Bifunctional immunoaffinity magnetic nanoparticles for high-efficiency separation of exosomes based on host-guest interaction

The investigation of exosomes holds substantial importance in the field of disease diagnosis and prognosis, where in the rapid and low-loss isolation of exosomes emerges as a crucial step owing to their exceedingly low concentration in bodily fluids. Herein, bifunctional immunoaffinity magnetic nanoparticles (BI-NPs) were successfully constructed by binding Ti4+ and antibody to magnetic nanoparticles through host-guest interaction. Exosomes in the cell culture supernatant could be effectively captured by the BI-NPs and then gently eluted with α-CD and 10% ammonia solution. Following the elution process, the content of captured exosome protein was determined to be up to 97 μg/mL. A total of 2822 protein groups were identified in the exosomes isolated by BI-NPs, 1060 protein groups were derived from exosomes. At the same time, the mass of exosome protein obtained by BI-NPs was more than 2 times that of UC isolation, and the above results indicated that BI-NPs had high purity enrichment performance. This is attributed to the fact that BI-NPs combine the dual affinity of Ti4+ and antibody to achieve efficient enrichment of exosomes, in addition to the mild elution property of BI-NPs due to the presence of the host-guest system. BI-NPs offer a novel approach for the isolation of exosomes, in order to further promote the application of exosomes in the required fields.

Repair of a "long and narrow" skin defect of the upper extremity with a modified design of a compound SCIP flap: a series of 12 cases

BACKGROUND

Large skin lesions of the upper extremity tend to be ''long and narrow'' in shape, and the currently used repair and reconstruction protocols still have some drawbacks, including difficulty in closure of the donor area, poor cosmetic appearance of the donor and recipient areas, and low flap survival rates. The ilioinguinal flap has been more widely used for repair and reconstruction of various complex conditions. In order to improve the versatility of the flap design and to achieve better aesthetic results, we report a study on the improved design of Compound SCIP flap for repairing "long and narrow" large skin defects of the upper extremity by using a modified design of the ilioinguinal flap for the procurement of perforating blood vessels and flap excision.

METHODS

From April 2005 to August 2015, a total of 12 patients underwent this modified design procedure, in which the anterior branch of the fourth lumbar artery or the posterior intercostal artery was selected to provide blood supply for the perforator flap together with the superficial branch of the superficial iliac artery to meet the blood supply needs of the flap for the one-time repair of a large "long and narrow" skin defect in the upper limb. Patient demographics, flap characteristics, and associated complications were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

3 females and 9 males were included in this study, the mean age of the patients was 31.7 years (range, 22-44 years), the mean follow-up period was 15.3 ± 5.6 months (range, 7-24 months), and all patients had complete closure of the defect site and donor area, and all flaps survived.

CONCLUSIONS

The Compound SCIP flap presents some advantages in repairing 'long and narrow' skin defects in the upper limb. While ensuring the survival rate of the elongated ilioinguinal flap, it amplifies the benefits of the ilioinguinal flap and enhances skin utilization. This can serve as a beneficial choice for repairing 'long and narrow' skin defects in the upper limb.

[Diagnosis and treatment of 68 cases of traumatic facial nerve paralysis]

Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics and therapeutic effect of traumatic facial nerve palsy. Methods:Sixty-eight cases of traumatic facial nerve palsy were retrospectively analyzed from January 2015 to May 2023. Results:The median course of disease was 33 days. The facial nerve function of the patients was grade HB-Ⅱin 2 cases, grade HB-Ⅲ in 4 cases, grade HB-Ⅳin 16 cases, grade HB-Ⅴ in 37 cases（38 ears）, and grade HB-Ⅵ in 9 cases. 42 cases occurred immediately after injury and 26 cases were delayed. CT examination of temporal bone revealed longitudinal fractures in 51 cases（52 ears） , transverse fractures in 6 cases and mixed fractures in 4 cases. No definite temporal bone fracture was found in the remaining 7 cases. The segments of facial nerve injury in 49 cases（50 ears） were geniculate ganglion and adjacent, in 7 cases were vertical segment, in 7 cases were horizontal segment, in 2 cases were horizontal segment and vertical segment; and the other 3 cases could not be evaluated. Conservative treatment with glucocorticoids was used in 23 ears and surgery was used in 46 ears. Patients were followed up 6-24 months after treatment, including 20 cases of grade HB-Ⅰ, 19 cases of grade HB-Ⅱ, 23 cases（24 ears） of grade HB-Ⅲ, 4 cases of grade HB-Ⅳ, and 1 case of grade HB-Ⅴ.One patient was lost to follow-up. After treatment, the facial nerve function of patients was significantly improved（P<0.05）, and there were significant differences between conservative treatment group and surgical treatment group in the course of facial nerve palsy, the ratio of facial palsy immediately after injury, the nerve function before treatment and the nerve function after treatment（P<0.05）. There were no significant differences in age, sex, hearing condition, temporal bone fracture, facial nerve injury segment and rate of favorable neurologic outcomes（P>0.05）. The comparison of patients with neurodegeneration rate>90% and ≤90% showed that the facial nerve function of patients with neurodegeneration rate>90% before treatment was significantly worse（P<0.05）, but there was no significant difference between the facial nerve function after treatment（P>0.05）. There was no significant difference in facial nerve function between middle fossa approach group and mastoid approach group（P>0.05）. Conclusion:Patients with traumatic facial nerve palsy should be evaluated individually. Patients with mild facial nerve palsy, low neurodegeneration rate and short course of disease can be treated conservatively and followed up closely. Patients with severe facial nerve palsy, high neurodegeneration rate and more than 6 weeks of disease can be actively considered surgery. Good prognosis can be obtained by correct evaluation and treatment.

Exploring vehicle-centric strategies for sustainable urban mobility: A theoretical framework for saving energy and reducing noise in transportation

Adopting energy-saving and noise-reducing technologies in vehicle transportation has the potential to mitigate urban traffic pollution and promote sustainable urban mobility. However, a universal analytical framework for obtaining the combined energy savings and noise reduction patterns in vehicles is still lacking. This study addresses this gap by integrating a fundamental traffic noise model with a vehicle energy conservation equation. A theoretical framework was constructed that establishes the relationship between vehicle noise and energy consumption, with the theoretical origins of this framework explained. By summarizing a substantial body of classical literature, the typical model's properties are analyzed through the principle of optimality, and the noise interval for combined vehicle energy-saving and noise-reducing is determined. Subsequently, a rigorous vehicle experiment was conducted to validate the proposed framework's effectiveness, utilizing synchronized data on energy consumption and noise. The findings indicate that vehicles can achieve unconstrained combined energy-saving and noise-reducing in four driving states and conditional combined energy-saving and noise-reducing in five driving states. The Recall index demonstrates a verification rate exceeding 0.62 for the combined energy-saving and noise-reducing rules. This research provides valuable insights to support energy-saving and noise-reducing measures in urban traffic.

Organ Donation and Transplantation Registries Across the Globe: A Review of the Current State

BACKGROUND

The current landscape of organ donation and transplantation (ODT) registries is not well established. This narrative review sought to identify and characterize the coverage, structure, and data capture of ODT registries globally.

METHODS

We conducted a literature search using Ovid Medline and web searches to identify ODT registries from 2000 to 2023. A list of ODT registries was compiled based on publications of registry design, studies, and reports. Extracted data elements included operational features of registries and the types of donor and recipient data captured.

RESULTS

We identified 129 registries encompassing patients from all continents except Antarctica. Most registries were active, received funding from government or professional societies, were national in scope, included both adult and pediatric patients, and reported patient-level data. Registries included kidney (n = 99), pancreas (n = 32), liver (n = 44), heart (n = 35), lung (n = 30), intestine (n = 15), and islet cell (n = 5) transplants. Most registries captured donor data (including living versus deceased) and recipient features (including demographics, cause of organ failure, and posttransplant outcomes) but there was underreporting of other domains (eg, donor comorbidities, deceased donor referral rates, waitlist statistics).

CONCLUSIONS

This review highlights existing ODT registries globally and serves as a call for increased visibility and transparency in data management and reporting practices. We propose that standards for ODT registries, a common data model, and technical platforms for collaboration, will enable a high-functioning global ODT system responsive to the needs of transplant candidates, recipients, and donors.

Analysis of factors influencing fall risk among elderly people in rural of China

Falls can cause serious health problems in the elderly. China is gradually entering a moderately aging society. In rural areas of China, the elderly are at a higher risk of falling. This study aims to explore and analyze the factors affecting the fall risk of elderly people in rural areas of China, and provide theoretical basis for reducing the fall risk of elderly people. M County, Anhui Province, China was selected as the survey site by the typical field sampling method, and the elderly people in rural areas were selected as the research objects. A total of 1187 people were investigated. Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test were used for univariate analysis, and multiple linear regression was used for multivariate analysis. Chronic diseases, multimorbidity, daily living ability, mental health, working status and family doctors are the factors that influence falls among elderly people in rural areas of China (P < 0.05, Adjusted R2 = 0.395). The falls risk of the elderly in rural areas of China is influenced by multiple factors. Therefore, comprehensive measures should be taken to reduce the fall risk by comprehensively evaluating the influencing factors.

