Dynamic development of microglia and macrophages after spinal cord injury.

Secondary injury following spinal cord injury is primarily characterized by a complex inflammatory response, with resident microglia and infiltrating macrophages playing pivotal roles. While previous studies have grouped these two cell types together based on similarities in structure and function, an increasing number of studies have demonstrated that microglia and macrophages exhibit differences in structure and function and have different effects on disease processes. In this study, we used single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to identify the distinct evolutionary paths of microglia and macrophages following spinal cord injury. Our results showed that microglia were activated to a pro-inflammatory phenotype immediately after spinal cord injury, gradually transforming to an anti-inflammatory steady state phenotype as the disease progressed. Regarding macrophages, our findings highlighted abundant communication with other cells, including fibroblasts and neurons. Both pro-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects of macrophages were also identified; the pro-inflammatory effect may be related to integrin ß2 (Itgb2) and the neuroprotective effect may be related to the oncostatin M pathway. These findings were validated by in vivo experiments. This research underscores differences in the cellular dynamics of microglia and macrophages following spinal cord injury, and may offer new perspectives on inflammatory mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.

Responsive ZIF-90 nanocomposite material: targeted delivery of 10-hydroxycamptothecine to enhance the therapeutic effect of colon cancer (HCT116) cells.

There is significant value in developing multifunctional drug delivery systems with high therapeutic efficiency for diagnosing and treating tumors. In this study, we synthesized the ATP-triggered and pH-sensitive material ZIF-90 using the liquid-phase diffusion method. This was done to load 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT), and the FA-PEG-NH2 conjugate was synthesized through an amidation reaction. We further modified the HCPT@ZIF-90 nanocomposite by employing the Schiff base reaction to create the HCPT@ZIF-90-PEG-FA nanomaterial. Drug loading test results revealed a high HCPT drug loading of up to 22.3% by weight. In the drug release experiment, the cumulative drug release of HCPT@ZIF-90 nanomaterials in pH 5.4 and ATP solutions was the highest after 72 hours. The active targeted delivery of FA and the dual-responsive release of HCPT by ZIF-90 significantly enhanced the therapeutic effect of HCPT@ZIF-90-PEG-FA on human colon cancer cells (HCT116). In the cytotoxicity test, when 100 µg mL-1 of HCPT@ZIF-90-PEG-FA was incubated with cells, the cell survival rate was 16.61 ± 1.19%, significantly lower than that of the other experimental groups. This result indicates that HCPT@ZIF-90-PEG-FA exhibits excellent anti-tumor activity. Cell cycle experiments have shown that HCPT@ZIF-90-PEG-FA may inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells by blocking DNA synthesis and halting cell cycle progression. Cell uptake experiments showed that HCPT@ZIF-90-PEG-FA was mainly present in the cytoplasm of HCT1116 cells, indicating successful cellular entry of the drug to exert its therapeutic effect. In vivo experiments also demonstrated that HCPT@ZIF-90-PEG-FA nanomaterials can effectively eradicate HCT116 tumors. The utilization of the nano-drug carrier ZIF-90, along with the modification with PEG-FA, notably improved the therapeutic efficacy of HCPT. These results suggest that the system, with its active targeted delivery of FA and dual-responsive release of HCPT, could present a novel strategy for treating human colorectal cancer.

The relationship between intracranial atherosclerosis and white matter hyperintensity in ischemic stroke patients: a retrospective cross-sectional study using high-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging.

