The role of TMEM163 protein in thyroid microcarcinoma: expression pattern and clinical implications.

BACKGROUND: TMEM163 protein is a new zinc ion transporter whose regulatory role in tumors has yet to be discovered. This study aimed to analyze the expression pattern of TMEM163 in thyroid microcarcinoma and explore its potential molecular function and clinical value. METHODS: Differential analysis was performed to detect the expression pattern of TMEM163 in papillary thyroid carcinoma. Functional analysis was performed to explore the biological function of TMEM163. Logistic regression was performed to detect the relationship between TMEM163 expression and lymph node metastasis. A correlation analysis of the relationship between 163 and anoikis was performed. qRT-PCR and western blot were used to verify its expression in PTC tissues. The effect of TMEM163 on PTC cell function was studied by a series of in vitro cell experiments. The prediction model of lymph node metastasis was constructed based on the ultrasonic characteristics of PTMC and the expression of TMEM163. RESULTS: The expression of TMEM163 in PTC tissue was higher than in normal thyroid tissue. In vitro, silencing TMEM163 inhibited PTC cells' proliferation, migration, and invasion, while TMEM163 overexpression exhibited the opposite effect. In addition, down-regulating its expression can inhibit the cell cycle process and induce the apoptosis of tumor cells. In pathway analysis, we demonstrated that knockout of TMEM163 significantly increased p21 expression and inhibited BCL-2 expression. Logistic regression results suggested that the expression of TMEM163 combined with PTMC ultrasound characteristics helped predict lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSION: TMEM163 is highly expressed in PTC, which may be involved in the mechanism of anoikis, and can be used as a molecular marker to predict PTMC lymph node metastasis.

Anatomical and dosimetric variations during volumetric modulated arc therapy in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma after induction therapy: Implications for adaptive radiation therapy.

Purpose: To investigate anatomical and dosimetric changes during volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC) after induction therapy (IT) and explore characteristics of patients with notable variations. Materials and methods: From July 2021 to June 2023, 60 LA-NPC patients undergoing VMAT after IT were retrospectively recruited. Adaptive computed tomography (aCT), reconstructed from weekly cone-beam computed tomography(CBCT), facilitates recontouring and planning transplantation. Volume, dice similarity coefficients, and dose to target volumes and organs at risk(OARs) on planning CT(pCT) and aCT were compared to identify changing patterns. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate risk factors. Results: The volumes of PGTVnasopharynx (PGTVp), PGTVnode (PGTVn), ipsilateral and contralateral parotid glands decreased during VMAT, with reductions of 2.25 %, 6.98 %, 20.09 % and 18.00 %, respectively, at 30 fractions from baseline (P < 0.001). After 25 fractions, D99 and D95 of PGTVn decreased by 7.94 % and 4.18 % from baseline, respectively, while the Dmean of ipsilateral and contralateral parotid glands increased by 7.80 % and 6.50 %, marking the peak rates of dosimetric variations (P < 0.001). The dosimetric fluctuations in PGTVp, the brainstem, and the spinal cord remained within acceptable limits. Furthermore, an initial BMI ≥ 23.5 kg/m2 and not-achieving objective response (OR) after IT were regarded as risk factors for a remarkable PGTVn dose reduction in the later stages of VMAT. Conclusions: Replanning for post-IT LA-NPC patients appears reasonable at 25F during VMAT. Patients with an initial BMI ≥ 23.5 kg/m2 and not-achieving OR after IT should be considered for adaptive radiation therapy to stabilize the delivered dose.

