A diode-end-pumped self-$Q$-switched mid-infrared laser was demonstrated with ${\mathrm{Er}}^{3+}$, ${\mathrm{Pr}}^{3+}$ co-doped ${\mathrm{CaF}}_2$ crystal for, to the best of our knowledge, the first time. Maximum average output power of 262 mW was achieved and the corresponding slope efficiency was 14.9%. Stable self-$Q$-switched laser pulses as short as 718 ns were obtained with a repetition rate of 52.63 kHz at the center wavelength of 2803.7 nm. This highly compact nanosecond laser using a 3 at. % ${\mathrm{Er}}^{3+}$ and 0.03 at. % ${\mathrm{Pr}}^{3+}$ co-doped ${\mathrm{CaF}}_2$ crystal is free from any active or passive modulators in cavity, potentially promising for a micro and integrated diode-pumped mid-infrared laser system.

The biological barriers in vivo have limited the site-specific bioavailability and impeded therapeutic efficacy. To tackle these issues, nonspherical particles with a shape effect have attracted wide attention to affect the in vivo translocation of a drug delivery system. Herein, we constructed a nanoplatform based on polypyrrole (PPy) nanoneedles by hyaluronic acid (HA) modification and doxorubicin (DOX) loading. The PPy-HA@DOX nanoneedles with high aspect ratios could enhance the extravasation through the fenestrated vasculature of tumors, transport across tumor cell membrane via an endocytosis mechanism or even penetrated the membrane directly, and ultimately enter the nucleus easily via the nuclear pore complex by passive diffusion. With the ability of overcoming biological barriers, the PPy nanoneedle based nanoplatform would deliver drugs into the organelles more effectively. Under near infrared (NIR) laser irradiation, PPy as the photothermal agent could lead to tumor cellular structure damage for photothermal therapy (PTT). Therefore, PPy-HA@DOX developed here would exploit the merits of synergistic combination of chemo-photothermal therapy, which would pave the way toward more effective nanotherapeutics.

Objective: In this study, we assessed the awareness of cognitive dysfunction and the reasons for the lack of awareness among surgical practitioners in Jiaxing. Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to surgical practitioners covering all Class III and Class II hospitals in Jiaxing. Respondents were asked to make selections regarding the demographic data, clinical attitudes and practices of cognitive dysfunction based on Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale (ADKS) of the Chinese version. Results: A total of 180 questionnaires were distributed, 12 of which were incomplete, with 168 being included for analysis. The respondents were generally under 50 years of age (150, 89.3%), predominantly males (146, 86.9%), and surgeons (153, 91.1%). They generally had a bachelor’s or master’s degrees (165, 98.2%), and served in Class III hospitals (127, 75.6%). The title of the practitioner was found to impact their attention toward their patients’ cognitive status during preoperative preparation (P< 0.05). Titles and hospital levels were found to influence decisions of surgical practitioners to invite specialist physicians for consultation and assessment when a patient was identified to have cognitive dysfunction (P< 0.05). Most surgical practitioners had little knowledge or training about Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive dysfunction. Among the 168 respondents, the mean ADKS score was 20.14± 2.40, and the awareness rate was 67.1%, indicating that the surgical practitioner’s title influenced ADKS score (P< 0.001). Conclusion: Surgical practitioners, especially young physicians and those in Class II hospitals, had lower awareness of cognitive dysfunction, with low ADKS scores; therefore, they needed to be further trained to recognize cognitive dysfunction.