On-device phase engineering.

In situ tailoring of two-dimensional materials' phases under external stimulus facilitates the manipulation of their properties for electronic, quantum and energy applications. However, current methods are mainly limited to the transitions among phases with unchanged chemical stoichiometry. Here we propose on-device phase engineering that allows us to realize various lattice phases with distinct chemical stoichiometries. Using palladium and selenide as a model system, we show that a PdSe2 channel with prepatterned Pd electrodes can be transformed into Pd17Se15 and Pd4Se by thermally tailoring the chemical composition ratio of the channel. Different phase configurations can be obtained by precisely controlling the thickness and spacing of the electrodes. The device can be thus engineered to implement versatile functions in situ, such as exhibiting superconducting behaviour and achieving ultralow-contact resistance, as well as customizing the synthesis of electrocatalysts. The proposed on-device phase engineering approach exhibits a universal mechanism and can be expanded to 29 element combinations between a metal and chalcogen. Our work highlights on-device phase engineering as a promising research approach through which to exploit fundamental properties as well as their applications.

Integrin αvß3 and LHRH Receptor Double Directed Nano-Analogue Effective Against Ovarian Cancer in Mice Model.

Introduction: The high mortality rate of malignant ovarian cancer is attributed to the absence of effective early diagnosis methods. The LHRH receptor is specifically overexpressed in most ovarian cancers, and the integrin αvß3 receptor is also overexpressed on the surface of ovarian cancer cells. In this study, we designed LHRH analogues (LHRHa)/RGD co-modified paclitaxel liposomes (LHRHa-RGD-LP-PTX) to target LHRH receptor-positive ovarian cancers more effectively and enhance the anti-ovarian cancer effects. Methods: LHRHa-RGD-LP-PTX liposomes were prepared using the thin film hydration method. The morphology, physicochemical properties, cellular uptake, and cell viability were assessed. Additionally, the cellular uptake mechanism of the modified liposomes was investigated using various endocytic inhibitors. The inhibitory effect of the formulations on tumor spheroids was observed under a microscope. The co-localization with lysosomes was visualized using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and the in vivo tumor-targeting ability of the formulations was assessed using the IVIS fluorescent imaging system. Finally, the in vivo anti-tumor efficacy of the formulations was evaluated in the armpits of BALB/c nude mice. Results: The results indicated that LHRHa-RGD-LP-PTX significantly enhanced cellular uptake in A2780 cells, increased cytotoxicity, and hand a more potent inhibitory effect on tumor spheroids of A2780 cells. It also showed enhanced co-localization with endosomes or lysosome in A2780 cells, improved tumor-targeting capability, and demonstrated an enhanced anti-tumor effect in LHRHR-positive ovarian cancers. Conclusion: The designed LHRHa-RGD-LP-PTX liposomes significantly enhanced the tumor-targeting ability and therapeutic efficacy for LHRH receptor-positive ovarian cancers.

Eosinophil extracellular traps in eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis induce Charcot-Leyden crystal formation and eosinophil recruitment.

Eosinophil extracellular traps (EETs) are implicated in various eosinophil-associated diseases; however, their role in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) remains unclear. In the present study, 57 CRS patients were enrolled, and immunofluorescence was used to analyze EETs in eosinophilic (eCRS) and non-eosinophilic (Non-eCRS) tissues. MSD was used to examine IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 concentrations in tissue homogenates. Charcot-Leyden crystals (CLCs) protein expression was detected in PMA, PMA+DNase I, and blank control eosinophils using ELISA. Eotaxin-3 mRNA and protein levels were measured in human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) cultured with EETs, EETs+DNase I, DNase I, and unstimulated eosinophils using PCR and ELISA. EETs were significantly increased in eCRS tissues compared with Non-eCRS (P<0.001), and correlated with VAS and Lund-Mackay CT scores. IL-5 expression was related to EETs formation (r = 0.738, P<0.001). PMA-stimulated eosinophils exhibited higher CLCs protein levels (P<0.01). Co-culturing HNECs with EETs significantly increased eotaxin-3 mRNA and protein levels (P<0.0001, P<0.001) compared with other groups. The study suggests EETs formation is elevated in eCRS patients and is involved in CLCs formation and chemokine secretion, promoting eosinophilic inflammation.

Targeting the adenosine signaling pathway in macrophages for cancer immunotherapy.

