Predictive value of bronchoscopy combined with CT score for refractory mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children.

INTRODUCTION: Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) is prevalent in paediatric patients and can progress to refractory mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP). OBJECTIVE: To assess the predictive value of bronchoscopy combined with computed tomography (CT) score in identifying RMPP in children. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 244 paediatric patients with MP, categorising them into RMPP and general mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (GMPP) groups. A paired t-test compared the bronchitis score (BS) and CT score before and after treatment, supplemented by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. RESULTS: The RMPP group showed higher incidences of extrapulmonary complications and pleural effusion (58.10% and 40%, respectively) compared with the GMPP group (44.60%, p = 0.037 and 18.71%, p < 0.001, respectively). The CT scores for each lung lobe were statistically significant between the groups, except for the right upper lobe (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis between the total CT score and total BS yielded r = 0.346 and p < 0.001. The ROC for BS combined with CT score, including area under the curve, sensitivity, specificity, and cut-off values, were 0.82, 0.89, 0.64, and 0.53, respectively. CONCLUSION: The combined BS and CT score method is highly valuable in identifying RMPP in children.

Mycobacterial CpsA activates type I IFN signaling in macrophages via cGAS-mediated pathway.

Type I interferon (IFN) production is crucial in tuberculosis pathogenesis, yet the bacterial factors initiating this process are incompletely understood. CpsA, protein of Mycobacterium marinum and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, plays a key role in maintaining bacterial virulence and inhibiting host cell LC3-associated phagocytosis. By utilizing CpsA full deletion mutant studies, we re-verified its essential role in infection-induced pathology and revealed its new role in type I IFN expression. CpsA deficiency hindered IFN production in infected macrophages in vitro as well as zebrafish and mice in vivo. This effect was linked to the cGAS-TBK1-IRF3 pathway, as evidenced by decreased TBK1 and IRF3 phosphorylation in CpsA-deficient bacterial strain-infected macrophages. Moreover, we further show that CpsA deficiency cause decreased cytosolic DNA levels, correlating with impaired phagosomal membrane rupture. Our findings reveal a new function of mycobacterial CpsA in type I IFN production and offer insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying mycobacterial infection pathology.

High thermal conductivity regenerated cellulose/carboxylated carbon nanotubes composite films with semi-insulating properties prepared via ionic coordination and hydrothermal synthesis of zinc oxide.

With the rapid development of miniaturization and integration of electronic products, its heat dissipation has become the focus of research. In order to improve the heat dissipation efficiency of electronic components, flexible thermal conduction materials are constantly studied. Cellulose has good flexibility and load capacity, which is often used in the preparation of thermal conduction materials. In this paper, carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (C-MWCNTs) were modified by metal ion coordination and hydrothermal synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) to prepare semi-insulating thermal conduction fillers, which were dispersed into regenerated cellulose (RC) to cast to be composite films. The results show that the two modification methods can reduce the probability of phonon scattering and block the electron transport path, so as to improve the thermal conductivity (TC) and electrical insulation properties of the composite films. Especially for the RC/C-MWCNTs@ZnO composite films, when the total filler content is 20 wt%, the in-plane TC can reach 11.89 ± 0.19 (W/(m·K)), and the surface electrical resistivity (ρs) is (5.24 ± 0.17) × 106 Ω. Compared with the RC/C-MWCNTs composite films, the in-plane TC and ρs of the RC/C-MWCNTs@ZnO composites films are increased by about 94.92 % and 555 %, respectively. Therefore, the developed RC-based composite film has broad application prospects in thermal management.

Photochemical mechanistic study of hexafluorobenzene involving the low-lying states.

