Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Platinum-containing two-drug regimens are the standard first-line chemotherapeutic regimen, but acquired resistance remains a major challenge. Cancer cells can evolve and adapt to therapeutic stress by reprogramming their metabolism and passing on drug resistance to neighboring drug-sensitive cancer cells through cell-to-cell interactions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To analyze the association of serum heparin-binding protein (HBP) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels with urosepsis following flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy (FURL) and to construct a back propagation neural network prediction model.
Methods: A total of 428 patients with kidney stones who underwent FURL were enrolled. Patients were divided into sepsis group (=42) and control group (=386) according to whether post-operative urosepsis developed.
Despite contributing less than 1% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have the potential to drive global mitigation actions by advocating for ambitious emission reduction targets, promoting renewable energy solutions, and advancing sustainable development practices. The adoption of onshore-offshore wind and solar energy in 39 SIDS, which are currently experiencing the adverse effects of climate change, presents a significant opportunity. By harnessing renewable energy sources, these countries can effectively mitigate GHG emissions, enhance energy security, and build resilience.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel tip-flexible suction ureteral access sheath (NTFS-UAS) combined with flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy (FURS) for treating kidney stones ≥30 mm in a large cohort. The clinical data of 206 patients with renal calculi ≥30 mm treated by NTFS-UAS combined with FURS from June 2021 to September 2023 were analyzed retrospectively. The outcomes under investigation encompassed demographic information, stone-related characteristics, operative time, stone-free rates (SFRs), and postoperative complications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFShrimp acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) is one of the most devastating diseases to impact the global shrimp farming industry, with a mortality rate of 70 %-100 %. The key virulence factors are a pair of Photorhabdus insect-related (Pir)-like toxins, PirA and PirB. In this study, by using an in vitro transcription and translation assay, we first confirmed that the quorum sensing transcriptional regulator AphB could trigger the expression of its downstream genes after binding to the AphB binding sequence in the promoter region of the pirA/pirB operon.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the landscape of infectious diseases, human coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 pose significant threats, characterized by severe respiratory illnesses and notable resistance to conventional treatments due to their rapid evolution and the emergence of diverse variants, particularly within SARS-CoV-2. This study investigated the development of broad-spectrum coronavirus vaccines using heterodimeric RBD-Fc proteins engineered through the "Knob-into-Hole" technique. We constructed various recombinant proteins incorporating the receptor-binding domains (RBDs) of different coronaviruses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe upper reaches of the Yellow River are critical ecological barriers within the Yellow River Basin (YRB) that are crucial for source conservation. However, environmental challenges in this area, from Longyangxia to Lijiaxia, have emerged in recent years. To assess the ecological environment quality (EEQ) evolution from 1991 to 2021, we utilized remote sensing ecological indices (RSEIs) on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHydrogel adhesives are extensively employed in biological interfaces such as epidermal flexible electronics, tissue engineering, and implanted device. The development of functional hydrogel adhesives is a critical, yet challenging task since combining two or more attributes that seem incompatible into one adhesive hydrogel without sacrificing the hydrogel's pristine capabilities. In this Review, we highlight current developments in the fabrication of functional adhesive hydrogels, which are suitable for a variety of application scenarios, particularly those that occur underwater or on tissue/organ surface conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDysregulation of renal tubular epithelial cell (RTEC) apoptosis is one of the critical steps underlying the occurrence and development of nephrolithiasis. Although N6-methyladenosine (mA) modification has been extensively studied and associated with various pathologic processes, research on its specific role in RTEC injury and apoptosis remains limited. In this study, we found that overexpression of ALKBH5 reduced the level of mA modification in RTEC cells and notably promoted RTEC apoptosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMacrostructural control of stress distribution and microstructural influence on crack propagation is one of the strategies for obtaining high mechanical properties in stag beetle upper jaws. The maximum bending fracture force of the stag beetle upper jaw is approximately 154, 000 times the weight of the upper jaw. Here, we explore the macro and micro-structural characteristics of two stag beetle upper jaws and reveal the resulting differences in mechanical properties and enhancement mechanisms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To evaluate the effectiveness of home-based cardiac telerehabilitation based on wearable electrocardiogram or heart rate monitoring devices in patients with heart disease.
