Novel optical materials are crucial for environmental monitoring. Metal nanoclusters ( metal NCs) , typically consisting of several to tens of metal atoms, have attracted more and more attention for recent years. Due to their ultrasmall size, strong fluorescence, low toxicity, excellent stability and unique core-shell structure, metal NCs have been considered as promising optical materials for the construction of excellent fluorescent sensors. In this review, we mainly focus on the recent progress in their applications in environmental monitoring, including the detection of pH, heavy metal ions, inorganic anions and nitroaromatic explosives.

Objective: To investigate the effects of acupotomy on skeletal muscle fibrosis and collagen deposition in a rabbit knee osteoarthritis (KOA) model. Methods: Rabbits (n = 18) were randomly divided into control, KOA, and KOA + acupotomy (Apo) groups (n = 6). The rabbits in the KOA and Apo groups were modeled using the modified Videman's method for 6 weeks. After modeling, the Apo group was subjected to acupotomy once a week for 3 weeks on the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, biceps femoris, and anserine bursa tendons around the knee. The behavior of all animals was recorded, rectus femoris tissue was obtained, and histomorphological changes were observed using Masson staining and transmission electron microscopy. The expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), Smad 3, Smad 7, fibrillar collagen types I (Col-I) and III (Col-III) was detected using Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: Histological analysis revealed that acupotomy improved the microstructure and reduced the collagen volume fraction of rectus femoris, compared with the KOA group (P = .034). Acupotomy inhibited abnormal collagen deposition by modulating the expression of fibrosis-related proteins and mRNA, thus preventing skeletal muscle fibrosis. Western blot and RT-PCR analysis revealed that in the Apo group, Col-I, and Col-III protein levels were significantly lower than those in the KOA group (both P < .01), same as Col-I and Col-III mRNA levels (P = .0031; P = .0046). Compared with the KOA group, the protein levels of TGF-β1 and Smad 3 were significantly reduced (both P < .01), as were the mRNA levels of TGF-β1 and Smad 3 (P = .0007; P = .0011). Conversely, the levels of protein and mRNA of Smad 7 were significantly higher than that in the KOA group (P < .01; P = .0271). Conclusion Acupotomy could alleviate skeletal muscle fibrosis and delay KOA progress by inhibiting collagen deposition through the TGF-β/Smad pathway in the skeletal muscle of KOA rabbits.

OBJECTIVE To assess the clinical profile,prognosis,and risk factors of extrapulmonary metastasis in adenoid cystic carcinoma patients.METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on 126 patients diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma at Beijing Tongren Hospital between January 2002 and December 2020.Of these patients,21 cases had metastases outside the lungs as their initial site of metastasis,while 105 cases had lungs as the initial site of distant metastasis.In addition,clinical data of patients diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma from the Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results(SEER)database in the United States from 2010 to 2019 were analyzed for prognosis.RESULTS Univariate analysis showed that factors such as N stage,neurological symptoms,pathological subtype,grading,Ki67,neural invasion,and p63 status were associated with extrapulmonary metastasis(χ2=5.385,9.888,20.485,15.579,8.711,5.476,5.280;all P values<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that N stage,pathological grading,and neurological symptoms were correlated with an increased risk of extrapulmonary metastasis.Survival analysis indicated lower cumulative survival and progression-free survival rates in the initial extrapulmonary metastasis group(both P values<0.05).CONCLUSION The initial metastasis site in adenoid cystic carcinoma is associated with multiple factors including N stage,pathological grading,and neurological symptoms.Patients displaying a solid subtype and those accompanied by high-grade transformation are more prone to extrapulmonary metastasis.Patients with extrapulmonary metastasis as their initial diagnosis typically exhibit poorer prognosis.

Objective:To investigate the application in the preparation of supraclavicular island flap by "point line anterograde dissection (PLAD) ".Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 45 flaps of 43 patients treated with supraclavicular artery island flap from the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2013 to June 2019. The patients were all male, aged 35-72 years old. There were 26 cases of hypopharyngeal cancer, 4 cases of recurrent laryngeal cancer, 2 cases of cervical esophageal cancer, 1 case of tonsillar cancer, 1 case of parotid gland cancer, 3 cases of postoperative pharyngeal fistula after hypopharyngeal cancer, 2 cases of esophageal fistula after trauma, 2 cases of esophageal stricture after hypopharyngeal carcinoma operation, 1 case of autoimmune laryngeal stenosis, and 1 case of cheek defect after maxillary sinus cancer operation."Point" was the origin of the supraclavicular artery in the transverse carotid artery. "Line" was an extension line made along the starting point of the supraclavicular vessel for anterograde anatomy of 1-2 cm and the direction of the blood vessel. The extension line was used as the central axis of the designed island flap. Characteristics of flap blood supply, the time of flap preparation, flap survival, donor area recovery and clinical follow-up were recorded.Results:The arterial blood supply of the flap was constant, and the venous reflux was variable. The area of the prepared flap was (4-8) cm×(10-18) cm, and the preparation time was 30-60 min, with a median of 42 min. Skin flap survival rate was 100%. Partial necrosis of skin flap occurred in 1 patient and postoperative pharyngeal fistula occurred in 5 patients, all of whom were cured by dressing change. The donor site defects were closed and sutured directly. 3 patients had partial incision dehiscence and healed after dressing change. During the follow-up, 1 patient was lost, and the remaining 42 patients were followed up for 8 to 55 months.40 patients involved swallowing function, all of them returned to regular diet or soft fluid after operation.40 patients involved malignant tumors and local tumor recurrence in 3 patients among whom, there were 2 cases of lymph node recurrence, and 2 cases of distant metastasis, including 1 case of lung metastasis and 1 case of bone metastasis.Conclusion:PLAD is a simple, safe and efficient method for the preparation of supraclavicular island flap.

Objective:To investigate the mechanism by which Melittin-K1 reverses multidrug resistance of BEL-7402/5-FU cells.Methods:CCK-8 assay was used to evaluate the effect of Melittin-K1 on the growth of BEL-7402/5-FU cells and to explore whether Melittin-K1 could reverse the drug resistance of BEL-7402/5-FU cells. The expression of MDR1 mRNA level was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR assay. The flow cytometry was used to measure the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) on the cell membrane surface and the accumulation of rhodamine-123 in cells.Results:Melittin-K1 significantly inhibited the growth of BEL-7402/5-FU cells in vitro in a time and dose-dependent manner. Melittin-K1 suppressed the level of MDR1 mRNA and inhibited the surface expression and function of P-gp in BEL-7402/5-FU cells. Conclusions:Melittin-K1, a novel peptide, exhibited the activity of reversing multidrug resistance of liver cancer cells.