Target organ damage in untreated hypertensive patients with primary aldosteronism.

An increased risk of target organ damage (TOD) has been reported in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA). However, there is relatively little related research on the correlation between the degree of TOD and those with and without PA in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients. The aim of this study was to assess the association between PA and TOD among patients with newly diagnosed hypertension. Newly diagnosed hypertensive patients were consecutively recruited from January 2015 to June 2020 at the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital. Patients were stratified into those with and without PA. Data for left ventricular mass index (LVMI), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and plaque, and microalbuminuria were systematically collected. A total of 1044 patients with newly diagnosed hypertension were recruited, 57 (5.5%) of whom were diagnosed with PA. Patients with PA had lower blood pressure, serum lipids, body mass index, and plasma renin activity and a higher incidence of hypokalemia than those without PA. In contrast, the prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy, increased CIMT, and microalbuminuria was higher in patients with PA than in those without PA. Multivariable regression analysis demonstrated that PA was independently associated with increased LVMI, CIMT and microalbuminuria. Among patients with newly diagnosed hypertension, those with PA had more severe TOD, including a higher LVMI, CIMT and microalbuminuria, than those without PA. These findings emphasize the need for screening TOD in newly diagnosed hypertension due to underlying PA.

Systematic investigation of the material basis, effectiveness and safety of Thesium chinense Turcz. and its preparation Bairui Granules against lung inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Thesium chinense Turcz. (Named as Bai Rui Cao in Chinese) and its preparations (e.g., Bairui Granules) have been used to treat inflammatory diseases, such as acute mastitis, lobar pneumonia, tonsillitis, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and upper respiratory tract infection. However, the material basis, pharmacological efficiency, and safety have not been illustrated. METHODS: Anti-inflammatory activity-guided isolation of constituents has been performed using multiple column chromatography, and their structures were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy and ECD calculations. The inhibitory effects on lung inflammation and safety of the crude ethanol extract (CE), Bairui Granules (BG), and the purified active constituents were evaluated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated acute lung inflammation (ALI) mice model or normal mice. RESULTS: Seven new compounds (1-7) and fifty-six known compounds (8-63) were isolated from T. chinense, and fifty-four were reported from this plant for the first time. The new flavonoid glycosides 1-2, new fatty acids 4-5, new alkaloid 7 as well as the known constituents including flavonoid aglycones 8-11, lignans 46-54, alkaloids 34 and 45, coumarins 57, phenylpropionic acids 27, and simple aromatic compounds 39, 44 and 58 exhibited anti-inflammatory activity. Network pharmacology analysis indicated that anti-inflammation of T. chinense was attributed to flavonoids and alkaloids by regulating inflammation-related proteins (e.g., TNF, NF-κB, TGF-ß). Furthermore, constituents of T. chinense including kaempferol-3-O-glucorhamnoside (KN, also named as Bairuisu I, 19), astragalin (AG, Bairuisu II, 12), and kaempferol (KF, Bairuisu III, 8), as well as CE and BG could alleviate lung inflammation caused by LPS in mice by preventing neutrophils infiltration and the expression of the genes for pro-inflammatory cytokines NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1ß, and COX-2. After a 28-day subacute toxicity test, BG at doses of 4.875 g/kg and 9.750 g/kg (equivalent to onefold and twofold the clinically recommended dose) and CE at a dose of 11.138 g/kg (equivalent to fourfold the clinical dose of BG) were found to be safe and non-toxic. CONCLUSIONS: The discovery of sixty-three constituents comprehensively illustrated the material basis of T. chinense. T. chinense and Bairui Granules could alleviate lung inflammation by regulating inflammation-related proteins and no toxicity was observed under the twofold of clinically used doses.

