Triple-Phase Interfacial Freestanding Fluffy Pine Needle Structures for Efficient Self-Powered Photoelectrocatalysis.

Approximately 2 billion people still lack access to clean drinking water. Extensive efforts are underway to develop semiconductor photocatalysts for water disinfection and environmental remediation, but conventional liquid-solid diphase interfacial photocatalysts face challenges like low diffusion coefficients and limited solubility of dissolved oxygen. This study introduces freestanding copper oxide fluffy pine needle structures (CO-FPNs) with tunable water pollutants-gas-solid (WGS) triple-phase interfaces that enhance oxygen enrichment and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production.

Near-Infrared Luminescent Imaging-Based 3D QR Cube Platform for Spatial Information Storage and Security.

The growing significance of information technology requires advanced information storage and security solutions. While extending traditional 2D codes with additional parameters has led to promising 3D codes, increasing information capacity and security remains challenging. Herein, a 3D quick response (QR) cube platform that utilizes near-infrared (NIR)-to-NIR upconversion nanoparticles as light-emitting probes, benefiting from their photostability and low scattering properties.

Mutational differences between primary cancer tissue and circulating tumor cells in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has a high recurrence rate despite proper management, including curative surgery. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are believed to play a key role in the distant metastasis of lung cancer. Immunofluorescence imaging studies of CTCs have revealed that they are associated with the prognosis of NSCLC.

Validation of IASLC 9th edition TNM classification for lung cancer: focus on N descriptor.

Background: We externally validated the proposed 9th edition of the TNM staging classification with our institution's prospectively collected data and compared it to the 8th edition for overall survival (OS) and freedom from recurrence (FFR).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 4029 cases of stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer that underwent surgical treatment from January 2004 to December 2020. Survival was compared using Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariable Cox regression analysis.

Triphenylene-Based 2D cMOFs: Unraveling the HS Sensing Mechanism and Applications for a Real-Time Wireless Chemiresistive Sensor.

Two-dimensional conductive metal-organic frameworks (2D cMOFs) stand at the forefront of chemiresistive sensing innovations due to their high surface areas, distinctive morphologies, and substantial electronic conductivity. Particularly, 2D cMOFs crafted using 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene (HHTP) and 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexaiminotriphenylene (HITP) organic ligands have garnered a large amount of attention due to their designable active sites and proper conductive characteristics. Nevertheless, a deeper exploration into their sensing mechanisms is imperative for a comprehensive understanding of the intrinsic chemistry, which is crucial for the intricate design of specialized 2D cMOF chemiresistive sensors.

Prognostic Impact of Non-Predominant Lepidic Components in Pathologic Stage I Invasive Nonmucinous Adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: This study investigated the prognostic impact of non-predominant lepidic components in invasive nonmucinous adenocarcinoma.

Methods: Patients who underwent lobectomy and were diagnosed with stage I nonmucinous, non-lepidic-predominant invasive adenocarcinoma based on pathologic findings were included. Tumors were staged according to the eighth edition of TNM classification and categorized on the basis of the presence of lepidic components in the final pathologic findings.

Dual-Hydrogen Bond Donor-Functionalized Carbon Nanotube Fibers: Enhancing Anion-Sensing Performance Through Functionalization Approaches.

In this study, chemiresistive anion sensors are developed using carbon nanotube fibers (CNTFs) functionalized with squaramide-based dual-hydrogen bond donors (SQ1 and SQ2) and systematically compared the sensing properties attained by two different functionalization methods. Model structures of the selectors are synthesized based on a squaramide motif incorporating an electron-withdrawing group. Anion-binding studies of SQ1 and SQ2 are conducted using UV-vis titrations to elucidate the anion-binding properties of the selectors.

Impact of Postoperative Prolonged Air Leakage on Long-Term Pulmonary Function after Lobectomy for Lung Cancer.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the long-term impact of postoperative prolonged air leak (PAL) on pulmonary function.

Methods: We enrolled 1,316 patients with pathologic stage I-III lung cancer who underwent lobectomy. The cohort was divided into 2 groups: those who experienced PAL (n=55) and those who did not (n=1,261).

Biocompatible and nondegradable microcapsules using an ethylamine-bridged EGCG dimer for successful therapeutic cell transplantation.

