Anisotropic composite aerogel with thermal insulation and flame retardancy from cellulose nanofibers, calcium alginate and boric acid.

With the increasing severity of energy shortages and environmental pollution, there is an urgent need for advanced thermal insulation materials with excellent comprehensive performance, including low thermal conductivity, high flame resistance, and strong compressive strength. Herein, an anisotropic composite aerogel based on cellulose nanofibers (CNF), calcium alginate (CA), and boric acid (BA) is fabricated using a directional freeze-drying strategy. The CA and BA, as double cross-linking agents, associated with oriented porous structure provide the resultant aerogel with good mechanical strength. Additionally, self-flame retardant CA and BA act as synergistic flame retardants that endow the aerogel with excellent flame retardance properties such as a limiting oxygen index value of 44.2 %, UL-94 V-0 rating, and low heat release. Furthermore, this composite aerogel exhibits outstanding thermal insulation performance with a low thermal conductivity of approximately 30 mW m-1 K-1. Therefore, the composite aerogel is expected to have a wide potential application in areas such as construction, automotive industry, batteries, petrochemical pipelines, and high-temperature reaction devices.

Rare [Cu4I2]2+ cationic cluster-based metal-organic framework and hierarchical porous composites design for effective detection and removal of roxarsone and antibiotics.

Fluorescence quenching induced by photoinduced electron transfer (PET) stands as an effective strategy for identifying water pollutants. Herein, a novel (4, 8)-connected three-dimensional framework Cu(I)-MOF ([Cu2I(tpt)]n) with unique 8-connected [Cu4I2]2+ cationic clusters is designed by employing the nitrogen-rich ligand (Htpt = 5-[4(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)]phenyl-2H-tetrazole). Water-stabilized Cu(I)-MOF exhibits outstanding fluorescence properties, facilitating its application in detecting organic pollutants in water. Benefiting from the fact that the Cu(I)-MOF possesses a higher lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMO) energy level than that of the analyte, the rapid d-PET can occur, entitling Cu(I)-MOF to a sensitive fluorescence quenching response to roxarsone (ROX), nitrofurazone (NFZ) and nitrofurantoin (NFT) (with detection limits as low as 0.13 µM, 0.15 µM, and 0.13 µM, respectively). The nitrogen-containing sites of melamine foam (MF) are utilized to facilitate the anchoring and growth of Cu-MOF crystals, which enables the preparation of hierarchical microporous - macroporous Cu(I)-MOF/MF composites. The ordered porous structure of Cu(I)-MOF/MF provides cavities and open sites for the efficient removal of ROX (qmax = 210.6 mg∙g-1), NFZ (qmax = 111.5 mg∙g-1) and NFT (qmax = 238.9 mg∙g-1) from water. This characteristic endows the Cu(I)-MOF/MF with rapid and recyclable adsorption capacity. Therefore, this work provides valuable insights to address the problem of detection and removal of pollutants in the aquatic environment.

The prognostic significance and clinical relevance of stem cell characteristic in bladder cancer.

Background: Bladder cancer (BLCA) is a common malignant tumor of urinary system and prognostic biomarkers are needed for better clinical decision-making and patient management. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are involved in carcinogenesis, development, metastasis and recurrence of BLCA. This study explored the prognostic and predictive value of CSCs-related genes and laid the groundwork for precision treatment development in BLCA. Methods: The mRNA data and corresponding clinical information obtained from TCGA-BLCA cohort was used to discover biomarkers and develop CSCs-related prognostic model, which was further validated in GSE32548 and GSE32894 datasets. In addition, the association between CSCs-related risk score and therapeutic efficacy was analyzed to explore the potential predictive value of the prognostic model. Results: We identified four CSCs-related subtypes and 900 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among subtypes. Then the CSCs-related prognostic model was built based on 16 CSCs-related DEGs with the most significant prognostic value. Patients in the low-risk group had better overall survival than those in high-risk group (P < 0.001; HR, 0.42; 95 %CI, 0.31-0.57). Multivariable Cox analysis in training and test sets confirmed the independence of CSCs-related risk score as a prognostic factor (P < 0.05). The difference of survival between two risk groups were probably due to the significantly varied immune microenvironment based on the analysis of infiltrated immune cells. Additionally, the risk score was significantly associated with chemotherapy sensitivity and the response to anti-PD-L1 therapy (P < 0.05) which suggested a potential predictive value of CSCs-related risk model. Conclusion: We established a risk classifier based on 16 CSCs-related genes for predicting survival in patients with BLCA. The CSCs-related risk model has both prognostic value and potential predictive value for therapeutic efficacy, which brings us closer to understanding the important role of CSCs in BLCA and may provide guidance for clinical treatment decision-making and patient management. The clinical utility of the CSCs-related risk classifier warrants further studies.

