Recent progress in multifunctional, reconfigurable, integrated liquid metal-based stretchable sensors and standalone systems.

Possessing a unique combination of properties that are traditionally contradictory in other natural or synthetical materials, Ga-based liquid metals (LMs) exhibit low mechanical stiffness and flowability like a liquid, with good electrical and thermal conductivity like metal, as well as good biocompatibility and room-temperature phase transformation. These remarkable properties have paved the way for the development of novel reconfigurable or stretchable electronics and devices. Despite these outstanding properties, the easy oxidation, high surface tension, and low rheological viscosity of LMs have presented formidable challenges in high-resolution patterning. To address this challenge, various surface modifications or additives have been employed to tailor the oxidation state, viscosity, and patterning capability of LMs. One effective approach for LM patterning is breaking down LMs into microparticles known as liquid metal particles (LMPs). This facilitates LM patterning using conventional techniques such as stencil, screening, or inkjet printing. Judiciously formulated photo-curable LMP inks or the introduction of an adhesive seed layer combined with a modified lift-off process further provide the micrometer-level LM patterns. Incorporating porous and adhesive substrates in LM-based electronics allows direct interfacing with the skin for robust and long-term monitoring of physiological signals. Combined with self-healing polymers in the form of substrates or composites, LM-based electronics can provide mechanical-robust devices to heal after damage for working in harsh environments. This review provides the latest advances in LM-based composites, fabrication methods, and their novel and unique applications in stretchable or reconfigurable sensors and resulting integrated systems. It is believed that the advancements in LM-based material preparation and high-resolution techniques have opened up opportunities for customized designs of LM-based stretchable sensors, as well as multifunctional, reconfigurable, highly integrated, and even standalone systems.

Prognostic significance and immune landscape of a cell cycle progression-related risk model in bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: A greater emphasis has been placed on the part of cell cycle progression (CCP) in cancer in recent years. Nevertheless, the precise connection between CCP-related genes and bladder cancer (BCa) has remained elusive. This study endeavors to establish and validate a reliable risk model incorporating CCP-related factors, aiming to predict both the prognosis and immune landscape of BCa. METHODS: Clinical information and RNA sequencing data were collected from the GEO and TCGA databases. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to construct a risk model associated with CCP. The performance of the model was assessed using ROC and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses. Functional enrichment analysis was employed to investigate potential cellular functions and signaling pathways. The immune landscape was characterized using CIBERSORT algorithms. Integration of the risk model with various clinical variables led to the development of a nomogram. RESULTS: To build the risk model, three CCP-related genes (RAD54B, KPNA2, and TPM1) were carefully chosen. ROC and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis confirm that our model has good performance. About immunological infiltration, the high-risk group showed decreased levels of regulatory T cells and dendritic cells coupled with increased levels of activated CD4 + memory T cells, M2 macrophages, and neutrophils. Furthermore, the nomogram showed impressive predictive power for OS at 1, 3, and 5 years. CONCLUSION: This study provides new insights into the association between the CCP-related risk model and the prognosis of BCa, as well as its impact on the immune landscape.

Na3[Al2B6P4O22(OH)3](H2O)6 and Na3[Al2BP2O11](H2O)0.5: Two Remarkable Complex Aluminum Borophosphates.

Two remarkable aluminum borophosphates (AlBPOs), namely, Na3[Al2B6P4O22(OH)3](H2O)6 (denoted as ABPO1) and Na3[Al2BP2O11](H2O)0.5 (denoted as ABPO2), have been designed and prepared by low-temperature flux syntheses. The exceptional open framework structure of ABPO1 is formed by a unique microanionic network [Al2B6P4O22(OH)3]n3-, which contains three types of 8-, 12-, and 16-membered ring (MR) tunnels. Interestingly, these tunnels are featured by a type of super-nanocage as large as ∼1.753 nm × 1.753 nm × 1.753 nm, which is the first example of AlBPOs containing extra-large cages. Importantly, it was found that Na+ can be partially exchanged by K+, Sr2+, Cd2+, and Ni2+, which means that it is a potential ionic exchanger for removing radionuclides and toxic cations. The structure of ABPO2 features a unique 2D anionic AlBPO layer composed of corner-sharing AlO6 octahedra and AlO4, BO4, and PO4 tetrahedra. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of both AlO6 octahedra and AlO4 tetrahedra being contained in the structure. 9-MRs can be observed along the b-axis. Herein, the syntheses and topological structures of ABPO1 and ABPO2 as well as elemental analysis, thermal stability, infrared spectroscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance, structural properties, and ionic exchange properties are also discussed.

