Nitric oxide in the cardio-cerebrovascular system: source, regulation and application.

Nitric oxide (NO) plays a crucial role as a messenger or effector in the body, yet it presents a dual impact on cardio-cerebrovascular health. Under normal physiological conditions, NO exhibits vasodilatory effects, regulates blood pressure, inhibits platelet aggregation, and offers neuroprotective actions. However, in pathological situations, excessive NO production contributes to or worsens inflammation within the body. Moreover, NO may combine with reactive oxygen species (ROS), generating harmful substances that intensify physical harm. This paper succinctly reviews pertinent literature to clarify the in vivo and in vitro origins of NO, its regulatory function in the cardio-cerebrovascular system, and the advantages and disadvantages associated with NO donor drugs, NO delivery systems, and vascular stent materials for treating cardio-cerebrovascular disease. The findings provide a theoretical foundation for the application of NO in cardio-cerebrovascular diseases.

Autologous Cultured Tissue Engineering Epidermal Sheet Transplantation to Treat Vitiligo of the Hands.

BACKGROUND: Despite numerous therapeutic modalities for vitiligo, their efficacy varies. Managing vitiligo affecting the hands poses a particularly intricate challenge, with outcomes trailing those in other anatomical regions. OBJECTIVE: Assess the determinants influencing the efficacy and safety of autocultured tissue engineering epidermal sheets transplantation in treating hand vitiligo, observed over a 6-month follow-up period. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 33 patients who underwent treatment for hand vitiligo using autocultured tissue engineering epidermal sheets transplantation. Repigmentation extent was evaluated by 2 dermatologists. RESULTS: The cohort comprised 33 patients, including 24 males and 9 females, with an average age of 26.91 ± 9.24 years (range: 10-49 years). The mean duration of the disease was 11.61 ± 7.83 years (range: 1.5-34 years). Vitiligo lesion stability ranged from 6 months to 4 years, with an average duration of stability calculated at 1.715 ± 1 year. After 6 months, 75.8% (25/33) of patients exhibited a favorable response, with 39.4% (13/33) showing complete or near-complete repigmentation. No adverse events, such as infections or scar formation, were recorded. CONCLUSION: The authors' investigation suggests that autocultured tissue engineering epidermal sheets transplantation is a highly effective and safe therapeutic approach for hand vitiligo, offering a promising treatment avenue.

High-Performance Flexible Piezoelectric Nanogenerator Based on Specific 3D Nano BCZT@Ag Hetero-Structure Design for the Application of Self-Powered Wireless Sensor System.

With the popularity of portable and miniaturized electronic devices in people's live, flexible piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENG) have become a research hotspot for harvesting energy from the living environment to power small-scale electronic equipment and systems because of its stability. For further enhancing output performance of PENG, chemical modification and structural design for piezoelectric fillers are effective ways. Thus, the 3D porous hetero-structure fillers of BCZT@Ag are prepared by freeze-drying method and subsequent chemical seeding reduction. The silicone rubber as matrix is filled into the micro-voids of fillers to prepare specialized composite. The charge transport mechanism and stress transfer efficiency in PENG can be effectively improved through specialized design which is proven by experimental results and multi-physics simulations. The improved PENG exhibit a significantly enhanced output of 38.6 V and 5.85 µA, which is 3.3 and 3.5 times higher than those of PENG without specific design. The prepared PENG can effectively harvest biomechanical energy through walk and joint bending of human body. Moreover, the PENG can be used as a trigger to remotely control wireless collision alarm system, which can acquire rapid response and shows great potential application in Internet of Things.

Knockdown of Dual Oxidase 1 (DUOX1) Promotes Wound Healing by Regulating Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) by Activation of Nuclear Kactor kappa B (NF-κB) Signaling.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential role of dual oxidase 1 (DUOX1) in wound healing. MATERIAL AND METHODS Primary fibroblasts were isolated from wound granulation tissue. Fibroblasts cell lines were established using DUOX1 overexpression and interference. Cell proliferation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were measured and compared among the groups. RESULTS DUOX1 expression was highest in the slow-healing tissues (P<0.05). Knockdown of DUOX1 significantly increased cell proliferation and inhibited ROS production and cell apoptosis (P<0.01). Moreover, expression of malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly reduced, while expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression was significantly increased (P<0.01). In addition, DUOX1 silencing significantly upregulated collagen I, collagen III, and NF-kappaB protein levels in the cytoplasm, and inhibited the protein levels of P21, P16, and NF-kappaB in the nucleus (P<0.01). Overexpression of DUOX1 caused a reverse reaction mediated by knockdown of DUOX1. When DUOX1-overexpressing cells were treated with the ROS inhibitor N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), the protein levels that were increased by DUOX1 overexpression were reversed. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that knockdown of DUOX1 significantly benefits wound healing, likely by the regulation of oxidative stress via NF-kappaB pathway activation.