Background: Both intracranial atherosclerosis and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) are prevalent among the stroke population. However, the relationship between intracranial atherosclerosis and WMH has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the characteristics of intracranial atherosclerotic plaques and the severity of WMH in patients with ischemic stroke using high-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging. Methods: Patients hospitalized with ischemic stroke and concurrent intracranial atherosclerosis at Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, a tertiary comprehensive stroke center, who underwent high-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging and conventional brain magnetic resonance imaging were continuously recruited from January 2018 to December 2018. Both intracranial plaque characteristics (plaque number, maximum wall thickness, luminal stenosis, T1 hyperintensity, and plaque length) and WMH severity (Fazekas score and volume) were evaluated. Spearman correlation or point-biserial correlation analysis was used to determine the association between clinical characteristics and WMH volume. The independent association between intracranial plaque characteristics and the severity as well as WMH score was analyzed using logistic regression. The associations of intracranial plaque characteristics with total white matter hyperintensity (TWMH) volume, periventricular white matter hyperintensity (PWMH) volume and deep white matter hyperintensity (DWMH) volume were determined using multilevel mixed-effects linear regression. Results: A total of 159 subjects (mean age: 64.0±12.5 years; 103 males) were included into analysis. Spearman correlation analysis indicated that age was associated with TWMH volume (r=0.529, P<0.001), PWMH volume (r=0.523, P<0.001) and DWMH volume (r=0.515, P<0.001). Point-biserial correlation analysis indicated that smoking (r=-0.183, P=0.021) and hypertension (r=0.159, P=0.045) were associated with DWMH volume. After adjusting for confounding factors, logistic regression analysis showed plaque number was significantly associated with the presence of severe WMH [odds ratio (OR), 1.590; 95% CI, 1.241-2.035, P<0.001], PWMH score of 3 (OR, 1.726; 95% CI, 1.074-2.775, P=0.024), and DWMH score of 2 (OR, 1.561; 95% CI, 1.150-2.118, P=0.004). Intracranial artery luminal stenosis was associated with presence of severe WMH (OR, 1.032; 95% CI, 1.002-1.064, P=0.039) and PWMH score of 2 (OR, 1.057; 95% CI, 1.008-1.109, P=0.023). Multilevel mixed-effects linear regression analysis showed that plaque number was associated with DWMH volume (ß=0.128; 95% CI, 0.016-0.240; P=0.026) after adjusted for age and sex. Conclusions: In ischemic stroke patients, intracranial atherosclerotic plaque characteristics as measured by plaque number and luminal stenosis were associated with WMH burden.

Risk factors for distant metastasis and prognosis of the penile cancer with distant metastasis.

Background: Penile cancer (PC) is a rare malignant tumor, whose distant metastasis (DM) is associated with the poorest outcomes. The risk factors associated with DM and prognosis of the PC with DM remain elusive. This study was aimed at investigating risk factors associated with DM and constructing prediction models of PC with DM. Methods: This study analyzed data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database over a period of 2000-2020, including clinical characteristics such as age, marital status, tumor size, Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) staging, and treatment information. Utilizing univariate and multivariate logistic regression, alongside cox regression analysis, we identified independent risk factors for DM and prognosis in the total cases and the cases with DM. Nomograms were developed for predicting DM and prognosis in PC patients. Results: Enrolling 1,488 cases, our study identified tumor size and N stage as independent predictors of DM. The predictive nomogram for DM achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.904. Notably, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year cumulative survival rates for PC with DM were 35%, 17%, and 13%, respectively, with larger tumor size associated with prognosis of PC cases with DM. This study verified a correlation between advanced age and TNM stage, as well as chemotherapy with the poor PC prognosis. The nomogram yielded 0.72, 0.69 and 0.69, in predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survivals (OS), while 0.73, 0.70 and 0.69 in predicting 1-, 3-, 5-year cancer specific survivals (CSS), respectively. Conclusions: This study investigated risk factors of PC with DM. Also, nomograms for predicting DM, OS and CSS of PC patients were developed.

Avatrombopag as alternative therapy for severe aplastic anemia patients who are intolerant or unresponsive to eltrombopag.

