In situ mass spectrometry imaging reveals pesticide residues and key metabolic pathways throughout the entire cowpea growth process.

Cowpea plants, renowned for their high edibility, pose a significant risk of pesticide residue contamination. Elucidating the behavior of pesticide residues and their key metabolic pathways is critical for ensuring cowpea safety and human health. This study investigated the migration of pesticide residues and their key metabolic pathways in pods throughout the growth process of cowpea plants via in situ mass spectrometry. To this end, four pesticides--including systemic (thiram), and nonsystemic (fluopyram, pyriproxyfen, and cyromazine) pesticides--were selected. The results indicate the direct upward and downward transmission of pesticides in cowpea stems and pods. Systemic pesticides gradually migrate to the core of cowpea plants, whereas nonsystemic pesticides remain on the surface of cowpea peels. The migration rate is influenced by the cowpea maturity, logarithmic octanol-water partition coefficient (log Kow) value, and molecular weight of the pesticide. Further, 20 types of key metabolites related to glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and flavonoid synthesis were found in cowpea pods after pesticide treatment. These findings afford insights into improving cowpea quality and ensuring the safe use of pesticides.

Bi Nanospheres Embedded in N-Doped Carbon Nanowires Facilitate Ultrafast and Ultrastable Sodium Storage.

Sodium ion batteries (SIBs) are considered as the ideal candidates for the next generation of electrochemical energy storage devices. The major challenges of anode lie in poor cycling stability and the sluggish kinetics attributed to the inherent large Na+ size. In this work, Bi nanosphere encapsulated in N-doped carbon nanowires (Bi@N-C) is assembled by facile electrospinning and carbonization. N-doped carbon mitigates the structure stress/strain during alloying/dealloying, optimizes the ionic/electronic diffusion, and provides fast electron transfer and structural stability. Due to the excellent structure, Bi@N-C shows excellent Na storage performance in SIBs in terms of good cycling stability and rate capacity in half cells and full cells. The fundamental mechanism of the outstanding electrochemical performance of Bi@N-C has been demonstrated through synchrotron in-situ XRD, atomic force microscopy, ex-situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and density functional theory (DFT) calculation. Importantly, a deeper understanding of the underlying reasons of the performance improvement is elucidated, which is vital for providing the theoretical basis for application of SIBs.

Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals the Regulatory Mechanism of Probiotics on the Growth Performance of Fattening Sheep.

Probiotics have been proven to improve the growth performance of livestock and poultry. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of probiotic supplementation on the growth performance; rumen and intestinal microbiota; rumen fluid, serum, and urine metabolism; and rumen epithelial cell transcriptomics of fattening meat sheep. Twelve Hu sheep were selected and randomly divided into two groups. They were fed a basal diet (CON) or a basal diet supplemented with 1.5 × 108 CFU/g probiotics (PRB). The results show that the average daily weight gain, and volatile fatty acid and serum antioxidant capacity concentrations of the PRB group were significantly higher than those of the CON group (p < 0.05). Compared to the CON group, the thickness of the rumen muscle layer in the PRB group was significantly decreased (p < 0.01); the thickness of the duodenal muscle layer in the fattening sheep was significantly reduced; and the length of the duodenal villi, the thickness of the cecal and rectal mucosal muscle layers, and the thickness of the cecal, colon, and rectal mucosal layers (p < 0.05) were significantly increased. At the genus level, the addition of probiotics altered the composition of the rumen and intestinal microbiota, significantly upregulating the relative abundance of Subdivision5_genera_incertae_sedis and Acinetobacter in the rumen microbiota, and significantly downregulating the relative abundance of Butyrivibrio, Saccharofermentans, and Fibrobacter. The relative abundance of faecalicoccus was significantly upregulated in the intestinal microbiota, while the relative abundance of Coprococcus, Porphyromonas, and Anaerobacterium were significantly downregulated (p < 0.05). There were significant differences in the rumen, serum, and urine metabolites between the PRB group and the CON group, with 188, 138, and 104 metabolites (p < 0.05), mainly affecting pathways such as vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, and a series of amino acid metabolisms. The differential genes in the transcriptome sequencing were mainly enriched in protein modification regulation (especially histone modification), immune function regulation, and energy metabolism. Therefore, adding probiotics improved the growth performance of fattening sheep by altering the rumen and intestinal microbiota; the rumen, serum, and urine metabolome; and the transcriptome.

