Diagnostic Performance of Different Examination Types and Learning Curves of Radiologists for 5G-Based Robot-Assisted Tele-Ultrasonography: A Prospective and Large-Scale Study.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of remotely providing routine ultrasound (US) examinations to patients using a fifth-generation-based robot-assisted tele-ultrasonography (RATU) system in a real-world setting.

Methods: Between September 2020 and May 2021, we conducted a prospective and large-scale study using the RATU system to provide US examinations for patients on a limited-source island locate. An on-site radiologist on the island performed US examinations, which served as the reference diagnosis.

Activatable red/near-infrared aqueous organic phosphorescence probes for improved time-resolved bioimaging.

Organic red/near-infrared (NIR) room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) holds significant potential for autofluorescence-free bioimaging and biosensing due to its prolonged persistent luminescence and exceptional penetrability. However, achieving activatable red/NIR organic RTP probes with tunable emission in aqueous solution remains a formidable challenge. Here we report on aqueous organic RTP probes with red/NIR phosphorescence intensity and lifetime amplification.

Signatures of H3K4me3 modification predict cancer immunotherapy response and identify a new immune checkpoint-SLAMF9.

H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) modification and related regulators extensively regulate various crucial transcriptional courses in health and disease. However, the regulatory relationship between H3K4me3 modification and anti-tumor immunity has not been fully elucidated. We identified 72 independent prognostic genes of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) whose transcriptional expression were closely correlated with known 27 H3K4me3 regulators.

Kinetic Control of Self-Assembly Pathway in Dual Dynamic Covalent Polymeric Systems.

Kinetically controlled self-assembly is garnering increasing interest in the field of supramolecular polymers and materials, yet examples involving dynamic covalent exchange remain relatively unexplored. Here we report an unexpected dynamic covalent polymeric system whose aqueous self-assembly pathway is strongly influenced by the kinetics of evaporation of water. The key design is to integrate dual dynamic covalent bonds-including disulfide bonds and boroxine/borate-into a dynamic equilibrium system of monomers, polymers, and materials.

Band Tailoring Enabled Perovskite Devices for X-Ray to Near-Infrared Photodetection.

Perovskite semiconductors have shown significant promise for photodetection due to their low effective carrier masses and long carrier lifetimes. However, achieving balanced detection across a broad spectrum-from X-rays to infrared-within a single perovskite photodetector presents challenges. These challenges stem from conflicting requirements for different wavelength ranges, such as the narrow bandgap needed for infrared detection and the low dark current necessary for X-ray sensitivity.

The prognostic value of systemic immune-inflammation index in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated with immune-based therapy.

Background: Predicting the efficacy of immune-based therapy in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a clinical challenge. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) in forecasting treatment response and survival outcomes for HCC patients undergoing immune-based therapy.

Methods: We analyzed a cohort of 268 HCC patients treated with immune-based therapy from January 2019 to March 2023.

Reversible Isomerization of Stiff-Stilbene by an Oriented External Electric Field.

Understanding and effectively controlling molecular conformational changes are essential for developing responsive and dynamic molecular systems. Here, we report that an oriented external electric field (OEEF) is an effective catalyst for the cis-trans isomerization of stiff-stilbene, a key component of overcrowded alkene-based rotary motors. This reversible isomerization occurs under ambient conditions, is free from side reactions, and has been verified using ultraperformance liquid chromatography and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy.

Berberine‑calcium alginate-coated macrophage membrane-derived nanovesicles for the oral treatment of ulcerative colitis.

In this study, we developed calcium alginate-coated nanovesicles derived from macrophage membranes loaded with berberine (Ber@MVs-CA) for the oral treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). Ber@MVs-CA demonstrates resistance to gastric acid and controlled drug release in the colonic pH environment, while actively targeting sites of ulcerative colitis injury. pH-responsive release of Ber in Ber@MVs-CA was confirmed through in vitro release experiments.

Compositionally-graded ferroelectric thin films by solution epitaxy produce excellent dielectric stability.

The composition in ferroelectric oxide films is decisive for optimizing properties and device performances. Controlling a composition distribution in these films by a facile approach is thus highly desired. In this work, we report a solution epitaxy of PbZrTiO films with a continuous gradient of Zr concentration, realized by a competitive growth at ~220 °C.

TiCT Composite Aerogels Enable Pressure Sensors for Dialect Speech Recognition Assisted by Deep Learning.

Wearable pressure sensors capable of adhering comfortably to the skin hold great promise in sound detection. However, current intelligent speech assistants based on pressure sensors can only recognize standard languages, which hampers effective communication for non-standard language people. Here, we prepare an ultralight TiCT MXene/chitosan/polyvinylidene difluoride composite aerogel with a detection range of 6.

Tunable Mechanically Interlocked Semi-Crystalline Networks.

High-performance polymers based on dynamic chemistry have been widely explored for multi-field advanced applications. However, noncovalent sacrificial bond-mediated energy dissipation mechanism causes a trade-off between mechanical toughness and resilience. Herein, we achieved the synchronous boost of seemingly conflicting material properties including mechanical robustness, toughness and elasticity via the incorporation of mechanical chemistry into traditional semi-crystalline networks.

