Applying machine-learning models to differentiate benign and malignant thyroid nodules classified as C-TIRADS 4 based on 2D-ultrasound combined with five contrast-enhanced ultrasound key frames.

Objectives: To apply machine learning to extract radiomics features from thyroid two-dimensional ultrasound (2D-US) combined with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) images to classify and predict benign and malignant thyroid nodules, classified according to the Chinese version of the thyroid imaging reporting and data system (C-TIRADS) as category 4. Materials and methods: This retrospective study included 313 pathologically diagnosed thyroid nodules (203 malignant and 110 benign). Two 2D-US images and five CEUS key frames ("2nd second after the arrival time" frame, "time to peak" frame, "2nd second after peak" frame, "first-flash" frame, and "second-flash" frame) were selected to manually label the region of interest using the "Labelme" tool. A total of 7 images of each nodule and their annotates were imported into the Darwin Research Platform for radiomics analysis. The datasets were randomly split into training and test cohorts in a 9:1 ratio. Six classifiers, namely, support vector machine, logistic regression, decision tree, random forest (RF), gradient boosting decision tree and extreme gradient boosting, were used to construct and test the models. Performance was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), accuracy (ACC), and F1-score were calculated. One junior radiologist and one senior radiologist reviewed the 2D-US image and CEUS videos of each nodule and made a diagnosis. We then compared their AUC and ACC with those of our best model. Results: The AUC of the diagnosis of US, CEUS and US combined CEUS by junior radiologist and senior radiologist were 0.755, 0.750, 0.784, 0.800, 0.873, 0.890, respectively. The RF classifier performed better than the other five, with an AUC of 1 for the training cohort and 0.94 (95% confidence interval 0.88-1) for the test cohort. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, NPV, and F1-score of the RF model in the test cohort were 0.82, 0.93, 0.90, 0.85, 0.92, and 0.84, respectively. The RF model with 2D-US combined with CEUS key frames achieved equivalent performance as the senior radiologist (AUC: 0.94 vs. 0.92, P = 0.798; ACC: 0.90 vs. 0.92) and outperformed the junior radiologist (AUC: 0.94 vs. 0.80, P = 0.039, ACC: 0.90 vs. 0.81) in the test cohort. Conclusions: Our model, based on 2D-US and CEUS key frames radiomics features, had good diagnostic efficacy for thyroid nodules, which are classified as C-TIRADS 4. It shows promising potential in assisting less experienced junior radiologists.

[Correlation of nutritional status with clinical characteristics and lung function in children with cystic fibrosis]. / å›Šæ€§çº¤ç»´åŒ–å„¿ç«¥è¥å »çŠ¶å†µä¸Žä¸´åºŠç‰¹å¾å’Œè‚ºåŠŸèƒ½çš„ç›¸å ³æ€§åˆ†æž.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the nutritional status of children with cystic fibrosis (CF) and understand the correlation between malnutrition and clinical characteristics as well as lung function. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical data of CF children admitted from January 2016 to June 2023. Clinical characteristics of CF children with different nutritional statuses were compared, and the correlation between malnutrition and lung function was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 52 CF children were included, comprising 25 boys (48%) and 27 girls (52%), aged between 7 months and 17 years. Respiratory symptoms were the predominant clinical manifestations (96%, 50/52). The prevalence of malnutrition was 65% (34/52), with moderate/severe malnutrition being the most common (65%, 22/34). The malnutrition group had a longer duration of illness, higher proportion of digestive system symptoms, and lower levels of serum albumin (P<0.05). Pulmonary function parameters, including forced expiratory volume in one second as a percentage of the predicted value, ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity, forced expiratory flow at 25% of forced vital capacity exhaled, forced expiratory flow at 50% of forced vital capacity exhaled, forced expiratory flow at 75% of forced vital capacity exhaled, and maximum mid-expiratory flow as a percentage of the predicted value, were lower in the malnutrition group compared to the normal nutrition group (P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed body mass index Z-score was positively correlated with the above six pulmonary function parameters (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of malnutrition is high in CF children and is associated with decreased lung function. CF children with higher body mass index have better lung function. Therefore, screening and evaluation of nutritional status as well as appropriate nutritional intervention should be emphasized in CF children.

