Small extracellular vesicles derived from human induced pluripotent stem cell-differentiated neural progenitor cells mitigate retinal ganglion cell degeneration in a mouse model of optic nerve injury.

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202502000-00034/figure1/v/2024-05-28T214302Z/r/image-tiff Several studies have found that transplantation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) promotes the survival of injured neurons. However, a poor integration rate and high risk of tumorigenicity after cell transplantation limits their clinical application. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) contain bioactive molecules for neuronal protection and regeneration. Previous studies have shown that stem/progenitor cell-derived sEVs can promote neuronal survival and recovery of neurological function in neurodegenerative eye diseases and other eye diseases. In this study, we intravitreally transplanted sEVs derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and hiPSCs-differentiated NPCs (hiPSC-NPC) in a mouse model of optic nerve crush. Our results show that these intravitreally injected sEVs were ingested by retinal cells, especially those localized in the ganglion cell layer. Treatment with hiPSC-NPC-derived sEVs mitigated optic nerve crush-induced retinal ganglion cell degeneration, and regulated the retinal microenvironment by inhibiting excessive activation of microglia. Component analysis further revealed that hiPSC-NPC derived sEVs transported neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory miRNA cargos to target cells, which had protective effects on RGCs after optic nerve injury. These findings suggest that sEVs derived from hiPSC-NPC are a promising cell-free therapeutic strategy for optic neuropathy.

Single-Particle Imaging Reveals the Electrical Double-Layer Modulated Ion Dynamics at Crowded Interface.

The dynamics of ion transport at the interface is the critical factor for determining the performance of an electrochemical energy storage device. While practical applications are realized in concentrated electrolytes and nanopores, there is a limited understanding of their ion dynamic features. Herein, we studied the interfacial ion dynamics in room-temperature ionic liquids by transient single-particle imaging with microsecond-scale resolution. We observed slowed-down dynamics at lower potential while acceleration was observed at higher potential. Combined with simulation, we found that the microstructure evolution of the electric double layer (EDL) results in potential-dependent kinetics. Then, we established a correspondence between the ion dynamics and interfacial ion composition. Besides, the ordered ion orientation within EDL is also an essential factor for accelerating interfacial ion transport. These results inspire us with a new possibility to optimize electrochemical energy storage through the good control of the rational design of the interfacial ion structures.

Role of 8-hydroxyguanine DNA glycosidase 1 deficiency in exacerbating diabetic cardiomyopathy through the regulation of insulin resistance.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heart failure syndrome, and is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in diabetes. DCM is mainly characterized by ventricular dilation, myocardial hypertrophy, myocardial fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction. Clinical studies have found that insulin resistance is an independent risk factor for DCM. However, its specific mechanism of DCM remains unclear. 8-hydroxyguanine DNA glycosylase 1(OGG1)is involved in DNA base repair and the regulation of inflammatory genes. In this study, we show that OGG1 was associated with the occurrence of DCM. for the first time. The expression of OGG1 was increased in the heart tissue of DCM mice, and OGG1 deficiency aggravated the cardiac dysfunction of DCM mice. Metabolomics show that OGG1 deficiency resulted in obstruction of glycolytic pathway. At the molecular level, OGG1 regulated glucose uptake and insulin resistance by interacting with PPAR-γ in vitro. In order to explore the protective effect of exogenous OGG1 on DCM, OGG1 adeno-associated virus was injected into DCM mice through tail vein in the middle stage of the disease. We found that the overexpression of OGG1 could improve cardiac dysfunction of DCM mice, indicating that OGG1 had a certain therapeutic effect on DCM. These results demonstrate that OGG1 is a new molecular target for the treatment of DCM and has certain clinical significance.

