ABSTRACT
Heteroatom doping has become an important method to enhance the performance of traditional carbon dots in modern times. Selenium (Se) is a nonmetallic trace element with excellent redox properties and is therefore essential for health. Previous studies have mainly used pure chemicals as selenium sources to prepare selenium-doped carbon dots (Se-CDs), but the precursor pure chemicals have the disadvantages of being expensive, difficult to obtain, toxic, and having low fluorescence yields of the synthesised Se-CDs. Fortunately, our team achieved successful synthesis of selenium carbon dots, exhibiting excellent luminescence and biocompatibility through a one-step hydrothermal method using selenium-enriched natural plant Cardamine, as an alternative to selenium chemicals. This approach aims to address the limitations and high costs associated with Se-CDs precursors. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR) and cellular antioxidant tests have confirmed the protective ability of Se-CDs against oxidative damage induced by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS). A new concept and method for synthesizing selenium carbon dots on the basis of biomass, a rationale for the antioxidant effects on human health, and a wide range of development and application possibilities were offered in this work.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants , Carbon , Luminescence , Quantum Dots , Selenium , Selenium/chemistry , Carbon/chemistry , Quantum Dots/chemistry , Antioxidants/chemistry , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Humans , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , Plants/chemistry , Plants/metabolismABSTRACT
As microelectronics technology advances towards miniaturization and higher integration, the imperative for developing high-performance thermal management materials has escalated. Thermal conductive polymer composites (TCPCs), which leverage the benefits of polymer matrices and the unique effects of nano-enhancers, are gaining focus as solutions to overheating due to their low density, ease of processing, and cost-effectiveness. However, these materials often face challenges such as thermal conductivities that are lower than expected, limiting their application in high-performance electronic devices. Despite these issues, TCPCs continue to demonstrate broad potential across various industrial sectors. This review comprehensively presents the progress in this field, detailing the mechanisms of thermal conductivity (TC) in these composites and discussing factors that influence thermal performance, such as the intrinsic properties of polymers, interfacial thermal resistance, and the thermal properties of fillers. Additionally, it categorizes and summarizes methods to enhance the TC of polymer composites. The review also highlights the applications of these materials in emerging areas such as flexible electronic devices, personal thermal management, and aerospace. Ultimately, by analyzing current challenges and opportunities, this review provides clear directions for future research and development.
ABSTRACT
Food safety significantly impacts public health and social welfare. Recently, issues such as heavy metal ions, drug residues, food additives, and microbial contamination in food have become increasingly prominent. Electrochemical sensing technology, known for its low cost, simplicity, rapid response, high sensitivity, and excellent selectivity, has been crucial in food safety detection. Electrospun nanofibers, with their high specific surface area, superior mechanical properties, and design flexibility, offer new insights and technical platforms for developing electrochemical sensors. This study introduces the fundamental principles, classifications, and detection mechanisms of electrochemical sensors, along with the principles and classifications of electrospinning technology. The applications of electrospun nanofiber-based electrochemical sensors in food safety detection over the past five years are detailed, and the limitations and future research prospects are discussed. Continuous innovation and optimization are expected to make electrospun nanofiber-based electrochemical sensors a key technology in rapid food safety detection, providing valuable references for expanding their application and advancing food safety detection methods.
Subject(s)
Electrochemical Techniques , Food Safety , Nanofibers , Nanofibers/chemistry , Electrochemical Techniques/methods , Biosensing Techniques/methods , Food Contamination/analysis , HumansABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Exosomes derived from bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are potential candidates for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment. The present study investigated the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of BMSCs-derived exosomes on pyroptosis in IBD. METHODS: We induced IBD in mice and cell models through dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) and LPS, respectively. The mRNA and protein expression levels were assessed by qRT-PCR, Western blotting, IF and IHC. The concentrations of IL-1ß, IL-18 and TNFα were assessed using ELISA. ROS levels were determined using DCFH-DA staining. Cell proliferation of mIECs was analysed using an MTT assay. In addition, a flow cytometry assay was performed to detect pyroptosis. Finally, the binding relationship between miR-539-5p and NLRP3 was verified by a dual luciferase reporter gene assay. RESULTS: Our results revealed that intraperitoneal injection of BMSCs-derived exosomes inhibited DSS-induced pyroptosis as well as IBD symptoms in mice. In addition, BMSCs-derived exosome treatment suppressed pyroptosis, ROS levels and the concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-18 and TNFα) in LPS-treated mIECs in a miR-539-5p-dependent manner. Further research found that miR-539-5p suppressed NLRP3 expression in mIECs by directly targeting NLRP3. As expected, pyroptosis in LPS-treated mIECs was significantly reduced by NLRP3 knockdown. In addition, NLRP3 silencing restored the inhibitory effect of exosomes derived from BMSCs transfected with miR-539-5p inhibitor on pyroptosis in LPS-treated mIECs. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that BMSCs-derived exosomal miR-539-5p suppresses pyroptosis through NLRP3/caspase-1 signalling to inhibit IBD progression.
