A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Efficacy and Safety of Cilostazol Prescription in Patients With Femoropopliteal Peripheral Artery Disease After Endovascular Therapy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of cilostazol prescription in patients with femoropopliteal peripheral artery disease (PAD) after endovascular therapy (EVT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of all studies reporting the outcomes of cilostazol after femoropopliteal EVT of PAD up to September 2022. Clinical outcomes of interest included primary patency, in-stent restenosis (ISR), vessel re-occlusion, freedom from target lesion revascularization (TLR), repeat revascularization, all-cause mortality, amputation, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and major adverse limb events (MALEs), and bleeding complication. RESULTS: A total of 4 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 8 observational studies containing a total of 4898 patients met the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. We found that the use of cilostazol was associated with higher primary patency after femoropopliteal artery EVT (odds ratio [OR]=1.67, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.50-1.87, p<0.001, I2=33.2%), a lower risk of ISR (OR=0.43, 95% CI=0.29-0.63, p<0.001, I2=37.6%), repeat revascularization (OR=0.43, 95% CI=0.24-0.76, p<0.005, I2=27.4%), and vessel re-occlusion (OR=0.59, 95% CI=0.38-0.93, p<0.05, I2=0%). There was an increase in freedom from TLR rate (OR=2.19, 95% CI=1.58-3.05, p<0.001, I2=0%), as well as a reduction in the occurrence of MALEs (OR=0.50, 95% CI=0.29-0.85, p<0.05, I2=0%). However, there was no significant difference in amputation, MACEs, all-cause mortality, and major bleeding complications. Subgroup analysis showed that cilostazol treatment in patients with femoropopliteal drug-eluting stents (DES) implantation remained associated with higher primary patency and a lower risk of ISR. CONCLUSIONS: After EVT of femoropopliteal artery lesions, additional oral cilostazol enhances primary patency, reduces the occurrences of ISR and vessel re-occlusion, diminishes the risks associated with MALEs, lowers the need for repeat revascularization, and increases freedom from TLR rates. However, it does not impact amputation, MACEs, all-cause mortality, or major bleeding complications. These findings suggest cilostazol as a potentially safe and effective adjunct therapy in patients with femoropopliteal PAD after EVT. CLINICAL IMPACT: After undergoing endovascular therapy (EVT) for femoropopliteal artery lesions, the addition of cilostazol to antiplatelet therapy can significantly improve primary patency, reducing the incidence of in-stent restenosis, repeat revascularization, vessel re-occlusion, and major adverse limb events while increasing freedom from target lesion revascularization rate. The simultaneous use of drug-eluting stents in the femoropopliteal artery lesions, combined with cilostazol, potentially results in a synergistic anti-stenotic effect. This therapeutic approach does not appear to be associated with an increased risk of major bleeding events or all-cause mortality. These findings provide additional evidence supporting the treatment of anti-stenosis in patients with femoropopliteal artery lesions after EVT.

Discovery of Novel Macrocyclic MERTK/AXL Dual Inhibitors.

MERTK and AXL are members of the TAM (TYRO3, AXL, MERTK) family of receptor tyrosine kinases that are aberrantly expressed and have been implicated as therapeutic targets in a wide variety of human tumors. Dual MERTK and AXL inhibition could provide antitumor action mediated by both direct tumor cell killing and modulation of the innate immune response in some tumors such as nonsmall cell lung cancer. We utilized our knowledge of MERTK inhibitors and a structure-based drug design approach to discover a novel class of macrocyclic dual MERTK/AXL inhibitors. The lead compound 43 had low-nanomolar activity against both MERTK and AXL and good selectivity over TYRO3 and FLT3. Its target engagement and selectivity were also confirmed by NanoBRET and cell-based MERTK and AXL phosphorylation assays. Compound 43 had excellent pharmacokinetic properties (large AUC and long half-life) and mediated antitumor activity against lung cancer cell lines, indicating its potential as a therapeutic agent.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of short-term outcomes comparing the efficacy of robotic versus laparoscopic colorectal surgery in obese patients.

