A sensitive fluorescent probe for monitoring hypochlorous acid levels in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease. Hypochlorous acid (HClO) is a signature reactive oxygen species (ROS) closely associated with the progression of RA. Here, we report a novel fluorescent probe, ZCP1, which exhibits high sensitivity to HClO.

Facile minocycline deployment in gingiva using a dissolvable microneedle patch for the adjunctive treatment of periodontal disease.

Minocycline is a commonly used drug for adjunctive therapy in periodontal disease. However, the current mainstream local medications primarily rely on intra-pocket administration, which, while avoiding the side effects of traditional systemic drugs, presents challenges such as inconvenience, discomfort, and the need for professional assistance, thus affecting patient compliance. Herein, we introduce a minocycline-loaded dissolvable microneedle (Mino-DMN) patch that allows for local and efficient delivery of minocycline to gingiva for the treatment of periodontitis.

A mitochondria targeted hydrogen peroxide fluorescent probe for monitoring oxidative stress during influenza virus infection.

Hydrogen peroxide (HO), an important marker of oxidative stress, plays a significant role in infectious diseases. Oxidative stress induced by influenza virus infection is intricately linked to the pathological processes of host cells. In this work, a fluorescent probe QLC1 based on the coumarin was developed for fluorescence imaging of mitochondrial HO level in host cells during influenza virus infection.

Resveratrol Ameliorates Chronic Stress in Kennel Dogs and Mice by Regulating Gut Microbiome and Metabolome Related to Tryptophan Metabolism.

Chronic stress poses threats to the physical and psychological well-being of dogs. Resveratrol (Res) is a polyphenol with antidepressant properties and has rarely been studied in dogs. This study aimed to investigate the stress-relieving effects and underlying mechanism of Res in dogs.

Evaluation of the killing effects of UV light on common airborne porcine viruses.

UV exposure is a common method of disinfection and sterilization. In the present study, the parallel beam test was performed to collect fluids containing infectious viruses using a parallel beam apparatus after UV irradiation (0, 0.5, 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, or 20 mJ/cm).

Ice-pop making inspired photothermal ultra-swelling microneedles to facilitate loading and intradermal vaccination of tumor antigen.

Cancer vaccines hold great promise in the fight against cancer. Here, we report an ice-pop making inspired photothermal ultra-swelling microneedle (PUSMN) patch for facilitating and enhancing cancer vaccination. The PUSMN patch consist of an array of microneedles made from photo-crosslinked methacrylated hyaluronic acid and polydopamine, a near-infrared photothermal conversion material, connected to a customized resin handle like an ice-pop stick.

Manganese is a potent inducer of lysosomal activity that inhibits de novo HBV infection.

Sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP) has been identified as an entry receptor for hepatitis B virus (HBV), but the molecular events of the viral post-endocytosis steps remain obscure. In this study, we discovered that manganese (Mn) could strongly inhibit HBV infection in NTCP-reconstituted HepG2 cells without affecting viral replication. We therefore profiled the antiviral effects of Mn2+ in an attempt to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms involved in early HBV infection.

Learning curve for double-port video-assisted thoracoscopic lung segmentectomy: a propensity score matching study.

Objective: To determine the learning curve for double-port video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) lung segmentectomy performed by the same surgical team in our center.

Methods: We retrospectively collected clinical data from 193 patients who underwent double-port video-assisted thoracoscopic lung segmentectomy from March 2017 to March 2023. The operative time (OT) was analyzed using the cumulative sum (CUSUM) method, and two stages of the learning curve were obtained.

Spatial Distribution Patterns of Pleural Dissemination in Patients With Thymoma and Survival Analysis.

Thymoma is a common malignancy with low incidence, and pleural metastases are common pattern of recurrence. It is necessary that the spatial location of pleural metastatic lesions be analyzed. This study aimed to analyze the spatial distribution patterns of pleural dissemination in patients with thymoma and evaluate the variables that influence the survival of pleural metastasis in this population.

Structural insights into the high basal activity and inverse agonism of the orphan receptor GPR6 implicated in Parkinson's disease.

GPR6 is an orphan G protein-coupled receptor with high constitutive activity found in D2-type dopamine receptor-expressing medium spiny neurons of the striatopallidal pathway, which is aberrantly hyperactivated in Parkinson's disease. Here, we solved crystal structures of GPR6 without the addition of a ligand (a pseudo-apo state) and in complex with two inverse agonists, including CVN424, which improved motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease in clinical trials. In addition, we obtained a cryo-electron microscopy structure of the signaling complex between GPR6 and its cognate G heterotrimer.

Intradermal implantation of methotrexate-loaded puerarin-gelatin hydrogel via bubble-generating microneedles for psoriasis treatment.

Methotrexate (MTX) is a primary treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis, but conventional oral or subcutaneous delivery has limitations, including poor drug targeting, side effects, and low patient compliance. This study introduces implantable hydrogel microneedles (HMNs) made from photo-cross-linked gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and puerarin (Pue), a traditional Chinese medicine, for intradermal and sustained MTX delivery. The ratio of Pue to GelMA significantly influenced the morphology, mechanical strength, MTX release profiles, and degradation behavior of the HMNs.

Resting-state functional connectivity in gelotophobes: A neuroscientific perspective on the fear of laughter.