Gene replacement therapy in Bietti crystalline corneoretinal dystrophy: an open-label, single-arm, exploratory trial

Bietti crystalline corneoretinal dystrophy is an inherited retinal disease caused by mutations in CYP4V2, which results in blindness in the working-age population, and there is currently no available treatment. Here, we report the results of the first-in-human clinical trial (NCT04722107) of gene therapy for Bietti crystalline corneoretinal dystrophy, including 12 participants who were followed up for 180-365 days. This open-label, single-arm exploratory trial aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of a recombinant adeno-associated-virus-serotype-2/8 vector encoding the human CYP4V2 protein (rAAV2/8-hCYP4V2). Participants received a single unilateral subretinal injection of 7.5 × 1010 vector genomes of rAAV2/8-hCYP4V2. Overall, 73 treatment-emergent adverse events were reported, with the majority (98.6%) being of mild or moderate intensity and considered to be procedure- or corticosteroid-related; no treatment-related serious adverse events or local/systemic immune toxicities were observed. Compared with that measured at baseline, 77.8% of the treated eyes showed improvement in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) on day 180, with a mean ± standard deviation increase of 9.0 ± 10.8 letters in the 9 eyes analyzed (p = 0.021). By day 365, 80% of the treated eyes showed an increase in BCVA, with a mean increase of 11.0 ± 10.6 letters in the 5 eyes assessed (p = 0.125). Importantly, the patients' improvement observed using multifocal electroretinogram, microperimetry, and Visual Function Questionnaire-25 further supported the beneficial effects of the treatment. We conclude that the favorable safety profile and visual improvements identified in this trial encourage the continued development of rAAV2/8-hCYP4V2 (named ZVS101e).

Advances in the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. extract Nuciferine

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGIC RELEVANCE

The leaves of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. are recorded in the earliest written documentation of traditional Chinese medicinal as "Ben Cao Gang Mu", a medicinal herb for blood clotting, dysentery and dizziness. Nuciferine, one of N. nucifera Gaertn. leaf extracts, has been shown to possess several pharmacological properties, including but not limited to ameliorating hyperlipidemia, stimulating insulin secretion, inducing vasodilation, reducing blood pressure, and demonstrating anti-arrhythmic properties.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In light of the latest research findings on nuciferine, this article provides a comprehensive overview of its chemical properties, pharmacological activities, and the underlying regulatory mechanisms. It aims to serve as a dependable reference for further investigations into the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of nuciferine.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Use Google Scholar, Scifinder, PubMed, Springer, Elsevier, Wiley, Web of Science and other online database search to collect the literature on extraction, separation, structural analysis and pharmacological activity of nuciferine published before November 2023. The key words are "extraction", "isolation", "purification" and "pharmacological action" and "nuciferine".

RESULTS

Nuciferine has been widely used in the treatment of ameliorating hyperlipidemia and lose weight, Nuciferine is a monomeric aporphine alkaloid extracted from the leaves of the plant Nymphaea caerulea and Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. Nuciferine has pharmacological activities such as relaxing smooth muscles, improving hyperlipidemia, stimulating insulin secretion, vasodilation, inducing hypotension, antiarrhythmic effects, and antimicrobial and anti-HIV activities. These pharmacological properties lay a foundation for the treatment of tumors, inflammation, hyperglycemia, lipid-lowering and weight-loss , oxidative stress and other diseases with nuciferine.

CONCLUSION

Nuciferine has been clinically used to treat hyperlipidemia and aid in weight loss due to its effects on lipid levels, insulin secretion, vasodilation, blood pressure reduction, anti-tumor properties, and immune enhancement. However, other potential benefits of nuciferine have not yet been fully explored in clinical practice. Future research should delve deeper into its molecular structure, toxicity, side effects, and clinical pharmacology to uncover its full range of effects and pave the way for its safe and expanded clinical use.

Improvement of roughness in ultrasonic assisted magnetorheological finishing of small titanium alloy nuts by orthogonal test method

Titanium alloy with high corrosion resistance, high strength-to-density ratio, and excellent biocompatibility has a wide range of applications in the field of biomedical implants. Polishing experiments of titanium alloy with a small size and complex shapes were investigated using an ultrasonic assisted magnetorheological finishing (UMRF) device excited by a three-pole magnetic field generator. The models of the normal force and the shear force were first proposed based on the Preston equation to analyze the mechanism of material removal in the UMRF process. Subsequently, the single-factor experiments using titanium alloy nuts (M3) and the MR polishing fluid with silicon carbide abrasives were carried out. Furthermore, to improve the surface roughness and the change rate of surface roughness of nuts, orthogonal tests with a standard L9(34) orthogonal array were designed and performed based on the optimized process parameters obtained from the single-factor experiment. The results indicated the effect on surface roughness and change rate of surface roughness as applied current > roller speed > ultrasonic amplitude > spindle speed and applied current > roller speed > spindle speed > ultrasonic amplitude, respectively. Moreover, the surface roughness was improved from an initial 1.247 μm to a final 0.104 μm after the polishing for 80 min under these optimal process parameters.

Two New Phenylpropanoid Compounds from Lilium Brownii and Their Anti-monoamine Oxidase Activity

Baihe is a commonly used Chinese medicine for the treatment of neurological disorders. Clinically, the bulbs of Lilium brownii are used to act as Baihe. In the study, two new phenylpropanoid compounds including 3-O-acetyl-1-O-caffeoylglycerol (1) and 3-O-acetyl-1-O-p-coumaroylglycerol (2) were isolated from the bulbs of L. brownii. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic method and the effect on monoamine oxidase activity was determined using an enzyme labeling method. The results show 1 and 2 have anti-monoamine oxidase activity with 20.96% and 22.31% inhibition rates at 50 μg/ml, respectively.

In vitro anti-Helicobacter pylori activity and antivirulence activity of cetylpyridinium chloride

The primary treatment method for eradicating Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection involves the use of antibiotic-based therapies. Due to the growing antibiotic resistance of H. pylori, there has been a surge of interest in exploring alternative therapies. Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) is a water-soluble and nonvolatile quaternary ammonium compound with exceptional broad-spectrum antibacterial properties. To date, there is no documented or described specific antibacterial action of CPC against H. pylori. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the in vitro activity of CPC against H. pylori and its potential antibacterial mechanism. CPC exhibited significant in vitro activity against H. pylori, with MICs ranging from 0.16 to 0.62 μg/mL and MBCs ranging from 0.31 to 1.24 μg/mL. CPC could result in morphological and physiological modifications in H. pylori, leading to the suppression of virulence and adherence genes expression, including flaA, flaB, babB, alpA, alpB, ureE, and ureF, and inhibition of urease activity. CPC has demonstrated in vitro activity against H. pylori by inhibiting its growth, inducing damage to the bacterial structure, reducing virulence and adherence factors expression, and inhibiting urease activity.

Impact of changes in collagen construction and molecular state on integrin - binding properties

The interaction between the integrin and collagen is important in cell adhesion and signaling. Collagen, as the main component of extracellular matrix, is a base material for tissue engineering constructs. In tissue engineering, the collagen structure and molecule state may be altered to varying degrees in the process of processing and utilizing, thereby affecting its biological properties. In this work, the impact of changes in collagen structure and molecular state on the binding properties of collagen to integrin α2β1 and integrin specific cell adhesion were explored. The results showed that the molecular structure of collagen is destroyed under the influence of heating, freeze-grinding and irradiation, the triple helix integrity is reduced and molecular breaking degree is increased. The binding ability of collagen to integrin α2β1 is increased with the increase of triple helix integrity and decays exponentially with the increase of molecular breaking degree. The collagen molecular state can also influences the binding ability of collagen to cellular receptor. The collagen fibrils binding to integrin α2β1 and HT1080 cells is stronger than to collagen monomolecule. Meanwhile, the hybrid fibril exhibits a different cellular receptor binding performance from corresponding single species collagen fibril. These findings provide ideas for the design and development of new collagen-based biomaterials and tissue engineering research.