Prognostic and Immunotherapeutic Predictive Value of CAD Gene in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Integrated Bioinformatics and Experimental Analysis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common type of cancer that ranks first in cancer-associated death worldwide. Carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 2, aspartate transcarbamylase, and dihydroorotase (CAD) are the key components of the pyrimidine pathway, which promotes cancer development. However, the function of CAD in HCC needs to be clarified. In this study, the clinical and transcriptome data of 424 TCGA-derived HCC cases were analyzed. The results demonstrated that high CAD expression was associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients. The effect of CAD on HCC was then investigated comprehensively using GO annotation analysis, KEGG enrichment analysis, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), and CIBERSORT algorithm. The results showed that CAD expression was correlated with immune checkpoint inhibitors and immune cell infiltration. In addition, low CAD levels in HCC patients predicted increased sensitivity to anti-CTLA4 and PD1, while HCC patients with high CAD expression exhibited high sensitivity to chemotherapeutic and molecular-targeted agents, including gemcitabine, paclitaxel, and sorafenib. Finally, the results from clinical sample suggested that CAD expression increased remarkably in HCC compared with non-cancerous tissues. Loss of function experiments demonstrated that CAD knockdown could significantly inhibit HCC cell growth and migration both in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, the results indicated that CAD is a potential oncogene during HCC metastasis and progression. Therefore, CAD is recommended as a candidate marker and target for HCC prediction and treatment.

Design and Synthesis of Mandelic Acid Derivatives for Suppression of Virulence via T3SS against Citrus Canker.

Citrus canker, a highly contagious bacterial disease caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc), poses a substantial threat to citrus crops, leading to serious reductions in fruit yield and economic losses. Most commonly used bactericides against Xcc lead to the rapid development of resistant subpopulations. Therefore, it is imperative to create novel drugs, such as type III secretion system (T3SS) inhibitors, that specifically target bacterial virulence factors rather than bacterial viability. In our study, we designed and synthesized a series of mandelic acid derivatives including 2-mercapto-1,3,4-thiazole. Seven substances were found to reduce the level of transcription of hpa1 without affecting bacterial viability. In vivo bioassays indicated that compound F9 significantly inhibited hypersensitive response and pathogenicity. RT-qPCR assays showed that compound F9 visibly suppressed the expression of Xcc T3SS-related genes as well as citrus canker susceptibility gene CsLOB1. Furthermore, the combination with compound F9 and quorum-quenching bacteria HN-8 can also obviously alleviate canker symptoms.

Polymerization strategy for cellulose nanocrystals-based photonic crystal films with water resisting property.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) can form a liquid crystal film with a chiral nematic structure by evaporative-induced self-assembly (EISA). It has attracted much attention as a new class of photonic liquid crystal material because of its intrinsic, unique structural characteristics, and excellent optical properties. However, the CNCs-based photonic crystal films are generally prepared via the physical crosslinking strategy, which present water sensitivity. Here, we developed CNCs-g-PAM photonic crystal film by combining free radical polymerization and EISA. FT-IR, SEM, POM, XRD, TG-DTG, and UV-Vis techniques were employed to characterize the physicochemical properties and microstructure of the as-prepared films. The CNCs-g-PAM films showed a better thermo-stability than CNCs-based film. Also, the mechanical properties were significantly improved, viz., the elongation at break was 9.4 %, and tensile strength reached 18.5 Mpa, which was a much better enhancement than CNCs-based film. More importantly, the CNCs-g-PAM films can resist water dissolution for more than 24 h, which was impossible for the CNCs-based film. The present study provided a promising strategy to prepare CNCs-based photonic crystal film with high flexibility, water resistance, and optical properties for applications such as decoration, light management, and anti-counterfeiting.

