Association between egg consumption and mortality risk in United States adults with established coronary heart disease or stroke: A cohort study using data from NHANES 1999-2018.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the relationship between egg consumption and mortality in individuals with pre-existing coronary heart disease or stroke. METHODS: This study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 1999 and 2018. Egg consumption was evaluated through 24 h dietary recalls at baseline. Mortality status was tracked until December 31, 2019. Survey-weighted Cox proportional hazards models were utilized. RESULTS: The study involved 3,975 participants aged 20 years or older with a median follow-up of 89.00 months. A total of 1,675 individuals died during follow-up. Compared to individuals who did not consume eggs, the consumption of 0-50 g/day (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.033, 95% confidence interval [CI] =0.878-1.214) was not found to have a significant association with all-cause mortality. However, consuming 50-100 g/day (HR = 1.281, 95% CI = 1.004-1.635) and >100 g/day (HR = 1.312, 95% CI =1.036-1.661) exhibited a significant association with an increased risk of all-cause mortality. We identified a non-liner relationship between egg consumption and cardiovascular mortality, where the risk was found to be lowest at an intake of about 50 g/day. For individuals consuming more than 50 g/day, each additional 50 g increment in egg consumption was significantly linked to an elevated risk of cardiovascular mortality (HR = 1.276, 95% CI = 1.009-1.614). CONCLUSION: In U.S. adults with pre-existing cardiovascular disease, a significant positive association was found between consuming over 50 g of eggs per day and the risk of mortality, highlighting the importance of moderate intake.

Pannexins in the musculoskeletal system: new targets for development and disease progression.

During cell differentiation, growth, and development, cells can respond to extracellular stimuli through communication channels. Pannexin (Panx) family and connexin (Cx) family are two important types of channel-forming proteins. Panx family contains three members (Panx1-3) and is expressed widely in bone, cartilage and muscle. Although there is no sequence homology between Panx family and Cx family, they exhibit similar configurations and functions. Similar to Cxs, the key roles of Panxs in the maintenance of physiological functions of the musculoskeletal system and disease progression were gradually revealed later. Here, we seek to elucidate the structure of Panxs and their roles in regulating processes such as osteogenesis, chondrogenesis, and muscle growth. We also focus on the comparison between Cx and Panx. As a new key target, Panxs expression imbalance and dysfunction in muscle and the therapeutic potentials of Panxs in joint diseases are also discussed.

Musculoskeletal morbidity in adults with spinal cord injuries: A nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: An increase in the demand for quality of life following spinal cord injuries (SCIs) is associated with an increase in musculoskeletal (MSK) pain, highlighting the need for preventive measure research. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and hazards of MSK morbidities among Korean adults with SCIs, as well as the influence of SCI location on MSK morbidities. METHODS: Patient populations were selected from Korean National Health Insurance Service data (n = 276). The control group included individuals without SCIs (n = 10,000). We compared the incidences and determined the unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of common MSK morbidities (osteoarthritis, connective tissue disorders, sarcopenia, myalgia, neuralgia, rheumatoid arthritis, myositis, and musculoskeletal infections) based on the location of injury (cervical, thoracic, or lumbar). RESULTS: Adults with SCIs had a higher incidence of MSK morbidity (48.45% vs. 36.6%) and a lower survival probability than those without SCIs. The incidence of MSK morbidity and survival probabilities were not significantly different for cervical cord injuries, whereas both measures were significantly different for thoracic and lumbar injuries. CONCLUSION: SCI increases the risk of MSK morbidity. Lumbar SCI is associated with a higher incidence and risk of MSK morbidity than are cervical or thoracic SCIs.

Flowering Ocimum gratissimum intercropped in tea plantations attracts and reduces Apolygus lucorum populations.

