Recent research progress on the biological functions, synthesis and applications of selenium nanoparticles.

Selenium is an essential trace element that is involved in a variety of complex biological processes and has a significant positive effect on the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, inflammatory diseases, and cancer. Selenium in the body is mainly provided by daily meals. However, selenium has two sides, beneficial in moderation and harmful in excess.

Rapid construction of interfacial plasmonic nanoarray for SERS sensing of flavonoids.

A rapid, low-cost and reliable interfacial plasmonic nanoarray is presented as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensing platform for preliminary quantification and identification of flavonoids. Here, CTAB-modified Au colloidal nanoparticles self-assemble at the cyclohexane/acetone-water interface to form a uniform interfacial plasmonic nanoarray. The target hydrophobic analytes including organic dye methyl red and water-insoluble flavonoids, are effectively captured at the air-water interface and enter the "hot spots" between nanoparticles during the evaporation of the oil phase, which contributes to sensitive and reproducible SERS signals.

A poly (vinyl alcohol) coated core-shell nanoparticle with a tunable surface for pH and glutathione dual-responsive drug delivery.

The surface characteristics of nanoparticles play a pivotal role in modulating the efficiency and functionality of drug delivery systems, particularly when addressing the complex challenges of targeted therapeutics. This study presents the development of a core-shell nanoparticle system (PMAA@DOX-PVA), incorporating poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a dynamic shell component to establish dual responsiveness to pH and glutathione levels. The hydrophilic PVA shell is covalently conjugated to the poly (methylacrylic acid) (PMAA) core via a boronic ester bond, establishing a robust platform for controlled release with tunable surface properties.

Acute treatment and secondary prevention for patients with minor stroke or transient ischemic attack: A Bayesian network meta-analysis.

Introduction: The efficacy of different antiplatelet treatment in minor strokes (MSs) or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) and that of antiplatelet and intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in MSs remain controversial.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library to identify all eligible articles until April 12, 2024. Efficacy outcomes were all-cause mortality, excellent outcome, functional independence and recurrent stroke.

Extended π-conjugated N-heteroaromatic molecules for fast-charging and high operating voltage aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) with redox-active organic compounds as electrodes attract wide attention due to their structural diversity, sustainability and inherent safety. However, the rational structural design of advanced organic electrodes with high practical capacity, long cycle life and high rate performance is still a great challenge. Herein, a strategy to improve the electrochemical performance of electrodes in AZIBs by constructing an extended π-conjugated hexaazatrinaphthalene (HATN)-based structure with electron-withdrawing cyano groups, 5, 6, 11, 12, 17, 18-hexaazatrinaphthalene-2, 3, 8, 9, 14, 15-hexacarbonitrile (HATN-6CN), is reported.

Structured protein probes modified with selenium nanoparticle for 1-minute measurement of SARS-CoV-2 antigen.

Conventional point-of-care lateral flow immunoassays are characterized by an antibody-tagged probe irregular coupling that can limit sensitivity and require a long assay's time. We synthesized polyethylene glycol-modified selenium nanoparticles (PEG-SeNPs) by template method and developed a strategy to set antibody probes targeted and orderly by using PEG-SeNPs. Synthesized PEG-SeNPs with high stability could immobilize antibodies in the "stand-up" orientation, resulting in a faster detection time of less than 1 min by direct observer visualization without instruments or equipment.

Protective effect of water-soluble nervonic acid micro-powder coated with chitosan oligosaccharide and silk fibroin on hippocampal neuronal HT22 cells.

Nervonic acid (NA) is an extremely long chain monounsaturated fatty acid that plays a crucial biological role in brain development and repair. However, its low solubility reduced bioavailability and limited its applications. In this study, spherical water-soluble nervonic acid composite micro-powder (NA-WM) was constructed by layer-by-layer self-assembly technology under electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bond, in which electronegative NA was used as the core material, and electropositive COS (Chitosan oligosaccharide) with neuroprotective properties and electronegative SF (Silk fibroin) with biocompatibility and anti-inflammatory synergism were used as the wall material.

