Oscillatory mechanisms of intrinsic human brain networks.

Non-invasive neuroimaging has revealed specific network-based resting-state dynamics in the human brain, yet the underlying neurophysiological mechanism remains unclear. We employed intracranial electroencephalography to characterize local field potentials within the default mode network (DMN), frontoparietal network (FPN), and salience network (SN) in 42 participants. We identified stronger within-network phase coherence at low frequencies (θ and α band) within the DMN, and at high frequencies (γ band) within the FPN. Hidden Markov modeling indicated that the DMN exhibited preferential low frequency phase coupling. Phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) analysis revealed that the low-frequency phase in the DMN modulated the high-frequency amplitude envelopes of the FPN, suggesting frequency-dependent characterizations of intrinsic brain networks at rest. These findings provide intracranial electrophysiological evidence in support of the network model for intrinsic organization of human brain and shed light on the way brain networks communicate at rest.

The role and therapeutic strategies for tissue-resident memory T cells, central memory T cells, and effector memory T cells in psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a skin disease that is inflammatory and persistent, causing a high rate of recurrence, poor quality of life, and significant socioeconomic burden. Its main pathological manifestations are abnormal activation and infiltration of T cells and excessive proliferation of keratinocytes (KCs). The great majority of patients with psoriasis will relapse after remission. It usually lasts a lifetime and necessitates long-term treatment strategies. During periods of activity and remission, one of the main cell types in psoriasis is memory T cells, which include tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells, central memory T (TCM) cells, and effector memory T (TEM) cells. They work by releasing inflammatory factors, cytotoxic particles, or altering cell subpopulations, leading to increased inflammation or recurrence. This review summarizes the role of memory T cells in the pathology and treatment of psoriasis, with a view to potential novel therapies and therapeutic targets.

Unveiling cell subpopulations in T1D mouse islets using single-cell RNA sequencing.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of beta cells by immune cells. The interactions among cells within the islets may be closely linked to the pathogenesis of T1D. In this study, we used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) to analyze the cellular heterogeneity within the islets of a T1D mouse model. We established a T1D mouse model induced by streptozotocin and identified cell subpopulations using scRNA-Seq technology. Our results revealed 11 major cell types in the pancreatic islets of T1D mice, with heterogeneity observed in the alpha and beta cell subgroups, which may play a crucial role in the progression of T1D. Flow cytometry further confirmed a mature alpha and beta cell reduction in T1D mice. Overall, our scRNA-Seq analysis provided insights into the cellular heterogeneity of T1D islet tissue and highlighted the potential importance of alpha and beta cells in developing T1D.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In this study, we created a comprehensive single-cell atlas of pancreatic islets in a T1D mouse model using scRNA-Seq and identified 11 major cell types in the islets, highlighting the role of alpha and beta cells in T1D. This study revealed a significant reduction in the maturity alpha and beta cells in T1D mice through flow cytometry. It also demonstrated the heterogeneity of alpha and beta cells, potentially crucial for T1D progression. Overall, our scRNA-Seq analysis provided new insights for understanding and treating T1D by studying cell subtype changes and functions.

LAIR1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell metastasis and induces M2-macrophage infiltration through activating AKT-IKKß-p65 axis.

LAIR1, a receptor found on immune cells, is capable of binding to collagen and is involved in immune-related diseases. However, the precise contribution of LAIR1 expressed on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells to tumor microenvironment is still unclear. In our study, bioinformatics analysis and immunofluorescence were employed to study the correlation between LAIR1 levels and clinical indicators. Transwell and scratch tests were used to evaluate how LAIR1 affected the migration and invasion of HCC cells. The chemotactic capacity and alternative activation of macrophages were investigated using RT-qPCR, transwell, and immunofluorescence. To investigate the molecular mechanisms, transcriptome sequencing analysis, Western blot, nucleus/cytoplasm fractionation, ELISA, and cytokine microarray were employed. We revealed a significant correlation between the presence of LAIR1 and an unfavorable outcome in HCC. We indicated that LAIR1 promoted migration and invasion of HCC cells through the AKT-IKKß-p65 axis. Additionally, the alternative activation and infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages induced by LAIR1 were reliant on the upregulation of IL6 and CCL5 within this axis, respectively. In conclusion, blocking LAIR1 was found to be an effective approach in combating the cancerous advancement of HCC.

Identification of Angiogenesis-Related Genes and Molecular Subtypes for Psoriasis Based on Random Forest Algorithm.