Thermal Modulation of Exciton Recombination for High-Temperature Ultra-Long Afterglow.

Developing smart materials with tunable high-temperature afterglow (HTA) luminescence remains a formidable challenge. This study presents a metal-free doping system using boric acid as matrix and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as dopants. This composition achieves dynamically tunable afterglow combining a bright blue HTA lasting for over ten seconds even at 150 °C and an ultra-long yellow room-temperature phosphorescence below 110 °C.

Association between mixed exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls and obesity among U.S. adults.

Backgrounds: Previous studies have suggested the potential links between dioxins or dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) and obesity. However, the combined effects of dioxins and DL-PCBs on obesity are still unclear.

Methods: Nine kinds of dioxins and DL-PCBs were measured among 852 adults using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2003-2004.

Optical quality changes of the eye during peak SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in young adults.

Introduction: To determine whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection affects corneal morphology and optical quality.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ophthalmological indicators were examined during the peak of SARS-CoV-2 infection after adjusting for public health control measures. Participants were divided into control (remained uninfected), A (infected during follow-up), and B (infected prior to the first consultation) groups.

Heme Oxygenase-1 Overexpression Activates the IRF1/DRP1 Signaling Pathway to Promote M2-Type Polarization of Spinal Cord Microglia.

Microglia-mediated neuroinflammatory responses have a critical function in the spinal cord injury (SCI) mechanism, and targeted modulation of microglia activity has emerged as a new therapeutic strategy for SCI. Heme oxygenase 1(HO-1) regulates the close dynamic crosstalk between oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. This investigation aimed to study the molecular pathways by which HO-1 regulates the inflammatory response of microglia.

Probing Cell Membrane Tension Using DNA Framework-Encoded Vibration-Induced Emission Molecular Assemblies.

Mechanosensitive fluorescent probes are valuable tools for detecting changes in cellular mechanics and viscosity. While numerous mechanosensitive probes have been developed, the construction of molecular assemblies for probing cellular mechanics remains largely unexplored, possibly due to the challenges of designing assemblies with synergistic and integrated functionalities. Here, we report the design and synthesis of mechanosensitive molecular assemblies by integrating DNA frameworks with vibration-induced emission (VIE) probes to enable live-cell membrane tension imaging.

Human Papillomavirus Infection and Autoimmune Diseases: A Two-Sample Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: Although earlier observational studies have revealed a connection between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and several autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the exact causative mechanism underlying this association is still unknown.

Methods: This two-sample bidirectional MR study was conducted based on publicly released data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Our results were mainly derived from the inverse variance weighted (IVW) model, with the remaining three models also being calculated.

Comparing ultrasound-guided intra-articular injection and medial branch block for lumbar facet joint pain: a clinical study.

Purpose: This study aims to compare the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided intra-articular (IA) injections with medial branch nerve blocks in treating lumbar facet joint pain.

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 94 patients clinically diagnosed with lumbar facet joint pain. Diagnostic blocks confirmed the diagnosis in 82 patients, evidenced by a pain visual analog score (VAS) reduction of at least 50% immediately following the injection.

PGC-1α drives small cell neuroendocrine cancer progression toward an ASCL1-expressing subtype with increased mitochondrial capacity.

Adenocarcinomas from multiple tissues can converge to treatment-resistant small cell neuroendocrine (SCN) cancers composed of ASCL1, POU2F3, NEUROD1, and YAP1 subtypes. We investigated how mitochondrial metabolism influences SCN cancer (SCNC) progression. Extensive bioinformatics analyses encompassing thousands of patient tumors and human cancer cell lines uncovered enhanced expression of proliferator-activatedreceptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α), a potent regulator of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), across several SCNCs.

Nanoscale dual-axis accelerometer based on a cross-shaped MIM waveguide structure.

This paper details the design and simulation of a dual-axis accelerometer based on the cross-shaped MIM waveguide structure, in which mass blocks are set in the middle of metal sheets inside the resonant cavities as acceleration-sensitive elements. To maintain the balance between the sensitivity and accuracy of the accelerometer, the optimal surface plasmon resonances (SPRs) are discussed to determine the relationship between resonance wavelength and acceleration. Firstly, the performances of two single-axis accelerometers are evaluated within the range of -20 g to 20 g, and the fitting results indicate that the wavelengths of specific SPRs are linearly related to the acceleration.

Association of regular health check-ups with a reduction in mortality in 625,279 elderly participants with hypertension: A population-based cohort study.

Objectives: Health check-ups constitute an essential part of China's primary health care policy and a key measure for health screening and risk assessment for elderly people with hypertension and chronic diseases. The role of health check-ups in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between health check-ups and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in elderly individuals with hypertension.

Associations between blue space exposure and rheumatoid arthritis: The modifying effect of genetic susceptibility and air pollutants.

Studies on the interaction among genetic susceptibility, blue space exposure, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk have been lacking. Therefore, we examined the association between blue space exposure and RA incidence and assess the modifying effect of genetic susceptibility and air pollutants. Form the UK Biobank, 322,783 participants without RA were enrolled in this study.