Terahertz Wave Alleviates Comorbidity Anxiety in Pain by Reducing the Binding Capacity of Nanostructured Glutamate Molecules to GluA2.

Comorbid anxiety in chronic pain is clinically common, with a comorbidity rate of over 50%. The main treatments are based on pharmacological, interventional, and implantable approaches, which have limited efficacy and carry a risk of side effects. Here, we report a terahertz (THz, 10 Hz) wave stimulation (THS) technique, which exerts nonthermal, long-term modulatory effects on neuronal activity by reducing the binding between nano-sized glutamate molecules and GluA2, leading to the relief of pain and comorbid anxiety-like behaviors in mice.

The Regulatory Effect of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-2 on Hypothalamic Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Neurons during the Pubertal Period.

Background: The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system plays a vital role in regulating gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), whether the IGF2 can act on the GnRH neurons during the pubertal period is unclear.

Methods: Central precocious puberty (CPP) rats were induced by danazol, and when the rats met the first diestrus, they were euthanized and tissues were collected. GT1-7 cells were cultured and treated with 0, 1, 10 ng/mL IGF2 for 4 hours and the changes in GnRH were measured.

A diffusion tensor imaging-based multidimensional study of brain structural changes after long-term high-altitude exposure and their relationships with cognitive function.

Background: Brain structure changes after long-term adaptation to the high-altitude environment; however, related studies are few, results are in consistent, and long-term effects on cognitive function and pathophysiological mechanisms are unclear. Therefore, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to investigate the damage to white matter fiber tracts and correlations between brain structural abnormalities and cognitive function.

Methods: Forty healthy Han people living on the high-altitude and 40 healthy Han people living on the plains were enrolled in this study and underwent magnetic resonance imaging, emotional state assessment, and cognitive function tests.

Modulation of B cell receptor activation by antibody competition.

During repeated virus exposure, pre-existing antibodies can mask viral epitopes by competing with B cell receptors for antigen. Although this phenomenon has the potential to steer B cell responses away from conserved epitopes, the factors that influence epitope masking by competing antibodies remain unclear. Using engineered, influenza-reactive B cells, we investigate how antibodies influence the accessibility of epitopes on the viral surface.

Solvent-mediated analgesia via the suppression of water permeation through TRPV1 ion channels.

Activation of the ion channel transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), which is integral to pain perception, leads to an expansion of channel width, facilitating the passage of cations and large organic molecules. However, the permeability of TRPV1 channels to water remains uncertain, owing to a lack of suitable tools to study water dynamics. Here, using upconversion nanophosphors to discriminate between HO and DO, by monitoring water permeability across activated TRPV1 at the single-cell and single-molecule levels, and by combining single-channel current measurements with molecular dynamics simulations, we show that water molecules flow through TRPV1 and reveal a direct connection between water migration, cation flow and TRPV1 functionality.

Single-point mutated lanmodulin as a high-performance MRI contrast agent for vascular and kidney imaging.

Magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents can enhance diagnostic precision but often face limitations such as short imaging windows, low tissue specificity, suboptimal contrast enhancement, or potential toxicity, which affect resolution and long-term monitoring. Here, we present a protein contrast agent based on lanmodulin, engineered with a single-point mutation at position 108 from N to D to yield maximum gadolinium binding sites. After loading with Gd ions, the resulting protein complex, LanND-Gd, exhibits efficient renal clearance, high relaxivity, and prolonged renal retention compared to commercial agents.

Risk and survival outcomes of secondary pelvic neoplasm after radiotherapy in female patients with genital neoplasms: A large Population-Based cohort study.

Background And Purpose: To investigate the impact of radiotherapy (RT) on the risk of secondary pelvic neoplasms (SPN) and the survival outcomes of patients following a diagnosis of female patients with genital neoplasm(FGN).

Materials And Methods: Utilizing SEER databases, this study involved 102,895 patients from nine oncology centers, spanning 1990 to 2015. We employed the Fine-Gray competing risks regression methodology to chart the trajectory of SPN development and used the Kaplan-Meier method to calculate the 10-year overall survival rates.

The Therapeutic Effects of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Spotted Hyena on Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Mice.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent episodes and an unclear etiology. Given the limitations of current therapeutic options, which include suboptimal efficacy and significant side effects, there is a pressing need to explore novel treatments. Probiotics derived from diverse species have been identified as a promising approach for managing IBD, owing to their anti-inflammatory properties and their ability to regulate gut flora, among other beneficial effects.