The injectable hydrogel loading cannabidiol to regulate macrophage polarization in vitro for the treatment of chronic enteritis.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic bowel disease has the characteristics of high recurrence rate, prolonged and non-healing, and the incidence has increased year by year in recent years. Cannabidiol (CBD) has significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, but it is limited by its characteristics of fat solubility and low bioavailability. This study aims to treat chronic inflammatory bowel disease by preparing a CBD-loaded hydrogel system (GelMA + CBD) that can deliver CBD in situ and improve its bioavailability through slow release. METHOD: The study designed and constructed GelMA + CBD, and its surface morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy, and its pore size, swelling rate and release rate were evaluated to evaluate its bioactivity and biosafety. The expression of various inflammatory factors was detected by ELISA, and the expression of protein and reactive oxygen species were observed by laser confocal microscopy to evaluate their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. RESULTS: Our study found that GelMA + CBD with biosafety, could make CBD be slowly released, and effectively inhibit the M1-type polarization of macrophages in vitro, and promote the M2-type polarization. In addition, GelMA + CBD can also reduce the expression of pro-inflammatory factors (such as iNOS) in macrophages, and increase the expression of anti-inflammatory factors (such as Arg-1), clear intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and relieve oxidative stress. CONCLUSION: The vitro experiments have confirmed that the CBD-loaded hydrogel system has good biosafety, and can alleviate inflammation by regulating the polarization direction of macrophages, and then inhibiting the secretion of pro-inflammatory factors, laying a strong foundation for the treatment of chronic enteritis.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of polymyxin B versus colistin for treating patients with carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacterial infections.

The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacterial (CRGNB) infection is continuously increasing, and polymyxin B and colistin are considered last-resort drugs. This study compared the cost-effectiveness of polymyxin B with that of colistin for the treatment of intensive care unit patients with CRGNB infection from the Chinese healthcare perspective. A decision-analytic Markov model was constructed to assess the cost-effectiveness of polymyxin B compared with colistin over a period of 5 years using evidence from phase trials and other publicly available studies. The model was developed in Treeage Pro 2022 and comprises a decision tree depicting initial hospitalization and a Markov model with four states projecting long-term health and economic impacts following discharge. Uncertainty was tested with one-way sensitivity analyses and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. The quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), direct medical costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were estimated at willingness-to-pay (WTP) thresholds of $12,674 to $38,024 per QALY. According to the base analyses, the cost incurred by patients receiving colistin treatment was $12,244.77, leading to a gain of 1.35 QALYs. In contrast, patients treated with polymyxin B had a lower cost of $7,306.71 but yielded 1.07 QALYs. The ICRE of colistin was $18032.25/QALY. At a $12,674/QALY threshold, the results were sensitive to several variables, including the probability of cure with polymyxin B, the cost of drugs, the utility of discharge to home, the utility of discharge to long-term care, and the cost of nephrotoxicity with renal replacement therapy. After all model inputs varied across a wide range of reasonable values, only the probability of being cured with polymyxin B resulted in an ICER above the $38,024/QALY threshold. According to the probabilistic sensitivity analyses, colistin was the optimal strategy in 38.2% and 62.8% of the simulations, at $12,674/QALY and $38,024/QALY, respectively. Our study findings suggest that, when considering the Chinese healthcare perspective, colistin is likely to be more cost-effective than polymyxin B for patients with CRGNB infection, especially when the WTP threshold is set at one-time the per capita GDP. However, as the WTP threshold increases from one to three times the per capita GDP, the cost-effectiveness acceptability of colistin improves, increasing from 38.2 to 62.8%.

Integrating NiSe2-MoSe2 heterojunctions with N-doped porous carbon substrate architecture for an enhanced electrocatalytic water splitting device.

The development of sustainable energy technologies relies on the exploitation of efficient and durable electrocatalysts for water splitting at high current densities. Our work presents a novel bifunctional catalyst, denoted as NM@NC/CC, which combines the benefits of NiSe2-MoSe2 heterojunctions with nitrogen-enriched porous carbon derived from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The integration of these components is designed to harness their combined advantages, which include enhanced electron transfer, improved mass and gas evolution dynamics, and an increased number of catalytically active sites. These features collectively optimize the energetics for both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). As a result, the catalyst facilitates rapid kinetics for the overall water-splitting process. The NM@NC/CC demonstrates low overpotentials, requiring only 91 mV for the HER and 280 mV for the OER to reach a current density of 10 mA cm-2. Even at higher current densities of 100 mA cm-2 for HER and 50 mA cm-2 for OER, the overpotentials are only 159 mV and 350 mV, respectively. Additionally, a two-electrode setup using this catalyst achieves a current density of 10 mA cm-2 with a minimal cell voltage of 1.56 V. The insights gained from this study will contribute to the advancement of electrocatalysts for energy conversion technologies.