One of the ways in which macrophages support tumorigenic growth is by producing adenosine, which acts to dampen antitumor immune responses and is generated by both tumor and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Two cell surface expressed molecules, CD73 and CD39, boost catalytic adenosine triphosphate, leading to further increased adenosine synthesis, under hypoxic circumstances in the TME. There are four receptors (A1, A2A, A2B, and A3) expressed on macrophages that allow adenosine to perform its immunomodulatory effect. Researchers have shown that adenosine signaling is a key factor in tumor progression and an attractive therapeutic target for treating cancer. Several antagonistic adenosine-targeting biological therapies that decrease the suppressive action of tumor-associated macrophages have been produced and explored to transform this result from basic research into a therapeutic advantage. Here, we'll review the newest findings from studies of pharmacological compounds that target adenosine receptors, and their potential therapeutic value based on blocking the suppressive action of macrophages in tumors.

Picture book reading improves children's learning understanding.

Mental state reasoning is an integral part of children's teaching and learning understanding. This study investigated whether a picture book reading approach focusing on mental state discourse and contrasting perspectives in a preschool classroom setting would improve children's teaching and learning understanding and school readiness. In total, 104 children from four classrooms aged between 46 and 64 months (53 girls, M = 54.03 months, SD = 3.68) participated in the study. Half of the classrooms were randomly assigned to an experimental group where teachers read picture books rich in mental state discourse and engaged in intensive discussions with children for eight weeks. Children's false belief understanding and teaching and learning understanding were measured before and after the eight-week period. The result revealed that picture book reading improved children's learning understanding with a medium effect size, controlling for demographic variables, children's verbal ability, inhibition, and initial false belief understanding. The experimental group children further demonstrated more advanced school readiness 18 months after the intervention ended in a follow-up study using a teacher questionnaire.

Patterns of Olfactory Impairment Among Patients with Uncontrolled Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

OBJECTIVES: Self-reported olfactory dysfunction is an assessment component criterion for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) disease control of the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps (EPOS). No studies have objectively explored olfactory function across different psychophysical olfactory domains among patients with uncontrolled CRS. We aimed to investigate the patterns of olfactory impairment in patients with uncontrolled CRS with Sniffin' Sticks test. METHODS: A total of 79 patients with CRS were prospectively recruited and assessed for disease control based on the EPOS criteria. Sniffin' Sticks test scores, olfactory cleft computed tomography (CT) scores, olfactory cleft endoscopy scale (OCES), questionnaire of olfactory disorders-negative statements (QOD-NS), and sinonasal outcome test-22 (SNOT-22) were obtained. Multiple logistic regression was applied to explore risk factors of uncontrolled CRS. RESULTS: Twenty-six percent of patients with CRS presented with uncontrolled status. The odor threshold (OT) (p = 0.005), odor identification (OI) (p = 0.041), and thresholds-discrimination-identification (TDI) (p = 0.029) scores were significantly lower in patients with uncontrolled CRS when compared with patients with controlled CRS. Furthermore, patients with uncontrolled CRS presented with a significantly increased percentage of anosmia (p = 0.014), olfactory cleft CT score (p = 0.038), OCES (p = 0.016), QOD-NS(p = 0.008), and SNOT-22 (p < 0.001) scores than patients with controlled CRS. After adjusting for patient demographics, as for the subdomain of olfaction, only the OT score was an independent risk factor for uncontrolled CRS (odds ratio = 0.604; p = 0.030). The OT scores less than 5.950 were the best predictor of uncontrolled CRS. CONCLUSION: Patients with uncontrolled CRS demonstrated distinct patterns of olfactory impairment, and a reduced olfactory threshold was highly associated with uncontrolled CRS. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:2341-2348, 2024.

Single-cell integrated transcriptomics reveals the role of keratinocytes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a prevalent malignant tumor with significant morbidity and mortality. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of HNSCC and identifying prognostic markers and therapeutic targets are crucial for improving patient outcomes. In this study, we utilized single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA-seq data to comprehensively analyze HNSCC at the cellular level. We identified keratinocytes as the predominant cell type in tumor samples, suggesting their potential role in HNSCC development. Through hdWGCNA co-expression network analysis, we identified gene modules associated with HNSCC progression. Furthermore, we constructed a prognostic model based on specific genes and demonstrated its robust predictive performance in multiple datasets. The model exhibited strong correlations with immune cell infiltration patterns and signaling pathways related to tumor progression. Additionally, drug sensitivity analysis revealed potential chemotherapeutic targets for HNSCC treatment. Our findings provide valuable insights into the molecular characteristics and immune microenvironment of HNSCC, offering new perspectives for prognosis prediction and therapeutic interventions in clinical practice. Further research is warranted to validate and expand upon these findings, ultimately improving patient outcomes in HNSCC.

