Enhanced sclerotherapy for vascular malformations: A dual-mechanism approach using in-situ forming PATDs gel.

Vascular malformations are common vascular lesions in infants and seriously affect their health and quality of life. Vascular sclerotherapy is an effective treatment for vascular malformations. However, current sclerosants have difficulty achieving both high efficiency and low toxicity, and their dosing forms make it difficult to achieve long-term retention in the affected blood vessels.

Genetic loss of Uchl1 leads to female infertility by affecting oocyte quality and follicular development.

Research Question: Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) is a deubiquitinating enzyme specifically highly expressed in the brain and gonads. Inhibition of UCHL1 hydrolase activity impairs oocyte maturation. Uchl1 knockout mice exhibit reproductive dysfunction, but the underlying pathogenesis remains unclear.

Emission engineering in microdisk lasers via direct integration of meta-micromirrors.

Despite their excellent performance and versatility, the efficient integration of small lasers with other optical devices has long been hindered by their broad emission divergence. In this study, we introduce a novel approach for emission engineering in microdisk lasers, significantly enhancing their vertical emission output by directly integrating specially designed reflective metalenses, referred to as "meta-micromirrors". A 5 μm-diameter microdisk laser is precisely positioned at an 8 μm focal distance on a 30 × 30 μm meta-micromirror featuring a numerical aperture (NA) of 0.

Protonation Weakens the Influence of Ribose on Triplet Decay of 2-Thiocytidine.

Long-lived triplet states are critical intermediates of thiobases for their applications in photodynamic therapy and as photoprobes for DNA/RNA-protein interactions, where thiobases are embedded in DNA/RNA and exist as thionucleosides. However, sugar moieties accelerate triplet decay rates, which is a common issue that must be resolved for thionucleosides. Here, we explore whether protonation of 2-thiocytosine (2tCyt) and 2-thiocytidine (2tCyd) under acidic pH can alter their triplet decays.

Evaluation of Carotid Stenosis in a High-Stroke-Risk Population by Hemodynamic Dual-Parameters Based on Ultrasound Vector Flow Imaging.

Objective: This study explored the feasibility of using high-frame-rate ultrasound vector flow imaging (VFI) to quantitatively assess hemodynamics in atherosclerotic internal carotid artery stenosis (ICAS) by evaluating dual-parameters, turbulence index (Tur), and wall shear stress (WSS). Their efficacy in evaluating carotid artery stenosis was also analyzed.

Methods: Fifty-nine patients with ICAS were enrolled.

Pan-Genome-Wide Investigation and Co-Expression Network Analysis of Gene Family in Maize.

Heat shock protein 20 (HSP20) is a diverse and functionally important protein family that plays a crucial role in plants' tolerance to various abiotic stresses. In this study, we systematically analyzed the structural and functional characteristics of the gene family within the pan-genome. By identifying 56 pan-genes, we revealed the variation in the number of these genes across different maize inbreds or relatives.

The development of an analytical procedure for the determination of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems.

Microplastics raise growing concerns regarding their ubiquity and possible negative impact on human health; therefore, the need for comparable, standardized methods is urgent. Modern instrumental analytical techniques, such as IR and Raman spectroscopy, pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and electron microscopy, are fundamental for the analysis of microplastics in environmental and biological objects. The quality of the samples prepared is a determining factor in the validity of the results obtained.

Cationic amphiphilic molecules as novel sclerosants for venous malformation treatment: A study on tranexamic acid-derived low-molecular-weight gels.

Venous malformation (VM) is a prevalent congenital vascular anomaly characterized by abnormal blood vessel growth, leading to disfigurement and dysfunction. Sclerotherapy, a minimally invasive approach, has become a primary therapeutic modality for VM, but its efficacy is hampered by the rapid dilution and potential adverse effects. In this study, we introduced a series of cationic amphiphilic molecules, fatty alcohol esters (TA6, TA8, and TA9) of tranexamic acid (TA), which self-assembled into low-molecular-weight gels (LMWGs) in water.

Periodically asymmetric responses of deep chlorophyll maximum to light and thermocline in a clear monomictic lake: Insights from monthly and diel scale observations.

Deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM), a chlorophyll peak in the water column, has important implications for biogeochemical cycles, energy flow and water surface algal blooms in deep lakes. However, how an observed periodically asymmetric DCM response to environmental variables remains unclear, limiting our in-depth understanding and effective eco-environmental management of deep lakes. Based on both monthly field investigations in 2021 and diel continuous observations in 2021-2023 in clear, monomictic Lake Fuxian, Southwest China, the temporal dynamics and drivers of DCM were examined and periodic features of DCM were found, with a formation period (FP, February-July) and a weakening period (WP, August-December).

Microscopic Processing of Transparent Material with Nanosecond and Ultrafast Lasers.

Due to their excellent light transmission, heat resistance, corrosion resistance, high mechanical strength, and other characteristics, transparent materials have been widely used in emerging industries such as aviation, aerospace, microelectronics, interconnected communication, etc. Compared with the traditional mechanical processing and chemical processing of transparent materials, laser processing, with such characteristics as a high peak power, high energy density, and non-contact processing, has a lot of obvious advantages in processing efficiency and accuracy. In this paper, some of the recent research advancements concerning the laser processing of transparent materials are introduced in detail.

Discovery of Triazolopyrimidine Derivatives as Selective P2X3 Receptor Antagonists Binding to an Unprecedented Allosteric Site as Evidenced by Cryo-Electron Microscopy.

The P2X3 receptor (P2X3R), an ATP-gated cation channel predominantly expressed in C- and Aδ-primary afferent neurons, has been proposed as a drug target for neurological inflammatory diseases, e.g., neuropathic pain, and chronic cough.