High-Flow Nasal Oxygen versus Conventional Nasal Cannula in Preventing Hypoxemia in Elderly Patients Undergoing Gastroscopy with Sedation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: We aimed to compare the prevention of hypoxemia using High-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) or regular nasal tubing (CNC) in elderly patients undergoing gastroscopy with sedation. Methods: This study was a prospective, randomized, controlled trial conducted at a single center. We included elective patients aged 65 and above who were undergoing gastroscopy with sedation. In the intervention group (HFNO), we set the oxygen flow rate to 60 liters per minute with an oxygen fraction (FiO2) of 0.6, while in the control group (CNC), it was 6 liters per minute. The primary outcome was the occurrence of hypoxemia (defined as Spo2 < 90%). Results: A total of 125 participants were enrolled (HFNO group: n = 63; CNC group: n = 62). The occurrence of hypoxemia was found to be significantly lower in the HFNO group compared to the CNC group (3.2% vs. 22.6%, p = 0.001). Additionally, a significantly shorter duration of low oxygen levels was observed in the HFNO group [0.0 seconds (0.0-13.0)] compared to the CNC group [0.0 seconds (0.0-124.0), p<0.001]. Moreover, a higher minimum Spo2 value was achieved in the HFNO group [99.0% (98.0-100.0) vs. 96.5% (91.0-99.0), p < 0.001], and a shorter recovery time was recorded [0.5 minutes (0.0-0.5) vs. 0.5 minutes (0.0-1.0), p = 0.016] in comparison to the CNC group. There were no differences in terms of comfort level [0 (0-4) vs. 0 (0-5), p = 0.268] between the two groups. Conclusions: The HFNO system was determined to be a safe and highly effective method for oxygen delivery, leading to a reduction in the occurrence of hypoxemia in elderly patients undergoing gastroscopy with sedation. It is recommended that HFNO be considered as the standard approach for management in this population.

The imaging findings of migraine with visual aura in a CADASIL patient.

Head MRI images of cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) patients during migraine attacks are rare.

Rational Conversion of Imine linkages to Amide Linkages in Covalent Organic Frameworks for Photocatalytic Oxidation with Enhanced Photostability.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) and their applications in photocatalysis have been extensively studied, but the instability of imine-linked COFs is an important factor limiting their performance. In this work, two imine-linked COFs were successfully converted to amide-linked COFs through post synthetic modification (PSM). The oxidized COFs presented lower binding energy to O2, exhibited higher photocatalytic activity for oxidation of thioethers and coupling of benzylamines with excellent stability. The present work can serve as a reliable reference for the development of novel highly active and stable COF-based photocatalysts.

The relationship between serum astroglial and neuronal markers and AQP4 and MOG autoantibodies.

BACKGROUND: Certain demyelinating disorders, such as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) exhibit serum autoantibodies against aquaporin-4 (αAQP4) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (αMOG). The variability of the autoantibody presentation warrants further research into subtyping each case. METHODS: To elucidate the relationship between astroglial and neuronal protein concentrations in the peripheral circulation with occurrence of these autoantibodies, 86 serum samples were analyzed using immunoassays. The protein concentration of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neurofilament light chain (NFL) and tau protein was measured in 3 groups of subcategories of suspected NMOSD: αAQP4 positive (n = 20), αMOG positive (n = 32) and αMOG/αAQP4 seronegative (n = 34). Kruskal-Wallis analysis, univariate predictor analysis, and multivariate logistic regression with ROC curves were performed. RESULTS: GFAP and NFL concentrations were significantly elevated in the αAQP4 positive group (p = 0.003; p = 0.042, respectively), and tau was elevated in the αMOG/αAQP4 seronegative group (p < 0.001). A logistic regression model to classify serostatus was able to separate αAQP4 seropositivity using GFAP + tau, and αMOG seropositivity using tau. The areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) were 0.77 and 0.72, respectively. Finally, a combined seropositivity versus negative status logistic regression model was generated, with AUC = 0.80. CONCLUSION: The 3 markers can univariately and multivariately classify with moderate accuracy the samples with seropositivity and seronegativity for αAQP4 and αMOG.

A Review of Dupilumab in the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis in Infants and Children.