Subject(s)
Exosomes , Inflammatory Bowel Diseases , Mesenchymal Stem Cells , MicroRNAs , Animals , Caspase 1/metabolism , Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/therapy , Interleukin-18/genetics , Interleukin-18/metabolism , Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology , Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism , Mice , MicroRNAs/metabolism , NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics , NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism , Pyroptosis , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolismABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Psoriasis (PS) is difficult to cure with a high incidence. Therefore, the quality of life (QOL) of people with Psoriasis has caused widespread concern. Universal scales respond poorly to subtle changes caused by specific diseases, which makes it challenging to fully understand the impact of QOL in patients with psoriasis. In view of the deficiencies of the universal scale and the lack of a specific scale suitable for Chinese cultural background, this study aims to develop the psoriasis scale among the system of QOL instruments for chronic diseases QLICD-PS (V2.0). METHODS: The scale QLICD-PS (V2.0) was developed based on the procedural decision-making approach and the experience of establishing scales at home and abroad. 122 patients with psoriasis were participated in measuring QOL 3 times before and after treatments. The reliability was assessed by test-retest reliability (Pearson's correlation coefficients) and also internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficients). Qualitative analysis was adopted to evaluate content validity; item-domain correlation analysis, multi-dimensional scaling analysis, and factor analysis were adopted to evaluate the construct validity; the SF-36 scale was used as the criterion to evaluate the criterion-related validity due to lack of gold standard. Paired t tests were performed to evaluate the responsiveness on each domain/facet as well as the total of the scale, with Standardized Response Mean (SRM) being calculated. RESULTS: The QLICD-PS was composed of the general module including 3 domains (28 items) and the psoriasis specific module (13 items). The Cronbach's α of the specific module, the general module and the total scale of the QLICD-PS was 0.78, 0.87 and 0.74 respectively, the split-half reliability of the specific module, the general module and the total scale was 0.81, 0.91 and 0.81, respectively, both indicating high reliability. Correlation and factor analysis confirmed good construct validity and criterion-related validity. After treatments, the score changes in the total scale were statistically significant with SRM being 0.5, showing moderate responsiveness. CONCLUSION: As the first psoriasis-specific QOL scale developed by the modular approach in Chinese, the QLICD-PS showed good reliability, validity and responsiveness, and could be used to measure the QOL of Patients with psoriasis specifically and sufficiently.
Subject(s)
Psoriasis , Quality of Life , Chronic Disease , Humans , Psychometrics/methods , Reproducibility of Results , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Despite widespread application of the Symptom Check-List-90-R (SCL-90-R) for Chinese undergraduate students, there are no appropriate norms for them. The aim of this study is to provide norms for the Chinese version of the tool for undergraduate students using a large and representative sample. METHODS: Four thousand eight hundred sixty students completed the scale of SCL-90. The mean scores obtained in the present study were compared with mean scores from previous normative samples. RESULTS: The mean scores for nine subscales of the SCL-90-R ranged from (1.36 ± 0.46) ~ (1.77 ± 0.63) and the mean (standard deviation) Global Severity Index (GSI) was 1.50 (0.49). Relative to previous normative studies, the findings suggested that Chinese undergraduate students' self-reported mental health symptoms decreased in interpersonal sensitivity, depression, hostility, and paranoid ideation subscales. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to revise the norms of the Chinese version of the SCL-90-R for undergraduate students.