Ferredoxin 1: a gatekeeper in halting lung adenocarcinoma progression through activation of the GPRIN2 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a highly lethal form of lung cancer. Despite advancements in treatments, managing LUAD is still challenging due to its aggressive behavior. Recent studies indicate that various molecular pathways, including the dysregulation of ferredoxin 1 (FDX1), play roles in LUAD progression. FDX1, a crucial protein in cellular redox reactions and energy metabolism, has been linked to several cancers. However, its exact role in the development of LUAD is not yet fully understood. METHODS: We investigated the role of ferredoxin 1 (FDX1) in LUAD progression through analysis of its expression in LUAD tissues and its impact on patient survival. Functional assays were performed to assess the effects of FDX1 overexpression on LUAD cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. A xenograft model was employed to evaluate the tumorigenesis potential of LUAD cells with FDX1 overexpression. Mechanistic insights into FDX1 regulation were gained through depletion experiments targeting the G protein-regulated inducer of neurite outgrowth 2 (GPRIN2)/PI3K signaling pathway. RESULTS: FDX1 expression was down-regulated in LUAD tissues, correlating with shorter patient survival. Overexpression of FDX1 suppressed LUAD cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, and inhibited tumorigenesis in vivo. Mechanistically, the GPRIN2/PI3K signaling pathway was implicated in FDX1 regulation, as depletion of GPRIN2 reversed the effects of FDX1 overexpression on cellular functions. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight FDX1 as a potential tumor suppressor in LUAD, acting through modulation of the GPRIN2/PI3K signaling pathway. These results suggest FDX1 as a promising therapeutic target for LUAD treatment, warranting further investigation into its clinical relevance.

Domain wall magnetic tunnel junction-based artificial synapses and neurons for all-spin neuromorphic hardware.

We report a breakthrough in the hardware implementation of energy-efficient all-spin synapse and neuron devices for highly scalable integrated neuromorphic circuits. Our work demonstrates the successful execution of all-spin synapse and activation function generator using domain wall-magnetic tunnel junctions. By harnessing the synergistic effects of spin-orbit torque and interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction in selectively etched spin-orbit coupling layers, we achieve a programmable multi-state synaptic device with high reliability. Our first-principles calculations confirm that the reduced atomic distance between 5d and 3d atoms enhances Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction, leading to stable domain wall pinning. Our experimental results, supported by visualizing energy landscapes and theoretical simulations, validate the proposed mechanism. Furthermore, we demonstrate a spin-neuron with a sigmoidal activation function, enabling high operation frequency up to 20 MHz and low energy consumption of 508 fJ/operation. A neuron circuit design with a compact sigmoidal cell area and low power consumption is also presented, along with corroborated experimental implementation. Our findings highlight the great potential of domain wall-magnetic tunnel junctions in the development of all-spin neuromorphic computing hardware, offering exciting possibilities for energy-efficient and scalable neural network architectures.

Intra-thyroid esophageal duplication cyst: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cysts are relatively rare in clinical practice, with most of the literature comprising case reports. Esophageal cysts protruding into the thyroid gland are easily misdiagnosed as thyroid tumors. No such cases have been reported so far. CASE SUMMARY: This article reports the case of a 31-year-old adult male diagnosed with thyroid nodules before admission. The patient underwent left thyroidectomy and isthmusectomy. During the surgery, esophageal cysts were identified in the esophageal muscle and thyroid glands. The pathology results confirmed a nodular goiter combined with esophageal cysts. Postoperatively, the patient developed a neck infection and underwent another operation and broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment for recovery. CONCLUSION: We report the first clinical case of an esophageal cyst located within the thyroid gland that was successfully treated surgically. Esophageal cyst located within the thyroid gland cause difficulties in diagnosis. In the present study, the contents of the esophageal cysts were calcified foci, and a small amount of fluid mixture, which were easily misdiagnosed as thyroid nodules and misled the surgical methods.

Accuracy of RHC/c genotyping in Chinese Han population.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The RHCE gene plays an important role in the complex and polymorphic Rh blood group system. RHCE genotyping holds significant clinical and transfusion-related implications. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of RHC/c genotyping in the Chinese Han population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from 653 Chinese Han blood donors. The serological RhD and RhCcEe types were determined using monoclonal antibodies. Subsequently, multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis was performed for RHC and RHc genotyping. Additionally, exon 2 of RHCE and exon 1 of RHD were sequenced. RESULTS: The analysis in this study found 443 RhD-positive donors and 210 RhD-negative donors. Among the 653 total donors, discrepancies between the RHC genotyping results and the serological results were found in 37 individuals. Specifically, 6 false-positive RhC results in RhD-positive donors and 28 false-positive RhC results in RhD-negative donors were identified based on c.48C in RHCE exon 1. Additionally, 3 false-negative RhC results were observed in the RhD-positive donors due to a 109 bp insertion in RHCE intron 2. RHc typing demonstrated complete consistency between the real-time PCR and the serological results. CONCLUSION: In the Chinese Han population, RHC genotyping was reliable when consistent results were achieved by both c.48C-based and 109 bp insertion-based genotyping. Moreover, RHc genotyping based on c.203A and c.307C polymorphic loci demonstrated dependable performance.