Atopic dermatitis (AD), a common pruritic and chronic inflammatory skin disease, has a major impact on a patient's quality of life. It is characterized by dry, itchy, and eczema-like rashes. AD is more prevalent in young children and has been linked to a variety of other allergy disorders. Traditional drug therapy has certain limitations for treating young children with AD. However, biologics have good clinical application prospects in the medical treatment of young patients. Dupilumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody, specifically binds to the IL-4 Rα subunit, inhibiting IL-4 and IL-13 signaling and blocking the occurrence of type 2 inflammatory response. It has a good effect on treating infants and children with moderate-to-severe AD. This review explores the safety and efficacy of dupilumab in the treatment of AD in infants and children and the impact of early intervention on AD progression, with the aim of informing clinical practice in the use of dupilumab for the treatment of young patients with AD.

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of novel arecoline-linked amino acid derivatives for insecticidal and antifungal activities.

A series of arecoline derivatives with amino acid moieties were designed and synthesised using an acylamide condensation strategy, taking arecoline as the foundational structure. The insecticidal efficacy of these compounds against Aphis craccivora and Tetranychus cinnabarinus was evaluated. Notably, derivatives 3h and 3i demonstrated superior insecticidal activity compared with arecoline. Additionally, 3h and 3i showed good fungicidal effectiveness against two types of plant fungi. Moreover, molecular docking analyses suggested that 3h and 3i could affect the nervous systems of A. craccivora and T. cinnabarinus by binding to neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. These findings suggest that compounds 3h and 3i represent promising leads for further development in insecticide and fungicide research.

Gubi Zhitong formula alleviates osteoarthritis in vitro and in vivo via regulating BNIP3L-mediated mitophagy.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by degeneration of articular cartilage, leading to joint pain and dysfunction. Gubi Zhitong formula (GBZTF), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, has been used in the clinical treatment of OA for decades, demonstrating definite efficacy. However, its mechanism of action remains unclear, hindering its further application. METHODS: The ingredients of GBZTF were analyzed and performed with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). 6 weeks old SD rats were underwent running exercise (25 m/min, 80 min, 0°) to construct OA model with cartilage wear and tear. It was estimated by Micro-CT, Gait Analysis, Histological Stain. RNA-seq technology was performed with OA Rats' cartilage, and primary chondrocytes induced by IL-1ß (mimics OA chondrocytes) were utilized to evaluated and investigated the mechanism of how GBZTF protected OA cartilage from being damaged with some functional experiments. RESULTS: A total of 1006 compounds were identified under positive and negative ion modes by LC-MS. Then, we assessed the function of GBZTF through in vitro and vivo. It was found GBZTF could significantly up-regulate OA rats' limb coordination and weight-bearing capacity, and reduce the surface and sub-chondral bone erosions of OA joints, and protect cartilage from being destroyed by inflammatory factors (iNOS, IL-6, IL-1ß, TNF- α, MMP13, ADAMTS5), and promote OA chondrocytes proliferation and increase the S phage of cell cycle. In terms of mechanism, RNA-seq analysis of cartilage tissues revealed 1,778 and 3,824 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in model vs control group and GBZTF vs model group, respectively. The mitophagy pathway was most significantly enriched in these DEGs. Further results of subunits of OA chondrocytes confirmed that GBZTF could alleviate OA-associated inflammation and cartilage damage through modulation BCL2 interacting protein 3-like (BNIP3L)-mediated mitophagy. CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effectiveness of GBZTF on OA were first time verified in vivo and vitro through functional experiments and RNA-seq, which provides convincing evidence to support the molecular mechanisms of GBZTF as a promising therapeutic decoction for OA.

