Task-specific deep eutectic solvent for efficient dissolution and further accelerating alkaline hydrolysis of polyesters into their monomers.

Polyester plastics have brought great convenience to modern society. However, the continuous accumulation of their production increasingly threatens human health. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the largest type of polyester plastics and its recycling is a major challenge. In this work, deep eutectic solvent (DES) composed of thenyl alcohol and choline chloride (ChCl) was designed for efficient dissolution of PET at 165 °C for 20 min, and further accelerating complete alkaline hydrolysis of PET into its monomer terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG) with a high TPA monomer yield (98.2%) in 25 min at 100 °C. Moreover, the designed DES is also efficient for dissolution and alkaline hydrolysis of other polyester plastics, including poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) and poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF) into their monomers. This work provides a feasible and sustainable solution for the recycling of polyester wastes.

The effects of combining visual-auditory stimuli with exercise on short-term affect improvement: a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRAC T: Prior research has explored the effects of engaging with real or virtual natural landscapes and listening to music during aerobic exercise on short-term affect, however, the specific differences in the improvement of short-term affect by different combinations of Virtual Reality (VR) and music rhythm require further investigation. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of various combinations of VR and music on short-term mood, thereby providing a reference for future research on public fitness. This study recruited 132 valid participants (mean age 24.0 ± 0.9 years), with a gender distribution of 68 males and 64 females. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: Visual-Music (V-M), Music-Visual (M-V), Visual-only (V), and Music-only (M). The exercise mode was 15 min of aerobic power cycling with 2 min of low-intensity power cycling intervals in the middle. After the exercise, the participants were asked to sit and then performed either a VR intervention or a music intervention for 15 min. The collected indicators included blood pressure, positive/negative affect, and heart rate variability indicators (RMSSD, SDNN, LF/HF). Data analysis included descriptive statistics, repeated measures ANOVA, and multifactor ANOVA. The effect of different VR and Music combined with exercise interventions on the improvement of short-term affect was analyzed based on the effect size (ɳp2) and combined with the significance p-value. Intra-group results showed that DBP, positive and negative affect, SDNN, RMSSD indicators in V-M group were significant differences (p < 0.05), while SBP, positive affect, negative affect, SDNN, RMSSD, LF/HF indicators in M-V group were significant differences (p < 0.05). Only SDNN and RMSSD indicators in M group had significant differences (p < 0.05), and only SBP and RMSSD indicators in V group had significant differences (p < 0.05). The results between groups showed that only SDNN and LH/HF groups had a significant difference (p < 0.05), other indicators had a trend of improvement or positive promotion to a certain extent, but the statistical difference was not significant (p > 0.05). Aerobic exercise with consistent intensity and the combined visual-auditory interventions (M-V and V-M) significantly improved blood pressure, and the short-term affect of physiological responses (LF/HF, SDNN, RMSSD), along with subjective affect measures, compared to other groups. These findings suggest that incorporating VR and music with exercise can effectively enhance short-term affect, recommending an integrated approach to aerobic exercise and relaxation through music and visual exposure to natural environments.

Modeling evolution of cell morphology under stretching.

The mechanical stimulation of cells from the surrounding environment is an important life activity. However, there has been a lack of dynamically quantitative analysis of cell morphology under mechanical stimulations. A theoretical model for the evolution of cell morphology under stretching is proposed by analyzing the transformation between cell deformation energy and adhesion energy. The images of the evolution show that detachment of the adhesion membrane or re-adhesion of the cell, causes a decrease or increase of the adhesion area, respectively. In addition to the stretching amplitude and velocity, we found that the duration of the stretching stage and the no stretching stage can affect the cell morphology during cyclic stretching. The theoretical model explains some counter-intuitive experimental results and provides many quantitative insights into understanding the physical mechanisms of cell adhesion under stretching. This study can provide a useful guide to control cell adhesion under mechanical stimulations.