This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate and contrast the effectiveness of robotic-assisted and laparoscopic colorectal surgery in the treatment of obese patients. In February 2024, we carried out an exhaustive search of key global databases including PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar, limiting our focus to studies published in English and Chinese. We excluded reviews, protocols lacking published results, articles derived solely from conference abstracts, and studies not relevant to our research objectives. To analyze categorical variables, we utilized the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel method along with random-effects models, calculating inverse variances and presenting the outcomes as odds ratios (ORs) along with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Statistical significance was determined when p values were less than 0.05. In our final meta-analysis, we included eight cohort studies, encompassing a total of 5,004 patients. When comparing the robotic surgery group to the laparoscopic group, the findings revealed that the robotic group experienced a longer operative time (weighted mean difference (WMD) = 37.53 min, 95% (CI) 15.58-59.47; p = 0.0008), a shorter hospital stay (WMD = -0.68 days, 95% CI -1.25 to -0.10; p = 0.02), and reduced blood loss (WMD = -49.23 mL, 95% CI -64.31 to -34.14; p < 0.00001). No significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding overall complications, conversion rates, surgical site infections, readmission rates, lymph node yield, anastomotic leakage, and intestinal obstruction. The results of our study indicate that robot-assisted colorectal surgery offers benefits for obese patients by shortening the length of hospital stay and minimizing blood loss when compared to laparoscopic surgery. Nonetheless, it is associated with longer operation times and shows no significant difference in terms of overall complications, conversion rates, rehospitalization rates, and other similar metrics.

Deformable Smart DNA Nanomachine for Synergistic Intracellular Cancer-Related miRNAs Imaging and Chemo-Gene Therapy of Drug-Resistant Tumors.

Diagnosis and treatment of tumor especially drug-resistant tumor remains a huge challenge, which requires intelligent nanomedicines with low toxic side effects and high efficacy. Herein, deformable smart DNA nanomachines are developed for synergistic intracellular cancer-related miRNAs imaging and chemo-gene therapy of drug-resistant tumors. The tetrahedral DNA framework (MA-TDNA) with fluorescence quenched component and five antennas is self-assembled first, and then DOX molecules are loaded on the MA-TDNAs followed by linking MUC1-aptamer and Mcl-1 siRNA to the antennas of MA-TDNA, so that the apt-MA-TDNA@DOX-siRNA (DNA nanomachines) is constructed. The DNA nanomachine can respond to two tumor-related miRNAs in vitro and in vivo, which can undergo intelligent miRNA-triggered opening of the framework, resulting in the "turn on" of the fluorescence for sensitively and specifically sensing intracellular miRNAs. Meanwhile, both miRNA-responded rapid release and pH-responded release of DOX are achieved for chemotherapy of tumor. In addition, the gene therapy of the DNA nanomachines is achieved due to the miRNA-specific capture and the RNase H triggered release of Mcl-1 siRNA. The DNA nanomachines intergrading both tumor imaging and chemo-gene therapy in single nanostructures realized efficient tumor-targeted, image-guided, and microenvironment-responsive tumor diagnosis and treatment, which provides a synergetic antitumor effect on drug-resistant tumor.

Rapid and accurate SERS assay of disease-related nucleic acids based on isothermal cascade signal amplifications of CRISPR/Cas13a system and catalytic hairpin assembly.

Developing rapid, accurate and convenient nucleic acid diagnostic techniques is essential for the prevention and control of contagious diseases that are prone to gene mutations and may have homologous sequences, especially emerging infectious diseases such as the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Herein, a one-pot SERS assay integrating isothermal cascade signal amplification strategy (i.e., CRISPR/Cas13a system (Cas13a) and catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA), Cas13a-CHA) and SERS-active silver nanorods (AgNRs) sensing chips was proposed for rapid and accurate detection of disease-related nucleic acids. Taking SARS-CoV-2 RNA assay as a model, the Cas13a-CHA based SERS sensing strategy can achieve ultra-high sensitivity low to 5.18 × 102 copies·mL-1 within 60 min, and excellent specificity, i.e., not only the ability to identify SARS-CoV-2 RNA from gene mutations, but also incompatibility with coronaviruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV), and other respiratory viruses. The proposed Cas13a-CHA based SERS assay for SARS-CoV-2 RNA has satisfactory sensitivity, specificity, uniformity, and repeatability, and can be easily expanded and universalized for screening different viruses, which is expected to promise as a crucial role for diagnosis of disease-related nucleic acids in various medical application scenarios.