Introduction: Eltrombopag (EPAG), a thrombopoietin receptor agonist, was approved for the treatment of severe aplastic anemia (SAA) combined with immunosuppressive therapy (IST). However, EPAG contains a typical biphenyl structure, which causes liver function damage. Methods: Twenty patients with SAA who were intolerant or refractory to EPAG were enrolled in a multicenter prospective registry of the Chinese Eastern Collaboration Group of Anemia (ChiCTR2100045895) from October 2020 to June 2023. Results: Eight patients who were ineffective to EPAG, six with kidney impairment, and nine with abnormal liver function (two with concomitant liver and kidney impairment) were converted to avatrombopag (AVA) therapy with the median duration of AVA treatment was 6 (3-24) months. 17 cases (85%) achieved trilineage hematological response (HR): complete remission (CR) in 3 cases (15%), good partial remission (GPR) in 4 cases (20%), partial remission (PR) in 10 cases (50%), and no response (NR) in 3 cases (15%). The median time to response was 1.7 (0.5-6.9) months, with 16 cases (94%) achieving response within six months and 17 cases (100%) within 12 months. 9 cases (50%) achieved transfusion independence. AVA converted treatment was associated with higher neutrophil counts (0.8×109/L vs 2.2×109/L, p=0.0003), platelet counts (11×109/L vs 39×109/L, p=0.0008), hemoglobin count (59g/L vs 98g/L, p=0.0002), red cell count (1.06×1012/L vs 2.97×1012/L, p=0.001), and absolute reticulocyte count (31.99 ×109/L vs 67.05×109/L p=0.0004) were all significantly elevated compared with the pre-treatment level. After the conversion to AVA therapy, liver and kidney function indexes were maintained within the normal range, no AVA related grade 2 or higher adverse events occurred, and no thrombotic events occurred. Conclusion: The conversion to AVA was an optimal choice for patients with SAA who were EPAG intolerant or refractory. Clinical trial registration: http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=125480, identifier ChiCTR2100045895.

The role of lncRNA NEAT1 in human cancer chemoresistance.

Chemotherapy is currently one of the most effective methods in clinical cancer treatment. However, chemotherapy resistance is an important reason for poor chemotherapy efficacy and prognosis, which has become an urgent problem to be solved in the field of cancer chemotherapy. Therefore, it is very important to deeply study and analyze the mechanism of cancer chemotherapy resistance and its regulatory factors. Long non-coding RNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (LncRNA NEAT1) has been shown to be closely associated with chemotherapy resistance in cancer. NEAT1 induces cancer cell resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs by regulating cell apoptosis, cell cycle, drug transport and metabolism, DNA damage repair, EMT, autophagy, cancer stem cell characteristics, and metabolic reprogramming. This indicates that NEAT1 may be an important target to overcome chemotherapy resistance and is expected to be a potential biomarker to predict the effect of chemotherapy. This article summarizes the expression characteristics and clinical characteristics of NEAT1 in different cancers, and deeply discusses the regulatory role of NEAT1 in cancer chemotherapy resistance and related molecular mechanisms, aiming to clarify NEAT1 as a new target to overcome cancer chemotherapy resistance and the feasibility of chemotherapy sensitizers, with a view to providing a potential therapeutic direction for overcoming the dilemma of cancer resistance in the future.

Remodeling tumor-associated macrophage for anti-cancer effects by rational design of irreversible inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 2.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2) emerges as a pivotal target in developing anti-cancer therapies. The limitations of ATP-competitive inhibitors, due to insufficient potency and selectivity, underscore the urgent need for a covalent irreversible MK2 inhibitor. Our initial analyses of The Cancer Genome Atlas database revealed MK2's overexpression across various cancer types, especially those characterized by inflammation, linking it to poor prognosis and highlighting its significance. Investigating MK2's kinase domain led to the identification of a unique cysteine residue, enabling the creation of targeted covalent inhibitors. Compound 11 was developed, demonstrating robust MK2 inhibition (IC50 = 2.3 nM) and high selectivity. It binds irreversibly to MK2, achieving prolonged signal suppression and reducing pathological inflammatory cytokines in macrophages. Furthermore, compound 11 or MK2 knockdown can inhibit the tumor-promoting macrophage M2 phenotype in vitro and in vivo. In macrophage-rich tumor model, compound 11 notably slowed growth in a dose-dependent manner. These findings support MK2 as a promising anticancer target, especially relevant in cancers fueled by inflammation or dominated by macrophages, and provide compound 11 serving as an invaluable chemical tool for exploring MK2's functions.

Neutrophil-secreted S100A8/A9 participates in fatty liver injury and fibrosis by promoting myofibroblast migration.