PPARγ Antagonists Exhibit Antitumor Effects by Regulating Ferroptosis and Disulfidptosis.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) stands as a prevalent subtype of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, leading to disease recurrence and low survival rates. PPARγ, a ligand-dependent nuclear transcription factor, holds significance in tumor development. However, the role of PPARγ in the development of OSCC has not been fully elucidated. Through transcriptome sequencing analysis, we discovered a notable enrichment of ferroptosis-related molecules upon treatment with PPARγ antagonist. We subsequently confirmed the occurrence of ferroptosis through transmission electron microscopy, iron detection, etc. Notably, ferroptosis inhibitors could not completely rescue the cell death caused by PPARγ inhibitors, and the rescue effect was the greatest when disulfidptosis and ferroptosis inhibitors coexisted. We confirmed that the disulfidptosis phenotype indeed existed. Mechanistically, through qPCR and Western blotting, we observed that the inhibition of PPARγ resulted in the upregulation of heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1), thereby promoting ferroptosis, while solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) was also upregulated to promote disulfidptosis in OSCC. Finally, a flow cytometry analysis of flight and multiplex immunohistochemical staining was used to characterize the immune status of PPARγ antagonist-treated OSCC tissues in a mouse tongue orthotopic transplantation tumor model, and the results showed that the inhibition of PPARγ led to ferroptosis and disulfidptosis, promoted the aggregation of cDCs and CD8+ T cells, and inhibited the progression of OSCC. Overall, our findings reveal that PPARγ plays a key role in regulating cell death in OSCC and that targeting PPARγ may be a potential therapeutic approach for OSCC.

Nanotechnology-driven strategies to enhance the treatment of drug-resistant bacterial infections.

The misuse of antibiotics has led to increased bacterial resistance, posing a global public health crisis and seriously endangering lives. Currently, antibiotic therapy remains the most common approach for treating bacterial infections, but its effectiveness against multidrug-resistant bacteria is diminishing due to the slow development of new antibiotics and the increase of bacterial drug resistance. Consequently, developing new a\ntimicrobial strategies and improving antibiotic efficacy to combat bacterial infection has become an urgent priority. The emergence of nanotechnology has revolutionized the traditional antibiotic treatment, presenting new opportunities for refractory bacterial infection. Here we comprehensively review the research progress in nanotechnology-based antimicrobial drug delivery and highlight diverse platforms designed to target different bacterial resistance mechanisms. We also outline the use of nanotechnology in combining antibiotic therapy with other therapeutic modalities to enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of drug-resistant bacterial infections. These innovative therapeutic strategies have the potential to enhance bacterial susceptibility and overcome bacterial resistance. Finally, the challenges and prospects for the application of nanomaterial-based antimicrobial strategies in combating bacterial resistance are discussed. This article is categorized under: Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Nucleic Acid-Based Structures Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Infectious Disease.

Rational design of comb-like 1D-1D ZnO-ZnSe heterostructures toward their excellent performance in flexible photodetectors.

One-dimensional (1D) Zn-based heterostructures have attracted considerable interest in the field of photodetection because of their tunable properties, flexibility, and unique optoelectronic properties. However, designing 1D multi-component Zn-based heterostructures for advanced photodetectors is still a great challenge. Herein, comb-like 1D-1D ZnO-ZnSe heterostructures with ZnO and ZnSe nanowires (NWs) comprising the shaft and teeth of a comb are reported. The length of the ZnO NWs can be modulated in the range of 300-1200 nm. Microstructural characterizations confirm that the 1D heterostructure clearly shows the spatial distribution of individual components. The well-designed structure displays an extended broadband photoresponse and higher photosensitivity than pure ZnSe NWs. Furthermore, ZnSe NWs with an appropriate length of ZnO branches show increased photoresponses of 3835% and 798% compared to those of pure ZnSe NWs under green and red-light irradiation, respectively. In addition, the integrated flexible photodetector presents excellent folding endurance after 1000 bending tests. This well-designed structure has significant potential for other 1D-based semiconductors in optoelectronic applications.

Dynamic risk assessment of a coal slurry preparation system based on the structure-variable Dynamic Bayesian Network.