Aging CsPbBr3 Nanocrystal Wafer for Ultralow Ionic Migration and Environmental Stability for Direct X-ray Detection.

The outstanding photoelectric properties of perovskites demonstrate extreme promise for application in X-ray detection. However, the soft lattice of the perovskite results in severe ionic migration for three-dimensional materials, limiting the operation stability of perovskite X-ray detectors. Although ligand-decorated nanocrystals (NCs) exhibit significantly higher stability than three-dimensional perovskites, defects remaining on the interface of NCs could still trigger halide migration under a high bias due to the incomplete ligand decoration. Furthermore, it is still challenging to realize sufficient thickness of absorption layers based on NCs for X-ray detectors through traditional methods. Herein, we develop a centimeter-size and millimeter-thick wafer based on CsPbBr3 NCs through isostatic pressing for X-ray detectors, in which the interfacial defects of NCs are remedied by CsPb2Br5 during aging of wafer in ambient humidity. The wafer shows outstanding sensitivity (200 µC Gyair-1 cm-2) and ultralow dark current drift (1.78 × 10-8 nA cm-1 s-1 V-1 @ 400 V cm-1). Moreover, it shows storage stability with negligible performance degradation for 60 days in ambient humidity. Thus, aging perovskite NC wafers for X-ray detection holds huge potential for next-generation X-ray imaging plates.

Effects of glutaraldehyde and povidone-iodine on apoptosis of grass carp liver and hepatocytes.

Since disinfectants are used all over the world to treat illnesses in people and other animals, they pose a major risk to human health. The comprehensive effects of disinfectant treatments on fish liver, especially the impacts on oxidative stress, toxicological effects, transcriptome profiles, and apoptosis, have not yet been fully analyzed. In the current investigation, healthy grass carp were exposed to 80 µg/L glutaraldehyde or 50 µg/L povidone-iodine for 30 days. First, the findings of enzyme activity tests demonstrated that the administration of glutaraldehyde could considerably increase oxidative stress by lowering T-SOD, CAT, and GPx and raising MDA. Furthermore, KEGG research revealed that exposure to glutaraldehyde and povidone-iodine stimulated the PPAR signal pathway. To further elucidate the transcriptome results, the relative expressions of related DEGs in the PPAR signal pathway were verified. Glutaraldehyde induced apoptosis in liver tissue of grass carp; however, it activated cytotoxicity and apoptosis in grass carp hepatocytes when exposed to glutaraldehyde or povidone-iodine. According to the current study, disinfectants can cause the impairment of the immune system, oxidative stress, and attenuation of the PPAR signal pathway in the liver of grass carp, making them detrimental as dietary supplements for grass carp, particularly in the aquaculture sector.

Quaternary ammonium cations conjugated 5,15-diaryltetranaphtho[2,3]porphyrins as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy.

In quest for new photosensitizers (PSs) with remarkable antitumor photodynamic efficacy, a series of fifteen quaternary ammonium (QA) cations conjugated 5,15-diaryltetranaphtho[2,3]porphyrins (Ar2TNPs) was synthesized and evaluated in vitro and in vivo to understand how variations in the length of the alkoxy group and the kind of QA cations on meso-phenyl influence the photodynamic antitumor activity. All final compounds (I1-5, II1-5, and III1-5) exhibited robust absorption at 729 nm with significant bathochromic shift and high molar extinction coefficients (1.16 × 105-1.41 × 105 M-1 cm-1), as well as other absorptions at 445, 475, 651, and 714 nm for tumors and other diseases of diverse sizes and depths. Upon exposure to 474 nm light, they displayed intense fluorescence emission with fluorescence quantum yields ranging from 0.32 to 0.43. The ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) was also quantified, attaining a maximum rate of up to 0.0961 s-1. The IC50 values of all the compounds regarding phototoxicity and dark toxicity were determined using KYSE-150 cells, and the phototoxicity indices were calculated. Among these compounds, III1 demonstrated the highest phototoxic index with minimal dark toxicity, and suppressed successfully the growth of esophageal carcinoma xenograft with favorable tolerance in vivo. Furthermore, the histological results showed III1-mediated PDT had a significant cytotoxic effect on the tumor. These outcomes underscore the potential of III1 as a highly effective antitumor photosensitizer drug in photodynamic therapy (PDT).