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated recurrent skin disease causing systemic damage. Increased angiogenesis has been reported to participate in the progression of psoriasis. However, angiogenesis-related genes (ARGs) in psoriasis have not been systematically elucidated. Therefore, we aim to identify potential biomarkers and subtypes using two algorithms. Transcriptome sequencing data of patients with psoriasis were obtained, in which differentially expressed genes were assessed by principal component analysis (PCA). A diagnostic model was developed using random forest algorithm (ntree=400) and validated by ROC curves. Subsequently, we performed consensus clustering to calculate angiogenesis-associated molecular subtypes of psoriasis. Additionally, a correlation analysis was conducted between ARGs and immune cell infiltration. Finally, validation of potential ARG genes was performed by qRT-PCR. We identified 29 differentially expressed ARGs, including 13 increased and 16 decreased. Ten ARGs, CXCL8, ANG, EGF, HTATIP2, ANGPTL4, TNFSF12, RHOB, PML, FOXO4, and EMCN were subsequently sifted by the diagnostic model based on a random forest algorithm. Analysis of the ROC curve (area under the curve [AUC] = 1.0) indicated high diagnostic performance in internal validation. The correlation analysis suggested that CXCL8 has a high positive correlation with neutrophil (R =0.8, P<0.0001) and interleukins pathway (R=0.79, P<0.0001). Furtherer, two ARG-mediated subtypes were obtained, indicating potential heterogeneity. Finally, the qRT-PCR demonstrated that the mRNA expression levels of CXCL8 and ANGPTL4 were elevated in psoriasis patients, with a reduced expression of EMCN observed. The current paper indicated potential ARG-related biomarkers of psoriasis, including CXCL8, ANGPTL4, and EMCN, with two molecular subtypes.

Quantum Light Generation Based on GaN Microring toward Fully On-Chip Source.

An integrated quantum light source is increasingly desirable in large-scale quantum information processing. Despite recent remarkable advances, a new material platform is constantly being explored for the fully on-chip integration of quantum light generation, active and passive manipulation, and detection. Here, for the first time, we demonstrate a gallium nitride (GaN) microring based quantum light generation in the telecom C-band, which has potential toward the monolithic integration of quantum light source. In our demonstration, the GaN microring has a free spectral range of 330 GHz and a near-zero anomalous dispersion region of over 100 nm. The generation of energy-time entangled photon pair is demonstrated with a typical raw two-photon interference visibility of 95.5±6.5%, which is further configured to generate a heralded single photon with a typical heralded second-order autocorrelation g_{H}^{(2)}(0) of 0.045±0.001. Our results pave the way for developing a chip-scale quantum photonic circuit.

Comparative analysis of the quality of platelet concentrates produced by apheresis procedures, platelet rich plasma, and buffy coat.

BACKGROUND: Platelet concentrates (PCs) could be prepared using either whole-blood processes or apheresis instruments. During collection, processing and storage, some biochemical and functional changes occur, which may result in quality reduction. Quality evaluation of PCs may be helpful for the precise control of platelet (PLT) inventory to reduce the risk of refractoriness and adverse effects caused by platelet transfusion. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The study was aimed to evaluate the quality of PCs which were produced by five processes: apheresis (AP) procedures (using three different cell separators: Amicus, Trima Accel and MCS+ instruments), platelet rich plasma (PRP), and buffy coat (BC). A total of 100 PCs (20 of each group) were assessed in respect of routine quality control, morphology, size distribution, destroyed and activated platelets, and production of platelet-derived microparticles (PMPs). RESULTS: All PCs have satisfied the recommended quality of volume, platelet count, residual WBC count, residual RBC count, pH, and sterility according to the Chinese Technical Manual. There was no difference among the 5 groups in morphology and size of PLT and PMPs. Dynamic light scattering test showed that apheresis PCs showed peaks around 10-20 nm, but not whole blood-derived PCs. PCs prepared by Amicus had the relatively high percentage of destroyed platelet, activated platelets and PMPs than other groups. DISCUSSION: The data suggested high heterogeneity of PMPs, destroyed and activated platelets in PCs produced by different processes, which might be helpful to manage the platelet inventory for targeted use.

Association between clinical symptoms during the COVID-19 infection and SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G titers in COVID-19 convalescent whole-blood donors in China.