In order to strengthen the safety management of coal slurry preparation systems, a dynamic risk assessment method was established by using the bow-tie (BT) model and the Structure-variable Dynamic Bayesian Network (SVDBN). First, the BT model was transformed into a static Bayesian network (BN) model of the failure of a coal slurry preparation system by using the bow-tie model and the structural similarity of the Bayesian cognitive science, based on the SVDBN recursive reasoning algorithm. The risk factors of the coal slurry preparation system were deduced using the Python language in two ways, and at the same time, preventive measures were put forward according to the weak links. In order to verify the accuracy and feasibility of this method, the simulation results were compared with those obtained using GeNIe software. The reasoning results of the two methods were very similar. Without considering maintenance factors, the failure rate of the coal slurry preparation system gradually increases with increasing time. When considering maintenance factors, the reliability of the coal slurry preparation system will gradually be maintained at a certain threshold, and the maintenance factors will increase the reliability of the system. The proposed method can provide a theoretical basis for the risk assessment and safety management of coal slurry preparation systems.

Firing feature-driven neural circuits with scalable memristive neurons for robotic obstacle avoidance.

Neural circuits with specific structures and diverse neuronal firing features are the foundation for supporting intelligent tasks in biology and are regarded as the driver for catalyzing next-generation artificial intelligence. Emulating neural circuits in hardware underpins engineering highly efficient neuromorphic chips, however, implementing a firing features-driven functional neural circuit is still an open question. In this work, inspired by avoidance neural circuits of crickets, we construct a spiking feature-driven sensorimotor control neural circuit consisting of three memristive Hodgkin-Huxley neurons. The ascending neurons exhibit mixed tonic spiking and bursting features, which are used for encoding sensing input. Additionally, we innovatively introduce a selective communication scheme in biology to decode mixed firing features using two descending neurons. We proceed to integrate such a neural circuit with a robot for avoidance control and achieve lower latency than conventional platforms. These results provide a foundation for implementing real brain-like systems driven by firing features with memristive neurons and put constructing high-order intelligent machines on the agenda.

Assessing the Risk of Bias in Randomized Clinical Trials With Large Language Models.

Importance: Large language models (LLMs) may facilitate the labor-intensive process of systematic reviews. However, the exact methods and reliability remain uncertain. Objective: To explore the feasibility and reliability of using LLMs to assess risk of bias (ROB) in randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Design, Setting, and Participants: A survey study was conducted between August 10, 2023, and October 30, 2023. Thirty RCTs were selected from published systematic reviews. Main Outcomes and Measures: A structured prompt was developed to guide ChatGPT (LLM 1) and Claude (LLM 2) in assessing the ROB in these RCTs using a modified version of the Cochrane ROB tool developed by the CLARITY group at McMaster University. Each RCT was assessed twice by both models, and the results were documented. The results were compared with an assessment by 3 experts, which was considered a criterion standard. Correct assessment rates, sensitivity, specificity, and F1 scores were calculated to reflect accuracy, both overall and for each domain of the Cochrane ROB tool; consistent assessment rates and Cohen κ were calculated to gauge consistency; and assessment time was calculated to measure efficiency. Performance between the 2 models was compared using risk differences. Results: Both models demonstrated high correct assessment rates. LLM 1 reached a mean correct assessment rate of 84.5% (95% CI, 81.5%-87.3%), and LLM 2 reached a significantly higher rate of 89.5% (95% CI, 87.0%-91.8%). The risk difference between the 2 models was 0.05 (95% CI, 0.01-0.09). In most domains, domain-specific correct rates were around 80% to 90%; however, sensitivity below 0.80 was observed in domains 1 (random sequence generation), 2 (allocation concealment), and 6 (other concerns). Domains 4 (missing outcome data), 5 (selective outcome reporting), and 6 had F1 scores below 0.50. The consistent rates between the 2 assessments were 84.0% for LLM 1 and 87.3% for LLM 2. LLM 1's κ exceeded 0.80 in 7 and LLM 2's in 8 domains. The mean (SD) time needed for assessment was 77 (16) seconds for LLM 1 and 53 (12) seconds for LLM 2. Conclusions: In this survey study of applying LLMs for ROB assessment, LLM 1 and LLM 2 demonstrated substantial accuracy and consistency in evaluating RCTs, suggesting their potential as supportive tools in systematic review processes.

Electron wave and quantum optics in graphene.