Mapping the Characteristics of Respiratory Infectious Disease Epidemics in China Based on the Baidu Index from November 2022 to January 2023.

Introduction: Infectious diseases pose a significant global health and economic burden, underscoring the critical need for precise predictive models. The Baidu index provides enhanced real-time surveillance capabilities that augment traditional systems. Methods: Baidu search engine data on the keyword "fever" were extracted from 255 cities in China from November 2022 to January 2023. Onset and peak dates for influenza epidemics were identified by testing various criteria that combined thresholds and consecutive days. Results: The most effective scenario for indicating epidemic commencement involved a 90th percentile threshold exceeded for seven consecutive days, minimizing false starts. Peak detection was optimized using a 7-day moving average, balancing stability and precision. Discussion: The use of internet search data, such as the Baidu index, significantly improves the timeliness and accuracy of disease surveillance models. This innovative approach supports faster public health interventions and demonstrates its potential for enhancing epidemic monitoring and response efforts.

Retinal nerve fiber layer defects and chronic kidney disease: the Kailuan Eye Study.

AIM: To investigate whether retinal nerve fiber layer defects (RNFLDs) is a potential risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Chinese adults. METHODS: The Kailuan Eye Study was a population-based study that included 14 440 participants. All participants underwent detailed assessments, RNFLDs were diagnosed using color fundus photographs. RESULTS: Overall, 12 507 participants [8533 males (68.23%)] had complete systemic examination data and at least one evaluable fundus photograph. RNFLDs were found in 621 participants [5.0%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.6%-5.34%], and 70 cases of multiple RNFLDs were found (11.27%). After adjusting multiple factors, RNFLDs was significantly associated with CKD severity, the ORs of CKD stage 3, stage 4 and stage 5 were 1.698, 4.167, and 9.512, respectively. Multiple RNFLDs were also associated with CKD severity after adjusting multiple factors, the ORs of CKD stage 3 and stage 5 were 4.465 and 11.833 respectively. Furthermore, 2294 participants had CKD (18.34%, 95%CI: 17.68%-18.99%). After adjusting for other factors, CKD presence was significantly correlated with the presence of RNFLDs. CONCLUSION: The strongest risk factors for RNFLDs are CKD and hypertension. Conversely, RNFLDs can be an ocular feature in patients with CKD. Fundoscopy can help detect systemic diseases, and assessment for RNFLDs should be considered in CKD patients.

High doses of radiation cause cochlear immunological stress and sensorineural hearing loss.

Radiotherapy is a crucial treatment for head and neck malignancies, but it can sometimes cause sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Changes in the immune microenvironment and sensory neuroepithelium of the inner ear after radiation exposure remain poorly understood. This study investigated cochlear morphology and macrophages in the inner ear after high-dose irradiation. The heads of heterozygous 8-week-old Cx3cr1GFP/+ male mice were irradiated with 30Gy of X-rays and biological samples were collected on days 1, 7, and 10 after irradiation. Auditory brainstem responses were used to assess auditory function in the mice. Changes in basilar membrane hair cells, spiral ganglion neurons (SGN), and inner ear macrophages were observed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and immunofluorescence staining. The expression of inflammatory mediators in the inner ear was detected by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in cochlear tissue. The results showed no significant hair cell loss after a single high dose of radiation. However, the mice developed pantonal hearing loss on day 10 when HE staining revealed SGN atrophy and immunofluorescence showed decreased neurofilament expression. The number of macrophages in the inner ear reduced over time. RT-qPCR showed that cochlear inflammatory factors and chemokines were briefly upregulated on day 1st after irradiation and then decreased over time. In conclusion, high-dose irradiation causes acute SNHL that is not associated with hair cell loss and may be related to SGN changes. Radiation-induced SNHL is associated with a reduction in cochlear macrophages and changes in the immune microenvironment, but the relationship between the two remains to be investigated.

