Microvascular heterogeneity exploration in core and invasive zones of orthotopic rat glioblastoma via ultrasound localization microscopy.

Background: We studied the microvascular structure and function of in situ glioblastoma using ultrasound localization microscopy (ULM).

Methods: The in vivo study was conducted via craniotomy in six Sprague-Dawley rats. Capillary pattern, capillary hemodynamics, and functional quantitative parameters were compared among tumor core, invasive zone, and normal brain tissue with ex vivo micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and scanning electron microscopy.

An Early Progression Biomarker in Glioblastoma: Microcirculatory Heterogeneity on Ultrasound Localization Microscopy.

Objective: Microcirculatory heterogeneity plays an essential role in the initiation and progression of glioblastoma (GBM). This study employs super-resolution ultrasound imaging to visualize the microcirculatory heterogeneity in GBM, with the objective of illustrating its predictive value in histological assessments.

Methods: This in vivo study explored the microvasculature in GBM models using 15 Sprague-Dawley rats, divided into three groups based on tumor growth stages (12, 18 and 24 d post-implantation).

Analysis of risk factors for foot ulcers in diabetes patients with neurovascular complications.

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), characterized by open sores or wounds primarily occurring on the feet of diabetes patients, are a serious and highly morbid complication of long-standing diabetes, accounting for significant morbidity and mortality. These ulcers develop when diabetes damages both nerves and blood vessels, a combination known as neurovascular complications. Neurovascular disease is a well-established risk factor.

Organomolecular Ferroelectric Nanocatalyst Augments Tumor Immunotherapy by Inducing Apoptosis and Ferroptosis.

Immunogenic programmed cell death effectively triggers acute inflammatory responses, thereby enhancing antitumor immunity. The advancement of biodegradable nonmetallic dual inducers represents a promising strategy. Herein, a biodegradable organomolecular ferroelectric nanoplatform (C-TCNQ, CT) is designed to facilitate effective ferroelectric catalysis, thereby augmenting tumor immunotherapy through apoptosis and ferroptosis.

Analysis of Ultrasound Features for Breast Cancers With Different Risk Categories and Evaluation of a New Predicting Method.

Objectives: To explore pathology and ultrasound features of breast cancers with different risk categories. To establish and validate a nomogram primarily based on grayscale ultrasound features for non-invasive preoperative prediction of high-risk breast cancers and for rapid individual risk assessment and clinical decision making.

Methods: A total of 685 breast malignant lesions were enrolled in this study.

Discovery of novel imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine derivatives as potent covalent inhibitors of CDK12/13.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is widely recognized as the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer, and treatment options for patients with TNBC remain highly limited. Recently, cyclin-dependent kinases 12/13 (CDK12/13) have been identified as promising therapeutic targets for TNBC. In our study, we report the design and synthesis of novel imidazo[1,2-b]pyrazine-based covalent inhibitors of CDK12/13, which exhibit potent inhibitory activity against TNBC cells.

Effect and mechanism of miRNA-144-5p-regulated autophagy in older adults with Sarcopenia.

Background: Advanced aging invariably triggers an overabundance of apoptosis, stemming from diminished autophagy or a disarray in cellular autophagic processes. This, in turn, leads to an accelerated breakdown of muscle proteins, which exacerbates the ongoing deterioration of skeletal muscle and intensifies the severity of senile sarcopenia. This study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of miRNA-regulated autophagy in senile sarcopenia.

The Effects of Water and Nitrogen Addition on the Allocation Pattern and Stoichiometric Characteristics of C, N, and P in Peanut Seedlings.

Water and fertilizer application strategies seriously affect the healthy growth of peanuts. The stoichiometric ratio can directly reflect the elemental requirements for crop growth, which are very important for improving fertilizer utilization efficiency. In order to investigate the response of C (carbon), N (nitrogen), and P (phosphorus) allocation pattern and stoichiometric characteristics in peanut seedlings to water and nitrogen addition, we designed a greenhouse pot experiment which had different water treatments (W1, 75-80% field capacity; W2, 45-50% field capacity) and nitrogen addition treatments (N0, 0 kg hm; N1, 90 kg hm; N2, 180 kg hm).

Nano-Polymers as Cas9 Inhibitors.

