Association of Sudomotor Dysfunction With Risk of Subclinical Carotid Atherosclerosis in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.

Objective: Previous studies suggested that sudomotor dysfunction is closely related to multiple diabetic microvascular complications. We aimed to investigate the association between sudomotor dysfunction and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis (SCAS) in people with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: A total of 1788 participants were included in this cross-sectional study.

In situ production and precise release of bioactive GM-CSF and siRNA by engineered bacteria for macrophage reprogramming in cancer immunotherapy.

In the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) predominantly exhibit an immunosuppressive M2 phenotype, which facilitates tumor proliferation and metastasis. Although current strategies aimed at reprogramming TAMs hold promise, their sustainability and effectiveness are limited due to repeated injections. Herein, a bacterial therapy platform containing two engineered strains was developed.

Efficacy and safety of hypomethylating agents in the treatment of AML/MDS patients relapsed post allogenetic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Introduction: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) constitute myeloid malignancies, and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is considered as a potentially optimal approach for achieving a long term cure. However, post-allo-HSCT relapse remains a leading cause of mortality and therapeutic failure.

Methods: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of combining hypomethylating agents (HMAs) with Bcl-2 inhibitors in the treatment of AML/MDS relapse following allo-HSCT, we retrospectively collected data from 42 patients who experienced relapse between April 2012 and March 2022 at Peking University First Hospital.

Association between time in tight range and incident diabetic retinopathy in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Aims: Time spent in the glucose range of 70-180 mg/dL (TIR) has become entrenched as a key measure of glycaemic control, which was linked to diabetes-related outcomes in previous studies. However, there has been a recent debate about whether to instead emphasize time in the target range of 70-140 mg/dL (time in tight range, TITR). We aimed to assess the association between TITR and incident diabetic retinopathy in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Utilizing Engineered Bacteria as "Cell Factories" for Intracellular RNA-Loaded Outer Membrane Vesicles' Self-Assembly in Tumor Treatment.

Delivery systems play a crucial role in RNA therapy. However, the current RNA delivery system involves complex preparation and transport processes, requiring RNA preassembly , transportation at low temperatures throughout, and possibly multiple injections for improved therapeutic efficacy. To address these challenges, we developed a simple and efficient RNA delivery system.

Enabling Ultrafast Intramolecular Singlet Fission in Perylene Diimide Tetramer with Saddle-Shaped Linker.

Intramolecular singlet fission (SF) in multichromophore systems is of high interest for photovoltaic application. As an attractive candidate for SF-based devices, enabling efficient SF in covalent oligomers of perylene diimide (PDI) still remains challenging. In this work, inter-PDI SF with τ = ∼150 ps and ∼150% triplet yield in a covalent tetramer COTh-FPDI was facilitated by employing a saddle-shaped cyclooctatetrathiophene (COTh) core and fused linking with PDIs.

Association of metabolomic aging acceleration and body mass index phenotypes with mortality and obesity-related morbidities.

This study aims to investigate the association between metabolomic aging acceleration and body mass index (BMI) phenotypes with mortality and obesity-related morbidities (ORMs). 85,458 participants were included from the UK Biobank. Metabolomic age was determined using 168 metabolites.

Retinal Neurovascular Impairment in Full-Course Diabetic Retinopathy: The Guangdong Diabetic Retinopathy Multiple-Omics Study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the succession of the central and peripheral neurovascular and microstructural impairments in patients with full-course diabetic retinopathy (DR), consisting of preclinical DR, nonproliferative DR (NPDR), and proliferative DR (PDR).

Methods: Our analysis included 81 participants (including 23 healthy controls, 23 with preclinical DR [diabetes without retinopathy], 13 with NPDR, and 22 with PDR) from the Guangdong Diabetic Retinopathy Multiple Omics Study. Retinal structure and function were evaluated and quantified using ultra-widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (UWF-SS-OCTA), electroretinography (ERG), and adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO).

Effect of scalp nerve block on postcraniotomy analgesia in children: a randomized, controlled trial.

Objective: Effective postoperative pain management is critical for pediatric craniotomies. Scalp nerve block (SNB) interventions present a potential solution, yet their comparative benefits in preoperative and postoperative settings remain unclear. This study investigated the analgesic effects of SNB in pediatric craniotomy patients by comparing preoperative versus postoperative administration.

Integration of Machine Learning and Experimental Validation to Identify Anoikis-Related Prognostic Signature for Predicting the Breast Cancer Tumor Microenvironment and Treatment Response.

Anoikis-related genes (ANRGs) are crucial in the invasion and metastasis of breast cancer (BC). The underlying role of ANRGs in the prognosis of breast cancer patients warrants further study. The anoikis-related prognostic signature (ANRS) was generated using a variety of machine learning methods, and the correlation between the ANRS and the tumor microenvironment (TME), drug sensitivity, and immunotherapy was investigated.

Dynamics and Collective Behavior of Chemically Propelled Janus Sphere Dimers in Complex Solvents.