Integration of full-length Iso-Seq, Illumina RNA-Seq, and flavor testing reveals potential differences in ripened fruits between two Passiflora edulis cultivars.

Background: Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) is loved for its delicious flavor and nutritious juice. Although studies have delved into the cultivation and enhancement of passion fruit varieties, the underlying factors contributing to the fruit's appealing aroma remain unclear. Methods: This study analyzed the full-length transcriptomes of two passion fruit cultivars with different flavor profiles: "Tainong 1" (TN1), known for its superior fruit flavor, and "Guihan 1" (GH1), noted for its strong environmental resilience but lackluster taste. Utilizing PacBio Iso-Seq and Illumina RNA-Seq technologies, we discovered terpene synthase (TPS) genes implicated in fruit ripening that may help explain the flavor disparities. Results: We generated 15,913 isoforms, with N50 lengths of 1,500 and 1,648 bp, and mean lengths of 1,319 and 1,463 bp for TN1 and GH1, respectively. Transcript and isoform lengths ranged from a maximum of 7,779 bp to a minimum of 200 and 209 bp. We identified 14,822 putative coding DNA sequences (CDSs) averaging 1,063 bp, classified 1,007 transcription factors (TFs) into 84 families. Additionally, differential expression analysis of ripening fruit from both cultivars revealed 314 upregulated and 43 downregulated unigenes in TN1 compared to GH1. The top 10 significantly enriched Gene Ontology (GO) terms for the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) indicated that TN1's upregulated genes were primarily involved in nutrient transport, whereas GH1's up-regulated genes were associated with resistance mechanisms. Meanwhile, 17 PeTPS genes were identified in P. edulis and 13 of them were TPS-b members. A comparative analysis when compared PeTPS with AtTPS highlighted an expansion of the PeTPS-b subfamily in P. edulis, suggesting a role in its fruit flavor profile. Conclusion: Our findings explain that the formation of fruit flavor is attributed to the upregulation of essential genes in synthetic pathway, in particular the expansion of TPS-b subfamily involved in terpenoid synthesis. This finding will also provide a foundational genetic basis for understanding the nuanced flavor differences in this species.

The role of radiotherapy in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer after durvalumab-based immunochemotherapy: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of subsequent radiotherapy (RT) following first-line treatment with durvalumab plus chemotherapy in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). METHODS: A total of 122 patients with ES-SCLC from three hospitals during July 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analysis was performed to address potential confounding factors. The primary focus of our evaluation was to assess the impact of RT on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: After IPTW analysis, 49 patients received durvalumab plus platinum-etoposide(EP) chemotherapy followed by RT (Durva + EP + RT) and 72 patients received immunochemotherapy (Durva + EP). The median OS was 17.2 months vs. 12.3 months (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.17-0.85, P = 0.020), and the median PFS was 8.9 months vs. 5.9 months (HR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.32-0.97, P = 0.030) in Durva + EP + RT and Durva + EP groups, respectively. Thoracic radiation therapy (TRT) resulted in longer OS (17.2 months vs. 14.7 months) and PFS (9.1 months vs. 7.2 months) compared to RT directed to other metastatic sites. Among patients with oligo-metastasis, RT also showed significant benefits, with a median OS of 17.4 months vs. 13.7 months and median PFS of 9.8 months vs. 5.9 months compared to no RT. Continuous durvalumab treatment beyond progression (TBP) prolonged OS compared to patients without TBP, in both the Durva + EP + RT (NA vs. 15.8 months, HR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.14-1.63, P = 0.238) and Durva + EP groups (12.3 months vs. 4.3 months, HR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.10-0.81, P = 0.018). Grade 3 or 4 adverse events occurred in 13 (26.5%) and 13 (18.1%) patients, respectively, in the two groups; pneumonitis was mostly low-grade. CONCLUSION: Addition of RT after first-line immunochemotherapy significantly improved survival outcomes with manageable toxicity in ES-SCLC.