Subject(s)
Mental Disorders , Students , Asian People , China , Humans , Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Self ReportABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The assessment of Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) has been applied as a significant outcome indicator for patients with chronic diseases. No HRQOL study, however, has looked at HRQOL in patients with chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers. This paper focuses on comparing HRQOL in patients with chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers and examining the factors that influence the HRQOL of such patients. Results can be used for making decisions in clinical trials as well as aiding individual management and preventive care of these diseases. METHODS: The Chinese version of the SF-36 (CSF-36) was administered twice to 244 patients with chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers. Mean scores across the two disease groups were compared using t-tests, change over time was analyzed with paired samples t-tests, and factors predicting HRQOL were investigated using the univariate general linear model. RESULTS: The mean domain scores of patients with chronic gastritis were lower than those for patients with peptic ulcers, with the exception of physical functioning. Both groups had lower HRQOL compared with population norms. Mean domain scores increased after treatment in both groups. HRQOL in patients with these two chronic diseases differed by age, education level, marriage, income, and gender, but their explanatory power was relatively low. CONCLUSION: Quality of life of patients with chronic gastritis was lower than that of patients with peptic ulcers, which was lower than population norms. Quality of life in both patients groups was associated with socio-demographic risk factors.
Subject(s)
Gastritis/physiopathology , Health Status , Peptic Ulcer/physiopathology , Quality of Life , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Chronic Disease , Female , Gastritis/psychology , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Middle Aged , Peptic Ulcer/psychology , Social Participation , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young AdultABSTRACT
The Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), widely utilized for psychological assessments, faces challenges due to its extensive nature. Streamlining the SCL-90 is essential in order to enhance its practicality without compromising its broad applicability across diverse settings. The objective of this study is to employ machine learning techniques to simplify the dimensions and individual items within each dimension, while simultaneously validating the accuracy and practicality of the streamlined SCL-90 scale. A total of 23,028 valid responses of the SCL-90 were obtained from university students, with positive cases accounting for 49.58 % and negative cases accounting for 50.42 %. The findings demonstrate that by utilizing the Support Vector Classification (SVC) algorithm, it is possible to reduce the scale from ten dimensions to four, achieving an overall prediction accuracy of 89.50 % for the total score. Further simplification of these remaining four dimensions resulted in a reduction from 44 to 29 items per dimension, yielding individual dimension accuracies exceeding 90 %, along with sensitivity and specificity levels surpassing 85 %, and the reliability coefficients consistently exceeded 0.8 across different algorithms. In conclusion, we successfully reduced the number of scale items from 90 to 29, resulting in a reduction of 67.78 % in overall assessment time while maintaining a high reliability coefficient of 0.95. Importantly, the streamlined scale demonstrated no significant decrease in assessment effectiveness. This refined version facilitates rapid comprehension of individuals' comprehensive mental health status and is well-suited for widespread application in experiential settings.
Subject(s)
Checklist , Machine Learning , Humans , Female , Male , Young Adult , Reproducibility of Results , Adult , Psychometrics/standards , Sensitivity and Specificity , Adolescent , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales/standards , AlgorithmsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known to be associated with depression. However, the extent to which such association varies by age at the first occurrence of ACEs remains unexplored. The objectives of this study are: (1) To describe the association between ACEs and depression among university students in China, and; (2) to assess the extent to which the mentioned association varied by age at first ACE. METHODS: We conducted a self-administered survey among university students in southern China and analyzed the data using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: We found significant associations between ACEs and depression prevalence, particularly when comparing students with three or more ACEs vs. students with no ACEs (62% vs. 36%; Adjusted OR = 3.49; 95% CI = 1.99, 6.12). Stratified analyses showed that the association was particularly strong among students who first experienced ACEs at age 0-6 years (66% vs. 36%; Adjusted OR = 4.05; 95% CI = 1.90, 8.59), but was non-significant among those who first experienced ACEs at age 13-18 years (31% vs. 36%; Adjusted OR = 0.99; 95 CI = 0.24, 4.08). CONCLUSION: The strength of the associations between ACEs and depression varied by the age at first ACE. However, the cross-sectional study design, potential information bias, and lack of generalizability should be considered as caveats in the interpretation of the study findings.