Fatty liver, which is induced by abnormal lipid metabolism, is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease globally and causes liver fibrosis. During this process, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) migrate toward the injured liver and participate in fibrogenesis by transdifferentiating into myofibroblasts. S100A8/A9 is a powerful inducer of cell migration and is involved in liver injury. But there are few reports about the effects of S100A8/A9 on BMSC/HSC migration. In the current study, we found that S100A8/A9 expression was increased during fatty liver injury/fibrogenesis. Moreover, S100A8/A9 expression had a positive correlation with fibrosis marker gene expressions in the injured liver. S100A8/A9 was mainly produced by neutrophils in the fibrotic liver. In vitro, neutrophil-secreted S100A8/A9 promoted BMSC/HSC migration via remodeling of microfilaments. Using specific siRNA and inhibitor, we proved that S100A8/A9-induced BMSC/HSC migration is dependent on TLR4/Rho GTPases signaling. Moreover, S100A8/A9 knock-down alleviated liver injury and fibrogenesis in vivo, while injection of S100A9 neutralizing antibody performed similar roles. We proved that S100A8/A9 was involved in liver injury and fibrogenesis via inducing BMSC/HSC migration. Our research reveals a new mechanism underlying BMSC/HSC migration in liver fibrosis and suggests S100A8/A9 as a potential therapeutic target of liver fibrosis. KEY MESSAGES: S100A8/A9 is secreted by neutrophils and increased in fatty liver injury. Neutrophil-secreted S100A8/A9 is a mediator of BMSC/HSC migration in vitro. S100A8/A9-induced BMSC/HSC migration is dependent on TLR4/Rho GTPases signaling. S100A8/A9 blockade alleviates liver injury and fibrogenesis in vivo.

Reference-free calibration method for asynchronous rotation in robotic CT.

BACKGROUND: Geometry calibration for robotic CT system is necessary for obtaining acceptable images under the asynchrony of two manipulators. OBJECTIVE: We aim to evaluate the impact of different types of asynchrony on images and propose a reference-free calibration method based on a simplified geometry model. METHODS: We evaluate the impact of different types of asynchrony on images and propose a novel calibration method focused on asynchronous rotation of robotic CT. The proposed method is initialized with reconstructions under default uncalibrated geometry and uses grid sampling of estimated geometry to determine the direction of optimization. Difference between the re-projections of sampling points and the original projection is used to guide the optimization direction. Images and estimated geometry are optimized alternatively in an iteration, and it stops when the difference of residual projections is close enough, or when the maximum iteration number is reached. RESULTS: In our simulation experiments, proposed method shows better performance, with the PSNR increasing by 2%, and the SSIM increasing by 13.6% after calibration. The experiments reveal fewer artifacts and higher image quality. CONCLUSION: We find that asynchronous rotation has a more significant impact on reconstruction, and the proposed method offers a feasible solution for correcting asynchronous rotation.

Analysis of BK Virus Infection in Children After Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: A Retrospective Single-Center Study.

BACKGROUND: BK virus (BKV) is one of the most common causes of hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) in children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Viruses can be found in urine and serum of immunocompromised patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the incidence, clinical course, and risk factors for BKV infection in children undergoing HSCT. METHODS: Retrospectively analyzed children who underwent HSCT at Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University from June 2020 to June 2022. Data related to the clinical manifestations, engraftment, and prognosis were extracted from medical records. Patients were divided into the case group and the control group, according to the BKV infection or not after HSCT. RESULTS: A total of 149 patients were enrolled in this study, and 61 (40.9%) patients developed BKV infection after HSCT. Among the 61 patients, BKV load was detected in all patients in urine samples and 22 patients in blood samples. The median value of BKV DNA copies in urine and plasma were 9.50×107 (5.37×102 to 6.84×109) copies/mL and 2.97×103 (9.96×102 to 3.58×108) copies/mL, respectively. The median time from beginning of the conditioning regimen to BKV infection was 23 (0 to 273) days, and the first positive time of urinary BKV was earlier than that of blood (13.5 d [0.0 to 123.0 d] vs. 30.5 d [7.0 to 165.0 d], P=0.003). Among the patients with BKV infection, 36 (59.0%) patients met the diagnosis of hemorrhagic cystitis (HC), and the incidence was higher than that in the control group (P<0.001). Similarly, 15 (24.6%) patients developed renal function damage in the case group and the proportion was higher than that in the control group. The median follow-up was 5.67 (0.03 to 24.90) months, and there was no significant difference in 1-year overall survival rate between the case group and the control group (84.2%±5.7% vs. 95.3%±2.3%, P=0.688), but the incidence of TA-TMA/VOD (31.1%) and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (9.8%) in the case group was higher than that in the control group (P=0.002 and 0.038, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that age above 5 years old (OR=9.039, 95% CI: 3.561-24.333, P<0.001) and use of MMF (OR=2.708, 95% CI: 1.041-7.044, P<0.05) were independent risk factors for BKV infection after HSCT. CONCLUSION: Among children after HSCT, the incidence of BKV infection was high and BKV infection was associated with an increased incidence of TA-TMA/VOD and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. Patients older than 5 years of age at the time of HSCT and treated with MMF were more likely to develop BKV infection.

