Focused ultrasound versus the loop electrosurgical excision procedure to treat women with cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions under 40: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of focused ultrasound (FUS) and the loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) for the treatment of cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) among women of reproductive age. METHODS: Case records of patients aged < 40 years who were treated for cervical HSILs using either FUS or LEEP from September 1, 2020 to May 31, 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were followed up for cure, recurrence, human papillomavirus (HPV) clearance, and complications within 1 year of treatment. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were determined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models to analyze the association between disease evidence or HPV clearance and treatment modalities or other covariates. RESULTS: Of the 1,054 women who underwent FUS or LEEP, 225 met our selection criteria. Among the selected women, 101 and 124 received FUS and LEEP, respectively. There was no significant difference between the FUS and LEEP groups in the cure rate during the 3-6 months of follow-up (89.11% vs. 94.35%, P = 0.085) and recurrence rate during the 6-12 months follow-up (2.22% vs. 1.71%, P = 0.790). Both groups exhibited enhanced cumulative HPV clearance rates; however, the rates were not significantly different between the FUS and LEEP groups (74.23% vs. 82.79%, P = 0.122 during the 3-6 months follow-up; 84.95% vs. 89.17%, P = 0.359 during the 6-12 months follow-up). Furthermore, the incidence of complications caused by the FUS and LEEP techniques was comparable (5.0% vs. 5.6%, P = 0.818). CONCLUSIONS: We found that FUS and LEEP have similar efficacy, safety, and reliability in treating women (aged < 40 years) with HSILs.

The Relationship between Dynapenic Abdominal Obesity and Fall: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 15,506 Middle to Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: The main objective of this study was to investigate the risk of falls among middle-aged and older adults with dynapenic abdominal obesity. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted to review and analyze relevant studies. Dynapenia was measured by handgrip strength, and abdominal obesity was measured by waist circumference. The search keywords included "older people" OR "elderly" OR "middle age" AND "dynapenia" AND "abdominal obesity" AND "fall." The search was not limited by time and included articles published up until April 2023. The literature search process followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, involving extraction and examination of the retrieved relevant articles. Systematic literature searches were performed in databases such as Embase, PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library. RESULTS: This study collected a total of eight articles with a combined sample size of 15,506 participants. The findings revealed that the average follow-up period for falls was 6.6 years (SD = 3.67). The overall results of the study showed that individuals with dynapenic abdominal obesity had a higher risk of falls compared to those without dynapenic abdominal obesity (RR = 6.91, 95% CI: 5.42-8.80). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that both prospective studies (HR = 6.61; 95% CI = 4.29-10.20) and retrospective studies (OR = 7.37; 95% CI = 5.13-10.59) consistently found a higher risk of falls among individuals with dynapenic abdominal obesity. However, there was no significant difference in fall risk between community-dwelling individuals with dynapenic abdominal obesity and hospitalized individuals with dynapenic abdominal obesity (Qbetweenx2 = 0.29, p = 0.58). Additionally, there was no difference in fall risk between individuals with dynapenic abdominal obesity residing in Europe and Latin America compared to those residing in Asia (Qbetweenx2 = 0.05, p = 0.81). It was worth noting that male individuals with dynapenic abdominal obesity had a higher risk of falls compared to females (Qbetweenx2 = 4.73, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Empirical studies have demonstrated that individuals with dynapenic abdominal obesity have a higher risk of falls. Therefore, healthcare professionals should conduct early fall risk assessments and develop effective preventive strategies specifically targeted at individuals with dynapenic abdominal obesity.

Isolinderalactone Induces Apoptosis, Autophagy, Cell Cycle Arrest and MAPK Activation through ROS-Mediated Signaling in Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Isolinderalactone (ILL), a sesquiterpene isolated from the root extract of Lindera aggregata, has been reported to exhibit anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic activities in various cancer cell lines. However, the mechanisms associated with its antitumor effects on CRC cells remain unclear. ILL treatment significantly suppressed proliferation and induced cell cycle G2/M arrest in CRC cells by inhibiting the expression of cyclin B, p-cdc2, and p-cdc25c and up-regulating the expression of p21. In addition, ILL induced mitochondria-associated apoptosis through the up-regulation of cleaved -caspase-9 and -3 expression. ILL induced autophagy by increasing the levels of LC3B in CRC cells, which was partially rescued by treatment with an autophagy inhibitor (chloroquine). Furthermore, ILL increases the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activates the MAPK pathway. Application of the ROS scavenger, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), effectively inhibited ILL toxicity and reversed ILL-induced apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, autophagy, and ERK activation. Taken together, these results suggest that ILL induces G2/M phase arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy and activates the MAPK pathway via ROS-mediated signaling in human CRC cells.