Despite wide applications of CRISPR/Cas9 technology, effective approaches for CRISPR delivery with functional control are limited. In an attempt to develop a nanoscale CRSIPR/Cas9 delivery platform, we discovered that several biocompatible polymers, including polymalic acid (PMLA), polyglutamic acid (PGA), and polyaspartic acid (PLD), when conjugated with a trileucine (LLL) moiety, can effectively inhibit Cas9 nuclease function. The Cas9 inhibition by those polymers is dose-dependent, with varying efficiency to achieve 100% inhibition.

A patent review of BRD4 inhibitors (2020-present).

Introduction: Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) stands as a pivotal member within the Bromodomain and Extra-Terminal Domain (BET) family, contributing significantly to epigenetic control and gene expression. Given its association with various cancers, BRD4 emerges as a promising therapeutic target, suggesting a substantial role in the treatment of diverse pathological conditions.

Areas Covered: The present review is centered on patent applications concerning inhibitors targeting BRD4's bromodomain site, published from 2020 to present.

Quantitative lipidomics profiling of skin surface lipids and skin barrier function evaluation in patients with acne vulgaris.

Sebum composition may be more important than amount for acne lesions, and current research on skin surface lipids (SSLs) focuses on determining their relative content. The objective of this study was to analyze the changes in the absolute content of SSLs in acne patients and their relationship with skin barrier function. To evaluate skin barrier function, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin moisture, sebum content, skin elasticity, and whiteness were measured, while SSL changes were investigated using LC-MS/MS.

Predictive Value of Preoperative Nutritional Risk Index for Screw Loosening After Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Elderly Patients With Lumbar Spine Diseases.

Objective: Pedicle screw loosening is one of the common complications in elderly patients undergoing transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for lumbar spine disease. Malnutrition, prevalent among elderly patients, has been shown to be associated with increased complications. The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) serves as a simple indicator of nutritional status.

Identifying a non-conserved site for achieving allosteric covalent inhibition of CECR2.

The bromodomain (BRD) represents a highly conserved structural module that provides BRD proteins with fundamental functionality in modulating protein-protein interactions involved in diverse biological processes such as chromatin-mediated gene transcription, DNA recombination, replication and repair. Consequently, dysregulation of BRD proteins has been implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous human diseases. In recent years, considerable scientific endeavors have focused on unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying BRDs and developing inhibitors that target these domains.

Sacubitril/Valsartan for Blood Pressure Lowering in Non-Dialysis-Dependent Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 3-5 Patients With Hypertension: A Multicenter Clinical Study.

To assess the effectiveness and safety of Sacubitril/Valsartan in reducing blood pressure in individuals with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (NDD-CKD) Stage 3-5 complicated by hypertension. This study was a multicenter retrospective analysis conducted from March 1, 2022 to March 31, 2024, involving adult patients with NDD-CKD Stage 3-5 and hypertension, who received Sacubitril/Valsartan either as a monotherapy or in addition to current antihypertensive treatments that were insufficient. The main outcomes measured were blood pressure control, changes in blood pressure and laboratory parameters within 8 weeks post-treatment initiation, and incidence of adverse events.

PADS-Net: GAN-based radiomics using multi-task network of denoising and segmentation for ultrasonic diagnosis of Parkinson disease.

Parkinson disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, and its accurate diagnosis is crucial for timely intervention. We propose the PArkinson disease Denoising and Segmentation Network (PADS-Net), to simultaneously denoise and segment transcranial ultrasound images of midbrain for accurate PD diagnosis. The PADS-Net is built upon generative adversarial networks and incorporates a multi-task deep learning framework aimed at optimizing the tasks of denoising and segmentation for ultrasound images.

Validation Status of Electronic Sphygmomanometers in China: A National Survey.

Background: Although the information on the validation status of electronic sphygmomanometer (ES) devices in use in health care institutions and households is much more clinically relevant than that of ES models available on the market, it remains insufficient.

Methods: A national survey was conducted across all administrative regions of mainland China to assess the validation status of ESs. Fifty-eight cities were selected with stratification by municipality, provincial capital, and other cities, and health care institutions and households in each city were chosen by convenience to identify ES devices in use according to the study protocol.

Reprogrammable Flexible Piezoelectric Actuator Arrays with a High Degree of Freedom for Shape Morphing and Locomotion.

The high degree of freedom (DoF) shape morphing widely exists in biology for mimicry, camouflage, and locomotion. Currently, a lot of bionic soft/flexible actuators and robots with shape-morphing functions have been developed to realize conformity, grasp, and movement. Among these solutions, two-dimensional responsive materials and structures that can shape morph into different three-dimensional configurations are valuable for creating reversible high DoF shape morphing.