Lipotoxicity: The missing link between diabetes and periodontitis?

Lipotoxicity refers to the accumulation of lipids in tissues other than adipose tissue (body fat). It is one of the major pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for the progression of diabetes complications such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and diabetic nephropathy. Accumulating evidence indicates that lipotoxicity also contributes significantly to the toxic effects of diabetes on periodontitis. Therefore, we reviewed the current in vivo, in vitro, and clinical evidence of the detrimental effects of lipotoxicity on periodontitis, focusing on its molecular mechanisms, especially oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress, inflammation, ceramides, adipokines, and programmed cell death pathways. By elucidating potential therapeutic strategies targeting lipotoxicity and describing their associated mechanisms and clinical outcomes, including metformin, statins, liraglutide, adiponectin, and omega-3 PUFA, this review seeks to provide a more comprehensive and effective treatment framework against diabetes-associated periodontitis. Furthermore, the challenges and future research directions are proposed, aiming to contribute to a more profound understanding of the impact of lipotoxicity on periodontitis.

Stimuli-responsive peptide hydrogels for biomedical applications.

Stimuli-responsive hydrogels can respond to external stimuli with a change in the network structure and thus have potential application in drug release, intelligent sensing, and scaffold construction. Peptides possess robust supramolecular self-assembly ability, enabling spontaneous formation of nanostructures through supramolecular interactions and subsequently hydrogels. Therefore, peptide-based stimuli-responsive hydrogels have been widely explored as smart soft materials for biomedical applications in the last decade. Herein, we present a review article on design strategies and research progress of peptide hydrogels as stimuli-responsive materials in the field of biomedicine. The latest design and development of peptide hydrogels with responsive behaviors to stimuli are first presented. The following part provides a systematic overview of the functions and applications of stimuli-responsive peptide hydrogels in tissue engineering, drug delivery, wound healing, antimicrobial treatment, 3D cell culture, biosensors, etc. Finally, the remaining challenges and future prospects of stimuli-responsive peptide hydrogels are proposed. It is believed that this review will contribute to the rational design and development of stimuli-responsive peptide hydrogels toward biomedical applications.

Tildrakizumab for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in Chinese patients: A 12-week randomized placebo-controlled phase III trial with long-term extension.

BACKGROUND: There is a need for effective and safe therapies for psoriasis that provide sustained benefits. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of tildrakizumab, an anti-interleukin-23p19 monoclonal antibody, for treating moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in Chinese patients. METHODS: In this multi-center, double-blind, phase III trial, patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis were enrolled and randomly assigned (1:1) to receive subcutaneous tildrakizumab 100 mg or placebo at weeks 0 and 4. Patients initially assigned to placebo were switched to receive tildrakizumab at weeks 12, 16, and every 12 weeks thereafter. Patients in the tildrakizumab group continued with tildrakizumab at week 16, and every 12 weeks until week 52. The primary endpoint was the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 75) response rate at week 12. RESULTS: At week 12, tildrakizumab demonstrated significantly higher PASI 75 response rates (66.4% [73/110] vs. 12.7% [14/110]; difference, 51.4% [95% confidence interval (CI), 40.72, 62.13]; P <0.001) and Physician's Global Assessment (60.9% [67/110] vs. 10.0% [11/110]; difference, 49.1% [95% CI, 38.64, 59.62]; P <0.001) compared to placebo. PASI 75 response continued to improve over time in both tildrakizumab and placebo-switching to tildrakizumab groups, reaching maximal efficacy after 28 weeks (86.8% [92/106] vs . 82.4% [89/108]) and maintained up to 52 weeks (91.3% [95/104] vs . 87.4% [90/103]). Most treatment-emergent adverse events were mild and not related to tildrakizumab. CONCLUSION: Tildrakizumab demonstrated durable efficacy through week 52 and was well tolerated in Chinese patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT05108766.

Multi-scale response relationship between water quality of rivers entering lakes from different pollution source areas and land use intensity: a case study of the three lakes in central Yunnan.