Causal association between psoriasis vulgaris and bullous pemphigoid: a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Background: The association between psoriasis vulgaris and bullous pemphigoid (BP) remains largely unknown. Objectives: To investigate whether there is a causal effect between psoriasis vulgaris and BP. Methods: Two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were conducted using publicly released genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary statistics. The GWAS summary statistics for BP were downloaded online from FinnGen Biobank Documentation of the R12 release, which includes 219 BP cases and 218,066 controls. The GWAS data for psoriasis vulgaris were extracted from Sakaue et al., which comprises 5072 cases and 478,102 controls. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with exposure were selected as instrumental variables by performing additional quality control steps. The inverse-variance-weighted (IVW) method was used for the primary MR analyses, and the MR-Egger regression, weighted mode method, weighted median method, and simple mode were employed for sensitivity analyses. The MR-Egger intercept test and "leave-one-out" sensitivity analysis were performed to evaluate the horizontal pleiotropy and the potentially influential SNPs, respectively. Results: Genetically determined log odds of psoriasis vulgaris were associated with an increased risk of BP (IVW: odds ratio (OR) = 1.263, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.013-1.575, P=0.038). Sensitivity analyses by the weighted mode (OR=1.255, 95%CI: 0.973-1.618, P=0.106), MR Egger (OR=1.315, 95%CI: 0.951-1.817, P=0.126), simple mode (OR=1.414, 95%CI: 0.823-2.429, P=0.234) and weighted median method (OR=1.177, 95%CI: 0.889-1.559, P=0.254) derived directionally consistent relationship between the genetically predicted log odds of psoriasis vulgaris and risks of developing BP. On the contrary, we found that genetically predicted BP had no significant effect on psoriasis vulgaris (IVW: OR=0.996, P= 0.707), indicating the unidirectionality of the relationship. MR-Egger intercept tests showed no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy. No influential SNP driving the results was detected by the leave-one-out sensitivity analysis. Conclusions: Our results suggested that psoriasis vulgaris causally increases the risk of BP, highlighting the need for potential strategies for the prevention and early diagnosis of comorbid BP in patients with psoriasis vulgaris. Further researches into this association and underlying mechanisms are warranted.

Identification and characterization of the receptors of a microneme adhesive repeat domain of Eimeria maxima microneme protein 3 in chicken intestine epithelial cells.

Eimeria maxima microneme protein 3 (EmMIC3) is pivotal in the initial recognition and attachment of E. maxima sporozoites to host cells. EmMIC3 comprises 5 tandem Type I microneme adhesive repeat (MAR) domains, among which MAR2 of EmMIC3 (EmMAR2) has been identified as the primary determinant of EmMIC3-mediated tissue tropism. Nonetheless, the mechanisms through which EmMAR2 guides the parasite to its invasion site through interactions with host receptors remained largely uncharted. In this study, we employed yeast two-hybrid (YTH) screening assays and shotgun LC-MS/MS analysis to identify EmMAR2 receptors in chicken intestine epithelial cells. ATPase H+ transporting V1 subunit G1 (ATP6V1G1), receptor accessory protein 5 (REEP5), transmembrane p24 trafficking protein (TMED2), and delta 4-desaturase sphingolipid 1 (DEGS1) were characterized as the 4 receptors of EmMAR2 by both assays. By blocking the interaction of EmMAR2 with each receptor using specific antibodies, we observed varying levels of inhibition on the invasion of E. maxima sporozoites, and the combined usage of all 4 antibodies resulted in the most pronounced inhibitory effect. Additionally, the spatio-temporal expression profiles of ATP6V1G1, REEP5, TMED2, and DEGS1 were assessed. The tissue-specific expression patterns of EmMAR2 receptors throughout E. maxima infection suggested that ATP6V1G1 and DEGS1 might play a role in early-stage invasion, whereas TMED2 could be involved in middle and late-stage invasion and REEP5 and DEGS1 may participate primarily in late-stage invasion. Consequently, E. maxima may employ a multitude of ligand-receptor interactions to drive invasion during different stages of infection. This study marks the first report of EmMAR2 receptors at the interface between E. maxima and the host, providing insights into the invasion mechanisms of E. maxima and the pathogenesis of coccidiosis.

Fluorescent sensor based on bismuth metal-organic frameworks (Bi-MOFs) mimic enzyme for H2O2 detection in real samples and distinction of phenylenediamine isomers.

Although peroxidase-like nano-enzymes have been widely utilized in biosensors, nano-enzyme based biosensors are seldom used for both quantitative analysis of H2O2 and differentiation of isomers of organic compounds simultaneously. In this study, a dual-functional mimetic enzyme-based fluorescent sensor was constructed using metal-organic frameworks (Bi-MOFs) with exceptional oxidase activity and fluorescence properties. This mimetic enzyme sensor facilitated quantitative analysis of H2O2 and accurate discrimination of phenylenediamine isomers. The sensor exhibited a wide linear range (0.5-400 µM) and low detection limit (0.16 µM) for the detection of H2O2. Moreover, the sensor can also be used for the discrimination of phenylenediamine isomers, in which the presence of o-phenylenediamine (OPD) leads to the appearance of a new fluorescence emission peak at 555 nm, while the presence of p-phenylenediamine (PPD) significantly quenched its fluorescence due to the internal filtration effect. The proposed strategy exhibited a commendable capability in distinguishing phenylenediamine isomers, thereby paving the way for novel applications of MOFs in the field of environmental science.