The First Report of Sphaerirostris picae Infection in the Oriental Magpie (Pica serica) in Beijing, China.

Background: Sphaerirostris picae is a parasitic species known for its ability to infect and transmit between hosts in the gastrointestinal tracts of wild avian species. However, there is limited information on its presence and impact on urban avian populations, particularly in China. Materials and Methods: In this study, morphological observations were conducted to detect the presence of Sphaerirostris sp. within the intestinal tract of the Oriental Magpie (Pica serica) collected in Beijing, China. Further confirmation of the parasite's identity was achieved through phylogenetic analysis using COX1 gene sequencing to compare with previously documented Sphaerirostris picae isolates. Results: The morphological and molecular analyses confirmed the presence of Sphaerirostris picae in the Oriental Magpie. Phylogenetic analysis indicated a close relationship with known Sphaerirostris picae isolates. This represents the first reported case of Sphaerirostris picae infection in magpies from Beijing, China. Conclusion: The findings highlight the potential health hazards posed by Sphaerirostris picae to urban avian populations and public health. The study suggests that additional research and surveillance efforts are necessary to better understand the risks associated with this parasite and to develop effective mitigation strategies.

Savolitinib in patients in China with locally advanced or metastatic treatment-naive non-small-cell lung cancer harbouring MET exon 14 skipping mutations: results from a single-arm, multicohort, multicentre, open-label, phase 3b confirmatory study.

BACKGROUND: Savolitinib has been approved in China for advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with MET exon 14 (METex14) skipping alterations in previously treated patients and those unable to receive platinum-based chemotherapy. We report results from a treatment-naive cohort of a phase 3b study that was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of savolitinib in locally advanced or metastatic METex14-mutated NSCLC. METHODS: This single-arm, multicohort, multicentre, open-label, phase 3b study was done at 48 hospitals in China in adult (≥18 years) patients with locally advanced or metastatic METex14-mutated NSCLC who had not received previous systemic antitumour therapy. Patients with a bodyweight of 50 kg or more and those with a bodyweight of less than 50 kg received savolitinib once daily at 600 mg or 400 mg, respectively, in 21-day cycles. The primary endpoint was objective response rate assessed by independent review committee (IRC) per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours, version 1.1. The full analysis set comprised all patients who received at least one dose of study medication, which was used to assess the efficacy endpoints and baseline and safety data. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04923945) and is closed to accrual. FINDINGS: Between Aug 31, 2021, and Oct 20, 2023, 125 treatment-naive patients were assessed for eligibility, of whom 87 were enrolled and received savolitinib. The median age of patients was 70·0 years (IQR 65·2-75·8) and 51 (59%) of 87 patients were male and 36 (41%) were female. In the full analysis set, the IRC-assessed objective response rate was 62% (95% CI 51-72) and the investigator-assessed objective response rate was 60% (49-70), showing a high concordance rate (84%). Treatment-related adverse events were reported in 85 (98%) of 87 patients, with peripheral oedema (54 [62%]) being the most common. Two of these treatment-related adverse events led to death (cardiac failure n=1, unknown reasons n=1). INTERPRETATION: Savolitinib showed manageable toxicity and promising efficacy in treatment-naive patients with advanced or metastatic METex14-mutated NSCLC. FUNDING: HUTCHMED and AstraZeneca.