BACKGROUND: Limited studies have explored the association between clinical symptoms and titers of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, whole-blood donors who had experienced a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection completed questionnaires at the time of blood donation. Plasma SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for high-titer COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) for each variable. RESULTS: Among the total 386 donors, 120 (31%) donors with IgG titers ≥1:160 were classified as high-titer donors. The multivariable ORs (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for high titers were 2.33 (1.45-3.75), 2.11 (1.29-3.43), 1.10 (1.01-1.21), 1.19 (1.00-1.43), and 1.97 (1.05-3.71) for sore throat, cough, symptom count, fever duration, and low fever (compared with non-fever), respectively. No significant association was observed between other symptoms and medical visits and the odds of high-titer CCP. The association between high-titer CCP and fever duration was restricted to confirmed COVID-19-infected donors, while associations with sore throat and cough remained significant in suspected infected donors. In addition, medical visit was positively associated with high-titer CCP in suspected donors, but not in confirmed donors. In bootstrapped logistic regression models, the associations remained significant and reproducible for medical visit in suspected donors and for sore throat and cough in both suspected donors and total donors. DISCUSSION: Experiencing a sore throat and cough were associated with high-titer CCP in overall donors. We also identified sore throat, cough, and medical visits as potential predictors of high-titer CCP for suspected donors during the pandemic.

The mutation of Japanese encephalitis virus envelope protein residue 389 attenuates viral neuroinvasiveness.

The envelope (E) protein of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a key protein for virus infection and adsorption of host cells, which determines the virulence of the virus and regulates the intensity of inflammatory response. The mutation of multiple aa residues in the E protein plays a critical role in the attenuated strain of JEV. This study demonstrated that the Asp to Gly, Ser, and His mutation of the E389 site, respectively, the replication ability of the viruses in cells was significantly reduced, and the viral neuroinvasiveness was attenuated to different degrees. Among them, the mutation at E389 site enhanced the E protein flexibility contributed to the attenuation of neuroinvasiveness. In contrast, less flexibility of E protein enhanced the neuroinvasiveness of the strain. Our results indicate that the mechanism of attenuation of E389 aa mutation attenuates neuroinvasiveness is related to increased flexibility of the E protein. In addition, the increased flexibility of E protein enhanced the viral sensitivity to heparin inhibition in vitro, which may lead to a decrease in the viral load entering brain. These results suggest that E389 residue is a potential site affecting JEV virulence, and the flexibility of the E protein of aa at this site plays an important role in the determination of neuroinvasiveness.

Risk factors for short-term prognosis of end-stage liver disease complicated by invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) are susceptible to invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). This study aimed to investigate the risk factors affecting the occurrence and short-term prognosis of ESLD complicated by IPA. METHODS: This retrospective case-control study included 110 patients with ESLD. Of them, 27 ESLD-IPA received antifungal therapy with amphotericin B (AmB); 27 AmB-free-treated ESLD-IPA patients were enrolled through 1:1 propensity score matching. Fifty-six ESLD patients with other comorbid pulmonary infections were enrolled as controls. The basic features of groups were compared, while the possible risk factors affecting the occurrence and short-term outcomes of IPA were analyzed. RESULTS: Data analysis revealed invasive procedures, glucocorticoid exposure, and broad-spectrum antibiotic use were independent risk factors for IPA. The 54 patients with ESLD-IPA exhibited an overall treatment effectiveness and 28-d mortality rate of 50.00% and 20.37%, respectively, in whom patients treated with AmB-containing showed higher treatment efficacy than patients treated with AmB-free antifungal regimens (66.7% vs. 33.3%, respectively, χ2 = 6.000, P = 0.014). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the treatment regimen was the only predictor affecting patient outcomes, with AmB-containing regimens were 4.893 times more effective than AmB-free regimens (95% CI, 1.367-17.515; P = 0.015). The only independent predictors affecting the 28-d mortality rate were neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and IPA diagnosis (OR = 1.140 and 10.037, P = 0.046 and 0.025, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Glucocorticoid exposure, invasive procedures, and broad-spectrum antibiotic exposure increased the risk of IPA in ESLD patients. AmB alone or combined with other antifungals may serve as an economical, safe, and effective treatment option for ESLD-IPA.

The Protective Effects of Ruscogenin Against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Myocardial Injury in Septic Mice.