As the main supply source of lakes, the water quality of the rivers entering the lakes directly determines the water safety and sustainable development of the lakes. Human activities are the direct cause of changes in the water quality of rivers entering lakes, and land use intensity is the direct manifestation of human activities on the land surface. Although significant progress has been made in studying the relationship between land use changes and water quality in lakes, there is still a lack of research on exploring the relationship between land use intensity and water quality at multiple scales, especially in comparative studies of different pollution source areas. To address this problem, this study used Pearson's correlation analysis and land use intensity index method to explore the response relationship between river water quality and land use intensity at different spatial and temporal scales and different pollution source areas using three lakes in central Yunnan as examples. The results showed that land use intensity was generally positively correlated with water quality, but the response relationship between land use intensity and different water quality indicators was significantly different at different scales and for different pollution source areas. Compared to non-urban areas, the impact of land use intensity on water quality is more significant in urban areas. Compared to the rainy season, the correlation between CODNa, TP, and NH3-N values and land use intensity is stronger during the dry season, while the correlation between COD, TN, and land use intensity is weaker during the dry season. When viewed at different scales, different water quality indicators have different scale effects, but overall, the larger the scale, the stronger the correlation. Therefore, in the work of lake water environmental governance, it is necessary to consider comprehensively from multiple scales and perspectives and adopt measures that are more suitable for regional water pollution prevention and control.

Computational markers of risky decision-making predict for relapse to alcohol.

BACKGROUND: Relapse remains the major challenge in treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Aberrant decision-making has been found as important cognitive mechanism underlying relapse, but factors associated with relapse vulnerability are unclear. Here, we aim to identify potential computational markers of relapse vulnerability by investigating risky decision-making in individuals with AUD. METHODS: Forty-six healthy controls and fifty-two individuals with AUD were recruited for this study. The risk-taking propensity of these subjects was investigated using the balloon analog risk task (BART). After completion of clinical treatment, all individuals with AUD were followed up and divided into a non-relapse AUD group and a relapse AUD group according to their drinking status. RESULTS: The risk-taking propensity differed significantly among healthy controls, the non-relapse AUD group, and the relapse AUD group, and was negatively associated with the duration of abstinence in individuals with AUD. Logistic regression models showed that risk-taking propensity, as measured by the computational model, was a valid predictor of alcohol relapse, and higher risk-taking propensity was associated with greater risk of relapse to drink. CONCLUSION: Our study presents new insights into risk-taking measurement and identifies computational markers that provide prospective information for relapse to drink in individuals with AUD.

Bioinspired Amino Acid Based Materials in Bionanotechnology: From Minimalistic Building Blocks and Assembly Mechanism to Applications.

Inspired by natural hierarchical self-assembly of proteins and peptides, amino acids, as the basic building units, have been shown to self-assemble to form highly ordered structures through supramolecular interactions. The fabrication of functional biomaterials comprised of extremely simple biomolecules has gained increasing interest due to the advantages of biocompatibility, easy functionalization, and structural modularity. In particular, amino acid based assemblies have shown attractive physical characteristics for various bionanotechnology applications. Herein, we propose a review paper to summarize the design strategies as well as research advances of amino acid based supramolecular assemblies as smart functional materials. We first briefly introduce bioinspired reductionist design strategies and assembly mechanism for amino acid based molecular assembly materials through noncovalent interactions in condensed states, including self-assembly, metal ion mediated coordination assembly, and coassembly. In the following part, we provide an overview of the properties and functions of amino acid based materials toward applications in nanotechnology and biomedicine. Finally, we give an overview of the remaining challenges and future perspectives on the fabrication of amino acid based supramolecular biomaterials with desired properties. We believe that this review will promote the prosperous development of innovative bioinspired functional materials formed by minimalistic building blocks.

Validation of a physiological type 2 diabetes model in human periodontal ligament stem cells.