The photochemical isomerization and nonradiative decay processes of hexafluorobenzene (HFB) were investigated theoretically to gain insights into its photochemical mechanism and the perfluoro effect. A complete mechanistic scheme is presented through the characterization of all the possible minima and transition states of the S0, S1, and S2 states at the CASPT2/6-311G**//CAS(6,7)/6-31G* level. On the S0 potential energy surface, HFB could isomerize to three different products [Dewar-HFB (S0-P1), benzvalene-HFB (S0-P2), and fulvene-HFB (S0-P3)]. Following excitation to the S2 state with the perpendicular π → σ* transition, a chair-type minimum with Cs symmetry was found on the S2 potential energy surface. The adjacent S2/S1 conical intersection was immediately accessible from the S2 minimum. The nature of the S1 state was confirmed to have a π → π* character. Both the S2 and S1 photochemistries of HFB yielded Dewar-HFB via the S1/S0 conical intersection. The regeneration of the S0 state from the S1 and T2 states via intersystem crossing or internal conversion was also revealed.

Tooth intentional replantation from 1964 to 2023: A bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: There is no thorough overview of intentional tooth replantation techniques. We performed a bibliometric analysis of the development of intentional tooth replantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive search of the Web of Science and SCOPUS databases was conducted in February 2023. Original articles and reviews of human studies with "intentional replantation" or synonyms in the titles, abstracts, or keywords were included. A descriptive analysis of bibliographic data, co-occurrence analysis, and coupling of publications was performed. Multivariate analysis was used to explore the bibliometric parameters associated with the citation counts. RESULTS: The study included 171 papers, which were co-authored by 500 individuals affiliated with 217 institutions from 28 countries/regions. The USA contributed the greatest number of publications, followed by China, and Japan. The USA had 694 citations, followed by Japan (210), and Turkey (210). The Journal of Endodontics and Dental Traumatology contributed the most citations. Five directions for future research were identified based on the coupling relationships of publications, including "managing vertical root fractures with adhesive resin using the intentional replantation technique," "intentional replantation for periodontally hopeless or endodontically compromised teeth," "intentional replantation for treating abnormalities of morphological development," "outcomes and prognosis factors of intentional replantation," and "treating root replacement resorption by intentional replantation." Multivariate analysis showed that the publication year, Journal Citation Reports ranking of journals, study design, and disease type were predictors of citation counts. CONCLUSIONS: This bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive description of the intentional replantation technique. The USA published the greatest volume of papers and generated the most citations. The Journal of Endodontics and Dental Traumatology are considered the most influential. The Journal Citation Reports journal ranking (Q1, Q2), study design (case reports, cohort studies), and disease type (crown root fractures) were associated with the citation counts.

Temporal and cellular analysis of granuloma development in mycobacterial infected adult zebrafish.

Because granulomas are a hallmark of tuberculosis pathogenesis, the study of the dynamic changes in their cellular composition and morphological character can facilitate our understanding of tuberculosis pathogenicity. Adult zebrafish infected with Mycobacterium marinum form granulomas that are similar to the granulomas in human patients with tuberculosis and therefore have been used to study host-mycobacterium interactions. Most studies of zebrafish granulomas, however, have focused on necrotic granulomas, while a systematic description of the different stages of granuloma formation in the zebrafish model is lacking. Here, we characterized the stages of granulomas in M. marinum-infected zebrafish, including early immune cell infiltration, nonnecrotizing granulomas, and necrotizing granulomas, using corresponding samples from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis as references. We combined hematoxylin and eosin staining and in situ hybridization to identify the different immune cell types and follow their spatial distribution in the different stages of granuloma development. The macrophages in zebrafish granulomas were shown to belong to distinct subtypes: epithelioid macrophages, foamy macrophages, and multinucleated giant cells. By defining the developmental stages of zebrafish granulomas and the spatial distribution of the different immune cells they contain, this work provides a reference for future studies of mycobacterial granulomas and their immune microenvironments.

Pathomorphological characteristics of tuberculous placenta and its clinical implication.