Predictors of cancer-specific survival and overall survival among patients aged ≥60 years with lung adenocarcinoma using the SEER database.

OBJECTIVE: We developed a simple, rapid predictive model to evaluate the prognosis of older patients with lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Demographic characteristics and clinical information of patients with lung adenocarcinoma aged ≥60 years were retrospectively analyzed using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data. We built nomograms of overall survival and cancer-specific survival using Cox single-factor and multi-factor regression. We used the C-index, calibration curve, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA) to evaluate performance of the nomograms. RESULTS: We included 14,117 patients, divided into a training set and validation set. We used the chi-square test to compare baseline data between groups and found no significant differences. We used Cox regression analysis to screen out independent prognostic factors affecting survival time and used these factors to construct the nomogram. The ROC curve, calibration curve, C-index, and DCA curve were used to verify the model. The final results showed that our predictive model had good predictive ability, and showed better predictive ability compared with tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging. We also achieved good results using data of our center for external verification. CONCLUSION: The present nomogram could accurately predict prognosis in older patients with lung adenocarcinoma.

Case report of severe pneumothorax due to lung cancer treated with anlotinib.

Anlotinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor for the treatment of lung cancer. Pneumothorax is a rare complication of anlotinib treatment. Here, the case of a male patient in his early seventies, with lung cancer combined with emphysema, who developed a pneumothorax during treatment with anlotinib, is described. The patient was admitted to hospital mainly for dyspnoea and was diagnosed with pneumothorax after digital radiography of the chest. The patient's symptoms improved significantly after closed chest drainage, and a repeat chest digital radiography showed a more resolved pneumothorax. The patient had no previous history of pneumothorax. After discontinuation of anlotinib, the latest follow-up chest computed tomography assessment in August 2023 showed no recurrence of pneumothorax, thus, the pneumothorax is presumed to have been associated with anlotinib in this patient. In addition, the authors speculate that emphysema may be a cause of pneumothorax in patients with lung cancer receiving anlotinib treatment. Therefore, clinicians should be alert to the risk of pneumothorax occurrence in patients with emphysema combined with lung cancer who are treated with anlotinib.

Treatment of a case of primary alveolar soft part sarcoma of the lung: Case report and literature review.

Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is an extremely rare type of soft tissue sarcoma. The primary sites of ASPS are mostly located in the extremities and trunk. Primary pulmonary ASPS is extremely rare. A search of the PubMed® database identified only five cases of primary pulmonary ASPS. This current case report describes the sixth case of ASPS in a 15-year-old male that presented with recurrent headaches. Head computed tomography showed space-occupying lesions in the left parietal lobe. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography confirmed the space-occupying lesions in the left parietal lobe and showed multiple nodules and masses in the two lungs and pleura, which were considered to be low-grade malignant mesenchymal tumours. The case report presents the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment process. Programmed cell death protein 1 monoclonal antibody (sintilimab) combined with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (anlotinib hydrochloride) achieved a good therapeutic effect, indicating that this combination therapy is worth exploring further. Large-scale prospective studies are needed to explore and develop standardized treatments for ASPS.

Case report of double superior vena cava and double odd vein with hypoplastic left brachiocephalic vein.

Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a common venous variation that is usually accompanied by an absence of the left brachiocephalic vein, and displays a higher incidence in patients with congenital heart disease. Here, the case of a 57-year-old male patient who was found to have PLSVC on chest computed tomography (CT) during screening for gastric cancer metastasis at the Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University, is described. Further coronal CT and three-dimensional reconstruction of the chest revealed the patient's double superior vena cava (DSVC), double odd veins, and left brachiocephalic vein dysplasia. The patient did not have congenital heart disease and the case was associated with dysplasia of the left brachiocephalic vein, indicating an unusual and rare venous abnormality. At the time of writing, the patient was receiving antitumour therapy.

Therapeutic targeting of mechanical stretch-induced FAK/ERK signaling by fisetin in hypertrophic scars.

Hypertrophic scarring is a complex fibrotic disease with few treatment options. Mechanical stress has been proven to be crucial for hypertrophic scar (HS) formation. Here, we showed that the flavonoid small molecule fisetin, could dramatically ameliorate HS formation in a mechanical stretch-induced mouse model. In addition, in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that fisetin inhibited the stretch-induced profibrotic effects by suppressing the proliferation, activation, and collagen production of fibroblasts. Mechanistically, we revealed that fisetin obviously downregulated mechanical stretch-induced the phosphorylation of FAK and ERK, and reduced nuclear localization of ERK. This bioactivity of fisetin may result from its selective binding to the catalytic region of FAK, which was suggested by the molecular docking study and kinase binding assay. Taken together, these findings suggest that fisetin is a promising agent for the treatment of hypertrophic scars and other excessive fibrotic diseases.