Molecular characteristics and systemic treatment options of liposarcoma: A systematic review.

Liposarcoma (LPS) is a rare soft tissue sarcoma that develops from the differentiation of fat cells, typically occurring in the lower extremities and retroperitoneal space. Depending on its histological morphology and molecular changes, LPS can be divided into various subtypes, each exhibiting distinct biological behaviors. During treatment, especially for LPS arising in the retroperitoneum, the extent and quality of the initial surgery are critically important. Treatment strategies must be tailored to the specific type of LPS. Over the past few decades, the treatment of LPS has undergone numerous advancements, with new therapeutic approaches such as targeted drugs and immunotherapies continually emerging. This paper reviews the biological characteristics, molecular alterations, as well as surgical and pharmacological treatments of various LPS subtypes, with the aim of enhancing clinicians' understanding and emphasizing the importance of individualized precision therapy. With a deeper understanding of the biological characteristics and molecular alterations of LPS, future treatment trends are likely to focus more on developing personalized treatment plans to better address the various types of LPS.

Study on Pharmacological Activities and Mechanisms of the Essential Oil of the Flowers of Hemerocallis citrina Baroni (EOFHCB) in the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders by GC-MS, Network Pharmacology, and Molecular Docking.

BACKGROUND: Hemerocallis citrina Baroni (Huanghuacai), a plant of the genus Hemerocallis in the family Asphodelaceae, is widely planted in China. Based on our survey results, the chemical compounds in the essential oil of the flowers of Hemerocallis citrina Baroni (EOFHCB) and relevant pharmacological activities have never been studied systematically. OBJECTIVE: To preliminarily decipher the pharmacological activities and mechanisms of EOFHCB in the treatment of anxiety disorders by GC-MS, Network Pharmacology, and Molecular docking. METHODS: EOFHCB compositions were identified using GC-MS, and their targets were predicted using Swiss Target Prediction databases. The targets of anxiety disorders were obtained by GeneCards, DisGeNET, and OMIM databases. The STRING database was used to construct the protein-protein interaction networks, and the DAVID database was used to carry out GO enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. The EOFHCB-components-targetspathways- anxiety disorders network was constructed by Cytoscape software (Version 3.10.0). Finally, the result was verified by molecular docking. RESULTS: 28 chemical components were identified by GC-MS, including 3-furanmethanol (28.43%), 2-methyl-1-butanol (27.13%), nerolidol (10.62%), and so on, which correspond to 241 potential targets. Several 2440 biological processes, 187 cellular compositions, and 311 molecular functions were enriched by GO enrichment analysis and 174 pathways by KEGG enrichment analysis. The key targets are PTGS 2, SRC, DRD 2, ESR 1, MAOB, and SLC6A4. The most important pathway is the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. CONCLUSION: EOFHCB exerts its therapeutic effects on anxiety disorders through multicomponents, multi-targets, and multi-pathways, which provided new ideas and methods for the in-depth research of aromatic Chinese medicine in the treatment of anxiety disorders.

Engineering two-component systems for advanced biosensing: From architecture to applications in biotechnology.