Perfusion vs non-perfusion computed tomography imaging in the late window of emergent large vessel ischemic stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines recommend the treatment of emergent large vessel ischemic stroke (ELVIS) patients presenting beyond 6 hours of last known well time with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) based on perfusion computed tomography (CT) neuroimaging. We compared the outcomes (long-term good clinical outcomes, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and mortality) of ELVIS patients according to the type of CT neuroimaging they underwent. METHODS: We searched the following databases: Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, and Scopus from January 1, 2015, to June 14, 2023. We included studies of late-presenting ELVIS patients undergoing EVT that had with data for non-perfusion and perfusion CT neuroimaging. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Data were pooled using a random effects model. RESULTS: We found 7 observational cohorts. Non-perfusion versus perfusion CT was not statistically significantly different for both long-term clinical (n = 3,224; RR: 0.96; 95% CI 0.86 to 1.06; I2 = 18%) and sICH (n = 3,724; RR: 1.08 95% CI 0.60 to 1.94; I2 = 76%). Perfusion CT had less mortality (n = 3874; RR: 1.22; 95% CI 1.07 to 1.40; I2 = 0%). The certainty of these findings is very low because of limitations in the risk of bias, indirectness, and imprecision domains of the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations. CONCLUSION: The use of either non-perfusion or perfusion CT neuroimaging may have little to no effect on long-term clinical outcomes and sICH for late-presenting EVT patients. Perfusion CT neuroimaging may be associated with a reduced the risk of mortality. Evidence uncertainty warrants randomized trial data.

Factors and Their Impact on Treatment Effect of Acupuncture in Different Outcomes: A Meta-Regression of Acupuncture Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: The effects of acupuncture have varied in different randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and there are many factors that influence treatment effect of acupuncture in different outcomes, with conflicting results. OBJECTIVE: To identify factors and their impact on the treatment effect of acupuncture in different outcomes. METHODS: Acupuncture RCTs were searched from 7 databases including Medline (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and China Biology Medicine disc between January 1st, 2015 and December 31st, 2019. Eligible studies must compare acupuncture to no acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or waiting lists, and report at least 1 patient-important outcome. A multi-level meta-regression was conducted using a 3-level robust mixed model and univariate analyses were performed for all independent variables, even those excluded from the multivariable model due to collinearities. We used thresholds of 0.2 and 0.4 for the difference of standardized mean differences (SMDs), categorising them as small (<0.2), moderate (0.2-0.4), or large (>0.4) effects. RESULTS: The pain construct analysis involved 211 effect estimates from 153 studies and 14 independent variables. High-frequency acupuncture treatment sessions produced larger effects compared to low-frequency sessions [large magnitude, the difference of adjusted SMDs 0.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07 to 0.84; P=0.02]. The non-pain symptoms construct analysis comprised 323 effect estimates from 231 studies and 15 independent variables. Penetrating acupuncture showed moderately larger effects when compared to non-penetrating acupuncture (0.30, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.53; P=0.01). The function construct analysis included 495 effect estimates from 274 studies and 14 independent variables. Penetrating acupuncture and the flexible acupuncture regimen showed moderately larger effects, compared to non-penetrating acupuncture and fixed regimen, respectively (0.40, 95% CI 0 to 0.80; P=0.05; 0.29, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.53; P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: High-frequency acupuncture sessions appear to be a more effective approach to managing painful symptoms. Penetrating acupuncture demonstrated greater effect in relieving non-painful symptoms. Both penetrating acupuncture type and flexible acupuncture regimen were linked to significant treatment effects in function outcomes. Future studies should consider the factors that are significantly associated with the effects of acupuncture in patient-important outcomes.

Functional modification of silk fibroin from silkworms and its application to medical biomaterials: A review.

Silk fibroin (SF) from the silkworm Bombyx mori is a fibrous protein identified as a widely suitable biomaterial due to its biocompatibility, tunable degradation, and mechanical strength. Various modifications of SF protein can give SF fibers new properties and functions, broadening their applications in textile and biomedical industries. A diverse array of functional modifications on various forms of SF has been reported. In order to provide researchers with a more systematic understanding of the types of functional modifications of SF protein, as well as the corresponding applications, we comprehensively review the different types of functional modifications, including transgenic modification, modifications with chemical groups or biologically active substance, cross-linking and copolymerization without chemical reactions, their specific modification methods and applications. Furthermore, recent applications of SF in various medical biomaterials are briefly discussed.

Progress in Research on CNPY2 in Diseases.

