HtrA3 paves the way for MSC migration and promotes osteogenesis.

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) migration determines the healing capacity of bone and is crucial in promoting bone regeneration. Migration of MSCs is highly dependent on degradation of extracellular matrix by proteolytic enzymes. However, the underlying mechanisms of how enzymolysis paves the way for MSCs to migrate from their niche to the defect area is still not fully understood. Here, this study shows that high-temperature requirement A3 (HtrA3) overcomes the physical barrier and provides anchor points through collagen IV degradation, paving the way for MSC migration. HtrA3 is upregulated in MSCs at the leading edge of bone defect during the early stage of healing. HtrA3 degrades the surrounding collagen IV, which increases the collagen network porosity and increases integrin ß1 expression. Subsequently, integrin ß1 enhances the mechanotransduction of MSCs, thus remodeling the cytoskeleton, increasing cellular stiffness and nuclear translocation of YAP, eventually promoting the migration and subsequent osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. Local administration of recombinant HtrA3 in rat cranial bone defects significantly increases new bone formation and further validates the enhancement of MSC migration. This study helps to reveal the novel roles of HtrA3, explore potential targets for regenerative medicine, and offer new insights for the development of bioactive materials.

Dexamethasone-Integrated Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Treatment via Multiple Immunomodulatory Mechanisms.

The therapeutic application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has good potential as a treatment strategy for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but traditional MSC therapy still has limitations in effectively modulating immune cells. Herein, we present a promising strategy based on dexamethasone liposome-integrated MSCs (Dexlip-MSCs) for treating SLE via multiple immunomodulatory pathways. This therapeutic strategy prolonged the circulation time of dexamethasone liposomes in vivo, restrained CD4+T-cell proliferation, and inhibited the release of proinflammatory mediators (IFN-γ and TNF-α) by CD4+T cells. In addition, Dexlip-MSCs initiated cellular reprogramming by activating the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling pathway to upregulate the expression of anti-inflammatory factors such as cysteine-rich secretory protein LCCL-containing domain 2 (CRISPLD2) and downregulate the expression of proinflammatory factors. In addition, Dexlip-MSCs synergistically increased the anti-inflammatory inhibitory effect of CD4+T cells through the release of dexamethasone liposomes or Dex-integrated MSC-derived exosomes (Dex-MSC-EXOs). Based on these synergistic biological effects, we demonstrated that Dexlip-MSCs alleviated disease progression in MRL/lpr mice more effectively than Dexlip or MSCs alone. These features indicate that our stem cell delivery strategy is a promising therapeutic approach for clinical SLE treatment.

Deep learning-based detection of irreversible pulpitis in primary molars.

BACKGROUND: Changes in healthy and inflamed pulp on periapical radiographs are traditionally so subtle that they may be imperceptible to human experts, limiting its potential use as an adjunct clinical diagnostic feature. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of an image-analysis technique based on the convolutional neural network (CNN) to detect irreversible pulpitis in primary molars on periapical radiographs (PRs). DESIGN: This retrospective study was performed in two health centres. Patients who received indirect pulp therapy at Peking University Hospital for Stomatology were retrospectively identified and randomly divided into training and validation sets (8:2). Using PRs as input to an EfficientNet CNN, the model was trained to categorise cases into either the success or failure group and externally tested on patients who presented to our affiliate institution. Model performance was evaluated using sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and F1 score. RESULTS: A total of 348 PRs with deep caries were enrolled from the two centres. The deep learning model achieved the highest accuracy of 0.90 (95% confidence interval: 0.79-0.96) in the internal validation set, with an overall accuracy of 0.85 in the external test set. The mean greyscale value was higher in the failure group than in the success group (p = .013). CONCLUSION: The deep learning-based model could detect irreversible pulpitis in primary molars with deep caries on PRs. Moreover, this study provides a convenient and complementary method for assessing pulp status.

Photothermal COFs with donor-acceptor structure for friction reduction and antiwear.

For the first time, a novel donor-acceptor structured COF with excellent photothermal conversion and mono-dispersity in various oils without any further modification is reported; it realized responsive friction reduction, excellent antiwear and long-time lubrication.

Gibberellin Positively Regulates Tomato Resistance to Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV).

