Reflectance spectroscopy analysis and lithium content estimation in lithium-rich rocks and stream sediments: Insights from Tuanjie Peak, Western Kunlun, China.

Lithium, a rare metal of strategic importance, has garnered heightened global attention. This investigation delves into the laboratory visible-near infrared and short-wavelength infrared reflectance (VNIR-SWIR 350 nm-2500 nm) spectral properties of lithium-rich rocks and stream sediments, aiming to elucidate their quantitative relationship with lithium concentration. This research seeks to pave new avenues and furnish innovative technical solutions for probing sedimentary lithium reserves. Conducted in the Tuanjie Peak region of Western Kunlun, Xinjiang, China, this study analyzed 614 stream sediments and 222 rock specimens. Initial steps included laboratory VNIR-SWIR spectral reflectance measurements and lithium quantification. Following the preprocessing of spectral data via Savitzky-Golay (SG) smoothing and continuum removal (CR), the absorption positions (Pos2210nm, Pos1910nm) and depths (Depth2210, Depth1910) in the rock spectra, as well as the Illite Spectral Maturity (ISM) of the rock samples, were extracted. Employing both the Successive Projections Algorithm (SPA) and genetic algorithm (GA), wavelengths indicative of lithium content were identified. Integrating the lithium-sensitive wavelengths identified by these feature selection methods, A quantitative predictive regression model for lithium content in rock and stream sediments was developed using partial least squares regression (PLSR), support vector regression (SVR), and convolutional neural network (CNN). Spectral analysis indicated that lithium is predominantly found in montmorillonite and illite, with its content positively correlating with the spectral maturity of illite and closely related to Al-OH absorption depth (Depth2210) and clay content. The SPA algorithm was more effective than GA in extracting lithium-sensitive bands. The optimal regression model for quantitative prediction of lithium content in rock samples was SG-SPA-CNN, with a correlation coefficient prediction (Rp) of 0.924 and root-mean-square error prediction (RMSEP) of 0.112. The optimal model for the prediction of lithium content in stream sediment was SG-SPA-CNN, with an Rp and RMSEP of 0.881 and 0.296, respectively. The higher prediction accuracy for lithium content in rocks compared to sediments indicates that rocks are a more suitable medium for predicting lithium content. Compared to the PLSR and SVR models, the CNN model performs better in both sample types. Despite the limitations, this study highlights the effectiveness of hyperspectral technology in exploring the potential of clay-type lithium resources in the Tuanjie Peak area, offering new perspectives and approaches for further exploration.

Case report: Multi-antibody-positive myasthenia gravis concomitant myositis associated with thymoma.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) and idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) are autoimmune diseases of the nervous system, and their main clinical manifestation is muscle weakness. The concurrent presence of both conditions in the same patient is clinically rare and easily missed. Here, we report the case of a 74-year-old woman who went to the doctor with fluctuating weakness of the limbs and muscle pain. By analyzing the patient's history and the results of repeated frequency electrical stimulation, chest computed tomography, thigh muscle magnetic resonance imaging, serum antibody detection, lymph node biopsy, etc., she was finally diagnosed with MG-concomitant IIM with squamous cell carcinoma of the thymus. Acetylcholine receptor antibody, titin antibody, ryanodine receptor antibody, anti-JO-1 antibody, and Ro-52 antibody tests were positive. MG-concomitant IIM is often associated with thymoma. The immunopathology mechanism may be different from that of pure MG or IIM, which needs further research.

PeFUS3 Drives Lateral Root Growth Via Auxin and ABA Signalling Under Drought Stress in Populus.