BACKGROUND: The study of pathologic diagnosis of placental TB is rare. The aim of this study is analyzing the pathomorphological characteristics of tuberculosis (TB) placenta during pregnancy and its clinical significance. METHODS: Nineteen cases of placental tissue specimens during pregnancy were collected from June 2015 to February 2022 at Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, the only inpatient center for pregnant women with TB in Shanghai, China. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, acid-fast staining, and molecular testing were applied to analyze them comprehensively in combination with clinical information. RESULTS: Among the 19 cases, 7 cases caused intrauterine stillbirth, 3 cases received artificial abortion required by the pregnant woman, the other 9 cases received standard delivery and the infants survived, however, 3 of them were low-weight preterm infants, and another 1 case suffered mild intrauterine asphyxia. The 9 surviving infants were followed-up, of which 3 cases got congenital TB. For pathological characteristics of placental tissues under light microscopy, there were 3 cases of epithelioid granuloma formation, 13 cases of acute fetal membranitis, 4 cases of caseous necrosis, 7 cases of inflammatory necrosis, 10 cases of coagulative necrosis, and 6 cases with small focal calcifications. All placental tissues were positive for acid-fast staining and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Molecular pathological diagnosis showed that 18 cases were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, with 1 case not having received examination. CONCLUSIONS: Combining acid-fast staining and molecular pathological testing is helpful for accurately diagnosing placental TB.

Clinical applications and outcomes of the surgical tooth extrusion technique: A bibliometric analysis from 1982 to 2023.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The surgical extrusion technique has been advocated for severely damaged teeth as well as for intruded and unerupted teeth. However, a quantitative literature analysis is lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this bibliometric analysis was to provide a comprehensive overview of surgical extrusion, assess the applications and outcomes, and evaluate topics for future research. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An electronic search was conducted in leading databases in April 2023. Human studies with surgical tooth extrusion or synonyms in titles or abstracts were included. A bibliographic analysis, co-occurrence analysis, and coupling of publications were performed. The analysis of variance was used to assess the characteristics of the subgroups based on indications. The survival rate was evaluated by using the Kaplan-Meier method in the R software program (α=.05). RESULTS: Fifty-one studies from 1982 to 2023 were included. The Journal of Dental Traumatology and the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry combined published approximately one-third of the papers and acquired the most citations. The burst detection of keywords revealed 4 popular research topics: the Benex extraction system, chlorhexidine for infection control, rigid or semi-rigid splints to decrease the risk of complications, and novel restorative materials to improve esthetics. An overall survival rate of 96.36% was reported among 316 participants with 330 extruded teeth. No significant differences were found in study types, geographic distribution, year of publication, or citation counts among the 4 subgroups (surgical extrusion for subgingival fractures, extensive caries, intruded teeth, and unerupted teeth). A significant difference was observed among the Kaplan-Meier curves of the 4 subgroups (P=.030). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical extrusion may be used to save otherwise nonrestorable teeth, and the procedure has shown promising survival rates when teeth are properly selected and the procedure is well executed. Subgingival fractures and extensive caries near bone level are the predominant indications, as well as intruded and unerupted teeth. Surgical extrusion is a reliable treatment option to facilitate tooth restoration for severely damaged teeth, especially for maxillary anterior teeth.

[Exploration and consideration on establishing a core outcome set of Traditional Chinese Medicine clinical trials in distal radius fracture].

There are inconsistencies in treatment outcomes, measurement instruments, and criteria for assessing clinical effectiveness in studies related to distal radius fractures (DRF), resulting in potential biases and failing to provide high-quality clinical evidence. To address these challenges, international researchers have reached a consensus on developing the core outcome indicator set for distal radius fractures(COS-DRF). However, it's important to note that the existing COS-DRF framework could not reflect the unique characteristics of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment. Currently, there are no established standards for treatment outcomes and measurement instruments specific to TCM clinical research, nor has a COS-DRF been established for TCM clinical studies in China. In light of these gaps, our research team aims to construct a core set of treatment outcomes for TCM clinical research on distal radius fractures. This involves compiling a comprehensive list of treatment outcomes and measurement instruments, initially derived from a thorough literature review and expert consensus, which will then undergo further refinement and updates based on real-world clinical experiences, incorporating feedback from 2 to 3 rounds of expert consensus or Delphi questionnaire surveys. Our goal is to establish a COS-DRF or CMS-DRF that aligns with the principles and practices of TCM, and provide high-quality evidence for clinical practice.