Effect of Celastrus Orbiculatus Extract on proliferation and apoptosis of human Burkitt lymphoma cells

The lymphoma incidence rate is on the rise, with invasive forms particularly prone to relapse following conventional treatment, posing a significant threat to human life and wellbeing. Numerous studies have shown that traditional Chinese botanical drug medicine offers promising therapeutic benefits for various malignancies, with previous experimental findings indicating that Celastrus orbiculatus extract effectively combats digestive tract tumors. However, its impact on lymphoma remains unexplored. This study aims to investigate the impact and underlying mechanisms of COE on the proliferation and apoptosis of Burkitt lymphoma cells. We diluted COE in RPMI-1640 medium to create various working concentrations and introduced it to human Burkitt lymphoma Raji and Ramos cells. To evaluate cell viability, we used the CCK-8 assay, and we observed morphological changes using HE staining. We also conducted Annexin V-PI and JC-1 staining experiments to assess apoptosis. By combining the cell cycle experiment with the EDU assay, we gained insights into the effects of COE on DNA replication in lymphoma cells. Using Western blotting, we detected alterations in apoptosis-related proteins. In vivo experiments revealed that following COE intervention, tumor volume decreased, survival time was prolonged, spleen size reduced, and the expression of tumor apoptosis-related proteins changed. Our findings indicate that COE effectively inhibits lymphoma cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis by regulating these apoptosis-related proteins.

In-hospital complications and readmission patterns in 13,937 patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip undergoing total hip arthroplasty: Evidence from the Chinese national database

PURPOSE

Clarifying the prognosis and readmission patterns of patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) following total hip arthroplasty (THA) would provide important references for clinical management for this population. Using the Chinese national inpatient database (i.e., Hospital Quality Monitoring System [HQMS]), we aimed to compare in-hospital complications and readmission patterns following THA in patients with DDH and primary osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS

Patients undergoing THA for DDH and OA between 2013 and 2019 were identified using the HQMS. Demographics and clinical characteristics were compared between the two groups. After propensity score matching, in-hospital complications and readmission patterns were compared using a logistic regression model.

RESULTS

According to the analysis of 13,937 propensity-score matched pairs, there were no significant differences in the incidence of in-hospital death (0.01 % vs 0.04 %, P = 0.142), transfusion (8.09 % vs 7.89 %, P = 0.536), wound infection (0.31 % vs 0.25 %, P = 0.364), deep venous thrombosis (0.45 % vs 0.43 %, P = 0.786), pulmonary embolism (0.03 % vs 0.05 %, P = 0.372) or all-cause readmission (2.87 % vs 3.12 %, P = 0.219) between two groups. However, DDH patients had higher surgical readmission rates than OA patients (1.43 % vs 1.14 %, P = 0.033). When analyzing causes of surgical readmission, DDH patients had increased risk of dislocation (0.37 % vs 0.21 %, P = 0.011) and aseptic loosening (0.17 % vs 0.07 %, P = 0.024) than OA patients.

CONCLUSION

DDH patients had an increased risk of surgical readmission following THA, mainly driven by dislocation and aseptic loosening, which should be recognized and appropriately prevented.

Seco-cyclic phorbol derivatives and their anti-HIV-1 activities

Phorbol esters are recognized for their dual role as anti-HIV-1 agents and as activators of protein kinase C (PKC). The efficacy of phorbol esters in binding with PKC is attributed to the presence of oxygen groups at positions C20, C3/C4, and C9 of phorbol. Concurrently, the lipids located at positions C12/C13 are essential for both the anti-HIV-1 activity and the formation of the PKC-ligand complex. The influence of the cyclopropane ring at positions C13 and C14 in phorbol derivatives on their anti-HIV-1 activity requires further exploration. This research entailed the hydrolysis of phorbol, producing seco-cyclic phorbol derivatives. The anti-HIV-1 efficacy of these derivatives was assessed, and the affinity constant (Kd) for PKC-δ protein of selected seco-cyclic phorbol derivatives was determined through isothermal titration calorimetry. The findings suggest that the chemical modification of cyclopropanols could affect both the anti-HIV-1 activity and the PKC binding affinity. Remarkably, compound S11, with an EC50 of 0.27 μmol·L-1 and a CC50 of 153.92 μmol·L-1, demonstrated a potent inhibitory effect on the intermediate products of HIV-1 reverse transcription (ssDNA and 2LTR), likely acting at the viral entry stage, yet showed no affinity for the PKC-δ protein. These results position compound S11 as a potential candidate for further preclinical investigation and for studies aimed at elucidating the pharmacological mechanism underlying its anti-HIV-1 activity.

Pediatric Ménière's disease with disassociated cochlear and vestibular symptoms: a case report

Background

Typical Ménière's disease (MD) rarely occurs in childhood. Compared to adults, age-associated changes in vestibular function can occur during infancy and childhood. Previous case reports may have lacked some audiovestibular tests in children. It is worthwhile to follow a child with MD to observe how vertigo and hearing loss could progress under an insufficient vestibular system.

Case Description

A 14-year-old pediatric patient with disassociated episodes between vertigo and hearing loss was finally diagnosed with MD. He was diagnosed with probable MD due to lack of objective evidence of hearing loss in his first two admissions. However, in his third admission, he had hearing loss even without attack of vertigo and was finally diagnosed. By listing the patient's audiovestibular auxiliary tests in a chronological order, we might follow the progress of pediatric MD. Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (Gd-MRI) might be sensitive to reflect endolymphatic hydrops (EH). Medications including corticosteroids might be effective for both hearing loss and vertigo.

Conclusions

In pediatric MD, vestibular and cochlear symptoms may occur and progress independently. Audiovestibular evaluation, especially caloric tests and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP), can be useful for pediatric MD. Gd-MRI can be sensitive for detecting EH. Both systemic and postauricular administration of corticosteroids might be effective in alleviating vertigo and improving hearing. Prolongation of the follow-up period of pediatric MD is warranted.

Enhancing Stability and Performance in Tin-Based Perovskite Field-Effect Transistors Through Hydrogen Bond Suppression of Organic Cation Migration

Ion migration poses a substantial challenge in perovskite transistors, exerting detrimental effects on hysteresis and operational stability. This study focuses on elucidating the influence of ion migration on the performance of tin-based perovskite field-effect transistors (FETs). It is revealed that the high background carrier density in FASnI3 FETs arises not only from the oxidation of Sn2+ but also from the migration of FA+ ions. The formation of hydrogen bonding between FA+ and F- ions efficiently inhibits ion migration, leading to a reduction in background carrier density and an improvement in the operational stability of the transistors. The strategy of hydrogen bond is extended to fluorine-substituted additives to improve device performance. The incorporation of 4-fluorophenethylammonium iodide additives into FETs significantly minimizes the shift of turn-on voltage during cyclic measurements. Notably, an effective mobility of up to 30 cm2 V-1 s-1 with an Ion/off ratio of 107 is achieved. These findings hold promising potential for advancing tin-based perovskite technology in the field of electronics.

Hysteresis-Free and Bias-Stable Organic Transistors Fabricated by Dip-Coating with a Vertical-Phase-Separation Structure

The morphology of organic films plays a pivotal role in determining the performance of transistor devices. While the dip-coating technique is capable of producing highly oriented organic films, it often encounters challenges such as limited coverage and the presence of defects in gaps between strips, adversely affecting device performance. In this study, we address these challenges by increasing solution viscosity through the incorporation of a substantial proportion of dielectric polymers, thereby enhancing the participation of additional molecules during the film formation process when pulled up. This method produces continuous and oriented organic films with a notable absence of gaps, significantly improving the carrier mobility of transistor devices by more than twofold. Importantly, the fabricated devices exhibit remarkable reliability, showing no hysteresis even after 200 cycles of measurement. Furthermore, the current and threshold voltages of the devices demonstrate exceptional stability, maintaining steady after 10,000 s of bias measurement. This approach provides a solution for the cost-effective and large-scale production of organic transistors, contributing significantly to the advancement of organic electronics.

Mussel-inspired PDA@PEDOT nanocomposite hydrogel with excellent mechanical strength, self-adhesive, and self-healing properties for a flexible strain sensor

Conductive hydrogel sensors have attracted attention for use in human motion monitoring detection, but integrating excellent biocompatibility, mechanical, self-adhesive, and self-healing properties, and high sensitivity into a hydrogel remains a challenge. In this work, a novel multifunctional conductive particle was designed and added to a polyacrylamide (PAM) matrix to prepare the hydrogel. It is worth noting that with the addition of polydopamine@poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PDA@PEDOT), the PAM/PDA@PEDOT hydrogel (PAPP hydrogel) showed excellent mechanical properties and high adhesion strength on different substrate surfaces. Meanwhile, the PAPP hydrogel shows outstanding self-healing properties, the mechanical properties of PAPP hydrogel broken from the middle recovered 92% tensile strength and 95% elongation at break after 12 h, respectively. Furthermore, assembled as strain wireless sensors, the PAPP sensor displays high sensitivity, where the gauge factor (GF) is 2.82, which can be used to accurately detect human facial micro-expressions and movements. Overall, the PAPP hydrogel with excellent mechanical, self-adhesive, and self-healing properties, and high sensitivity, demonstrated promise for use in wearable devices and bionic skins.