Changes in root system architecture are vital for plant adaptation to drought stress, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms of this process remain largely elusive. Here, FUSCA3 (FUS3), a B3 domain transcription factor isolated from Populus euphratica, was found to be an important gene of regulating lateral root (LR) development under drought stress. The expression of PeFUS3 was strongly induced by ABA and dehydration treatments. Overexpressing PeFUS3 in poplar 84 K (P. alba × P. glandulosa) positively regulated LR growth and enhanced drought tolerance, while the knockout lines, generated by the CRISPR/Cas9 system, displayed repressed LR growth and weakened drought tolerance. Further investigation demonstrated that PeFUS3 activated the expression of PIN2, PIN6a and AUX1, which were key genes involved in auxin transport, suggesting PeFUS3 modulated LR development under drought stress through auxin signalling. Moreover, PeFUS3 directly upregulated PePYL3 expression, and overexpressing PePYL3 poplar lines exhibited significantly increased drought resistance. In addition, PeABF2, an ABA responsive transcription factor, interacted with PeFUS3 and activated its transcription, indicating PeFUS3 was involved in ABA signalling pathway. Taken together, PeFUS3 is a key regulator, maintaining root growth of poplar by modulating the crosstalk of auxin and ABA signalling under drought stress.

Value of difference in diameters between Pipeline embolization device and parent artery in assessing aneurysm outcome.

OBJECTIVE: In vitro trials have demonstrated that oversized stents are associated with reduced metal coverage and increased porosity. However, the relationship between stent selection and aneurysm outcome is inconclusive, and determination of this was the authors' purpose in conducting this study. METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective study. Patients who underwent Pipeline embolization device treatment at the authors' center between January 1, 2018, and June 15, 2023, were enrolled. The authors constructed multiple logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline plots to examine the effect of the difference in diameters between the stent and parent artery (Dd) on aneurysm outcome. The authors also performed stratified analyses. Then, Dd was included in the logistic regression analysis as a categorical variable. The cutoff value for Dd was determined according to the principle of the maximum Youden's index. RESULTS: In total, 302 patients were included in this study. The median Dd was 0.52 mm. With a median follow-up time of 7 months, the aneurysm occlusion rate was 80.1%. The restricted cubic spline plots showed a decreasing aneurysm occlusion rate as Dd increased. After stratification by age and adjunctive embolization, the restricted cubic splines aligned with the results of the main analysis. Compared with the group with a smaller Dd (Dd < 0.3625 mm), the group with a larger Dd showed an OR of 0.439 (p = 0.026). Additionally, patients with diabetes mellitus (OR 0.306, p = 0.018), age ≥ 65 years (OR 0.968, p = 0.03), aneurysm incorporation with a branch (OR 0.253, p < 0.001), and aneurysm neck ≥ 4 mm (OR 0.872, p = 0.003) were independent predictors of aneurysm persistence, whereas Pipeline embolization device plus coiling (OR 4.949, p < 0.001) and smoking history (OR 5.86, p = 0.025) were predictors of aneurysm occlusion. CONCLUSIONS: The authors' retrospective analysis demonstrated that the aneurysm occlusion rate declined when Dd increased within a certain range. The authors suggested that Dd with an interval of -0.25 to 0.5 mm may be proper in clinical practice.

Tumor endothelium-derived PODXL correlates with immunosuppressive microenvironment and poor prognosis in cervical cancer patients receiving radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.

Podocalyxin-like protein (PODXL) is known to originate from tumor cells in several cancers; however, which cell type it is expressed in, whether and how it may contribute to tumor progression after radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in cervical cancer (CC) remain unknown. In this study, we investigated these issues using a cohort of 180 immune stain data, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data of 29,453 cells, and bulk RNA sequencing data from 187 cervical cancer samples treated with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. ScRNA-seq analysis revealed that PODXL was predominantly expressed in tumor endothelial cells (TECs) of CC, which was corroborated by tumor section staining. Moreover, the PODXL expression level was negatively associated with progression-free survival and overall survival of 180 CC patients receiving radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy (both p < 0.001). Furthermore, compared with PODXLlow TECs, PODXLhigh TECs exhibited a diminished anti-tumor immune response and enhanced tumor-promoting features characteristics. In addition, PODXL over-expression was also found to be negatively associated with immune response and indicated poor survival in bulk RNA sequencing data of CC treated with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. These results underscore the role of PODXL in CC, suggesting it as a promising target and prognostic marker for patients treated with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.