Adebrelimab plus chemotherapy vs. chemotherapy for treatment of extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer from the US and Chinese healthcare sector perspectives: a cost-effectiveness analysis to inform drug pricing.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a recently approved first-line therapy (adebrelimab plus chemotherapy vs. chemotherapy alone) for patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) in the US and China, and to estimate the reasonable range of adebrelimab price from the decision-makers. Methods: Several partitioned survival models were built to compare the cost and effectiveness of adebrelimab plus chemotherapy vs. chemotherapy alone over a 10-year time horizon. Clinical efficacy and safety data were extracted from the CAPSTONE-1 trial. Costs and utilities were obtained from previously published studies. Sensitivity, scenario and subgroup analyses were performed to explore the uncertainty of the model outcomes. Price simulation was conducted at three thresholds of willingness-to-pay (WTP), including WTP of $100,000 in the US and of $37,422 in China, 0.5WTP of $50,000 in the US and of $18,711 in China, and 1.5WTP of 150,000 in the US and of $56,133 in China. Findings: Base-case analysis at $1382.82/600 mg of adebrelimab price indicated that adebrelimab plus chemotherapy would be cost-effective in the US at the WTP threshold of $100,000, but not in China at the WTP threshold of $37,422. If PAP was taken into account, the regimen would be cost-effective in China at the given WTP. The results of price simulation indicated that adebrelimab plus chemotherapy was completely favored in the US if adebrelimab price was less than $8894.98/600 mg (total quality-adjusted life years [QALYs] were calculated with progression-based utility [PB-utility]) or $8912.51/600 mg (total QALYs were calculated with time-to-death utility [TTD-utility]) at the WTP threshold of $100,000; if adebrelimab price was reduced by at least $202.03/600 mg (total QALYs were calculated with PB-utility) or $103.06/600 mg (total QALYs were calculated with TTD-utility), the regimen was also cost-effective in China without PAP at the WTP threshold of $37,422. The above results were stable in the sensitivity analyses. Subgroup analysis found that the subgroup with better survival benefits tended to have a higher probability of cost-effectiveness, which was also associated with adebrelimab price. Implications: First-line adebrelimab plus chemotherapy represented a dominant treatment strategy comparing with chemotherapy alone in the US and also did in China with PAP at $1382.82/600 mg of adebrelimab price. Decision-makers could benefit from pricing strategy provided by this study in making optimal decisions. More evidences were needed to verify and improve the results.

Development, Characterization and Resveratrol Delivery of Hollow Gliadin Nanoparticles: Advantages over Solid Gliadin Nanoparticles.

Hollow nanoparticles have attracted extensive attention due to their advantages such as high loading capacity and superior stability. However, the complexity of the preparation process and harmfulness of the used raw materials have limited their application in the food field. Based on this, hollow gliadin nanoparticles (HGNPs) were developed using a Na2CO3 sacrificial template method. The findings of this study suggested that HGNPs could be regarded as a delivery system for resveratrol (Res) and they exhibited excellent delivery performance. Compared with solid gliadin nanoparticles (SGNPs), the HGNPs displayed smaller particle sizes, better physical stability, higher encapsulation efficiency, stronger resistance to ultraviolet light and a more sustained release of Res in the gastrointestinal tract. This work is of practical significance for the development and utilization of protein-based nanoparticles with hollow structures as a delivery system for sensitive bioactives.

OUTCOMES OF AUTOTRANSPLANTED THIRD MOLARS WITH COMPLETE ROOT FORMATION: A SYSTEMIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS.