The relationships between physical function, nutrition, cognitive function, depression, and sleep quality for facility-dwelling older adults with dynapenia.

BACKGROUND: The growing population of older adults worldwide is associated with an extended life expectancy and an increasing proportion of older adults with dynapenia. Most research on dynapenia has involved only populations of older adults living in the community; little research has examined the effects of risk factors on sleep quality among older adults with dynapenia residing in assisted living facilities. AIM: This study examined the relationships among physical function, nutrition, cognitive function, depression, and sleep quality among older adults with dynapenia residing in assisted living facilities. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, data on physical function, nutrition, cognitive function, depression, and sleep quality was collected from 178 older adults with dynapenia residing in assisted living facilities, who were selected using purposive sampling. Descriptive statistical analysis, independent-sample t tests, chi-squared tests, and logistic regression analysis were performed using SPSS 25.0. RESULTS: The statistical analyses revealed correlations between sleep quality and age (t = 2.37, p < 0.05), level of education (χ2 = 3.85, p < 0.05), grip strength (t = 3.40, p < 0.01), activities of daily living (t = 4.29, p < 0.001), instrumental activities of daily living (t = 2.23, p < 0.001), calf circumference (t = 2.89, p < 0.01), Mini Nutritional Assessment scores (t = 2.29, p < 0.05), Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) scores (t = 4.50, p < 0.001), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) scores (t = - 4.20, p < 0.001). Calf circumference (OR = 0.8, 95% CI = 0.650.97, p < 0.05), GDS score (OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.05-1.92, p < 0.05), and MMSE score (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.73-0.97, p < 0.05) were related to sleep quality among the sample population. CONCLUSION: Physical function, nutrition, cognitive function, and depression affect the sleep quality of older adults with dynapenia residing in assisted living facilities. Facility nurses must regularly assess these aspects of their patients to ensure that facility-dwelling older adults can maintain their physical function and improve their health to improve the quality of their sleep.

Prediction of physiological state, cognition, sensory function, and biomarkers for frailty in patients aged 55 years or more with schizophrenia.

AIM: We explored the performance of demographic characteristics, physiological state, cognitive function, sensory function, and biomarkers when used as predictors of frailty for patients with schizophrenia. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study design was adopted. METHODS: Demographic data and data on physiological state, cognitive function, sensory function, biochemical indices, and frailty status of patients with schizophrenia were collected. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, a chi-square test, one-factor analysis of variance, and logistic regression. RESULTS: The results revealed that frailty was prevalent among patients with lower educational attainment, longer hospital stay, higher skeletal muscle mass, higher basal metabolic rate, lower cognitive function, the use of tranquillisers and sleeping pills, and the use of assistive equipment as well as having fallen in the past year. In addition, cognitive function (p < 0.05), use of a wheelchair (p < 0.05), and use of an assistive walker (p < 0.001) were used as predictors of frailty condition of patients with schizophrenia. PATIENT CONTRIBUTION: Patients with schizophrenia have higher risk of having complications than patients with other chronic illnesses. Therefore, medical staff should regularly assess the levels of frailty risk to help patients with schizophrenia.

Photo-sonodynamic therapy mediated with OLI_NPs to induce HPV16E7-specific immune response and inhibit cervical cancer in a Tc-1-grafted murine model.

Cervical carcinoma is the fourth most common gynecological cancer. Here we reported the synthesis of oxygen-carried and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/ indocyanine green (ICG)-loaded nanoparticles (OLI_NPs) for photo-sonodynamic therapy (PSDT) mediated combination therapy to induce systemic antitumor immune responses. We effectively built a new nanoparticle system, a multifunctional nanoagent that integrated the ability of dual-model imaging and therapy for tumors. In this study, we confirmed that OLI_NPs can act as a multifunctional platform that enables not only to diagnose tumors conveniently but also to efficiently provide treatment of in situ tumors, permitting simultaneous dual-mode imaging and localization of the therapy in combination with PSDT-mediated drug release. Furthermore, our combined strategy could effectively depress the tumor development and extend mouse life by the combination of inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD) with encapsulated LPS. In conclusion, combining therapy of OLI_NPs plus PSDT can induce anti-tumor immune responses and tumor antigen-specific immunity in a common TC-1 graft tumor model. Therefore, this combination therapy is a viable technique for cervical cancer treatment.