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is a prominent viral pathogen that adversely affects tomato plants. Effective strategies for mitigating the impact of TYLCV include isolating tomato plants from the whitefly, which is the vector of the virus, and utilizing transgenic lines that are resistant to the virus. In our preliminary investigations, we observed that the use of growth retardants increased the rate of TYLCV infection and intensified the damage to the tomato plants, suggesting a potential involvement of gibberellic acid (GA) in the conferring of resistance to TYLCV. In this study, we employed an infectious clone of TYLCV to inoculate tomato plants, which resulted in leaf curling and growth inhibition. Remarkably, this inoculation also led to the accumulation of GA3 and several other phytohormones. Subsequent treatment with GA3 effectively alleviated the TYLCV-induced leaf curling and growth inhibition, reduced TYLCV abundance in the leaves, enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and lowered the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the leaves. Conversely, the treatment with PP333 exacerbated TYLCV-induced leaf curling and growth suppression, increased TYLCV abundance, decreased antioxidant enzyme activity, and elevated ROS levels in the leaves. The analysis of the gene expression profiles revealed that GA3 up-regulated the genes associated with disease resistance, such as WRKYs, NACs, MYBs, Cyt P450s, and ERFs, while it down-regulated the DELLA protein, a key agent in GA signaling. In contrast, PP333 induced gene expression changes that were the opposite of those caused by the GA3 treatment. These findings suggest that GA plays an essential role in the tomato's defense response against TYLCV and acts as a positive regulator of ROS scavenging and the expression of resistance-related genes.

Efficacy and safety of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in COVID-19-associated pneumonia among patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases: A real-world retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the effectiveness and safety of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) patients. METHODS: RMD patients with COVID-19 in Jiangsu Province were polled between December 8, 2022, and February 1, 2023. Information on demographics, disease characteristics, antirheumatic drug use, vaccination status and survival state were collected. COVID-19-associated pneumonia was the primary outcome. The effect of COVID-19 immunization on RMD patients was assessed using multivariate logistic regression, and the adverse events (AEs) following vaccination were evaluated. RESULTS: Among 592 RMD patients with COVID-19, 276 (46.6%) individuals experienced COVID-19-associated pneumonia, and 290 (49.0%) patients were injected with inactivated vaccines. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, vaccines reduced the incidence of COVID-19-associated pneumonia, and receiving booster vaccine was an independent protective factor for COVID-19-associated pneumonia in RMD patients (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.41-0.98, p = .034). In particular, inactivated vaccines have a protective impact on RMD patients with a high risk of developing pneumonia, including those aged 45 years and older (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.34-0.83), and who have lung involvement (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.23-0.82). The total AEs rate of vaccines was 13.9% (40/290), only 11 (3.8%) experienced the recurrence or deterioration of RMDs, and no serious AEs occurred. CONCLUSION: Inactivated COVID-19 vaccines were safe and effective in reducing the risk of COVID-19-associated pneumonia of RMD patients in China.

Regulatory roles of the second messenger c-di-GMP in beneficial plant-bacteria interactions.

The rhizosphere system of plants hosts a diverse consortium of bacteria that confer beneficial effects on plant, such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), biocontrol agents with disease-suppression activities, and symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria with the formation of root nodule. Efficient colonization in planta is of fundamental importance for promoting of these beneficial activities. However, the process of root colonization is complex, consisting of multiple stages, including chemotaxis, adhesion, aggregation, and biofilm formation. The secondary messenger, c-di-GMP (cyclic bis-(3'-5') dimeric guanosine monophosphate), plays a key regulatory role in a variety of physiological processes. This paper reviews recent progress on the actions of c-di-GMP in plant beneficial bacteria, with a specific focus on its role in chemotaxis, biofilm formation, and nodulation.

Boosting the Capacitor Performance of the Metal Organic Frameworks Derived V2O5 Nanoflower by Cu Doping.

Due to its ultrahigh theoretical capacitance, vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) is considered to be a valid candidate for advanced supercapacitors. However, because of the low electron/electrolyte transfer rate, the capacitive performance still remains to be improved. In this report, Cu doping is adopted to improve the capacitive performance by a two-steps strategy consisting of microwave-assisted solvothermal and postannealing treatments. The electrochemical results indicate that the Cu doping was beneficial for improving the specific capacitance, extending the potential window, and improving the rate ability and long-term stability of V2O5. Furthermore, the mechanism for the performance improvement is explained in detail by combining theoretical calculation and experiments. The results indicated that, compared with that of undoped V2O5, the larger interplanar spacing, better electrical conductivity, a larger proportion of V3+/V4+, and more abundant oxygen vacancies result in an improved capacitive performance. Our proposed Cu-doped V2O5 (Cu-V2O5) can be used as both a positive electrode and a negative electrode for the assembly of the symmetric supercapacitor, which can be used as an energy storage device for light emitting diode lamps.