Subject(s)
Adverse Childhood Experiences , Depression , Students , Humans , Adverse Childhood Experiences/statistics & numerical data , Female , Male , Adolescent , Young Adult , Depression/epidemiology , China/epidemiology , Students/statistics & numerical data , Students/psychology , Adult , Age Factors , Prevalence , Universities/statistics & numerical data , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Child, PreschoolABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Lung cancer remains the foremost reason of cancer-related mortality, with invasion and metastasis profoundly influencing patient prognosis. N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10) catalyzes the exclusive N (4)-acetylcytidine (ac4C) modification in eukaryotic RNA. NAT10 dysregulation is linked to various diseases, yet its role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) invasion and metastasis remains unclear. Our study delves into the clinical significance and functional aspects of NAT10 in NSCLC. METHODS: We investigated NAT10's clinical relevance using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and a group of 98 NSCLC patients. Employing WB, qRT-PCR, and IHC analyses, we assessed NAT10 expression in NSCLC tissues, bronchial epithelial cells (BECs), NSCLC cell lines, and mouse xenografts. Further, knockdown and overexpression techniques (siRNA, shRNA, and plasmid) were employed to evaluate NAT10's effects. A series of assays were carried out, including CCK-8, colony formation, wound healing, and transwell assays, to elucidate NAT10's role in proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. Additionally, we utilized lung cancer patient-derived 3D organoids, mouse xenograft models, and Remodelin (NAT10 inhibitor) to corroborate these findings. RESULTS: Our investigations revealed high NAT10 expression in NSCLC tissues, cell lines and mouse xenograft models. High NAT10 level correlated with advanced T stage, lymph node metastasis and poor overall survive. NAT10 knockdown curtailed proliferation, invasion, and migration, whereas NAT10 overexpression yielded contrary effects. Furthermore, diminished NAT10 levels correlated with increased E-cadherin level whereas decreased N-cadherin and vimentin expressions, while heightened NAT10 expression displayed contrasting results. Notably, Remodelin efficiently attenuated NSCLC proliferation, invasion, and migration by inhibiting NAT10 through the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Our data underscore NAT10 as a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC, presenting avenues for targeted intervention against lung cancer through NAT10 inhibition.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung , Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition , Lung Neoplasms , N-Terminal Acetyltransferase E , Animals , Female , Humans , Male , Mice , Middle Aged , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/genetics , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Movement , Cell Proliferation , Disease Progression , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Lung Neoplasms/genetics , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Mice, Nude , N-Terminal Acetyltransferase E/metabolism , N-Terminal Acetyltransferase E/genetics , N-Terminal Acetyltransferases , Xenograft Model Antitumor AssaysABSTRACT
Drug resistance to irreversible epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) is a primary factor affecting their therapeutic efficacy in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC cells can undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by many factors in the tumour microenvironment (TME), which plays a crucial role in tumour drug resistance. In this study, a multicellular lung-on-a-chip that can realise the cell co-culture of the human non-small cell lung cancer cell line HCC827, human foetal lung fibroblasts (HFL-1), and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) is prepared. The TME was simulated on the chip combined with perfusion and other factors, and the drug evaluation of osimertinib was performed to explore the drug resistance mechanism of EGFR-TKIs. In the early stages, a two-dimensional static cell co-culture was achieved by microchip, and the results showed that HFL-1 cells could be transformed into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and HCC827 cells could undergo EMT, both of which were mediated by Interleukin-6 (IL-6). Vimentin (VIM) and Alpha Skeletal Muscle Actin (a-SMA) expression of HFL-1 was upregulated, whereas E-cadherin (E-cad) expression of HCC827 was down-regulated. Further, N-cadherin (N-cad) expression of HCC827 was upregulated. In both the static cell co-culture and multicellular lung-on-a-chip, HCC827 cells with CAFs co-culture or IL-6 treatment developed resistance to osimertinib. Further use of the IL-6 antibody inhibitor tocilizumab could reverse EGFR-TKI resistance to a certain extent. Combination therapy with tocilizumab and EGFR-TKIs may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for overcoming EGFR-TKI resistance caused by EMT in NSCLC. Furthermore, the lung-on-a-chip can simulate complex TME and can be used for evaluating tumour resistance and exploring mechanisms, with the potential to become an important tool for personalised diagnosis, treatment, and biomedical research.