BACKGROUND: Apolygus lucorum is one of the most important piercing-sucking insect pests of the tea plant In this study, we assessed the attractiveness of basil plants to A. lucorum and the effectiveness of Ocimum gratissimum L. in the control of A. lucorum. The control efficiency of main volatile chemicals emitted from O. gratissimum flowers was also evaluated. RESULTS: Among seven basil varieties, O. gratissimum was more attractive to A. lucorum adults and was selected as a trap plant to assess its attractiveness to A. lucorum and effects on natural enemies in tea plantations. The population density of A. lucorum on trap strips of O. gratissimum in tea plantations was significantly higher than that on tea at 10-20 m away from the trap strips. Intercropping O. gratissimum with tea plants, at high-density significantly reduced A. lucorum population levels. Eucalyptol, limonene, ß-ocimene, and linalool were the four dominant components in the O. gratissimum flower volatiles, and their emissions showed a gradual upward trend over the sampling period. Olfactometer assays indicated that eucalyptol and dodecane showed attraction to A. lucorum. High numbers of A. lucorum were recorded on limonene, eucalyptol, and myrcene-baited yellow sticky traps in field trials in which 11 dominant volatiles emitted by O. gratissimum flowers were evaluated. CONCLUSION: Our research indicated that the aromatic plant O. gratissimum and its volatiles could attract A. lucorum and planting O. gratissimum has the potential as a pest biocontrol method to manipulate A. lucorum populations in tea plantations. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Analysis of the Relationship between Recent Small Subcortical Infarcts and Autonomic Nervous Dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) dysfunction may be involved in the pathogenesis of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease (CSVD). The study aimed to explore the relationship between Recent Small Subcortical Infarct (RSSI) and Blood Pressure Variability (BPV), and Heart Rate Variability (HRV). METHODS: A total of 588 patients from the CSVD registration research database of Henan Province were included in this study, and were divided into two groups according to the presence of RSSI. Clinical data, including demographic characteristics, disease history, laboratory indexes, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure and electrocardiogram indicators, and imaging markers of CSVD, were collected. Univariate and binary logistic regression analyses were used to study the relationship between RSSI and indicators of laboratory, HRV and BPV in the CSVD population. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed that higher 24-hour mean Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP)[Odds Ratios (OR)=1.083,95% Confidence Intervals (CI)=(1.038,1.129), p < 0.001], Standard Deviation (SD) of 24-hour DBP [OR=1.059,95%CI=(1.000,1.121), p = 0.049], nocturnal mean Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) [OR=1.020,95%CI=(1.004,1.035), p = 0.012], nocturnal mean DBP [OR=1.025,95%CI=(1.009,1.040), p = 0.002] were independent risk factors for RSSI. In contrast, the decrease of the standard deviation of N-N intervals (SDNN) [OR=0.994,95%CI=(0.989,1.000), p = 0.035] was beneficial to the occurrence of RSSI. In addition, neutrophil counts [OR=1.138,95%CI=(1.030,1.258), p = 0.011], total cholesterol (TC) [OR=1.203,95%CI=(1.008,1.437), p = 0.041] and High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) [OR=0.391, 95%CI=(0.195,0.786), p = 0.008] were also independently associated with the occurrence of RSSI. After adjusting for confounding factors, except for TC, the other factors remained associated with the occurrence of RSSI. CONCLUSION: Increased 24-hour mean DBP, nocturnal mean SBP and DBP, SD of 24-hour DBP and decreased SDNN were independently correlated with RSSI occurrence, suggesting that sympathetic overactivity plays a role in the pathogenesis of RSSI.

A pharmacokinetic study comparing the biosimilar HEC14028 and Dulaglutide (Trulicity®) in healthy Chinese subjects.

This study aimed to evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PKs), safety, and immunogenicity of the biosimilar HEC14028 compared to reference Trulicity® (dulaglutide) in healthy male Chinese subjects. This study was a single-center, randomized, open, single-dose, parallel-controlled comparative Phase I clinical trial, including a screening period of up to 14 days, a 17-day observation period after administration, and a 7-day safety follow-up period. A total of 68 healthy male subjects were randomly assigned (1:1) to the test group (HEC14028) and the reference group (dulaglutide) (single 0.75 mg abdominal subcutaneous dose). The primary objective was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic characteristics of HEC14028 and compare the pharmacokinetic similarities between HEC14028 and dulaglutide. The primary PK endpoints were maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the blood concentration-time curve from zero time to the estimated infinite time (AUC0-∞). The study results showed that HEC14028 and dulaglutide were pharmacokinetically equivalent: 90% confidence interval (CI) of Cmax and AUC0-∞ geometric mean ratios were 102.9%-122.0% and 97.1%-116.9%, respectively, which were both within the range of 80.00%-125.00%. No grade 3 or above treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs), serious adverse events (SAEs), TEAEs leading to withdrawal from the trial, or TEAEs leading to death were reported in this study. Both HEC14028 and dulaglutide showed good and similar safety profiles, and no incremental immunogenicity was observed in subjects receiving HEC14028 and dulaglutide.

The efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for knee osteoarthritis : an umbrella review.