OBJECTIVES: Clear evidence is lacking regarding the outcomes of autogenous tooth transplantation (ATT) of third molars with complete root formation. The current review aims to explore the long-term survival and complication rates. METHODS: A comprehensive search was performed in December 2022 of the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, EBSCO, Ovid, Science Direct, and Web of Science databases. The systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42022337659). The pooled survival, root resorption, and ankyloses rates were calculated. Subgroup analyses were performed to explore the effects of sample size and 3D techniques. RESULTS: Twelve studies from 5 countries fulfilled the eligibility, with 759 third molars transplanted in 723 patients. Five studies reported 100% survival at 1-year follow-up. After excluding these 5 studies, the pooled survival rate was 93.62% at 1 year. The survival rate of 1 large sample study was significantly higher than that of small ones at 5 years. The complications of studies using 3D techniques were: root resorption 2.06% (95% CI: 0.22, 7.50) and ankyloses 2.81% (95% CI: 0.16, 12.22), compared to those without 3D techniques: root resorption 10.18% (95% CI: 4.50, 17.80) and ankyloses 6.49% (95% CI: 3.45, 10.96). CONCLUSIONS: ATT of third molars with complete root formation is a reliable alternative for replacement of a missing tooth and has a promising survival rate. The use of 3D techniques can reduce complication rates and improve long-term survival.

New genetic and epigenetic insights into the chemokine system: the latest discoveries aiding progression toward precision medicine.

Over the past thirty years, the importance of chemokines and their seven-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) has been increasingly recognized. Chemokine interactions with receptors trigger signaling pathway activity to form a network fundamental to diverse immune processes, including host homeostasis and responses to disease. Genetic and nongenetic regulation of both the expression and structure of chemokines and receptors conveys chemokine functional heterogeneity. Imbalances and defects in the system contribute to the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases, including cancer, immune and inflammatory diseases, and metabolic and neurological disorders, which render the system a focus of studies aiming to discover therapies and important biomarkers. The integrated view of chemokine biology underpinning divergence and plasticity has provided insights into immune dysfunction in disease states, including, among others, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this review, by reporting the latest advances in chemokine biology and results from analyses of a plethora of sequencing-based datasets, we outline recent advances in the understanding of the genetic variations and nongenetic heterogeneity of chemokines and receptors and provide an updated view of their contribution to the pathophysiological network, focusing on chemokine-mediated inflammation and cancer. Clarification of the molecular basis of dynamic chemokine-receptor interactions will help advance the understanding of chemokine biology to achieve precision medicine application in the clinic.

A Protocol for a Single-Centered, Pragmatic, Randomized, Controlled, Parallel Trial Comparing Comprehensive Nonsurgical Therapy Options for Individuals with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.

Aim: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a long-term degenerative disease. Considering the risks and advantages of the patient's age range and the characteristics of the condition, non-surgical treatment is recommended. To determine the best first-line non-surgical therapy for LSS, few studies have examined different non-surgical therapies. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to determine whether the selection of comprehensive Chinese medicine (CM) treatment for LSS is more successful than non-surgical conservative treatment. Patients and Methods: In this two-armed, parallel, single-centered, pragmatic randomized controlled study, 94 LSS participants will be randomized to receive 24 sessions of comprehensive CM therapy or conservative treatment for 3 months, with follow-up assessments at 6, 9, 12, and 15 months. The primary outcome will be based on the success rate of the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire (ZCQ) for the most clinical important difference (MCID) at 3 and 15 months. Secondary outcomes include Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores for back and leg pain, ZCQ scores, Oswestry Disability Index scores for lumbar dysfunction, and Short-Form 12 scores for health-related quality of life at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 months. Adverse events and incidences of surgery will be reported anytime during the trial and follow-up. Conclusion: This protocol examines the comparative efficacy of comprehensive CM therapy compared with conventional care through a pragmatic randomized controlled trial to present data to facilitate clinical or policy decision-making. The outcomes will make it easier to decide which patient-centered treatments to prioritize for LSS.