Polyhexamethylene guanidine accelerates the macrophage foamy formation mediated pulmonary fibrosis.

Polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) is manufactured and applied extensively due to its superior disinfectant capabilities. However, the inhalatory exposure to PHMG aerosols is increasingly recognized as a potential instigator of pulmonary fibrosis, prompting an urgent call for elucidation of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Within this context, alveolar macrophages play a pivotal role in the primary immune defense in the respiratory tract. Dysregulated lipid metabolism within alveolar macrophages leads to the accumulation of foam cells, a process that is intimately linked with the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. Therefore, this study examines PHMG's effects on alveolar macrophage foaminess and its underlying mechanisms. We conducted a 3-week inhalation exposure followed by a 3-week recovery period in C57BL/6 J mice using a whole-body exposure system equipped with a disinfection aerosol generator (WESDAG). The presence of lipid-laden alveolar macrophages and downregulation of pulmonary tissue lipid transport proteins ABCA1 and ABCG1 were observed in mice. In cell culture models involving lipid-loaded macrophages, we demonstrated that PHMG promotes foam cell formation by inhibiting lipid efflux in mouse alveolar macrophages. Furthermore, PHMG-induced foam cells were found to promote an increase in the release of TGF-ß1, fibronectin deposition, and collagen remodeling. In vivo interventions were subsequently implemented on mice exposed to PHMG aerosols, aiming to restore macrophage lipid efflux function. Remarkably, this intervention demonstrated the potential to retard the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. In conclusion, this study underscores the pivotal role of macrophage foaming in the pathogenesis of PHMG disinfectants-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Moreover, it provides compelling evidence to suggest that the regulation of macrophage efflux function holds promise for mitigating the progression of pulmonary fibrosis, thereby offering novel insights into the mechanisms underlying inhaled PHMG disinfectants-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Diagnostic strategy of metagenomic next-generation sequencing for gram negative bacteria in respiratory infections.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to identify the most effective diagnostic method for distinguishing pathogenic and non-pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) in suspected pneumonia cases using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples. METHODS: The effectiveness of mNGS was assessed on BALF samples collected from 583 patients, and the results were compared with those from microbiological culture and final clinical diagnosis. Three interpretational approaches were evaluated for diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS: mNGS outperformed culture significantly. Among the interpretational approaches, Clinical Interpretation (CI) demonstrated the best diagnostic performance with a sensitivity of 87.3%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative predictive value of 98.3%. CI's specificity was significantly higher than Simple Interpretation (SI) at 37.9%. Additionally, CI excluded some microorganisms identified as putative pathogens by SI, including Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Haemophilus parahaemolyticus, and Klebsiella aerogenes. CONCLUSION: Proper interpretation of mNGS data is crucial for accurately diagnosing respiratory infections caused by GNB. CI is recommended for this purpose.

A Comprehensive Review of Muscle-Tendon Junction: Structure, Function, Injury and Repair.

The muscle-tendon junction (MTJ) is a highly specific tissue interface where the muscle's fascia intersects with the extracellular matrix of the tendon. The MTJ functions as the particular structure facilitating the transmission of force from contractive muscle fibers to the skeletal system, enabling movement. Considering that the MTJ is continuously exposed to constant mechanical forces during physical activity, it is susceptible to injuries. Ruptures at the MTJ often accompany damage to both tendon and muscle tissues. In this review, we attempt to provide a precise definition of the MTJ, describe its subtle structure in detail, and introduce therapeutic approaches related to MTJ tissue engineering. We hope that our detailed illustration of the MTJ and summary of the representative research achievements will help researchers gain a deeper understanding of the MTJ and inspire fresh insights and breakthroughs for future research.

