Programming gel automata shapes using DNA instructions.

The ability to transform matter between numerous physical states or shapes without wires or external devices is a major challenge for robotics and materials design. Organisms can transform their shapes using biomolecules carrying specific information and localize at sites where transitions occur. Here, we introduce gel automata, which likewise can transform between a large number of prescribed shapes in response to a combinatorial library of biomolecular instructions.

Untethered Microgrippers for Biopsy in the Upper Urinary Tract.

Untethered microrobots offer the possibility to perform medical interventions in anatomically complex and small regions in the body. Presently, it is necessary to access the upper urinary tract to diagnose and treat Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma (UTUC). Diagnostic and treatment challenges include ensuring adequate tissue sampling, accurately grading the disease, achieving completeness in endoscopic treatment, and consistently delivering medications to targeted sites.

mutations provide genetic vulnerability to copper ionophores in human acute myeloid leukemia.

In a phenotypical screen of 56 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patient samples and using a library of 10,000 compounds, we identified a hit with increased sensitivity toward -mutated and adverse risk AMLs. Through structure-activity relationship studies, this hit was optimized into a potent, specific, and nongenotoxic molecule called UM4118. We demonstrated that UM4118 acts as a copper ionophore that initiates a mitochondrial-based noncanonical form of cell death known as cuproptosis.

Impact of nutrition on skin wound healing and aesthetic outcomes: A comprehensive narrative review.

Background: While current wound treatment strategies often focus on antimicrobials and topical agents, the role of nutrition in wound healing and aesthetic outcomes is crucial but frequently overlooked. This review assesses the impact of specific nutrients and preoperative nutritional status on surgical outcomes.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, from the inception of the study to October 2023.

Microinstrumentation for Brain Organoids.

Brain organoids are three-dimensional aggregates of self-organized differentiated stem cells that mimic the structure and function of human brain regions. Organoids bridge the gaps between conventional drug screening models such as planar mammalian cell culture, animal studies, and clinical trials. They can revolutionize the fields of developmental biology, neuroscience, toxicology, and computer engineering.

DELE1 haploinsufficiency causes resistance to mitochondrial stress-induced apoptosis in monosomy 5/del(5q) AML.

Monosomy 5 and deletions of the chromosome 5q (-5/del(5q)) are recurrent events in de novo adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML), reaching up to 40% of cases in secondary AML. These chromosome anomalies are associated with TP53 mutations and with very poor prognosis. Using the large Leucegene genomic and transcriptomic dataset composed of 48 -5/del(5q) patient specimens and 367 control AML, we identified DELE1 - located in the common deleted region - as the most consistently downregulated gene in these leukemias.

Untethered shape-changing devices in the gastrointestinal tract.

Introduction: Advances in microfabrication, automation, and computer engineering seek to revolutionize small-scale devices and machines. Emerging trends in medicine point to smart devices that emulate the motility, biosensing abilities, and intelligence of cells and pathogens that inhabit the human body. Two important characteristics of smart medical devices are the capability to be deployed in small conduits, which necessitates being untethered, and the capacity to perform mechanized functions, which requires autonomous shape-changing.

Exploring the role of an artificial intelligence chatbot on appendicitis management: an experimental study on ChatGPT.

Background: Appendicitis is a common surgical condition that requires urgent medical attention. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence and large language processing, such as ChatGPT, have demonstrated potential in supporting healthcare management and scientific research. This study aims to evaluate the accuracy and comprehensiveness of ChatGPT's knowledge on appendicitis management.

Swelling characteristics of DNA polymerization gels.

The development of biomolecular stimuli-responsive hydrogels is important for biomimetic structures, soft robots, tissue engineering, and drug delivery. DNA polymerization gels are a new class of soft materials composed of polymer gel backbones with DNA duplex crosslinks that can be swollen by sequential strand displacement using hairpin-shaped DNA strands. The extensive swelling can be tuned using physical parameters such as salt concentration and biomolecule design.

Exploring the Role of a Large Language Model on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Management: An Observation Study of ChatGPT.

Purpose: Recently, large language models, such as ChatGPT, have emerged as promising tools to facilitate scientific research and health care management. The present study aimed to explore the extent of knowledge possessed by ChatGPT concerning carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), a compressive neuropathy that may lead to impaired hand function and that is frequently encountered in the field of hand surgery.

Methods: Six questions pertaining to diagnosis and management of CTS were posed to ChatGPT.

Toward Single Cell Tattoos: Biotransfer Printing of Lithographic Gold Nanopatterns on Live Cells.

Lithographic nanopatterning techniques such as photolithography, electron-beam lithography, and nanoimprint lithography (NIL) have revolutionized modern-day electronics and optics. Yet, their application for creating nanobio interfaces is limited by the cytotoxic and two-dimensional nature of conventional fabrication methods. Here, we present a biocompatible and cost-effective transfer process that leverages (a) NIL to define sub-300 nm gold (Au) nanopattern arrays, (b) amine functionalization of Au to transfer the NIL-arrays from a rigid substrate to a soft transfer layer, (c) alginate hydrogel as a flexible, degradable transfer layer, and (d) gelatin conjugation of the Au NIL-arrays to achieve conformal contact with live cells.

Toward single cell tattoos: Biotransfer printing of lithographic gold nanopatterns on live cells.