WGCNA and machine learning analysis identifi ed SAMD9 and IFIT3 as primary Sjögren's Syndrome key genes.

Background: Current treatments for primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS) are with limited effect, partially due to the heterogeneity and uncleared mechanism. Methods: We got GSE40568 (Japan) and GSE40611 (USA), and analyzed them with WGCNA to find key Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between pSS and healthy salivary glands (SG). Key pSS genes (KPGs) were further selected through 3 machine-learning methods. The expression of KPGs was validated via two other GEO datasets (GSE127952 and GSE154926). Infiltrated immune cells, ceRNA network, and potential compounds were explored. Results: Our study identified 376 DEGs from the pSS patients, with 186 genes located in the "plum2" module, showing the strongest correlation with clinical characteristics. SAMD9 and IFIT3 emerged as KPGs with excellent diagnostic potential. SAMD9 demonstrated close association with immune cell infiltration. We constructed a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network comprising 2 KPGs, 12 miRNAs, 124 lncRNAs, and potential therapeutic targets. Conclusion: In the investigation of pSS public datasets, our study revealed two potential critical mediators in the pathological process of pSS salivary glands, namely SAMD9 and IFIT3. Furthermore, we put forth a hypothesis regarding the ceRNA network and made predictions regarding potential therapeutic drugs targeting these two genes.

MXene/ZnS/chitosan-cellulose composite with Schottky heterostructure for efficient removal of anionic dyes by synergistic effect of adsorption and photocatalytic degradation.

Nowadays, dye water pollution is becoming increasingly severe. Composite of MXene, ZnS, and chitosan-cellulose material (MX/ZnS/CC) was developed to remove anionic dyes through the synergistic effect of adsorption and photocatalytic degradation. MXene was introduced as the cocatalyst to form Schottky heterostructure with ZnS for improving the separation efficiency of photocarriers and photocatalytic performance. Chitosan-cellulose material mainly served as the dye adsorbent, while also could improve material stability and assist in generation of free radicals for dye degradation. The physics and chemistry properties of MX/ZnS/CC composite were systematically inspected through various characterizations. MX/ZnS/CC composite exhibited good adsorption ability to anionic dyes with adsorption capacity up to 1.29 g/g, and excellent synergistic effects of adsorption and photodegradation with synergistic removal capacity up to 5.63 g/g. MX/ZnS/CC composite performed higher synergistic removal ability and better optical and electrical properties than pure MXene, ZnS, chitosan-cellulose material, and MXene/ZnS. After compounding, the synergistic removal percentage of dyes increased by a maximum of 309 %. MX/ZnS/CC composite mainly adsorbs anionic dyes through electrostatic interactions and catalyzes the generation of •O2-, h+, and •OH to degrade dyes, which has been successfully used to remove anionic dyes from environmental water, achieving a 100 % removal of 50 mg/L dye.

Increased cell-free DNA is associated with oxidative damage in patients with schizophrenia.

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has been found to be elevated in patients with schizophrenia (SZ), potentially derived from activated apoptosis, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Moreover, whether the concentrations of cfDNA are altered with disease stage has not been investigated, which limits its clinical application as an auxiliary diagnostic marker for SZ. Using an improved fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) method that does not require DNA extraction, we measured the molar concentrations of cfDNA in plasma samples of 191 patients with SZ, 78 patients with mood disorders (MD) and 65 healthy controls (HC). We also analyzed the cfDNA composition from either the nucleus or mitochondria, oxidation markers and biochemical indexes to explore the potential mechanistic associations of the increased cfDNA levels. We found that in SZ patients, the cfDNA levels were significantly increased (P = 0.003) regardless of the different disease stages or antipsychotic medication use. Furthermore, qPCR revealed that cell-free nuclear DNA (cf-nDNA) (P = 0.041) but not cell-free mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) was elevated in SZ patients. Moreover, decreased SOD activity in SZ patients (P = 0.005) was negatively correlated with cfDNA levels (P = 0.047), and fasting blood glucose was positively correlated with cfDNA levels in SZ patients (P = 0.013). Our study provides evidence to support that the elevated cfDNA may be a convenient, effective and stable trait indicator of SZ. Further analysis showed that it mainly came from nucleus, suggesting increased apoptosis, and potentially related to oxidative stress and high blood glucose levels in patients.