Muscle Strength, Physical Fitness, Balance, and Walking Ability at Risk of Fall for Prefrail Older People.

Aim: This study was to explore the relationship of older adults' demographic information, physiological indices, and stages of frailty with their risk of falling. Methods: In the cross-sectional study, a total of 221 older adults with the mean age 74.9 (SD = 6.8) years old were surveyed by senior fitness test. Results: Results were observed in terms of participants' physical fitness, with significant differences being observed in the correlations of left-hand grip strength (t = 5.05, p < .000), right-hand grip strength (t = 6.03, p < .000), and total grip strength (t = 5.70, p < .000), time up and go test (t = -6.25, p < .000), and 30-sec chair stand test (t = 7.19, p < .000) with the risk of falling. According to the logistic regression analysis results, long-term medication (OR = 0.12, 95% CI =0.02-0.62, p < .01) and right-hand grip strength (OR = 0.86, 95% CI =0.76-0.97, p < .01) are the main predictors of older adults' risk of falling. Conclusions: Older females with low education, history of falls, weaker grip strengths; taking longer to finish the TUG test; and standing fewer times during the 30-second chair stand test were at risk of fall. In prediction, older people using long-term medication were at lower risk of falling, and the greater the hand grip strength was, the lower the fall risk was. According to the research results, nursing personnel must develop care programs and improve older adults' risk of falls.

Photoacoustic mediated multifunctional tumor antigen trapping nanoparticles inhibit the recurrence and metastasis of ovarian cancer by enhancing tumor immunogenicity.

The hypoimmunogenicity of tumors is one of the main bottlenecks of cancer immunotherapy. Enhancing tumor immunogenicity can improve the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy by increasing antigen exposure and presentation, and establishing an inflammatory microenvironment. Here, a multifunctional antigen trapping nanoparticle with indocyanine green (ICG), aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3) and oxaliplatin (OXA) (PPIAO) has been developed for tumor photoacoustic/ultrasound dual-modality imaging and therapy. The combination of photothermal/photodynamic therapy and chemotherapy induced tumor antigen exposure and release through immunogenic death of tumor cells. A timely capture and storage of antigens by aluminum hydroxide enabled dendritic cells to recognize and present those antigens spatiotemporally. In an ovarian tumor model, the photoacoustic-mediated PPIAO NPs combination therapy achieved a transition from "cold tumor" to "hot tumor" that promoted more CD8+ T lymphocytes activation in vivo and intratumoral infiltration, and successfully inhibited the growth of primary and metastatic tumors. An in situ tumor vaccine effect was produced from the treated tumor tissue, assisting mice against the recurrence of tumor cells. This study provided a simple and effective personalized tumor vaccine strategy for better treatment of metastatic and recurrent tumors. The developed multifunctional tumor antigen trapping nanoparticles may be a promising nanoplatform for integrating multimodal imaging monitoring, tumor treatment, and tumor vaccine immunotherapy.

The Relationship between Sarcopenia and Injury Events: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 98,754 Older Adults.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between sarcopenia and injury events (falls, fractures, hospitalization, disability, and death). This study systemically searched the literature from Embase, PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library and analyzed the collected literature using the random effects model to demonstrate the relationship between sarcopenia and injury events. This study followed the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and collected a total of 38 prospective studies, and the results showed that, when compared to robust individuals, the risk of injury events for older individuals with sarcopenia was significantly higher for fractures (HR = 9.66, CI: 5.07-18.38), hospital admissions (HR = 11.80, CI: 4.86-28.65), and death (HR = 9.57, CI: 3.17-28.94). In consideration of the negative impact of sarcopenia on the subsequent health of older adults, professional nursing personnel should assess older adults for sarcopenia as early as possible and propose relevant care policies to further reduce negative health impacts.