Lithographic nanopatterning techniques like photolithography, electron-beam lithography, and nanoimprint lithography (NIL) have revolutionized modern-day electronics and optics. Yet, their application for creating nano-bio interfaces is limited by the cytotoxic and two-dimensional nature of conventional fabrication methods. Here, we present a biocompatible and cost-effective transfer process that leverages (a) NIL to define sub-300 nm gold (Au) nanopattern arrays, (b) amine functionalization of Au to transfer the NIL-arrays from a rigid substrate to a soft transfer layer, (c) alginate hydrogel as a flexible, degradable transfer layer, and (d) gelatin conjugation of the Au NIL-arrays to achieve conformal contact with live cells.

Acute downregulation of emerin alters actomyosin cytoskeleton connectivity and function.

Fetal lung fibroblasts contribute dynamic infrastructure for the developing lung. These cells undergo dynamic mechanical transitions, including cyclic stretch and spreading, which are integral to lung growth in utero. We investigated the role of the nuclear envelope protein emerin in cellular responses to these dynamic mechanical transitions.

The effect of chemotherapy on the complication rates of breast reconstruction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The impact of chemotherapy on complications following breast reconstruction surgery (BRS) is currently inconclusive. This meta-analysis investigates the impact of chemotherapy on complication rates in BRS.

Methods: Preferred Reporting in Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines was used to search relevant studies published from January 2006 to March 2022.

Anti-CD3 inhibits circulatory and tissue-resident memory CD4 T cells that drive asthma exacerbations in mice.

Background: Exacerbations of asthma are thought to be strongly dependent on reactivation of allergen-induced lung tissue-resident and circulatory memory CD4 T cells. Strategies that broadly inhibit multiple T cell populations might then be useful to limit asthma. Accordingly, we tested whether targeting CD3 during exposure to inhaled allergen could prevent the accumulation of lung-localized effector memory CD4 T cells and block exacerbations of asthmatic inflammation.

Untethered unidirectionally crawling gels driven by asymmetry in contact forces.

Reversible thermoresponsive hydrogels, which swell and shrink (deswell) in the temperature range of 30° to 60°C, provide an attractive material class for operating untethered soft robots in human physiological and ambient conditions. Crawling has been demonstrated previously with thermoresponsive hydrogels but required patterned or constrained gels or substrates to break symmetry for unidirectional motion. Here, we demonstrate a locomotion mechanism for unidirectionally crawling gels driven by spontaneous asymmetries in contact forces during swelling and deswelling of segmented active thermoresponsive poly(-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) and passive polyacrylamide (pAAM) bilayers with suspended linkers.

Single-cell profiling reveals a memory B cell-like subtype of follicular lymphoma with increased transformation risk.

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is an indolent cancer of mature B-cells but with ongoing risk of transformation to more aggressive histology over time. Recurrent mutations associated with transformation have been identified; however, prognostic features that can be discerned at diagnosis could be clinically useful. We present here comprehensive profiling of both tumor and immune compartments in 155 diagnostic FL biopsies at single-cell resolution by mass cytometry.

Autonomous Untethered Microinjectors for Gastrointestinal Delivery of Insulin.

The delivery of macromolecular drugs the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is challenging as these drugs display low stability as well as poor absorption across the intestinal epithelium. While permeation-enhancing drug delivery methods can increase the bioavailability of low molecular weight drugs, the effective delivery of high molecular weight drugs across the tight epithelial cell junctions remains a formidable challenge. Here, we describe autonomous microinjectors that are deployed in the GI tract, then efficiently penetrate the GI mucosa to deliver a macromolecular drug, insulin, to the systemic circulation.

A tubulin binding molecule drives differentiation of acute myeloid leukemia cells.

Despite much progress in developing better drugs, many patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) still die within a year of diagnosis. This is partly because it is difficult to identify therapeutic targets that are effective across multiple AML subtypes. One common factor across AML subtypes is the presence of a block in differentiation.

Shell microelectrode arrays (MEAs) for brain organoids.

Brain organoids are important models for mimicking some three-dimensional (3D) cytoarchitectural and functional aspects of the brain. Multielectrode arrays (MEAs) that enable recording and stimulation of activity from electrogenic cells offer notable potential for interrogating brain organoids. However, conventional MEAs, initially designed for monolayer cultures, offer limited recording contact area restricted to the bottom of the 3D organoids.

Utility of urinary biomarkers in primary haematuria: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of FDA-approved urinary biomarkers in the evaluation of primary haematuria for investigation of bladder cancer.

Methods: The scientific databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, Pubmed and Web of Science were searched to collect studies. Studies that evaluated the diagnostic performance of FDA-approved urinary biomarkers in investigating patients with primary haematuria without a prior history of bladder cancer were included.

Contribution of circulatory cells to asthma exacerbations and lung tissue-resident CD4 T cell memory.

Tissue-resident memory CD4 T cells (Trm) are thought to be a major contributor to asthma relapse, but the role of circulatory T cells in asthma exacerbations or to maintaining the population of lung Trm cells is not fully understood. Here, we used a house dust mite allergen-based murine model of asthma relapse, and monitored the development of lung effector/Trm phenotype CD44CD62LCD69 CD4 T cells. To determine the contribution of circulatory cells, mice were treated with FTY720, to block lymphocyte egress from lymph nodes.