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Objective To evaluate the clinical application value of the compression and storage algorithm of histopathological images based on matrix computing, and to seek the best image compression ratio. Methods Two classical matrix algorithms, principal component analysis (PCA) and singular value decomposition (SVD), were used to compress and reconstruct the immunohistochemical images and HE staining images of low, medium and high differentiated cervical cancer tissues. The peak signal-to-noise ratio(PSNR) and structural similarity (SSIM) were used to analyze and evaluate the quality of image reconstruction. Results When the compression ratio of PCA reconstruction image was 10.18 (53 principal components were retained), the mean PSNR of immunohistochemical images of low, medium and high differentiated cervical cancer tissues were 43.84±0.43, 43.27±0.25 and 43.71±0.49, respectively, and the SSIM were 0.964±0.004, 0.963±0.006 and 0.965±0.005, respectively. Meanwhile, the mean PSNR of HE staining images of low, medium and high differentiated cervical cancer tissues were 43.41±0.78, 42.95±1.03 and 43.52±0.69, respectively, and the SSIM were 0.953±0.010, 0.949±0.015 and 0.960±0.007, respectively. When the compression ratio of SVD reconstruction image was 10.00(128 singular values were retained), the mean PSNR of immunohistochemical images of low, medium and high differentiated cervical cancer tissues were 39.89±1.69, 38.20±2.19 and 40.90±0.50, respectively, and the SSIM were 0.949±0.006, 0.938±0.011 and 0.955±0.004, respectively. Meanwhile, the mean PSNR of HE staining images of low, medium and high differentiated cervical cancer tissues were 40.31±0.98, 39.46±1.59 and 40.77±1.67, respectively, and the SSIM were 0.965±0.006, 0.943±0.010 and 0.969±0.005, respectively. Conclusions PCA and SVD can compress and store histopathological images and obtain better image quality, which provides a solution to the problem of hospital image storage.

Background: Herpes zoster (HZ) patients often experience herpes zoster-associated pain (ZAP). Thoracic paravertebral nerve block has been proven effective in relieving ZAP and reducing the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Compared to dexamethasone, dexamethasone palmitate (DXP) has stronger anti-inflammatory effects, a longer duration of action, and fewer adverse reactions. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral injection of DXP combined with ropivacaine for treating thoracic ZAP, compared to traditional famciclovir therapy. Methods: This prospective, randomized, controlled, open-label, endpoint-blinded, single-center trial will recruit 254 patients with ZAP. Patients will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the intervention group (thoracic paravertebral injections of DXP combined with ropivacaine and antiviral therapy) or the control group (antiviral therapy). Assessments will include pain intensity, quality of life, sleep quality, inflammatory markers, and adverse events. Ethics and registration: This study strictly adheres to the 2013 SPIRIT Statement and the Declaration of Helsinki and has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University (Approval Number: 2024-KY(0505)). This clinical trial is registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry platform (ChiCTR) at https://www.chictr.org.cn/index.html (ChiCTR2400087273), registered on 2024-07-24. The results will be disseminated through scientific journals and conferences, aiming to provide evidence supporting the global management of ZAP. The study is expected to start on 1 August 2024, and continue until 31 July 2027. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Conventional management approaches have been challenged in dealing with zoster-related trigeminal neuralgia. Percutaneous trigeminal ganglion stimulation (TGS) has been rarely reported as a potential treatment option for alleviating pain associated with this condition. The present study investigated the application of percutaneous TGS in a series of patients suffering from Zoster-related trigeminal neuralgia to evaluate its potential efficacy of pain relief. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients who underwent TGS at the Department of Pain Management, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University. All patients were followed for up to 6 months. Clinical data, including the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and medication consumption were recorded before and after treatment. Adverse events related to the treatment were also documented. Results: A total of nine patients underwent percutaneous TGS for Zoster-related trigeminal neuralgia. Among these patients, five (56%) experienced more than 50% pain relief at discharge. At the six-month follow-up, the mean VAS score decreased from preoperative 6.1 ± 1.5 to 2.5 ± 1.9, demonstrating a statistically significant reduction (t = 4.36, p < 0.05). The PSQI also showed a significant reduction from a baseline score of 14.1 to 6.5 at the six-month follow-up (Z = 4.2, p < 0.05). Seven patients reported satisfaction with the treatment and no serious adverse events occurred. Discussion: The results of the present study suggest that this contributes growing evidence that percutaneous TGS may be an effective treatment for Zoster - related trigeminal neuralgia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid performance degradation in alkaline hydrogen evolution catalysts, attributed to low intrinsic activity and bubble‐shielding effects under high current densities, poses a significant obstacle to achieving industrial hydrogen production. In response, a novel phosphorus‐doped activated carbon‐loaded ruthenium cobalt fluoride‐based heterostructured catalyst (Ru‐CoF2@PAC) is developed. Acting as an "electron trader", this catalyst leverages the exceptional electron‐donating capability of fluoride anions bound to cobalt, effectively bringing the d‐band center of the Ru site close to the Fermi level. This optimizes the adsorption energy of the H intermediate (Ru‐H) in the Vomer step, subsequently facilitating rapid H conversion (H→H*). Moreover, the incorporated fluorine enhances catalyst hydrophilicity, significantly improving bubble diffusion kinetics at the catalyst surface and catalytic stability when operated under high current density. Remarkably, the Ru‐CoF2@PAC catalyst loaded with 1.1 wt.