Clinical Observation of Various Types of Idiopathic Hypertrophic Cranial Pachymeningitis.

BACKGROUND: To assist doctors in making better treatment decisions and improve patient prognosis, it is important to determine which therapy modalities are suitable for various forms of idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis (IHCP). METHODS: All cases were received from the hospital medical record system, and some follow-up information was gathered through telephone follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 26 patients, 14 men and 12 women, with ages ranging from 20 to 73 years and a mean of 47.42 years, were included in the research. Regular types were less likely to recur than irregular and nodular types, focal types were less likely to recur than diffuse types, and corticosteroid-refractory types were more likely to recur than corticosteroid-sensitive types. CONCLUSIONS: The extent and shape of the lesion and susceptibility to corticosteroids are potential factors that could influence recurrence. Futhermore, this paper also proposes the fibroblasts as a new therapeutic target which may improve the quality of prognostic survival of patients.

Bulk-local-density-of-state correspondence in topological insulators.

In the quest to connect bulk topological quantum numbers to measurable parameters in real materials, current established approaches often necessitate specific conditions, limiting their applicability. Here we propose and demonstrate an approach to link the non-trivial hierarchical bulk topology to the multidimensional partition of local density of states (LDOS), denoted as the bulk-LDOS correspondence. In finite-size topologically nontrivial photonic crystals, we observe the LDOS partitioned into three distinct regions: a two-dimensional interior bulk area, a one-dimensional edge region, and zero-dimensional corner sites. Contrarily, topologically trivial cases exhibit uniform LDOS distribution across the entire two-dimensional bulk area. Our findings provide a general framework for distinguishing topological insulators and uncovering novel aspects of topological directional band-gap materials, even in the absence of in-gap states.

An Emerging Role of Extracellular Traps in Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a complicated, heterogeneous disease likely caused by inflammatory and infectious factors. There is clear evidence that innate immune cells, including neutrophils and eosinophils, play a significant role in CRS. Multiple immune cells, including neutrophils and eosinophils, have been shown to release chromatin and granular proteins into the extracellular space in response to triggering extracellular traps (ETs). The formation of ETs remains controversial due to their critical function during pathogen clearance while being associated with harmful inflammatory illnesses. This article summarizes recent research on neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and eosinophil extracellular traps (EETs) and their possible significance in the pathophysiology of CRS. RECENT FINDINGS: A novel type of programmed cell death called ETosis, which releases ETs, has been proposed by recent study. Significantly more NETs are presented in nasal polyps, and its granule proteins LL-37 induce NETs production in CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) patients. Similar to NETs, developed in the tissue of nasal polyps, primarily in subepithelial regions with epithelial barrier defects, and are associated with linked to elevated tissue levels of IL-5 and S. aureus colonization. This article provides a comprehensive overview of NETs and EETs, as well as an in-depth understanding of the functions of these ETs in CRS.

Linc01116 Silencing Inhibits the Proliferation and Invasion, Promotes Apoptosis of Chordoma Cells via Regulating the Expression of Mir-9-5p/Pkg1.

BACKGROUND: Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1116 (LINC01116) plays a carcinogenic role in a variety of cancers. The study aims to investigate the roles of LINC01116 and hsa-miR-9-5p (miR-9-5p) and fathom their interaction in chordoma. METHOD: The predicted binding sites between miR-9-5p with LINC01116 and phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) by starBase were confirmed through dual-luciferase reporter assay. The behaviors of chordoma cells undergoing transfection with siLINC01116 or miR-9-5p inhibitor were determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation, Transwell, and flow cytometry assays. The glucose consumption, lactate production, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production of chordoma cells were examined with specific kits. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were performed to determine relevant gene expressions in chordoma cells. RESULTS: Silencing of LINC01116 facilitated the apoptosis and expressions of Bcl-2- associated X (Bax), cleaved caspase-3 (C caspase-3) and miR-9-5p while repressing the cell cycle, viability, proliferation, invasion, glucose consumption, lactate production, ATP production, and expressions of PGK1 and Bcl-2. Meanwhile, LINC01116 sponged miR-9-5p, which could target PGK1. Moreover, the miR-9-5p inhibitor acted contrarily and reversed the role of siLINC01116 in chordoma cells. Besides, LINC01116 downregulation facilitated apoptosis and attenuated the proliferation and invasion of chordoma cells as well as PGK1 expression by upregulating miR-9-5p expression. CONCLUSION: LINC01116/miR-9-5p plays a regulatory role in the progression of chordoma cells and is a potential biomarker for chordoma.