Subject(s)
Acrylamides , Aniline Compounds , Drug Resistance, Neoplasm , Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition , ErbB Receptors , Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells , Lab-On-A-Chip Devices , Lung Neoplasms , Protein Kinase Inhibitors , Humans , Acrylamides/pharmacology , Acrylamides/therapeutic use , Aniline Compounds/pharmacology , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts/drug effects , Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts/metabolism , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Coculture Techniques , Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects , Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/drug effects , ErbB Receptors/metabolism , ErbB Receptors/antagonists & inhibitors , Indoles , Interleukin-6/metabolism , Lung/drug effects , Lung/metabolism , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Lung Neoplasms/metabolism , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Pyrimidines , Tumor Microenvironment/drug effectsABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Venovenous artificial placenta (VVAP) may mimic the intrauterine environment for maintaining fetal circulation. However, changes in ventricular function in fetal goats undergoing VVAP support remain unclear. METHODS: Pump-assisted VVAPs were established in five fetal goats for 9 h. The myocardial performance index (Tei index), cardiac output (CO), and blood biochemical parameters were measured during VVAP support. RESULTS: An increasing trend of the right ventricular (RV) Tei index was seen during VVAP support (p for trend < 0.01). The right ventricular cardiac output (RVCO) increased after the initiation of VVAP, while a significant trend of reduction was observed after 3 h (p for trend = 0.03). During VVAP support, we observed remarkable elevations of plasma cTnI and arterial lactic acid, which were positively correlated with the RV Tei index, but not the left ventricular (LV) Tei index, LVCO, and RVCO. CONCLUSIONS: The RVCO increases initially while a tendency of decrease could be observed during VVAP support. Special attention should be paid to right ventricular dysfunction during VVAP support.
Subject(s)
Goats , Placenta , Pregnancy , Female , Animals , Cardiac Output , Ventricular Function, RightABSTRACT
Introduction: The study explored the relationship between subjective well-being and the quality of life among older adults. It highlights the importance of understanding how these factors are interconnected in the context of an aging population. Methods: Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the scores of general demographic characteristics, subjective wellbeing and quality of life. Simple correlation analysis and canonical correlation analysis were employed to analyze the relationship between subjective wellbeing and quality of life among older adults. Results: Data from 892 older adults were collected. Canonical correlation analysis revealed four pairs of canonical variables, with the first four pairs of canonical correlation coefficients all being statistically significant (0.695, 0.179, 0.147, 0.121) (p < 0.05), and the first pair of canonical variables explaining 93.03% of the information content. From the canonical loading coefficients, Vitality and mental health contributed the most to the quality of life (U1) canonical variable. The canonical variable V1, which corresponded to subjective wellbeing, was reflected by a combination of positive affect, negative affect, positive experience and negative experience. X1 (physical functioning), X2 (role-physical), X3 (bodily pain), X4 (general health), X5 (vitality), X6 (social functioning), X7 (role-emotional) and X8 (mental health) were positively correlated with Y1 (positive affect) and Y3 (positive experience), negatively correlated with Y2 (negative affect) and Y4 (negative experience). Cross-loadings revealed that physical functioning, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning and mental health were the main factors reflecting the subjective wellbeing of older adults. Discussion: As quality of life among older adults was highly correlated with subjective wellbeing, appropriate measures should be taken to account for individual characteristics of older adults, and various factors should be integrated to improve their subjective wellbeing.