Iridium(III) complexes conjugated with naproxen exhibit potent anti-tumor activities by inducing mitochondrial damage, modulating inflammation, and enhancing immunity.

A series of Ir(III)-naproxen (NPX) conjugates with the molecular formula [Ir(C^N)2bpy(4-CH2ONPX-4'-CH2ONPX)](PF6) (Ir-NPX-1-3) were designed and synthesized, including C^N = 2-phenylpyridine (ppy, Ir-NPX-1), 2-(2-thienyl)pyridine (thpy, Ir-NPX-2) and 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine (dfppy, Ir-NPX-3). Cytotoxicity tests showed that Ir-NPX-1-3 exhibited excellent antitumor activity, especially in A549R cells. The cellular uptake experiment showed that the complexes were mainly localized in mitochondria, and induced apoptosis in A549R cells by damaging the structure and function of mitochondria. The main manifestations are a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, Ir-NPX-1-3 could inhibit the migration and colony formation of cancer cells, demonstrating potential anti-metastatic ability. Finally, the anti-inflammatory and immunological applications of Ir-NPX-1-3 were verified. The downregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression levels and the release of immunogenic cell death (ICD) related signaling molecules such as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) (cell surface calreticulin (CRT), high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP)) indicate that these Ir(III) -NPX conjugates are novel ICD inducers with synergistic effects in multiple anti-tumor pathways.

A causal analysis of the relationship between exposure to sunlight and colorectal cancer risk: A Mendelian randomization study.

Several observational studies have found that exposure to sunlight reduces the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, sun exposure remains ambiguous in its relationship to CRC. We carried out a Mendelian randomization (MR) study to explore the potential associations between them. We examined the exposure to sunlight summary statistics of the UK Biobank Consortium using a 2-sample MR analysis. Using data from the FinnGen consortium, we derived summary statistics for CRC. We conducted our analysis with various methods, incorporating inverse variance weighted (IVW) along with 4 other approaches. A Cochran Q statistic was used to measure the heterogeneity of instrumental variables (IVs). We screened 133 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (time spent outdoors in summer), 41 SNPs (time spent outdoors in winter), and 35 SNPs (frequency of solarium/sunlamp use) representing sunlight exposure for MR analysis. All selected SNPs had an F-statistic >20, indicating that IVs did not weakly bias the results. The summer outdoor activity trait exhibited significant heterogeneity (Cochran Q statistic = 183.795, P = .002 < 0.05), but we found no horizontal polymorphisms or significant heterogeneity for the other exposure traits. According to IVW estimates, no causal association exists between time spent outdoors in summer and CRC (Odds Ratio, OR = 0.735, 95% confidence interval, CI = 0.494-1.017, P = .128 > 0.017). No causal relationship existed between time spent outdoors in winter and CRC, as indicated by Bonferroni-corrected adjusted p-values. The OR was 0.877 with a 95% CI of 0.334-2.299, and the P value was .789, more significant than the significance threshold of 0.017. The solarium/sunlamp use frequency was not associated with CRC (OR = 1.567, 95%CI = 0.243-10.119, P = .637 > .017). Also, an IVW with random effects was applied to determine the causal relationship between summer outdoor time and CRC. No causal association between summer outdoor time and CRC was found (OR = 0.735, 95% CI = 0.494-1.017, P = .128 > .017). Additionally, 4 additional analyses yielded similar results. The findings of our study suggest that exposure to sunlight may reduce CRC risk, but the causal relationship remains unsolved. There is no evidence to suggest that exposure to sunlight prevents CRC. Randomized, controlled trials are needed to determine whether sunlight exposure protects against CRC.