In the last decade, graphene has become an exciting platform for electron optical experiments, in some aspects superior to conventional two-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs). A major advantage, besides the ultra-large mobilities, is the fine control over the electrostatics, which gives the possibility of realising gap-less and compact p-n interfaces with high precision. The latter host non-trivial states, \eg, snake states in moderate magnetic fields, and serve as building blocks of complex electron interferometers. Thanks to the Dirac spectrum and its non-trivial Berry phase, the internal (valley and sublattice) degrees of freedom, and the possibility to tailor the band structure using proximity effects, such interferometers open up a completely new playground based on novel device architectures. In this review, we introduce the theoretical background of graphene electron optics, fabrication methods used to realise electron-optical devices, and techniques for corresponding numerical simulations. Based on this, we give a comprehensive review of ballistic transport experiments and simple building blocks of electron optical devices both in single and bilayer graphene, highlighting the novel physics that is brought in compared to conventional 2DEGs. After describing the different magnetic field regimes in graphene p-n junctions and nanostructures, we conclude by discussing the state of the art in graphene-based Mach-Zender and Fabry-Perot interferometers.

CD44v5 domain regulates crosstalk between TNBC cells and tumor-associated macrophages by enhancing the IL-4R/STAT3 axis.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has greater infiltration of M2-like macrophages (TAMs), which enhances cancer cell invasion and leads to a poor prognosis. TNBC progression is mediated by both tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME). Here we elucidate the mechanism of the interaction between TNBC cells and TAMs. In this study, we confirmed that CD44v5 is highly expressed in TNBC, which drives TNBC cell metastasis and promotes TAM polarization by co-localizing with IL4Rα and inhibiting its internalization and degradation, thereby promoting activation of the STAT3/IL6 signaling axis. At the same time, TAMs also facilitate TNBC cell metastasis by secreting IL-4, IL-6, and other cytokines, in which the IL-4/IL-4R/STAT3/IL-6 signaling axis plays the same role for TNBC cells responding to TAMs. Moreover, we found that the above progress could be suppressed when the CD44v5 domain was blocked. We demonstrated that the CD44v5/IL-4R/STAT3/IL-6 signaling pathway plays a key role in TNBC cell metastasis, and in TNBC cells inducing TAM polarization and responding to TAMs, promoting metastasis. Collectively, we suggest that the CD44v5 domain may be a promising target for regulating the TME of TNBC as well as treating TNBC.

Personalized therapy guided by longitudinal liquid biopsies for treatment of leptomeningeal disease from lung adenocarcinoma: A case report.

Molecular-based targeted therapies have significantly benefited certain patients with cancer; however, those with leptomeningeal disease (LMD) persistently exhibit a poor prognosis and are often excluded from clinical trials. Tumor-derived cell-free (cf)DNA, found in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with LMD, can assist in diagnosis and tracking of disease progression. However, the utilization of CSF to direct targeted cancer therapy has yet to be extensively explored. The present study reported the case of a patient with lung adenocarcinoma and LMD who was monitored by performing a series of liquid biopsies of CSF and blood. Targeted sequencing was performed on cfDNA from the CSF and plasma, and the variant allele frequencies (VAFs) of BRAF and NRAS mutations were assessed and analyzed in conjunction with the clinical presentation of the patient. The patient then underwent serial chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy and targeted treatment based on the results of the liquid biopsies. Upon the LMD diagnosis, a BRAF p.V600E mutation was detected in plasma cfDNA. Consequently, the patient was treated with vemurafenib and responded favorably to this consolidation treatment for 13 months. After a relapse in July 2018, both BRAF p.V600E and NRAS p.Q61K mutations were detected in CSF supernatant and sediment cell samples, suggesting drug resistance. Therefore, the treatment strategy for the patient changed to cobimetnib plus vemurafenib. Notably, the changes of VAF in the CSF supernatant samples were associated with the clinical status of the patient. The patient survived for 33 months post-LMD diagnosis. The present case report highlights the potential use of liquid biopsy in personalized therapy, as it was instrumental in informing the combinational treatment plan of the patient, which ultimately proved beneficial.

Dorsal root ganglion-derived exosomes deteriorate neuropathic pain by activating microglia via the microRNA-16-5p/HECTD1/HSP90 axis.