Thiacalix[4]arene-Stabilized Sb/Ag Bimetallic Nanoclusters: Elucidating the Effects of Sb Doping on Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction in Ag Clusters.

Accurately identifying the metal doping effects within heterogeneous catalysts presents a formidable challenge due to the complex nature of controlling the interfacial chemistry at the molecular level. Herein, we use two sets of atomically precise nanoclusters to demonstrate the impact of Sb doping on the electrocatalytic CO2 reduction activity in Ag nanoclusters. Leveraging the unique properties of the thiacalix[4]arene, we have pioneered a methodology for incorporating catalytic Ag1+ and Sb3+ sites, culminating in the synthesis of the pioneering Sb-Ag bimetallic cluster, Sb2Ag11. We refined this structure by replacing the two Sb3+ sites with Na+ sites, resulting in a Na2Ag10 cluster. Broadening our investigative scope, we isolated the core components from both Sb2Ag11 and Na2Ag10 and obtained two clusters: Sb2Ag4 and Ag4. The subtle compositional variations between two pairs of structurally analogous clusters, Sb2Ag11 and Na2Ag10, as well as Sb2Ag4 and Ag4, create opportunities to investigate how the Sb doping impacts the catalytic activity of Ag clusters. Clearly, compared to the undoped clusters, those doped with Sb exhibit higher catalytic current densities and enhanced CO selectivity. The theoretical calculations suggest that Sb doping can enhance the adsorption barrier of *H, thereby inhibiting hydrogen evolution activity and conversely promoting eCO2RR to CO activity.

A nomogram for predicting the risk of postoperative delirium in individuals undergoing cardiovascular surgery.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Delirium is a common mental disorder after adult cardiovascular surgery. Fifteen to 23% of patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery and cardiomyopathy experience delirium, and the efficacy of treatment interventions for delirium has been consistently unsatisfactory. METHODS: A total of 729 patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery were randomly allocated into a training set and a validation set. A nomogram was developed using a logistic regression model to predict the incidence of delirium following cardiovascular surgery. The validity of the model was assessed by determining the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calculating the area under the ROC curve (AUROC), performing a calibration plot, and executing a decision curve analysis. This model was internally validated using the bootstrap method. RESULTS: Postoperative delirium (POD) occurred in 165 cases (22.6%) among the 729 patients. Predictors included age, transient ischemic attack, length of preoperative stay, preoperative left ventricular injection fraction and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide level, and intraoperative infusion of dexmedetomidine and human fibrinogen. The nomogram showed sufficient differentiation and calibration (AUROC = 0.754, 95% confidence interval = 0.703-0.804). The calibration graphs showed that the predictive values of the nomogram were in agreement with the actual values. The analysis of the training and validation sets suggested that the model possessed specific clinical significance. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the predictive model consists of seven factors that can roughly predict the occurrence of POD in patients who undergo cardiovascular surgery.

Fatal graft-versus-host disease in recipient with pretransplant exposure to immune checkpoint inhibitors and donor-dominant one-way HLA matching after liver transplantation: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a rare but severe complication following liver transplantation (LT), occurring in 1-2 % of cases with a mortality rate exceeding 80 %. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) used pretransplant are associated with increased allograft rejection risk, but their impact on GvHD in LT remains unclear. Dominant one-way donor-recipient human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching is a known risk factor for GvHD. This report presents a rare case of fatal GvHD in a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patient treated with PD-1 inhibitors before LT and transplanted with a liver graft from a deceased donor with donor-dominant one-way HLA matching. CASE PRESENTATION: A 59-year-old male with a 30-year history of hepatitis B and unresectable HCC underwent LT after receiving the last dose of PD-1 inhibitors 7 days prior to the transplant. On post-operative day (POD) 12, the patient developed a skin rash, fever, and vomiting, and was diagnosed with GvHD. Despite aggressive treatment, including high-dose corticosteroids and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), the patient succumbed to gastrointestinal bleeding and multi-organ failure on POD 30. HLA genotyping revealed typical donor-dominant one-way HLA matching. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: This case highlights a potential link between pretransplant exposure to ICIs and GvHD, particularly with donor-dominant one-way HLA matching. Residual anti-PD-1 antibodies may activate graft-resident immune cells, precipitating GvHD. Further research with larger cohorts and animal models is required to clarify this relationship and understand the underlying mechanisms. CONCLUSION: Besides allograft rejection, caution should also be exercised regarding GvHD in patients with prior exposure to ICIs before LT.

Boron Ylide Enables Stereoselective Construction of gem-Diborylcyclopropanes.

The stereoselective cyclopropanation of olefins with boron ylide is disclosed for the first time, providing a modular strategy for the synthesis of stereospecific diboryl-functionalized cyclopropanes. The chiral gem-diborylcyclopropanes are synthesized with excellent enantioselectivity with the aid of a chiral auxiliary. Based on the powerful transformable ability of boryl group, those challenging multi-quaternary carbon centers in cyclopropane units have been facilely constructed with excellent stereoselectivity. Control experiments indicate that the boryl groups are necessary for both chemoselectivity and stereoselectivity control.

Role of tenofovir dipivoxil in gut microbiota recovery from HBV-infection induced dysbiosis.

BACKGROUND: Studies have found dysbiosis of the gut microbiota in individuals infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Tenofovir dipivoxil (TDF) is one of the preferred oral antiviral drugs used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), but the extent to which TDF is able to affect the gut microbiota and inflammatory factors of a patient remains largely unexplored. In this study, we collected stool samples from HBV patients prior to medication and from CHB patients treated with TDF. RESULTS: The gut microbiota and inflammatory factors were assessed in 42 healthy subjects (HC group), 109 HBV-infected subjects, including 48 CHB patients who were not medicated with nucleoside analogue drugs (No-NAs group), and 61 CHB patients who were medicated with TDF (TDF group). 16 S rRNA sequencing revealed that TDF treatment caused significant changes in the gut microbiota of HBV-infected individuals; however, the gut microbiota of HBV-infected individuals did not fully recover to a pre-dysbiosis state. The relative abundance of Bacteroidota gradually decreased from the HC group to the No-NAs and TDF groups. The relative abundance of Fusobacteriota was significantly higher in the No-NAs group than in the HC group. At the genus level, Dialister, Eubacterium_hallii_group, Halomonas, Collinsella, Sphingomonas, Xanthomonadaceae_unclassified, and Rhizobiaceae_unclassified were overrepresented; while the abundance of Bacteroides and Fusobacterium decreased significantly in the No-NAs and TDF groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that TDF treatment significantly improved the regulation of the gut microbiota and aided in dysbiosis recovery. We did not observe significant improvement in serum inflammatory factor concentrations, which may be related to the relatively short duration of TDF administration in this study.

Effect of electronic alerts on the care and outcomes in patients with acute kidney injury: a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although electronic alerts are being increasingly implemented in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI), their effect remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis aiming at investigating their impact on the care and outcomes of AKI patients. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Clinical Trial Registries databases were systematically searched for relevant studies from inception to March 2024. Randomized controlled trials comparing electronic alerts with usual care in patients with AKI were selected. RESULTS: Six studies including 40,146 patients met the inclusion criteria. The pooled results showed that electronic alerts did not improve mortality rates (relative risk (RR) = 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.97-1.08, P = 0.44) or reduce creatinine levels (mean difference (MD) = - 0.21, 95% CI = - 1.60-1.18, P = 0.77) and AKI progression (RR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.90-1.04, P = 0.40). Instead, electronic alerts increased the odds of dialysis and AKI documentation (RR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.05-1.25, P = 0.002; RR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.01-1.44, P = 0.04, respectively), but the trial sequential analysis (TSA) could not confirm these results. No differences were observed in other care-centered outcomes including renal consults and investigations between the alert and usual care groups. CONCLUSIONS: Electronic alerts increased the incidence of AKI and dialysis in AKI patients, which likely reflected improved recognition and early intervention. However, these changes did not improve the survival or kidney function of AKI patients. The findings warrant further research to comprehensively evaluate the impact of electronic alerts.

The motive cocktail in altruistic behaviors.

Prosocial motives such as social equality and efficiency are key to altruistic behaviors. However, predicting the range of altruistic behaviors in varying contexts and individuals proves challenging if we limit ourselves to one or two motives. Here we demonstrate the numerous, interdependent motives in altruistic behaviors and the possibility to disentangle them through behavioral experimental data and computational modeling. In one laboratory experiment (N = 157) and one preregistered online replication (N = 1,258), across 100 different situations, we found that both third-party punishment and third-party helping behaviors (that is, an unaffected individual punishes the transgressor or helps the victim) aligned best with a model of seven socioeconomic motives, referred to as a motive cocktail. For instance, the inequality discounting motives imply that individuals, when confronted with costly interventions, behave as if the inequality between others barely exists. The motive cocktail model also provides a unified explanation for the differences in intervention willingness between second parties (victims) and third parties, and between punishment and helping.

Development of levamlodipine long-acting patches based on an ion-pair strategy: Investigation of the mechanism for reducing skin irritation.

The aim of this study was to develop a long-acting transdermal patch of levamlodipine (LAM) using an ion-pair strategy to reduce the skin irritation induced by topical application of LAM and explore the mechanism underlying the improvement of skin irritation. The formulation was optimized through porcine in vitro transdermal experiments and rabbit in vivo skin irritation tests. The obtained formulation consisted of poly (2-Ethylhexyl acrylate-co-N-Vinyl-2-pyrrolidone-co-N-(2-Hydroxyethyl) acrylamide) (PENH) as the adhesive matrix, 13.00 % levamlodipine-sorbic acid ion-pair complex (LAM-SA) (w/w), and 10 % isopropyl myristate (IPM) (w/w), with a patch thickness of 70 µm, achieving an erythema index of 188 for rabbit skin and 117-187 for human skin (264 for rabbit skin and 110-260 for human skin in the absence of sorbic acid (SA)). In vivo rabbit and human skin erythema analysis and H&E staining verified that the optimized ion-pair patch effectively reduced skin irritation. Drug distribution experiments in the skin, ATR-FTIR, and molecular simulation were used to characterize the mechanism by which the ion-pair reduced skin irritation. Excessive accumulation of LAM in the epidermis induced secondary structural changes in keratin, resulting in skin barrier damage and inflammatory response. The formation of the LAM-SA ion pair altered physicochemical properties of LAM, reducing drug retention in the epidermis and, thereby, reducing skin irritation. This study demonstrated the potential of the ion-pair strategy to improve the safety of transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS) and provided a means for reducing skin irritation caused by the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) itself.

Decimeter-depth and polarization addressable color 3D meta-holography.

Fueled by the rapid advancement of nanofabrication, metasurface has provided unprecedented opportunities for 3D holography. Large depth 3D meta-holography not only greatly increases information storage capacity, but also enables distinguishing of the relative spatial relationship of 3D objects, which has important applications in fields like optical information storage and medical diagnosis. Although the methods based on Fresnel diffraction theory can reconstruct the real depth information of 3D objects, the maximum depth is only 2 mm. Here, we develop a 3D meta-holography based on angular spectrum diffraction theory to break through the depth limit. By developing the angular spectrum diffraction theory into meta-holography, the metasurface structure with independent polarization control is used to create a polarization multiplexing 3D meta-hologram. The fabricated amorphous silicon metasurface increases the depth range by 47.5 times and realizes 0.95 dm depth reconstruction for polarization independent and different color 3D meta-hologram in visible. Such polarization controlled large-depth color meta-holography is expected to open avenue for data storage, display, information security and virtual reality.

ST-GEARS: Advancing 3D downstream research through accurate spatial information recovery.

