Publications by authors named "Cao Kai"

In recent years, bioinspired insect flight has become a prominent research area, with a particular focus on beetle-inspired aerial vehicles. Studying the unique flight mechanisms and structural characteristics of beetles has significant implications for the optimization of biomimetic flying devices. Among beetles, (rhinoceros beetle) exhibits a distinct wing deployment-flight-retraction sequence, whereby the interaction between the hindwings and protective elytra contributes to lift generation and maintenance.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Rationale And Objectives: To improve the diagnostic recognition of papillary renal neoplasm with reverse polarity (PRNRP) through comprehensive analysis of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective multi-center study was conducted on patients with pathologically confirmed PRNRPs from 2019 to 2024, encompassing six institutions. Clinical and pathological data were meticulously documented.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Cervical canal stenosis is one of the important pathogenic factors of cervical spondylosis. The accuracy of the Pavlov ratio measurement is crucial for the diagnosis and treatment of cervical spinal stenosis. Manual measurement is influenced by observer variability, accompanied by its inefficiency, which affects clinical evaluation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The presence of low-dose radiation (LDR) in the environment has become more prevalent. However, the effect of LDR exposure on the immune system remains elusive. Here, we interestingly found that LDR specifically elevated the percentage of CD4IFNγ Th1 splenocytes, both in vitro and in vivo, without affecting the percentage of CD8IFNγ Tc1 cells and regulatory T cells.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In vertical farms, the supplementation of far-red light has been widely applied to regulate plant growth and development. However, the relative contribution of far-red to photosynthesis and plant growth in indoor production systems is not sufficiently quantified. This study quantify the photosynthesis and growth responses under different levels of supplemental far-red in lettuce using a 3D modelling approach.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In recent years, patient-focused drug development (PFDD) has received widespread attention as a new paradigm in clinical trials. The PFDD emphasizes patients are partners in research projects, where patients can participate in research design, implementation, and outcome measurement, rather than just providing data. PFDD has shown great value in the research and development of pharmaceutical products, such as in accelerating the process of patient enrollment and improving the success rate of drug approval.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To evaluate the availability of human resources for ophthalmic services in mainland China.

Methods: In 2021, we conducted a nationwide survey of ophthalmic outpatient services across 2996 tertiary hospitals and 10,404 secondary hospitals in 31 provinces in mainland China.

Results: The response rate was 73.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aims: To develop a novel nanomicelle system to target and eradicate CD133-expressing lung cancer stem cells (CSCs) while imaging lung cancer.

Methods: Averatinib nanomicelles with CD133 aptamers incorporated with gadolinium imaging reagents (M-Afa&Gd-CD133) were synthesized. The anticancer and imaging activities of M-Afa&Gd-CD133 were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Prostate cancer is recognized as one of the most common tumors among men worldwide, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying its progression remain to be fully understood. In this study, we explored the role of interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 2 (IRAK2) in the progression of prostate cancer. We discovered that IRAK2 expression is downregulated in prostate cancer tissues and cells.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the 10-year long-term outcomes of patients undergoing small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE).

Methods: In this continuous case series, the authors enrolled a total of 113 patients (208 eyes) who underwent SMILE 10 years prior. Measured parameters included uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), and cycloplegia spherical equivalent error (SER).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic performance of [Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/MR imaging in the preoperative evaluation of pancreatic cancer and compare it with that of [F]-FDG PET/CT plus contrast-enhanced CT (CECT).