The bone marrow endothelial progenitor cell response to septic infection.

Early increase in the level of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in the systemic circulation occurs in patients with septic infection/sepsis. The significance and underlying mechanisms of this response remain unclear. This study investigated the bone marrow EPC response in adult mice with septic infection induced by intravenous injection (i.v.) of Escherichia coli. For in vitro experiments, sorted marrow stem/progenitor cells (SPCs) including lineage(lin)-stem cell factor receptor (c-kit)+stem cell antigen-1 (Sca-1)-, lin-c-kit+, and lin- cells were cultured with or without lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) and recombinant murine vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the absence and presence of anti-Sca-1 crosslinking antibodies. In a separate set of experiments, marrow lin-c-kit+ cells from green fluorescence protein (GFP)+ mice, i.v. challenged with heat-inactivated E. coli or saline for 24 h, were subcutaneously implanted in Matrigel plugs for 5 weeks. Marrow lin-c-kit+ cells from Sca-1 knockout (KO) mice challenged with heat-inactivated E. coli for 24 h were cultured in the Matrigel medium for 8 weeks. The marrow pool of EPCs bearing the lin-c-kit+Sca-1+VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2)+ (LKS VEGFR2+) and LKS CD133+VEGFR2+ surface markers expanded rapidly following septic infection, which was supported by both proliferative activation and phenotypic conversion of marrow stem/progenitor cells. Increase in marrow EPCs and their reprogramming for enhancing angiogenic activity correlated with cell-marked upregulation of Sca-1 expression. Sca-1 was coupled with Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 2 (Rac2) in signaling the marrow EPC response. Septic infection caused a substantial increase in plasma levels of IFN-γ, VEGF, G-CSF, and SDF-1. The early increase in circulating EPCs was accompanied by their active homing and incorporation into pulmonary microvasculature. These results demonstrate that the marrow EPC response is a critical component of the host defense system. Sca-1 signaling plays a pivotal role in the regulation of EPC response in mice with septic infection.

Maternal Dietary Cholesterol and Egg Intake during Pregnancy and Large-for-Gestational-Age Infants: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Cholesterol plays a vital role in fetal growth and development during pregnancy. There remains controversy over whether pregnant females should limit their cholesterol intake. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between maternal dietary cholesterol intake during pregnancy and infant birth weight in a Chinese prospective cohort study. METHODS: A total of 4146 mother-child pairs were included based on the Jiangsu Birth Cohort study. Maternal dietary information was assessed with a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Birth weight z-scores and large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infants were converted by the INTERGROWTH-21st neonatal weight-for-gestational-age standard. Poisson regression and generalized estimating equations were employed to examine the relationships between LGA and maternal dietary cholesterol across the entire pregnancy and trimester-specific cholesterol intake, respectively. RESULTS: The median intake of maternal total dietary cholesterol during the entire pregnancy was 671.06 mg/d, with eggs being the main source. Maternal total dietary cholesterol and egg-sourced cholesterol were associated with an increase in birth weight z-score, with per standard deviation increase in maternal total and egg-sourced dietary cholesterol being associated with an increase of 0.16 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.07, 0.25] and 0.06 (95% CI: 0.03, 0.09) in birth weight z-score, respectively. Egg-derived cholesterol intake in the first and third trimesters was positively linked to LGA, with an adjusted relative risk of 1.11 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.18) and 1.09 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.18). Compared with mothers consuming ≤7 eggs/wk in the third trimester, the adjusted relative risk for having an LGA newborn was 1.37 (95% CI: 1.09, 1.72) for consuming 8-10 eggs/wk and 1.45 (95% CI: 1.12, 1.86) for consuming >10 eggs/wk (P-trend = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal total dietary cholesterol intake, as well as consuming over 7 eggs/wk during pregnancy, displayed significant positive relationships with the incidence of LGA, suggesting that mothers should avoid excessive cholesterol intake during pregnancy to prevent adverse birth outcomes.

Exploring Bile-Acid Changes and Microflora Profiles in Chicken Fatty Liver Disease Model.

Excessive liver fat causes non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in laying hens, reducing egg production. Addressing NAFLD via bile-acid metabolism is gaining attention. We induced NAFLD in 7-week-old ISA female chickens with a high-cholesterol, low-choline diet (CLC) for 6 weeks. LC/MS was used to analyze serum and cecal bile acids, while cecal digesta DNA underwent 16S rRNA sequencing. The distribution of bile acid varied in healthy (CON) and CLC-fed chickens. CLC increased secondary bile acids (TLCA, TUDCA, THDCA, TDCA) in serum and primary bile acids (CDCA, TCDCA, isoDCA) in serum, as well as glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA) in cecal contents. CLC upregulated bile-acid synthesis enzymes (CYP7A1, CYP8B1) in the liver. Bile-acid receptor gene expression (HNF4A, FXR, LXR) was similar between groups. Microbiota abundance was richer in CON (alpha-diversity), with distinct separation (beta-diversity) between CON and CLC. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio slightly decreased in CLC. Taxonomic analysis revealed higher Bacteroides, Alistipes, Megamonas in CLC but lower Barnesiella. CLC had more Mucispirillum, Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group, Shuttleworthia, and Olsenella, while CON had more Enterococcus, Ruminococcaceae_UCG_014, and Faecalibacterium. This study unveils bile-acid and microflora changes in a chicken NAFLD model, enhancing our understanding of fatty liver disease metabolism and aiding targeted interventions.

A pancreatic cancer organoid-in-matrix platform shows distinct sensitivities to T cell killing.

Poor treatment responses of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are in large part due to tumor heterogeneity and an immunosuppressive desmoplastic tumor stroma that impacts interactions with cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Thus, there is a pressing need for models to probe the contributions of cellular and noncellular crosstalk. Organoids are promising model systems with the potential to generate a plethora of data including phenotypic, transcriptomic and genomic characterization but still require improvements in culture conditions mimicking the TME. Here, we describe an INTERaction with Organoid-in-MatriX ("InterOMaX") model system, that presents a 3D co-culture-based platform for investigating matrix-dependent cellular crosstalk. We describe its potential to uncover new molecular mechanisms of T cell responses to murine KPC (LSL-KrasG12D/+27/Trp53tm1Tyj/J/p48Cre/+) PDAC cells as well as PDAC patient-derived organoids (PDOs). For this, a customizable matrix and homogenously sized organoid-in-matrix positioning of cancer cells were designed based on a standardized agarose microwell chip array system and established for co-culture with T cells and inclusion of stromal cells. We describe the detection and orthogonal analysis of murine and human PDAC cell populations with distinct sensitivity to T cell killing that is corroborated in vivo. By enabling both identification and validation of gene candidates for T cell resistance, this platform sets the stage for better mechanistic understanding of cancer cell-intrinsic resistance phenotypes in PDAC.

Inter- and trans-generational impacts of real-world PM2.5 exposure on male-specific primary hypogonadism.

Exposure to PM2.5, a harmful type of air pollution, has been associated with compromised male reproductive health; however, it remains unclear whether such exposure can elicit transgenerational effects on male fertility. Here, we aim to examine the effect of paternal exposure to real-world PM2.5 on the reproductive health of male offspring. We have observed that paternal exposure to real-world PM2.5 can lead to transgenerational primary hypogonadism in a sex-selective manner, and we have also confirmed this phenotype by using an external model. Mechanically, we have identified small RNAs (sRNAs) that play a critical role in mediating these transgenerational effects. Specifically, miR6240 and piR016061, which are present in F0 PM sperm, regulate intergenerational transmission by targeting Lhcgr and Nsd1, respectively. We have also uncovered that piR033435 and piR006695 indirectly regulate F1 PM sperm methylation by binding to the 3'-untranslated region of Tet1 mRNA. The reduced expression of Tet1 resulted in hypermethylation of several testosterone synthesis genes, including Lhcgr and Gnas, impaired Leydig cell function and ultimately led to transgenerational primary hypogonadism. Our findings provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the transgenerational effects of paternal PM2.5 exposure on reproductive health, highlighting the crucial role played by sRNAs in mediating these effects. The findings underscore the significance of paternal pre-conception interventions in alleviating the adverse effects of environmental pollutants on reproductive health.

Increased risk of psychiatric disorder in patients with hearing loss: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Hearing loss has been shown to be a risk factor for psychiatric disorders. In addition, long-term hearing loss is associated with increased hospitalization and mortality rates; however, the increased risk and duration of effect of hearing loss in combination with other chronic diseases on each psychiatric disorder are still not clearly defined. The purpose of this article is to clarify the risk of hearing loss for each disorder over time. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study, and a national health insurance research database in Taiwan was utilized. All (n = 1,949,101) Taiwanese residents who had a medical visit between 2000 and 2015 were included. Patients with hearing loss and a comparative retrospective cohort were analyzed. Every subject was tracked individually from their index date to identify the subjects who later received a diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder. The Kaplan‒Meier method was used to analyze the cumulative incidence of psychiatric disorders. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify the risk of psychiatric disorders. RESULTS: A total of 13,341 (15.42%) and 31,250 (9.03%) patients with and without hearing loss, respectively, were diagnosed with psychiatric disorders (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated that hearing loss significantly elevated the risk of psychiatric disorders (adjusted HR = 2.587, 95% CI 1.723-3.346, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that patients with hearing loss are more likely to develop psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, the various psychiatric disorders are more likely to occur at different times. Our findings have important clinical implications, including a need for clinicians to implement early intervention for hearing loss and to pay close attention to patients' psychological status. Trial registration TSGHIRB No. E202216036.

Phthalate and DINCH exposure and ovarian reserve markers among women seeking infertility care.

Phthalate exposure can adversely impact ovarian reserve, yet investigation on the influence of its alternative substance, the non-phthalate plasticizer diisononyl-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH), on ovarian reserve is very sparce. We aimed to investigate the associations of phthalate and DINCH exposure as well as their combined mixture with ovarian reserve. This present study included 657 women seeking infertility care in Jiangsu, China (2015-2018). Urine samples during enrollment prior to infertility treatment were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography-isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) to quantify 17 phthalate metabolites and 3 DINCH metabolites. Multivariate linear regression models, Poisson regression models and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression were performed to access the associations of 17 urinary phthalate metabolites and 3 DINCH metabolites with ovarian reserve markers, including antral follicle count (AFC), anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). We found that the most conventional phthalates metabolites (DMP, DnBP, DiBP, DBP and DEHP) were inversely associated with AFC, and the DINCH metabolites were positively associated with serum FSH levels. The WQS index of phthalate and DINCH mixtures was inversely associated with AFC (% change = -8.56, 95 % CI: -12.63, -4.31) and positively associated with FSH levels (% change =7.71, 95 % CI: 0.21, 15.78). Our findings suggest that exposure to environmental levels of phthalate and DINCH mixtures is inversely associated with ovarian reserve.

Direct Laser Processing and Functionalizing PI/PDMS Composites for an On-Demand, Programmable, Recyclable Device Platform.

Skin-interfaced high-sensitive biosensing systems to detect electrophysiological and biochemical signals have shown great potential in personal health monitoring and disease management. However, the integration of 3D porous nanostructures for improved sensitivity and various functional composites for signal transduction/processing/transmission often relies on different materials and complex fabrication processes, leading to weak interfaces prone to failure upon fatigue or mechanical deformations. The integrated system also needs additional adhesive to strongly conform to the human skin, which can also cause irritation, alignment issues, and motion artifacts. This work introduces a skin-attachable, reprogrammable, multifunctional, adhesive device patch fabricated by simple and low-cost laser scribing of an adhesive composite with polyimide powders and amine-based ethoxylated polyethylenimine dispersed in the silicone elastomer. The obtained laser-induced graphene in the adhesive composite can be further selectively functionalized with conductive nanomaterials or enzymes for enhanced electrical conductivity or selective sensing of various sweat biomarkers. The possible combination of the sensors for real-time biofluid analysis and electrophysiological signal monitoring with RF energy harvesting and communication promises a standalone stretchable adhesive device platform based on the same material system and fabrication process.