Research progress on incomplete partition type 3 inner ear malformation

PURPOSE

This review aims to provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research progress on IP-III inner ear malformation, focusing on its geneticbasis, imaging features, cochlear implantation, and outcome.

METHODS

Review the literature on clinical and genetic mechanisms associated with IP-III.

RESULTS

Mutations in the POU3F4 gene emerge as the principal pathogenic contributors to IP-III anomalies, primarily manifesting through inner ear potential irregularities leading to deafness. While cochlear implantation stands as the primary intervention for restoring hearing, the unique nature of the inner ear anomaly escalates the complexity of surgical procedures and postoperative results. Hence, meticulous preoperative assessment to ascertain surgical feasibility and postoperative verification of electrode placement are imperative. Additionally, gene therapy holds promise as a prospective treatment modality.

CONCLUSIONS

IP-III denotes X-linked recessive hereditary deafness, with cochlear implantation currently serving as the predominant therapeutic approach. Clinicians are tasked with preoperative assement and individualized postoperative rehabilitation.

Metabolic response of bacterial community to sodium hypochlorite and ammonia nitrogen affected the antibiotic resistance genes in pipelines biofilm

The biofilm is important for the antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) propagation in drinking water pipelines. This study investigated the influence of chlorine disinfection and ammonia nitrogen on the ARGs in pipelines biofilm using metagenomic and metabolomics analysis. Chlorine disinfection reduced the relative abundance of unclassified_c_Actinobacteria, Acidimicrobium, and Candidatus_Pelagibacter to 394-430 TPM, 114-123 TPM, and 49-54 TPM, respectively. Correspondingly, the ARGs Saur_rpoC_DAP, macB, and mfd was reduced to 8-12 TPM, 81-92 TPM and 30-35 TPM, respectively. The results of metabolomics suggested that chlorine disinfection suppressed the pathways of ABC transporters, fatty acid biosynthesis, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, and biosynthesis of amino acids. These pathways were related to the cell membrane integrality and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) secretion. Chlorine disinfection induced the decrease of EPS-related genes, resulting in the lower relative abundance of bacterial community and their antibiotic resistance. However, added approximately 0.5 mg/L NH3-N induced up-regulation of these metabolic pathways. In addition, NH3-N addition increased the relative abundance of enzymes related to inorganic and organic nitrogen metabolic pathway significantly, such as ammonia monooxygenase, glutamine synthetase, and glutamate synthase. Due to the EPS protection and nitrogen metabolism, the relative abundance of the main bacterial genera and the related ARGs increased to the level equal to that in pipelines biofilm with no disinfection. Therefore, NH3-N reduced the ARGs removal efficiency of chlorine disinfection. It is necessary to take measures to improve the removal rate of NH3-N and ARGs for preventing their risks in drinking water.

FUS unveiled in mitochondrial DNA repair and targeted ligase-1 expression rescues repair-defects in FUS-linked motor neuron disease

This study establishes the physiological role of Fused in Sarcoma (FUS) in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) repair and highlights its implications to the pathogenesis of FUS-associated neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Endogenous FUS interacts with and recruits mtDNA Ligase IIIα (mtLig3) to DNA damage sites within mitochondria, a relationship essential for maintaining mtDNA repair and integrity in healthy cells. Using ALS patient-derived FUS mutant cell lines, a transgenic mouse model, and human autopsy samples, we discovered that compromised FUS functionality hinders mtLig3's repair role, resulting in increased mtDNA damage and mutations. These alterations cause various manifestations of mitochondrial dysfunction, particularly under stress conditions relevant to disease pathology. Importantly, rectifying FUS mutations in patient-derived induced pluripotent cells (iPSCs) preserves mtDNA integrity. Similarly, targeted introduction of human DNA Ligase 1 restores repair mechanisms and mitochondrial activity in FUS mutant cells, suggesting a potential therapeutic approach. Our findings unveil FUS's critical role in mitochondrial health and mtDNA repair, offering valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying mitochondrial dysfunction in FUS-associated motor neuron disease.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of New Dihydrofuro[3,2-b]piperidine Derivatives as Potent α-Glucosidase Inhibitors

Inhibition of glycoside hydrolases has widespread application in the treatment of diabetes. Based on our previous findings, a series of dihydrofuro[3,2-b]piperidine derivatives was designed and synthesized from D- and L-arabinose. Compounds 32 (IC50 = 0.07 μM) and 28 (IC50 = 0.5 μM) showed significantly stronger inhibitory potency against α-glucosidase than positive control acarbose. The study of the structure-activity relationship of these compounds provides a new clue for the development of new α-glucosidase inhibitors.

Injectable Double Crosslinked Hydrogel-Polypropylene Composite Mesh for Repairing Full-Thickness Abdominal Wall Defects

Abdominal wall defects are common clinical diseases, and mesh repair is the standard treatment method. The most commonly used polypropylene (PP) mesh in clinical practice has the advantages of good mechanical properties, stable performance, and effective tissue integration effect. However, direct contact between abdominal viscera and PP mesh can lead to severe abdominal adhesions. To prevent this, the development of a hydrogel-PP composite mesh with anti-adhesive properties may be an effective measure. Herein, biofunctional hydrogel loaded with rosmarinic acid is developed by modifying chitosan and Pluronic F127, which possesses suitable physical and chemical properties and commendable in vitro biocompatibility. In the repair of full-thickness abdominal wall defects in rats, hydrogels are injected onto the surface of PP mesh and applied to intraperitoneal repair. The results indicate that the use of hydrogel-PP composite mesh can alleviate abdominal adhesions resulting from traditional PP mesh implantation by decreasing local inflammatory response, reducing oxidative stress, and regulating the fibrinolytic system. Combined with the tissue integration ability of PP mesh, hydrogel-PP composite mesh has great potential for repairing full-thickness abdominal wall defects.

Trends and benefits of early hip arthroplasty for femoral neck fracture in China: a national cohort study

BACKGROUND

Limited studies have examined the benefits of early arthroplasty within 48 h from admission to surgery for femoral neck fractures (FNFs). Using the national inpatient database, the authors aimed to investigate the trends in early arthroplasty within 48 h for FNFs in China and to assess its effect on in-hospital complications and 30-day readmission patterns.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study. Patients receiving primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) or hemiarthroplasty (HA) for FNFs in the Hospital Quality Monitoring System between 2013 and 2019 were included. After adjusting for potential confounders with propensity score matching, a logistic regression model was performed to compare the differences in in-hospital complications [i.e. in-hospital death, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), wound infection, and blood transfusion], rates and causes of 30-day readmission between early and delayed arthroplasty.

RESULTS

During the study period, the rate of early THA increased from 18.0 to 19.9%, and the rate of early HA increased from 14.7 to 18.4% ( P <0.001). After matching, 11 731 pairs receiving THA and 13 568 pairs receiving HA were included. Compared with delayed THA, early THA was associated with a lower risk of pulmonary embolism [odds ratio (OR) 0.51, 95% CI: 0.30-0.88], DVT (OR 0.59, 95% CI: 0.50-0.70), blood transfusion (OR 0.62, 95% CI: 0.55-0.70), 30-day readmission (OR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.70-0.95), and venous thromboembolism-related readmission (OR 0.50, 95% CI: 0.34-0.74). Similarly, early HA was associated with a lower risk of DVT (OR 0.70, 95% CI: 0.61-0.80) and blood transfusion (OR 0.74, 95% CI: 0.68-0.81) than delayed HA.

CONCLUSION

Despite a slight increase, the rate of early arthroplasty remained at a low level in China. Given that early arthroplasty can significantly improve prognosis, more efforts are needed to optimize the procedure and shorten the time to surgery.

Corroded iron pipe inhibits microbial-mediated Mn(II) oxidation and MnOx accumulation compared to PVC pipe

MnOx deposits in distribution pipes can cause severe discoloration problems in drinking water. However, the impact of pipe materials on Mn(II) oxidation and MnOx accumulation remains unclear. This study investigated microbial-mediated Mn(II) oxidation and deposit formation through 300-day pipe loop experiments with corroded galvanized steel pipes (DN100) and new polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes (DN100). The results showed that influent Mn(II) was entirely oxidized within 48 h in the PVC pipes with biofilms in the absence of chlorine, while most influent Mn(II) remained unoxidized in the iron pipes. Dissolved oxygen (DO) monitoring showed that the DO in the PVC pipes was consistently higher than 8.0 mg/L, but that in the iron pipes dropped to 6.5 mg/L. Microbial analysis revealed that the abundance of potential Mn(II)-oxidizing bacteria in the low-DO iron pipes was less than that in the PVC pipes. Analysis of the Mn(II) concentration dynamics in different pipes revealed that the early Mn(II) disappearance in the iron pipes was contributed mainly to Mn(II) adsorption by iron corrosion products rather than microbial Mn(II) oxidation. When aeration was performed to increase the DO concentration to 8.0 mg/L in the iron pipes, complete Mn(II) oxidation occurred. This study provides insights into Mn(II) transformation in different pipes and highlights the critical role of DO in microbial Mn(II) oxidation in drinking water pipes.