Association of anhedonia with brain-derived neurotrophic factor and interleukin-10 in major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Anhedonia, a core symptom of major depressive disorder (MDD), manifests in two forms: anticipatory and consummatory, reflecting a diminished capacity to anticipate or enjoy pleasurable activities. Prior studies suggest that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) may play key roles in the emergence of anhedonia in MDD. The specific relationships between these biomarkers and the two forms of anhedonia remain unclear. This study investigated the potential links between BDNF, IL-10, and both forms of anhedonia in MDD patients. METHODS: This study included 43 participants diagnosed with MDD and 58 healthy controls. It involved detailed assessments of depression and anxiety levels, anticipatory and consummatory pleasure, cognitive functions, and a broad spectrum of plasma biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein, various interleukins, and BDNF. Using partial correlation, variables related to pleasant experiences were identified. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was applied to pinpoint the independent predictors of anhedonia in the MDD group. RESULTS: Demographically, both groups were comparable in terms of age, sex, body mass index, educational year, and marital status. Individuals with MDD displayed markedly reduced levels of anticipatory and consummatory pleasure, higher anxiety, and depression scores compared to healthy controls. Additionally, cognitive performance was notably poorer in the MDD group. These patients also had lower plasma diamine oxidase levels. Analysis linked anhedonia to impaired delayed memory. Regression results identified IL-10 and BDNF as independent predictors of anticipatory and consummatory anhedonia, respectively. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that anticipatory and consummatory anhedonia are influenced by independent factors, thereby providing critical insights into the distinct neuroimmunological mechanisms that underlie various forms of anhedonia. Clinicl Trial Registration Number: NCT03790085.

Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway participating in the progression of epilepsy via regulation of oxidative stress and ferroptosis in neurons.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze the relationship between the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)/Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and Epilepsy (EP), as well as its mechanism of action. METHODS: Thirty Wistar rats were divided into a control group (without treatment), a model group (EP modeling), and an inhibition group (EP modeling + intervention by Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway inhibitor ATRA) and subject to Morris water maze experiment. Then, the expression of Oxidative Stress (OS) markers, ferroptosis-associated proteins and Keap1/Nrf2 pathway in rat hippocampus was measured. In addition, rat hippocampal neuronal cell HT22 was purchased and treated accordingly based on the results of grouping, and cell proliferation and apoptosis in the three groups were determined. RESULTS: Compared with rats in the model group, those in the inhibition group showed shorter escape latency and an increased number of platform crossings (p < 0.05). Significant OS and neuron ferroptosis, increased apoptosis rate, elevated Keap1 expression, and decreased Nrf2 expression were observed in the model group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The inhibition group exhibited notably improved OS and ferroptosis, as well as enhanced neuronal viability (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Inhibition of the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway can reverse the OS and neuron viability in EP rats.

Photoexcited Carrier Dynamics in Iodine-Doped CH3NH3PbBr3 Single Crystals.

Iodine-doped bromide perovskite single crystals (IBPSCs) have important applications in optoelectronic fields, such as in solar cells. Currently, much research has aimed to study the phase separation phenomenon and device performance improvements in IBPSCs. However, important intrinsic photoexcited carrier dynamics are often overlooked in IBPSCs. Here, we explored the photoexcited carrier dynamics in typical iodine-doped MAPbBr3 single crystals using the excitation intensity-dependent steady-state photoluminescence (PL) and time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) technique. We found that the trap state density changes with an increase in the amount of doped iodine. Further, we noticed that there is an influence of carrier diffusion on the photoexcited carrier dynamics, and then, we evaluated the carrier diffusion coefficients and recombination constants via numerical simulations of the PL kinetics. Consequently, we found that the electron shallow trap-related carrier behaviors substantially impacted the PL kinetics. Our results greatly facilitate a deeper understanding of the fundamental characteristics of mixed halide perovskite material.