ETS1 Deficiency in Macrophages Suppresses Colorectal Cancer Progression by Reducing the F4/80+TIM4+ Macrophage Population.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) take on pivotal and complex roles in the tumor microenvironment (TME); however, their heterogeneity in the TME remains incompletely understood. ETS proto-oncogene 1 (ETS1) is a transcription factor that is mainly expressed in lymphocytes. However, its expression and immunoregulatory role in colorectal cancer (CRC)-associated macrophages remain unclear. In the study, the expression levels of ETS1 in CD68+ macrophages in the CRC microenvironment were significantly higher than those in matched para-carcinoma tissues. Importantly, ETS1 increased the levels of chemokines C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated THP-1 cells. It also boosted the migration and invasion of CRC cells during the in vitro co-culture. In ETS1 conditional knockout mouse model, ETS1 deficiency in macrophages ameliorated the histological changes in DSS-induced ulcerative colitis mouse models and prolonged the survival in an azomethane/dextran sodium sulfate (AOM/DSS)-induced CRC model. ETS1 deficiency in macrophages substantially inhibited tumor formation, reduced F4/80+TIM4+ macrophages in the mesenteric lymph nodes, and decreased CCL2 and CXCL10 protein levels in tumor tissues. Moreover, ETS1 deficiency in macrophages effectively prevented liver metastasis of CRC and reduced the infiltration of TAMs into the metastasis sites. Subsequent studies have indicated that ETS1 upregulated the expression of T-cell immunoglobulin mucin receptor 4 in macrophages through the signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 signaling pathway activated by the autocrine action of CCL2/CXCL10. Collectively, ETS1 deficiency in macrophages potentiates antitumor immune responses by repressing CCL2 and CXCL10 expression, shedding light on potential therapeutic strategies for CRC.

Integration of high-resolution mass spectrometry technology with molecular network analysis and systems biology techniques to elucidate the active ingredients and mechanisms of Shiduqing capsules.

RATIONALE: Shiduqing Capsules, a well-known Chinese patent medicine, are widely used clinically for the treatment of pruritus. However, to date, there is a lack of research on its pharmacological substances and mechanisms of action. METHODS: In the current study, the chemical components of Shiduqing Capsules were identified using UHPLC-QE-Orbitrap-MS technology. Molecular network analysis was employed to identify structurally similar compounds to the known chemical components. The potential molecular targets of the active ingredients were predicted using the SwissTargetPrediction website. The identified targets were further analyzed using gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis through the DAVID database. Molecular docking was used to validate the network pharmacology results. RESULTS: Ultimately, A total of 51 chemical components of Shiduqing Capsules were identified. Molecular network analysis identified 21 flavonoids and 13 terpenoids. The core targets of these ingredients include TP53, AKT1, and STAT3. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis revealed 1,371 different biological functions and 177 signaling pathways. Molecular docking confirmed the high affinity between multiple core active ingredients of Shiduqing Capsules and pruritus targets. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the effective ingredients of Shiduqing Capsules exert a multifaceted therapeutic effect on pruritus through multiple targets and pathways.

Wearable Sensors Based on Miniaturized High-Performance Hybrid Nanogenerator for Medical Health Monitoring.

Wearable sensors are important components, converting mechanical vibration energy into electrical signals or other forms of output, which are widely used in healthcare, disaster warning, and transportation. However, the reliance on batteries limits the portability of wearable sensors and hinders their application in the field of Internet of Things. To solve this problem, we designed a miniaturized high-performance hybrid nanogenerator (MHP-HNG), which combined the functions of triboelectric sensing and electromagnetic power generation as well as the advantages of miniaturization. By optimizing the design of TENG and EMG, the wearable sensor achieved a voltage output of 14.14 V and a power output of 49 mW. Based on the wireless optical communication and wireless communication technologies, the wearable sensor achieved the integration of sensing, communication, and self-powered function, which is expected to realize health monitoring, emergency warning, and rehabilitation assistance, and further extend the potential application value in the medical field.

Bioinspired Core-shell nanospheres integrated in multi-signal immunochromatographic sensor for high throughput sensitive detection of Bongkrekic acid in food.

Nowadays, notable progress has been achieved in detecting foodborne toxins by employing nanoenzyme-based lateral flow immunoassay (NLFIA) sensors in point-of-care testing (POCT). It continues to be a major challenge to maximize the enzyme-like performance of nanozymes for educe any potential uncertainties in catalytic process. In this study, we employed a facile and efficient self-assembly approach to fabricate nucleoid-shell structured biomimetic nanospheres CuS@Au-Pt (CAP), which demonstrates enhanced brightness of the colorimetric signal, excellent affinity, and excellent peroxidase activity. The integration of CAP with a competitive-assay NLFIA platform enabled sensitive immunochromatographic detection of bongkrekic acid (BA), with LOD as low as 0.66 ng/mL. After signal amplification through enzyme-like reaction, the detection range was extended around 1-fold. Additionally, CAP-NLFIA effectively detected BA with a recovery rate of 80.96-119.36% for real samples. The study proposes using CAP as a signal reporter in a dual-readout LFIA, which can establish a high throughput sensitive detection platform.