A retrospective study of focused ultrasound versus cryotherapy in treatment of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and safety of focused ultrasound (FUS) therapy and cryotherapy for cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL). METHODS: In this retrospective study, data pertaining to women treated for cervical SIL with FUS therapy or cryotherapy at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between 21 April 2018 and 31 August 2020 were obtained. The patients were followed up after 3-6 and 6-12 months. The proportions of women with no evidence of disease, recurrent disease, clearance of the human papillomavirus (HPV) and adverse effects or complications were determined. RESULTS: Of the 250 women with complete data who were included in the study, 144 and 106 received FUS therapy and cryotherapy, respectively. Overall, FUS therapy was observed to be more effective than cryotherapy (91.7 vs. 79.2%, p = 0.005). Statistically significant differences were noted in the treatment efficacy for patients with low-grade SIL (LSIL) (92.3 vs. 80.2%, p = 0.011). However, there were no significant differences in the treatment efficacy for patients with high-grade SIL (HSIL) (88.9 vs. 75.0%, p = 0.390). The recurrence rates in patients with LSIL treated with FUS therapy or cryotherapy showed no significant differences at the 6-12-month follow-up (1.0 vs. 6.0%, p = 0.163). Furthermore, there was no recurrence in patients with HSIL, either in the FUS or cryotherapy group. FUS therapy and cryotherapy resulted in similar HPV clearance at the 3-6-month follow-up (77.1 vs. 64.8%, p = 0.057). No statistically significant differences were observed in the complication rates between the two groups (3.5 vs. 1.9%, p = 0.717). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that FUS therapy is superior to cryotherapy in the treatment of cervical LSIL.

Multifunctional Nanoparticles Co-Loaded with Perfluoropropane, Indocyanine Green, and Methotrexate for Enhanced Multimodal Imaging of Collagen-Induced Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a common chronic inflammatory joint disease with features of synovitis and pannus formation, may lead to irreparable joint damage and disability. Methotrexate (MTX) is known as the cornerstone of therapy for RA. However, the therapeutic effects of MTX are unsatisfactory due to its low retention in the inflammatory joints as well as systemic toxic effects. Fortunately, the use of multifunctional nanoparticles for diagnostics and in treatment shows potential for application as a strategy for traceable and targeted RA therapy. This research aims to develop novel nanoparticles that carry with perfluoropropane (PFP), indocyanine green (ICG), and MTX and investigate the corresponding enhancement in multimodal imaging both in vitro and in vivo. A modified double emulsion method was applied for the construction of encapsulated PFP-O2, ICG, and MTX (OIM@NPs), and the essential properties of the developed NPs were determined. The fluorescence and ultrasonic and photoacoustic imaging characteristics were experimentally evaluated both in in vitro and in vivo models. The OIM@NPs are stable and efficient nanoagents. They enable more targeted distribution in the inflammatory joints in RA rats. Moreover, the NPs play an important role as contrast agents for prominent ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging after laser and low-intensity focused ultrasound excitation, providing precision guidance and monitoring for subsequent treatment. This research may provide a novel and efficient strategy to better enable monitoring in inflammatory joints of RA patients and the developed NPs may be a promising nanoplatform for integrating multimodal image monitoring.

Effectiveness and immune responses of focused ultrasound ablation for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

PURPOSE: To investigate the safety, efficacy, and the immune responses of focused ultrasound in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). METHODS: Patients with biopsy-confirmed CIN were recruited for focused ultrasound treatment and asked to return during 3-6 and 6-12 months post-treatment to receive cervical cytology, high-risk human papilloma virus (HPV) detection, and colposcopy. The effective rate was evaluated within 3-6 months, whereas the recurrence rate was evaluated within 6-12 months. Cervicovaginal lavage and cervical tissue were sampled before and 3-6 months after treatment. The expression of interferon gamma (IFN-γ), endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 (ERAP1), human leucocyte antigen I (HLA-I), cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4), and cluster of differentiation 8 (CD8) in the cervical tissue were observed by immunohistochemistry. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) levels in the cervicovaginal lavage were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Comparisons were made in immune analyte levels before and after treatment. RESULTS: We analyzed the results of 154 patients. The effective rate at 3-6 months was 96.8%. The recurrence rate at 6-12 months was 2.0%. The eradication rate of HPV was 72.4% at 3-6 months and 81.0% at 6-12 months. No serious adverse reactions and complications were observed. After treatment, a higher expression of ERAP1 was observed (p < 0.05). Significant down-regulation of IgA and IL-10 were detected (each p < 0.05). However, the expression of CD4, CD8, HLA-I, as well as the release of IFN-γ, did not reach statistical significance (each p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Focused ultrasound is an effective and safe therapy for treating CIN, which could improve the local immune milieu of the cervix to some extent.