A survey of experimental stimulus presentation code sharing in major areas of psychology.

Computer code plays a vital role in modern science, from the conception and design of experiments through to final data analyses. Open sharing of code has been widely discussed as being advantageous to the scientific process, allowing experiments to be more easily replicated, helping with error detection, and reducing wasted effort and resources. In the case of psychology, the code used to present stimuli is a fundamental component of many experiments. It is not known, however, the degree to which researchers are sharing this type of code. To estimate this, we conducted a survey of 400 psychology papers published between 2016 and 2021, identifying those working with the open-source tools Psychtoolbox and PsychoPy that openly share stimulus presentation code. For those that did, we established if it would run following download and also appraised the code's usability in terms of style and documentation. It was found that only 8.4% of papers shared stimulus code, compared to 17.9% sharing analysis code and 31.7% sharing data. Of shared code, 70% ran directly or after minor corrections. For code that did not run, the main error was missing dependencies (66.7%). The usability of the code was moderate, with low levels of code annotation and minimal documentation provided. These results suggest that stimulus presentation code sharing lags behind other forms of code and data sharing, potentially due to less emphasis on such code in open-science discussions and in journal policies. The results also highlight a need for improved documentation to maximize code utility.

Halogen-Bond-Promoted Direct Cross-Coupling of Trifluoromethylated Alkyl Bromides with Coumarins/Quinolinones: Unraveling Trifluoromethyl Effects.

This study introduces a novel approach involving XB-mediated cross-coupling of α-trifluoromethylated alkyl bromides with coumarins and quinolinones under visible light irradiation. Both density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimental studies converge to suggest that the noncovalent interaction between alkyl bromides and DMAP, intensified by the α-trifluoromethyl group, plays a pivotal role in facilitating this chemoselective reaction.

Mitochondrial Targeted Thermosensitive Nanocarrier for Near-Infrared-Triggered Precise Synergetic Photothermal Nitric Oxide Chemotherapy.

Nitric oxide (NO) intervenes, that is, a potential treatment strategy, and has attracted wide attention in the field of tumor therapy. However, the therapeutic effect of NO is still poor, due to its short half-life and instability. Therapeutic concentration ranges of NO should be delivered to the target tissue sites, cell, and even subcellular organelles and to control NO generation. Mitochondria have been considered a major target in cancer therapy for their essential roles in cancer cell metabolism and apoptosis. In this study, mesoporous silicon-coated gold nanorods encapsulated with a mitochondria targeted and the thermosensitive lipid layer (AuNR@MSN-lipid-DOX) served as the carrier to load NO prodrug (BNN6) to build the near-infrared-triggered synergetic photothermal NO-chemotherapy platform (AuNR@MSN(BNN6)-lipid-DOX). The core of AuNR@MSN exhibited excellent photothermal conversion capability and high loading efficiency in terms of BNN6, reaching a high value of 220 mg/g (w/w), which achieved near-infrared-triggered precise release of NO. The outer biocompatible lipid layer, comprising thermosensitive phospholipid DPPC and mitochondrial-targeted DSPE-PEG2000-DOX, guided the whole nanoparticle to the mitochondria of 4T1 cells observed through confocal microscopy. In the mitochondria, the nanoparticles increased the local temperature over 42 °C under NIR irradiation, and a high NO concentration from BNN6 detected by the NO probe and DSPE-PEG2000-DOX significantly inhibited 4T1 cancer cells in vitro and in vivo under the synergetic photothermal therapy (PTT)-NO therapy-chemotherapy modes. The built NIR-triggered combination therapy nanoplatform can serve as a strategy for multimodal collaboration.