BACKGROUND: An umbrella review was conducted to compare the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) versus non-ESWT in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three databases including PubMed, Embase and Web of science were searched up to September 2023. Literature screening, quality evaluation, and data extraction were performed according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of outcome indicators was performed using Revman 5.4 software. RESULTS: A total of eight meta-analysis were included in this umbrella review. All meta-analysis were graded against a Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2) and scored between 8 and 11. Compared to the sham group, the ESWT group showed better results in WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index) [mean difference (MD)=-2.94, 95% CI: -5.52, -0.37, P=0.03, I²=60%], Visual Analog Scale (VAS) (MD=-2.0, 95% CI: -2.5, -1.5, P<0.01, I²=0%), range of motion (ROM) (MD=17.55, 95% CI: 13.49, 21.61, P<0.00001, I²=0%), and Lequesne index (MD=-2.85, 95% CI: -3.64, -2.07, P<0.00001, I²=48%). CONCLUSION: Based on the results of our analysis, ESWT is now an effective therapy for improving pain and function in patients with KOA.

Global trends and research hotspots of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: a bibliometric analysis from 1991 to 2022.

Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) has been demonstrated to be an effective intervention for various shoulder disorders. The number of rTSA-related studies performed has increased annually over the past three decades. The Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery had the highest number of publications and citations in the rTSA-related research domain and is therefore considered to be the most influential journal in this field. The USA published the most publications and established a high degree of cooperation with many countries worldwide. The University of Florida, the Hospital for Special Surgery, and Rush University, Mayo Clinic were representative and active institutions in this field. It is anticipated that advancements in prosthesis design, specifically with regards to lateralized design concepts, expanding indications for rTSA, a trend toward younger patient populations, and the management of postoperative complications will emerge as research hotspots in the following years. The most valuable publications, influential journals, major researchers, and leading countries were analyzed. The findings of our study will help researchers gain insights into current research hotspots and frontiers and shape their research focus in the field of rTSA.

Accuracy and Consistency of 3D Magnetic Resonance Imaging Is Comparable to 3D Computed Tomography in Assessing Glenohumeral Instability: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare the accuracy of 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with that of 3D CT in evaluating glenoid bone loss (GBL). METHODS: This review aligned with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science were obtained from data inception to Aug 28, 2023. The search term "glenoid bone loss" was extracted and analyzed via stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) combined with the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-Comparative (QUADAS-C) to assess the heterogeneity of included studies. RESULTS: A total of 1589 related studies were retrieved, and 10 studies were finally included, of which a total of 143 shoulders were evaluated. The index test in QUADAS-C was low risk in 9 studies. 3D MRI measurements of GBL were primarily best-fit circles (n = 9). In both clinical and cadaveric studies, the mean percentages of GBL measured by 3D MRI were 0.38% to 2.19% and 0.25% to 6.1% when compared with 3D CT and standard reference values, respectively. ICC agreement greater than 0.9 between GBL percentages measured by 3D CT and 3D MRI. 3D MRI can also accurately measure glenoid width, glenoid height, humeral head width and height, etc. 3D MRI reconstruction time was similar to that of 3D CT, which was mainly 10-15 min. CONCLUSIONS: In both clinical and cadaveric studies, compared to 3D CT, 3D MRI is accurate and consistent in assessing glenohumeral bone, especially in measuring GBL, and the reconstruction time of 3D MRI is similar to 3D CT.

Stronger Coupling of Quantum Dots in Hole Transport Layer Through Intermediate Ligand Exchange to Enhance the Efficiency of PbS Quantum Dot Solar Cells.

Nowadays, the extensively used lead sulfide (PbS) quantum dot (QD) hole transport layer (HTL) relies on layer-by-layer method to replace long chain oleic acid (OA) ligands with short 1,2-ethanedithiol (EDT) ligands for preparation. However, the inevitable significant volume shrinkage caused by this traditional method will result in undesired cracks and disordered QD arrangement in the film, along with adverse increased defect density and inhomogeneous energy landscape. To solve the problem, a novel method for EDT passivated PbS QD (PbS-EDT) HTL preparation using small-sized benzoic acid (BA) as intermediate ligands is proposed in this work. BA is substituted for OA ligands in solution followed by ligand exchange with EDT layer by layer. With the new method, smoother PbS-EDT films with more ordered and closer QD packing are gained. It is demonstrated stronger coupling between QDs and reduced defects in the QD HTL owing to the intermediate BA ligand exchange. As a result, the suppressed nonradiative recombination and enhanced carrier mobility are achieved, contributing to ≈20% growth in short circuit current density (Jsc) and a 23.4% higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 13.2%. This work provides a general framework for layer-by-layer QD film manufacturing optimization.