BACKGROUND: The activated microglia have been reported as pillar factors in neuropathic pain (NP) pathology, but the molecules driving pain-inducible microglial activation require further exploration. In this study, we investigated the effect of dorsal root ganglion (DRG)-derived exosomes (Exo) on microglial activation and the related mechanism. METHODS: A mouse model of NP was generated by spinal nerve ligation (SNL), and DRG-derived Exo were extracted. The effects of DRG-Exo on NP and microglial activation in SNL mice were evaluated using behavioral tests, HE staining, immunofluorescence, and western blot. Next, the differentially enriched microRNAs (miRNAs) in DRG-Exo-treated microglia were analyzed using microarrays. RT-qPCR, RNA pull-down, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and immunofluorescence were conducted to verify the binding relation between miR-16-5p and HECTD1. Finally, the effects of ubiquitination modification of HSP90 by HECTD1 on NP progression and microglial activation were investigated by Co-IP, western blot, immunofluorescence assays, and rescue experiments. RESULTS: DRG-Exo aggravated NP resulting from SNL in mice, promoted the activation of microglia in DRG, and increased neuroinflammation. miR-16-5p knockdown in DRG-Exo alleviated the stimulating effects of DRG-Exo on NP and microglial activation. DRG-Exo regulated the ubiquitination of HSP90 through the interaction between miR-16-5p and HECTD1. Ubiquitination alteration of HSP90 was involved in microglial activation during NP. CONCLUSIONS: miR-16-5p shuttled by DRG-Exo regulated the ubiquitination of HSP90 by interacting with HECTD1, thereby contributing to the microglial activation in NP.

Gate-Tunable Positive and Negative Photoconductance in Near-Infrared Organic Heterostructures for In-Sensor Computing.

The rapid growth of sensor data in the artificial intelligence often causes significant reductions in processing speed and power efficiency. Addressing this challenge, in-sensor computing is introduced as an advanced sensor architecture that simultaneously senses, memorizes, and processes images at the sensor level. However, this is rarely reported for organic semiconductors that possess inherent flexibility and tunable bandgap. Herein, an organic heterostructure that exhibits a robust photoresponse to near-infrared (NIR) light is introduced, making it ideal for in-sensor computing applications. This heterostructure, consisting of partially overlapping p-type and n-type organic thin films, is compatible with conventional photolithography techniques, allowing for high integration density of up to 520 devices cm-2 with a 5 µm channel length. Importantly, by modulating gate voltage, both positive and negative photoresponses to NIR light (1050 nm) are attained, which establishes a linear correlation between responsivity and gate voltage and consequently enables real-time matrix multiplication within the sensor. As a result, this organic heterostructure facilitates efficient and precise NIR in-sensor computing, including image processing and nondestructive reading and classification, achieving a recognition accuracy of 97.06%. This work serves as a foundation for the development of reconfigurable and multifunctional NIR neuromorphic vision systems.

Synergistic Effects of MOFs and Noble Metals in Photocatalytic Reactions: Mechanisms and Applications.

Photocatalytic technology can efficiently convert solar energy to chemical energy and this process is considered as one of the green and sustainable technology for practical implementation. In recent years, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted widespread attention due to their unique advantages and have been widely applied in the field of photocatalysis. Among them, noble metals have contributed significant advances to the field as effective catalysts in photocatalytic reactions. Importantly, noble metals can also form a synergistic catalytic effect with MOFs to further improve the efficiency of photocatalytic reactions. However, how to precisely control the synergistic effect between MOFs and noble metals to improve the photocatalytic performance of materials still needs to be further studied. In this review, the synergistic effects of MOFs and noble metal catalysts in photocatalytic reactions are firstly summarized in terms of noble metal nanoparticles, noble metal monoatoms, noble metal compounds, and noble metal complexes, and focus on the mechanisms and advantages of these synergistic effects, so as to provide useful guidance for the further research and application of MOFs and contribute to the development of the field of photocatalysis.