Therapeutic massage/Tuina for treatment of functional dyspepsia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

PURPOSE: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to assess the potential effect of therapeutic massage/Tuina on functional dyspepsia (FD) patients. METHOD: Twelve databases and three clinical trial registries were searched until December 2021, for RCTs that compared Tuina combined with or without conventional therapy versus conventional therapy in FD. We assessed the methodological quality of included trials by the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, and graded the quality of the evidence. The data were presented as risk ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD) respectively with their 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: In total, 14 RCTs with 1128 FD participants were included. Compared with conventional therapy, Tuina showed significant beneficial effects on improving overall symptom (RR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.19, low certainty evidence), and early satiation (MD -0.44 scores, 95% CI -0.72 to -0.16, very low certainty evidence). Compared with conventional therapy, Tuina plus conventional therapy also significantly improved overall symptom (RR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.06-1.23, low certainty evidence), quality of life (MD 10.44 scores, 95% CI 7.65-13.23, low certainty evidence), and epigastric pain (MD -0.76 scores, 95% CI -1.11 to -0.41, low certainty evidence). No adverse events related to Tuina and cost-effectiveness were reported. CONCLUSION: Low certainty evidence showed that Tuina significantly improved overall symptom of FD participants compared with conventional therapy. Low certainty evidence showed that Tuina plus conventional therapy obviously improved overall symptom and quality of life of FD participants compared with conventional therapy.

High expression of HIV-1 matrix protein p17 in both lymphoma and lymph node tissues of AIDS patients.

BACKGROUND: HIV-1 matrix protein p17 was found to be associated with lymphoma development in vitro. This study aimed to elucidate the pathogenetic roles of HIV-1 p17 in AIDS-related lymphoma. METHODS: Expression of HIV-1 proteins p17, p24, nef and tat were evaluated in tumor tissue samples from 60 lymphoma patients and lymph node samples from 23 non-lymphoma patients with HIV-1 infection by immunohistochemistry. Microvascular density (MVD) determined by CD34 were also assessed in tumor tissues. Clinicopathological data of AIDS patients with lymphoma were collected retrospectively. RESULTS: The subtypes of lymphoma among sixty AIDS patients were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (32 cases), Burkitt lymphoma (23 cases), Hodgkin's lymphoma (4 cases), and plasmablastic lymphoma (1 case). The expression rate of HIV-1 p17 in lymphoma and non-lymphoma group was 63 % (38/60) and 61 % (14/29) respectively, with no significant difference (p = 0.835). The positive expression rate of p17 in both groups was significantly higher than that of p24, nef and tat (p < 0.05). The expression of p17 was associated with a higher MVD in the lymphoma group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the 2-years overall survival between p17 positive and negative group (61 % vs. 50 %, p = 0.525). CONCLUSION: The common expression of HIV-1 matrix protein p17 in both lymphoma and lymph node tissues of AIDS patients and the association between p17 expression and the higher MVD suggest that the accumulation and persistence of p17 in tissues may play a role in lymphoma development.

Tremella polysaccharides-coated zein nanoparticles for enhancing stability and bioaccessibility of curcumin.

The purpose of the present research was to examine the ability of Tremella polysaccharide (TP) to stabilize zein nanoparticles (zein NPs) and appraise the performance of zein/Tremella polysaccharide nanoparticles (zein/TP NPs) in terms of encapsulating and delivering curcumin. In this study, the zein/TP NPs were fabricated based on the anti-solvent precipitation method, which were used to protect and deliver curcumin. The results suggested that TP could be deposited on the surface of zein NPs by virtue of electrostatic interaction, so as to improve the hydrophilicity of zein, provide better protection for curcumin and assemble more stable nanoparticles. Compared with zein NPs (54.73%), the zein/TP NPs exhibited higher encapsulation efficiency of curcumin (93.34%) and excellent re-dispersibility. Furthermore, the retention rate of curcumin encapsulated in zein/TP NPs reached 80.78% and 90.74% after UV irradiation and 80 °C heat treatment for 2 h, respectively, which proved that the addition of TP significantly improved the stability of curcumin. Meanwhile, in vitro digestion study demonstrated that the bioaccessibility of curcumin encapsulated in zein/TP NPs increased by 37.36% compared with in zein NPs. Therefore, the zein/TP NPs may be served as an effective and potential carrier for the delivery of nutraceuticals.