% Ru requires only 27 mV to achieve the 10 mA cm−2 current density needed to split water under alkaline conditions. Furthermore, the catalyst exhibits exceptional stability during at least 140 h of operation at 1200 mA cm−2 with negligible degradation. This study provides valuable insights for guiding the development of durable catalysts suitable for large‐scale industrial hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To observe the effect of ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in the treatment of herpes zoster neuralgia (HZN). Eighty patients with HZN were randomly divided into observation group and control group, with 40 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with ultrasound-guided PRP injection of target nerves combined with drugs. The control group was treated with drugs alone. The pain scores of before treatment (T0), and 1 week (T1), 1 month (T2), 3 months (T3) and 6 months (T4) after treatment were recorded with Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). The sleep quality of patients was assessed with the Athens Insomnia Scale, and the dosage used at each time point, skin lesions, adverse reactions, and the occurrence of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) were recorded. The NRS score of the two groups after treatment showed a downward trend. Compared with T0 at each time point, the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). And the NRS score of the observation group was lower than control group (p < 0.05). The sleep quality of the observation group was better. The dosage of the observation group was less, and the time of herpes dry-up, scab crusting and shedding in the observation group was significantly shorter (p < 0.05). The incidence of dizziness, lethargy, ataxia and PHN in the observation group was significantly reduced (p < 0.05). Compared with traditional drug treatment alone, the ultrasound-guided PRP injection has the advantages of better analgesia and fewer side effects, which provides a new idea for the treatment of HZN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to Pt/C, the atomic ordered Pt-based intermetallic compounds can deliver higher efficiency and reliable stability, and they are considered one of the ideal cathode catalysts for the next generation of fuel cells. This work proposed a simple ferrocene atmosphere annealing method to improve commercial Pt/C and convert Pt to L1 0 -PtFe. After further acid etching treatment, the obtained carbon-supported Pt-skin L1 0 -PtFe (Pt-skin L1 0 -PtFe/C) with superfine particle size (∼3.3 nm) not only was highly dispersed on the carbon but possesses a thin Pt skin, like the armor of L1 0 -PtFe. As excepted, the ORR activity of Pt-skin L1 0 -PtFe/C (0.375 A mg -1 ; 0.921 mA cm -2 ) is far better than that of commercial Pt/C (0.121 A mg -1 ; 0.260 mA cm -2 ), and its stability is also greatly improved. Our proposed gas-solid reaction is straightforward and has great potential in producing Pt-based intermetallic catalysts on a large scale.

Objectives: There are a variety of minimally invasive interventional treatments for trigeminal neuralgia, and the efficacy evaluation is different. The preferred treatment scheme is still controversial. This study aims to investigate the differences in treatment effects between patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia (PTN) treated with percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) for the first intervention and patients with pain recurrence after radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RT) who then received PBC for PTN, and to offer clinicians and patients more scientifically grounded and precise treatment alternatives., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 103 patients with PTN admitted to the Department of Pain Management of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from January 2020 to December 2021, including 49 patients who received PBC for the first time (PBC group) and 54 patients who received PBC for pain recurrence after RT (RT+PBC group). General information, preoperative pain score, intraoperative oval foramen morphology, oval foramen area, balloon volume, duration of compression, and postoperative pain scores and pain recurrence at each time point on day 1 (T1), day 7 (T2), day 14 (T3), 1 month (T4), 3 months (T5), and 1 year (T6) were collected and recorded for both groups. The differences in treatment effect, complications and recurrence between the 2 groups were compared, and the related influencing factors were analyzed., Results: The differences of general information, preoperative pain scores, foramen ovale morphology, foramen ovale area, T1 to T3 pain scores between the 2 groups were not statistically different (all P >0.05). The balloon filling volume in the PBC group was smaller than that in the RT+PBC group, the pain scores at T4 to T6 and pain recurrence were better than those in the RT+PBC group (all P <0.05). Pain recurrence was positively correlated with pain scores of T2 to T6 ( r =0.306, 0.482, 0.831, 0.876, 0.887, respectively; all P <0.01)., Conclusions: The choice of PBC for the first intervention in PTN patients is superior to the choice of PBC after pain recurrence after RT treatment in terms of treatment outcome and pain recurrence.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of short-term spinal cord electrical stimulation (stSCS) on postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and its effect on sleep quality in patients in Guangxi, China., Material and Methods: 160 patients with acute PHN patients were divided into a control group and an experimental group according to the random number table method, 80 cases each. The experimental group was implanted with percutaneous epidural electrodes and given short-term spinal cord electrical stimulation treatment, while the control group was treated with nerve block therapy to compare the efficacy and sleep quality of the two groups of patients in different periods. Pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to evaluate the analgesic effect and sleep quality, respectively., Results: The patients in the experimental group had significantly lower visual analog scale (VAS) scores and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores at 1, 2, 3 d, 1 week, and 1 and 3 months after treatment than those in the control group [after treatment 3 months: (0.86±0.31) points to (2.97±0.55) points, (5.4±1.16) score to (7.46±1.27) score], the difference was statistically significant (both P<0.05), and VAS and PSQI scores of the two groups showed a significant downward trend with the increase of treatment time., Conclusion: The clinical effect of short-term spinal cord electrical stimulation on PHN is good, and it can play a rapid and effective relief effect on pain in patients. At the same time, it will effectively improve patient's sleep quality, with high safety.