Disturbed microbiota-metabolites-immune interaction network is associated with olfactory dysfunction in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

Purpose: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is a debilitating symptom frequently reported by patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and it is associated with a dysregulated sinonasal inflammation. However, little information is available about the effect of the inflammation-related nasal microbiota and related metabolites on the olfactory function in these patients. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the nasal microbiota-metabolites-immune interactions and their role in the pathogenesis of OD in CRS patients. Methods: 23 and 19 CRS patients with and without OD, respectively, were enrolled in the present study. The "Sniffin' Sticks" was used to measure the olfactory function, while the metagenomic shotgun sequencing and the untargeted metabolite profiling were performed to assess the differences in terms of the nasal microbiome and metabolome between the two groups. The levels of nasal mucus inflammatory mediators were investigated by a multiplex flow Cytometric Bead Array (CBA). Results: A decreased diversity in the nasal microbiome from the OD group compared to the NOD group was evidenced. The metagenomic analysis revealed a significant enrichment of Acinetobacter johnsonii in the OD group, while Mycoplasma arginini, Aeromonas dhakensis, and Salmonella enterica were significantly less represented (LDA value > 3, p < 0.05). The nasal metabolome profiles were significantly different between the OD and NOD groups (P < 0.05). The purine metabolism was the most significantly enriched metabolic subpathway in OD patients compared with NOD patients (P < 0.001). The expressions of IL-5, IL-8, MIP-1α, MCP-1, and TNF were statistically and significantly increased in the OD group (P < 0.05). All these data, including the dysregulation of the nasal microbiota, differential metabolites, and elevated inflammatory mediators in OD patients demonstrated a clear interaction relationship. Conclusion: The disturbed nasal microbiota-metabolite-immune interaction networks may be implicated in the pathogenesis of OD in CRS patients and the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms need to be further investigated in future studies.

MiR-29a-3p promotes nasal epithelial barrier dysfunction via direct targeting of CTNNB1-VCL module in allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is resulted from immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated reactions to inhaled allergens which elicit mucosal inflammation and impair epithelial barrier integrity. However, whether miR-29a-3p as an epigenetic regulator that can contribute to epithelial barrier dysfunction in the pathogenesis of AR, and its underlying mechanism remians unclear. In this study, we discovered that miR-29a-3p was upregulated in AR patients and preferentially expressed in epithelial and glandular cells of nasal mucosa. VCL and CTNNB1, candidate target genes of miR-29a-3p, were predicted with several databases, including miRDB, miRanda, microT-CDS and TargetScan, and were validated through dual-luciferase reporter assay system. These two proteins were strongly associated with adherens junction (AJ) and tight junction (TJ) of nasal mucosa epithelial cells, in which played vital roles in mucosal integrity and nasal epithelial barrier function stability. Results for HNEpC culture and in vitro treatment experiments showed that expression of VCL and CTNNB1 were inhibited by miR-29a-3p mimic and were enhanced by miR-29a-3p inhibitor. In OVA-induced AR mice model, the expression pattern of miR-29a-3p and its target genes (Vcl and Ctnnb1) were consistent with the aforementioned quantitative results in AR patients, and miR-29a-3p antagomir could partially alleviate the symptom of OVA-induced AR in mice, restoring mucosal integrity and paracellular barrier function. In conclusion, our findings indicate that miR-29a-3p targets CTNNB1 and VCL to regulate nasal epithelial permeability and barrier function integrity, which may serve as a potential novel therapeutic target for the treatment of AR.