Subject(s)
Canonical Correlation Analysis , Quality of Life , Humans , Aged , Quality of Life/psychology , Mental Health , PainABSTRACT
Objective: The measurement of the quality of life (QOL) in patients with breast cancer can evaluate the therapeutic effects of medical treatments and help to provide reference for clinical decisions. The minimum clinically important difference (MCID) can be better used in clinical interpretation than the traditional statistical significance. Based on the anchors, a variety of ways including traditional and updated anchor-based methods were used to explore most suitable MCID, so that to find better interpretation on scores of the scale QLICP-BR(V2.0) (Quality of Life Instruments for Cancer Patients-Breast cancer). Methods: According to the investigation data of breast cancer patients before and after treatment, the most relevant indicators in various domains of QLICP-BR (V2.0) was found as an anchor to statistically analyze the value of MCID, and three analysis methods of anchors were used: Traditional anchor-based method, ROC curve method, multiple linear regression model analysis. Anchors are divided into four standards according to the degree of change in the treatment effect: one grade difference (Standard A), at least one grade difference (Standard B), one grade better (Standard C), better (Standard D). The final MCID value is selected from different statistical methods and classification standards that are most suitable for clinicians to use. Results: Using Q29 of the EORTC QLQ-C30 as an anchor has the highest correlation with each domain of QLICP. The order of magnitude of MCID values among the four standard groups is: standard A< Standard C< Standard B< Standard D. The MCID value obtained by the ROC curve method is the most stable and is least affected by the sample size, and the MCID value obtained by the multiple linear regression model is the least. After comparisons and discussions, Standard C in the multiple linear regression model is used to determine the final MCID, which is the closest to other methods. After integer the MCID values of Physical domain (PHD), Psychological domain (PSD), Social domain (SOD), Common symptoms and side effect domain (SSD), Core/general module (CGD), Specific domain (SPD), Total score(TOT) can be taken as 15,10, 10, 11, 10, 9 and 9, respectively. Conclusion: In the evaluation of the QOL of breast cancer patients, although the results of MCID values produced by different methods are different, the results are relatively close. The anchor-based methods make the results of MCID more clinically interpretable by introducing clinical variables, and clinicians and researchers can choose the appropriate method according to the research purpose.
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Viral infectious diseases remain a global public health problem. The rapid and widespread spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) has had a severe impact on the global economy and human activities, highlighting the vulnerability of humans to viral infectious diseases and the urgent need to develop new technologies and effective treatments. Organ-on-a-chip is an emerging technology for constructing the physiological and pathological microenvironment of human organs in vitro and has the advantages of portability, high throughput, low cost, and accurate simulation of the in vivo microenvironment. Indeed, organ-on-a-chip provides a low-cost alternative for investigating human organ physiology, organ diseases, toxicology, and drug efficacy. The lung is a main target organ of viral infection, and lung pathophysiology must be assessed after viral infection and treatment with antiviral drugs. This review introduces the construction of lung-on-a-chip and its related pathophysiological models, focusing on the in vitro simulation of viral infection and evaluation of antiviral drugs, providing a developmental direction for research and treatment of viral diseases.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Virus Diseases , Humans , SARS-CoV-2 , Drug Evaluation , Antiviral Agents/pharmacology , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Virus Diseases/drug therapy , LungABSTRACT
High-performance pressure sensors provide the necessary conditions for smart shoe applications. In this paper, the elastic Macroporous Graphene Aerogel (MGA) was synthesized via the modified Hummers' method, and it was further combined with Expanded-Thermoplastic polyurethane (ETPU) particles to assemble MGA-ETPU flexible sensors. The MGA-ETPU has a low apparent density (3.02 mg/cm3), high conductivity (0.024 S/cm) and fast response time (50 ms). The MGA-ETPU has a large linear sensing range (0-10 kPa) and consists of two linear regions: the low-pressure region (0 to 8 kPa) and the high-pressure region (8 to 10 kPa), with sensitivities of 0.08 kPa-1, and 0.246 kPa-1, respectively. Mechanical test results show that the MGA-ETPU sensor showed 19% reduction in maximum stress after 400 loading-unloading compression cycles at 40% strain. Electrical performance tests showed that the resistance of MGA-ETPU sensor decreased by 12.5% when subjected to sudden compression at 82% strain and returned to its original state within 0.05 s. Compared to existing flexible sensors, the MGA-ETPU sensors offer excellent performance and several distinct advantages, including ease of fabrication, high sensitivity, fast response time, and good flexibility. These remarkable features make them ideally suited as flexible pressure sensors for smart shoes.