Hollow Ni3S4@Co3S4 with core-satellite nanostructure derived from metal-organic framework (MOF)-on-MOF hybrids as an electrode material for supercapacitors.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have found wide applications in the field of supercapacitors due to their highly controllable porous structure, big specific surface area, and abundant chemical functional groups. MOF-on-MOF hybrids not only enhance the composition of MOFs (such as ligands and/or metal centers) but also provide greater structural diversity. By utilizing MOFs as precursors for preparing sulfides, the unique characteristics and inherent structure of MOFs are preserved but their conductivity and capacitance are enhanced. This study successfully synthesized hollow-structured Ni3S4@Co3S4 derived from an Ni-MOF@ZIF-67 hybrid structure, where the Ni-MOF serves as the core and ZIF-67 as the satellite. The Ni3S4@Co3S4 electrode demonstrated a specific capacity as high as 747.3 C g-1 at 1 A g-1, and it could still maintain 77% of its initial capacity at 10 A g-1. Furthermore, the assembled Ni3S4@Co3S4//AC hybrid supercapacitor (HSC) device achieved a maximum energy density of 30.8 W h kg-1 when the power density was 750 W kg-1. The device exhibited remarkable cycling durability, retaining 85.4% of its initial capacitance after 5000 cycles. Therefore, the derived functional materials based on MOF-on-MOF provide a more scalable and promising approach for the preparation of efficient electrode materials.

CO2-Mediated Alkali-Neutralization Curdlan Hydrogels for Potential Wound Healing Application.

Physical hydrogels of natural polysaccharides are considered as ideal candidates for wound dressing due to their natural biological activity and no harmful cross-linking agents. However, it remains a challenge to fabricate such hydrogel dressings in a facile and low-cost way. Herein, we reported an easy and cost-effective method to construct CO2-mediated alkali-neutralization Curdlan (CR) hydrogels without using an external cross-linking agent. Two types of hydrogels (denoted as CR-NaOH and CR-Na3PO4, respectively) were fabricated by dissolving CR powders in a NaOH or Na3PO4 aqueous solution, followed by keeping the CR alkaline solutions in air. The obtained pure CR hydrogels possessed a tunable porous structure with walls containing different forms of nanofibrils. These hydrogels exhibited much higher gel strength by comparison with the gels prepared by conventional heating treatment. They were flexible, stretchable, twistable, and conformable to arbitrarily curved skins. Moreover, they exhibited ideal swellability, proper degradability, and water vapor transmission rate, and their physicochemical properties were closely related to CR concentration in the alkaline solution. These two hydrogels also supported the growth of L929 cells. Importantly, studies on wound healing revealed that both 3CR-NaOH and 3CR-Na3PO4 hydrogels were capable of accelerating the wound healing process through recruiting more macrophages/fibroblasts, inducing more collagen deposition and neovascularization (α-SMA and CD31) without carrying any exogenous bioactive components. In conclusion, the present work not only reported promising materials for application in wound therapy but also offered a facile and safe manufacturing procedure for generating pure CR physical hydrogels with better performance.

Enhanced impact of psoriasis severity on the treatment demands of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study based on a national psoriasis registry in China.

OBJECTIVES: The personalised treatment demands of patients with psoriasis did not get significant attention during the pandemic lockdown. This study aimed to investigate the treatment demands of patients with psoriasis with different severities, stratified by COVID-19 pandemic conditions. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study design. SETTING: Multicentre study based on a national psoriasis registry in China. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 22 425 adult patients with psoriasis were enrolled between August 2020 and September 2021. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes were patient demands for quick healing of skin lesions and improving mental health, which were collected by questionnaires. Multivariable logistic models were used to examine the impact of disease severity, as measured by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), body surface area (BSA) and Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA), on treatment demands, as stratified by COVID-19 pandemic conditions (lockdown vs non-lockdown). RESULTS: Increasing PASI score significantly increased patient demands for rapid healing of skin lesions and improving mental health during non-lockdown periods. The magnitude of both associations further increased during the COVID-19 lockdown from an OR of 1.45 (95% CI 1.27 to 1.65) to 2.19 (95% CI 1.57 to 3.05) and 2.21 (95% CI 2.03 to 2.40) to 2.82 (95% CI 2.24 to 3.55), respectively. The skin lesion healing demand was more triggered by the overall irritation level (measured by IGA, OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.35 to 1.99 during non-lockdown periods vs OR 2.70, 95% CI 1.63 to 4.49 during lockdowns), while the mental health improving demand was more triggered by lesion coverage (measured by BSA, OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.85 to 2.19 vs OR 3.27, 95% CI 2.57 to 4.15). CONCLUSIONS: Psoriasis aggravation significantly increased patients' treatment demands, especially during lockdowns. The used psoriasis severity measures highlighted patients' treatment demands differently. This suggests more accessible and personalised healthcare for patients with psoriasis should be available during future pandemics.