Two-component systems (TCSs) are prevalent signaling pathways in bacteria. These systems mediate phosphotransfer between histidine kinase and a response regulator, facilitating responses to diverse physical, chemical, and biological stimuli. Advancements in synthetic and structural biology have repurposed TCSs for applications in monitoring heavy metals, disease-associated biomarkers, and the production of bioproducts. However, the utility of many TCS biosensors is hindered by undesired performance due to the lack of effective engineering methods. Here, we briefly discuss the architectures and regulatory mechanisms of TCSs. We also summarize the recent advancements in TCS engineering by experimental or computational-based methods to fine-tune the biosensor functional parameters, such as response curve and specificity. Engineered TCSs have great potential in the medical, environmental, and biorefinery fields, demonstrating a crucial role in a wide area of biotechnology.

Recent research progress on tumour-specific responsive hydrogels.

Most existing hydrogels, even recently developed injectable hydrogels that undergo a reversible sol-gel phase transition in response to external stimuli, are designed to gel immediately before or after implantation/injection to prevent the free diffusion of materials and drugs; however, the property of immediate gelation leads to a very weak tumour-targeting ability, limiting their application in anticancer therapy. Therefore, the development of tumour-specific responsive hydrogels for anticancer therapy is imperative because tumour-specific responses improve their tumour-targeting efficacy, increase therapeutic effects, and decrease toxicity and side effects. In this review, we introduce the following three types of tumour-responsive hydrogels: (1) hydrogels that gel specifically at the tumour site; (2) hydrogels that decompose specifically at the tumour site; and (3) hydrogels that react specifically with tumours. For each type, their compositions, the mechanisms of tumour-specific responsiveness and their applications in anticancer treatment are comprehensively discussed.

Impact of various nutritional interventions on the physical and mental state of patients undergoing surgery for oral and maxillofacial tumor: guiding patients' informed choices.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of oral nutritional supplements (ONS), parenteral nutrition (PN), and enteral nutrition (EN) on the recovery of patients who underwent oral and maxillofacial surgery. METHODS: The shared decision-making process assigned 37, 56, and 35 patients to the ONS, PN, and EN groups, respectively. Details such as demographic data, duration of hospitalization, cost of nutritional therapy, nutritional assessments, patients' satisfaction, and compliance, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) score, and relevant biochemical indices were systematically recorded and compared between the groups. RESULTS: Patients with healthier biochemical indices and physical states at baseline, including a higher body mass index, preferred ONS. Patients using dentures and those with medical insurance often chose EN, while patients with recurrent disease preferred PN. Patients receiving EN had a similar duration of hospitalization to patients receiving ONS and also had the lowest nutritional costs. Patients receiving ONS had higher lymphocyte counts and levels of hemoglobin, albumin, and C-reactive protein. Patients in the PN group had elevated levels of serum potassium, chlorine, and sodium, while those receiving EN reported higher HAM-A scores, indicating greater anxiety than their counterparts. Predischarge surveys showed higher satisfaction and compliance in the PN and ONS groups than in the EN group. The PN group reported more adverse symptoms. At 7 days post-discharge, patients with EN reported a greater feeling of well-being. CONCLUSION: ONS is the optimal choice for patients in good preoperative conditions, while PN is preferred during disease recurrence or when financially feasible. EN is suitable for patients using dentures or those with limited finances despite its potential psychological discomfort. Future studies with increased sample sizes and longer follow-up duration are necessary to corroborate our findings. The Trial Registration Number is ChiCTR2100049547. The date of registration is August 2, 2021.

Animated VR and 360-degree VR to assess and train team sports decision-making: a scoping review.