Methods: Thirty-one patients with pancreatic cancer underwent preoperative [Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/MR, [F]-FDG PET/CT, and CECT imaging. Two nuclear medicine physicians independently reviewed two sets of images (set 1, [Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/MR; set 2, [F]-FDG PET/CT plus CECT) and reached a consensus on tumour resectability, N staging (N0 or N positive) and M staging (M0 or M1).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The mechanism of β-SiC preparation via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of the SiCl-CH-H-N system remains unclear. Consequently, the change of molar Gibbs free energy of the CVD β-SiC chemical reaction in the SiCl-CH-H-N system has been studied by the Helsinki Software Corporation (HSC) Chemistry code for the first time. The role of nitrogen in the reaction was confirmed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Ceramic aerogels, made from polymer-derived ceramics, have potential for high-temperature insulation but face challenges like structural damage and shrinkage during pyrolysis.
  • This study created precursor ceramic microsphere aerogels with improved antishrinkage properties by adjusting molecular structures using polysilazane and exploring solvent interactions.
  • Findings included enhanced shrinkage resistance, thermal insulation, and mechanical properties, along with an analysis of how different microsphere structures affect these properties using multiscale simulations and fractal theory.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * Researchers discovered that dopamine neurons that connect to the lateral EC (LEC) become dysfunctional in early AD, leading to memory issues.
  • * By using optogenetics and L-DOPA treatment to reactivate these dopamine fibers, they were able to improve memory function in mouse models, highlighting the potential for targeting LEC dopamine in AD treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Microtubules are highly dynamic structures, and their dynamic instability is indispensable for not only cell growth and movement, but also stress responses, such as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Docetaxel, a microtubule targeting agent (MTA), is the first-line drug for cancer treatment by simultaneously promoting microtubule dysregulation- and ER stress-induced cell death. However, it also causes adverse effects and drug resistance, especially in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) with a poor prognosis and high mortality rate.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Podocyte senescence can cause persistent podocyte injury and albuminuria in diabetic kidney disease (DKD), but the mechanism remains obscure. In this study, podocyte senescence was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining in podocytes from patients and mice with DKD. Rheb1 knockout in podocytes aggravated podocyte senescence and injury in diabetic mice, but mitigated podocyte injury in mice with podocyte-specific mTORC1 activation induced by Tsc1 deletion.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study investigated how long it takes for tears to break up in the eyes of children, focusing on differences between myopic (nearsighted) and non-myopic (normal vision) kids.
  • Results showed that myopic children had a significantly shorter tear film break-up time (9.9 seconds) compared to non-myopic children (10.9 seconds), and were also more likely to experience dry eye issues.
  • The findings suggest that age positively affects tear break-up time and that increased use of electronic devices might contribute to shorter tear film stability in myopic children.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive brain tumor. There is a pressing need to develop novel treatment strategies due to the poor targeting effect of current therapeutics. Here, a gold cluster coated with optimized GBM-targeting peptide is engineered, namely NA.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Heme is a crucial compound for cells, offering iron and potential uses in food and medicine, which was explored using a model cyanobacteria, sp. PCC6803, for its synthesis.
  • Researchers engineered sp. PCC6803 by modifying its heme synthesis pathway and optimizing culture conditions, leading to significant increases in heme production—up to 10.25 times more than the wild type.
  • The study highlights sp. PCC6803's potential as a microbial cell factory for producing heme efficiently, paving the way for future research and engineering targets in this area.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * Researchers have developed a gold nanocluster (NANT) that targets neuroblastoma cells and enhances sensitivity to ferroptosis, a different form of cell death.
  • * NANT promotes noncanonical ferroptosis by increasing iron levels in the tumor and has shown effective growth inhibition in tumor models while being safe for heart health.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The aim of this study is to explore the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitution among individuals suffering from dry eye disease. Following the diagnostic criteria outlined in TFO DEWS II, a total of 114 patients with dry eye were included in this study. Based on the classification criteria for dry eye, the patients were categorized into 3 distinct dry eye subtypes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Hypobaric hypoxia, a condition at high altitudes, causes pupil constriction and expands the anterior chamber angle, possibly safe for those with narrow angles, necessitating further examination.
  • This study measured eye parameters before and after short-term exposure to hypobaric hypoxia in 25 healthy lowlanders using advanced optical technology.
  • Results showed a significant decrease in intraocular pressure and pupil diameter, along with other changes in anterior segment parameters, while some measurements remained unchanged.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Bladder cancer (BC) is very common among cancers of urinary system. It was usually categorized into two types: non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). NMIBC and MIBC groupings are heterogeneous and have different characteristics.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but its effects on the microvasculature, particularly in the retina, are not well-studied.
  • A study involving 243 elderly patients categorized them based on LDL-C levels to analyze retinal vessel density and other factors using a non-invasive imaging technology called optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).
  • Findings revealed that patients with LDL-C levels above 2.6 mmol/L had significantly lower retinal vessel density compared to those with lower levels, highlighting a negative correlation between LDL-C and retinal microvasculature health.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF