter operation, and the follow-up time was 6 months. The operation time, latent blood loss at 2 weeks after operation and incision length in RSNA group were (94.35±5.75) min, (130.54±17.53) ml and (14.73±2.14) cm, respectively;while (102.57±6.88) min, (146.33±19.47) ml and (16.78±2.32) cm in RA group, respectively. RSNA group was better than RA group ( P <0.05). No deep vein thrombosis occurred in both groups at 2 weeks after operation, 5 patients occurred intermuscular vein thrombosisin in RSNA group and 8 patients in RA group, the difference was not statistically significant ( P >0.05). In RSNA group, HKAA, LDFA and MPTA were (173.00±5.54) °, (86.96±3.45) °, (82.79±3.35) ° before operation, and (178.34±1.85) °, (89.92±0.42) °, (89.84±0.73) ° at 1 week after operation, respectively. In RA group, HKAA, LDFA and MPTA were (173.31±6.48) °, (87.15±3.40) ° and (82.99±3.05) ° before operation, and (178.52±1.79) °, (90.03±0.39) ° and (90.15±0.47) ° at 1 week after operation, respectively. HKAA, LDFA and MPTA were significantly improved in both groups at 1 week after operation ( P <0.05). There were no significant difference in HKAA, LDFA, MPTA and PTS between two groups before operation and 1 week after operation ( P >0.05). There was no significant difference in deviation distribution of HKAA at 1 week after operation ( χ 2 =2.611, P =0.456). There were no significant difference in WOMAC and KSS between two groups before operation, 3 and 6 months after operation ( P >0.05), and postoperative WOMAC and KSS at 3 and 6 months between two groups were improved compared with those before operation ( P <0.05)., Conclusion: Both RA and RSNA system assisted TKA could obtain accurate osteotomy, RA has higher surgical accuracy, RSNA system assisted operation has less trauma, and operation is simpler.

Objective: To explore clinical accuracy of remote sensing navigation alignment (RSNA) system in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and its influence on postoperative clinical efficacy., Methods: From May 2021 to May 2022, 60 knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients with Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grade Ⅲ to Ⅳ treated by unilateral primary TKA were selected and divided into RSNA group and traditional operation group according to treatment methods, and 30 patients in each group. There were 6 males and 24 females in RSNA group, aged from 55 to 86 years old with an average of (68.06±8.23) years old;body mass index (BMI) ranged from 22.15 to 34.58 kg·m -2 with an average of (28.20±3.01) kg·m -2 ;the courses of disease ranged from 2 to 60 months with an average of (18.80±14.80) months;13 patients with grade Ⅲ and 17 patients with grade Ⅳ according to K-L grading. In traditional operation group, there were 8 males and 22 females, aged from 57 to 85 years old with an average of (67.26±6.32) years old;BMI ranged from 23.94 to 34.55 kg·m -2 with an average of (27.49±2.32) kg·m -2 ;the courses of disease ranged from 3 to 60 months with an average of (21.30±16.44) months;14 patients with grade Ⅲ and 16 patients with grade Ⅳ according to K-L grading. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) osteoarthritis index and Knee Society score(KSS) were used to evaluate functional recovery of patients. Hip-knee-ankle angle (HKAA), distal femoral valgus angle (FVA) and distal fermoral flexion angle (DFFA) were measured before operation. HKAA and HKAA deviation angle were measured at 1 week after operation, and defective rate of lower limb force line, femur prosthesis valgus angle (FPVA) and femoral prosthesis flexion angle (FPFA), respectively, were calculated., Results: There were no serious complications such as vascular and nerve injury during operation, and wound healed at stage Ⅰ. Both groups were followed up for 6 months. There were no significant difference in WOMAC index, KSS, HKAA, FVA and DFFA between two groups before operation ( P >0.05). The force line defect rate, HKAA, HKAA deviation angle, FPVA deviation angle and FPFA of RSNA group were 6.7%, (178.74±1.56) °, (1.25±1.56) °, (1.84±0.16) ° and (4.85±2.46) °, respectively;while in traditional operation group were 20%, (176.73±3.46) °, (3.27±3.46) °, (2.44±0.26) °, (6.60±1.86) °;the difference between two groups were statistically significant ( P <0.05). There were no significant difference in WOMAC index and KSS between two groups at 3 and 6 months after operation ( P >0.05)., Conclusion: RSNA system could reduce defective rate of lower limb force line, FPVA deviation angle and FPFA after TKA, which is more accurate and easy to operate than traditional intramedullary localization surgery while ensuring postoperative efficacy.

The long-term trends in maternal and child health (MCH) in China and the national-level factors that may be associated with these changes have been poorly explored. This study aimed to assess trends in MCH indicators nationally and separately in urban and rural areas and the impact of public policies over a 30‒year period. An ecological study was conducted using data on neonatal mortality rate (NMR), infant mortality rate (IMR), under-five mortality rate (U5MR), and maternal mortality ratio (MMR) nationally and separately in urban and rural areas in China from 1991 to 2020. Joinpoint regression models were used to estimate the annual percentage changes (APC), average annual percentage changes (AAPC) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and mortality differences between urban and rural areas. From 1991 to 2020, maternal and child mortalities in China gradually declined (national AAPC [95% CI]: NMRs - 7.7% [- 8.6%, - 6.8%], IMRs - 7.5% [- 8.4%, - 6.6%], U5MRs - 7.5% [- 8.5%, - 6.5%], MMRs - 5.0% [- 5.7%, - 4.4%]). However, the rate of decline nationally in child mortality slowed after 2005, and in maternal mortality after 2013. For all indicators, the decline in mortality was greater in rural areas than in urban areas. The AAPCs in rate differences between rural and urban areas were - 8.5% for NMRs, - 8.6% for IMRs, - 7.7% for U5MRs, and - 9.6% for MMRs. The AAPCs in rate ratios (rural vs. urban) were - 1.2 for NMRs, - 2.1 for IMRs, - 1.7 for U5MRs, and - 1.9 for MMRs. After 2010, urban‒rural disparity in MMR did not diminish and in NMR, IMR, and U5MR, it gradually narrowed but persisted. MCH indicators have declined at the national level as well as separately in urban and rural areas but may have reached a plateau. Urban‒rural disparities in MCH indicators have narrowed but still exist. Regular analyses of temporal trends in MCH are necessary to assess the effectiveness of measures for timely adjustments., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The 29 plant species in the Kadsura genus of the Schisandraceae family are mainly distributed in eastern and southeas-tern Asia. Ten species of plants in this genus are distributed in China, some of which are folk medicinal plants with activating blood circulation, relieving pain, dispelling wind, and dehumidifying effects. Their main constituents are lignans and triterpenes. The current pharmacology and clinical studies have shown that their extracts and constituents have anti-rheumatoid arthritis, liver protection, antioxidation, anti-inflammatory, and other biological activities. The rheumatologic and liver diseases can also be treated with the plants in the clinic. The new chemical constituents reported in the last decade(2012 to date) from the plants of Kadsura genus in China, as well as their pharmacological effects and clinical applications in recent years were reviewed, so as to provide a theoretical basis for further research on the genus.