Molecularly engineered AIEgens with enhanced quantum and singlet-oxygen yield for mitochondria-targeted imaging and photodynamic therapy.

Luminogens characteristic of aggregation-induced emission (AIEgens) have been extensively exploited for the development of imaging-guided photodynamic therapeutic (PDT) agents. However, intramolecular rotation of donor-acceptor (D-A) type AIEgens favors non-radiative decay of photonic energy which results in unsatisfactory fluorescence quantum and singlet oxygen yields. To address this issue, we developed several molecularly engineered AIEgens with partially "locked" molecular structures enhancing both fluorescence emission and the production of triplet excitons.

Water-soluble bright NIR AIEgens with hybrid ROS for wash-free mitochondrial "off-on" imaging and photodynamic therapy.

Several aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) with excellent water-solubility and near-infrared emission were designed and synthesized for wash-free "off-on" mitochondrial imaging and photodynamic therapy of HeLa cells. The AIEgen TEPP exhibits both bright near-infrared emission ( = 17.8%) and high hybrid ROS productivity (including OH˙ and O).

Long-Wavelength AIE-Based Fluorescent Probes for Mitochondria-Targeted Imaging and Photodynamic Therapy of Hepatoma Cells.

With this research, we have developed two long-wavelength theranostic probes ( and ) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-based properties for image-guided photodynamic therapy (PDT) of hepatoma cells. Introduction of a triphenylamine or carbazole group to a dicyanomethylene-4-pyran dye with long-wavelength fluorescence emission produces the AIE-based probes, which were subsequently modified with triphenyl-phosphonium cation for actively targeting the mitochondria of hepatoma cells. Solution-based experiments show that the probes exhibit a mixed photophysical mechanism of twisted-intramolecular charge transfer and AIE at different aggregation states.

infection with asymptomatic diffuse pulmonary disease in an immunocompetent patient: A case report.

Background: presenting as an opportunistic pathogen mainly affects immunocompromised patients, but the disseminated form of infection is rare among immunocompetent populations. The partial radiographic characteristics of pulmonary cryptococcosis mimic lung carcinoma, leading to unnecessary open chest exploratory surgery, and the lack of a gold-standard noninvasive diagnostic increases the risk of misdiagnosis. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), a sensitive method for distinguishing malignant tumors, coupled with cryptococcal latex agglutination test showing a high positive rate may overcome these issues.

Correlation analysis between serum neuron-specific enolase and the detection of gene mutations in lung adenocarcinoma.

Background: Lung cancer is a chronic, progressive and malignant disease associated with ever-growing incidence and mortality. Targeted therapy plays an important role in the clinical treatment of lung cancer. Besides, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), an intracellular enzyme, is highly correlated with the targeted treatment outcome in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Decoding spectro-temporal representation for motor imagery recognition using ECoG-based brain-computer interfaces.

One of the challenges in brain-computer interface systems is obtaining motor imagery recognition from brain activities. Brain-signal decoding robustness and system performance improvement during the motor imagery process are two of the essential issues in brain-computer interface research. In conventional approaches, ineffective decoding of features and high complexity of algorithms often lead to unsatisfactory performance.

Anabolic-androgenic Steroid Use Among Gynecomastia Patients: Prevalence and Relevance to Surgical Management.

Background: Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are widely implicated in gynecomastia development. Surgery is the definitive treatment for cases persisting after cessation of AAS use. Currently, the relevance of AAS use to the surgical approach of gynecomastia has not been well explored.

Pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives containing a Schiff base moiety as potential antiviral agents.

A series of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives containing a Schiff base moiety were synthesized, characterised, and evaluated for their activity against tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). Biological assays indicated that several of the derivatives exhibited significant activity against TMV. In particularly, compounds 5y and 5aa displayed excellent inactivating activity against TMV, with half maximal effective concentration (EC) values of 70.

Female-to-Male Gender Affirming Top Surgery: A Single Surgeon's 15-Year Retrospective Review and Treatment Algorithm.

Background: Mastectomy, referred to here as "Top Surgery," is an important surgical step for female-to-male (FTM) transgender patients. The goal is to excise breast tissue and create a masculine chest contour. Despite the rising demand for Top Surgery, debate still exists regarding how to select the most appropriate surgical technique to optimize aesthetic outcomes safely.

Synthesis and antitussive evaluation of verticinone-cholic acid salt, a novel and potential cough therapeutic agent.

Aim: To seek a novel and potent antitussive drug based on Shedan-Chuanbei powder, a complex of traditional Chinese medicine preparation for cough therapy.

Methods: Verticinone-cholic acid (Ver-CA) salt, a novel, salifying derivative of verticinone and cholic acid, both of which are the major bioactive components in Shedan-Chuanbei powder, was synthesized. We then evaluated the antitussive activity and the acute toxicity of the salt.

[Preparation and antitussive, expectorant and antiasthmatic activities of verticinone-bile acids salts].

To search for potential drugs with potent antitussive, expectorant, antiasthmatic activities and low toxicity, a series of verticinone-bile acids salts were prepared based on the clearly elucidated antitussive, expectorant and antiasthmatic activities of verticinone in bulbs of Fritillaria and different bile acids in Snake Bile. The antitussive, expectorant and antiasthmatic activities of these verticinone-bile acid salts were then screened with different animal models. Ver-CA (verticinone-cholic acid salt) and Ver-CDCA (verticinone-chenodeoxycholic acid salt) showed much more potent activities than other compounds.