Sticky Superhydrophobic State.

It is common sense that the droplet is stickier to substrates with larger solid-liquid contact areas. Here, we report that this intuitive trend reverses for hollowed micropillars, where a decrease in solid-liquid contact area caused by an increase in the pore size of a pillar top leads to an increase in the droplet depinning force. As compared to relief of liquid-vapor interface distortion caused by the sliding of the contact line on filled pillars, the pore hinders the contact line sliding, hence leading to enhanced interface distortion and droplet adhesion.

Tumor microenvironment activation amplify oxidative stress promoting tumor energy remodeling for mild photothermal therapy and cuproptosis.

Tumor metabolic reprogramming requires high levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to maintain treatment resistance, which poses major challenges to chemotherapy and photothermal therapy. Especially, high levels of ATP promote copper ion efflux for limiting the curative effect of cuproptosis. Here, an HS-responsive mesoporous CuCl(OH)-loading chemotherapeutic cisplatin (CDDP) was synthesized, and the final nanoparticle, CDDP@CuCl(OH)-CDs (CDCuCDs), was encapsulated by electrostatic action with carbon dots (CDs).

HS-driven chemotherapy and mild photothermal therapy induced mitochondrial reprogramming to promote cuproptosis.

The elevated level of hydrogen sulfide (HS) in colon cancer hinders complete cure with a single therapy. However, excessive HS also offers a treatment target. A multifunctional cascade bioreactor based on the HS-responsive mesoporous CuCl(OH)-loaded hypoxic prodrug tirapazamine (TPZ), in which the outer layer was coated with hyaluronic acid (HA) to form TPZ@CuCl(OH)-HA (TCuH) nanoparticles (NPs), demonstrated a synergistic antitumor effect through combining the HS-driven cuproptosis and mild photothermal therapy.

Soft wetting: Substrate softness- and time-dependent droplet/bubble adhesion.

Hypothesis: The droplet/bubble adhesion characteristics depend on the length of the droplet/bubble three-phase contact line. Since the deformation caused by the liquid-gas interfacial tension on the soft substrate, referred as to the wetting ridge, retards contact line spreading and retraction, we conjecture that the droplet/bubble adhesion characteristics depend also on the substrate softness.

Experiments: Soft substrates with various shear moduli are prepared and characterized by the spreading and receding dynamics of water droplets and underwater bubbles.

A Superhydrophobicity-Slipperiness Switchable Surface with Magneto- and Thermo-responsive Wires for Repelling Complex Droplets.

The inefficacy of repelling water droplets laden with macromolecules (complex droplets or diluted polymer solution) is a long-standing shortcoming of superhydrophobic surfaces, which severely limits their reliability in practical applications. Here, we design a surface termed the superhydrophobicity-slipperiness switchable surface (3S surface), which demonstrates superhydrophobicity at room temperature and slipperiness when heated. The 3S surface is composed of magneto-responsive wires coated with superhydrophobic nanoparticles and impregnated with thermoresponsive paraffin, exhibiting lotus leaf-inspired passive water repellency and respiratory cilia-inspired active water repellency at room temperature.

A chemodynamic nanoenzyme with highly efficient Fenton reaction for cancer therapy.

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is a rising technology for cancer therapy by converting intracellular hydrogen peroxide (HO) into hydroxyl radical (•OH) via transition-metal-containing nanoparticles (NPs) catalysis reaction (i.e. Fenton reaction) to kill tumor cells.

Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome with c.1579_1580insA variant in a Chinese family: a case report.

Birt-Hogg-Dubé (BHD) syndrome, is a rare genetic disease with heterogeneous manifestations in different populations. In this study, we reported a Chinese female BHD case and her family members with c.1579_1580insA variant in gene, who were characterized by diffused pulmonary cysts/bulla, and reviewed another five familial BHD cases in China.

Bioinspired Wire-on-Pillar Magneto-Responsive Superhydrophobic Arrays.

Versatile surfaces demonstrating multiple interfacial functionalities are highly demanded as a surface typically serves various duties and faces multiple challenges in real practice. However, such versatile surfaces are rarely reported mainly due to the challenges in integrating multiple structural characteristics. Here, by mimicking lotus leaves, butterfly wing, and respiratory cilia, we develop a surface termed wire-on-pillar magneto-responsive superhydrophobic arrays (WP-MRSA), which possess interfacial properties of structural superhydrophobicity, anisotropicity, stimuli responsiveness, and flexibility.

Molecular characterization of pulmonary defenses against bacterial invasion in allergic asthma: The role of Foxa2 in regulation of β-defensin 1.

Allergic asthma, characterized by chronic airway Th2-dominated inflammation, is associated with an increased risk of infection; however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Forkhead box protein A2 (Foxa2) plays a critical role in Th2 inflammation and is associated with pulmonary defenses. To determining the role of Foxa2 in Th2-dominated lung inflammation against the invading bacteria, we established a mouse OVA-sensitized model, an Escherichia coli lung invasion model, and mice with conditional deletion of Foxa2 in respiratory epithelial cells.