Reprogramming metabolic microenvironment for nerve regeneration via waterborne polylactic acid-polyurethane copolymer scaffolds.

Cell metabolism, as the key driver of inflammation, revascularization and even subsequent tissue regeneration, is controlled by and also conversely influenced by signal transduction. Incorporation of cell metabolism into tissue engineering research holds immense potential for in-situ treatment repair and further understanding of the host-biomaterial cues in body response. In this study, an anti-inflammatory waterborne polyurethane scaffold incorporated with poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) block was served to repair nerve injuries (LAx-WPU).

Cross-cultural comparison of the influence of skin-color change on facial impressions.

Skin color is one of the colors we are most frequently exposed to. It contains information, such as ethnic group and health status, and numerous studies have demonstrated the influence of various facial attributes on the formation of impressions. However, no research has specifically explored the repercussions of treating changes in skin color as a singular variable.

Berberine: A multifaceted agent for lung cancer treatment-from molecular insight to clinical applications.

Lung cancer is a major cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and it poses a significant threat to global health due to its high incidence and mortality rates. There is an urgent need for better prevention, early detection, and effective treatments for this disease. The treatment options for lung cancer depend on various factors such as the stage of the disease, the type of cancer, and the patient's overall health.

The relationship between self-efficacy, health literacy, and quality of life in patients with chronic diseases: a cross-sectional study in China.

Background: Self-efficacy and health literacy are closely related to the quality of life in patients with chronic diseases; however, it remains unclear whether their combined effects on the quality of life (QoL) in these patients operate through mediation, interaction, or a combination of both.

Methods: The research occurred in China between July 10 and September 15, 2021. A multi-stage random sampling technique was utilized to gather information on self-efficacy, health literacy, and QoL among individuals with chronic diseases.

Generation of dual-attribute iTNK cells from hPSCs for cancer immunotherapy.

Dual-attribute immune cells possess advantageous features of cytotoxic T cells and natural killer (NK) cells and hold promise for advancing immunotherapy. Dual-attribute cell types such as invariant natural killer T cells, induced T-to-NK cells, and cytokine-induced killer cells have demonstrated efficacy and safety in preclinical and clinical studies. However, their limited availability hinders their widespread application.

Adaptive roles of cytokinins in enhancing plant resilience and yield against environmental stressors.

Innovative agricultural strategies are essential for addressing the urgent challenge of food security in light of climate change, population growth, and various environmental stressors. Cytokinins (CKs) play a pivotal role in enhancing plant resilience and productivity. These compounds, which include isoprenoid and aromatic types, are synthesized through pathways involving key enzymes such as isopentenyl transferase and cytokinin oxidase.

Soma-germline communication drives sex maintenance in the testis.

In adult gonads, disruption of somatic sexual identity leads to defective gametogenesis and infertility. However, the underlying mechanisms by which somatic signals regulate germline cells to achieve proper gametogenesis remain unclear. In our previous study, we introduced the ( ) mutant testis phenotype as a valuable model for investigating the mechanisms underlying sex maintenance.

Fabrication of PHFPO Surface-Modified Conductive AgNWs/PNAGA Hydrogels with Enhanced Water Retention Capacity toward Highly Sensitive Strain Sensors.

Conductive hydrogels, characterized by their unique features of flexibility, biocompatibility, electrical conductivity, and responsiveness to environmental stimuli, have emerged as promising materials for sensitive strain sensors. In this study, a facile strategy to prepare highly conductive hydrogels is reported. Through rational structural and synthetic design, silver nanowires (AgNWs) are incorporated into poly(N-acryloyl glycinamide) (PNAGA) hydrogels, achieving high electrical conductivity (up to 0.

Planting halophytes increases the rhizosphere ecosystem multifunctionality via reducing soil salinity.

Soil salinization poses a significant global challenge, exerting adverse effects on both agriculture and ecosystems. Planting halophytes has the potential ability to improve saline-alkali land and enhance ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF). However, it remains unclear which halophytes are effective in improving saline-alkali land and what impact they have on the rhizosphere microbial communities and EMF.

Clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic factors of patients with surgically treated high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix: A multicenter retrospective study.

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic factors and survival outcomes of patients with surgically treated high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix (NECC).

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective study involved 98 cervical cancer patients with stage IA2-IIA2 and IIIC1/2p high-grade NECC. We divided the patients into two groups based on histology: the pure and mixed groups.