Catalytic activation of peracetic acid for pelargonic acid vanillylamide degradation by Co3O4 nanoparticles in-situ anchored carbon-coated MXene nanosheets: Performance and mechanism insight

Pelargonic acid vanillylamide (PAVA), a capsaicin-type dacryagogue agent utilized for counter-terrorism and riot control, possesses a low stimulus threshold. This characteristic can lead to environmental contamination following its application and may easily result in secondary stimulation to personnel. Cobalt-doped Ti3C2-MXene nanosheets (Co3O4/Ti3C2@C) were synthesized for the purpose of activating peracetic acid (PAA) and degrading PAVA. A carbon layer was coated on the surface of Ti3C2-MXene nanosheets to address the challenge of poor oxygen resistance in MXenes, thus preventing a significant decline in surface reactivity. The BET surface area of Co3O4/Ti3C2@C was expanded to 149.6 m2/g, significantly exceeding that of Ti3C2 (13.0 m2/g) and Co3O4 (56.4 m2/g). With 0.5 mg/mL of Co3O4/Ti3C2@C and 0.35 mM of PAA, 100 mg/L of PAVA was completely degraded within 60 min. The augmented BET surface area and the presence of more active sites confer remarkable PAA activation and catalytic degradation properties toward PAVA. Parameters such as initial pH, PAVA concentration, catalyst dosage, and PAA concentration on PAVA degradation were systematically assessed. Furthermore, the reusability and stability of the nanocomposite were substantiated through recycling tests. Radical quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance analysis demonstrated the acetylperoxy radical (CH3CO3) as the primary species responsible for PAVA degradation. This research serves as an illustration of the utilization of MXene and transition metal activated PAA in wastewater treatment.

Effect and mechanism of aqueous extract of Chinese herbal prescription (TFK) in treating gout arthritis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

With the rapid development of China's economic level, great changes have taken place in people's diet structure, gout has become a common disease that puzzles people's health, seriously affects the realization of China's "Healthy China" strategic goal. Gouty arthritis (GA) is a common joint disease caused by chronic purine metabolism disorder. Currently, drugs used to treat GA are allopurinol and colchicine. However, these drugs can only temporarily relieve the clinical symptoms of GA with significant side effects. More and more basic and clinical studies have confirmed that Traditional Chinese medicine has definite curative effect on GA.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To elucidate the potential molecular mechanism of Tongfengkang (TFK) in the treatment of GA, and to provide experimental basis for the search and development of efficient and low-toxicity Chinese medicine for GA treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Aqueous extract of TFK (AETFK) were determined by liquid phase high resolution mass spectrometry and the possible effective constituents were screened out. Acute GA model rats were established to detect the anti-inflammatory and detumification effects of AETFK on GA and explore the potential mechanism. The effect of AETFK on serum uric acid and urinary uric acid levels in acute GA rats was determined by automatic biochemical analyzer, and the effect of AETFK on the expression of acute GA-related immunoinflammatory factors were determined by protein thermal fluorescence chip. The effect of AETFK on the concentration of neutrophils in the joint fluid of acute GA rats were determined by Reichs-Giemsa staining. The effect of AETFK on macrophage activation was detected by ELISA. In order to further investigate the mechanism of AETFK in the treatment of GA, a rat model of hyperuricemia was established to detect the effect of AETFK on the level of uric acid in hyperuricemia model rats. Biochemical indexes of liver and kidney and hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE) were used to evaluate the effects of AETFK on the organs, and to preliminatively evaluate the safety of ventilation confufang.

RESULTS

Compared with the model group, the joint swelling degree of GA rats in AETFK treatment group were significantly reduced, and the levels of blood uric acid and urine uric acid were also significantly decreased. Protein thermal fluorescence microarray results showed that the levels of gout - related inflammatory factors in GA rats in AETFK treatment group were significantly lower than those in control group. Reichsen-giemsa staining and ELISA showed that AETFK could reduce the activation of macrophages and the accumulation of neutrophils in the joint fluid. The results of liver and kidney biochemical indexes and HE staining showed that no obvious tissue damage was observed in the organs of rats treated with AETFK.

CONCLUSIONS

AETFK not only has significant anti-inflammatory effects on GA, but also can significantly reduce the level of blood uric acid in GA rats, without obvious toxic and side effects. These effects may be related to AETFK's inhibition of neutrophil enrichment and macrophage activation during early inflammation.

A novel approach to evaluation of tumor response for advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma using the intertumoral heterogeneity response score

Treatment response and prognosis estimation in advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma are challenged by the significant heterogeneity of the disease. The current Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria, despite providing a basis for solid tumor response evaluation, do not fully encompass this heterogeneity. To better represent these nuances, we introduce the intertumoral heterogeneity response score (THRscore), a measure built upon and expanding the RECIST criteria. This retrospective study included patients with 3-10 measurable advanced lung adenocarcinoma lesions who underwent first-line chemotherapy or targeted therapy. The THRscore, derived from the coefficient of variation in size for each measurable tumor before and 4-6 weeks posttreatment, unveiled a correlation with patient outcomes. Specifically, a high THRscore was associated with shorter progression-free survival, lower tumor response rate, and a higher tumor mutation burden. These associations were further validated in an external cohort, confirming THRscore's effectiveness in stratifying patients based on progression risk and treatment response, and enhancing the utility of RECIST in capturing complex tumor behaviors in lung adenocarcinoma. These findings affirm the promise of THRscore as an enhanced tool for tumor response assessment in advanced lung adenocarcinoma, extending the RECIST criteria's utility.

Changes in Phytohormones and Transcriptomic Reprogramming in Strawberry Leaves under Different Light Qualities

Strawberry plants require light for growth, but the frequent occurrence of low-light weather in winter can lead to a decrease in the photosynthetic rate (Pn) of strawberry plants. Light-emitting diode (LED) systems could be used to increase Pn. However, the changes in the phytohormones and transcriptomic reprogramming in strawberry leaves under different light qualities are still unclear. In this study, we treated strawberry plants with sunlight, sunlight covered with a 50% sunshade net, no light, blue light (460 nm), red light (660 nm), and a 50% red/50% blue LED light combination for 3 days and 7 days. Our results revealed that the light quality has an effect on the contents of Chl a and Chl b, the minimal fluorescence (F0), and the Pn of strawberry plants. The light quality also affected the contents of abscisic acid (ABA), auxin (IAA), trans-zeatin-riboside (tZ), jasmonic acid (JA), and salicylic acid (SA). RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are significantly enriched in photosynthesis antenna proteins, photosynthesis, carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms, porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolisms, carotenoid biosynthesis, tryptophan metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, zeatin biosynthesis, and linolenic acid metabolism. We then selected the key DEGs based on the results of a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and drew nine metabolic heatmaps and protein-protein interaction networks to map light regulation.

Spectral Descriptors for 3D Deformable Shape Matching: A Comparative Survey

A large number of 3D spectral descriptors have been proposed in the literature, which act as an essential component for 3D deformable shape matching and related applications. An outstanding descriptor should have desirable natures including high-level descriptive capacity, cheap storage, and robustness to a set of nuisances. It is, however, unclear which descriptors are more suitable for a particular application. This paper fills the gap by comprehensively evaluating nine state-of-the-art spectral descriptors on ten popular deformable shape datasets as well as perturbations such as mesh discretization, geometric noise, scale transformation, non-isometric setting, partiality, and topological noise. Our evaluated terms for a spectral descriptor cover four major concerns, i.e., distinctiveness, robustness, compactness, and computational efficiency. In the end, we present a summary of the overall performance and several interesting findings that can serve as guidance for the following researchers to construct a new spectral descriptor and choose an appropriate spectral feature in a particular application.