Associations between leisure-time physical activity and the prevalence and incidence of osteoporosis disease: Cross-sectional and prospective findings from the UK biobank.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies underscore the protective role of physical activity (PA) in bone health, yet the relationship between different PA categories and osteoporosis risk remains less explored. Understanding the relationships helps tailor health recommendations and policies to maximize the effects of preventing osteoporosis. METHODS: The cross-sectional study involves 488,403 UK Biobank participants with heel quantitative ultrasound-estimated bone mineral density (eBMD) data. The longitudinal cohort involves 471,394 UK Biobank participants without initial osteoporosis and with follow-up records. PA exposure categories in our study included sedentary behavior (SB), total PA (TPA), and different category-specific PA including household, leisure, and work PA. The cases of osteoporosis were assessed using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10). The linear, logistic, and Cox proportional hazard regression models were used in our study. RESULTS: In the cross-sectional study, 15,818 (3.28 %) participants had osteoporosis. TPA levels have a positive correlation with eBMD and a negative correlation with osteoporosis prevalence. Among different categories of PA, higher levels of leisure PA were correlated with increased eBMD and a lower osteoporosis risk (leisure PA: OR: 0.83, 95 % CI: 0.79 to 0.86;). In the longitudinal study, 16,058 (17.6 % male, 82.4 % female) (3.41 %) individuals developed osteoporosis during an average follow-up of 13 years. We observed consistent protective effects of high levels of PA on osteoporosis incidence risk, particularly within the category of leisure PA (TPA: HR: 0.78, 95 % CI: 0.74 to 0.82; leisure PA:HR: 0.83, 95 % CI: 0.80 to 0.87). Such associations are independent of genetic predisposition, with no evidence of gene-PA interactions, and keep steady among individuals using drugs affecting bone-density. Moreover, among different leisure PA items, strenuous sports, other exercises, and walking for pleasure conferred a substantial protective effect against osteoporosis. Additionally, non-elderly individuals and males exhibited lower osteoporosis risk from PA. CONCLUSION: This study highlights activity categories differently associated with the risk of osteoporosis. Adherence to frequent leisure PA may have a protective effect against osteoporosis. Such associations are independent of genetic susceptibility to osteoporosis and keep steady among individuals using drugs affecting bone-density. This highlights that leisure PA could be suggested as a more effective intervention in the primary prevention of osteoporosis.

Exercise Attenuate Diaphragm Atrophy in COPD Mice via Inhibiting the RhoA/ROCK Signaling.

Background: Exercise is an indispensable component of pulmonary rehabilitation with strong anti-inflammatory effects. However, the mechanisms by which exercise prevents diaphragmatic atrophy in COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) remain unclear. Methods: Forty male C57BL/6 mice were assigned to the control (n=16) and smoke (n=24) groups. Mice in the smoke group were exposed to the cigarette smoke (CS) for six months. They were then divided into model and exercise training groups for 2 months. Histological changes were observed in lung and diaphragms. Subsequently, agonist U46639 and antagonist Y27632 of RhoA/ROCK were subjected to mechanical stretching in LPS-treated C2C12 myoblasts. The expression levels of Atrogin-1, MuRF-1, MyoD, Myf5, IL-1ß, TNF-α, and RhoA/ROCK were determined by Western blotting. Results: Diaphragmatic atrophy and increased RhoA/ROCK expression were observed in COPD mice. Exercise training attenuated diaphragmatic atrophy, decreased the expression of MuRF-1, and increased MyoD expression in COPD diaphragms. Exercise also affects the upregulation of RhoA/ROCK and inflammation-related proteins. In in vitro experiments with C2C12 myoblasts, LPS remarkably increased the level of inflammation and protein degradation, whereas Y27632 or combined with mechanical stretching prevented this phenomenon considerably. Conclusion: RhoA/ROCK plays an important role in the prevention of diaphragmatic atrophy in COPD.