OBJECTIVES: Type 2 diabetes (T2DM), a recognized risk factor for periodontitis, is characterized by insulin resistance. However, the molecular mechanisms concerning the role of insulin resistance in linking T2DM and periodontitis remain poorly elucidated due to the absence of an appropriate T2DM cell model. We aimed to explore an appropriate model of T2DM in human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) and uncover the involved mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: hPDLSCs were incubated with common reagents for recapitulating insulin resistance state including high glucose (HG) (15, 25, 35, 45 mM), glucosamine (0.8, 8, 18, 28, 38 mM), or palmitic acid (PA; 100, 200, 400, 800 µM), combined with LPS for 48 h. The insulin signaling pathway, inflammation, and pyroptosis were detected by western blots and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The effects on osteogenesis were evaluated by alkaline phosphatase staining, alizarin red S staining, RT-qPCR, and western blots. RESULTS: HG failed to recapitulate insulin resistance. Glucosamine was sufficient to induce insulin resistance but failed to trigger inflammation. In total, 100 and 200 µM PA exhibited the most proinflammatory, insulin resistance, and pyroptosis induced role, and inhibited the osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs. CONCLUSION: Palmitic acid is a promising candidate for developing T2DM model in hPDLSCs.

AI Supporting AAC Pictographic Symbol Adaptations.

The phenomenal increase in technological capabilities that allow the design and training of systems to cope with the complexities of natural language and visual representation in order to develop other formats is remarkable. It has made it possible to make use of image to image and text to image technologies to support those with disabilities in ways not previously explored. It has opened the world of adaptations from one picture to another in a design style of a user's choosing. Automated text simplification alongside graphical symbol representations to enhance understanding of complex content is already being used to support those with cognitive impairments and learning difficulties. Symbol sets have become embedded within applications as dictionaries and look up systems, but the need for flexibility and personalization remains a challenge. Most pictographic symbols are created over time within the bounds of a certain style and schema for particular groups such as those who use augmentative and alternative forms of communication (AAC). By using generative artificial intelligence, it is proposed that symbols could be produced based on the style of those already used by an individual or adapted to suit different requirements within local contexts, cultures and communities. This paper explores these ideas at the start of a small six-month pilot study to adapt a number of open licensed symbols based on the symbol set's original style. Once a collection has been automatically developed from image to image and text descriptions, potential stakeholders will evaluate the outcomes using an online voting system. Successful symbols will be made available and could potentially be added to the original symbol set offering a flexible personalized approach to AAC symbol generation hitherto not experienced by users.

Manipulating the Piezoelectric Response of Amino Acid-Based Assemblies by Supramolecular Engineering.

Variation in the molecular architecture significantly affects the electronic and supramolecular structure of biomolecular assemblies, leading to dramatically altered piezoelectric response. However, relationship between molecular building block chemistry, crystal packing and quantitative electromechanical response is still not fully understood. Herein, we systematically explored the possibility to amplify the piezoelectricity of amino acid-based assemblies by supramolecular engineering. We show that a simple change of side-chain in acetylated amino acids leads to increased polarization of the supramolecular arrangements, resulting in significant enhancement of their piezoelectric response. Moreover, compared to most of the natural amino acid assemblies, chemical modification of acetylation increased the maximum piezoelectric tensors. The predicted maximal piezoelectric strain tensor and voltage constant of acetylated tryptophan (L-AcW) assemblies reach 47 pm V-1 and 1719 mV m/N, respectively, comparable to commonly used inorganic materials such as bismuth triborate crystals. We further fabricated an L-AcW crystal-based piezoelectric power nanogenerator that produces a high and stable open-circuit voltage of over 1.4 V under mechanical pressure. For the first time, the illumination of a light-emitting diode (LED) is demonstrated by the power output of an amino acid-based piezoelectric nanogenerator. This work presents the supramolecular engineering toward the systematic modulation of piezoelectric response in amino acid-based assemblies, facilitating the development of high-performance functional biomaterials from simple, readily available, and easily tailored building blocks.

Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among healthcare workers during the Omicron era.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant psychological stress among healthcare workers. This study aimed to clarify the factors that influenced health workers' posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Method: A total of 443 healthcare workers from eight Mental Health Centers in Shandong were recruited to attend an online survey. Participants completed self-evaluation measures of exposure to the COVID-19 environment and PTSD symptoms, as well as measures of potential protective factors such as euthymia and perceived social support. Results: About 45.37% of healthcare workers had severe symptoms of PTSD symptoms. Healthcare workers with more serious PTSD symptoms were significantly related to higher exposure to COVID-19 (r = 0.177, p < 0.001), as well as lower levels of euthymia (r = -0.287, p < 0.001) and perceived social support (r = -0.236, p < 0.001). The structural equation model (SEM) further revealed that the impact of exposure to COVID-19 on PTSD symptoms was partially mediated by euthymia, and moderated by perceived social support, especially from others (e.g., friends, leaders, relatives and colleagues). Conclusion: These findings suggested that improving the state of euthymia, getting social support from others could alleviate PTSD symptoms among healthcare workers during the COVID-19.

