Trends in Public Awareness and Knowledge of Drinking Guidelines: a Representative Population Survey in England, 2016-2022.

AIM: To examine trends in public awareness and knowledge of drinking guidelines in the UK since their revision in 2016, which had moved from a daily to a weekly guideline, made the guideline the same for men and women, and reduced the guideline for men by around one-third. METHOD: Data were from a representative, repeat cross-sectional survey. We analysed changes in awareness and knowledge of drinking guidelines among 8168 adult drinkers between 2016 and 2022 and associations with sociodemographic characteristics, smoking status and level of alcohol consumption. RESULTS: The proportion of drinkers aware of guidelines declined from 86.0% (95%CI 84.0-88.0%) in 2016 to 81.7% (79.5-84.0%) in 2019, then increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, peaking at 91.6% (90.1-93.1%) in 2020. The proportion who correctly identified the guideline as a maximum of exactly 14 units/week remained at around a quarter from 2016 (25.0%, 22.4-27.5%) to 2018 (25.8%, 23.2-28.3%), whereas the proportion who gave a figure of 14 units or fewer rose from 52.1 (49.2-55.0%) to 57.4% (54.6-60.3%). However, by 2022, guideline knowledge had worsened significantly, with these figures falling to 19.7 (17.4-21.9%) and 46.5% (43.6-49.4%), respectively. Changes over time were similar across subgroups. Odds of guideline awareness and knowledge were higher among drinkers who were aged ≥35, female, more educated and from more advantaged social grades. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of adult drinkers in the UK are aware of low-risk drinking guidelines. However, 6 years since their announcement, knowledge of the revised drinking guidelines remains poor. Less than a quarter know the recommended weekly limit and only around half think it is 14 units or less. Inequalities have persisted over time, such that disadvantaged groups remain less likely to know the guidelines.

Nature-inspired protein mineralization strategies for nanoparticle construction: advancing effective cancer therapy.

Recently, nanotechnology has shown great potential in the field of cancer therapy due to its ability to improve the stability and solubility and reduce side effects of drugs. The biomimetic mineralization strategy based on natural proteins and metal ions provides an innovative approach for the synthesis of nanoparticles. This strategy utilizes the unique properties of natural proteins and the mineralization ability of metal ions to combine nanoparticles through biomimetic mineralization processes, achieving the effective treatment of tumors. The precise control of the mineralization process between proteins and metal ions makes it possible to obtain nanoparticles with the ideal size, shape, and surface characteristics, thereby enhancing their stability and targeting ability in vivo. Herein, initially, we analyze the role of protein molecules in biomineralization and comprehensively review the functions, properties, and applications of various common proteins and metal particles. Subsequently, we systematically review and summarize the application directions of nanoparticles synthesized based on protein biomineralization in tumor treatment. Specifically, we discuss their use as efficient drug delivery carriers and role in mediating monotherapy and synergistic therapy using multiple modes. Also, we specifically review the application of nanomedicine constructed through biomimetic mineralization strategies using natural proteins and metal ions in improving the efficiency of tumor immunotherapy.

Chenodeoxycholic Acid-Modified Polyethyleneimine Nano-Composites Deliver Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Genes for Lipid-Lowering Therapy by Targeting the Liver.

Lipid-lowering drugs, especially statins, are extensively utilized in clinical settings for the prevention of hyperlipidemia. Nevertheless, prolonged usage of current lipid-lowering medications is associated with significant adverse reactions. Therefore, it is imperative to develop novel therapeutic agents for lipid-lowering therapy. In this study, a chenodeoxycholic acid and lactobionic acid double-modified polyethyleneimine (PDL) nanocomposite as a gene delivery vehicle for lipid-lowering therapy by targeting the liver, are synthesized. Results from the in vitro experiments demonstrate that PDL exhibits superior transfection efficiency compared to polyethyleneimine in alpha mouse liver 12 (AML12) cells and effectively carries plasmids. Moreover, PDL can be internalized by AML12 cells and rapidly escape lysosomal entrapment. Intravenous administration of cyanine5.5 (Cy5.5)-conjugated PDL nanocomposites reveals their preferential accumulation in the liver compared to polyethyleneimine counterparts. Systemic delivery of low-density lipoprotein receptor plasmid-loaded PDL nanocomposites into mice leads to reduced levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TC) in the bloodstream without any observed adverse effects on mouse health or well-being. Collectively, these findings suggest that low-density lipoprotein receptor plasmid-loaded PDL nanocomposites hold promise as potential therapeutics for lipid-lowering therapy.