[Distribution Characteristics of Rh Phenotype and Feasibility of Compatible Blood Transfusion in Pregnant and Postpartum Women].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the distribution characteristics of Rh phenotype in pregnant and postpartum women in Chongqing area, and to explore the clinical significance of Rh phenotype in pregnant and postpartum women and the feasibility of Rh phenotype compatible blood transfusion. METHODS: The ABO blood group and Rh phenotype of 65 161 pregnant and postpartum women were detected by microcolumn gel method, and 48 122 males in the same period were taken as controls. The data were analyzed by Chi-square test. RESULTS: There were 112 870 cases (99.64%) of RhD+ in 113 283 samples. In RhD+ cases, CCDee (48.39%) and CcDEe (32.88%) were the main phenotypes. The first case of D-- phenotype in Chongqing area was detected. 413 cases (0.36%) of RhD- were detected, with ccdee (52.78%) and Ccdee (33.41%) as the main phenotypes. Compared with RhD- group, RhD+ group showed statistically significant difference in Rh phenotype distribution (P < 0.01). Among 65 161 maternal samples, the positive rate of 5 antigens of Rh blood group from high to low was D > e > C > c > E, and there was no significant difference compared with male samples (P >0.05). There was no significant difference in the distribution of Rh phenotype between males and pregnant/postpartum women, as well as between pregnant/postpartum women with different ABO blood groups (P >0.05). In pregnant and postpartum women, there was no significant difference in distribution of Rh phenotype among the normal pregnancy population, the population with adverse pregnancy history, the population using human assisted reproductive technology (ART) and the population with infertility (P >0.05). There was no significant difference in the distribution of Rh phenotype between the 4 populations mentioned above and the inpatients in the local general Grade A hospitals and the blood donors (P >0.05). In RhD positive pregnant and postpartum women, the probability of finding compatible blood for CcDEe phenotype was 100%, the probability of finding compatible blood for CCDee, CcDee and CCDEe phenotypes was 45%-60%, the probability of finding compatible blood for ccDEE, ccDEe and CcDEE phenotypes was 5%-10%, and the probability of finding compatible blood for other phenotypes was lower than 0.5%. The supply of blood with CCDee and ccDEE phenotypes can meet the compatible transfusions requirements of 7 Rh phenotypes in more than 99% of patients. CONCLUSION: Rh phenotype detection should be carried out for pregnant and postpartum women, and it is feasible to carry out Rh phenotype-matched or compatible blood transfusion for pregnant and postpartum women who need blood transfusion.

Silk Sericin and Its Composite Materials with Antibacterial Properties to Enhance Wound Healing: A Review.

Wound infections may disrupt the normal wound-healing process. Large amounts of antibiotics are frequently used to prevent pathogenic infections; however, this can lead to resistance development. Biomaterials possessing antimicrobial properties have promising applications for reducing antibiotic usage and promoting wound healing. Silk sericin (SS) has been increasingly explored for skin wound healing applications owing to its excellent biocompatibility and antioxidant, antimicrobial, and ultraviolet-resistant properties. In recent years, SS-based composite biomaterials with a broader antimicrobial spectrum have been extensively investigated and demonstrated favorable efficacy in promoting wound healing. This review summarizes various antimicrobial agents, including metal nanoparticles, natural extracts, and antibiotics, that have been incorporated into SS composites for wound healing and elucidates their mechanisms of action. It has been revealed that SS-based biomaterials can achieve sustained antimicrobial activity by slow-release-loaded antimicrobial agents. The antimicrobial-loaded SS composites may promote wound healing through anti-infection, anti-inflammation, hemostasis, angiogenesis, and collagen deposition. The manufacturing methods, benefits, and limitations of antimicrobial-loaded SS materials are briefly discussed. This review aims to enhance the understanding of new advances and directions in SS-based antimicrobial composites and guide future biomedical research.

Discovery of baicalein derivatives as novel inhibitors against human pancreatic lipase: Structure-activity relationships and inhibitory mechanisms.

Human pancreatic lipase (hPL) is a vital digestive enzyme responsible for breaking down dietary fats in humans, inhibiting hPL is a feasible strategy for preventing and treating obesity. This study aims to investigate the structure-activity relationships (SARs) of flavonoids as hPL inhibitors, and to find potent hPL inhibitors from natural and synthetic flavonoids. In this work, the anti-hPL effects of forty-nine structurally diverse naturally occurring flavonoids were assessed and the SARs were summarized. The results demonstrated that the pyrogallol group on the A ring was a key moiety for hPL inhibition. Subsequently, a series of baicalein derivatives were synthesized, while 4'-amino baicalein (ABA) and 4'-pyrrolidine baicalein (PBA) were identified as novel potent hPL inhibitors (IC50 < 1 µM). Further investigations showed that scutellarein, ABA and PBA potently inhibited hPL in a non-competitive manner (Ki < 1 µM). Among all tested flavonoids, PBA showed the most potent anti-hPL effect in vitro, while this agent also exhibited favorable safety profiles, unique tissue distribution (high exposure level to intestinal system but low exposure levels to deep organs) and impressive in vivo effects for lowering blood triglyceride levels in mice. Collectively, this work uncovers the SARs of flavonoids against hPL, while a newly synthetic flavonoid (PBA) emerges as a potent hPL inhibitor with favorable safety profiles and impressive anti-hPL effects in vivo.