[Establishment of acute graft-versus-host disease model after non-myeloablative haploidentical peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in aged mice]

Objective: To establish an acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) model in aged mice after non-myeloablative haploidentical peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (haplo-PSCT). Methods: C57BL/6 (H-2b) male mice aged 6-8 weeks were used as donor mice, and CB6F1 (H-2b×d) female mice aged 14-16 months were used as recipient mice. The donor mice were injected subcutaneously with rehuman granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) 5 days before transplantation for hematopoietic stem cell mobilization.The recipient mice were divided into control group (CG), spleen cell low-dose group (SL), spleen cell medium-dose group (SM) and spleen cell high-dose group (SH) according to random number table method, with 16 rats in each group, all of which received total linear accelerator X-ray irradiation (TBI) with a total dose of 6 Gy. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and spleen cells of different doses (0.5×107/each, 1.0×107/each and 2.0×107/each in SL group, SM group and SH group, respectively) were transfused through the tail vein within 4 hours after TBI, and only the same amount of normal saline was transfused in CG group. After transplantation, the survival and weight changes of mice in each group were observed for 30 days, and the changes of blood routine were monitored regularly. Mice peripheral blood was collected 21 days after transplantation to detect the chimerism rate of the donor. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed on the skin, liver and colon of mice 21 days after transplantation to analyze the histopathological changes of aGVHD target organs. Results: All the mice in each group were successfully transplanted. After TBI, the weight and activity of mice in all groups decreased, and the phenomenon of bone marrow suppression appeared. During the observation period, all mice in CG group and SL group survived, 3 mice in SM group died with survival time of (26.0±5.8) days, and 6 mice in SH group died with survival time of (20.9±7.3) days. The body weight of mice in SH group was lower than that in CG group, SL group and SM group 21days after transplantation [(25.0±0.7), (25.5±0.4), (25.0±1.4) vs (20.8±0.8) g, all P<0.05]. Compared with CG group, SL group and SM group, the levels of leukocyte, erythrocyte, hemoglobin and platelet in SH group decreased 21 days after transplantation (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in donor chimerism rate among SL group, SM group and SH group [(95.8%±0.8%), (95.5%±1.4%) and (95.1%±1.3%), respectively, all P>0.05]. Compared with CG group, SL group and SM group, the tissue structure of aGVHD target organs in SH group was severely damaged, with a large number of inflammatory cells infiltratedand higher histopathological scores than SL group and SM group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: For aging CB6F1 mice, after 6 Gy TBI pretreatment with linear accelerator X-ray, PBMC (1×107/each) and spleen cells (2.0×107/each) were injected to successfully induce aGVHD model after non-myelablative haplo-PSCT.

Vestibular function and hearing preservation in children following a minimally invasive cochlear implantation

PURPOSE

This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the effect of minimally invasive cochlear implantation (CI) on the vestibular function (VF) and residual hearing (RH) as well as their relationship in pediatric recipients before and after surgery.

METHODS

Twenty-four pediatric patients with preoperative low frequency residual hearing (LFRH) (250 or 500 Hz ≤ 80 dB HL) who underwent minimally invasive CI were enrolled. Pure-tone thresholds, the cervical/ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP/oVEMP), and video head impulse test (vHIT) were all evaluated in the 24 pediatric patients with preoperative normal VF before and at 1 and 12 months after surgery. The relationship between changes in hearing and VF was analyzed preoperatively and at 1 and 12 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences on VF preservation and hearing preservation (HP) at both 1 and 12 months post-CI (p > 0.05). At 1 month post-CI, the correlations of the variations in vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gains of horizontal semicircular canal (HSC) and posterior semicircular canal (PSC) and the shift in 250 Hz threshold were negatively correlated (r = - 0.41, p = 0.04 and r = - 0.43, p = 0.04, respectively). At 12 months post-CI, the shift in 250 Hz threshold negatively correlated to the variations in VOR gain of superior semicircular canal (SSC) (r = - 0.43, p = 0.04); the HP positively correlated to the variation in oVEMP-amplitude ratio (AR) (r = 0.41, p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

Our study confirmed that there were partial correlations between VF preservation and HP both in the short- and long-terms after atraumatic CI surgery, especially with the 250 Hz threshold. Regarding the variation of PSC function, the correlation with hearing status was variable with time after atraumatic CI surgery. Minimally invasive techniques for HP are successful and effective for the preservation of VF in pediatric patients both in the short- and long-terms.

Comparison of long-term radial artery occlusion via distal vs. conventional transradial access (CONDITION): a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The distal transradial access (dTRA) has become an attractive and alternative access to the conventional transradial access (TRA) for cardiovascular interventional diagnosis and/or treatment. There was a lack of randomized clinical trials to evaluate the effect of the dTRA on the long-term radial artery occlusion (RAO).

METHODS

This was a prospective, randomized controlled study. The primary endpoint was the incidence of long-term RAO at 3 months after discharge. The secondary endpoints included the successful puncture rate, puncture time, and other access-related complications.

RESULTS

The incidence of long-term RAO was 0.8% (3/361) for dTRA and 3.3% (12/365) for TRA (risk ratio = 0.25, 95% confidence interval = 0.07-0.88, P = 0.02). The incidence of RAO at 24 h was significantly lower in the dTRA group than in the TRA group (2.5% vs. 6.7%, P < 0.01). The puncture success rate (96.0% vs. 98.5%, P = 0.03) and single puncture attempt (70.9% vs. 83.9%, P < 0.01) were significantly lower in the dTRA group than in the TRA group. However, the number of puncture attempts and puncture time were higher in the dTRA group. The dTRA group had a lower incidence of bleeding than the TRA group (1.5% vs. 6.0%, P < 0.01). There was no difference in the success rate of the procedure, total fluoroscopy time, or incidence of other access-related complications between the two groups. In the per-protocol analysis, the incidence of mEASY type ≥ II haematoma was significantly lower in the dTRA group, which was consistent with that in the as-treated analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The dTRA significantly reduced the incidence of long-term RAO, bleeding or haematoma.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifer: NCT05253820.

Tenecteplase versus alteplase in treatment of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: A randomized non-inferiority trial

BACKGROUND

A phase II trial on recombinant human tenecteplase tissue-type plasminogen activator (rhTNK-tPA) has previously shown its preliminary efficacy in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. This study was designed as a pivotal postmarketing trial to compare its efficacy and safety with rrecombinant human tissue-type plasminogen activator alteplase (rt-PA) in Chinese patients with STEMI.

METHODS

In this multicenter, randomized, open-label, non-inferiority trial, patients with acute STEMI were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive an intravenous bolus of 16 mg rhTNK-tPA or an intravenous bolus of 8 mg rt-PA followed by an infusion of 42 mg in 90 min. The primary endpoint was recanalization defined by thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade 2 or 3. The secondary endpoint was clinically justified recanalization. Other endpoints included 30-day major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) and safety endpoints.

RESULTS

From July 2016 to September 2019, 767 eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive rhTNK-tPA ( n = 384) or rt-PA ( n = 383). Among them, 369 patients had coronary angiography data on TIMI flow, and 711 patients had data on clinically justified recanalization. Both used a -15% difference as the non-inferiority efficacy margin. In comparison to rt-PA, both the proportion of patients with TIMI grade 2 or 3 flow (78.3% [148/189] vs. 81.7% [147/180]; differences: -3.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -11.5%, 4.8%) and clinically justified recanalization (85.4% [305/357] vs. 85.9% [304/354]; difference: -0.5%; 95% CI: -5.6%, 4.7%) in the rhTNK-tPA group were non-inferior. The occurrence of 30-day MACCEs (10.2% [39/384] vs. 11.0% [42/383]; hazard ratio: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.61, 1.50) did not differ significantly between groups. No safety outcomes significantly differed between groups.

CONCLUSION

rhTNK-tPA was non-inferior to rt-PA in the effect of improving recanalization of the infarct-related artery, a validated surrogate of clinical outcomes, among Chinese patients with acute STEMI.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

www.ClinicalTrials.gov (No. NCT02835534).

Ultrahigh pressure field: A friendly pathway for regulating the cellular adhesion and migration capacity of collagen

Customized control of the biological response between the material matrix and cells is a crucial aspect in the development of the next generation of collagen materials. This study aims to investigate the effects of ultrahigh pressure treatment on the interaction between collagen and cells by subjecting bovine tendon collagen to different intensities of ultrahigh pressure field. The results indicate that ultrahigh pressure treatment alters the spatial folding of collagen, causing distortion of its triple helical conformation and exposing more free amino groups and hydrophobic regions. As a result, collagen's cell adhesion capability and ability to promote cell migration are significantly enhanced. Optimal cell adhesion and migration capabilities are observed in collagen samples treated at 500 MPa for 15 min. However, further increasing the intensity of the ultrahigh pressure treatment leads to severe damage to the triple-helical structure of collagen, along with re-aggregation of free amino groups and hydrophobic moieties, thereby reducing collagen's cell adhesion capability and ability to promote cell migration. Therefore, ultrahigh pressure treatment offers a promising method to effectively regulate collagen-cell adhesion and promote cell migration without the need for external components. This provides a potential means for the customized enhancement of collagen-based material interfaces.