ABSTRACT: Sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction commonly occurs in individuals with sepsis and is a severe complication with high morbidity and mortality rates. This study aimed to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of the natural steroidal sapogenin ruscogenin (RUS) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced myocardial injury in septic mice. We found that RUS effectively alleviated myocardial pathological damage, normalized cardiac function, and increased survival in septic mice. RNA sequencing demonstrated that RUS administration significantly inhibited the activation of the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway in the myocardial tissues of septic mice. Subsequent experiments further confirmed that RUS suppressed myocardial inflammation and pyroptosis during sepsis. In addition, cultured HL-1 cardiomyocytes were challenged with LPS, and we observed that RUS could protect these cells against LPS-induced cytotoxicity by suppressing inflammation and pyroptosis. Notably, both the in vivo and in vitro findings indicated that RUS inhibited NOD-like receptor protein-3 (NLRP3) upregulation in cardiomyocytes stimulated with LPS. As expected, knockdown of NLRP3 blocked the LPS-induced activation of inflammation and pyroptosis in HL-1 cells. Furthermore, the cardioprotective effects of RUS on HL-1 cells under LPS stimulation were abolished by the novel NLRP3 agonist BMS-986299. Taken together, our results suggest that RUS can alleviate myocardial injury during sepsis, at least in part by suppressing NLRP3-mediated inflammation and pyroptosis, highlighting the potential of this molecule as a promising candidate for sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction therapy.

Ceftazidime/avibactam versus polymyxin B in carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infections: a propensity score-matched multicenter real-world study.

OBJECTIVES: In this retrospective observational multicenter study, we aimed to assess efficacy and mortality between ceftazidime/avibactam (CAZ/AVI) or polymyxin B (PMB)-based regimens for the treatment of Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) infections, as well as identify potential risk factors. METHODS: A total of 276 CRKP-infected patients were enrolled in our study. Binary logistic and Cox regression analysis with a propensity score-matched (PSM) model were performed to identify risk factors for efficacy and mortality. RESULTS: The patient cohort was divided into PMB-based regimen group (n = 98, 35.5%) and CAZ/AVI-based regimen group (n = 178, 64.5%). Compared to the PMB group, the CAZ/AVI group exhibited significantly higher rates of clinical efficacy (71.3% vs. 56.1%; p = 0.011), microbiological clearance (74.7% vs. 41.4%; p < 0.001), and a lower incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) (13.5% vs. 33.7%; p < 0.001). Binary logistic regression revealed that the treatment duration independently influenced both clinical efficacy and microbiological clearance. Vasoactive drugs, sepsis/septic shock, APACHE II score, and treatment duration were identified as risk factors associated with 30-day all-cause mortality. The CAZ/AVI-based regimen was an independent factor for good clinical efficacy, microbiological clearance, and lower AKI incidence. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with CRKP infection, the CAZ/AVI-based regimen was superior to the PMB-based regimen.

DPMGCDA: Deciphering circRNA-Drug Sensitivity Associations with Dual Perspective Learning and Path-Masked Graph Autoencoder.

Accumulating evidence has indicated that the expression of circular RNAs (circRNAs) can affect the cellular sensitivity to drugs and significantly influence drug efficacy. However, traditional experimental approaches for validating these associations are resource-intensive and time-consuming. To address this challenge, we propose a computational framework termed DPMGCDA leveraging dual perspective learning and path-masked graph autoencoder to predict circRNA-drug sensitivity associations. Initially, we construct circRNA-circRNA fusion similarity networks and drug-drug fusion similarity networks using similarity network fusion, ensuring a comprehensive integration of information. Based on the above, we built the circRNA homogeneous graph, the drug homogeneous graph, and the circRNA-drug heterogeneous graph. Next, we form the initial node features in the circRNA-drug heterogeneous graph from the homogeneous graph-level perspective and the combined feature-level perspective and complete the prediction of potential associations using the path-masked graph autoencoder in both perspectives. The predictions under both perspectives are finally combined to obtain the final prediction score. Transductive setting experiments and inductive setting experiments all demonstrate that our method, DPMGCDA, outperforms state-of-the-art approaches. Additionally, we verify the necessity of employing dual perspective learning through ablation tests and analyze the effective encoding capability of the path-masked graph autoencoder for features through embedding visualization. Moreover, case studies on four drugs corroborate DPMGCDA's ability to identify potential circRNAs associated with new drugs.

Prediction of injury localization in preoperative patients with gastrointestinal perforation: a multiomics model analysis.

