Nanomaterials-based aptasensors for rapid detection and early warning of key food contaminants: A review.

The frequent occurrence of food safety incidents has aroused public concern about food safety and key contaminants. Foodborne pathogen contamination, pesticide residues, heavy metal residues, and other food safety problems will significantly impact human health. Therefore, developing efficient and sensitive detection method to ensure food safety early warning is paramount. The aptamer-based sensor (aptasensor) is a novel analytical tool with strong targeting, high sensitivity, low cost, etc. It has been extensively utilized in the pharmaceutical industry, biomedicine, environmental engineering, food safety detection, and in other diverse fields. This work reviewed the latest research progress of aptasensors for food analysis and detection, mainly introducing their application in detecting various key food contaminants. Subsequently, the sensing mechanism and performance of aptasensors are discussed. Finally, the review will examine the challenges and opportunities related to aptasensors for detecting major contaminants in food, and advance implementation of aptasensors in food safety and detection.

The preventive effect of inhaled antibiotic against ventilator-associated pneumonia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) constitutes a considerable challenge for patients in intensive care units (ICUs) and necessitates the development of effective preventive strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of inhaled antibiotics for preventing VAP. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched until January 21, 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the clinical efficacy of inhaled antibiotics for VAP prevention were included. RESULTS: Seven RCTs, involving 1465 patients, of whom 734 were classified as the study group receiving inhaled antibiotics and 731 as the control group receiving placebo were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, the occurrence of VAP was significantly lower in the study group than in the control group (risk ratio [RR], 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.51 to 0.92). However, there were no significant differences in mortality (RR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.74 to 1.09), length of stay in ICU (mean difference [MD], 0.10 days; 95% CI, -0.91 to 1.1) and hospital (MD, 0.30 days; 95% CI, -1.82 to 2.43), and mechanical ventilation (MV) duration (MD, 0.45 days; 95% CI, -0.45 to 1.35) between groups. CONCLUSION: Inhaled antibiotics hold promise for mitigating the risk of VAP among critically ill patients. However, their impact on mortality, length of stay in ICU and hospital, and MV duration was not statistically significant.

Relationship between triglyceride-glucose index and carotid artery plaques in ischemic stroke patients: Based on blood pressure status, sex, and age.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have shown that the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a reliable substitute marker for insulin resistance. Nevertheless, its correlation with carotid artery plaques (CAPs) among patients with ischemic stroke (IS) remains to be elucidated. METHODS: 9248 IS patients hospitalized at the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were grouped according to the quartiles of TyG index. Patients were further stratified by blood pressure status, sex, age and hypertension control status. Employing logistic regression to examine the connection between the TyG index and CAPs.Additionally, analyzing the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to evaluate the predictive value of the TyG index for CAPs. RESULTS: Participants with an elevated TyG index had an increased prevalence of CAPs. The TyG index was positively correlated with CAPs (OR: 1.26, CI: 1.14-1.40, P<0.001). Compared with normal blood pressure and prehypertensive patients, the TyG index was markedly correlated with CAPs among hypertensive patients (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.15-1.44, P<0.001). Females had a higher OR value than males(OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.11-1.54, P=0.001 versus OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.09-1.41, P=0.001). Older patients (>60 years) had a higher OR value than their middle-aged counterparts (≤60 years) (OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.16-1.58, P<0.001 versus OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.05-1.37, P=0.007). Patients with poorly-controlled hypertension had a higher OR value than patients with well-controlled hypertension(OR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.14-1.63, P=0.001 versus OR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.07-1.44, P=0.003). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) value in the overall population, sex-stratified group, hypertensive patients and hypertension control status-stratified group were all above 0.7 (P<0.01), demonstrating good forecasting capability. CONCLUSIONS: In IS patients, the TyG index was significantly associated with CAPs. Additionally, this correlation was more pronounced in hypertensive patients, females, older individuals and patients with poorly-controlled hypertension.

Rapid detection of tertiary butylated hydroquinone in food samples using Mn-MOF@f-CNF composite-modified screen-printed electrode.