Novel insights into the role of ubiquitination in osteoarthritis.

Ubiquitination (Ub) and deubiquitination are crucial post-translational modifications (PTMs) that precisely regulate protein degradation. Under the catalysis of a cascade of E1-E2-E3 ubiquitin enzymes, ubiquitination extensively regulates protein degradation exerting direct impact on various cellular processes, while deubiquitination opposes the effect of ubiquitination and prevents proteins from degradation. Notably, such dynamic modifications have been widely investigated to be implicated in cell cycle, transcriptional regulation, apoptosis and so on. Therefore, dysregulation of ubiquitination and deubiquitination could lead to certain diseases through abnormal protein accumulation and clearance. Increasing researches have revealed that the dysregulation of catalytic regulators of ubiquitination and deubiquitination triggers imbalance of cartilage homeostasis that promotes osteoarthritis (OA) progression. Hence, it is now believed that targeting on Ub enzymes and deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) would provide potential therapeutic pathways. In the following sections, we will summarize the biological role of Ub enzymes and DUBs in the development and progression of OA by focusing on the updating researches, with the aim of deepening our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanism of OA pathogenesis concerning ubiquitination and deubiquitination, so as to explore novel potential therapeutic targets of OA treatment.

Unidirectional gene delivery electrospun fibrous membrane via charge repulsion for tendon repair.

Gene therapy is capable of efficiently regulating the expression of abnormal genes in diseased tissues and expected to be a therapeutic option for refractory diseases. However, unidirectional targeting gene therapy is always desired at the tissue interface. In this study, inspired by the principle that like charges repulse each other, a positively charged micro-nano electrospun fibrous membrane with dual-layer structure was developed by electrospinning technology to achieve unidirectional delivery of siRNA-loaded cationic nanocarriers, thus realizing unidirectional gene therapy at the tendon-paratenon interface. Under the charge repulsion of positively charged layer, more cationic COX-2 siRNA nanocarriers were enriched in peritendinous tissue, which not only improved the bioavailability of the gene drug to prevent the peritendinous adhesion formation, but also avoided adverse effects on the fragile endogenous healing of tendon itself. In summary, this study provides an innovative strategy for unidirectional targeting gene therapy of tissue interface diseases by utilizing charge repulsion to facilitate unidirectional delivery of gene drugs.

Global, regional, and national burden of stroke attributable to extreme low temperatures, 1990-2019: A global analysis.

BACKGROUND: Extreme ambient temperatures have been linked to increased risks of stroke morbidity and mortality. However, global estimates of the burden of stroke due to extreme low temperatures are not well-defined. AIMS: This study aimed to determine the global burden of stroke due to extreme low temperatures and its spatiotemporal trend from 1990 to 2019. METHODS: Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019, we obtained global, regional, and national data on deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), and age-standardized rate of DALYs (ASDR) of stroke attributed to extreme low temperatures, further stratified by age, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI). RESULTS: Globally, in 2019, an estimated 474,000 stroke deaths with the corresponding ASMR (6.2 (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 4.6-7.9)) and ASDR (103.9 (95% UI: 77.0-134.5)) per 100,000 population, were attributable to extreme low temperatures. The most significant burden was observed in Central Asia, followed by Eastern Europe and East Asia. From 1990 to 2019, the global burden of stroke and its subtypes (ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage) attributable to extreme low temperatures exhibited a decrease in both ASMR and ASDR. Significant decreases in stroke burden occurred in the high-SDI regions, high-income Asia Pacific, and subarachnoid hemorrhage cases. Moreover, the ASMR and ASDR increased with age and were higher in males than females. CONCLUSION: The global stroke burden due to extreme low temperatures remains high despite a decreasing trend over the past three decades. The stroke burden due to extreme low temperatures was more notable for Central Asia, older people, and the male sex.