Mutual regulations between Toxoplasma gondii and type I interferon.

In the decades since the discovery, Type I interferon (IFN-I) has been intensively studied for their antiviral activity. However, increasing evidences suggest that it may also play an important role in the infection of Toxoplasma gondii, a model organism for intracellular parasites. Recent studies demonstrated that the induction of IFN-I by the parasite depends on cell type, strain genotype, and mouse strain. IFN-I can inhibit the proliferation of T. gondii, but few studies showed that it is beneficial to the growth of the parasite. Meanwhile, T. gondii also can secrete proteins that impact the pathway of IFN-I production and downstream induced interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) regulation, thereby escaping immune destruction by the host. This article reviews the major findings and progress in the production, function, and regulation of IFN-I during T. gondii infection, to thoroughly understand the innate immune mechanism of T. gondii infection, which provides a new target for subsequent intervention and treatment.

Mitochondrial activity related genes of mast cells identify poor prognosis and metastasis of ovarian cancer.

The pro-tumorigenic or anti-tumorigenic role of tumor infiltrating mast cells (TIMs) in tumors depends not only on the type of cancer and the degree of tumor progression, but also on their location in the tumor bulk. In our investigation, we employed immunohistochemistry to reveal that the mast cells (MCs) in the tumor stroma are positively correlated with metastasis of ovarian cancer (OC), but not in the tumor parenchyma. To delve deeper into the influence of different culture matrix stiffness on MCs' biological functions within the tumor parenchymal and stromal regions, we conducted a transcriptome analysis of the mouse MC line (P815) cultured in two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) culture system. Further research has found that the softer 3D extracellular matrix stiffness could improve the mitochondrial activity of MCs to promote proliferation by increasing the expression levels of mitochondrial activity-related genes, namely Pet100, atp5md, and Cox7a2. Furthermore, employing LASSO regression analysis, we identified that Pet100 and Cox7a2 were closely associated with the prognosis of OC patients. These two genes were subsequently employed to construct a risk score model, which revealed that the high-risk group model as one of the prognostic factors for OC patients. Additionally, the XCell algorithm analysis showed that the high-risk group displayed a broader spectrum of immune cell infiltrations. Our research revealed that TIMs in the tumor stroma could promote the metastasis of OC, and mitochondrial activity-related proteins Pet100/Cox7a2 can serve as biomarkers for prognostic evaluation of OC.

ASD-SWNet: a novel shared-weight feature extraction and classification network for autism spectrum disorder diagnosis.

The traditional diagnostic process for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is subjective, where early and accurate diagnosis significantly affects treatment outcomes and life quality. Thus, improving ASD diagnostic methods is critical. This paper proposes ASD-SWNet, a new shared-weight feature extraction and classification network. It resolves the issue found in previous studies of inefficiently integrating unsupervised and supervised learning, thereby enhancing diagnostic precision. The approach utilizes functional magnetic resonance imaging to improve diagnostic accuracy, featuring an autoencoder (AE) with Gaussian noise for robust feature extraction and a tailored convolutional neural network (CNN) for classification. The shared-weight mechanism utilizes features learned by the AE to initialize the convolutional layer weights of the CNN, thereby integrating AE and CNN for joint training. A novel data augmentation strategy for time-series medical data is also introduced, tackling the problem of small sample sizes. Tested on the ABIDE-I dataset through nested ten-fold cross-validation, the method achieved an accuracy of 76.52% and an AUC of 0.81. This approach surpasses existing methods, showing significant enhancements in diagnostic accuracy and robustness. The contribution of this paper lies not only in proposing new methods for ASD diagnosis but also in offering new approaches for other neurological brain diseases.