BACKGROUND: The location of gastrointestinal perforation is essential for severity evaluation and optimizing the treatment approach. We aimed to retrospectively analyze the clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters, and imaging features of patients with gastrointestinal perforation and construct a predictive model to distinguish the location of upper and lower gastrointestinal perforation. METHODS: A total of 367 patients with gastrointestinal perforation admitted to the department of emergency surgery in Fujian Medical University Union Hospital between March 2014 and December 2020 were collected. Patients were randomly divided into training set and test set in a ratio of 7:3 to establish and verify the prediction model by logistic regression. The receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration map, and clinical decision curve were used to evaluate the discrimination, calibration, and clinical applicability of the prediction model, respectively. The multiomics model was validated by stratification analysis in the prediction of severity and prognosis of patients with gastrointestinal perforation. RESULTS: The following variables were identified as independent predictors in lower gastrointestinal perforation: monocyte absolute value, mean platelet volume, albumin, fibrinogen, pain duration, rebound tenderness, free air in peritoneal cavity by univariate logistic regression analysis and stepwise regression analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the prediction model was 0.886 (95% confidence interval, 0.840-0.933). The calibration curve shows that the prediction accuracy and the calibration ability of the prediction model are effective. Meanwhile, the decision curve results show that the net benefits of the training and test sets are greater than those of the two extreme models as the threshold probability is 20-100%. The multiomics model score can be calculated via nomogram. The higher the stratification of risk score array, the higher the number of transferred patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The developed multiomics model including monocyte absolute value, mean platelet volume, albumin, fibrinogen, pain duration, rebound tenderness, and free air in the peritoneal cavity has good discrimination and calibration. This model can assist surgeons in distinguishing between upper and lower gastrointestinal perforation and to assess the severity of the condition.

Ultrasound-responsive Bi2MoO6-MXene heterojunction as ferroptosis inducers for stimulating immunogenic cell death against ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer (OC) has the highest fatality rate among all gynecological malignancies, necessitating the exploration of novel, efficient, and low-toxicity therapeutic strategies. Ferroptosis is a type of programmed cell death induced by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and can potentially activate antitumor immunity. Developing highly effective ferroptosis inducers may improve OC prognosis. RESULTS: In this study, we developed an ultrasonically controllable two-dimensional (2D) piezoelectric nanoagonist (Bi2MoO6-MXene) to induce ferroptosis. A Schottky heterojunction between Bi2MoO6 (BMO) and MXene reduced the bandgap width by 0.44 eV, increased the carrier-separation efficiency, and decreased the recombination rate of electron-hole pairs under ultrasound stimulation. Therefore, the reactive oxygen species yield was enhanced. Under spatiotemporal ultrasound excitation, BMO-MXene effectively inhibited OC proliferation by more than 90%, induced lipid peroxidation, decreased mitochondrial-membrane potential, and inactivated the glutathione peroxidase and cystathionine transporter protein system, thereby causing ferroptosis in tumor cells. Ferroptosis in OC cells further activated immunogenic cell death, facilitating dendritic cell maturation and stimulating antitumor immunity. CONCLUSION: We have succeeded in developing a highly potent ferroptosis inducer (BMO-MXene), capable of inhibiting OC progression through the sonodynamic-ferroptosis-immunogenic cell death pathway.

Management of Venous Access Port to Overcome Kinesiophobia of Patients with Malignant Tumors: A Review.

The number of patients with malignant tumors is increasing in China, and venous access ports have unique advantages for chemotherapy. Currently, China's research on venous access port-mediated kinesiophobia is still in the developing stage. Using the combination of subjective words and freedom words, and based on literature traceability methods, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, Vipp, Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM), Web of Science, The COCHRANE LIBRARY, Embase, and PubMed were searched. Relevant articles published from the construction of the database to October 30, 2023, were identified. Based on the many articles and analyses, the methods of assessing kinesiophobia in malignant tumors patients using venous access port, the related influencing factors and the preventive and intervention strategies were collated. We found 33 articles examining kinesiophobia in oncology patients, of which 4 were specifically conducted on patients with malignant tumors using VAPs or PICCs. The relevant preventive and therapeutic experiences regarding kinesiophobia in cancer patients with VAP still need improvement. Nursing staff can use assessment tools such as the Tampa Rating Scale for Kinesiophobia, the Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, and the Cancer Fatigue Scale to reasonably and effectively assess kinesiophobia among patients with malignant tumors who use VAPs. Attention should be paid to the mechanisms and roles of demographic factors, pain and foreign body sensation, cancer fatigue, pain management strategies, and other factors influencing kinesiophobia. This study provides advice to nursing staff for the management of VAP. Such considerations may reduce the complications of kinesiophobia and improve the quality of life of patients.