Canopy FGF signaling regulator 2 (CNPY2) is a novel angiogenic growth factor. In recent years, increasing evidence highlights that CNPY2 has important functions in health and disease. Many new blood vessels need to be formed to meet the nutrient supply in the process of tumor growth. CNPY2 can participate in the development of tumors by promoting angiogenesis. CNPY2 also enhances neurite outgrowth in neurologic diseases and promotes cell proliferation and tissue repair, thereby improving cardiac function in cardiovascular diseases. Regrettably, there are few studies on CNPY2 in various diseases. At the same time, its biological function and molecular mechanism in the process and development of disease are still unclear. This paper reviews the recent studies on CNPY2 in cervical cancer, renal cell carcinoma, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury, Parkinson's disease, ischemic heart disease, myocardial ischemiareperfusion injury, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The biological function and molecular mechanism of CNPY2 in these diseases have been summarized in this paper. Many drugs that play protective roles in tumors, cardiovascular diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and neurologic diseases by targeting CNPY2, have also been summarized in this paper. In addition, the paper also details the biological functions and roles of canopy FGF signaling regulator 1 (CNPY1), canopy FGF signaling regulator 3 (CNPY3), canopy FGF signaling regulator 4 (CNPY4), and canopy FGF signaling regulator 5 (CNPY5). The mechanism and function of CNPY2 should be continued to study in order to accelerate disease prevention in the future.

7,8-dihydroxyflavone displayed antioxidant effect through activating HO-1 expression and inhibiting caspase-3/PARP activation in RAW264.7 cells.

Flavonoids, which contain a benzo-γ-pyrone (C6-C3-C6) skeleton, have been reported to exhibit effective antioxidant ability. This study aimed to compare the antioxidant activities of 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) and 7-hydroxyflavone (7-HF) in H2 O2 , lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced RAW264.7 cells, respectively. The antioxidant capacities of 7,8-DHF and 7-HF were firstly evaluated by 2,2-azinobis-3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Then, reactive oxygen species (ROS), super oxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) productions in H2 O2 , LPS, or t-BHP-induced RAW264.7 cells were tested and compared, respectively. Finally, the antioxidant mechanisms of 7-HF and 7,8-DHF were initially investigated by western blot. Our results showed that 7,8-DHF possessed stronger free-radical scavenging capacity than 7-HF. Both 7,8-DHF and 7-HF suppressed MDA production and ROS accumulation, improved the activity of SOD in H2 O2 , LPS, or t-BHP-induced RAW264.7 cells, respectively. And 7,8-DHF exerted a better antioxidant effect than 7-HF, especially in t-BHP-induced oxidative stress. Mechanically, 7,8-DHF prevented the activation of poly ADP-ribosepolymerase and caspase-3, meanwhile markedly upregulated the expression of HO-1 protein in t-BHP-induced oxidative stress. These results suggested that 7,8-DHF might serve as a potential pharmaceutical drug against oxidative stress injury.

Silk Fibroin Improves the Biological Properties of Egg White-Based Bioink for the Bioprinting of Tissue Engineering Materials.

Egg white (EW) is a common nutritious food with excellent heat gelation and biocompatibility, but its application in biomaterials is considerably limited. Silk fibroin (SF) is a protein-based fiber with both excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility, and its application in biomaterials has attracted much attention. Here, the EW/SF composite scaffold was first synthesized with GMA-modified EW/SF composite bioink (G-EW/SF). When homogenized EW and SF were individually grafted with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), the grafted EW (G-EW) and SF (G-SF) were mixed in different proportions and then added to I2959. The resulting G-EW/SF composite bioink could be bioprinted into various EW/SF composite scaffolds. Among them, the compressive modulus of EW/SF (50%) composite scaffolds incorporating 50% G-SF was significantly improved. It had a three-dimensional (3D) polypore structure with an average pore size of 61 µm and was mainly composed of ß-sheet structures. Compared with the EW scaffold alone, the thermal decomposition temperature of the EW/SF scaffold was 10 °C higher, and the residual rate after 9 days of enzymatic hydrolysis had increased by about 18%. The scaffold prolonged the sustained release of insulin and promoted the adhesion, growth, and proliferation of the L-929 cells. Therefore, the EW/SF composite scaffolds with good cell proliferation ability and certain mechanical properties can be used in different applications including cells, drugs, and tissues. These results provide new prospects for the application of the EW protein to medical tissue engineering materials.