Non-adiabatic dynamics of Rydberg-excited diethylamine.

Femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy was employed to investigate the ultrafast non-adiabatic dynamics of diethylamine (DEA). Following the direct excitations of the two main conformational structures (i.e., TT and TG) of DEA to the 3p Rydberg states at 200 nm, DEA undergoes internal conversion to the 3s state with ∼68 fs, which is similar to previously relaxation pathways of several secondary and tertiary amines. Subsequent dynamics on the 3s Rydberg state evolves along the NH stretching coordinate and is then accompanied by the breaking of the NH bond in about 120 fs, rather than the cleavage of the NC, or CC bonds as well as the conformational transformations between the TT and TG conformers on the 3s states. Theoretically, we reveal the pre-dissociative nσ* character evolving along the NH stretching coordinate within the 3s state as DEA dissociates to yield H atom products. As contrasted to the well-known conformational NC bond rotation motions in systems such as tertiary amines, the non-adiabatic relaxation of the 3s state of DEA is predominantly characterized by the NH bond dissociation process.

A Single Vaccine Protects against SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Virus in Mice.

The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic poses a severe global threat to public health, as do influenza viruses and other coronaviruses. Here, we present chimpanzee adenovirus 68 (AdC68)-based vaccines designed to universally target coronaviruses and influenza. Our design is centered on an immunogen generated by fusing the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) to the conserved stalk of H7N9 hemagglutinin (HA). Remarkably, the constructed vaccine effectively induced both SARS-CoV-2-targeting antibodies and anti-influenza antibodies in mice, consequently affording protection from lethal SARS-CoV-2 and H7N9 challenges as well as effective H3N2 control. We propose our AdC68-vectored coronavirus-influenza vaccine as a universal approach toward curbing respiratory virus-causing pandemics. IMPORTANCE The COVID-19 pandemic exemplifies the severe public health threats of respiratory virus infection and influenza A viruses. The currently envisioned strategy for the prevention of respiratory virus-causing diseases requires the comprehensive administration of vaccines tailored for individual viruses. Here, we present an alternative strategy by designing chimpanzee adenovirus 68-based vaccines which target both the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding-domain and the conserved stalk of influenza hemagglutinin. When tested in mice, this strategy attained potent neutralizing antibodies against wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and its emerging variants, enabling an effective protection against lethal SARS-CoV-2 challenge. Notably, it also provided complete protection from lethal H7N9 challenge and efficient control of H3N2-induced morbidity. Our study opens a new avenue to universally curb respiratory virus infection by vaccination.

Detection of rabies virus via exciton energy transfer between CdTe quantum dots and Au nanoparticles.

Rabies is a fatal encephalitis caused by the rabies virus. The diagnosis of the disease depends in large part on the exposure history of the victim and clinical manifestations of the disease. Rapid rabies diagnosis is an important step in its prevention and control. Therefore, for accurate and timely diagnosis and prevention of rabies, we developed nanomaterials for a novel photoelectrochemical biosensing approach (PBA) for the rapid and reliable diagnosis of rabies virus. This approach uses high-efficiency exciton energy transfer between cadmium telluride quantum dots and Au nanoparticles and is low cost, and easy to miniaturize. By constructing PBA, rabies virus can be detected quickly and with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity; the minimum detection concentration limit for rabies virus is approximately 2.16 ffu/mL of rabies virus particles, or 2.53 × 101 fg/mL of rabies virus RNA. PBA could also detect rabies virus in the brain and lung tissue from rabid dogs and mice with better sensitivity than RT-PCR.