Customizing HO-Poor Electric Double Layer and Boosting Texture Exposure of Zn (101) Plane towards Super-High Areal Capacity Zinc Metal Batteries.

The catastrophic dendrite hyperplasia and parasitic reactions severely impede the future deployment of aqueous Zn-ion batteries. Controlling zinc orientation growth is considered to be an effective method to overcome the aforementioned concerns, especially for regulating the (002) plane of deposited Zn. Unfortunately, Zn (002) texture is difficult to obtain stable cycling under high deposition capacity resulting from its large lattice distortion and nonuniform distribution in electric field.

Evaluation of tracheal diameter and angles in fetuses with double aortic arch using prenatal ultrasound: implications for postnatal management.

Objective: This study aims to analyze the value of prenatal ultrasound in the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of double aortic arch (DAA) malformations.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 31 fetal cases with double aortic arch anomalies over a 12-year period from June 1, 2011 to June 1, 2023. The assessment included combined measurements of fetal tracheal internal diameter Z-score and DAA pinch angle, along with ultrasonographic findings, associated anomalies, genetic abnormalities, postnatal CTA images, and long-term postnatal outcomes.

Discovery of potent LRRK2 inhibitors by ensemble virtual screening strategy and bioactivity evaluation.

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) has been reported to be associated with familial and idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) risk and is a promising target for drug discovery against PD. To identify novel and effective LRRK2 inhibitors, an ensemble virtual screening strategy by combining fingerprint similarity, complex-based pharmacophore and structure-based molecular docking was proposed and applied. Using this strategy, we finally selected 25 compounds from ∼1.

A Synergistically Regulated Cathode/Electrolyte Interphase With High Stability and Rapid Zn Migration Toward Advanced Flexible Zinc-Ion Batteries.

NaV(PO)(NVP), as a representative sodium superionic conductor with a stable polyanion framework, is considered a cathode candidate for aqueous zinc-ion batteries attributed to their high discharge platform and open 3D structure. Nevertheless, the structural stability of NVP and the cathode-electrolyte interphase (CEI) layer formed on NVP can be deteriorated by the aqueous electrolyte to a certain extent, which will result in slow Zn migration. To solve these problems, doping Si elements to NVP and adding sodium acetate (NaAc) to the electrolyte are utilized as a synergistic regulation route to enable a highly stable  CEI with rapid Zn migration.

Super-resolution reconstruction for early cervical cancer magnetic resonance imaging based on deep learning.

This study aims to develop a super-resolution (SR) algorithm tailored specifically for enhancing the image quality and resolution of early cervical cancer (CC) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images. The proposed method is subjected to both qualitative and quantitative analyses, thoroughly investigating its performance across various upscaling factors and assessing its impact on medical image segmentation tasks. The innovative SR algorithm employed for reconstructing early CC MRI images integrates complex architectures and deep convolutional kernels.

Phase I/II trial of plinabulin in combination with nivolumab and ipilimumab in patients with recurrent small cell lung cancer (SCLC): Big ten cancer research consortium (BTCRC-LUN17-127) study.

Background: Plinabulin is a GEF-H1 releasing agent with an immune-enhancing function. We report results from a multicenter Phase I/II study (NCT03575793) assessing plinabulin in combination with nivolumab and ipilimumab for the treatment of recurrent SCLC.

Methods: In Phase I, patients were enrolled using a 3 + 3 design to determine dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) and recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D).

An ultrasensitive electrochemical biosensor with dual-amplification mode and enzyme-deposited silver for detection of miR-205-5p.

An electrochemical biosensor based on dual-amplified nucleic acid mode and biocatalytic silver deposition was constructed using catalytic hairpin assembly-hybrid chain reaction (CHA-HCR). The electrochemical detection of silver on the electrode by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) can be utilized to quantitatively measure miR-205-5p since the amount of silver deposited on the electrode is proportional to the target nucleic acid. The current response values exhibit strong linearity with the logarithm of miR-205-5p concentrations ranging from 0.