Characterization of wheat dough and Chinese steamed bread using mealworm powder formulated with medium-gluten and whole wheat flour

BACKGROUND

Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae are nutritious edible insects and exhibit the potential to act as protein substitutes in food products. In this study, we added mealworm powder as a substitute to medium-gluten wheat and whole wheat flours to enhance the quality of baked products. We compared the pasting, farinograph and extensograph properties of medium-gluten wheat and whole wheat flours replaced with different concentrations of mealworm powder to explore the interactions between flour and mealworm powder.

RESULTS

Mealworm powder changed the pasting characteristics of medium-gluten wheat and whole wheat flours. After adding 20% mealworm powder, the pasting temperature of the medium-gluten wheat flour remained unchanged (approximately 89.9 °C), while the pasting temperature of whole wheat flour increased from 88.83 to 90.27 °C. Water absorption of medium-gluten and whole wheat flours exhibited a decreasing trend with increasing mealworm powder concentrations. Mealworm powder substitution resulted in stronger medium-gluten dough but exerted an opposite effect on the farinograph properties of whole wheat dough. Mealworm powder substitution decreased the stretching resistance of medium-gluten dough but increased that of whole wheat dough. With an increase in the concentration of mealworm powder, the specific volume of medium-gluten wheat steamed bread significantly increased from 1.69 mL g-1 (M0) to 3.31 mL g-1 (M10) whereas that of whole wheat steamed bread increased from 1.64 mL g-1 (M0) to 2.34 mL g-1 (M15). The addition of mealworm powder increased the protein, dietary fiber, lipid and sodium contents of steamed bread samples.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a reference for the rheological properties of medium-gluten wheat and whole wheat flours substituted with mealworm powder and supports the addition of insects as a protein source in food products. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Rutin alleviated lipopolysaccharide-induced damage in goat rumen epithelial cells

OBJECTIVE

Rutin, also called vitamin P, is a flavonoids from plants. Previous studies have indicated that rutin can alleviate the injury of tissues and cells by inhibiting oxidative stress and ameliorating inflammation. There is no report on the protective effects of rutin on goat rumen epithelial cells (GRECs) at present. Hence, we investigated whether rutin can alleviate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced damage in GRECs.

METHODS

GRECs were cultured in basal medium or basal medium containing 1 μg/mL LPS, or 1 μg/mL LPS and 20 μg/mL rutin. Six replicates were performed for each group. After 3-h culture, the GRECs were harvested to detect the relevant parameters.

RESULTS

Rutin significantly enhanced the cell activity (p<0.05) and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) (p<0.01) and significantly reduced the apoptosis rate (p<0.05) of LPSinduced GRECs. Rutin significantly increased superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase activity (p<0.01) and significantly decreased lactate dehydrogenase activity and reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in LPS-induced GRECs (p<0.01). The mRNA and protein levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-1β, and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8) and the mRNA level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and chemokine C-C motif ligand 5 (CCL5) were significantly increased in LPS-induced GRECs (p<0.05 or p<0.01), while rutin supplementation significantly decreased the mRNA and protein levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and CXCL8 in LPS-induced GRECs (p<0.05 or p<0.01). The mRNA level of toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), and the mRNA and protein levels of TLR4 and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) was significantly improved in LPS-induced GRECs (p<0.05 or p<0.01), whereas rutin supplementation could significantly reduce the mRNA and protein levels of TLR4 (p<0.05 or p<0.01). In addition, rutin had a tendency of decreasing the protein levels of CXCL6, NF-κB, and inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B alpha (0.05< p<0.10). Rutin could significantly decreased interferon regulatory factor 3 mRNA expression in LPS-induced GRECs (p<0.05), whereas interferon induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 3 (IFIT3) and toll-interacting protein (TOLLIP) mRNA expression was not significantly different between the groups. LPS reduced the tight junction protein zonula occludin 1 (ZO-1) level in GRECs whereas rutin enhanced it. Rutin significantly improved tight junction protein Claudin-1 mRNA expression in LPS-induced GRECs (p<0.01), but could not affect tight junction protein Occludin mRNA expression.

CONCLUSION

Rutin alleviated LPS-induced barrier damage in GRECs by improving oxidation resistance and anti-inflammatory activity, which may be related to TLR/NF-κB signaling pathway inhibition.

A basement membrane extract-based three-dimensional culture system promotes the neuronal differentiation of cochlear Sox10-positive glial cells in vitro

Spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) in the mammalian cochleae are essential for the delivery of acoustic information, and damage to SGNs can lead to permanent sensorineural hearing loss as SGNs are not capable of regeneration. Cochlear glial cells (GCs) might be a potential source for SGN regeneration, but the neuronal differentiation ability of GCs is limited and its properties are not clear yet. Here, we characterized the cochlear Sox10-positive (Sox10+) GCs as a neural progenitor population and developed a basement membrane extract-based three-dimensional (BME-3D) culture system to promote its neuronal generation capacity in vitro. Firstly, the purified Sox10+ GCs, isolated from Sox10-creER/tdTomato mice via flow cytometry, were able to form neurospheres after being cultured in the traditional suspension culture system, while significantly more neurospheres were found and the expression of stem cell-related genes was upregulated in the BME-3D culture group. Next, the BME-3D culture system promoted the neuronal differentiation ability of Sox10+ GCs, as evidenced by the increased number, neurite outgrowth, area of growth cones, and synapse density as well as the promoted excitability of newly induced neurons. Notably, the BME-3D culture system also intensified the reinnervation of newly generated neurons with HCs and protected the neurospheres and derived-neurons against cisplatin-induced damage. Finally, transcriptome sequencing analysis was performed to identify the characteristics of the differentiated neurons. These findings suggest that the BME-3D culture system considerably promotes the proliferation capacity and neuronal differentiation efficiency of Sox10+ GCs in vitro, thus providing a possible strategy for the SGN regeneration study.

Circular RNA mapping reveals CircCWC22 as a MiR-3059-x sponge in yak fat deposition by regulating HMGCL

The regulatory mechanisms and functions of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in yak intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate yak circRNAs with high and low IMF content using high-throughput sequencing. A total of 270 differentially expressed circRNAs were identified, of which 129 were upregulated and 141 were downregulated. Among these circRNAs, circCWC22, derived from the yak CWC22 gene, was further studied to understand its functions and regulatory mechanisms. Sequencing and RNase R processing confirmed the circular nature of circCWC22. By constructing a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA co-expression network, the potential regulatory pathway of circCWC22/miR-3059-x/HMGCL was identified. To investigate the roles of circCWC22, miR-3059-x, and HMGCL in the deposition of yak intramuscular preadipocytes (YIMAs), CCK-8, EdU, BODIPY, triglyceride content, and qRT-PCR analyses were performed. The results demonstrated that circCWC22, miR-3059-x, and HMGCL promoted the differentiation and inhibited the proliferation of YIMAs. Using the dual-luciferase reporter system and qRT-PCR, we confirmed that circCWC22 adsorbed miR-3059-x, and HMGCL was identified as a target gene of miR-3059-x. In conclusion, this study uncovered a large number of potential circRNAs involved in IMF deposition and highlighted the significant role of circCWC22 in yak IMF deposition via the circCWC22/miR-3059-x/HMGCL axis.

Urban noise exposure assessment based on principal component analysis of points of interest

Accurate qualitative and quantitative information on the characteristics of traffic noise exposure in densely populated urban areas is an important prerequisite for reasonable traffic noise control. The primary objective of this study is the development and application of a traffic noise exposure evaluation method based on points of interest (POIs). First, an automatic query arithmetic is used to acquire geospatial information, POIs data, building and network information from the webmap. Second, the attribute matrix of preprocessed POIs for the population is constructed. And the population distribution is obtained by principal component analysis (PCA) of POIs and Gaussian decomposition of demographic data. Then, the modified traffic noise line-source model is applied to calculate the noise distribution considering attenuation among buildings based on measured traffic flow parameters. Finally, with the help of the proposed noise evaluation indicators, and considering the noise function requirements (NFRs, which can be divided into four classes according to different area land-use types), traffic noise evaluation is realized. The proposed method is applied to a typical region with four NFR classes. It is concluded that the characteristics of traffic noise exposure are affected by traffic conditions, buildings, NFR classes and population distribution. And the crowds exposed to noise present aggregation effects, which are usually centered around specific buildings. In addition, POI types which people actives related suffer more serious noise exposure, and exposure is overestimated at low requirement regions without considering crowd distribution of the setting scenario.