High-Performance and Stable Perovskite X-ray Detection and Imaging Based on a Ti Cathode.

High-energy radiation detectors with a good imaging resolution, fast response, and high sensitivity are desired to operate at a high electric field. However, strong ion migration triggered by electrochemical reactions at the interface between a high-potential electrode and an organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite limits the stability of radiation detectors under a high electric field. Herein, we demonstrate that such ion migration could be effectively suppressed in devices with a Ti cathode, even at a high electric field of 50 V mm-1, through time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy illustrates that Ti-N bonds formed at the interface of MAPbBr3 perovskite single crystals/Ti electrode effectively inhibit the electrochemical reaction in organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite devices and ultimately improve the operating stability under a high electric field. The device with a Ti electrode reaches a high sensitivity of 96 ± 1 mC Gyair-1 cm-2 and a low detection limit of 2.8 ± 0.3 nGy s-1 under hard X-ray energy.

Synthesis and photodynamic activity of novel thieno[3,2-b]thiophene fused BODIPYs with good bio-solubility and anti-aggregation effect.

To discover new photosensitizers with long wavelength UV-visible absorption, high efficiency, and low side effects for photodynamic therapy, here, a series of novel thieno[3,2-b]thiophene-fused BODIPY derivatives were designed, synthesized and characterized. These compounds had a distinct absorption band at 640-680 nm, fluorescence emission at 650-760 nm, and good solubility with anti-aggregation effects. These new compounds possessed obvious singlet oxygen generation ability and photodynamic anti-Eca-109 cancer cells activities in vitro. Among them, compound II4 could be well uptaked by Eca-109 cells, and result in the apoptosis after laser irradiation, and have outstanding photodynamic efficiency both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, II4 could be considered as a potential photosensitizer drug candidate for PDT and photo-imaging.

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of 5,15-diaryltetranaphtho [2,3]porphyrins as photosensitizers in real-time photodynamic therapy and photodiagnosis.

In the pursuit of new potent photosensitizers (PSs) for photodynamic therapy (PDT) with better efficacy, a series of 5,15-diaryltetranaphtho [2,3]porphyrins (Ar2TNPs) with two or four carboxyalkoxy groups were designed, synthesized, and evaluated. These new compounds exhibited strong, broad and red-shifted UV-vis absorptions at 729 nm and other strong absorptions at 446, 475, 650, 659, 714 nm for tumors and other diseases of varying sizes and depths. They possess high molar extinction coefficients (0.95 × 105-1.48 × 105 M-1 cm-1), good singlet oxygen quantum yields and photodynamic antitumor effects towards Eca-109 cells in vitro. It is suggested that the extension of porphyrin with naphthalene into Ar2TNP results into remarkable improvement of photophysical characteristics, while the introduction of carboxyalkoxy groups on meso-phenyl can significantly improve the solubility and photodynamic effects in vitro and in vivo. Notably, compound II3 can localize primarily in lysosomes of Eca-109 cells and induce substantial cell apoptosis after PDT. It can also selectively accumulate in tumor tissues and be traced real-timely through in vivo fluorescence imaging with distinctive inhibition of tumor growth. Therefore, compound II3 deserves to be considered as a promising PDT drug candidate for individualized tumor real-time tracing and treatment.

Synthesis and evaluation of novel meso-substitutedphenyl dithieno[3,2-b]thiophene-fused BODIPY derivatives as efficient photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy.