Gelotophobia, the fear of being laughed at, is characterized by heightened sensitivity to ridicule and a tendency to perceive laughter in social situations as mocking. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) acquires brain functional connectivity while the individual remains at rest, without engaging in specific tasks. Recent studies have investigated task-based fMRI and white matter in gelotophobes; however, the resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in this group remains unclear.

Visualizing fiber end geometry effects on stress distribution in composites using mechanophores.

Localized stress concentrations at fiber ends in short fiber-reinforced polymer composites (SFRCs) significantly affect their mechanical properties. Our research targets these stress concentrations by embedding nitro-spiropyran (SPN) mechanophores into the polymer matrix. SPN mechanophores change color under mechanical stress, allowing us to visualize and quantify stress distributions at the fiber ends.

Optimal spectral combination of spectrally combined laser beams in the turbulent atmosphere.

The optimal spectral combination of spectrally combined laser beams (SCLBs) propagating from the ground to orbit in the turbulent atmosphere is studied, where the atmospheric effects (e.g., turbulence, extinction and nonlinear self-focusing) are considered.

Exploration of a Novel Terpolymer Nanoparticle System for the Prevention of Alcohol-Induced Dose Dumping.

Alcohol-induced dose dumping (AIDD) remains a serious challenge in the controlled delivery of high potency drugs, such as opioids, which requires extensive investigation and innovative solutions. Current technologies rely on ethanol-insoluble excipients, such as guar gum and sodium alginate, to counteract the increased solubility of hydrophobic polymeric excipients in ethanol. However, these excipients pose several shortcomings, such as high viscosity of coating dispersion, high solution temperature, rapid gelation, and heterogeneity of resulted film.

Altered gut metabolites and metabolic reprogramming involved in the pathogenesis of colitis-associated colorectal cancer and the transition of colon "inflammation to cancer".

Colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) is fatal and can develop spontaneously or as a complication of inflammatory bowel diseases. Although co-administration of azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS) is a classic method for CAC modeling, its limitations need to be addressed. Accordingly, we aimed to optimize the AOM/DSS model to study CAC extensively and further investigate its pathogenic mechanisms relative to microbiota and metabolism.

The rebalancing of the immune system at the maternal-fetal interface ameliorates autism-like behavior in adult offspring.

Maternal immune activation (MIA) is critical for imparting neuropathology and altered behaviors in offspring; however, maternal-fetal immune cell populations have not been thoroughly investigated in MIA-induced autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Here, we report the single-cell transcriptional landscape of placental cells in both PBS- and poly(I:C)-induced MIA dams. We observed a decrease in regulatory T (Treg) cells but an increase in the M1 macrophage population at the maternal-fetal interface in MIA dams.

Improved method for detecting protein-protein interactions using proximity ligation assay.

Proximity ligation assay has been widely used to detect protein-protein interaction in cells and tissues. While with great sensitivity, its specificity was often neglected. Here, we report the existence of varying levels of false positives observed with this assay and provide suggestions to minimize false positives for more accurate detection of protein-protein interactions, especially for membrane proteins.

A novel tumor theranostic strategy based on metabolic glycoengineering and disulfidptosis.

Traditional metabolic glycoengineering involves participation of a monofunctional unnatural monosaccharide. To broaden the application boundary of this powerful technique, a bifunctional molecule, AcManNSSN, is designed and applied for a tumor theranostic strategy in this work. The results from both cell and animal experiments show good tumor detection and tumor inhibition effects.

Laser-Induced Interference to Infrared Detector Using Continuous Wave and Short-Pulse Lasers.

The response of a DPbS3200 infrared detector irradiated by a nanosecond pulsed laser and CW laser has been investigated to study laser-induced interference. A laser interference experiment system was constructed to measure the time-varying response signal. A nanosecond pulsed laser and a CW laser of 10 Hz were used, with a 1064 nm wavelength and a millimeter-scale irradiation spot diameter.

Damage Characteristics Analysis of Laser Ablation Triple-Junction Solar Cells Based on Electroluminescence Characteristics.

To study the physical property effects of the laser on GaInP/GaAs/Ge solar cells and their sub-cell layers, a pulsed laser with a wavelength of 532 nm was used to irradiate the solar cells under various energy conditions. The working performance of the cell was measured with a source meter. The electroluminescence (EL) characteristics were assessed using an ordinary and an infrared camera.

Stress-sensitive neural circuits change the gut microbiome via duodenal glands.

Negative psychological states impact immunity by altering the gut microbiome. However, the relationship between brain states and microbiome composition remains unclear. We show that Brunner's glands in the duodenum couple stress-sensitive brain circuits to bacterial homeostasis.

Fabrication and Characterization of Microneedle Patches for Loading and Delivery of Exosomes.

Exosomes, as emerging "next-generation" biotherapeutics and drug delivery vectors, hold immense potential in diverse biomedical fields, ranging from drug delivery and regenerative medicine to disease diagnosis and tumor immunotherapy. However, the rapid clearance by traditional bolus injection and poor stability of exosomes restrict their clinical application. Microneedles serve as a solution that prolongs the residence time of exosomes at the administration site, thereby maintaining the drug concentration and facilitating sustained therapeutic effects.