Hydroquinone-based organic molecules are often used as unavoidable preservatives in the food industry. Among these additives, tertiary butylated hydroquinone (TBHQ) is widely employed as a preservative in various processed foods. However, the potential health risks associated with the excessive presence of TBHQ in food products have raised significant concerns. To address this pressing issuea novel binder-free composite composed of a manganese metal-organic framework and functionalized carbon nanofibers (Mn-MOF/f-CNF) has been developed as an electrode modifier for the ultrasensitive detection of TBHQ in food samples. The Mn-MOF/f-CNF composite was achieved using the ultrasonication method, revealing a lamellar sheet-like structure of the Mn-MOF and the curly thread-like fibrous structure of f-CNF. The developed Mn-MOF/f-CNF/SPE sensor system resulted in well-defined redox signals for TBHQ detection in a neutral pH solution. Compared to the unmodified SPE system, the modified system showed approximately a 300 mV reduction in overpotential and a twofold increase in peak current signal for TBHQ detection. The Mn-MOF/f-CNF/SPE sensor system showed a linear concentration window of 0.01 to 800 µM with a sensitivity of 6.28 µA µM-1 cm-2 and the obtained detection limit was 1.36 nM. Additionally, the proposed sensor displayed excellent reproducibility and repeatable results with an RSD of less than 5%. The real-time applicability of the Mn-MOF/f-CNF/SPE sensor system was demonstrated using real samples such as potato chips and instant noodles, showing excellent results with a recovery range of 95.1-98.5%.

Amlexanox targeted inhibition of TBK1 regulates immune cell function to exacerbate DSS-induced inflammatory bowel disease.

Amlexanox (ALX) is a small molecule drug for the treatment of inflammatory, autoimmune, metabolic and tumor diseases. At present, there are no studies on whether ALX has a therapeutic effect on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this study, we used a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis to investigate the effect of ALX targeted inhibition of TBK1 on colitis. We found that the severity of colitis in mice was correlated with TBK1 expression. Notably, although ALX inhibited the activation of the TBK1-NF-κB/TBK1-IRF3 pro-inflammatory signaling pathway, it exacerbated colitis and reduced survival in mice. The results of drug safety experiments ruled out a relationship between this exacerbating effect and drug toxicity. In addition, ELISA results showed that ALX promoted the secretion of IL-1ß and IFN-α, and inhibited the production of cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10, TGF-ß and secretory IgA. Flow cytometry results further showed that ALX promoted T cell proliferation, activation and differentiation, and thus played a pro-inflammatory role; Also, ALX inhibited the generation of dendritic cells and the polarization of macrophages to M1 type, thus exerting anti-inflammatory effect. These data suggest that the regulation of ALX on the function of different immune cells is different, so the effect on the inflammatory response is bidirectional. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that simply inhibiting TBK1 in all immune cells is not effective for the treatment of colitis. Further investigation the anti-inflammatory mechanism of ALX on dendritic cells and macrophages may provide a new strategy for the treatment of IBD.

A novel nonsense mutation c.747C>G in the NEUROD1 gene detected within a Chinese family affected by maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 6.

Highlights Maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 6 (MODY6) is a rare form of monogenic diabetes mellitus due to NEUROD1 gene mutation on chromosome 2q32. A 21-year-old woman exhibiting weight loss, polyuria, and hyperglycemia was initially misdiagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Considering the early-onset age, a three-generation family history of diabetes, and negative autoimmune antibodies, a MODY diagnosis was suspected. Genetic analysis revealed that she inherited a novel heterozygous nonsense NEUROD1 mutation c.747C>G (p.Tyr249*) from her father. Correct MODY6 diagnosis facilitates appropriate interventions.

ED-71 Ameliorates Bone Loss in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Enhancing Osteogenesis Through Upregulation of the Circadian Rhythm Coregulator BMAL1.

Purpose: Bone loss is a common complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Circadian rhythms play a significant role in T2DM and bone remodeling. Eldecalcitol (ED-71), a novel active vitamin D analog, has shown promise in ameliorating T2DM. We aimed to investigate whether the circadian rhythm coregulator BMAL1 mediates the anti-osteoporotic effect of ED-71 in T2DM and its associated mechanisms. Methods: A T2DM mouse model was established using high-fat diet (HDF) and streptozotocin (STZ) injection, and blood glucose levels were monitored weekly. HE staining, Masson staining, and Micro-CT were performed to assess the changes in bone mass. IHC staining and IF staining were used to detect osteoblast status and BMAL1 expression and RT-qPCR was applied to detect the change of oxidative stress factors. In vitro, high glucose (HG) stimulation was used to simulate the cell environment in T2DM. RT-qPCR, Western blot, IF, ALP staining and AR staining were used to detect osteogenic differentiation and SIRT1/GSK3ß signaling pathway. DCFH-DA staining was used to detect reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Results: ED-71 increased bone mass and promoted osteogenesis in T2DM mice. Moreover, ED-71 inhibited oxidative stress and promoted BMAL1 expression in osteoblasts The addition of STL1267, an agonist of the BMAL1 transcriptional repressor protein REV-ERB, reversed the inhibitory effect of ED-71 on oxidative stress and the promotional effect on osteogenic differentiation. In addition, ED-71 facilitated SIRT1 expression and reduced GSK3ß activity. The inhibition of SIRT1 with EX527 partially attenuated ED-71's effects, whereas the GSK3ß inhibitor LiCl further enhanced ED-71's positive effects on BMAL1 expression. Conclusion: ED-71 ameliorates bone loss in T2DM by upregulating the circadian rhythm coregulator BMAL1 and promoting osteogenesis through inhibition of oxidative stress. The SIRT1/GSK3ß signaling pathway is involved in the regulation of BMAL1.

Analysis of the senescence-associated cell surfaceome reveals potential senotherapeutic targets.

The accumulation of senescent cells is thought to play a crucial role in aging-associated physiological decline and the pathogenesis of various age-related pathologies. Targeting senescence-associated cell surface molecules through immunotherapy emerges as a promising avenue for the selective removal of these cells. Despite its potential, a thorough characterization of senescence-specific surface proteins remains to be achieved. Our study addresses this gap by conducting an extensive analysis of the cell surface proteome, or "surfaceome", in senescent cells, spanning various senescence induction regimes and encompassing both murine and human cell types. Utilizing quantitative mass spectrometry, we investigated enriched cell surface proteins across eight distinct models of senescence. Our results uncover significant changes in surfaceome expression profiles during senescence, highlighting extensive modifications in cell mechanics and extracellular matrix remodeling. Our research also reveals substantive heterogeneity of senescence, predominantly influenced by cell type and senescence inducer. A key discovery of our study is the identification of four unique cell surface proteins with extracellular epitopes. These proteins are expressed in senescent cells, absent or present at low levels in their proliferating counterparts, and notably upregulated in tissues from aged mice and an Alzheimer's disease mouse model. These proteins stand out as promising candidates for senotherapeutic targeting, offering potential pathways for the detection and strategic targeting of senescent cell populations in aging and age-related diseases.

Establishment of cutoff values for anti-ß2 glycoprotein I antibodies in women of reproductive age in Southwest China.

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by vascular thrombosis and obstetric morbidity, with accurate laboratory examination of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) being crucial for diagnosis. This study focused on anti-ß2 glycoprotein I (aß2GPI) antibodies and aimed to establish the first population-based cutoff values for aß2GPI IgA/IgM/IgG antibodies in non-pregnant women of reproductive age in Southwest China. The study cohort comprised 181 healthy women of reproductive age for study. Blood samples were collected on an early morning fast. Anti-ß2GPI antibodies including IgA, IgM and IgG were measured in serum using the HOB® BioCLIA kit. According to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines, the study used non-parametric percentile methods to calculate the 95th, 97.5th, and 99th percentiles cutoff values for aß2GPI IgA/IgM/IgG antibodies, along with corresponding 90% confidence intervals (CI), while excluding outliers. A total of 168 independent samples were collected for verification, including 85 samples from healthy subjects and 83 samples from APS patients, in order to evaluate the analytical performance of the obtained cutoff values. The 99th percentile cutoff values were 3.36 RU/mL for aß2GPI IgA, 27.54 RU/mL for aß2GPI IgM and 1.81 RU/mL for aß2GPI IgG, which indicated that the levels of aß2GPI IgM antibodies were generally higher compared to those of IgA and IgG antibodies. Our established reference range was confirmed to be successful in validating the detected values of aß2GPI antibodies in all healthy controls. With the 99th percentile cutoff value, the sensitivity was 14.46% for aß2GPI IgA, 22.89% for aß2GPI IgG, and 9.64% for aß2GPI IgM in APS patients. This study established population-based cutoff values that are applicable to the local population for the accurate laboratory examination of aß2GPI antibodies in non-pregnant women of reproductive age. The study also recommends paying more attention to IgM positivity in women of reproductive age.

New-onset obstructive airway disease following COVID-19: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The study assessed the association between COVID-19 and new-onset obstructive airway diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and bronchiectasis among vaccinated individuals recovering from COVID-19 during the Omicron wave. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study comprised 549,606 individuals from the U.S. Collaborative Network of TriNetX database, from January 8, 2022, to January 17, 2024. The hazard of new-onset obstructive airway diseases between COVID-19 and no-COVID-19 groups were compared following propensity score matching using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: After propensity score matching, each group contained 274,803 participants. Patients with COVID-19 exhibited a higher risk of developing new-onset asthma than that of individuals without COVID-19 (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 1.27; 95% CI, 1.22-1.33; p < 0.001). Stratified analyses by age, SARS-CoV-2 variant, vaccination status, and infection status consistently supported this association. Non-hospitalized individuals with COVID-19 demonstrated a higher risk of new-onset asthma (aHR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.22-1.33; p < 0.001); however, no significant differences were observed in hospitalized and critically ill groups. The study also identified an increased risk of subsequent bronchiectasis following COVID-19 (aHR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.13-1.50; p < 0.001). In contrast, there was no significant difference in the hazard of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease between the groups (aHR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.95-1.06; p = 0.994). CONCLUSION: This study offers convincing evidence of the association between COVID-19 and the subsequent onset of asthma and bronchiectasis. It underscores the need for a multidisciplinary approach to post-COVID-19 care, with a particular focus on respiratory health.

Pik3c3 Expression Profiling in the Mouse Kidney and Its Role in Proximal Tubule Cell Physiology.

The class 3 phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (Pik3c3) plays critical roles in regulating autophagy, endocytosis, and nutrient sensing, but its expression profile in the kidney remains undefined. Recently, we validated a Pik3c3 antibody through immunofluorescence staining of kidney tissues from cell type-specific Pik3c3 knockout mice. Immunohistochemistry unveiled significant disparities in Pik3c3 expression levels across various kidney cell types. Notably, renal interstitial cells exhibit minimal Pik3c3 expression. Further, co-immunofluorescence staining, utilizing nephron segment- or cell type-specific markers, revealed nearly undetectable levels of Pik3c3 expression in glomerular mesangial cells and endothelial cells. Intriguingly, although podocytes exhibit the highest Pik3c3 expression levels among all kidney cell types, the renal proximal tubule cells (RPTCs) express the highest level of Pik3c3 among all renal tubules. RPTCs are known to express the highest level of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in adult kidneys; however, the role of Pik3c3 in EGFR signaling within RPTCs remains unexplored. Therefore, we conducted additional cell culture studies. The results demonstrated that Pik3c3 inhibition significantly delayed EGF-stimulated EGFR degradation and the termination of EGFR signaling in RPTCs. Mechanistically, Pik3c3 inhibition surprisingly did not affect the initial endocytosis process but instead impeded the lysosomal degradation of EGFR. In summary, this study defines, for the first time, the expression profile of Pik3c3 in the mouse kidney and also highlights a pivotal role of Pik3c3 in the proximal tubule cells. These findings shed light on the intricate mechanisms underlying Pik3c3-mediated regulation of EGFR signaling, providing valuable insights into the role of Pik3c3 in renal cell physiology.

ER membrane remodeling by targeting RTN4 induces pyroptosis to facilitate antitumor immune.

Pyroptosis is an identified programmed cell death that has been highly linked to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dynamics. However, the crucial proteins for modulating dynamic ER membrane curvature change that trigger pyroptosis are currently not well understood. In this study, a biotin-labeled chemical probe of potent pyroptosis inducer α-mangostin (α-MG) was synthesized. Through protein microarray analysis, reticulon-4 (RTN4/Nogo), a crucial regulator of ER membrane curvature, was identified as a target of α-MG. We observed that chemically induced proteasome degradation of RTN4 by α-MG through recruiting E3 ligase UBR5 significantly enhances the pyroptosis phenotype in cancer cells. Interestingly, the downregulation of RTN4 expression significantly facilitated a dynamic remodeling of ER membrane curvature through a transition from tubules to sheets, consequently leading to rapid fusion of the ER with the cell plasma membrane. In particular, the ER-to-plasma membrane fusion process is supported by the observed translocation of several crucial ER markers to the "bubble" structures of pyroptotic cells. Furthermore, α-MG-induced RTN4 knockdown leads to PKM2-dependent conventional caspase-3/GSDME cleavages for pyroptosis progression. In vivo, we observed that chemical or genetic RTN4 knockdown significantly inhibited cancer cells growth, which further exhibited an antitumor immune response with anti-PD-1. In translational research, RTN4 high expression was closely correlated with the tumor metastasis and death of patients. Taken together, RTN4 plays a fundamental role in inducing pyroptosis through the modulation of ER membrane curvature remodeling, thus representing a prospective druggable target for anticancer immunotherapy.