[Research progress of chemerin in polycystic ovary syndrome].

As a multifunctional adipokine, chemerin plays a crucial role in various pathophysiological processes through endocrine and paracrine manner. It can bind to three known receptors (ChemR23, GPR1 and CCRL2) and participate in energy metabolism, glucose and lipid metabolism, and inflammation, especially in metabolic diseases. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine diseases, which seriously affects the normal life of women of childbearing age. Patients with PCOS have significantly increased serum levels of chemerin and high expression of chemerin in their ovaries. More and more studies have shown that chemerin is involved in the occurrence and development of PCOS by affecting obesity, insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, oxidative stress and inflammatory response. This article mainly reviews the production, subtypes, function and receptors of chemerin protein, summarizes and discusses the research status of chemerin protein in PCOS from the perspectives of metabolism, reproduction and inflammation, and provides theoretical basis and reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of PCOS.

Histological Features of Uterine Myometrial Dysfunction: Possible Involvement of Localized Inflammation.

OBJECTIVE: The latest perspective suggests that elevated levels of inflammation and cytokines are implicated in atonic postpartum hemorrhage. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been widely used to induce inflammation in animal models. Therefore, this study aimed to induce uterine inflammation using LPS to investigate whether local inflammation triggers dysfunction and atrophy in the myometrium, as well as the potential underlying molecular mechanisms involved. METHODS: In vivo, an animal model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 300 µg/ kg LPS in rats on gestational day 21. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and Masson staining were employed to determine morphological changes in the rat uterine smooth muscle. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect inflammatory cytokines. Immunohistochemistry, tissue fluorescence, and Western blotting were conducted to assess the expression levels of the uterine contraction-related proteins Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. In vitro, human uterine smooth muscle cells (HUtSMCs) were exposed to 2 µg/mL LPS to further elucidate the involvement of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in LPS-mediated inflammation. RESULTS: In this study, LPS induced uterine myometrial dysfunction in rats, leading to a disorganized arrangement, a significant increase in collagen fiber deposition, and widespread infiltration of inflammatory cells. In both in vivo animal models and in vitro HUtSMCs, LPS elevated IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α levels while concurrently suppressing the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) and oxytocin receptor (OXTR). Mechanistically, the LPS-treated group exhibited TLR4 activation, and the phosphorylation levels of p65 and IκBα were notably increased. CONCLUSION: LPS triggered the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, inducing an inflammatory response in the myometrium and leading to uterine myometrial dysfunction and uterine atony.

Dual-mode harvest solar energy for photothermal Cu2-xSe biomineralization and seawater desalination by biotic-abiotic hybrid.

Biotic-abiotic hybrid photocatalytic system is an innovative strategy to capture solar energy. Diversifying solar energy conversion products and balancing photoelectron generation and transduction are critical to unravel the potential of hybrid photocatalysis. Here, we harvest solar energy in a dual mode for Cu2-xSe nanoparticles biomineralization and seawater desalination by integrating the merits of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 and biogenic nanoparticles. Photoelectrons generated by extracellular Se0 nanoparticles power Cu2-xSe synthesis through two pathways that either cross the outer membrane to activate periplasmic Cu(II) reduction or are directly delivered into the extracellular space for Cu(I) evolution. Meanwhile, photoelectrons drive periplasmic Cu(II) reduction by reversing MtrABC complexes in S. oneidensis. Moreover, the unique photothermal feature of the as-prepared Cu2-xSe nanoparticles, the natural hydrophilicity, and the linking properties of bacterium offer a convenient way to tailor photothermal membranes for solar water production. This study provides a paradigm for balancing the source and sink of photoelectrons and diversifying solar energy conversion products in biotic-abiotic hybrid platforms.

The rise of baobab trees in Madagascar.

The baobab trees (genus Adansonia) have attracted tremendous attention because of their striking shape and distinctive relationships with fauna1. These spectacular trees have also influenced human culture, inspiring innumerable arts, folklore and traditions. Here we sequenced genomes of all eight extant baobab species and argue that Madagascar should be considered the centre of origin for the extant lineages, a key issue in their evolutionary history2,3. Integrated genomic and ecological analyses revealed the reticulate evolution of baobabs, which eventually led to the species diversity seen today. Past population dynamics of Malagasy baobabs may have been influenced by both interspecific competition and the geological history of the island, especially changes in local sea levels. We propose that further attention should be paid to the conservation status of Malagasy baobabs, especially of Adansonia suarezensis and Adansonia grandidieri, and that intensive monitoring of populations of Adansonia za is required, given its propensity for negatively impacting the critically endangered Adansonia perrieri.