A Higher Rate of Pulmonary Fungal Infection in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients with Influenza in a Large Tertiary Hospital.

Background: Influenza is considered a self-limiting disease. However, in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it may result in serious outcomes during the flu season.

Objectives: The aims of this retrospective study were to explore the characteristics of hospitalized patients with COPD complicated by influenza and determine the factors affecting the prognosis of these patients.

Dupilumab treatment in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Dupilumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody against the interleukin-4-receptor α subunit, has been developed and used in clinical trials to treat atopic dermatitis (AD).

Objective: We aimed to assess the overall efficacy and safety of dupilumab treatment in AD.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library databases, and the Chinese Biological Medicine (CBM) published up to September 2017 were searched.

Pharmacodynamics of tigecycline alone and in combination with colistin against clinical isolates of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in an in vitro pharmacodynamic model.

The objectives of this study, which were based on the hypothesis of mutant prevention concentration (MPC), were to compare tigecycline and colistin monotherapy and combination therapy against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-AB) and to identify changes in the susceptibility of the organism using an in vitro pharmacodynamic model. Human free-drug concentration profiles of colistin and tigecycline used alone and in combination were simulated against four clinical MDR-AB isolates over 24 h. Pharmacodynamic activity was measured as log CFU/mL and as the area under the bactericidal curve (AUBC).

Surveillance of Dihydropteroate Synthase Genes in by LAMP: Implications for Infection Control and Initial Therapy.

is a common nosocomial pathogen that causes high morbidity and mortality. Because of its inherent extended antibiotic resistance, therapeutic options for are limited, and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SXT) is the only first-line antimicrobial recommended. However, with the spread of dihydropteroate synthase ( and ) genes, global emergence of SXT resistance has been reported.

Tigecycline-Amikacin Combination Effectively Suppresses the Selection of Resistance in Clinical Isolates of KPC-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae.

By far, only tigecycline, colistin, and some aminoglycosides still show favorable in vitro activities against carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. However, rapid emergence of resistance often occurs during long-term treatment in clinic, challenging these last resort antimicrobials. In this study, we measured mutant prevention concentration (MPC) and mutant selection window (MSW) of tigecycline, colistin and amikacin alone and in combination for clinical isolates of KPC-producing K.

Evaluation of Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole (SXT), Minocycline, Tigecycline, Moxifloxacin, and Ceftazidime Alone and in Combinations for SXT-Susceptible and SXT-Resistant Stenotrophomonas maltophilia by In Vitro Time-Kill Experiments.

Background: The optimal therapy for infections caused by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia) has not yet been established. The objective of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SXT), minocycline, tigecycline, moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, ticarcillin-clavulanate, polymyxin E, chloramphenicol, and ceftazidime against clinical isolated S.

Tigecycline Treatment for Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections are prevalent worldwide; they have few effective treatments and this jeopardizes public health. Clinicians often use tigecycline to combat CRE, but its clinical efficacy remains controversial. Therefore, to compare the efficacy and safety of tigecycline in treating CRE infections compared with that of other antimicrobial agents, and to evaluate whether combination therapy and high-dose regimens are beneficial, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Tigecycline treatment experience against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The role of tigecycline in treating multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-AB) infections remains controversial. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to assess the efficacy and safety of tigecycline in treating MDR-AB infections. PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to 20 September 2015.

A Monte Carlo pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic simulation to evaluate the efficacy of minocycline, tigecycline, moxifloxacin, and levofloxacin in the treatment of hospital-acquired pneumonia caused by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.

Background: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia has emerged as an important opportunistic pathogen in recent years. Increasing antimicrobial resistance and other contraindications have greatly compromised trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SXT) as the first-line therapeutic option. The objective of this study was to explore other options for treating hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) caused by S.

Prophylactic use of macrolide antibiotics for the prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation: a meta-analysis.

Background: Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPDs) can lead to high frequencies and rates of hospitalization and mortality. Macrolides are a class of antibiotics that possess both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Since the occurrence of AECOPDs is associated with aggravation of airway inflammation and bacterial infections, prophylactic macrolide treatment may be an effective approach towards the prevention of AECOPDs.

Efficacy of polymyxins in the treatment of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

In recent years, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae has become endemic in many countries. Because of limited treatment options, the abandoned "old antibiotics", polymyxins, have been reintroduced to the clinic. To evaluate the clinical efficacy of polymyxins in the treatment of infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, we systemically searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases and analyzed the available evidence.

Diagnostic value of the serum galactomannan and (1, 3)-β-D-glucan assays for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in non-neutropenic patients.

Objective: Galactomannan (GM) and (1, 3)-β-D-glucan (BG) are considered useful seromarkers for the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in patients with neutropenia. However, there is still limited data on these seromarkers for testing non-neutropenic patients who are at the risk of IPA. The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of these two serum antigen assays for the early diagnosis of IPA in patients without neutropenia.