Air pollution and risk of 32 health conditions: outcome-wide analyses in a population-based prospective cohort in Southwest China.

BACKGROUND: Uncertainty remains about the long-term effects of air pollutants (AP) on multiple diseases, especially subtypes of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to assess the individual and joint associations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), along with its chemical components, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3), with risks of 32 health conditions. METHODS: A total of 17,566 participants in Sichuan Province, China, were included in 2018 and followed until 2022, with an average follow-up period of 4.2 years. The concentrations of AP were measured using a machine-learning approach. The Cox proportional hazards model and quantile g-computation were applied to assess the associations between AP and CVD. RESULTS: Per interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM2.5 mass, NO2, O3, nitrate, ammonium, organic matter (OM), black carbon (BC), chloride, and sulfate were significantly associated with increased risks of various conditions, with hazard ratios (HRs) ranging from 1.06 to 2.48. Exposure to multiple air pollutants was associated with total cardiovascular disease (HR 1.75, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) 1.62-1.89), hypertensive diseases (1.49, 1.38-1.62), cardiac arrests (1.52, 1.30-1.77), arrhythmia (1.76, 1.44-2.15), cerebrovascular diseases (1.86, 1.65-2.10), stroke (1.77, 1.54-2.03), ischemic stroke (1.85, 1.61-2.12), atherosclerosis (1.77, 1.57-1.99), diseases of veins, lymphatic vessels, and lymph nodes (1.32, 1.15-1.51), pneumonia (1.37, 1.16-1.61), inflammatory bowel diseases (1.34, 1.16-1.55), liver diseases (1.59, 1.43-1.77), type 2 diabetes (1.48, 1.26-1.73), lipoprotein metabolism disorders (2.20, 1.96-2.47), purine metabolism disorders (1.61, 1.38-1.88), anemia (1.29, 1.15-1.45), sleep disorders (1.54, 1.33-1.78), renal failure (1.44, 1.21-1.72), kidney stone (1.27, 1.13-1.43), osteoarthritis (2.18, 2.00-2.39), osteoporosis (1.36, 1.14-1.61). OM had max weights for joint effects of AP on many conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term exposure to increased levels of multiple air pollutants was associated with risks of multiple health conditions. OM accounted for substantial weight for these increased risks, suggesting it may play an important role in these associations.

A Nomogram of Predicting Healthcare-Associated Infections in Burned Children.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a common clinical concern associated with adverse prognosis and mortality in burned children. This study aimed to construct a predictive nomogram of the risk of HAIs in burned children. METHODS: Children admitted to the burn unit of Wuhan Third Hospital between 2020 and 2022 were included. The univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were adopted to ascertain predictors of HAIs. A nomogram was developed to predict the HAI risk of each patient, with receiver operating characteristic curves and calibration curves being generated to assess its predictive ability. Furthermore, decision and impact curves were used to assess the clinical utility. RESULTS: Of 1122 burned children, 61 (5.5%) patients experienced HAIs. The multivariate analysis indicated that total burn surface area, length of stay, surgery, central venous catheter use and urinary catheter use were the independent risk factors of HAIs. Using these variables, we developed a predictive nomogram of the occurrence of HAIs in burned children, and the internal validation results demonstrated good discrimination and calibration of the nomogram. The area under the curve values of the nomogram was 0.926 (95% CI, 0.896-0.957). The calibration curve showed high consistency between the actual and predicted HAIs. The decision and impact curve indicated that the nomogram was of good clinical utility and more credible net clinical benefits in predicting HAIs. CONCLUSIONS: The present study constructed a nomogram for predicting the risk of HAIs in burned children. This nomogram may strengthen the effective screening of patients at high risk of HAIs.

Aptasensors application for cow's milk allergens detection and early warning: Progress, challenge, and perspective.