A water-soluble mixed-valent {Mn} cluster embedded heteropolyoxoniobate with magnetic properties.

A rare all-inorganic high-nuclearity mixed-valent {Mn} cluster embedded polyoxoniobate, KH{(TeNbO)(NbO)(TeNbO)[(TeO)(MnII7MnIII4O)]}·97HO (1), has been synthesized by a one-pot reaction. Compound 1 contains the largest manganese cluster {Mn} core among polyoxoniobates reported to date. {Mn} consists of three quasi-cubane {MnO} units and is simultaneously encapsulated by lacunary α-Keggin {TeNbO} and Lindqvist {NbO} units.

Bimetallic nanozymes synergize to regulate the behavior of oxygen intermediates and substrate HMF adsorption.

We have constructed a bimetallic (CoNiP) nanozyme, leveraging the synergistic effect of cobalt and nickel, which efficiently catalyzes the oxidation of TMB from colorless to ox-TMB (blue). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further highlight the pivotal role of this synergistic effect in improving the adsorption energy of oxygen intermediates, accelerating the catalytic process.

Identification of a novel DEC-205 binding peptide to develop dendritic cell-targeting nanovaccine for cancer immunotherapy.

Cancer vaccine is regarded as an effective immunotherapy approach mediated by dendritic cells (DCs) which are crucial for antigen presentation and the initiation of adaptive immune responses. However, lack of DC-targeting properties significantly hampers the efficacy of cancer vaccines. Here, by using the phage display technique, peptides targeting the endocytic receptor DEC-205 primarily found on cDC1s were initially screened.

High-efficiency electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia via boron-doped hydroxyl oxide cobalt induced electron delocalization.

Electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia is a promising alternative strategy for producing valuable ammonia. This prospective route, however, is subject to a slow electrocatalytic rate, which resulted from the weak adsorption and activation of intermediate species, and the low density electron cloud of active centers. To address this issue, we developed a novel approach by doping boron into metal hydroxyl oxides to adjust the electronic structure of active centers, and consequently, led a significant improvement in the Faraday efficiency upto approaching 100 %, as well as an impressive ammonia yield upto approximately 23 mg/h mgcat at -0.

Analysis of the effect and influencing factors of a clinical competency-oriented prospective pre-job training programme on the comprehensive ability of new employees in the department of transfusion medicine.

Background: The subject of pre-job training for transfusion service laboratory technicians is very important. The key is how to make a reasonable systematic training programme to improve the effectiveness of training.

Methods: A prospective training programme was conducted and an assessment was performed at enrollment (baseline) and reassessment after 3-months training, using the same tools with a validated questionnaire.

The Effect of Preoperative Anemia on the Odds of Allogeneic Blood Transfusion and Patient Outcomes in Colorectal Neoplasm Patients.

Background: The optimal preoperative hemoglobin (Hb) value of colorectal neoplasm patients is still being debated. This study aimed at determining the effect of preoperative anemia on patient outcomes and allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled colorectal neoplasm patients, that underwent surgery, from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2021.

Promoting Alzheimer's disease research and therapy with stem cell technology.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent form of dementia leading to memory loss, reduced cognitive and linguistic abilities, and decreased self-care. Current AD treatments aim to relieve symptoms and slow disease progression, but a cure is elusive due to limited understanding of the underlying disease mechanisms.

Main Content: Stem cell technology has the potential to revolutionize AD research.

Machine Learning-Based Prediction of Intraoperative Red Blood Cell Transfusion in Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery.

Background: Blood shortage is a global challenge, impacting elective surgeries with high bleeding risk. Predicting intraoperative blood use, optimizing resource allocation, and ensuring safe elective surgery are vital. This study targets identifying key bleeding risk factors in Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR) through machine learning.