G(1-5)-EM2, a multi-targeted agonist to opioid and growth hormone secretagogue receptors exhibited nontolerance forming antinociceptive effects in a mouse model of burn pain.

Burn induced-pain (BIP) is one of the most common pain symptoms, which seriously affects the quality of sufferer life. Researches show that multi-targeted drug therapies offer superior efficacy and fewer side effects compared to single-target drug therapies. Consequently, in this study, we developed G(1-5)-EM2, a multi-targeted peptide designed to target μ-opioid receptor and the growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1α (GHS-R1α), and explored its antinociceptive effects on burn injury pain.

Gender Differences in the Association Between Childhood Neighborhood Quality and Depressive Symptoms Trajectory in Middle-Aged and Elderly Chinese: A Seven-Year Longitudinal Study.

This study aimed to examine the role of childhood neighborhood quality on trajectories of depressive symptoms throughout later life based on a nationally representative sample, and to explore the role of gender in the association. Linear mixed-effects model analysis was performed to investigate a longitudinal association of childhood neighborhood quality with depressive symptoms. A total of 7,016 participants aged 45 and above were included in this study.

Novel chimeric peptides based on endomorphins and ghrelin receptor antagonist produced supraspinal antinociceptive effects with reduced acute tolerance in mice.

It is widely recognized that developing bi- or multifunctional opioid compounds could offer a valuable approach to pain management with fewer side effects compared to single-target compounds. In this study, we designed and characterized two novel chimeric peptides, EM-1-DLS and EM-2-DLS, incorporating endomorphins (EMs) and the ghrelin receptor antagonist [D-Lys3]-GHRP-6 (DLS). Functional assays demonstrated that EM-1-DLS and EM-2-DLS acted as κ-opioid receptor (κ-OR)-preferring agonists, weak μ-opioid receptors (μ-OR) and ghrelin receptor (GHSR) agonists.

The facilitators and barriers to implementing virtual visits in intensive care units: A mixed-methods systematic review.

Background: Visitation has a positive effect on patients and families, yet, it can disrupt intensive care unit (ICU) care and increase the risk of patient infections, which previously favoured face-to-face visits. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has raised the importance of virtual visits and led to their widespread adoption globally, there are still many implementation barriers that need to be improved. Therefore, this review aimed to explore the use of ICU virtual visit technology during the COVID-19 pandemic and the barriers and facilitators of virtual visits to improve virtual visits in ICUs.

Development and application of a risk nomogram for the prediction of risk of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections in neuro-intensive care unit: a mixed method study.

Objective: This study aimed to develop and apply a nomogram with good accuracy to predict the risk of CRAB infections in neuro-critically ill patients. In addition, the difficulties and expectations of application such a tool in clinical practice was investigated.

Methods: A mixed methods sequential explanatory study design was utilized.

Diagnostic values and relevant factors of lumbar posterior lesions in axial spondyloarthritis.

Objectives: To compare the lumbar posterior lesions between axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and lumbar disc herniation (LDH) patients, then their diagnostic value and related factors were evaluated.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included axSpA patients from January 2020 to September 2023. They were classified as ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA) individuals.

The mediating effect of depressive symptoms on the association between childhood friendship and physical function in middle-aged and older adults: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).

Background: This study examines the extent to which depressive symptoms mediate the link between childhood friendship (CF) and physical function among middle-aged and older adults in China.

Methods: China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) data were used; specifically, CHARLS life history survey (conducted from June 1-December 31, 2014) and follow-up health survey (conducted from July 1-September 30, 2015) data were used. The Sobel test, Bootstrap test and multivariable logistic regression were performed to examine the mediating role of depressive symptoms (measured by the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) in the association between CF (measured by a standardized retrospective questionnaire) and physical function, which was measured by basic activities of daily living (BADL) disability, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) disability, and grip strength.

ILK inhibition reduces osteophyte formation through suppression of osteogenesis in BMSCs via Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway.

Background: Osteophyte development is a common characteristic of inflammatory skeletal diseases. Elevated osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) participates in pathological osteogenesis. Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) positively regulates the osteoblastic differentiation of osteoprogenitors, but whether the ILK blockage prevents osteophytes and its potential mechanism is still unknown.

Effects of omalizumab on lung function in patients with moderate-to-severe allergic asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: With the rise of targeted treatments for asthma, treatment with omalizumab is a new option.

Objectives: To assess the improvement of pulmonary function with additional omalizumab treatment in patients (⩾6 years old) with moderate-to-severe allergic asthma.

Data Sources And Methods: Observational studies of randomized controlled trials of add-on omalizumab for the treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe allergic asthma, published from the establishment till August 2022, were retrieved from WAN FANG DATA, PubMed, CNKI, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases.

Development and application of a nomogram model for the prediction of carbapenem-resistant infection in neuro-ICU patients.

Patients in neuro-ICU are at a high risk of developing nosocomial CRKP infection owing to complex conditions, critical illness, and frequent invasive procedures. However, studies focused on constructing prediction models for assessing the risk of CRKP infection in neurocritically ill patients are lacking at present. Therefore, this study aims to establish a simple-to-use nomogram for predicting the risk of CRKP infection in patients admitted to the neuro-ICU.

Prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of venous thromboembolism in patients with brain tumor undergoing craniotomy: a meta-analysis.

Background: Brain tumor patients undergoing craniotomy are significantly associated with the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE), while the contributing factors remains controversial. Our study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for VTE in postoperational brain tumor patients.

Methods: We searched the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Medline, and Cochrane Library databases from their inception to July 2023.