Multidimensional Refinement Graph Convolutional Network With Robust Decouple Loss for Fine-Grained Skeleton-Based Action Recognition.

Graph convolutional networks (GCNs) have been widely used in skeleton-based action recognition. However, existing approaches are limited in fine-grained action recognition due to the similarity of interclass data. Moreover, the noisy data from pose extraction increase the challenge of fine-grained recognition. In this work, we propose a flexible attention block called channel-variable spatial-temporal attention (CVSTA) to enhance the discriminative power of spatial-temporal joints and obtain a more compact intraclass feature distribution. Based on CVSTA, we construct a multidimensional refinement GCN (MDR-GCN) that can improve the discrimination among channel-, joint-, and frame-level features for fine-grained actions. Furthermore, we propose a robust decouple loss (RDL) that significantly boosts the effect of the CVSTA and reduces the impact of noise. The proposed method combining MDR-GCN with RDL outperforms the known state-of-the-art skeleton-based approaches on fine-grained datasets, FineGym99 and FSD-10, and also on the coarse NTU-RGB + D 120 dataset and NTU-RGB + D X-view version. Our code is publicly available at https://github.com/dingyn-Reno/MDR-GCN.

COVID-19 vaccination affects short-term anti-coagulation levels in warfarin treatment.

Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have been recommended across the world, yet no study has investigated whether COVID-19 vaccination influences short-term warfarin anti-coagulation levels. Patients on stable warfarin treatment who received anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination were prospectively enrolled and followed up for three months. INR values less than 10 days before vaccination (baseline), 3-5 days (short-term) and 6-14 days (medium-term) after vaccination were recorded as INR0, INR1, and INR2, respectively. The variations of INR values within individuals were compared, and the linear mixed effect model was used to evaluate the variations of INR values at different time points. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine covariates related to INR variations after COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccination safety was also monitored. There was a significant difference in INR values between INR0 and INR1 (2.15 vs. 2.26, p = 0.003), yet no marked difference was found between INR0 and INR2. The linear mixed effect model also demonstrated that INR variation was significant in short-term but not in medium-term or long-term period after vaccination. Logistic regression analysis showed that no investigated covariates, including age, vaccine dose, genetic polymorphisms of VKORC1 and CYP2C9 etc., were associated with short-term INR variations. Two patients (2.11%) reported gingival hemorrhage in the short-term due to increased INR values. The overall safety of COVID-19 vaccines for patients on warfarin was satisfying. COVID-19 vaccines may significantly influence warfarin anticoagulation levels 3-5 days after vaccination. We recommend patients on warfarin to perform at least one INR monitoring within the first week after COVID-19 vaccination.

[Serological Characteristics and Clinical Significance of Irregular Antibodies in Pregnant Women].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the serological characteristics of irregular antibodies in pregnant women and explore their clinical significance. METHODS: From January 2017 to March 2022, 151 471 pregnant women in Women and Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were enrolled in this study, microcolumn gel card test was used for irregular antibody screening, and antibody specificity identification was further performed in some antibody-positive subjects. RESULTS: The positive rate of irregular antibody screening in the enrolled pregnant women was 0.91% (1 375/151 471), 0.23% (355/151 471) was detected in the first trimester, 0.05% (71/151 471) in the second trimester, and 0.63% (949/151 471) in the third trimester. The positive rate of irregular antibody screening in the third trimester was significantly higher than that in the first and second trimester, and a significant increase in the number of positive cases was found in the third trimester than that in the second trimester. The analysis of agglutination intensity of 1 375 irregular antibody screening positive results showed that the weakly positive agglutination intensity accounted for 50.11% (689/ 1 375), which was the highest, the suspicious positive was 18.69% (257/1 375), and the positive was 31.20% (429/1 375). The significant difference in distribution of agglutination intensity was not observed between the first trimester group and the second trimester group, however, in the third trimester, the proportion of suspicious positive and weakly positive was lower than the first trimester, while, the proportion of positive was higher than the first trimester, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Among the irregular antibody screening positive pregnant women, the proportion of pregnant women with pregnancy number ≥ 2 was significantly higher than that with pregnancy ≤ 1. Among 60 pregnant women who underwent antibody identification, the distributions of the antibodies were as follows: Rh blood group system accounted for 23.33% (14/60), Lewis system 43.33% (26/60), Kidd system 3.33% (2/60), MNS system 16.67% (10/60), P1PK system 1.67% (1/60), autoantibodies 1.67% (1/60), and 4 cases was unable to identify (6.67%, 4/60). Among specific antibodies, the anti-Lea was the most common (30.00%), followed by anti-E (16.67%) and anti-M (16.67%). CONCLUSION: The differences of irregular antibody serological characteristics exist in pregnant women from different regions with different genetic backgrounds, understanding the characteristics of irregular antibody in local pregnant women is of great significance for ensuring transfusion safety in pregnant women and preventing hemolytic disease of newborn.