Cow's milk allergy (CMA) is considered one of the most prevalent food allergies and a public health concern. Modern medical research shows that the effective way to prevent allergic reactions is to prevent allergic patients from consuming allergenic substances. Therefore, the development of rapid and accurate detection technology for milk allergens detection and early warning is critical to safeguarding those with a cow milk allergy. As the oligonucleotide sequences with high specificity and selectivity, aptamers frequently assemble with transduction elements forming multifarious aptasensors for quantitative detection owing to their high-affinity binding to the target. Current aptasensors in the field of cow's milk allergen detection in recent years are explored in this review. This review takes a look back at a few common assays, including ELISA and PCR, before presenting a clear overview of the aptamer and threshold doses. It delves into a detailed discussion of the current aptamer-based detection techniques and related theories for milk allergen identification. Last but not least, we conclude with a discussion and outlook of the advancements made in allergen detection with aptamers. We sincerely hope that there will be more extensive applications for aptasensors in the future contributing to reducing the possibility of patients suffering from adverse reactions.

Generation of oxygen vacancies in CuO/TiO2 heterojunction induced by diatomite for highly efficient UV-Vis-IR driven photothermal catalytic oxidation of HCHO.

Photothermal catalytic oxidation is a promising and sustainable method for the degradation of indoor formaldehyde (HCHO). However, the excessively high surface temperature of existing photothermal catalysts during catalysis hinders the effective adsorption and degradation of formaldehyde under static conditions. Catalyst loading and oxygen vacancies (OVs) modulation are commonly employed strategies to reduce the photothermal catalytic temperature and enhance the efficiency of photothermal catalytic oxidation. In this work, a p-n type CuO/TiO2 heterojunction is successfully loaded onto diatomite using a wet precipitation method. Under the irradiation of a 300W xenon lamp, the prepared composite material achieved a 100% removal rate of HCHO within 2 h, with a 98% conversion rate to CO2, surpassing the performance of both individual photocatalysts and thermocatalysts. Additionally, by adjusting conditions such as light irradiation and temperature, we have demonstrated that this material exhibits synergistic photothermal catalytic properties. Based on HRTEM, XPS, Raman, and EPR analyses, the introduction of diatomite as a catalyst support was shown to effectively increase the number of OVs. Experimental results, along with O2-TPD, photoelectrochemical characterization, and radical detection, demonstrate that the presence of OVs enhances the oxidative efficiency of both photocatalysis and thermocatalysis, as well as the UV-Vis-IR photothermal catalytic performance. The ternary composite material generates weak hydroxyl (•OH) and superoxide (•O2-) radical under high-temperature with dark conditions, indicating its catalytic oxidation activity under this condition. The increase in temperature and the expansion of the spectral range both enhance the generation of these radicals. In summary, this work demonstrates that the use of diatomite as a support increases the material's specific surface area and OVs content, thereby enhancing adsorption and photothermal catalysis. It elucidates the enhanced catalytic degradation mechanism of this mineral-based photothermal catalyst.

ZnS Nanoseeds Sealed in N, P, S Co-Doped Carbon Hollow Rhombic Dodecahedra as a Superlithiophilic Host for Dendrite-Free Lithium Metal Anodes.

Lithium (Li) metal is considered a hopeful anode for next-generation Li-ion batteries thanks to its ultra-high theoretical specific capacity, extra-low theoretical density, and low negative potential. However, the uncontrolled growth of Li dendrites and volume fluctuation during plating/stripping processes severely hamper its commercial application. Herein, ZnS seeds sealed in N, P, S co-doped carbon hollow rhombic dodecahedra (ZnS@NPS-C HRD) is fabricated as a superlithiophilic host for Li metal anodes (LMAs) to solve the above problems. In addition, the Li nucleation and deposition mechanism on ZnS@NPS-C HRD is investigated by in situ optical microscopy, ex-situ X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and theoretical calculations. Owing to the synergistic strategy of ZnS seeds-inducing nucleation and Li-limited growth, the as-prepared composite exhibits stability for 300 cycles in asymmetric cells and a long lifespan over 1100 h in symmetric cells. Moreover, the ZnS@NPS-C HRD@Li|LiFePO4 full cell demonstrates a reversible capacity of 100.91 mAh g-1 after 400 cycles at 1 C.

The effect of recombinant zoster vaccine on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases: A multi-institutional propensity score-matched cohort study.