Metatranscriptome of human lung microbial communities in a cohort of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 Omicron patients.

The Omicron variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS­CoV­2) infected a substantial proportion of Chinese population, and understanding the factors underlying the severity of the disease and fatality is valuable for future prevention and clinical treatment. We recruited 64 patients with invasive ventilation for COVID-19 and performed metatranscriptomic sequencing to profile host transcriptomic profiles, plus viral, bacterial, and fungal content, as well as virulence factors and examined their relationships to 28-day mortality were examined. In addition, the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples from invasive ventilated hospital/community-acquired pneumonia patients (HAP/CAP) sampled in 2019 were included for comparison. Genomic analysis revealed that all Omicron strains belong to BA.5 and BF.7 sub-lineages, with no difference in 28-day mortality between them. Compared to HAP/CAP cohort, invasive ventilated COVID-19 patients have distinct host transcriptomic and microbial signatures in the lower respiratory tract; and in the COVID-19 non-survivors, we found significantly lower gene expressions in pathways related viral processes and positive regulation of protein localization to plasma membrane, higher abundance of opportunistic pathogens including bacterial Alloprevotella, Caulobacter, Escherichia-Shigella, Ralstonia and fungal Aspergillus sydowii and Penicillium rubens. Correlational analysis further revealed significant associations between host immune responses and microbial compositions, besides synergy within viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. Our study presents the relationships of lower respiratory tract microbiome and transcriptome in invasive ventilated COVID-19 patients, providing the basis for future clinical treatment and reduction of fatality.

Effects of traditional Chinese mind-body exercises for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a global public health concern. We performed this systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the effects and safety of traditional Chinese mind-body exercises (TCME) for patients with CFS. Methods: We comprehensively searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP databases, and Wanfang Data from inception to October 2022 for eligible RCTs of TCME for CFS management. We used Cochran's Q statistic and I2 to assess heterogeneity and conducted subgroup analyses based on different types of TCME, background therapy, and types of fatigue. We also assessed the quality of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. Results: We included 13 studies (n = 1187) with a maximal follow-up of 12 weeks. TCME included Qigong and Tai Chi. At the end of the treatment, compared with passive control, TCME probably reduces the severity of fatigue (standardised mean differences (SMD) = 0.85; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.64, 1.07, moderate certainty), depression (SMD = 0.53; 95% CI = 0.34, 0.72, moderate certainty), anxiety (SMD = 0.29; 95% CI = 0.11, 0.48, moderate certainty), sleep quality (SMD = 0.34; 95% CI = 0.10, 0.57, low certainty) and mental functioning (SMD = 0.90; 95% CI = 0.50, 1.29, low certainty). Compared with other active control therapies, TCME results in little to no difference in the severity of fatigue (SMD = 0.08; 95% CI = -0.18, 0.34, low certainty). For long-term outcomes, TCME may improve anxiety (SMD = 1.74; 95% CI = 0.44, 3.03, low certainty) compared to passive control. We did not identify TCME-related serious adverse events. Conclusions: In patients with CFS, TCME probably reduces post-intervention fatigue, depression, and anxiety and may improve sleep quality and mental function compared with passive control, but has limited long-term effects. These findings will help health professionals and patients with better clinical decision-making. Registration: PROSPERO: CRD42022329157.

PDMS/magnetic lignin sponge for oil/water separation.

Recyclable, non-toxic, and degradable biological substrates contribute significantly to super-wetting surfaces. In this work, we prepared magnetic micro-nano super-hydrophobic surfaces through a robust solution with magnetic modified lignin particles as the supporting structure. A novel PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane)/magnetic lignin particle (lignin@Fe3O4)/PDA sponge composite was fabricated. Through dopamine (DA) self-polymerization, covalent deposition of magnetic lignin (ML), and PDMS silane modification, the magnetic super-hydrophobic polyurethane sponge composite (Sponge-P) was synthesized so that the Fe3O4 nanoscale microspheres wrapped with microscale lignin magnetic particles adhered to the sponge surface tighter and were barely dislodged. The as-prepared Sponge-P displayed excellent flexibility and a water contact angle of up to 152.2°. The super-hydrophobic sponge prepared with the proposed method was acid-base stable (pH = 2-12), self-cleaning, and suitable for high-salinity seawater. The magnetic super-hydrophobic sponge has good oil-water separation ability and can absorb 43 times its own weight of oil. In the meantime, due to the introduction of magnetic materials into lignin, we not only constructed micro-nanostructures to improve the surface super-hydrophobicity, but also made Sponge-P have the function of magnetic recovery, which has a unique advantage in treating oily wastewater.