Nanomedicine-unlocked radiofrequency dynamic therapy dampens incomplete radiofrequency ablation-arised immunosuppression to suppress cancer relapse.

Incomplete radiofrequency ablation (iRFA) not only leaves residual tumor, but also render the residual tumor highly self-adaptable and immunosuppressive, consequently expediting residual tumor progression including relapse. To address it, radiofrequency dynamic therapy (RFDT) with identical trigger (namely radiofrequency) has been established and enabled by polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified Fe-based single atom nanozyme (P@Fe SAZ). P@Fe SAZ can respond to radiofrequency field to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), attaining the nanomedicine-unlocked low-temperature RFDT.

MRI-based endplate bone quality scores outperform vertebral bone quality scores in predicting adjacent segment disease following transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.

Purpose: This study aims to (1) evaluate whether the endplate bone quality (EBQ) scores can independently predict adjacent segment disease (ASD); and (2) judge the predictive value of EBQ compared to vertebral bone quality (VBQ) for ASD after single-level transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF).

Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis was conducted of patients undergoing single-level TLIF for degenerative spinal disease from 2014 to 2020. Demographic, surgery, and radiographic data were collected.

Evidence for saddle point-driven charge density wave on the surface of heavily hole-doped iron arsenide superconductors.

Unconventional superconductivity is known for its intertwining with other correlated states, making exploration of the intertwined orders important for understanding its pairing mechanism. In particular, spin and nematic orders are widely observed in iron-based superconductors; however, the presence of charge order is uncommon. Using scanning tunnelling microscopy, and through expanding the phase diagram of iron-arsenide superconductor BaKFeAs to the hole-doping regime beyond KFeAs by surface doping, we demonstrate the formation of a charge density wave (CDW) on the arsenide surface of heavily hole-doped BaKFeAs.

Relationship between triglyceride glucose-body mass index and coronary artery calcium score in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Background: This study investigated the association between coronary artery calcification (CAC) and triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis (MHD).

Methods: We used computed tomography (CT) to assess coronary artery calcification score (CACS) using the Agatston method. The TyG index was multiplied by BMI to derive the TyG-BMI index.

Comparison of differences in transcriptional and genetic profiles between intra-central nervous system and extra-central nervous system large B-cell lymphoma.

Primary central nervous system diffused large B-cell lymphoma (PCNS-DLBCL) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma restricted to the central nervous system (CNS). To explore its specific pathogenesis and therapeutic targets, we performed multi-omics sequencing on tumor samples from patients diagnosed with PCNS-DLBCL, secondary CNS-DLBCL or extracranial (ec) DLBCL.By single-cell RNA sequencing, highly proliferated and dark zone (DZ)-related B cell subclusters, MKI67_B1, PTTG1_B2 and BTG1_B3, were predominant significantly in PCNS-DLBCL.

Metformin-loaded nanoparticles reduce hyperglycemia-associated oxidative stress and induce eNOS phosphorylation in vascular endothelial cells.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by metabolic defects, including insulin deficiency and resistance. Individuals with diabetes are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular complications, such as atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and hypertension. Conventional treatment methods, though effective, are often challenging, costly, and may lead to systemic side effects.

Activatable Sulfur Dioxide Nanosonosensitizer Enables Precisely Controllable Sono-Gaseous Checkpoint Trimodal Therapy for Orthotopic Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is combined with sonodynamic therapy (SDT) to increase response rates and enhance anticancer efficacy. However, the "always on" property of most sonosensitizers in reducing tumor microenvironment (TME) compromises the therapeutic outcome of sonoimmunotherapy and exacerbates adverse side effects. Precisely controllable strategies combining sulfur dioxide (SO) gas therapy with cancer immunotherapy can address these issues but remain lacking.

Intraoperative Real-Time IDH Diagnosis for Glioma Based on Automatic Analysis of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Video.

Objective: Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) is the most important molecular marker of glioma and is highly correlated to the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of patients. We proposed a real-time diagnosis method for IDH status differentiation based on automatic analysis of intraoperative contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) video.

Methods: Inspired by the Time Intensity Curve (TIC) analysis of CEUS utilized in clinical practice, this paper proposed an automatic CEUS video analysis method called ATAN (Automatic TIC Analysis Network).