Post-error slowing predicts for relapse in individuals with alcohol use disorder.

BACKGROUND: Relapse characterizes addiction. The cognitive phenotype underlying relapse in individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) remain unelucidated. Here we aimed to investigate the potential changes in behavioral adjustment in AUD, and the association with relapse. METHOD: Forty-seven subjects with AUD at Shandong Mental Health Center completed the stop-signal task, the PACS, the Beck Depression Inventory and the State-Trait anxiety questionnaires. Thirty age-matched male healthy subjects served as the control group (HC). In the follow-up, twenty-one subjects remained abstinent, while twenty-six subjects relapsed. Independent sample t-test was applied to measure differences between two groups and logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the potential predictors on relapse. RESULTS: The results showed that there were significant differences in stop signal reaction time (SSRT) and trigger failure between the AUD and HC groups. Relapsed group showed longer post-error slowing (PES) when compared to the non-relapsed group. The PES could predict relapse in alcohol use disorder. CONCLUSION: Individuals with AUD showed impaired inhibitory control, which may predict relapse.

Chitinase Is Involved in the Fruiting Body Development of Medicinal Fungus Cordyceps militaris.

Cordyceps militaris is a famous traditional edible and medicinal fungus in Asia, and its fruiting body has rich medicinal value. The molecular mechanism of fruiting body development is still not well understood in C. militaris. In this study, phylogenetically analysis and protein domains prediction of the 14 putative chitinases were performed. The transcription level and enzyme activity of chitinase were significant increased during fruiting body development of C. militaris. Then, two chitinase genes (Chi1 and Chi4) were selected to construct gene silencing strain by RNA interference. When Chi1 and Chi4 genes were knockdown, the differentiation of the primordium was blocked, and the number of fruiting body was significantly decreased approximately by 50% compared to wild-type (WT) strain. The length of the single mature fruiting body was shortened by 27% and 38% in Chi1- and Chi4-silenced strains, respectively. In addition, the chitin content and cell wall thickness were significantly increased in Chi1- and Chi4-silenced strains. These results provide new insights into the biological functions of chitinase in fruiting body development of C. militaris.

Novel Monomethoxy Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Modified Hydroxylated Tung Oil for Drug Delivery.

Novel monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG) modified hydroxylated tung oil (HTO), denoted as mPEG-HTO-mPEG, was designed and synthesized for drug delivery. mPEG-HTO-mPEG consists of a hydroxylated tung oil center joined by two mPEG blocks via a urethane linkage. The properties of mPEG-HTO-mPEG were affected by the length of the mPEG chain. Three mPEG with different molecular weights were used to prepare mPEG-HTO-mPEG. The obtained three mPEG-HTO-mPEG polymers were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC), respectively. Furthermore, the particle sizes of mPEG-HTO-mPEG micelles were evaluated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). A critical aggregation concentration (CAC) ranged from 7.28 to 11.73 mg/L depending on the chain length of mPEG. The drug loading and release behaviors of mPEG-HTO-mPEG were investigated using prednisone acetate as a model drug, and results indicated that hydrophobic prednisone acetate could be effectively loaded into mPEG-HTO-mPEG micelles and exhibited a long-term sustained release. Moreover, compared with HTO, mPEG-HTO-mPEG had no obvious cytotoxicity to HeLa and L929 cells. Therefore, monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) modified hydroxylated tung oil mPEG-HTO-mPEG may be a promising drug carrier.

Intramedullary spinal cord abscess with brain abscess due to subacute infective endocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Intramedullary spinal cord abscesses (ISCA) are rare, even more so in association with brain abscesses. Infective endocarditis is an uncommon cause of ISCA. In this case study, we report a patient with intramedullary abscesses and multiple brain abscesses due to subacute infective endocarditis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 54-year-old man presented with a 7-day history of head and neck pain and numbness in both lower limbs. Intramedullary abscess combined with multiple brain abscesses was diagnosed based on blood culture, head and spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), contrast-enhanced MRI, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Echocardiography revealed vegetations on the mitral valve and severe mitral regurgitation, which the authors believe was caused by subacute infective endocarditis. With ceftriaxone combined with linezolid anti-infective therapy, the patient's symptoms and imaging was improved during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This case hopes to raise the vigilance of clinicians for ISCA. When considering a patient with an ISCA, it is necessary to complete blood culture, MRI of the brain and spinal cord, and echocardiography to further identify whether the patient also has a brain abscess and whether the cause is infective endocarditis.

