Loneliness and Social and Emotional Support Among Sexual and Gender Minority Caregivers.

Importance: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) adults in the US are more likely than their non-SGM counterparts to provide informal care to their family members and/or friends. Caregiving can impose substantial physical, mental, and social connection issues on caregivers.

Objective: To examine the associations among loneliness, lack of social and emotional support, sexual orientation, gender identity, and informal caregiving status.

Anti-tumor and anti-metastatic effects of RRx-001 on hepatocellular carcinoma: mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential.

Background: 1-Bromoacetyl-3,3-dinitroazetidine (RRx-001) has potent antitumor effects, indicating its promising therapeutic potential against various cancers. This research investigates RRx-001 activity against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and elucidates its underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Huh7, Hepa1-6, and MHCC97H cells were cultured and treated with varying RRx-001 concentrations for 24, 48, and 72 h.

[Unilateral biportal endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy for cervical radiculopathy].

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of posterior unilateral biportal endoscopic(UBE) cervical discectomy for cervical radiculopathy under general anesthesia.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 35 patients with cervical disc herniation uderwent posterior UBE cervical discectomy under general anesthesia from March 2021 to March 2023 was performed, including 17 males and 18 females, with an average age of (56.00±7.

A Core-Brush Nanoplatform with Enhanced Lubrication and Anti-Inflammatory Properties for Osteoarthritis Treatment.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is recognized as a highly friction-related joint disease primarily associated with increased joint friction and inflammation due to pro-inflammatory M1-type macrophage infiltration in the articular cavity. Therefore, strategies to simultaneously increase lubrication and relieve inflammation to remodel the damaged articular microenvironment are of great significance for enhancing its treatment. Herein, a multifunctional core-brush nanoplatform composed of a ROS-scavenging polydopamine-coated SiO core and lubrication-enhancing zwitterionic poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) brush and loaded with the anti-inflammatory drug curcumin by a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-liable conjugation (named as SiO@PP-Cur) is rationally designed.

Development of poly(butylene oxalate-co-furanoate) copolymers with enhanced sustainability and hydrolytic degradability.

Polyoxalate, a novel intrinsically hydrolysable polyester, garners significant interest for its high cost-effectiveness and versatility. However, concerns persist regarding its durability in practical applications. This study integrates bio-based poly(butylene furanoate) (PBF), which possesses remarkable barrier performance, into the poly(butylene oxalate) (PBOx) framework to synthesize poly(butylene oxalate‑co‑furanoate) (PBOF) with tunable degradation rates.

Screening of herbal extracts binding with vascular endothelial growth factor by applying HerboChip platform.

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been hailed as a rich source of medicine, but many types of herbs and their functions still need to be rapidly discovered and elucidated. HerboChip, a target-based drug screening platform, is an array of different fractions deriving from herbal extracts. This study was designed to identify effective components from TCM that interact with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as a target using HerboChip.

Posterior Biportal Endoscopic Discectomy for the Treatment of Central Cervical Disc Herniation: Technical Note and Preliminary Results.

Objective: To evaluate the preliminary outcomes and clinical efficacy of a novel posterior biportal endoscopic technique in the treatment of central cervical disc herniation (CCDH).

Methods: A total of 11 patients with symptomatic CCDH who met the inclusion criteria underwent posterior biportal endoscopic discectomy between December 2021 and May 2023. The surgical procedure involved flavectomy, foraminotomy, pediculoplasty, and discectomy using 30° and 45° arthroscopes and specialized minimally invasive tools.

Target deubiquitinase OTUB1 as a therapeatic strategy for BLCA via β-catenin/necroptosis signal pathway.

Ubiquitination, a prevalent and highly dynamic reversible post-translational modification, is tightly regulated by the deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) superfamily. Among them, OTU Domain-Containing Ubiquitin Aldehyde-Binding Protein 1 (OTUB1) stands out as a critical member of the OTU deubiquitinating family, playing a pivotal role as a tumor regulator across various cancers. However, its specific involvement in BLCA (BLCA) and its clinical significance have remained ambiguous.

Biportal Endoscopic Paraspinal Decompression for Epidural Cement Leakage Removal: A Technical Note.

Objective: We aimed to preliminarily explore the efficacy and safety of unilateral biportal endoscopy for the treatment of epidural cement leaks. We report a patient who underwent epidural cement leakage removal and achieved endoscopic spinal decompression.

Methods: A 67-year-old female patient underwent biportal endoscopic paraspinal decompression following percutaneous vertebroplasty for an osteoporotic fracture that resulted in neurologic impairment due to epidural cement leakage.

Neural network enabled fringe projection through scattering media.

The projection of fringes plays an essential role in many applications, such as fringe projection profilometry and structured illumination microscopy. However, these capabilities are significantly constrained in environments affected by optical scattering. Although recent developments in wavefront shaping have effectively generated high-fidelity focal points and relatively simple structured images amidst scattering, the ability to project fringes that cover half of the projection area has not yet been achieved.

Hydrothermally Stimulated Molecular Interfaces for Augmented Electron Delocalization in Wet-Chemical Phosphorus Recovery from Incineration Ash of Sewage Sludge.