Methods: We searched eight electronic databases under the guidance of Cochrane Handbook and PRISMA recommendations.
Results: The meta-analysis included data from 14 articles (15 RCTs) representing 1314 participants.
The rapid mutation of SARS-CoV-2 has led to multiple rounds of large-scale breakthrough infection and reinfection worldwide. However, the dynamic changes of humoral and cellular immunity responses to several subvariants after infection remain unclear. In our study, a 6-month longitudinal immune response evaluation was conducted on 118 sera and 50 PBMC samples from 49 healthy individuals who experienced BA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFActinomycosis is a chronic granulomatous disease that can affect various parts of the body, including the head and neck, lungs, abdominal and pelvic cavities, and wounds. It is caused by different actinomycetes like , , , , and . Reported infections caused by actinomycetes include pulmonary actinomycosis, pelvic and abdominal infections, bone or artificial joint infections, endocarditis, complicated urinary tract infections, and soft tissue abscesses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common condition affecting middle-aged and elderly men.
Aim: The study sought to investigate differentially expressed fatty acid metabolism-related genes and the molecular mechanisms of ED.
Methods: The expression profiles of GSE2457 and GSE31247 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and merged.
The multi-level structure is a strategy to enhance the mechanical properties of dung beetle leg joints. Under external loads, the microstructure facilitates energy dissipation and prevents crack extension. The macrostructure aids in transferring the load to more reliable parts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomimetics (Basel)
November 2023
The motion process of legged robots contains not only rigid-body motion but also flexible motion with elastic deformation of the legs, especially for heavy loads. Hence, the characteristics of the flexible components and their interactions with the rigid components need to be considered. In this paper, a hierarchical control strategy for robots with rigid-flexible coupling characteristics is proposed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLymphocytes play crucial roles in the human immune system; however, detailed metabolite characteristics need to be further investigated. Herein, we propose a lymphocyte classification method based on metabolite profiling at the single-cell level. The percentages of different lymphocyte types were calculated with a low margin of error, confirming that the metabolites could serve as a basis for lymphocyte classification.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEthnopharmacological Relevance: Taohong Siwu decoction (TSD) is a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription used to promote the blood circulation and alleviate blood stasis. TSD consists of Paeonia lactiflora Pall., Conioselinum anthriscoides (H.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVaccinia virus infection requires virus-cell membrane fusion to complete entry during endocytosis; however, it contains a large viral fusion protein complex of 11 viral proteins that share no structure or sequence homology to all the known viral fusion proteins, including type I, II, and III fusion proteins. It is thus very challenging to investigate how the vaccinia fusion complex works to trigger membrane fusion with host cells. In this study, we crystallized the ectodomain of vaccinia H2 protein, one component of the viral fusion complex.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWideochir Inne Tech Maloinwazyjne
June 2023
Introduction: The impact of severe hydronephrosis on the outcomes of minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy (MPCNL) remains controversial; it is still a subject well worth exploration.
Aim: To investigate the effects of severe hydronephrosis on surgical outcomes of MPCNL, especially on operative time (OT) and stone-free rate (SFR).
Material And Methods: In total, 301 patients who underwent MPCNL were included in this study and divided into 4 groups according to the degree of hydronephrosis (nil, mild, moderate, and severe hydronephrosis, respectively).
Background: Tafolecimab is a novel fully human proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) monoclonal antibody, developed for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of tafolecimab in Chinese patients at high or very high cardiovascular risk with hypercholesterolemia.
Methods: Patients with diagnoses of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) by the Simon Broome criteria or at high or very high cardiovascular risk with nonfamilial hypercholesterolemia, with screening low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level ≥1.
The difference in power demand and the driver's operation in various operation stages make the loader have the problem of low energy utilization. Changeable operating objects and drastically changing loads have exacerbated the difficulty of energy-saving research in different operating stages of loaders. Therefore, based on identifying the operation stage and analyzing the load characteristics under typical working conditions of the loader, this paper proposes a shovel-loading cooperative control strategy.
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