Effect of Rectus Sheath Block on Postoperative Quality of Recovery After Transabdominal Midline Gynecological Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Rectus sheath block is an emerging technique that provide effective perioperative analgesia and is related to lower perioperative opioid consumption and decrease opioid-related adverse effects. The present research is designed to explore the effect of rectus sheath block on recovery quality in patients following transabdominal midline gynecological surgery. Methods: Ninety female patients following elective transabdominal midline gynecological surgery were enrolled. Patients were randomized to group R (n = 45) which receive preoperative ultrasound-guided RSB with 0.4% ropivacaine or group C which is control group (n = 45). The primary outcome was the quality of recovery on the first postoperative day. The quality of recovery was assessed by the 40-item Quality of Recovery questionnaire (QoR-40). Secondary outcomes included the intraoperative opioid consumption, time to first flatus and time to first discharging from bed, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and patient satisfaction. Results: The patients in two groups had comparable baseline characteristics. Postoperative global QoR-40 scores were significantly better in group R than in group C (165.0[159.5-170.0] vs 155.0[150.0-157.0], respectively; median difference 12[95% confidence interval: 8-15, P<0.001]). Preoperative RSB reduced intraoperative opioid consumption, reduced the time to first flatus, time to first discharging from bed and the post anaesthesia care unit discharge time. Furthermore, group R showed greater patient satisfaction. Conclusion: A single preoperative administration of RSB with ropivacaine improved the quality of recovery in patients following transabdominal midline gynecological surgery.

Although laparoscopic surgery accounts for a higher proportion of gynecological procedures, open gynecological surgery remains irreplaceable for some patients. Recovery from open gynecological surgery is a combination of physical injuries and psychological challenges. Consequently, accelerating functional recovery, alleviating discomfort and improving the quality of recovery in such patients is a clinical issue that we need to focus on. The QoR 40 scale is a patient-reported assessment tool which evaluates the quality of recovery in five dimensions. Ultrasound-guided rectus sheath block is a safe and effective abdominal wall nerve block for anesthesia and analgesia of umbilical and median abdominal longitudinal incisions. This study investigated the impact of rectus sheath block on the quality of postoperative recovery after open gynecological surgery using the QoR40 scale. Participants were randomized to two groups: rectus sheath block treatments and a control group receiving standard care only. Rectus sheath block improves the quality of recovery in patients undergoing open gynecological surgery one day after surgery without adverse effects, which has successfully made rapid rehabilitation from bench to bedside.

Aerobic exercise training engages the canonical wnt pathway to improve pulmonary function and inflammation in COPD.

BACKGROUND: We studied whether the exercise improves cigarette smoke (CS) induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in mice through inhibition of inflammation mediated by Wnt/ß-catenin-peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ signaling. METHODS: Firstly, we observed the effect of exercise on pulmonary inflammation, lung function, and Wnt/ß-catenin-PPARγ. A total of 30 male C57BL/6J mice were divided into the control group (CG), smoke group (SG), low-intensity exercise group (LEG), moderate-intensity exercise group (MEG), and high-intensity exercise group (HEG). All the groups, except for CG, underwent whole-body progressive exposure to CS for 25 weeks. Then, we assessed the maximal exercise capacity of mice from the LEG, MEG, and HEG, and performed an 8-week treadmill exercise intervention. Then, we used LiCl (Wnt/ß-catenin agonist) and XAV939 (Wnt/ß-catenin antagonist) to investigate whether Wnt/ß-catenin-PPARγ pathway played a role in the improvement of COPD via exercise. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into six groups (n = 6 per group): CG, SG, LiCl group, LiCl and exercise group, XAV939 group, and XAV939 and exercise group. Mice except those in the CG were exposed to CS, and those in the exercise groups were subjected to moderate-intensity exercise training. All the mice were subjected to lung function test, lung histological assessment, and analysis of inflammatory markers in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, as well as detection of Wnt1, ß-catenin and PPARγ proteins in the lung tissue. RESULTS: Exercise of various intensities alleviated lung structural changes, pulmonary function and inflammation in COPD, with moderate-intensity exercise exhibiting significant and comprehensive effects on the alleviation of pulmonary inflammation and improvement of lung function. Low-, moderate-, and high-intensity exercise decreased ß-catenin levels and increased those of PPARγ significantly, and only moderate-intensity exercise reduced the level of Wnt1 protein. Moderate-intensity exercise relieved the inflammation aggravated by Wnt agonist. Wnt antagonist combined with moderate-intensity exercise increased the levels of PPARγ, which may explain the highest improvement of pulmonary function observed in this group. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise effectively decreases COPD pulmonary inflammation and improves pulmonary function. The beneficial role of exercise may be exerted through Wnt/ß-catenin-PPARγ pathway.

The Relationships Among Family Functioning, Sleep Quality and Quality of Life in Chinese Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Insomnia: A Structural Equation Model.