Comparison of the efficacy and complications of tolterodine and α-adrenergic receptor blockers in improving ureteral stent-related symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a systematic evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy and complications of tolterodine and α-adrenergic receptor blockers in alleviating ureteral stent-related symptoms. METHODS: Until August 2023, we conducted a comprehensive literature search on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library to identify randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy and complications of tolterodine and α-adrenergic receptor blockers in treating ureteral stent-related symptoms. Two reviewers independently screened studies and extracted data. The scores from various domains of the Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire (USSQ) were summarized and compared, and statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4.0 software. RESULTS: A total of 8 studies met the inclusion criteria for our analysis. These studies were conducted at different centers. All studies were randomized controlled trials, involving a total of 487 patients, with 244 patients receiving α-adrenergic receptor blockers and 243 patients receiving tolterodine. The results showed that tolterodine demonstrated significantly better improvement in body pain (MD, 1.56; 95% CI [0.46, 2.66]; p = 0.005) (MD, 0.46; 95% CI [0.12, 0.80]; p = 0.008) (MD, 3.21; 95% CI [1.89, 4.52]; p = 0.00001) among patients after ureteral stent placement compared to α-adrenergic receptor blockers at different time points. Additionally, at 4 weeks, tolterodine showed superior improvement in general health (MD, 0.15; 95% CI [0.03, 0.27]; p = 0.01) and urinary symptoms (MD, 1.62; 95% CI [0.59, 2.66]; p = 0.002) compared to α-adrenergic receptor blockers, while at 6 weeks, tolterodine showed better improvement in work performance (MD, -1.60; 95% CI [-2.73, -0.48]; p = 0.005) compared to α-adrenergic receptor blockers. Additionally, the incidence of dry mouth (RR, 4.21; 95% CI [1.38, 12.87]; p = 0.01) is higher with the use of tolterodine compared to α-adrenergic receptor blockers. However, there were no significant statistical differences between the two drugs in other outcomes. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis suggests that tolterodine is superior to α-adrenergic receptor blockers in improving physical pain symptoms after ureteral stent placement, while α-adrenergic receptor blockers are more effective than tolterodine in enhancing work performance. Additionally, the incidence of dry mouth is higher with the use of tolterodine compared to α-adrenergic receptor blockers. However, higher-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to further investigate this issue.

The value of dynamic FDG PET/CT in the differential diagnosis of lung cancer and predicting EGFR mutations.

OBJECTIVES: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT has been widely used for the differential diagnosis of cancer. Semi-quantitative standardized uptake value (SUV) is known to be affected by multiple factors and may make it difficult to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions. It is crucial to find reliable quantitative metabolic parameters to further support the diagnosis. This study aims to evaluate the value of the quantitative metabolic parameters derived from dynamic FDG PET/CT in the differential diagnosis of lung cancer and predicting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status. METHODS: We included 147 patients with lung lesions to perform FDG PET/CT dynamic plus static imaging with informed consent. Based on the results of the postoperative pathology, the patients were divided into benign/malignant groups, adenocarcinoma (AC)/squamous carcinoma (SCC) groups, and EGFR-positive (EGFR+)/EGFR-negative (EGFR-) groups. Quantitative parameters including K1, k2, k3, and Ki of each lesion were obtained by applying the irreversible two-tissue compartmental modeling using an in-house Matlab software. The SUV analysis was performed based on conventional static scan data. Differences in each metabolic parameter among the group were analyzed. Wilcoxon rank-sum test, independent-samples T-test, and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were performed to compare the diagnostic effects among the differentiated groups. P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant for all statistical tests. RESULTS: In the malignant group (N = 124), the SUVmax, k2, k3, and Ki were higher than the benign group (N = 23), and all had-better performance in the differential diagnosis (P < 0.05, respectively). In the AC group (N = 88), the SUVmax, k3, and Ki were lower than in the SCC group, and such differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05, respectively). For ROC analysis, Ki with cut-off value of 0.0250 ml/g/min has better diagnostic specificity than SUVmax (AUC = 0.999 vs. 0.70). In AC group, 48 patients further underwent EGFR testing. In the EGFR (+) group (N = 31), the average Ki (0.0279 ± 0.0153 ml/g/min) was lower than EGFR (-) group (N = 17, 0.0405 ± 0.0199 ml/g/min), and the difference was significant (P < 0.05). However, SUVmax and k3 did not show such a difference between EGFR (+) and EGFR (-) groups (P>0.05, respectively). For ROC analysis, the Ki had a cut-off value of 0.0350 ml/g/min when predicting EGFR status, with a sensitivity of 0.710, a specificity of 0.588, and an AUC of 0.674 [0.523-0.802]. CONCLUSION: Although both techniques were specific, Ki had a greater specificity than SUVmax when the cut-off value was set at 0.0250 ml/g/min for the differential diagnosis of lung cancer. At a cut-off value of 0.0350 ml/g/min, there was a 0.710 sensitivity for EGFR status prediction. If EGFR testing is not available for a patient, dynamic imaging could be a valuable non-invasive screening method.