3D Directional Assembly of Liquid Crystal Molecules.

The precise construction of hierarchically long-range ordered structures using molecules as fundamental building blocks can fully harness their anisotropy and potential. However, the 3D, high-precision, and single-step directional assembly of molecules is a long-pending challenge. Here, a 3D directional molecular assembly strategy via femtosecond laser direct writing (FsLDW) is proposed and the feasibility of this approach using liquid crystal (LC) molecules as an illustrative example is demonstrated. The physical mechanism for femtosecond (fs) laser-induced assembly of LC molecules is investigated, and precise 3D arbitrary assembly of LC molecules is achieved by defining the discretized laser scanning pathway. Additionally, an LC-based Fresnel zone plate array with polarization selection and colorization imaging functions is fabricated to further illustrate the potential of this method. This study not only introduces a 3D high-resolution alignment method for LC-based functional devices but also establishes a universal protocol for the precise 3D directional assembly of anisotropic molecules.

Pretreatment with geniposide mitigates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury by modulating inflammatory response through TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

Geniposide (GEN), a medical herb, is known for its therapeutic applications in cardiovascular diseases, though its efficacy in treating myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MI/RI) is yet to be fully elucidated. This study is an endeavor to explore the potential protective mechanism of GEN against MI/RI. To simulate the MI/RI condition, the left anterior descending artery was occluded for 30 min, followed by a reperfusion period of 120 min in a rat model. Three dosages (50, 100, or 150 mg/kg) of GEN were intraperitoneally injected to the Sprague-Dawley rats once a day, for seven days before the ligation of the artery. The rats were categorized into sham group, MI/RI group, and three different dosages GEN-treated groups. As the results showed, the pretreatment with GEN mitigated myocardial injury, reduced infarct volume, inhibited apoptosis, enhanced superoxide dismutase activity, and decreased malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase activity, as well as serum creatine kinase-MB and lactate dehydrogenase levels. Moreover, GEN ameliorated MI/RI by downregulating protein expression of toll-like receptor 4, myeloid differentiation primary response 88, and p-nuclear factor-κB. In conclusion, the pretreatment of GEN may be considered as a potential therapeutic option for MI/RI.

Geniposide alleviates pressure overload in cardiac fibrosis with suppressed TGF-ß1 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac fibrosis is one of the main contributors to the pathogenesis of heart failure. Geniposide (GE), a major iridoid in gardenia fruit extract, has recently been reported to improve skeletal muscle fibrosis through the modulation of inflammation response. This investigation aimed to illuminate the cardio-protective effect and the potential mechanism of GE in cardiac fibrosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A transverse aortic contraction (TAC) induction mice model was established and GE (0 mg/kg; 10 mg/kg; 20 mg/kg; 40 mg/kg) was administered by oral gavage daily for 4 weeks. Hemodynamic parameters, Masson's trichrome stain, and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining were estimated and cardiomyocyte fibrosis, interstitial collagen levels, and hypertrophic markers were analyzed using qPCR and western blot. In vitro, H9C2 cells were exposed to the Ang II (1 µM) pretreated with GE (0.1 µM, 1 µM, and 10 µM). Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was detected. Moreover, the transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1)/Smad2 pathway was assessed in vivo and in vitro. RESULTS: GE significantly ameliorated TAC-induced cardiac hypertrophy, ventricular remodeling, myocardial fibrosis, and improved cardiac function in vivo, and it inhibited Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis in vitro. We further observed that the inflammatory channel TGF-ß1/Smad2 pathway was suppressed by GE both in vivo and in vitro. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that GE inhibited myocardial fibrosis and improved hypertrophic cardiomyocytes with attenuated the TGF-ß1/Smad2 pathway and proposed to be an important therapeutic of cardiac fibrosis reduced by TAC.

High-Responsivity Multiband and Polarization-Sensitive Photodetector Based on the TiS3/MoS2 Heterojunction.

Two-dimensional (2D) material photodetectors have received considerable attention in optoelectronics as a result of their extraordinary properties, such as passivated surfaces, strong light-matter interactions, and broad spectral responses. However, single 2D material photodetectors still suffer from low responsivity, large dark current, and long response time as a result of their atomic-level thickness, large binding energy, and susceptibility to defects. Here, a transition metal trichalcogenide TiS3 with excellent photoelectric characteristics, including a direct bandgap (1.1 eV), high mobility, high air stability, and anisotropy, is selected to construct a type-II heterojunction with few-layer MoS2, aiming to improve the performance of 2D photodetectors. An ultrahigh photoresponsivity of the TiS3/MoS2 heterojunction of 48 666 A/W at 365 nm, 20 000 A/W at 625 nm, and 251 A/W at 850 nm is achieved under light-emitting diode illumination. The response time and dark current are 2 and 3 orders of magnitude lower than those of the current TiS3 photodetector with the highest photoresponsivity (2500 A/W), respectively. Furthermore, polarized four-wave mixing spectroscopy and polarized photocurrent measurements verify its polarization-sensitive characteristics. This work confirms the excellent potential of TiS3/MoS2 heterojunctions for air-stable, high-performance, polarization-sensitive, and multiband photodetectors, and the excellent type-II TiS3/MoS2 heterojunction system may accelerate the design and fabrication of other 2D functional devices.