[17-year study on the curative effect of treatment to prevent the recurrence of hepatitis B in different risk groups after liver transplantation]

Objective: To observe the recurrence condition of hepatitis B in different risk groups after liver transplantation in an attempt to provide useful information on whether to discontinue hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) in the future at an early stage. Methods: The patient population was divided into high, low-risk, and special groups [especially primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)] according to the guidelines for the prevention and treatment of hepatitis B recurrence after liver transplantation. The recurrence condition and risk factors in this population were observed for hepatitis B. Measurement data were analyzed using a t-test and a rank-sum test. Count data were compared using a χ(2) test between groups. Results: This study finally included 532 hepatitis B-related liver transplant cases. A total of 35 cases had HBV recurrence after liver transplantation, including 34 cases that were HBsAg positive, one case that was HBsAg negative, and 10 cases that were hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA positive. The overall HBV recurrence rate was 6.6%. The recurrence rate of HBV was 9.2% and 4.8% in the high- and low-risk HBV DNA positive and negative groups before surgery (P = 0.057). Among the 293 cases diagnosed with HCC before liver transplantation, 30 had hepatitis B recurrence after surgery, with a recurrence rate of 10.2%. The independent related factors for the recurrence of hepatitis B in patients with HCC after liver transplantation were HCC recurrence (HR =181.92, 95%CI 15.99~2 069.96, P < 0.001), a high postoperative dose of mycophenolate mofetil dispersible tablets (MMF) ( HR =5.190, 95%CI 1.289~20.889, P = 0.020), and a high dosage of HBIG (HR = 1.012, 95%CI 1.001~1.023, P = 0.035). Among the 239 cases who were non-HCC before liver transplantation, five cases (recurrence rate of 2.1%) arouse postoperative hepatitis B recurrence. Lamivudine was used in all cases, combined with on-demand HBIG prophylaxis after surgery. There was no hepatitis B recurrence in non-HCC patients who treated with entecavir combined with HBIG after surgery. Conclusion: High-barrier-to-resistance nucleotide analogues combined with long-term HBIG have a good effect on preventing the recurrence of hepatitis B after liver transplantation. The discontinuation of HBIG may be considered at an early stage after administration of a high-barrier-to-resistance nucleotide analogue in low-risk patients. Domestically, the HBV infection rate is high, so further research is still required to explore the timing of HBIG discontinuation for high-risk patients, especially those with HCC.

The impact of the HER2-low status on conditional survival in patients with breast cancer

Introduction

With recent advances in breast cancer (BC) treatment, the disease-free survival (DFS) of patients is increasing and the risk factors for recurrence and metastasis are changing. However, a dynamic approach to assessing the risk of recurrent metastasis in BC is currently lacking. This study aimed to develop a dynamically changing prediction model for recurrent metastases based on conditional survival (CS) analysis.

Methods

Clinical and pathological data from patients with BC who underwent surgery at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University between August 2011 and August 2022 were retrospectively analysed. The risk of recurrence and metastasis in patients with varying survival rates was calculated using CS analysis, and a risk prediction model was constructed.

Results

A total of 4244 patients were included in this study, with a median follow-up of 83.16 ± 31.59 months. Our findings suggested that the real-time DFS of patients increased over time, and the likelihood of DFS after surgery correlated with the number of years of prior survival. We explored different risk factors for recurrent metastasis in baseline patients, 3-year, and 5-year disease-free survivors, and found that low HER2 was a risk factor for subsequent recurrence in patients with 5-year DFS. Based on this, conditional nomograms were developed. The nomograms showed good predictive ability for recurrence and metastasis in patients with BC.

Conclusion

Our study showed that the longer patients with BC remained disease-free, the greater their chances of remaining disease-free again. Predictive models for recurrence and metastasis risk based on CS analysis can help improve the confidence of patients fighting cancer and help doctors personalise treatment and follow-up plans.

Mitochondria-Targeted Nitronyl Nitroxide Radical Nanoparticles for Protection against Radiation-Induced Damage with Antioxidant Effects

Radiotherapy is a non-invasive method that is widely applied to treat and alleviate cancers. However, radiation-induced effects in the immune system are associated with several side effects via an increase in oxidative stress and the inflammatory response. Therefore, it is imperative to develop effective clinical radiological protection strategies for the radiological protection of the normal organs and immune system in these patients. To explore more effective radioprotective agents with minimal toxicity, a mitochondria-targeted nitronyl nitroxide radical with a triphenylphosphine ion (TPP-NIT) was synthesized and its nanoparticles (NPs-TPP-NIT) were prepared and characterized. The TPP-NIT nanoparticles (NPs-TPP-NIT) were narrow in their size distribution and uniformly distributed; they showed good drug encapsulation efficiency and a low hemolysis rate (<3%). The protective effect of NPs-TPP-NIT against X-ray irradiation-induced oxidative damage was measured in vitro and in vivo. The results show that NPs-TPP-NIT were associated with no obvious cytotoxicity to L-02 cells when the concentration was below 1.5 × 10-2 mmol. NPs-TPP-NIT enhanced the survival rate of L-02 cells significantly under 2, 4, 6, and 8 Gy X-ray radiation exposure; the survival rate of mice was highest after 6 Gy X-ray irradiation. The results also show that NPs-TPP-NIT could increase superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and decrease malondialdehyde (MDA) levels after the L-02 cells were exposed to 6.0 Gy of X-ray radiation. Moreover, NPs-TPP-NIT could significantly inhibit cell apoptosis. NPs-TPP-NIT significantly increased the mouse survival rate after irradiation. NPs-TPP-NIT displayed a marked ability to reduce the irradiation-induced depletion of red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets (PLTs). These results demonstrate the feasibility of using NPs-TPP-NIT to provide protection from radiation-induced damage. In conclusion, this study revealed that NPs-TPP-NIT may be promising radioprotectors and could therefore be applied to protect healthy tissues and organs from radiation during the treatment of cancer with radiotherapy.

Current advances in biomaterials for inner ear cell regeneration

Inner ear cell regeneration from stem/progenitor cells provides potential therapeutic strategies for the restoration of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), however, the efficiency of regeneration is low and the functions of differentiated cells are not yet mature. Biomaterials have been used in inner ear cell regeneration to construct a more physiologically relevant 3D culture system which mimics the stem cell microenvironment and facilitates cellular interactions. Currently, these biomaterials include hydrogel, conductive materials, magneto-responsive materials, photo-responsive materials, etc. We analyzed the characteristics and described the advantages and limitations of these materials. Furthermore, we reviewed the mechanisms by which biomaterials with different physicochemical properties act on the inner ear cell regeneration and depicted the current status of the material selection based on their characteristics to achieve the reconstruction of the auditory circuits. The application of biomaterials in inner ear cell regeneration offers promising opportunities for the reconstruction of the auditory circuits and the restoration of hearing, yet biomaterials should be strategically explored and combined according to the obstacles to be solved in the inner ear cell regeneration research.

Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. extract targeting DJ-1 inhibits non-small cell lung cancer invasion and metastasis through mitochondrial-induced ROS accumulation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. is an ancient traditional Chinese herb with a long history of medicinal use. The ethyl acetate extract of Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. (COE) has been shown to have anti-tumor effects in various preclinical studies. However, the anti-invasive and metastatic efficacy of COE in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the mechanism by which COE regulates cellular oxidation levels are yet to be elucidated.

AIM

To study the anti-dissemination effect of COE on NSCLC and to elucidate the molecular mechanism of COE in regulating cellular oxidation levels and its effect on lung cancer invasion and metastasis.

METHODS

CCK-8 assay was used to detect the toxic effects of COE on NSCLC. Transwell assay and high-content imaging was used to detect the Motility of NSCLC. Transmission electron microscopy and three-dimensional (3D) imaging of mitochondrial fluorescence were employed to detect the number and structure of mitochondria. JC-1 probe was used to detect the level of mitochondrial membrane potential. Firefly luciferase assay was used to detect the level of total intracellular ATP. MitoSox probe and DCFH-DA probe were applied to detect the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) inside the mitochondria and the total intracellular ROS, respectively. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect protein expression in xenograft tumors.

RESULTS

COE inhibited motility and induced DJ-1 downregulation in NSCLC at low toxic concentrations, and the antiseptic effect of COE was reduced significantly after the overexpression of DJ-1. COE induced structural disruption of mitochondria in NSCLC and accumulation of superoxide compounds, decreased the volume of membrane potential depolarization, and impaired energy production, ultimately leading to a large accumulation of ROS at the cellular level. The antioxidant acetylcysteine (NAC) significantly reversed the antiseptic capacity of COE. In a xenograft tumor model, protein expression of DJ-1, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and MMP-2 in COE group was significantly changed compared to the model group.

CONCLUSION

In the present study, COE inhibited NSCLC invasion and metastasis and was associated with the downregulation of DJ-1 and elevated ROS. COE-mediated downregulation of DJ-1 may be the primary cause of mitochondrial structural and functional dysfunction in NSCLC, eventually leading to ROS accumulation.