Structure design and wireless transmission application of hybrid nanogenerators for swinging mechanical energy and solar energy harvesting.

With the rapid development of the Internet of Things, the maintenance-free and reliable power supply of widely distributed sensors is still a huge challenge, especially in wireless areas. Wireless power transmission is expected to alleviate the issue that the sensors must be connected by wire to power supply devices. Herein, a novel hybrid nanogenerator combining a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) and photovoltaic cell has been demonstrated, which can realize the simultaneous collection and wireless power transmission of swinging mechanical energy and solar energy. The wireless power transmission system based on the hybrid nanogenerator can be actualized through series connection of the TENG and photovoltaic cell with the aid of a specifically designed mechanical switch, enabling the system to generate DC pulses that favor transmitting energies through LC oscillation and a coupled receiver coil. At the receiver coil end, the open-circuit voltage (Voc) of the hybrid nanogenerator can reach 80 V, showing excellent wireless output performance and the rationality of the wireless power transmission circuit. Moreover, the hybrid nanogenerator can wirelessly power a commercial temperature-humidity meter, which indicates the remarkable potential of improving the layout flexibility of sensor nodes. This work successfully realizes the wireless power transmission of hybrid nanogenerator-harvested swinging mechanical energy and solar energy by a simple and feasible circuit design, which can enrich the form of micro/nano energy adapted to wireless energy transmission.

Enhanced Output Performance of Piezoelectric Nanogenerators by Tb-Modified (BaCa)(ZrTi)O3 and 3D Core/shell Structure Design with PVDF Composite Spinning for Microenergy Harvesting.

Flexible piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENG) have attracted great attention due to their stable electrical output and promising applications in the Internet of Things. To develop a high-performance PENG, a significant relationship among material, structure, and performance precipitates us to design its rational construction. Herein, Tb-modified (BaCa)(ZrTi)O3 (BCZT) particles have been fabricated into a 3D structure (3D-Tb-BCZT) by the freeze-drying method, and the innovative 3D core/shell structure of 3D-Tb-BCZT-coated 3D-Tb-BCZT/PVDF composite fibers was carried out through the coaxial electrospinning method. The innovative structure can significantly enhance correlation between adjacent piezoelectric particles and improve stress-transfer efficiency, which can be proven by experimental results and COMSOL simulation. As a result, the improved PENG shows a significantly enhanced output of 48.5 V and 3.35 µA as compared to the PENG with the conventional electrospinning process (15.6 V and 1.32 µA). Due to the advantages of light weight, soft flexibility, and high deformation sensitivity of composite fibers, PENG-based fibers can harvest various mechanical energies in daily life such as biological motion, noise vibration, and wind energies. More importantly, the PENG is sufficient enough to power an electronic device for sustained operation by capturing wind energies through power management circuit design, which further promotes the practical application process of a self-powered system.

The clinical outcomes of elderly esophageal cancer patients who received definitive chemoradiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by an esophagectomy is the standard treatment for locally advanced esophageal cancer, but remains a great challenge for elderly patients. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the efficacy of definitive CRT in elderly patients with esophageal cancer. METHODS: From December 2007 to October 2017, 40 esophageal cancer patients aged ≥70 years receiving definitive CRT were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Ten patients received standard doses of cisplatin 20 mg/m and fluorouracil (5-FU) 800 mg/m for 4 days, during the first and fifth weeks of radiotherapy. Eighteen patients received modified doses of cisplatin 16 to 18 mg/m and 5-FU 600 to 800 mg/m. Twelve patients received lower doses of cisplatin 10 to 12 mg/m and 5-FU 400 to 600 mg/m. The endpoints were overall survival (OS), tumor response rate, and treatment compliance. RESULTS: The 3-year OS rate was 28.8% The 3-year OS rates for patients receiving standard, modified, and lower doses were 12.5%, 53.8%, and 0.0%, respectively (p = 0.05). There were 87.5% of patients completing the scheduled radiotherapy dose, along with two cycles of concurrent chemotherapy. The response rate (clinical complete response and partial response rate) was 70.0%. Multivariate analysis revealed that no statistical difference was found in the OS among three groups of chemotherapy dosage. The treatment response was the only independent prognostic factor to OS (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Definitive CRT with dose modification is a feasible, safe, and reasonable treatment for elderly esophageal cancer patients. Achieving a better compliance to CRT via an optimal dose modification of chemotherapy may provide better clinical outcomes and would be the treatment goal for elderly esophageal cancer patients.