Structurally Preserved Liquidambar Infructescences, Associated Pollen, and Leaves from the Late Oligocene of the Nanning Basin, South China.

Liquidambar L. is a significant constituent of the Cenozoic flora in the Northern Hemisphere. Currently, this genus exhibits a discontinuous distribution across Asia and North America, with the center of diversity being in southeastern Asia. This study presents the first occurrence of Liquidambar in the Oligocene of South China. Fossil sweetgum infructescences, associated pollen, and leaves have been found in the Nanning Basin, Guangxi. A new species, Liquidambar nanningensis sp. nov., is described based on the morphological and anatomical characteristics of three-dimensionally preserved infructescences. The Liquidambar fossils from the Nanning Basin show a combination of features indicative of the former genera of Altingiaceae, Altingia, Liquidambar s. str., and Semiliquidambar. The new occurrence expands the taxonomic and morphological diversity of the Paleogene Liquidambar species in South China.

[Health Risk Assessment and Priority Control Factors Analysis of Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soils Based on Source-oriented].

To analyze the source apportionment and health risk of heavy metals in agricultural soils of major producing areas of agricultural products in Chongqing, a positive matrix factorization (PMF) model and health risk assessment (HRA) model based on Monte Carlo simulation were used. Meanwhile, both the PMF and HRA model were combined to explore health risks of heavy metals in agricultural soils by different pollution sources in order to determine the priority control factors. The results showed that the average values of Cd concentration were higher than its corresponding background value; the average values of Cr concentration were lower than its corresponding background value; and the average values of As, Pb, Cu, Ni, and Zn concentration were basically consistent with their corresponding background values. Using PMF model analysis, natural sources, industrial sources, and agricultural sources were identified as the determinants for the accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural soils, with the contribution rates of 35%, 24%, and 41%, respectively. Using the HRA model based on Monte Carlo simulation analysis, carcinogenic risks of adult and children were tolerable (1.00E-6 < TCR ≤ 1.00E-4), whereas non-carcinogenic risks were acceptable (HI ≤ 1). Oral ingestion was the main exposure pathway. The analysis results of the relationship among heavy metals, pollution sources, and health risks showed that industrial pollution and As were identified as priority control factors, and agricultural pollution and Cd were identified as secondary control factors. Our findings provide scientific support for decision makers to control soil pollution and reduce the management costs of soil pollution.

Advances of regenerated and functionalized silk biomaterials and application in skin wound healing.

The cocoon silk of silkworms (Bombyx mori) has multiple potential applications in biomedicine due to its good biocompatibility, mechanical properties, degradability, and plasticity. Numerous studies have confirmed that silk material dressings are more effective than traditional ones in the skin wound healing process. Silk material research has recently moved toward functionalized biomaterials and achieved remarkable results. Herein, we summarize the recent advances in functionalized silk materials and their efficacy in skin wound healing. In particular, transgenic technology has realized the specific expression of human growth factors in the silk glands of the silkworms, which lays the foundation for fabricating novel and low-cost functionalized materials. Without a green and safe preparation process, the best raw silk materials cannot be made into medically safe products. Therefore, we provide an overview of green and gentle approaches for silk degumming and silk sericin (SS) extraction. Moreover, we summarize and discuss the processing methods of silk fibroin (SF) and SS materials and their potential applications, such as burns, diabetic wounds, and other wounds. This review aims to enhance our understanding of new advances and directions in silk materials and guide future biomedical research.