The discovery of new photosensitizer drugs with long wavelength Uv-vis absorption, high efficiency and low side-effects is still a challenge in photodynamic therapy. Here a series of novel meso-substitutedphenyl thieno[3,2-b]thiophene-fused BODIPY derivatives were designed, synthesized and characterized. All these compounds have strong absorption at 640-680 nm and obvious fluorescence emission at 650-760 nm. They exhibited high singlet oxygen generation ability and significant photodynamic efficiency against Eca-109 cancer cells. Compounds II4, II6, II9, II10 and II13 could generate intracellular ROS and induce cell apoptosis after laser irradiation, which displayed superior photodynamic efficiency against Eca-109 cells than Temoporfin in vitro and in vivo. Among them, compound II4 specifically exhibited excellent anti-tumor efficacy, and could be selected as a new drug candidate for PDT.

pH-responsive Photinia glabra-zinc oxide-protoporphyrin IX nanoconjugates with enhanced cellular uptake for photodynamic therapy towards cancer cells.

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer has been limited by the poor solubility of most photosensitizers, use of high drug dosages, and the pH difference between the tumor tissue microenvironment (slightly acidic) and the bloodstream. These affect cellular uptake, selectivity and singlet oxygen generation. Materials & methods: We formulated Photinia glabra-green synthesized zinc oxide-protoporphyrin IX (PG-ZnO-PP) nanoconjugates by conjugating the ZnO nanoparticles enriched with amino groups and PP. Results: PG-ZnO-PP nanoconjugates showed higher rate of reactive oxygen species generation, improved cellular uptake in the acidic pH and lower IC50 toward Eca-109 cells for PDT. Conclusion: PG-ZnO-PP nanoconjugates are a potential solution to reducing drug dosage of PP through improved drug uptake, for enhanced targetability and reduced skin photosensitivity with improved PDT efficacy.

The progress of treating cancer using light-sensitive drugs and laser light of known wavelength has been limited by the poor solubility of most light-sensitive drugs, the use of high drug dosages and the slightly acidic environment within the cancerous tissues compared with normal blood in the body. These affect the ability of drugs to accumulate in cancerous cells, and not the normal cells, and the ability to produce the oxygen species that are toxic to the cancerous cells. In this paper, we prepared nanoparticles from zinc acetate using Photinia glabra (PG) fruit extract which were then used to chemically react with a light-sensitive drug called protoporphyrin IX (PP) to formulate small particles known as PG­zinc oxide (ZnO)­PP nanoconjugates. Our results showed that PG­ZnO­PP nanoconjugates had the ability to produce the toxic oxygen particles at a high rate and in good quantity. They also had a higher capability to accumulate in the cancerous cells at a pH below 7 with lower values of the drug needed to cause 50% of cell death toward the cancerous cells which affect the tube that connects from the throat to the stomach when projected with laser light. We could consider PG­ZnO­PP nanoconjugates to serve as a potential solution for reducing the dosage of PP needed to treat cancer in the presence of laser light, and at the same time they can help to reduce the skin-related side effects for patients after treatment when exposed to light.

Exosome-delivered circRNA circSYT15 contributes to cisplatin resistance in cervical cancer cells through the miR-503-5p/RSF1 axis.

The development of chemotherapy resistance is a major obstacle for cervical cancer (CC) patients. Exosome-mediated transfer of circular RNAs (circRNAs) was found to have relevance to the CC. This study is designed to explore the role and mechanism of exosomal circRNA synaptotagmin 15 (circSYT15) on cisplatin (DDP) resistance in CC. Cell proliferation ability and apoptosis rate were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), colony formation, and flow cytometry assays. CircSYT15, microRNA-503-5p (miR-503-5p), Remodeling spacing factor 1 (RSF1) levels were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Exosomes were analyzed by a transmission electron microscope and nanoparticle tracking analysis. CD63, CD81, TSC101, Bcl-2, Bax, C-caspase 3, and RSF1 protein levels were examined by western blot assay. The binding between miR-503-5p and circSYT15 or RSF1 was predicted by circBank or Starbase and then verified by a dual-luciferase reporter and RNA Immunoprecipitation (RIP). The biological role of exosomal circSYT15 in DDP resistance of CC in vivo. CircSYT15 was upregulated in the DDP-resistant CC cells and exosomes isolated from DDP-resistant CC cells. CircSYT15 knockdown repressed the proliferation and drug resistance of CC and induced apoptosis in CC cells. Exosomes shuttled circSYT15 act as a sponge to affect RSF1 expression, thereby promoting proliferation and drug resistance and repressing apoptosis of sensitive CC cells. Exosomal circSYT15 boost DDP resistance of cervical cancer in vivo. Exosome-mediated transfer of circSYT15 enhanced DDP resistance in CC partly by targeting the miR-503-5p/RSF1 axis, providing a foundation for future clinical applications of CC drug resistance.