Although the recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) has demonstrated efficacy in reducing the risk of herpes zoster (HZ) for individuals aged 50 years and older, its effectiveness in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains uncertain. This study was conducted to assess the effect of RZV on the risk of HZ in COPD patients. A multi-institutional propensity score-matched retrospective cohort study was conducted using the TriNetX Research network, including individuals aged 40 years or older with COPD from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2022. Patients with a history of HZ or prior zoster vaccination were excluded. The primary outcome was HZ occurrence, with secondary outcomes including severe and nonsevere HZ. After propensity score matching, each 17 431 patients receiving RZV and unvaccinated patients were included. The vaccinated group had a significantly lower risk of HZ compared to the unvaccinated group (HR, 0.62; [95% confidence intervals] 95% CI, 0.51-0.75, p < 0.01). Similar risk reductions were observed for nonsevere HZ (HR, 0.61; 95% CI, 049-0.75, p < 0.01) and severe HZ (HR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.38-0.73, p < 0.01). Further subgroup analyses demonstrated consistent risk reductions across age (50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and ≥80 years), sex, and comorbidities, except for individual aged 40-49 years. This study confirms the effectiveness of RZV in reducing HZ risk in patients with COPD aged 50 years and older, supporting its administration in this population. However, vaccination rates remain low, highlighting the need for improved vaccination strategies in this high-risk group. Efforts to enhance vaccine uptake are warranted to reduce HZ morbidity.

Triboelectric Nanogenerator Made with Stretchable, Antibacterial Hydrogel Electrodes for Biomechanical Sensing.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have attracted widespread attention as a promising candidate for energy harvesting due to their flexibility and high power density. To meet diverse application scenarios, a highly stretchable (349%), conductive (1.87 S m-1), and antibacterial electrode composed of carbon quantum dots/LiCl/agar-polyacrylamide (CQDs/LiCl/agar-PAAm) dual-network (DN) hydrogel is developed for wearable TENGs. Notably, the concentration of agar alters the pore spacing and pore size of the DN hydrogel, thereby impacting the network cross-linking density and the migration of conductive ions (Li+ and Cl-). This variation further affects the mechanical strength and conductivity of the hydrogel electrode, thus modulating the mechanical stability and electrical output performance of the TENGs. With the optimal agar content, the tensile strength and conductivity of the hydrogel electrode increase by 211 and 719%, respectively. This enhancement ensures the stable output of TENGs during continuous operation (6000 cycles), with open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, and transferred charge increasing by 200, 530, and 155%, respectively. Additionally, doping with CQDs enables the hydrogel electrode to effectively inhibit the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli. Finally, the TENGs are utilized as a self-power smart ring for efficient and concise information transmission via Morse code. Consequently, this study introduces a creative approach for designing and implementing multifunctional, flexible wearable devices.

Efficacy and survival outcome of allogeneic stem-cell transplantation in multiple myeloma: meta-analysis in the recent 10 years.

Introduction: Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) possessed direct cytotoxicity and graft-versus-multiple myeloma effect (GvMM). Growing trials have shown survival benefits of performing alloHCT in both newly diagnosed and relapsed MM. Methods: We aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis in the recent 10 years to verify the efficacy and survival outcome of alloHCT in MM patients. A total of 61 studies which provide data between 14/04/2013 and 14/04/2023 and a total of 15,294 data from MM patients who had undergone alloSCT were included in our study. The best response rates (CR, VGPR, PR) and survival outcomes (1-, 2-, 3-,5-, and 10-year OS, PFS, NRM) were assessed. We further conducted meta-analysis in the NDMM/frontline setting and RRMM/salvage setting independently. Results: The pooled estimate CR, VGPR, and PR rates were 0.45, 0.21, and 0.24, respectively. The pooled estimates of 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year OS were 0.69, 0.57, 0.45, 0.45, and 0.36, respectively; the pooled estimates of 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year PFS were 0.47, 0.35, 0.24, 0.25, and 0.28, respectively; and the pooled estimates of 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year NRM were 0.16, 0.21, 0.16, 0.20, and 0.15, respectively. In the NDMM/upfront setting, the pooled estimate CR rate was 0.54, and those for 5-year OS, PFS, and NRM were 0.69, 0.40, and 0.11, respectively. In a relapsed setting, the pooled estimate CR rate was 0.31, and those for 5-year OS, PFS, and NRM were 0.24, 0.10, and 0.15, respectively. Discussion: Our results showed constant OS, PFS, and NRM from the third year onwards till the 10th year, suggesting that alloSCT has sustained survival benefits. Good response rate and promising survival outcome were observed in the NDMM/ frontline setting. Conclusion: Although comparing with other treatments, alloSCT had a lower response rate and poorer short-term survival outcome, long-term follow-up could reveal survival benefits of alloSCT in MM patients.