Mitigating microplastic stress on peanuts: The role of biochar-based synthetic community in the preservation of soil physicochemical properties and microbial diversity.

Tire-derived rubber crumbs (RC), as a new type of microplastics (MPs), harms both the environment and human health. Excessive use of plastic, the decomposition of which generates microplastic particles, in current agricultural practices poses a significant threat to the sustainability of agricultural ecosystems, worldwide food security and human health. In this study, the application of biochar, a carbon-rich material, to soil was explored, especially in the evaluation of synthetic biochar-based community (SynCom) to alleviate RC-MP-induced stress on plant growth and soil physicochemical properties and soil microbial communities in peanuts. The results revealed that RC-MPs significantly reduced peanut shoot dry weight, root vigor, nodule quantity, plant enzyme activity, soil urease and dehydrogenase activity, as well as soil available potassium, and bacterial abundance. Moreover, the study led to the identification highly effective plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) from the peanut rhizosphere, which were then integrated into a SynCom and immobilized within biochar. Application of biochar-based SynCom in RC-MPs contaminated soil significantly increased peanut biomass, root vigor, nodule number, and antioxidant enzyme activity, alongside enhancing soil enzyme activity and rhizosphere bacterial abundance. Interestingly, under high-dose RC-MPs treatment, the relative abundance of rhizosphere bacteria decreased significantly, but their diversity increased significantly and exhibited distinct clustering phenomenon. In summary, the investigated biochar-based SynCom proved to be a potential soil amendment to mitigate the deleterious effects of RC-MPs on peanuts and preserve soil microbial functionality. This presents a promising solution to the challenges posed by contaminated soil, offering new avenues for remediation.

JAK2 inhibitors improve RA combined with pulmonary fibrosis in rats by downregulating SMAD3 phosphorylation.

BACKGROUND: JAK inhibitors are well known for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but whether they can be used to treat pulmonary fibrosis, a common extra-articular disease of RA, remains to be clarified. METHODS: A jak2 inhibitor, CEP33779 (CEP), was administered to a rat model of RA-associated interstitial lung disease to observe the degree of improvement in both joint swelling and pulmonary fibrosis. HFL1 cells were stimulated with TGF-ß1 to observe the expression of p-JAK2. Then, different concentrations of related gene inhibitors (JAK2, TGFß-R1/2, and p-STAT3) or silencers (STAT3, JAK2) were administered to HFL1 cells, and the expression levels of related proteins were detected to explore the underlying mechanisms of action. RESULTS: CEP not only reduced the degree of joint swelling and inflammation in rats but also improved lung function, inhibited the pro-inflammatory factors IL-1ß and IL-6, reduced lung inflammation and collagen deposition, and alleviated lung fibrosis. CEP decreased the expression levels of TGFß-R2, p-SMAD, p-STAT3, and ECM proteins in rat lung tissues. TGF-ß1 induced HFL1 cells to highly express p-JAK2, with the most pronounced expression at 48 h. The levels of p-STAT3, p-SMAD3, and ECM-related proteins were significantly reduced after inhibition of either JAK2 or STAT3. CONCLUSION: JAK2 inhibitors may be an important and novel immunotherapeutic drug that can improve RA symptoms while also delaying or blocking the development of associated pulmonary fibrotic disease. The mechanism may be related to the downregulation of p-STAT3 protein via inhibition of the JAK2/STAT signaling pathway, which affects the phosphorylation of SMAD3.

Exploring the causal relationship between female reproductive traits and frailty: a two-sample mendelian randomization study.