Innovative Strategy for the Control of Citrus Canker: Inhibitors Targeting the Type III Secretion System of Xanthomonas citri Subsp. citri.

To find potential type III secretion system (T3SS) inhibitors against citrus canker caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc), a new series of 5-phenyl-2-furan carboxylic acid derivatives stitched with 2-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole were designed and synthesized. Among the 30 compounds synthesized, 14 compounds significantly inhibited the promoter activity of a harpin gene hpa1. Eight of the 14 compounds did not affect the growth of Xcc, but significantly reduced the hypersensitive response (HR) of tobacco and decreased the pathogenicity of Xcc on citrus plants. Subsequent studies have demonstrated that these inhibitory molecules effectively suppress the T3SS of Xcc and significantly impair the pathogen's ability to subvert citrus immunity, resulting in a reduction in the level of disease progression. As a result, our work has identified a series of potentially attractive agents for the control of citrus canker.

Mechanically Robust Poly(vinyl alcohol)-Egg White Composite Hydrogel with Enhancing Biocompatibility by Unidirectional Nanopore Dehydration.

A simple and green method, unidirectional nanopore dehydration (UND), directly processes 10% poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) aqueous solution containing 20% egg white (EW) into a composite hydrogel membrane (PVA-EW). The tensile strength and elongation of the UND-based PVA-EW at 25 °C were 0.91 MPa and 534.17%, respectively, while the two values at 70 °C were increased by 700 and 38%, respectively. The PVA-EW (70 °C) was still dominated by random coils and α-helical structures. The hydroxyl groups of intramolecules and intermolecules of both PVA and EW could be able to combine and form either more hydrogen bonds or stronger hydrogen bonds. PVA-EW is soft and translucent, has good mechanical properties, and has a porous networked structure with pores that have a diameter of 1-10 µm. L-929 mouse fibroblasts were found to be able to adhere, grow, and proliferate well on the hydrogel composite membrane. This novel PVA-EW biomaterial has potential applications in biomaterials especially medical tissue engineering.

Iridium(III) complex induces apoptosis in HeLa cells by regulating mitochondrial and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways: In vitro and in vivo experiments.

Cyclometalated iridium complexes with mitochondrial targeting show great potential as substitutes for platinum-based complexes because of their strong anti-cancer properties. Three novel cyclometalated iridium(III) compounds were synthesized and evaluated in five different cell lines as part of the ongoing systematic investigations of these compounds. The complexes were prepared using 4,7-dichloro-1,10-phenanthroline ligands. The cytotoxicity of complexes Ir1-Ir3 towards HeLa cells was shown to be high, with IC50 values of 0.83±0.06, 4.73±0.11, and 4.95±0.62 µM, respectively. Complex Ir1 could be ingested by HeLa cells in 3 h and has shown high selectivity toward mitochondria. Subsequent investigations demonstrated that Ir1 triggered apoptosis in HeLa cells by augmenting the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), reducing the mitochondrial membrane potential, and depleting ATP levels. Furthermore, the movement of cells was significantly suppressed and the progression of the cell cycle was arrested in the G0/G1 phase following the administration of Ir1. The Western blot analysis demonstrated that the induction of apoptosis in HeLa cells by Ir1 involves the activation of the mitochondria-dependent channel and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. No significant cytotoxicity was observed in zebrafish embryos at concentrations less than or equal to 16 µM, e.g., survival rate and developmental abnormalities. In vivo, antitumor assay demonstrated that Ir1 suppressed tumor growth in mice. Therefore, our work shows that complex Ir1 could be a promising candidate for developing novel antitumor drugs.