Identification of genetic mechanisms underlying lipid metabolism-mediated tumor immunity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the genetic mechanisms underlying lipid metabolism-mediated tumor immunity in head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: RNA sequencing data and clinical characteristics of HNSC patients were procured from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Lipid metabolism-related genes were collected from KEGG and MSigDB databases. Immune cells and immune-related genes were obtained from the TISIDB database. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HNSC were identified and weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to identify the significant gene modules. Lasso regression analysis was performed to identify hub genes. The differential gene expression pattern, diagnostic values, relationships with clinical features, prognostic values, relationships with tumor mutation burden (TMB), and signaling pathways involved, were each investigated. RESULTS: One thousand six hundred sixty-eight DEGs were identified as dysregulated between HNSC tumor samples and healthy control head and neck samples. WGCNA analysis and Lasso regression analysis identified 8 hub genes, including 3 immune-related genes (PLA2G2D, TNFAIP8L2 and CYP27A1) and 5 lipid metabolism-related genes (FOXP3, IL21R, ITGAL, TRAF1 and WIPF1). Except CYP27A1, the other hub genes were upregulated in HNSC as compared with healthy control samples, and a low expression of these hub genes indicated a higher risk of death in HNSC. Except PLA2G2D, all other hub genes were significantly and negatively related with TMB in HNSC. The hub genes were implicated in several immune-related signaling pathways including T cell receptor signaling, Th17 cell differentiation, and natural killer (NK) cell mediated cytotoxicity. CONCLUSION: Three immune genes (PLA2G2D, TNFAIP8L2, and CYP27A1) and immune-related pathways (T cell receptor signaling, Th17 cell differentiation, and natural killer (NK) cell mediated cytotoxicity) were predicted to play significant roles in the lipid metabolism-mediated tumor immunity in HNSC.

N6-methyladenosine participates in mouse hippocampus neurodegeneration via PD-1/PD-L1 pathway.

Developmental abnormalities and hippocampal aging leads to alteration in cognition. In the brain, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a common and reversible mRNA alteration that is essential for both neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration. However, its function in the postnatal hippocampus and the specific mechanisms regulating hippocampus-related neurodegeneration still awaits elucidate. We identified dynamic m6A modifications in postnatal hippocampus at different stages (at 10 days postnatally, and at 11 and 64 weeks of age). m6A shows a definite cell-specific methylation profile and m6A modification displays temporal dynamic during neurodevelopment and aging. Differentially methylated transcripts in the aged (64-week-old) hippocampus were enriched in microglia. The PD-1/PD-L1 pathways was identified that may participate in the cognitive dysfunction associated with an aged hippocampus. Furthermore, Mettl3 was spatiotemporally expressed in the postnatal hippocampus, which was highly expressed at the age of 11 weeks compared with the other two timepoints. Ectopic expression of METTL3 in mice hippocampus mediated by lentiviral infection resulted in high expression of genes related to PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and significant spatial cognitive deficit. Together, our data show that m6A dysregulation, which is mediated by METTL3, most likely contributes to cognitive deficits linked to the hippocampus via the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway.

Psychometric validation of the sibling inventory of behavior in three- to six-year-old Chinese children.

With increasing attention on sibling relationship studies in China, one problem that has been neglected is the limited validation of instruments used to assess these relationships. The present study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Sibling Inventory of Behavior to measure Chinese children's sibling relationships using a stratified random sample of 590 parents of three- to six-year-olds in three economic regions. The confirmatory factor analysis obtained an adequate fit, suggesting that the Chinese version of the instrument had a six-factor structure (i.e., Companionship, Empathy, Teaching, Rivalry, Aggression, and Avoidance). It demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency as well as test-retest reliability. Results of discriminant, convergent, and criterion-related validity test also fulfilled psychometric requirements. Furthermore, the residual measurement invariance across regions was discovered. Given the importance, emergence, and tendency of sibling studies in China, having a reliable and valid instrument with robust psychometric properties is essential and impactful.

A Machine Learning-Based Prediction of Diabetes Insipidus in Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Surgery for Pituitary Adenoma.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes insipidus (DI) is a common complication after endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) for pituitary adenoma (PA), which affects the quality of life in patients. Therefore, there is a need to develop prediction models of postoperative DI specifically for patients who undergo endoscopic TSS. This study establishes and validates prediction models of DI after endoscopic TSS for patients with PA using machine learning algorithms. METHODS: We retrospectively collected information about patients with PA who underwent endoscopic TSS in otorhinolaryngology and neurosurgery departments between January 2018 and December 2020. The patients were randomly split into a training set (70%) and a test set (30%). The 4 machine learning algorithms (logistic regression, random forest, support vector machine, and decision tree) were used to establish the prediction models. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated to compare the performance of the models. RESULTS: A total of 232 patients were included, and 78 patients (33.6%) developed transient DI after surgery. Data were randomly divided into a training set (n = 162) and a test set (n = 70) for development and validation of the model, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was highest in the random forest model (0.815) and lowest in the logistic regression model (0.601). Invasion of pituitary stalk was the most important feature for model performance, closely followed by macroadenomas, size classification of PA, tumor texture, and Hardy-Wilson suprasellar grade. CONCLUSIONS: Machine learning algorithms identify preoperative features of importance and reliably predict DI after endoscopic TSS for patients with PA. Such a prediction model may enable clinicians to develop individualized treatment strategy and follow-up management.