Clinical features and associated factors of coexisting intracerebral hemorrhage in patients with cerebral small vessel disease: a cross-sectional study.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is generally considered to be closely related to cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), leading to a poor prognosis. However, the coexistence of ICH in general CSVD patients and related factors remain underreported. In our cross-sectional study, we screened 414 CSVD patients from a database at the Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (September 2018 to April 2022). Imaging biomarkers of CSVD and coexisting ICH lesion were assessed. Factors associated with coexisting ICH in CSVD were determined using multivariate logistic regression analysis. ICH was observed in 59 patients (14.3%). Multivariate logistic regression showed that previous history of ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (OR 5.189, 95%CI 2.572-10.467, P < 0.001), high-grade perivascular space in the basal ganglia (n > 10) (OR 2.051, 95%CI 1.044-4.027, P = 0.037) and low adjusted calcium-phosphorus product (OR 0.728 per 1 [mmol/L]2 increase, 95%CI 0.531-0.998, P = 0.049) were associated with coexisting ICH in CSVD patients. The considerable proportion of coexisting ICH and revelation of associated factors in general CSVD patients alert physicians of the potential risk of the reoccurrence of ICH, and might have a significant impact on therapeutic strategies.

Biochar and nano biochar: Enhancing salt resilience in plants and soil while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions: A comprehensive review.

Salinity stress poses a significant challenge to agriculture, impacting soil health, plant growth and contributing to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In response to these intertwined challenges, the use of biochar and its nanoscale counterpart, nano-biochar, has gained increasing attention. This comprehensive review explores the heterogeneous role of biochar and nano-biochar in enhancing salt resilience in plants and soil while concurrently mitigating GHG emissions. The review discusses the effects of these amendments on soil physicochemical properties, improved water and nutrient uptake, reduced oxidative damage, enhanced growth and the alternation of soil microbial communities, enhance soil fertility and resilience. Furthermore, it examines their impact on plant growth, ion homeostasis, osmotic adjustment and plant stress tolerance, promoting plant development under salinity stress conditions. Emphasis is placed on the potential of biochar and nano-biochar to influence soil microbial activities, leading to altered emissions of GHG emissions, particularly nitrous oxide(N2O) and methane(CH4), contributing to climate change mitigation. The comprehensive synthesis of current research findings in this review provides insights into the multifunctional applications of biochar and nano-biochar, highlighting their potential to address salinity stress in agriculture and their role in sustainable soil and environmental management. Moreover, it identifies areas for further investigation, aiming to enhance our understanding of the intricate interplay between biochar, nano-biochar, soil, plants, and greenhouse gas emissions.

PETformer network enables ultra-low-dose total-body PET imaging without structural prior.

Objective.Positron emission tomography (PET) is essential for non-invasive imaging of metabolic processes in healthcare applications. However, the use of radiolabeled tracers exposes patients to ionizing radiation, raising concerns about carcinogenic potential, and warranting efforts to minimize doses without sacrificing diagnostic quality.Approach.In this work, we present a novel neural network architecture, PETformer, designed for denoising ultra-low-dose PET images without requiring structural priors such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging. The architecture utilizes a U-net backbone, synergistically combining multi-headed transposed attention blocks with kernel-basis attention and channel attention mechanisms for both short- and long-range dependencies and enhanced feature extraction. PETformer is trained and validated on a dataset of 317 patients imaged on a total-body uEXPLORER PET/CT scanner.Main results.Quantitative evaluations using structural similarity index measure and liver signal-to-noise ratio showed PETformer's significant superiority over other established denoising algorithms across different dose-reduction factors.Significance.Its ability to identify and recover intrinsic anatomical details from background noise with dose reductions as low as 2% and its capacity in maintaining high target-to-background ratios while preserving the integrity of uptake values of small lesions enables PET-only fast and accurate disease diagnosis. Furthermore, PETformer exhibits computational efficiency with only 37 M trainable parameters, making it well-suited for commercial integration.