Ultrasensitive and Robust CsPbBr3 Single-Crystal X-ray Detectors Based on Interface Engineering.

Halide lead perovskites have shown great development in recent years for ionizing radiation detection. However, the bias-induced interfacial electrochemical reaction between the perovskite and electrode severely deteriorates detector performance. We report that BCP strongly interacts with Al and constructs a stable Al-BCP chelating interface, resulting in the suppression of a detrimental electrochemical reaction. The fabricated Au/Al/BCP/C60/CsPbBr3/Au detector shows a low dark current of 3 nA with a stable baseline at an extremely high bias of 100 V (∼100 V mm-1). The superior high-bias stability enables a high sensitivity of 7.3 × 104 µC Gyair-1 cm-2 at 100 V. Meanwhile, a low detection limit of 15 nGyair s-1 at 40 V is achieved due to the reduced noise. The outstanding performance of our device exceeds that of most advanced detectors based on CsPbBr3 single crystals. Besides, X-ray imaging with 1 mm spatial resolution is well demonstrated at a low dose rate of 200 nGyair s-1. The interfacial chelating strategy overcomes the technical limitation of bias-induced instability of perovskite radiation detectors and can be anticipated to operate under an extremely high electrical field.

The Use of Multidimensional Nomial Logistic Model and Structural Equation Model in the Validation of the 14-Item Health-Literacy Scale in Chinese Patients Living with Type 2 Diabetes.

Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the 14-item health literacy scale (HL-14) in patients living with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in clinical setting. Methods: Cross-sectional study using item response theory and structural equation modeling (SEM) for testing the item difficulty and three dimensional-HL configurations was adopted in this study. Chinese patients living with T2DM admitted to endocrinology department of Huadong hospital were evaluated by the HL-14 including communication, functional and critical health literacy from August to December 2021. Results: The multidimensional random coefficients multinomial logistic model indicated the difficulty settings of the scale are appropriate for the study populations, and differential item functioning was not observed for sex in the study. SEM demonstrated that the three-dimensional configuration of the scale is good in the study population (x2/df=2.698, Comparative Fit Index = 0.965, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.076, standard residual mean root = 0.042). Conclusion: The HL-14 scale is a reliable and valid measurement, which can perform equitably across sex in evaluating the health literacy in Chinese patients living with T2DM. Moreover, the scale may help fill the gaps of multidimensional health literacy assessment and rapid screening of health literacy ability for clinical practice.

Antibacterial and anticancer activities of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles using Photinia glabra fruit extract.

Aims: We prepared Photinia glabra (PG) aqueous fruit extract, utilized it to synthesize silver nanoparticles (PG-Ag NPs) and evaluated the antibacterial and anticancer activities of the nanoparticles (NPs). Materials & methods: Silver nitrate aqueous solution was reduced to PG-Ag NPs using aqueous PG fruit extract. NP shape, size, composition and functionalization were determined using transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared and x-ray diffraction. Results & conclusions: PG-Ag NPs were spherical, approximately 39-77 nm-sized, functionalized surfaces with notable antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, with an MIC <30 ug/ml and cytotoxicity toward esophageal cancer cells, with IC50 values less than 20 ug/ml. PG-Ag@rt NPs have been shown to be a potent antibacterial and anticancer agent, and their enriched particle surfaces can be conjugated with other compounds for multibiomedical applications.