Three-dimensional Spatial Transcriptomics has revolutionized our understanding of tissue regionalization, organogenesis, and development. However, existing approaches overlook either spatial information or experiment-induced distortions, leading to significant discrepancies between reconstruction results and in vivo cell locations, causing unreliable downstream analysis. To address these challenges, we propose ST-GEARS (Spatial Transcriptomics GEospatial profile recovery system through AnchoRS). By employing innovative Distributive Constraints into the Optimization scheme, ST-GEARS retrieves anchors with exceeding precision that connect closest spots across sections in vivo. Guided by the anchors, it first rigidly aligns sections, next solves and denoises Elastic Fields to counteract distortions. Through mathematically proved Bi-sectional Fields Application, it eventually recovers the original spatial profile. Studying ST-GEARS across number of sections, sectional distances and sequencing platforms, we observed its outstanding performance on tissue, cell, and gene levels. ST-GEARS provides precise and well-explainable 'gears' between in vivo situations and in vitro analysis, powerfully fueling potential of biological discoveries.

Prognostic Value of Plasma Immunoglobulin G N-Glycome Traits in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: B-type natriuretic peptide or N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide is the only blood biomarker in established risk calculators for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Profiling systemic-originated plasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) N-glycans, which reflect different components of the pathophysiology of PAH including immune dysregulation and inflammation, may improve PAH risk assessment. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to identify plasma IgG N-glycan biomarkers that predict survival in PAH to improve risk assessment. METHODS: This cohort study examined 622 PAH patients from 2 national centers (Beijing [discovery] cohort: n = 273; Shanghai [validation] cohort: n = 349). Plasma IgG N-glycomes were profiled by a robust mass spectrometry-based method. Prognostic IgG N-glycan traits were identified and validated in the 2 cohorts using Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses. The added value of IgG N-glycan traits to previously established risk models was assessed using Harrell C-indexes and survival analysis. RESULTS: Plasma IgG fucosylation was found to predict survival independent of age and sex in the discovery cohort (HR: 0.377; 95% CI: 0.168-0.845; P = 0.018) with confirmation in the validation cohort (HR: 0.445; 95% CI: 0.264-0.751; P = 0.005). IgG fucosylation remained a robust predictor of mortality in combined cohorts after full adjustment and in subgroup analyses. Integrating IgG fucosylation into previously established risk models improved their predictive capacity, marked by an overall elevation in Harrell C-indexes. IgG fucosylation was useful in further stratifying the intermediate-risk patients classified by a previously established model. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma IgG fucosylation informs PAH prognosis independent of established factors, offering additional value for predicting PAH outcomes.

Animal Experimental Study of Bioabsorbable Left Atrial Appendage Occluder.

Left atrial appendage (LAA) closure can prevent stroke in high-risk patients with atrial fibrillation.A bioabsorbable LAA occluder made of degradable polymer materials, such as polydioxanone (PDO) and poly-L-lactic acid (PLA), and nitinol wire was used. Occluders were successfully implanted in 18 Chinese rural dogs, 2 of which died within 48 hours after operation due to pericardial tamponade and hemorrhage, respectively. Follow-up observation was performed after transcatheter LAA closure. New tissue was found on the surface of the occluder 2 months after operation. No adjacent structures such as the mitral valve and the left superior pulmonary vein were affected by the occluder discs. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was performed at 3 months after operation, which showed intact intimal structure on the occluder surface, and unabsorbed PDO and PLA were observed. Scanning electron microscopy showed irregular arrangement of endothelial cells. New endothelial tissue was observed to completely cover the occluder at 6 months after operation. Most PDOs were replaced by fibrous connective tissue, and scanning electron microscopy showed regularly arranged endothelial cells. Pathological examination at 12 months showed only a small remnant of PDO. The gross specimens of the liver, spleen, and kidneys and pathological examination did not indicate thromboembolism.The bioabsorbable LAA occluder made of PDO, PLA, and nitinol wire was safe and effective for the occlusion of LAA in dogs. The surface of the occluder was endothelialized half a year after operation. The absorbable materials of the occluder were degraded after 1 year.

Nanoengineered Injectable Hydrogel: An Advanced Radioprotective Barrier with Magnetic Hyperthermia Synergy.