Chronic intranasal corticosteroid treatment induces degeneration of olfactory sensory neurons in normal and allergic rhinitis mice.

BACKGROUND: Nasal eosinophilic inflammation is the therapeutic target for olfactory dysfunction in allergic rhinitis (AR). Intranasal corticosteroids are commonly considered to offer targetable benefit given their immunosuppressive property. However, experimental evidence suggests that continuous corticosteroid exposure may directly cause olfactory damage by disrupting the turnover of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs). This potentially deleterious effect of corticosteroids calls into question their long-term topical use for treating olfactory loss related to AR. The aim of this study was to assess the impacts of chronic intranasal corticosteroid treatment on olfactory function and OSN population in mice under normal and pathological conditions. METHODS: BALB/c mice were intranasally treated with fluticasone propionate (FP, 0.3 mg/kg) for up to 8 weeks. Additional mice were used to establish an ovalbumin-induced mouse model of AR, followed by nasal challenge with ovalbumin for 8 weeks in the presence or absence of intranasal FP treatment. The authors examined olfactory function, OSN existence, neuronal turnover, and nasal inflammation using behavioral test, histological analyses, Western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Intranasal treatment with FP for 8 weeks (FP-wk8) reduced odor sensitivity in normal mice. This reduction was concomitant with loss of OSNs and the axons projecting to the olfactory bulb, primarily resulting from increased neuronal apoptosis. In FP-wk8 AR mice, intranasal FP treatment attenuated olfactory impairment and eosinophilic inflammation but failed to reconstitute OSN population and axonal projections. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that chronic intranasal corticosteroid treatment contributes to OSN degeneration that may reduce the therapeutic effectiveness for AR-related olfactory loss.

Metasurfaces enabled polarization-multiplexing heralded single photon imaging.

Quantum imaging has non-negligible advantages in terms of sensitivity, signal-to-noise ratio, and novel imaging schemes. Based on metasurfaces, the information density and stability of the quantum imaging system can be further improved. Here we experimentally demonstrate that two patterns, simultaneously and independently superimposed on a high-efficiency dielectric metasurface, can be remotely switched via polarization-entangled photon pairs. Furthermore, using the time-correlated property of entangled photon pairs, the information carried by quantum light can be remarkably discriminated from background noise. This work confirms that the phase manipulation of quantum light with metasurfaces has a huge potential in the field of quantum imaging, quantum state tomography, and also promises real-world quantum metasurface devices.

A novel extraperitoneal approach exploration for the treatment of urachal mass: a retrospective observational single-center study.

BACKGROUND: To explore the extraperitoneal laparoscopic urachal mass excision technique and its safety and efficacy in treating urachal mass. METHODS: Baseline characteristics were collected from patients who underwent surgery to diagnose a urachal cyst or abscess in our hospital between January 2020 and August 2021. The full-length of the urachus and part of the top bladder wall were completely removed through the extraperitoneal approach. Patient outcomes were collected to evaluate surgical safety and efficacy, including operation time, intraoperative blood loss, drainage tube removal time, length of stay (LOS), and postoperative complications. RESULTS: All 20 surgeries were successfully performed laparoscopically, and no case was converted to open surgery. The mean body mass index of the patients was 24.6 ± 2.2. The mean patient age was 49.3 ± 8.7 years. The mean size of the cysts was 3.0 ± 0.4 cm. The mean operation time was 56.3 ± 12.0 min. The mean intraoperative blood loss was 28.0 ± 6.4 mL. The mean drainage tube removal time was 3.0 ± 0.5 days. The mean LOS was 5.2 ± 0.4 days. The mean follow-up was 13.4 ± 2.1 months. No postoperative complications were observed during the follow-up period. The short-term follow-up and small patient cohort limited our outcome evaluation. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that the extraperitoneal laparoscopic approach was a safe and effective method to treat urachal mass. Given the limitations of the study, further multiple and larger sample-sized trials are required to confirm our findings.