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Lung cancer has become the primary cause of cancer-related deaths because of its high recurrence rate, ability to metastasise easily, and propensity to develop drug resistance. The wide-ranging heterogeneity of lung cancer subtypes increases the complexity of developing effective therapeutic interventions. Therefore, personalised diagnostic and treatment strategies are required to guide clinical practice. The advent of innovative three-dimensional (3D) culture systems such as organoid and organ-on-a-chip models provides opportunities to address these challenges and revolutionise lung cancer research and drug evaluation. In this review, we introduce the advancements in lung-related 3D culture systems, with a particular focus on lung organoids and lung-on-a-chip, and their latest contributions to lung cancer research and drug evaluation. These developments include various aspects, from authentic simulations and mechanistic enquiries into lung cancer to assessing chemotherapeutic agents and targeted therapeutic interventions. The new 3D culture system can mimic the pathological and physiological microenvironment of the lung, enabling it to supplement or replace existing two-dimensional culture models and animal experimental models and realize the potential for personalised lung cancer treatment.
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Background: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), the most common histotype of lung cancer, may have variable prognosis due to molecular variations. The research strived to establish a prognostic model based on malignancy-related risk score (MRRS) in LUAD. Methods: We applied the single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from Tumor Immune Single Cell Hub database to recognize malignancy-related geneset. Meanwhile, we extracted RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. The GSE68465 and GSE72094 datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus database were downloaded to validate the prognostic signature. Random survival forest analysis screened MRRS with prognostic significance. Multivariate Cox analysis was leveraged to establish the MRRS. Furthermore, the biological functions, gene mutations, and immune landscape were investigated to uncover the underlying mechanisms of the malignancy-related signature. In addition, we used qRT-PCR to explore the expression profile of MRRS-constructed genes in LUAD cells. Results: The scRNA-seq analysis revealed the markers genes of malignant celltype. The MRRS composed of 7 malignancy-related genes was constructed for each patient, which was shown to be an independent prognostic factor. The results of the GSE68465 and GSE72094 datasets validated MRRS's prognostic value. Further analysis demonstrated that MRRS was involved in oncogenic pathways, genetic mutations, and immune functions. Moreover, the results of qRT-PCR were consistent with bioinformatics analysis. Conclusion: Our research recognized a novel malignancy-related signature for predicting the prognosis of LUAD patients and highlighted a promising prognostic and treatment marker for LUAD patients.
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PURPOSE: To develop and validate a quality of life (QOL) instrument for patients with colorectal cancer, QLICP-CR. METHODS: Using the programmed decision method and the theory in instrument development, the QLICP-CR was developed and evaluated based on the data measuring QOL thrice from a sample of 110 inpatients of colorectal cancer. RESULTS: The internal consistency α and the test-retest reliability for the overall scale and domains are above 0.70 and 0.79, respectively; the score differences between pretreatment and posttreatment have statistical significance for three domains and the overall instrument, with higher Standardized Response Mean of 0.61, 0.62, 1.33, and 0.80. CONCLUSIONS: The QLICP-CR is of good validity, reliability, and responsiveness.
Subject(s)
Colorectal Neoplasms , Psychometrics/methods , Quality of Life , Surveys and Questionnaires , Adult , Aged , Colorectal Neoplasms/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Quality of Life/psychology , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
Manganese oxides are promising cathode material candidates with appropriate positive potential windows for low-cost and safe aqueous sodium-ion capacitors (ASICs). However, their low electrical conductivity issue and the lack of advanced binder-free manganese oxide-based electrodes severely restrict their practical capacitance and application in flexible ASICs. Here, Ni0.25Mn0.75O (NMO) nanoparticles uniformly encapsulated in carbon nanofiber films with excellent flexibility are fabricated by electrospinning and subsequent carbonization. The uniformly amorphous carbon layer enhances the conductivity, avoids dissolution and alleviates the volume or stress change of NMO during ion intercalation or mechanical deformation. More importantly, compared with the flexible electrodes prepared by traditional methods, electrospinning materials can be directly used as binder-free electrodes, which can effectively simplify the process and improve the energy density. Finally, a 2.4 V flexible quasi-solid-state ASIC device is integrated, which exhibits a high energy density of 5.95 mWh cm-3, a high power density of 670 mW cm-3 and an outstanding stability of 1000 cycles. This work offers an effective materials engineering strategy for high-performance binder-free NMO-based cathodes and advanced flexible ASICs.