Despite its effectiveness in eradicating cancer cells, current tumor radiotherapy often causes irreversible damage to the surrounding healthy tissues. To address this issue and enhance therapeutic outcomes, we developed a multifunctional injectable hydrogel that integrates electromagnetic shielding and magnetothermal effects. This innovation aims to improve the efficacy of brachytherapy while protecting adjacent normal tissues. Recognizing the limitations of existing hydrogel materials in terms of stretchability, durability, and single functionality, we engineered a composite hydrogel by self-assembling nickel nanoparticles on the surface of liquid metal particles and embedding them into an injectable hydrogel matrix. The resulting composite material demonstrates superior electromagnetic interference shielding performance (74.89 dB) and a rapid magnetothermal heating rate (10.9 °C/min), significantly enhancing its in vivo applicability. The experimental results confirm that this innovative nanocomposite hydrogel effectively attenuates electromagnetic waves during brachytherapy, thereby protecting normal tissues surrounding the tumor and enhancing radiotherapy efficacy through magnetothermal therapy. This study advances the safety and effectiveness of cancer treatments and provides new insights into the development of multifunctional biomedical materials, promoting the innovative application of nanotechnology in the medical field.

Clinical evaluation of a highly multiplexed CRISPR-based diagnostic assay for diagnosing lower respiratory tract infection: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Accurate and rapid identification of causative pathogens is essential to guide the clinical management of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). Here we conducted a single-centre prospective study in 284 patients suspected of lower respiratory tract infections to evaluate the utility of a nucleic acid test based on highly multiplexed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and CRISPR-Cas12a. METHODS: We determined the analytical and diagnostic performance of the CRISPR assay using a combination of reference standards, including conventional microbiological tests (CMTs), metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing (mNGS), and clinical adjudication by a panel of experts on infectious diseases and microbiology. RESULTS: The CRISPR assay showed a higher detection rate (63.0%) than conventional microbiological tests (38.4%) and was lower than metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing (72.9%). In detecting polymicrobial infections, the positivity rate of the CRISPR assay (19.4%) was higher than conventional microbiological tests (3.5%) and lower than metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing (28.9%). The overall diagnostic sensitivity of the CRISPR assay (67.8%) was higher than conventional microbiological tests (41.8%), and lower than metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing (93.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Considering the low cost, ease of operation, short turnaround time, and broad range of pathogens detected in a single test, the CRISPR assay has the potential to be implemented as a screening tool for the aetiological diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infections patients, especially in cases where atypical bacteria or coinfections are suspected.

Biomechanics on Ultra-Sensitivity of Venus Flytrap's Micronewton Trigger Hairs.

Numerous plants evolve ingeniously microcantilever-based hairs to ultra-sensitively detect out-of-plane quasi-static tactile loads, providing a natural blueprint for upgrading the industrial static mode microcantilever sensors, but how do the biological sensory hairs work mechanically? Here, the action potential-producing trigger hairs of carnivorous Venus flytraps (Dionaea muscipula) are investigated in detail from biomechanical perspective. Under tiny mechanical stimulation, the deformable trigger hair, composed of distal stiff lever and proximal flexible podium, will lead to rapid trap closure and prey capture. The multiple features determining the sensitivity such as conical morphology, multi-scale functional structures, kidney-shaped sensory cells, and combined deformation under tiny mechanical stimulation are comprehensively researched. Based on materials mechanics, finite element simulation, and bio-inspired original artificial sensors, it is verified that the omnidirectional ultra-sensitivity of trigger hair is attributed to the stiff-flexible coupling of material, the double stress concentration, the circular distribution of sensory cells, and the positive local buckling. Also, the balance strategy of slender hair between sensitivity and structural stability (i.e., avoiding disastrous collapse) is detailed revealed. The unique basic biomechanical mechanism underlying trigger hairs is essential for significantly enhancing the performance of the traditional industrial static mode microcantilever sensors, and ensure the stability of arbitrary load perception.