Background: The impact of female reproductive factors, including age at menarche (AAM), age at first birth (AFB), age at first sexual intercourse (AFS), age at natural menopause (ANM), and pregnancy abortion (PA), on the risk of developing frailty remains uncertain. Our objective is to examine the potential causal relationship between female reproductive traits and frailty through the utilization of two-sample univariable Mendelian Randomization (UVMR) and multivariable Mendelian Randomization (MVMR) analyses. Methods: Leveraging large-scale Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) data from individuals of European ancestry, we performed two-sample UVMR and MVMR analyses to examine the causal relationship between female reproductive traits and frailty. The primary analysis employed inverse-variance-weighted (IVW) estimation, and sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of the findings. Results: The UVMR analysis revealed a significant causal relationship between female reproductive traits (AFS, AFB, AAM) and frailty [IVW: OR = 0.74, 95%CI(0.70-0.79), p = 0.000; OR = 0.93, 95%CI(0.92-0.95), p = 0.000; OR = 0.96, 95%CI(0.95-0.98), p = 0.000]. However, there was no significant effect of ANM and PA on frailty (p > 0.05). The sensitivity analysis results were robust, supporting the findings. Furthermore, this association remained significant even after adjusting for body mass index (BMI) and educational attainment (EA) in the MVMR analysis [IVW: OR = 0.94, 95%Cl (0.91-0.97), p = 0.000; OR = 0.77, 95%Cl (0.70-0.86), p = 0.000; OR = 0.95, 95%Cl (0.94-0.97), p = 0.000]. BMI and EA serve as mediators in this process. Conclusion: Our research has established a significant causal relationship between female reproductive traits (AFS, AFB, AAM) and frailty, with BMI and EA acting as mediating factors in this process. However, further research is warranted to validate our findings and elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms.

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.

Living Artificial Skin: Photosensitizer and Cell Sandwiched Bacterial Cellulose for Chronic Wound Healing.

Chronic wounds pose a significant global public health challenge due to their suboptimal treatment efficacy caused by bacterial infections and microcirculatory disturbances. Inspired by the biofunctionality of natural skin, an artificial skin (HV@BC@TBG) is bioengineered with bacterial cellulose (BC) sandwiched between photosensitizers (PS) and functionalized living cells. Glucose-modified PS (TBG) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-functionalized living cells (HV) are successively modified on each side of BC through biological metabolism and bio-orthogonal reaction. As the outermost layer, the TBG layer can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon light illumination to efficiently combat bacterial infections. The HV layer is the inner layer near the diabetic wound, which servs as a living factory to continuously secrete VEGF to accelerate wound repair by promoting fibroblast proliferation and angiogenesis. The sandwiched structural artificial skin HV@BC@TBG is nontoxic, biocompatible, and demonstrated its ability to significantly accelerate the healing process of infected diabetic wounds, rendering it a promising next-generation medical therapy for chronic wound management.

A nomogram based on contrast-enhanced ultrasound for evaluating the glomerulosclerosis rate in transplanted kidneys.

Background: A high rate of glomerulosclerosis serves as an important signal of poor response to treatment and a high risk of disease progression or adverse prognosis in transplanted kidneys. We hypothesized that contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) could serve as a novel imaging biomarker in the early prediction of glomerulosclerosis rate by evaluating renal allograft microcirculation. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 143 transplanted kidney recipients with confirmed pathology, including 100 in the training group and 43 in the validation group. All patients underwent conventional ultrasound (CUS) and CEUS examinations. The patients were divided into two groups: those with >50% glomerulosclerosis and those with ≤50% glomerulosclerosis. The nomograms derived from independent predictors identified by multivariate logistic analysis were assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, 1,000 bootstrap resamples, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: The patients with >50% glomerulosclerosis and those with ≤50% glomerulosclerosis showed statistically significant differences in CEUS parameters, including in peak intensity (PI) (25 vs. 30; P<0.001), absolute time to peak (ATTP) (10 vs. 9; P=0.004), and time to peak (TTP) (22 vs. 19.5; P=0.026). Multivariate analysis revealed that PI [odds ratio (OR) =0.852; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.737-0.986], peak systolic velocity (PSV) of the interlobar artery (OR =0.850; 95% CI: 0.758-0.954), cortical echogenicity (OR =38.429; 95% CI: 3.695-399.641), and time since transplantation (OR =1.017; 95% CI: 1.006-1.028) were independent predictors of whether the glomerulosclerosis rate was >50% and were incorporated into the construction of a nomogram. The area under the curve (AUC) of the nomogram in the training and validation groups was 0.914 (95% CI: 0.840-0.960) and 0.909 (95% CI: 0.781-0.975), respectively, with a bootstrap resampling AUC of 0.877. The calibration curve and DCA confirmed the diagnostic performance of the nomogram model. Conclusions: The nomogram, which combined CUS, CEUS, and clinical indicators, exhibited notable predictive efficacy for the glomerulosclerosis rate in transplanted kidneys, thereby demonstrating the potential to improve clinical decision-making.