Naoxueshu Oral Liquid Accelerates Post-Craniotomy Hematoma Absorption in Patients: An Open-Label, Multicenter, and Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether Naoxueshu Oral Liquid (NXS) could promote hematoma absorption in post-craniotomy hematoma (PCH) patients. METHODS: This is an open-label, multicenter, and randomized controlled trial conducted at 9 hospitals in China. Patients aged 18-80 years with post-craniotomy supratentorial hematoma volume ranging from 10 to 30 mL or post-craniotomy infratentorial hematoma volume less than 10 mL, or intraventricular hemorrhage following cranial surgery were enrolled. They were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to the NXS (10 mL thrice daily for 15 days) or control groups using a randomization code table. Standard medical care was administered in both groups. The primary outcome was the percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 15. The secondary outcomes included the percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 7, the absolute reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 7 and 15, and the change in neurological function from day 1 to day 7 and 15. The safety was closely monitored throughout the study. Moreover, subgroup analysis was performed based on age, gender, history of diabetes, and etiology of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). RESULTS: A total of 120 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned between March 30, 2018 and April 15, 2020. One patient was lost to follow-up in the control group. Finally, there were 119 patients (60 in the NXS group and 59 in the control group) included in the analysis. In the full analysis set (FAS) analysis, the NXS group had a greater percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 15 than the control group [median (Q1, Q3): 85% (71%, 97%) vs. 76% (53%, 93%), P<0.05]. The secondary outcomes showed no statistical significance between two groups, either in FAS or per-protocol set (P>0.05). Furthermore, no adverse events were reported during the study. In the FAS analysis, the NXS group exhibited a higher percentage reduction in hematoma volume on day 15 in the following subgroups: male patients, patients younger than 65 years, patients without diabetes, or those with initial cranial surgery due to ICH (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The administration of NXS demonstrated the potential to promote the percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 15. This intervention was found to be safe and feasible. The response to NXS may be influenced by patient characteristics. (Registration No. ChiCTR1800017981).

Clinical features and comprehensive treatment of persistent corneal epithelial dysfunction after cataract surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of clinical efficacy and safety of tobramycin/dexamethasone eye ointment in treating persistent corneal epithelial dysfunction (PED) after cataract surgery. METHODS: 26 cases diagnosed as PED after cataract surgery accept the tobramycin/dexamethasone ophthalmic ointment and intense pulse light treatment in the Xiamen University of Xiamen eye center between September 2016 and April 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, mainly including clinical manifestations, characteristics of morphological changes imaged by in vivo confocal microscopy, meibomian glands infrared photography, lipid layer thickness (LLT), management and therapeutic effects. RESULTS: There were 26 eyes, include 8(35%) males and 15(65%) females with an average age of 69.6 ± 5.2 years(50 to 78 years). The mean hospitalization time was (18.4 ± 7.5) days after cataract surgery. Twenty patients had meibomian gland dysfunction. Infrared photography revealed varying loss in the meibomian glands, with a mean score of 3.8 ± 1.2 for gland loss. The mean LLT was 61.6 ± 8.4 nm. After treatment, 20 patients were cured, and 3 received amniotic membrane transplantation. After treatment, the uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best-corrected vision activity (BCVA) improved (P < 0.001), and there was no significant difference in intraocular pressure (IOP) before and after treatment (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The early manifestation of PED after surgery is punctate staining of the corneal epithelium. Tobramycin and dexamethasone eye ointment bandages have a good repair effect. The meibomian gland massage combined with intense pulse light treatment can effectively shorten the course of the disease.

Ultrahigh energy storage in high-entropy ceramic capacitors with polymorphic relaxor phase.

Ultrahigh-power-density multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) are critical components in electrical and electronic systems. However, the realization of a high energy density combined with a high efficiency is a major challenge for practical applications. We propose a high-entropy design in barium titanate (BaTiO3)-based lead-free MLCCs with polymorphic relaxor phase. This strategy effectively minimizes hysteresis loss by lowering the domain-switching barriers and enhances the breakdown strength by the high atomic disorder with lattice distortion and grain refining. Benefiting from the synergistic effects, we achieved a high energy density of 20.8 joules per cubic centimeter with an ultrahigh efficiency of 97.5% in the MLCCs. This approach should be universally applicable to designing high-performance dielectrics for energy storage and other related functionalities.