The propulsion mechanisms and collective dynamics of chemically powered Janus sphere dimers at the micro- and nanoscales, confined in a quasi-two-dimensional geometry, are investigated using a coarse-grained microscopic dynamical model. These active Janus dimers consist of two identical Janus spheres, featuring a catalytic cap on one hemisphere. The chemical reaction taking place on the catalytic surface generates asymmetric concentration gradients of product molecules around the Janus sphere, leading to the self-propulsion of the dimers.

In Utero/Childhood/ Adolescence Exposure to Tobacco Smoke and Elderly-Onset Cataract: A Large Prospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: Cataract remains the primary cause of blindness in middle-income and low-income countries, with a known association with environmental factors including smoking. However, the relationship between early-life tobacco smoke exposures, including in utero tobacco smoke exposure and early initiation of smoking, and the risk of cataract incidence remains unclear. We aimed to examine the associations of early-life exposure to tobacco smoke with the risk of elderly-onset cataract.

Etoposide targets 2A protease to inhibit enterovirus 71 replication.

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a major pathogen that causes hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) in infants and children. Notably, no clinically approved drugs specifically target EV71. The EV71 2A protease (2A), a cysteine protease produced by the virus, is essential for the virus' replication and has a significant impact on the functioning of host cells.

Oligopeptide template-guided nanoconfined in situ mineralization of nanotherapeutics boosts self-sufficient immunogenic phototherapy.

As a promising cancer treatment modality that has emerged, photodynamic / photothermal therapy can harness antitumor immunity by triggering immunogenic cell death in addition to direct cell ablation. However, the efficacy of this phototherapy is always limited due to the hypoxic tumor microenvironment, and the induccd immune stimulation is insufficient to achieve satisfactory cancer eradication. We herein address the above issues by nanoconfined in situ mineralization of manganese oxide (MnO) guided with an oligopeptide as template.

Investigation on the interfacial and emulsion stabilized behavior of dextran/ferritin/resveratrol composite nanoparticles.

Glycation of ferritin provides a viable approach to enhance its physicochemical and functional properties. However, there is limited research on the interfacial adsorption properties of glycated ferritin-based colloidal particles. Therefore, this study selected recombinant human H-chain ferritin (rHuHF), rHuHF encapsulated with resveratrol (rHuHF-Res), and rHuHF-dextran glycoconjugates loaded with resveratrol (Dex-rHuHF-Res) as emulsifiers to investigate their interfacial adsorption properties.

Engineering Densely Packed Ion-Cluster Electrolytes for Wide-Temperature Lithium-Sulfurized Polyacrylonitrile Batteries.

The electrolyte plays an essential role in the advancement of lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs), as it not only transports the charge carriers but also extensively influences sulfur conversion mechanisms and electrode-electrolyte interphases formed on the electrode surface, thereby directly impacting battery performance. However, the majority of existing electrolytes suffer from incompatibility with either the Li anode or the sulfur cathode. Here, we develop a densely packed ion-cluster electrolyte (DPIE) through the strategic combination of a weakly solvating solvent and an inert diluent, resulting in the self-assembly of abundant compact ion-pair aggregates within its structure.

Mechanically Driven, Continuous Synthesis of Chiroplasmonic Assemblies.

Chiral plasmonic nanomaterials─with their significant applications in protein detection, drug screening, and enantioselective sensing─necessitate an industrialized fabrication procedure to enhance their commercial viability. However, the prevailing manufacturing of chiral plasmonic nanoparticles and assemblies heavily leans on manual intervention, causing time-consuming and quality-inconsistent concerns. Here, we develop an automated, continuous mechanical synthesis system that consistently sprays metal nanowires to create chiroplasmonic assemblies: a macroscopic twisted layered structure comprising equivalent linear birefringence layers, approximate linear polarizer layers, and a precise angular offset between them.

Civil aviation emissions in China in 2019: Characteristics and abatement potential.

Civil aviation is one of the industries facing the greatest challenge in reaching carbon neutrality by the middle of this century, and this sector also contributes to adverse impacts on the regional air quality and human health. China exhibits the second highest air passenger turnover worldwide. Our understanding of civil aviation emissions must be urgently enhanced, and the mitigation potential should be explored.

Bioactive mesoporous silica materials-assisted cancer immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy is initially envisioned as a powerful approach to train immune cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) and lymphoid tissues to elicit strong anti-tumor responses. However, clinical cancer immunotherapy still faces challenges, such as limited immunogenicity and insufficient immune response. Leveraging the advantages of mesoporous silica (MS) materials in controllable drug and immunomodulator release, recent efforts have focused on engineering MS with intrinsic immunoregulatory functions to promote robust, systemic, and safe anti-tumor responses.

Comparative effects of cognitive and instability resistance training versus instability resistance training on balance and cognition in elderly women.

This study investigates the effects of integrated instability resistance training and cognitive training (IRCT) versus isolated instability resistance training (IRT) on balance, gait, muscle strength, and cognitive functions in elderly women.This randomized controlled trial included 36 participants, with 18 in the IRCT group and 18 in the IRT group. The sample size was estimated to achieve a statistical power of 0.