3D printing of nanowrinkled architectures via laser direct assembly.

Structural wrinkles in nature have been widely imitated to enhance the surface functionalities of objects, especially three-dimensional (3D) architectured wrinkles, holding promise for emerging applications in mechanical, electrical, and biological processes. However, the fabrication of user-defined 3D nanowrinkled architectures is a long-pending challenge. Here, we propose a bottom-up laser direct assembly strategy to fabricate multidimensional nanowrinkled architectures in a single-material one-step process. Through the introduction of laser-induced thermal transition into a 3D nanoprinting process for leading the point-by-point nanoscale wrinkling and the self-organization of wrinkle structures, we have demonstrated the program-controlled and on-demand fabrication of multidimensional nanowrinkled structures. Moreover, the precise control of wrinkle morphology with an optimal wavelength of 40 nanometers and the regulation of the dynamic transformation of wrinkled cellular microstructures via interfacial stress mismatch engineering have been achieved. This study provides a universal protocol for constructing nearly arbitrary nanowrinkled architectures and facilitates a new paradigm in nanostructure manufacturing.

Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST59 in a Chinese Adult with Meningitis: A Case Report from China.

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections are reported worldwide and are associated with serious outcomes. The majority of CA-MRSA infections are soft tissue and skin infections, and cases with meningitis caused by CA-MRSA are rare. Here, we reported a 53-year-old male patient with meningitis due to CA-MRSA infection, as confirmed by cerebrospinal fluid examination. Whole-genome sequencing data revealed an ST59 CA-MRSA strain encoding PVL and SCCmec IV. Linezolid was administered in this case, and the patient recovered, with no signs of relapse during the one-year follow-up. We present the first case of PVL-positive ST59 CA-MRSA meningitis, with severe manifestations in China.

Hirschsprung's disease in a young adult: report of a case and review of the literature.

Hirschsprung's disease (HD) in adults is rare and often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. We report a case of HD in a 26-year-old woman who had a history of chronic constipation that required laxatives and enemas since early childhood. She developed severe intestinal obstruction and presented to the emergency department with significant abdominal distension. A computed tomographic scan confirmed significant fecal loading of the entire colon and rectum. An anal manometry revealed lack of normal rectoanal inhibitory reflex. A rectal biopsy showed hypoganglionic anorectum, suspicious for HD. Because of the severe fecal retention that was refractory to conservative management, total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis was performed. The entire colon showed massive dilatation and marked wall thickening. Histologic examination showed absence of ganglion cells in submucosal (Meissner's) and myenteric (Auerbach's) plexuses in the distal rectum. A diagnosis of adult HD was made. Her postoperative course was uneventful with complete resolution of the symptoms. Hirschsprung's disease should be considered in adults who have long-standing and refractory constipation.

Cone photoreceptor betagamma-transducin: posttranslational modification and interaction with phosducin.

PURPOSE: To characterize the structure of cone betagamma-transducin (Tbeta3gamma8) and its interaction with phosducin (pdc). METHODS: The Tgamma8 subunit of Tbeta3gamma8 was isolated by column chromatography for peptide mapping with mass spectrometry. Tbeta3gamma8 was compared with rod betagamma-transducin (Tbeta1gamma1) in terms of the electrophoretic mobility, pdc binding affinity, and the effects of phosphorylation and methylation, and then the correlation to the crystal structures and functional domains of Tbeta1gamma1 was determined. RESULTS: The mature Tgamma8 is a 65-amino-acid peptide encoded by the Ggamma8 gene with an acetylated and a farnesylated-methylated N- and C-terminus, respectively. Purified Tbeta3gamma8 is similar to Tbeta1gamma1 in that (1) both are heterogeneous, containing methylated and demethylated Tgamma subunits; (2) each demethylated dimer migrates faster than its methylated counterpart during native gel electrophoresis, and the methylation-associated mobility differential is masked by pdc binding; and (3) both dimers bind pdc with the same affinity, and the affinity is reduced threefold by PKA phosphorylation of pdc and twofold by demethylation at the C-terminus of Tgamma. Tbeta3gamma8 differs from Tbeta1gamma1 in exhibiting lower intrinsic electrophoretic mobility, and the difference is unaffected by either pdc binding or the status of Tgamma methylation. CONCLUSIONS: Tbeta3gamma8 is identical with Tbeta1gamma1 in Tgamma isoprenylation, the spatial organization, and the mode of pdc binding, indicating that its interaction with pdc does not play an important role in the specialization of cones. Changes in Tbetagamma characteristics by Tgamma methylation reveal conformational changes on a surface domain that is essential for Tbetagamma functions and support a regulatory role for reversible methylation.