Prediction Models for Dysphagia in Intensive Care Unit after Mechanical Ventilation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: Dysphagia is a common condition that can independently lead to death in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), particularly those who require mechanical ventilation. Despite extensive research on the predictors of dysphagia development, consistency across these studies is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to identify predictors and summarize existing prediction models for dysphagia in ICU patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation.

Proteomics profiling of CD4 + T-cell-derived exosomes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Our study profiled the CD4 + T-cell-derived exosomes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using proteomics.

Methods: Proteomic analysis of CD4 + T-cell-derived exosomes was performed by tandem mass tags (TMT) combined with LC-MS/MS. We validated the most significantly upregulated and downregulated proteins using ELISA and WB.

Inactive Trojan Bacteria as Safe Drug Delivery Vehicles Crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier.

K1 (EC-K1) can bypass the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and cause meningitis. Excitingly, we find the "dead EC-K1" can safely penetrate the BBB because they retain the intact structure and chemotaxis of the live EC-K1, while losing their pathogenicity. Based on this, we develop a safe "dead EC-K1"-based drug delivery system, in which EC-K1 engulf the maltodextrin (MD)-modified therapeutics through the bacteria-specific MD transporter pathway, followed by the inactivation via UV irradiation.

In vivo bioluminescence imaging of natural bacteria within deep tissues via ATP-binding cassette sugar transporter.

Most existing bioluminescence imaging methods can only visualize the location of engineered bacteria in vivo, generally precluding the imaging of natural bacteria. Herein, we leverage bacteria-specific ATP-binding cassette sugar transporters to internalize luciferase and luciferin by hitchhiking them on the unique carbon source of bacteria. Typically, the synthesized bioluminescent probes are made of glucose polymer (GP), luciferase, Cy5 and ICG-modified silicon nanoparticles and their substrates are made of GP and D-luciferin-modified silicon nanoparticles.

Camouflage Nanoparticles Enable Bioluminescence-Driven Optogenetic Therapy of Retinoblastoma.

Optogenetic therapy has emerged as a promising technique for the treatment of ocular diseases; however, most optogenetic tools rely on external blue light to activate the photoswitch, whose relatively strong phototoxicity may induce retinal damage. Herein, we present the demonstration of camouflage nanoparticle-based vectors for bioluminescence-driven optogenetic therapy of retinoblastoma. In biomimetic vectors, the photoreceptor CRY2 and its interacting partner CIB1 plasmid are camouflaged with folic acid ligands and luciferase NanoLuc-modified macrophage membranes.

Antisense Oligonucleotides Selectively Enter Human-Derived Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria through Bacterial-Specific ATP-Binding Cassette Sugar Transporter.

Current vehicles used to deliver antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) cannot distinguish between bacterial and mammalian cells, greatly hindering the preclinical or clinical treatment of bacterial infections, especially those caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Herein, bacteria-specific ATP-binding cassette (ABC) sugar transporters are leveraged to selectively internalize ASOs by hitchhiking them on α (1-4)-glucosidically linked glucose polymers. Compared with their cell-penetrating peptide counterparts, which are non-specifically engulfed by mammalian and bacterial cells, the presented therapeutics consisting of glucose polymer and antisense peptide nucleic-acid-modified nanoparticles are selectively internalized into the human-derived multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and they display a much higher uptake rate (i.

Prediction of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections Among Neurosurgical Intensive Care Patients: A Decision Tree Analysis.

Background: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are the most common device-associated infections in hospitals and can be prevented. To identify the risk factors and develop a risk prediction model for CAUTIs among neurosurgical intensive care unit (NICU) patients.

Methods: All patients admitted to the NICU of a tertiary hospital between January 2019 and January 2020 were enrolled.

Association between subjective cognitive complaints, balance impairment and disability among middle-aged and older adults: Evidence from a population-based cohort study.

Aim: To quantify the association between subjective cognitive complaints and balance impairment in relation to the occurrence of disability.

Methods: In total, 6885 adults aged ≥45 who participated in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were followed for 7 years. Subjective cognitive complaints were evaluated by self-reported memory problems.

The association between healthy aging index and trajectories of disability: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Healthy aging index (HAI) could predict adverse health consequences including mortality and disability independent of age and comorbidity. We investigated the role of HAI on trajectories of disability throughout later life based on a nationally representative sample.

Methods: We examined 1733 participants aged over 60 years from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) followed for 7 years/4 waves repeatedly.

Millisecond-Range Time-Resolved Bioimaging Enabled through Ultralong Aqueous Phosphorescence Probes.

Probes featuring room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) are promising tools for time-resolved imaging. It is worth noting that the time scale of time-resolved bioimaging generally ranges around the microsecond level, because of the short-lived emission. Herein, the first example of millisecond-range time-resolved bioimaging is illustrated, which is enabled through a kind of ultralong aqueous phosphorescence probes (i.

CLIC1 Inhibition Protects Against Cellular Senescence and Endothelial Dysfunction Via the Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway.

Chloride intracellular channel 1 (CLIC1) is a sensor of oxidative stress in endothelial cells (EC). However, the mechanism by which CLIC1 mediate the regulation of endothelial dysfunction has not been established. In this study, overexpressed CLIC1 impaired the ability of the vascular cells to resist oxidative damage and promoted cellular senescence.

Rituximab conjugated iron oxide nanoparticles for targeted imaging and enhanced treatment against CD20-positive lymphoma.

Since its launch in 1997, rituximab (RTX) has extensively improved the treatment of CD20-positive follicular and diffuse large B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The application of RTX is limited usually by the failed therapy because of resistance. Iron oxide nanomaterials have been explored for cancer detection and treatment in recent years.