Effects of long-term continuous cultivation on the structure and function of soil bacterial and fungal communities of Fritillaria Cirrhosa on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Fritillaria cirrhosa, an endangered medicinal plant in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is facing resource scarcity. Artificial cultivation has been employed to address this issue, but problems related to continuous cultivation hinder successful transplantation. Imbalanced microbial communities are considered a potential cause, yet the overall changes in the microbial community under continuous cropping systems remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effects of varying durations of continuous cropping on the bacterial and fungal communities, as well as enzymatic activities, in the rhizospheric soil of F. cirrhosa. Our findings revealed that continuous cropping of F. cirrhosa resulted in soil acidification, nutrient imbalances, and increased enzyme activity. Specifically, after 10 years of continuous cropping, there was a notable shift in the abundance and diversity (e.g., Chao1 index) of soil bacteria and fungi. Moreover, microbial composition analyses revealed a significant accumulation of harmful microorganisms associated with soil-borne diseases (e.g., Luteimonas, Parastagonospora, Pseudogymnoascus) in successively cropped soils, in contrast to the significant reduction of beneficial microorganisms (e.g., Sphingomonas, Lysobacter, Cladosporium) that promote plant growth and development and protect against diseases such as Fusarium sp.These changes led to decreased connectivity and stability within the soil microbial community. Structural equation modeling and redundancy analysis revealed that alkaline hydrolytic nitrogen and available phosphorus directly influenced soil pH, which was identified as the primary driver of soil microbial community changes and subsequently contributed to soil health deterioration. Overall, our results highlight that soil acidification and imbalanced rhizosphere microbial communities are the primary challenges associated with continuous cropping of F. cirrhosa. These findings establish a theoretical foundation for standardized cultivation practices of F. cirrhosa and the bioremediation of continuously cultivated soils.

Designing neighboring-site activation of single atom via tunnel ions for boosting acidic oxygen evolution.

Realizing an efficient turnover frequency in the acidic oxygen evolution reaction by modifying the reaction configuration is crucial in designing high-performance single-atom catalysts. Here, we report a "single atom-double site" concept, which involves an activatable inert manganese atom redox chemistry in a single-atom Ru-Mn dual-site platform with tunnel Ni ions as the trigger. In contrast to conventional single-atom catalysts, the proposed configuration allows direct intramolecular oxygen coupling driven by the Ni ions intercalation effect, bypassing the secondary deprotonation step instead of the kinetically sluggish adsorbate evolution mechanism. The strong bonding of Ni ions activates the inert manganese terminal groups and inhibits the cross-site disproportionation process inherent in the Mn scaffolding, which is crucial to ensure the dual-site platform. As a result, the single-atom Ru-Ni-Mn octahedral molecular sieves catalyst delivers a low overpotential, adequate mass activity and good stability.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 alleviates acetaminophen induced acute liver injury by activating Sirt1 mediated autophagy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Acetaminophen (APAP) is the main cause of acute liver injury (ALI) in the Western. Our previous study has shown that fenofibrate activated hepatic expression of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) can protect the liver form APAP injuries by promoting autophagy. However, the underlying mechanism involved in FGF21-mediated autophagy remains unsolved. METHODS: The ALI mice model was established by intraperitoneal injection of APAP. To investigate the influence of FGF21 on autophagy and Sirt1 expression in APAP-induced ALI, FGF21 knockout (FGF21KO) mice and exogenously supplemented mouse recombinant FGF21 protein were used. In addition, primary isolated hepatocytes and the Sirt1 inhibitor EX527 were used to observe whether FGF21 activated autophagy in APAP injury is regulated by Sirt1 at the cellular level. RESULTS: FGF21, Sirt1, and autophagy levels increased in mice with acute liver injury (ALI) and in primary cultured hepatocytes. Deletion of the FGF21 gene exacerbated APAP-induced liver necrosis and oxidative stress, and decreased mitochondrial potential. It also reduced the mRNA and protein levels of autophagy-related proteins such as Sirt1, LC3-II, and p62, as well as the number of autophagosomes. Replenishment of FGF21 reversed these processes. In addition, EX527 partially counteracted the protective effect of FGF21 by worsening oxidative damage, mitochondrial damage, and reducing autophagy in primary liver cells treated with APAP. CONCLUSION: FGF21 increases autophagy by upregulating Sirt1 to alleviate APAP-induced injuries.