Introduction: In team sports, athletes' ability to make quick decisions plays a crucial role. Decision-making proficiency relies on the intricate balance of athletes' perceptual and cognitive abilities, enabling them to assess the competitive environment swiftly and select the most appropriate actions from various options. Virtual reality (VR) technology is emerging as a valuable tool for evaluating and refining athletes' decision-making skills. This study systematically examined the integration of VR technology into decision-making processes in team sports, aiming to identify more effective methods for presenting and interacting with virtual decision-making systems, thus enhancing the evaluation and refinement of athletes' decision making abilities. Methods: Following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a thorough search of respected research databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, ScienceDirect, PsycINFO, and IEEE, was conducted using carefully selected keywords. Results: Twenty research papers meeting predefined inclusion criteria were included after careful evaluation. These papers were systematically analyzed to delineate the attributes of virtual decision-making task environments, the interactive dynamics inherent in motor decision-making tasks, and the significant findings. Discussion: This review indicate that (1) the effectiveness of VR technology in assessing and improving athletes' decision-making skills in team sports; (2) the construction of virtual environments using the Head-Mounted Display (HMD) system, characterized by enhanced ease and efficiency; (3) the potential for future investigations to explore computer simulations to create more expansive virtual motion scenarios, thus efficiently generating substantial task scenario material, diverging from the constraints posed by 360-degree panoramic videos; and (4) the integration of motion capture technology for identifying and monitoring athletes' decision-making behaviors, which not only enhances ecological validity but also augments the transfer validity of virtual sports decision-making systems. Future research endeavors could explore integrating eye-tracking technology with virtual reality to gain insights into the intrinsic cognitive-action associations exhibited by athletes.

Molecular Bridging Induced Anti-salting-out Effect Enabling High Ionic Conductive ZnSO4-based Hydrogel for Quasi-solid-state Zinc Ion Batteries.

Hydrogel electrolytes (HEs) hold great promise in tackling severe issues emerging in aqueous zinc-ion batteries, but the prevalent salting-out effect of kosmotropic salt causes low ionic conductivity and electrochemical instability. Herein, a subtle molecular bridging strategy is proposed to enhance the compatibility between PVA and ZnSO4 from the perspective of hydrogen-bonding microenvironment re-construction. By introducing urea containing both an H-bond acceptor and donor, the broken H-bonds between PVA and H2O, initiated by the SO42--driven H2O polarization, could be re-united via intense intermolecular hydrogen bonds, thus leading to greatly increased carrying capacity of ZnSO4. The urea-modified PVA-ZnSO4 HEs featuring a high ionic conductivity up to 31.2 mS cm-1 successfully solves the sluggish ionic transport dilemma at the solid-solid interface. Moreover, an organic solid-electrolyte-interphase can be derived from the in-situ electro-polymerization of urea to prohibit H2O-involved side reactions, thereby prominently improving the reversibility of Zn chemistry. Consequently, Zn anodes witness an impressive lifespan extension from 50 h to 2200 h at 0.1 mA cm-2 while the Zn-I2 full battery maintains a remarkable Coulombic efficiency (>99.7%) even after 8000 cycles. The anti-salting-out strategy proposed in this work provides an insightful concept for addressing the phase separation issue of functional HEs.

Liguzinediol potentiates the metabolic remodeling by activating the AMPK/SIRT3 pathway and represses Caspase-3/GSDME-mediated pyroptosis to ameliorate cardiotoxicity.

BACKGROUND: Liguzinediol (Lig) has emerged as a promising candidate for mitigating Doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity, a significant limitation in the clinical application of this widely used antineoplastic drug known for its efficacy. This study aimed to explore the effects and potential mechanisms underlying Lig's protective role against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were treated with DOX. Cardiac function changes were observed by echocardiography. Cardiac structure changes were observed by HE and Masson staining. Immunofluorescence was applied to visualize the cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), Caspase-3 and gasdermin E N-terminal fragment (GSDME-N). These experiments confirmed that Lig had an ameliorative effect on DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in mice. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that Lig effectively countered myocardial oxidative stress by modulating intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Lig reduced levels of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), while ameliorating histopathological changes and improving electrocardiogram profiles in vivo. Furthermore, the study revealed that Lig activated the AMPK/SIRT3 pathway, thereby enhancing mitochondrial function and attenuating myocardial cell apoptosis. In experiments with H9C2 cells treated with DOX, co-administration of the AMPK inhibitor compound C (CC) led to a significant increase in intracellular ROS levels. Lig intervention reversed these effects, along with the downregulation of GSDME-N, interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), suggesting a potential role of Lig in mitigating Caspase-3/GSDME-mediated pyroptosis. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that Lig effectively alleviates DOX-induced cardiotoxicity through the activation of the AMPK/SIRT3 pathway, thereby presenting itself as a natural product with therapeutic potential for preventing DOX-associated cardiotoxicity. This novel approach may pave the way for the development of alternative strategies in the clinical management of DOX-induced cardiac complications.