OBJECTIVES: The proportion of individuals with insomnia is increasing, and many older adults have insomnia. This study aimed to explore the relationships between family functioning and quality of life (QOL) among community-dwelling older adults with insomnia, as well as to explore the mediating role of sleep quality in this relationship. METHODS: The participants were 225 older adults with insomnia from community health service centers in Chongqing, China. The Family Care Index (APGAR) was used to assess family functioning, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess sleep quality, and the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to assess QOL. RESULTS: The results showed that family functioning would be positively associated with QOL (p = .005) and that this relationship would be partially mediated by higher sleep quality (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Family functioning has a direct effect on QOL and an indirect effect on QOL through the regulation of sleep quality. Maintaining good family functioning is important for improving sleep quality and QOL in older adults with insomnia. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Developing family functioning-based assessments and targeted intervention strategies could be beneficial for older adults with insomnia.

Manganese-based nanomaterials promote synergistic photo-immunotherapy: green synthesis, underlying mechanisms, and multiple applications.

Single phototherapy and immunotherapy have individually made great achievements in tumor treatment. However, monotherapy has difficulty in balancing accuracy and efficiency. Combining phototherapy with immunotherapy can realize the growth inhibition of distal metastatic tumors and enable the remote monitoring of tumor treatment. The development of nanomaterials with photo-responsiveness and anti-tumor immunity activation ability is crucial for achieving photo-immunotherapy. As immune adjuvants, photosensitizers and photothermal agents, manganese-based nanoparticles (Mn-based NPs) have become a research hotspot owing to their multiple ways of anti-tumor immunity regulation, photothermal conversion and multimodal imaging. However, systematic studies on the synergistic photo-immunotherapy applications of Mn-based NPs are still limited; especially, the green synthesis and mechanism of Mn-based NPs applied in immunotherapy are rarely comprehensively discussed. In this review, the synthesis strategies and function of Mn-based NPs in immunotherapy are first introduced. Next, the different mechanisms and leading applications of Mn-based NPs in immunotherapy are reviewed. In addition, the advantages of Mn-based NPs in synergistic photo-immunotherapy are highlighted. Finally, the challenges and research focus of Mn-based NPs in combination therapy are discussed, which might provide guidance for future personalized cancer therapy.

Revisiting airway epithelial dysfunction and mechanisms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the role of mitochondrial damage.

Chronic exposure to environmental hazards causes airway epithelial dysfunction, primarily impaired physical barriers, immune dysfunction, and repair or regeneration. Impairment of airway epithelial function subsequently leads to exaggerated airway inflammation and remodeling, the main features of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Mitochondrial damage has been identified as one of the mechanisms of airway abnormalities in COPD, which is closely related to airway inflammation and airflow limitation. In this review, we evaluate updated evidence for airway epithelial mitochondrial damage in COPD and focus on the role of mitochondrial damage in airway epithelial dysfunction. In addition, the possible mechanism of airway epithelial dysfunction mediated by mitochondrial damage is discussed in detail, and recent strategies related to airway epithelial-targeted mitochondrial therapy are summarized. Results have shown that dysregulation of mitochondrial quality and oxidative stress may lead to airway epithelial dysfunction in COPD. This may result from mitochondrial damage as a central organelle mediating abnormalities in cellular metabolism. Mitochondrial damage mediates procellular senescence effects due to mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, which effectively exacerbate different types of programmed cell death, participate in lipid metabolism abnormalities, and ultimately promote airway epithelial dysfunction and trigger COPD airway abnormalities. These can be prevented by targeting mitochondrial damage factors and mitochondrial transfer. Thus, because mitochondrial damage is involved in COPD progression as a central factor of homeostatic imbalance in airway epithelial cells, it may be a novel target for therapeutic intervention to restore airway epithelial integrity and function in COPD.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase IIa, clinical study on investigating the efficacy and safety of SPH3127 tablet in patients with essential hypertension.