Konjac glucomannan exerts regulatory effects on macrophages and its applications in biomedical engineering.

Konjac glucomannan (KGM) molecular chains contain a small amount of acetyl groups and a large number of hydroxyl groups, thereby exhibiting exceptional water retention and gel-forming properties. To meet diverse requirements, KGM undergoes modification processes such as oxidation, acetylation, grafting, and cationization, which reduce its viscosity, enhance its mechanical strength, and improve its water solubility. Researchers have found that KGM and its derivatives can regulate the polarization of macrophages, inducing their transformation into classically activated M1-type macrophages or alternatively activated M2-type macrophages, and even facilitating the interconversion between M1 and M2 phenotypes. Concurrently, the modulation of macrophage polarization states holds significant importance for chronic wound healing, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), antitumor therapy, tissue engineering scaffolds, oral vaccines, pulmonary delivery, and probiotics. Therefore, KGM has the advantages of both immunomodulatory effects (biological activity) and gel-forming properties (physicochemical properties), giving it significant advantages in a variety of biomedical engineering applications.

Relationship between triglyceride-glucose index and carotid artery plaques in ischemic stroke patients: Based on blood pressure status, sex, and age.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have shown that the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a reliable substitute marker for insulin resistance. Nevertheless, its correlation with carotid artery plaques (CAPs) among patients with ischemic stroke (IS) remains to be elucidated. METHODS: 9248 IS patients hospitalized at the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were grouped according to the quartiles of TyG index. Patients were further stratified by blood pressure status, sex, age and hypertension control status. Employing logistic regression to examine the connection between the TyG index and CAPs.Additionally, analyzing the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to evaluate the predictive value of the TyG index for CAPs. RESULTS: Participants with an elevated TyG index had an increased prevalence of CAPs. The TyG index was positively correlated with CAPs (OR: 1.26, CI: 1.14-1.40, P<0.001). Compared with normal blood pressure and prehypertensive patients, the TyG index was markedly correlated with CAPs among hypertensive patients (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.15-1.44, P<0.001). Females had a higher OR value than males(OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.11-1.54, P=0.001 versus OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.09-1.41, P=0.001). Older patients (>60 years) had a higher OR value than their middle-aged counterparts (≤60 years) (OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.16-1.58, P<0.001 versus OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.05-1.37, P=0.007). Patients with poorly-controlled hypertension had a higher OR value than patients with well-controlled hypertension(OR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.14-1.63, P=0.001 versus OR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.07-1.44, P=0.003). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) value in the overall population, sex-stratified group, hypertensive patients and hypertension control status-stratified group were all above 0.7 (P<0.01), demonstrating good forecasting capability. CONCLUSIONS: In IS patients, the TyG index was significantly associated with CAPs. Additionally, this correlation was more pronounced in hypertensive patients, females, older individuals and patients with poorly-controlled hypertension.

Electrosynthesis of adipic acid with high faradaic efficiency within a wide potential window.

Electrosynthesis of adipic acid (a precursor for nylon-66) from KA oil (a mixture of cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol) represents a sustainable strategy to replace conventional method that requires harsh conditions. However, its industrial possibility is greatly restricted by the low current density and competitive oxygen evolution reaction. Herein, we modify nickel layered double hydroxide with vanadium to promote current density and maintain high faradaic efficiency (>80%) within a wide potential window (1.5 ~ 1.9 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode). Experimental and theoretical studies reveal two key roles of V modification, including accelerating catalyst reconstruction and strengthening cyclohexanone adsorption. As a proof-of-the-concept, we construct a membrane electrode assembly, producing adipic acid with high faradaic efficiency (82%) and productivity (1536 µmol cm-2 h-1) at industrially relevant current density (300 mA cm-2), while achieving >50 hours stability. This work demonstrates an efficient catalyst for adipic acid electrosynthesis with high productivity that shows industrial potential.