Wet-chemically recovering phosphorus (P) from sewage sludge incineration ash (SSIA) has already become a global initiative to address P deficit, but effectively isolating P from these accompanying metals (AMs) through adsorption in a SSIA-derived extract remains elusive. Here, we devised a hydrothermal stimulus-motivated thermodynamic and kinetic enhancement to gain anionic ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) molecular interfaces for AM enclosure to resolve this conundrum. A new dosage rule based on the EDTA coordination ratio with AMs was established for the first time.

KDM5B promotes SMAD4 loss-driven drug resistance through activating DLG1/YAP to induce lipid accumulation in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Inactivated suppressor of mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (SMAD) 4 significantly affects cancer development in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the contribution of smad4 loss to drug resistance in PDAC is largely undetermined. In the present study, we reported that the loss of SMAD4 endows PDAC cells the ability to drug resistance through upregulating histone lysine demethylase, Lysine-Specific Demethylase 5B (KDM5B, also known as JARID1B or PLU1).

Biportal endoscopy-assisted lateral mass screw fixation using a third portal.

Background: The technique of spinal decompression under endoscopy has been widely applied, but reports on endoscopic cervical fixation are rare. The unilateral biportal endoscopic (UBE) technique stands out for its lesser muscle intrusion and more flexible surgical approach.

Method: We applied the UBE approach for cervical fixation and laminectomy.

A bibliometric analysis of research on organizational resilience.

Organizational resilience is a key concept in the study of sustainable corporate growth and indicates an organization's capacity to recover from adversity. It plays a crucial role in responding to uncertain crises. In recent years, academic interest in organizational resilience has increasingly gained prominence.

Unilateral biportal endoscopy via two different approaches for upper lumbar disc herniation: a technical note.

Background: The traditional surgical procedures for upper lumbar disc herniation (ULDH) usually lead to frequent complications. We aim to investigate the clinical efficacy of the unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) technique in treating upper lumbar disc herniation (ULDH).

Methods: From January 2020 to December 2021, the clinical data of 28 patients with ULDH treated with the UBE technique were collected and analyzed for surgery time under UBE, postsurgical drainage, postsurgical hospital stay, and complications.

Superhydrophobic foam combined with biomass-derived TENG based on upcycled coconut husk for efficient oil-water separation.

The ocean ecological environments are seriously affected by oil spilling and plastic-debris, preventing and significantly reducing marine pollution using biocomposite production from natural fiber reinforcement is a more friendly way to deal with marine oil pollution. Herein, we upcycled coir-coconut into lignin and coconut shell into spherical TENG by a combination of dip-dry and chemical treatment and used the SiO nanoparticles together with cellulose nanofibrils to prepare serial sugar-templated, anisotropic and hybrid foams. The as-prepared lignin/SiO porous sponge (LSPS) with a hierarchical porous morphology and uniformly dispersed nanoparticles structure benefits from the advantages of biomass-based additives, which presents reversible large-strain deformation (50%) and high compressive strength (11.

Poly(butylene oxalate-co-terephthalate): A PBAT-like but rapid hydrolytic degradation plastic.

Concerns over worldwide plastic pollution have led to the development of biodegradable polyester materials with excellent physical and chemical properties through the copolymerization of poly(butylene oxalate) (PBOx). As a result, poly(butylene oxalate-co-terephthalate)s (PBOTs) with varying compositions, were prepared by incorporating aromatic units. Studies have indicated that PBOT-47 (with a 47% molar terephthalate), exhibits exceptional mechanical properties.

The interplay between autophagy and ferroptosis presents a novel conceptual therapeutic framework for neuroendocrine prostate cancer.

In American men, the incidence of prostate cancer (PC) is the highest among all types of cancer, making it the second leading cause of mortality associated with cancer. For advanced or metastatic PC, antiandrogen therapies are standard treatment options. The administration of these treatments unfortunately carries the potential risk of inducing neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC).

YAP1 Regulates the YAP1/AR/PSA Axis through Autophagy in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer and Mediates T-Cell Immune and Inflammatory Cytokine Infiltration.

The emergence of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) following androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is associated with increased malignancy and limited treatment options. This study aims to investigate potential connections between immune cell infiltration and inflammatory cytokines with the YAP1/AR/PSA axis by exploring their interactions with autophagy. Our research reveals heightened levels of Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) expression in CRPC tissues compared with tissues from androgen-dependent prostate cancer (ADPC) and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).

Online Testing Method for the Fine Spectral Characteristics of Narrow-Band Interference Filters Based on a Narrow-Linewidth Tunable Laser.

The transmission spectrum of a narrow-band interference filter is crucial and highly influenced by factors such as the temperature and angle, thus requiring precise and online measurements. The traditional method of measuring the transmission spectrum of an interference filter involves the use of a spectrometer, but the accuracy of this method is limited. Moreover, placing a narrow-band interference filter inside a spectrometer hinders real-time online measurements.

Utilization of Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine Across Ethnically Diverse Asian Americans.

We conducted an analysis to identify factors influencing the use of traditional complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM), with a particular emphasis on ethnic variations. Using the 2015 Asian American Quality of Life survey (N = 2,609), logistic regression analyses were performed, considering acculturation, health status, healthcare accessibility/utilization, and socio-demographic factors. Ethnicity, specifically being Chinese or Korean Americans, having chronic medical conditions, experiencing unmet healthcare needs, and having regular check-ups were significant predictors of TCAM use among Asian Americans as a whole.