Around 70% of patients diagnosed with hypertension exhibit increased levels of renin. SPH3127, an inventive renin inhibitor, has shown favorable tolerability and sustained pharmacodynamic inhibitory impact on plasma renin activity (PRA) during previous phase I trials. This phase II study was conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of SPH3127 in patients with essential hypertension. This study was conducted in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension, utilizing a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. The patients were administered either tablet of SPH3127 at doses of 50 mg, 100 mg, or 200 mg, or a placebo. A total of 122 patients were included in the study, with 121 patients included in the full analysis set. Among these patients, there were 30 individuals in each subgroup receiving different dosage regimens of SPH3127, and 31 patients in the placebo group. The reductions in mean sitting diastolic blood pressure (msDBP) after 8 weeks compared to baseline were 5.7 ± 9.5, 8.6 ± 8.8, and 3.8 ± 10.6 mmHg in the SPH3127 50-, 100-, and 200 mg groups, respectively. In the placebo group, the reduction was 3.1 ± 8.4 mmHg. The corresponding reductions in mean sitting systolic blood pressure (msSBP) were 11.8 ± 13.0, 13.8 ± 11.2, 11.1 ± 13.1, and 7.7 ± 9.7 mmHg in each respective group. SPH3127 is a promising drug for the treatment of patients with essential hypertension. The recommended dosage is 100 mg daily.Clinical trial registration: This study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03756103).

Construction of the single-diamond-structured titania scaffold-Recreation of the holy grail photonic structure.

As one of the most stunning biological nanostructures, the single-diamond (SD) surface discovered in beetles and weevils exoskeletons possesses the widest complete photonic bandgap known to date and is renowned as the "holy grail" of photonic materials. However, the synthesis of SD is difficult due to its thermodynamical instability compared to the energetically favoured bicontinuous double diamond and other easily formed lattices; thus, the artificial fabrication of SD has long been a formidable challenge. Herein, we report a bottom-up approach to fabricate SD titania networks via a one-pot cooperative assembly scenario employing the diblock copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)-block-polystyrene as a soft template and titanium diisopropoxide bis(acetylacetonate) as an inorganic precursor in a mixed solvent, in which the SD scaffold was obtained by kinetically controlled nucleation and growth in the skeletal channels of the diamond minimal surface formed by the polymer matrix. Electron crystallography investigations revealed the formation of tetrahedrally connected SD frameworks with the space group Fd [Formula: see text] m in a polycrystalline anatase form. A photonic bandgap calculation showed that the resulting SD structure has a wide and complete bandgap. This work solves the complex synthetic enigmas and offers a frontier in hyperbolic surfaces, biorelevant materials, next-generation optical devices, etc.

Investigation of clinical significance of ST-segment depression during paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.

INTRODUCTION: There are great differences in ST-segment depression during PSVT episodes. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical significance of ST segment depression during PSVT. METHODS: The study enrolled 333 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with PSVT by electrophysiological test from Jan 1, 2021 to July 31, 2022. The range, magnitude and morphology of ST-segment depression were described. The correlation between ST-segment depression and symptoms of chest tightness, chest pain or hypotension, the correlation between ST-segment depression and coronary stenosis, and the possible influencing factors were analyzed. In addition, the diagnostic efficacy of ST-segment depression for AVRT was determined. RESULTS: ST-segment depression was present in 85% of patients, in 70% of which the depression range was more than six leads. The magnitude of the depression was more significant in precordial leads (P < 0.001). ST-segment depression of >1 mm in limb leads and precordial leads was found in 36.0% and 49.8% of the patients, respectively, while >3 mm was found in 2.4% and 9.6%, respectively. The morphology of ST-segment depression in limb leads was different from that in precordial leads (P < 0.001). Downsloping ST-segment depression was more common in limb leads (limb vs. precordial: 40.5% vs. 12.6%), whereas upsloping depression was more common in precordial leads (limb vs. precordial: 3.0% vs. 23.1%). Correlation analysis showed that ST-segment depression was not correlated with symptoms of chest tightness and pain, nor was it correlated with coronary artery stenosis. The most important influencing factor is the type of PSVT, especially affecting the morphology of depression in limb leads (OR = 10.27 [5.93-17.79], P < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of downsloping ST-segment depression in limb leads for diagnosis of AVRT were 75.5% and 76.7%. CONCLUSION: ST-segment depression is a common ECG change during PSVT episodes, and it's not associated with severe coronary stenosis. The type of PSVT has a significant effect on the manifestation of ST-segment depression. The downslope morphology of ST-segment depression in limb leads is helpful in differentiating AVRT from AVNRT.