The present study reports for the first time the preparation of Photinia glabra (PG) aqueous fruit extract and its use for the synthesis of smaller silver particles (PG-Ag NPs) from bulk aqueous silver nitrate solution (AgNO₃). The preparation followed the reduction ability of PG fruit extract phytochemical under different preparation conditions: at room temperature (PG-Ag@rt), at 70°C (PG-Ag@70) and in the presence of cerium oxide at 70°C (PG-Ag+CeO₂@70). The prepared smaller particles were found using transmission electron microscopy to be spherical in shape with sizes 39, 77 and 44 nm for PG-Ag@rt, PG-Ag@70 and PG-Ag+CeO₂@70, respectively. The NPs contained different functional groups on their surfaces due to the capping ability of PG fruit extract components. Among all, PG-Ag@rt NPs showed strongest antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with MIC 7.0 µg/ml and 28.0 µg/ml, respectively, and commendable anticancer activity toward Eca-109 cancer cells with IC₅₀ less than 20 ug/ml.

Whole brain inputs to major descending pathways of the anterior lateral motor cortex.

The anterior lateral motor cortex (ALM) is critical to subsequent correct movements and plays a vital role in predicting specific future movements. Different descending pathways of the ALM are preferentially involved in different roles in movements. However, the circuit function mechanisms of these different pathways may be concealed in the anatomy circuit. Clarifying the anatomy inputs of these pathways should provide some helpful information for elucidating these function mechanisms. Here, we used a retrograde trans-synaptic rabies virus to systematically generate, analyze, and compare whole brain maps of inputs to the thalamus (TH)-, medulla oblongata (Med)-, superior colliculus (SC)-, and pontine nucleus (Pons)-projecting ALM neurons in C57BL/6J mice. Fifty-nine separate regions from nine major brain areas projecting to the descending pathways of the ALM were identified. Brain-wide quantitative analyses revealed identical whole brain input patterns between these descending pathways. Most inputs to the pathways originated from the ipsilateral side of the brain, with most innervations provided by the cortex and TH. The contralateral side of the brain also sent sparse projections, but these were rare, emanating only from the cortex and cerebellum. Nevertheless, the inputs received by TH-, Med-, SC-, and Pons-projecting ALM neurons had different weights, potentially laying an anatomical foundation for understanding the diverse functions of well-defined descending pathways of the ALM. Our findings provide anatomical information to help elucidate the precise connections and diverse functions of the ALM.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Distinct descending pathways of anterior lateral motor cortex (ALM) share common inputs. These inputs are with varied weights. Most inputs were from the ipsilateral side of brain. Preferential inputs were provided by cortex and thalamus (TH).

Foliar spray of La2O3 nanoparticles regulates the growth, antioxidant parameters, and nitrogen metabolism of fragrant rice seedlings in wet and dry nurseries.

Nanoparticles (NPs) have been widely used in agriculture, and lanthanum oxide nanoparticles (La2O3) NPs can regulate plant growth. La2O3 NPs treatment was hypothesized to affect the accumulation and distribution of substances in rice seedlings under wet and dry nursery conditions. The objective of the present study was to ascertain the effects of La2O3 NPs foliar spray on the morphology and physiology of fragrant rice seedlings under wet and dry nursery conditions. Seedlings of two fragrant rice cultivars, namely 'Xiangyaxiangzhan' and 'Yuxiangyouzhan,' were grown under wet and dry nursery conditions with La2O3 NPs treatments at three concentrations (CK, La2O3 NPs 0 mg L-1; T1, La2O3 NPs 20 mg L-1; and T2, La2O3 NPs 40 mg L-1). The results showed that the seedling-raising method was significantly associated with La2O3 NPs application (P < 0.05), affecting the leaf area of both cultivars. Changes in plant morphological parameters, such as dry weight and root-shoot ratio, were the reasons for the differences in cultivars in response to La2O3 NPs application. Changes were also observed in the plant morphological and physiological parameters of leaf area, specific leaf area, chlorophyll contents, antioxidant properties, and activities of nitrogen metabolism enzymes. The relationship between morphological and physiological processes in fragrant rice was investigated to test the hypothesis. In both wet and dry nursery methods, the T2 concentration of La2O3 NPs was beneficial for rice seedlings and significantly increased their leaf area due to changes in morphological and physiological parameters. Therefore, the results of this study provide a theoretical basis for expanding the research on La2O3 NPs application in rice, as well as relevant references for strengthening rice seedlings in the nursery, which has a positive effect on the grain yield improvement in fragrant rice.