Magnetic resonance imaging on brain structure and function changes in diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

With the significant increase in the global prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM), the occurrence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) has become increasingly common complication associated with DM. It is particularly in the peripheral nerves of the hands, legs, and feet. DPN can lead to various adverse consequences that greatly affect the quality of life for individuals with DM. Despite the profound impact of DPN, the specific mechanisms underlying its development and progression are still not well understood. Advancements in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology have provided valuable tools for investigating the central mechanisms involved in DPN. Structural and functional MRI techniques have emerged as important methods for studying the brain structures and functions associated with DPN. Voxel-based morphometry allows researchers to assess changes in the volume and density of different brain regions, providing insights into potential structural alterations related to DPN. Functional MRI investigates brain activity patterns, helping elucidate the neural networks engaged during sensory processing and pain perception in DPN patients. Lastly, magnetic resonance spectroscopy provides information about the neurochemical composition of specific brain regions, shedding light on potential metabolic changes associated with DPN. By synthesizing available literature employing these MRI techniques, this study aims to enhance our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying DPN and contribute to the improvement of clinical diagnosis.

Bioactivities and Mechanisms of Action of Diphyllin and Its Derivatives: A Comprehensive Systematic Review.

Natural products are treasure houses for modern drug discovery. Diphyllin is a natural arylnaphthalene lignan lactone isolated from the leaf of Astilboides tabularis. Studies have found that it possesses plenty of bioactivity characteristics. In this paper, we reviewed the structure, bioactivity, and mechanism of action of diphyllin and its derivatives. The references were obtained from PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct databases up to August 2023. Papers without a bio-evaluation were excluded. Diphyllin and its derivatives have demonstrated V-ATPase inhibition, anti-tumor, anti-virus, anti-biofilm, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant activities. The most studied activities of diphyllin and its derivatives are V-ATPase inhibition, anti-tumor activities, and anti-virus activities. Furthermore, V-ATPase inhibition activity is the mechanism of many bioactivities, including anti-tumor, anti-virus, and anti-inflammatory activities. We also found that the galactosylated modification of diphyllin is a common phenomenon in plants, and therefore, galactosylated modification is applied by researchers in the laboratory to obtain more excellent diphyllin derivatives. This review will provide useful information for the development of diphyllin-based anti-tumor and anti-virus compounds.

[Effects of virtual reality in phase I cardiac rehabilitation training for elderly coronary heart disease patients after percutaneous coronary intervention].

The study aimed to examine the effects of virtual reality (VR) technology-based phase I cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program in elderly coronary heart disease (CHD) patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Thirty-six cases of elderly CHD patients who underwent PCI in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from June 2022 to April 2023 were recruited by convenience sampling method. The patients were randomly assigned by means of random digital table method to two study groups: control group (n = 18), which received conventional nursing intervention after PCI, and experimental group (n = 18), which received a combined program of conventional nursing intervention together with CR program based on VR technology. The 6 min walk test (6MWT), Simple Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), SF-36 scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R) were tested before and after rehabilitation. Moreover, the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was recorded at 3 months after PCI. After VR-based CR, the 6MWT distance and SPPB scores of patients in the experimental group were higher than those in control group (P < 0.05). The HADS scores and IES-R scores of the patients in the experimental group were lower than those in control group (P < 0.01), and the difference in SF-36 scale scores was not statistically significant between two groups (P > 0.05). The incidence of MACE was not significantly different at 3 months after PCI (P > 0.05). These results suggest that VR-based phase I CR program mitigates the degree of PCI postoperative stress, anxiety, and depression in elderly CHD patients, however, enhances the resistance to fatigue and does not increase the risk of adverse cardiac events, suggesting it is a safe intervention.

Tracking Ion Transport in Nanochannels via Transient Single-Particle Imaging.

The transport behavior of ions in the nanopores has an important impact on the performance of the electrochemical devices. Although the classical Transmission-Line (TL) model has long been used to describe ion transport in pores, the boundary conditions for the applicability of the TL model remain controversial. Here, we investigated the transport kinetics of different ions, within nanochannels of different lengths, by using transient single-particle imaging with temporal resolution up to microseconds. We found that the ion transport kinetics within short nanochannels may deviate significantly from the TL model. The reason is that the ion transport under nanoconfinement is composed of multi basic stages, and the kinetics differ much under different stage domination. With the shortening of nanochannels, the electrical double layer (EDL) formation would become the "rate-determining step" and dominate the apparent ion kinetics. Our results imply that using the TL model directly and treating the in-pore mobility as an unchanged parameter to estimate the ion transport kinetics in short nanopores/nanochannels may lead to orders of magnitude bias. These findings may advance the understanding of the nanoconfined ion transport and promote the related applications.