Incidence of low-level viremia and its impact on virologic failure among people living with HIV-1 who switched to elvitegravir-based antiretroviral therapy.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the incidence of low-level viremia (LLV) and its impact on virologic failure (VF) in people living with HIV (PLWH) on stable antiretroviral therapy (ART) who switched to co-formulated elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide (EVG/c/FTC/TAF). METHODS: PLWH aged 18 years or older who had received ART with plasma HIV RNA load (PVL) <50 copies/mL for 6 months or longer and switched to EVG/c/FTC/TAF between March and October 2018 were retrospectively included. The incidence of LLV (defined as PVL of 50-999 copies/mL) and VF (PVL ≥1000 copies/mL) was calculated and represented by Kaplan-Meier plots. The generalised estimating equation model was constructed to identify factors associated with LLV and VF. Resistance-associated mutations were determined using population sequencing. RESULTS: A total of 1078 PLWH were included. The incidence rates of LLV and VF after the switch to EVG/c/FTC/TAF were 3.5 and 0.8 events per 100 person-years of follow-up, respectively, whereas the respective cumulative incidence of LLV and VF reached 11.7% and 2.9% within 3 years of follow-up. LLV was associated with any LLV episode before or after the switch and prior exposure to integrase strand transfer inhibitor-based ART. VF was associated with any LLV before or after the switch and prior exposure to raltegravir, but not the level or frequency of LLV. CONCLUSION: The risks of LLV and VF were low in PLWH who had achieved virologic suppression and switched to EVG/c/FTC/TAF, and the presence of LLV and prior exposure to raltegravir increased the risk of VF.

LaTaON2 Mesoporous Single Crystals for Efficient Photocatalytic Water Oxidation and Z-Scheme Overall Water Splitting.

LaTaON2 porous single crystals (PSCs), integrating structural coherence and porous microstructures, will warrant promising photocatalytic performance. The absence of grain boundaries in PSCs ensures rapid photocarrier transportation from bulk to the surface, thereby mitigating photocarriers' recombination. Porous microstructures not only provide ample reachable surface to host photochemical reactions but also reinforce photon-matter interactions by additional photon reflection/scattering. Here, we have synthesized LaTaON2 PSCs via a topotactic route and show significantly improved photocatalytic performance. Efficient water oxidation into O2 has been realized by LaTaON2 PSCs with an apparent quantum efficiency as high as 5.7% at 420 ± 20 nm. Stable overall water splitting into stoichiometric H2 and O2 has also been achieved in a Z-scheme setup using LaTaON2 PSCs as the O2 evolution photocatalyst. These results not only prove that PSCs facilitate photocarrier migrations, which in turn deliver exceptional photocatalytic performance, but also imply that PSCs are useful to reinvigorate conventional semiconductor photocatalysts toward efficient solar energy conversions.

Hispolon Induces Apoptosis, Suppresses Migration and Invasion of Glioblastoma Cells and Inhibits GBM Xenograft Tumor Growth In Vivo.

Hispolon, a polyphenol compound isolated from Phellinus linteus, has been reported to exhibit antioxidant, antiproliferative, and antitumor activities. This study aimed to explore the antitumor effects of hispolon on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells in vitro and in vivo. The results revealed that hispolon significantly inhibited GBM cell proliferation and induced apoptosis through caspase-9 and caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage. Hispolon also induced cell cycle G2/M phase arrest in GBM cells, as supported by flow cytometry analysis and confirmed by a decrease in cyclin B1, cdc2, and cdc25c protein expressions in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, hispolon suppressed the migration and invasion of GBM cells by modulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers via wound healing, transwell assays, and real-time PCR. Moreover, hispolon significantly reduced tumor growth in DBTRG xenograft mice and activated caspase-3 in hispolon-treated tumors. Thus, our findings revealed that hispolon is a potential candidate for the treatment of GBM.