Exploring the effect of human-drone communication modality on safety and balance control in virtual construction environments.

This study examines the impact of Human-Drone Interaction (HDI) modalities on construction workers' safety and balance control within virtual environments. Utilising virtual reality (VR) simulations, the study explored how gesture and speech-based communications influence workers' physical postures and balance, contrasting these modalities with a non-interactive control group. One hundred participants were recruited, and their movements and balance control were tracked using motion sensors while they interacted with virtual drones through either gesture, speech, or without communication. Results showed that interactive modalities significantly improved balance control and reduced the risk of falls, suggesting that advanced HDI can enhance safety on construction sites. However, speech-based interaction increased cognitive workload, highlighting a trade-off between physical safety and mental strain. These findings underscore the potential of integrating intuitive communication methods into construction operations, although further research is needed to optimise these interactions for long-term use and in diverse noise environments.

This study examines the impact of Human-Drone Interaction (HDI) modalities on construction workers' safety and balance control within virtual environments with a human subject experiment. Results showed that interactive modalities significantly improved balance control and reduced the risk of falls.

A Narrative Review of Diabetic Macroangiopathy: From Molecular Mechanism to Therapeutic Approaches.

Diabetic macroangiopathy, a prevalent and severe complication of diabetes mellitus, significantly contributes to the increased morbidity and mortality rates among affected individuals. This complex disorder involves multifaceted molecular mechanisms that lead to the dysfunction and damage of large blood vessels, including atherosclerosis (AS) and peripheral arterial disease. Understanding the intricate pathways underlying the development and progression of diabetic macroangiopathy is crucial for the development of effective therapeutic interventions. This review aims to shed light on the molecular mechanism implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic macroangiopathy. We delve into the intricate interplay of chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and dysregulated angiogenesis, all of which contribute to the vascular complications observed in this disorder. By exploring the molecular mechanism involved in the disease we provide insight into potential therapeutic targets and strategies. Moreover, we discuss the current therapeutic approaches used for treating diabetic macroangiopathy, including glycemic control, lipid-lowering agents, and vascular interventions.

Fluorescent Lateral Flow Immunoassay Based on Quantum Dots Nanobeads.

Quantum dots, also known as semiconductor nanocrystals, are novel fluorescent labels for biological imaging and sensing. However, quantum dot-antibody conjugates with small dimensions (~10 nm), prepared through laborious purification procedures, exhibit limited sensitivity in detecting certain trace disease markers using lateral flow immunoassay strips. Herein, we present a method for the preparation of quantum dot nanobeads (QDNB) using a one-step emulsion evaporation method. Using the as-prepared QDNB, a fluorescent lateral flow immunoassay was fabricated to detect disease biomarkers using C-reactive protein (CRP) as an example. Unlike single quantum dot nanoparticles, quantum dot nanobead-antibody conjugates are more sensitive as immunoassay labels due to signal amplification by encapsulating hundreds of quantum dots in one polymer composite nanobead. Moreover, the larger size of QDNBs facilitates easier centrifugation separation when conjugating QDNBs with antibodies. The fluorescent lateral flow immunoassay based on QDNBs was fabricated, and the CRP concentration in the sample was measured in 15 min. The test results can be qualitatively assessed under UV light illumination and quantitatively measured using a fluorescent reader within 15 min.

Dynamic Organization of Large-scale Functional Brain Networks Supports Interactions Between Emotion and Executive Control.

Emotion and executive control are often conceptualized as two distinct modes of human brain functioning. Little, however, is known about how the dynamic organization of large-scale functional brain networks that support flexible emotion processing and executive control, especially their interactions. The amygdala and prefrontal systems have long been thought to play crucial roles in these processes. Recent advances in human neuroimaging studies have begun to delineate functional organization principles among the large-scale brain networks underlying emotion, executive control, and their interactions. Here, we propose a dynamic brain network model to account for interactive competition between emotion and executive control by reviewing recent resting-state and task-related neuroimaging studies using network-based approaches. In this model, dynamic interactions among the executive control network, the salience network, the default mode network, and sensorimotor networks enable dynamic processes of emotion and support flexible executive control of multiple processes; neural oscillations across multiple frequency bands and the locus coeruleus-norepinephrine pathway serve as communicational mechanisms underlying dynamic synergy among large-scale functional brain networks. This model has important implications for understanding how the dynamic organization of complex brain systems and networks empowers flexible cognitive and affective functions.