Persistence of dissolved organic matter in sediments influenced by environmental factors：Implication for nutrition and carbon cycle.

The persistence of dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays a crucial role in the cycling and distribution of carbon and nutrients. Nonetheless, our understanding of how environmental alterations affect the persistence of sedimentary DOM remains incomplete. Excitation Emission Fluorescence Matrix-Parallel Factor Analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) was used to examine the fluorescence and compositional characteristics of hydrophilic and hydrophobic DOM (separated using XAD-8 resin) within sediments from twelve lakes and reservoirs.

Multimodal PA/US imaging in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Enhanced correlation with clinical scores.

Background: Accurate assessment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) activity remains a challenge. Multimodal photoacoustic/ultrasound (PA/US) joint imaging emerges as a novel imaging modality capable of depicting microvascularization and oxygenation levels in inflamed joints associated with RA. However, the scarcity of large-scale studies limits the exploration of correlating joint oxygenation status with disease activity.

Potential marker genes for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease revealed based on single-cell sequencing and Mendelian randomization analysis.

Background: Progress is being made in the prevention and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but it is still unsatisfactory. With the development of genetic technology, validated genetic information can better explain COPD.

Objective: The study utilized scRNA-seq and Mendelian randomization analysis of eQTLs to identify crucial genes and potential mechanistic pathways underlying COPD pathogenesis.

Effect of baseline prolactin levels on the pregnancy outcomes after fresh embryo transfer.

Background And Aims: There is clinical disagreement on whether to treat hyperprolactinemia with medication before embryo transfer. The aim of this study is to identify the impact of basal prolactin (PRL) levels on pregnancy outcomes in fresh embryo transfer cycles.

Methods: This retrospective study involved 2,648 women who underwent basal PRL level testing and fresh embryo transfer between January 2015 and December 2020 at our Hospital's Department of Assisted Reproduction.

Theoretical Study on the Reaction between Carcinogenic 2,5-Dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone and -Butyl Hydroperoxide: Self-Catalysis and Water Catalysis.

The potentially carcinogenic halobenzoquinones (HBQs) have been recently identified in drinking water as disinfection byproducts. Several radical intermediates in the reaction of 2,5-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone (DCBQ) and -butyl hydroperoxide (-BuOOH), which may induce DNA damage, were detected experimentally, and metal-independent decomposition reactions of -BuOOH by DCBQ were proposed. It has not yet been confirmed by theoretical calculations.

A deep learning-based calculation system for plaque stenosis severity on common carotid artery of ultrasound images.

Objectives: Assessment of plaque stenosis severity allows better management of carotid source of stroke. Our objective is to create a deep learning (DL) model to segment carotid intima-media thickness and plaque and further automatically calculate plaque stenosis severity on common carotid artery (CCA) transverse section ultrasound images.

Methods: Three hundred and ninety images from 376 individuals were used to train (235/390, 60%), validate (39/390, 10%), and test (116/390, 30%) on a newly proposed CANet model.

A Video-based Automated Tracking and Analysis System of Plaque Burden in Carotid Artery Using Deep Learning: A Comparison with Senior Sonographers.

Background And Objective: The incidence of stroke is rising, and it is the second major cause of mortality and the third leading cause of disability around the globe. The goal of this study was to rapidly and accurately identify carotid plaques and automatically quantify plaque burden using our automated tracking and segmentation US-video system.

Methods: We collected 88 common carotid artery transection videos (11048 frames) with a history of atherosclerosis or risk factors for atherosclerosis, which were randomly divided into training, test, and validation sets using a 6:3:1 ratio.

Pan-cancer analyses of immunogenic cell death-derived gene signatures: Potential biomarkers for prognosis and immunotherapy.

Background: Immunogenic cell death (ICD) is a type of regulated cell death that is capable of initiating an adaptive immune response. Induction of ICD may be a potential treatment strategy, as it has been demonstrated to activate the tumor-specific immune response.

Aims: The biomarkers of ICD and their relationships with the tumor microenvironment, clinical features, and immunotherapy response are not fully understood in a clinical context.

The prognostic values of estimating intraperitoneal pressure in the occurrence of abdominal wall complications in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Increased intraperitoneal pressure is associated with abdominal wall complications and technical failure of peritoneal dialysis (PD). Several equations have been developed to estimate intraperitoneal pressure. We aimed to assess the prognostic yield of the intraperitoneal pressure as estimated by current equations on the occurrence of abdominal wall complications in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Construction of Successive Proton Conduction Channels to Accelerate the Proton Conduction Process in Flexible Proton Exchange Membranes.

Successive proton conduction channels are constructed with the spin coating method in flexible proton exchange membranes (PEMs). In this research, phosphoric acid (PA) molecules are immobilized in the multilayered microstructure of Kevlar nanofibers and polystyrene--poly(ethylene--butylene)--polystyrene (SEBS) polymer molecular chains. As a result, successive proton conduction channels can accelerate the proton conduction process in the prepared membrane with the multilayered microstructure.

RETRACTED: Chen et al. A Novel Drug Self-Delivery System from Fatty Alcohol Esters of Tranexamic Acid for Venous Malformation Sclerotherapy. 2022, , 343.

The Pharmaceutics Editorial Office retracts the article, "A Novel Drug Self-Delivery System from Fatty Alcohol Esters of Tranexamic Acid for Venous Malformation Sclerotherapy" [...

The association between mammographic density and breast cancer risk in Chinese women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Breast density has consistently been shown to be an independent risk factor for breast cancer in Western populations; however, few studies have evaluated this topic in Chinese women and there is not yet a unified view. This study investigated the association between mammographic density (MD) and breast cancer risk in Chinese women.

Methods: The PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Wanfang databases were systematically searched in June 2023 to include all studies on the association between MD and breast cancer risk in Chinese women.