Periodontal Ligament Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Enhance Tension-Induced Osteogenesis.

Tension-induced osteogenesis has great significance in maintaining bone homeostasis and ensuring the efficiency and stability of orthodontic treatment. Recently, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have shown great potential in regulating bone remodeling. Here, we aimed to explore the effects of periodontal ligament stem cell (PDLSC)-derived EVs on tension-induced osteogenesis and the potential mechanism. PDLSC-derived EVs were extracted by ultracentrifugation. In vitro, PDLSC-derived EVs of 10 µg/mL significantly improved the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells and enhanced the osteogenic differentiation of osteoblasts under a tensile strain of 2000 uε. Next, a mouse model of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) was established and treated with subperiosteal injection of PDLSC-derived EVs (1 mg/kg) on the tension side. The results showed that treatment with PDLSC-derived EVs effectively enhanced OTM and promoted osteogenesis on the tension side, including increasing trabecular bone parameters and promoting the expression of osteogenic-related biomarkers (OCN and OPN). More interestingly, we identified several mechano-sensitive miRNAs enriched in PDLSC-derived EVs by high-throughput miRNA sequencing. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that they were related to various osteogenesis-related signaling pathways. Therefore, PDLSC-derived EVs could improve the efficiency of OTM by enhancing tension-induced osteogenesis of osteoblasts. Our study may provide potential evidence for the promoting effects of PDLSC-derived EVs on osteogenesis and offer new insights into the development of treatment strategies for enhancing osteogenesis in orthodontic treatment and other metabolic bone diseases.

Self-Assembling Peptide-Based Functional Biomaterials.

Peptides can self-assemble into various hierarchical nanostructures through noncovalent interactions and form functional materials exhibiting excellent chemical and physical properties, which have broad applications in bio-/nanotechnology. The self-assembly mechanism, self-assembly morphology of peptide supramolecular architecture and their various applications, have been widely explored which have the merit of biocompatibility, easy preparation, and controllable functionality. Herein, we introduce the latest research progress of self-assembling peptide-based nanomaterials and review their applications in biomedicine and optoelectronics, including tissue engineering, anticancer therapy, biomimetic catalysis, energy harvesting. We believe that this review will inspire the rational design and development of novel peptide-based functional bio-inspired materials in the future.

Brain alterations in sensorimotor and emotional regions associated with temporomandibular disorders.

OBJECTIVES: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are characterized by sensorimotor and psychological dysfunction, with evidence revealing the implication of a dysfunctional central nervous system. Previous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have reported brain alterations in TMD, but most studies focused on either structure or function by a single modality of MRI and investigated static functional connectivity (FC) in TMD. By combining structural and functional MRI data, the present study aimed to identify brain regions with structural abnormalities in TMD patients and examine static and dynamic FC seeded by these regions to investigate structural brain alterations and related disrupted FC underlying the pathophysiology of TMD. METHODS: We recruited 30 TMD patients and 20 healthy controls who underwent 3.0 T MRI scanning with T1-weighted images using a three-dimensional magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo sequence and resting state functional images using a gradient-echo echo-planar imaging sequence. Cortical thickness, volume, surface area, and subcortical volume were calculated, where brain areas with significant structural between-group differences were treated as seeds for static and dynamic FC analyses. RESULTS: In this preliminary study, we found between-group alterations in sensorimotor regions including decreased cortical thickness in the right sensorimotor cortex as well as decreased volume in the left putamen and associated reduced dynamic FC with the anterior midcingulate cortex; and alterations in emotion processing and regulation regions including decreased volume/surface area in the left posterior superior temporal gyrus and associated increased dynamic FC with the precuneus in TMD patients than controls, having all p < 0.05 with corrections for multiple comparisons. CONCLUSION: Our findings of structural and functional abnormalities in brain regions implicated in sensorimotor and emotional functions provided evidence for the biopsychosocial model of TMD and facilitated our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanism underlying TMD. The associations between neuroimaging results and clinical measurements of TMD warrant further exploration.