Surgical management for massive rotator cuff tears: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Multiple surgical strategies have been developed for treating massive rotator cuff tears (mRCTs). However, there is still no consensus on the best surgical option for mRCTs. Through a network meta-analysis, we aimed to comprehensively and systematically analyse the evidence in randomized controlled trials to help clinicians make evidence-based clinical decisions for patients with mRCTs. Methods: Our study was a network meta-analysis of the surgical management of mRCTs (PROSPERO Registration ID: CRD42023397971). We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane and Web of Science for randomized controlled trials that examined the efficacy of surgical management for mRCTs up to 3 November 2022. A three-step method was employed for the study process. Study selection, data extraction and risk of bias evaluation were conducted by two independent reviewers. R software (version 4.2.1) and Stata (version 15.1) were used for the data analysis. Results: From 10,633 publications, we included 15 randomized controlled trials (996 participants) for the quantitative analysis. In terms of both long-term and short-term surgical effects, there were no statistically significant differences among surgical interventions such as patch-augmented rotator cuff repair (RCR), RCR with platelet-rich plasma, arthroscopic decompression, bridging reconstruction, arthroscopic RCR with platelet-leukocyte membrane, open RCR, mini-open RCR, arthroscopic debridement, superior capsular reconstruction, arthroscopic suture-spanning augmented repair, subacromial balloon spacer and latissimus dorsi tendon transfer. Based on algorithms, the probability ranking suggests that patch augmentation is the most highly ranked surgical intervention for achieving better short-term surgical outcomes. Furthermore, arthroscopic-associated mini-open RCR was ranked as the highest surgical intervention for achieving better long-term surgical effects. Conclusions: Based on the available data from the included studies, similar surgical efficacies were observed among the reported intervention measures for mRCTs. The patch augmentation technique was found to potentially achieve better short-term surgical outcomes, which is consistent with previous reports. However, the best surgical interventions for achieving long-term surgical effects remain unknown. More high-quality research is needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of these interventions and to guide clinical practice.

Shear-activation of mechanochemical reactions through molecular deformation.

Mechanical stress can directly activate chemical reactions by reducing the reaction energy barrier. A possible mechanism of such mechanochemical activation is structural deformation of the reactant species. However, the effect of deformation on the reaction energetics is unclear, especially, for shear stress-driven reactions. Here, we investigated shear stress-driven oligomerization reactions of cyclohexene on silica using a combination of reactive molecular dynamics simulations and ball-on-flat tribometer experiments. Both simulations and experiments captured an exponential increase in reaction yield with shear stress. Elemental analysis of ball-on-flat reaction products revealed the presence of oxygen in the polymers, a trend corroborated by the simulations, highlighting the critical role of surface oxygen atoms in oligomerization reactions. Structural analysis of the reacting molecules in simulations indicated the reactants were deformed just before a reaction occurred. Quantitative evidence of shear-induced deformation was established by comparing bond lengths in cyclohexene molecules in equilibrium and prior to reactions. Nudged elastic band calculations showed that the deformation had a small effect on the transition state energy but notably increased the reactant state energy, ultimately leading to a reduction in the energy barrier. Finally, a quantitative relationship was developed between molecular deformation and energy barrier reduction by mechanical stress.

Cell Reprogramming Strategies for Treating Osteoarthritis and Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

Osteoarthritis (OA) and intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) are the most common degenerative bone and joint diseases, posing a major threat to patients' physical and mental health due to the occurrence of chronic pain and disability. Within this context, the absence of efficacious therapies has led to a growing interest in regenerative medicine. In particular, as a method that can erase the memory of differentiation and re-endow cells with pluripotency, cell reprogramming technologies have ushered in a new era of personalized therapy, which not only show great potential for the treatment of degenerative osteoarthropathies but also promise to achieve tissue regenerative and repair. However, compared to other areas of research, reprogramming technologies to treat OA and IVDD are still in the preliminary stages and require further investigation. This paper briefly introduces the characteristics of cell reprogramming; summarizes the pathological mechanisms of reprogramming to improves energy metabolism, aging, inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune imbalance in OA and IVDD under the background of microenvironment and immunity; highlights the significant advantages of reprogramming-derived cells compared to embryonic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells, based on these advances, providing important strategies for its development and clinical application in OA and IVDD.

Self-encapsulated ionic fibers based on stress-induced adaptive phase transition for non-contact depth-of-field camouflage sensing.

Ionically conductive fibers have promising applications; however, complex processing techniques and poor stability limit their practicality. To overcome these challenges, we proposed a stress-induced adaptive phase transition strategy to conveniently fabricate self-encapsulated hydrogel-based ionically conductive fibers (se-HICFs). se-HICFs can be produced simply by directly stretching ionic hydrogels with ultra-stretchable networks (us-IHs) or by dip-drawing from molten us-IHs. During this process, stress facilitated the directional migration and evaporation of water molecules in us-IHs, causing a phase transition in the surface layer of ionic fibers to achieve self-encapsulation. The resulting sheath-core structure of se-HICFs enhanced mechanical strength and stability while endowing se-HICFs with powerful non-contact electrostatic induction capabilities. Mimicking nature, se-HICFs were woven into spider web structures and camouflaged in wild environments to achieve high spatiotemporal resolution 3D depth-of-field sensing for different moving media. This work opens up a convenient route to fabricate stable functionalized ionic fibers.