Adverse Health Effects of Frailty: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Middle-Aged and Older Adults With Implications for Evidence-Based Practice.

BACKGROUND: Scholars have noted that frailty easily leads to functional deterioration and proneness to complications. Little literature addresses the stages of frailty in middle-aged and older adults and the effects of frailty on overall health. AIMS: This study explores the effect of different stages of frailty on the prospective health (falls, bone fractures, disability, dementia, hospitalization, and death) of middle-aged and older adults. In addition, different frailty indicators were compared to determine their usefulness in predicting future adverse health outcomes. METHODS: The authors of this study separately reviewed and extracted data from the literature obtained while searching the following keywords: "frailty" OR "frail" and "fall" OR "disability" OR "fracture" OR "hospitalization" OR "mortality" OR "cognitive function" "dementia" OR "Alzheimer's disease" and "middle-aged people" OR "older people" OR "elderly" OR "geriatric" OR "senior." The literature search was performed from January 2001 to November 2019 in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Specifically, we performed a systematic literature search in multiple databases-Embase, PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library-and analyzed all obtained literature results using a random-effects model. RESULTS: We collected a total of 29 prospective studies for the systematic literature review and meta-analysis. The main results indicated that the frail groups had significantly higher risks of adverse health effects (falls, bone fractures, disability, dementia, hospitalization, and death) than the robust or prefrail groups. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Frailty is a crucial healthcare topic among geriatric syndromes. Considering that older adults with frailty are most likely to develop severe adverse health outcomes, professional nursing personnel should assess frailty among middle-aged and older adults and offer relevant care strategies to reduce the adverse effects of frailty in this population.

Stable and efficient solar-driven photoelectrochemical water splitting into H2 and O2 based on a BaTaO2N photoanode decorated with CoO microflowers.

Stable and efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting has been achieved using a BaTaO2N photoanode decorated with CoO microflowers. The CoO microflowers effectively collect holes from BaTaO2N which kinetically protects BaTaO2N against photocorrosion. A Faraday efficiency of almost unity (99.2%) has been recorded for O2 evolution reactions. The tips of the CoO microflowers are the most active sites for water oxidation reactions.

Applying limiting entropy to quantify the alignment of collagen fibers by polarized light imaging.

Collagen alignment has shown clinical significance in a variety of diseases. For instance, vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) is characterized by homogenization of collagen fibers with increasing risk of malignant transformation. To date, a variety of imaging techniques have been developed to visualize collagen fibers. However, few works focused on quantifying the alignment quality of collagen fiber. To assess the level of disorder of local fiber orientation, the homogeneity index (HI) based on limiting entropy is proposed as an indicator of disorder. Our proposed methods are validated by verification experiments on Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) filament phantoms with controlled alignment quality of fibers. A case study on 20 VLS tissue biopsies and 14 normal tissue biopsies shows that HI can effectively characterize VLS tissue from normal tissue (P < 0.01). The classification results are very promising with a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 95%, which indicated that our method can provide quantitative assessment for the alignment quality of collagen fibers in VLS tissue and aid in improving histopathological examination of VLS.

Oxygen and oxaliplatin-loaded nanoparticles combined with photo-sonodynamic inducing enhanced immunogenic cell death in syngeneic mouse models of ovarian cancer.

Immunotherapy by stimulating the host immune system has been a promising therapeutic strategy for advanced ovarian cancer. Here we describe a treatment strategy that combines chemotherapy and photo-sonodynamic therapy (PSDT) to induce systemic antitumor immunity. We have successfully fabricated phase-changeable core-shell nanoparticles (OIX_NPs), which carry oxygen in the core and the photosensitizer indocyanine green (ICG)/oxaliplatin (OXP) in the shell for our combination therapy. In the present study, we demonstrated that OIX_NPs have great potential as contrast agents to enhance photoacoustic (PA) imaging. Furthermore, our combined strategy could induce immunogenic cell death (ICD) by promoting surface exposure of calreticulin (CRT) and passive release of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1). Importantly, it could inhibit the growth not only primary tumors but also distant tumors in a bilateral syngeneic mouse model by increasing intratumor infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. In conclusion, the combination of chemotherapy and PSDT has the potential to enhance antitumor immunity significantly and achieve the integration of diagnosis and treatment for ovarian cancer.