Conventional alginate microcapsules are widely used for encapsulating therapeutic cells to reduce the host immune response. However, the exchange of monovalent cations with divalent cations for crosslinking can lead to a sol-gel phase transition, resulting in gradual degradation and swelling of the microcapsules in the body. To address this limitation, we present a biocompatible and nondegradable epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)-based microencapsulation with ethylamine-bridged EGCG dimers (EGCG(d)), denoted as 'Epi-Capsules'.

In-situ and wavelength-dependent photocatalytic strain evolution of a single Au nanoparticle on a TiO film.

Photocatalysis is a promising technique due to its capacity to efficiently harvest solar energy and its potential to address the global energy crisis. However, the structure-activity relationships of photocatalyst during wavelength-dependent photocatalytic reactions remains largely unexplored because it is difficult to measure under operating conditions. Here we show the photocatalytic strain evolution of a single Au nanoparticle (AuNP) supported on a TiO film by combining three-dimensional (3D) Bragg coherent X-ray diffraction imaging with an external light source.

Oxygen-enriching triphase platform for reliable sensing of femtomolar Alzheimer's neurofilament lights.

Accurate quantification of neurofilament lights (NfLs), a prognostic blood biomarker, is highly required to predict neurodegeneration in the presymptomatic stages of Alzheimer's disease. Here, we report self-oxygen-enriching coral structures with triphase interfaces for the label-free photocathodic detection of NfLs in blood plasma with femtomolar sensitivities and high reliability. In conventional photocathodic immunoassays, the poor solubility and sluggish diffusion rate of the dissolved oxygen serving as electron acceptors have necessitated the incorporation of additional electron acceptors or aeration procedures.

Transferrin-conjugated magnetic nanoparticles for the isolation of brain-derived blood exosomal MicroRNAs: A novel approach for Parkinson's disease diagnosis.

Background: Brain-derived exosomes circulate in the bloodstream and other bodily fluids, serving as potential indicators of neurological disease progression. These exosomes present a promising avenue for the early and precise diagnosis of neurodegenerative conditions. Notably, miRNAs found in plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) offer distinct diagnostic benefits due to their stability, abundance, and resistance to breakdown.

Biporous silica nanostructure-induced nanovortex in microfluidics for nucleic acid enrichment, isolation, and PCR-free detection.

Efficient pathogen enrichment and nucleic acid isolation are critical for accurate and sensitive diagnosis of infectious diseases, especially those with low pathogen levels. Our study introduces a biporous silica nanofilms-embedded sample preparation chip for pathogen and nucleic acid enrichment/isolation. This chip features unique biporous nanostructures comprising large and small pore layers.

The Optimal Treatment Strategy for Postoperative Anastomotic Leakage After Esophagectomy: a Comparative Analysis Between Endoscopic Vacuum Therapy and Conventional Treatment.

Background: We compared the clinical outcomes between endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT) and conventional treatment (CT) for the management of post-esophagectomy anastomotic leakage.

Methods: A retrospective review of the medical records of patients who underwent esophagectomy with esophagogastrostomy from November 2003 to August 2021 was conducted. Thirty-four patients who developed anastomotic leakage were analyzed according to whether they underwent CT (n = 13) or EVT (n = 21).

Surgical outcomes of thoracoscopic thymectomy via the single-port subxiphoid approach versus the unilateral intercostal approach.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the safety and feasibility of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) total thymectomy via the single-port subxiphoid approach compared with the intercostal approach.

Methods: From January 2018 to May 2022, patients who underwent VATS total thymectomy via the subxiphoid or unilateral intercostal approach and diagnosed with Masaoka-Koga stage I-II, non-myasthenic thymoma were included in this study. Perioperative outcomes, immediate and long-term pain evaluations were compared in a propensity score-matching analysis.

A Mechanically Resilient and Tissue-Conformable Hydrogel with Hemostatic and Antibacterial Capabilities for Wound Care.

Hydrogels are used in wound dressings because of their tissue-like softness and biocompatibility. However, the clinical translation of hydrogels remains challenging because of their long-term stability, water swellability, and poor tissue adhesiveness. Here, tannic acid (TA) is introduced into a double network (DN) hydrogel consisting of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) to realize a tough, self-healable, nonswellable, conformally tissue-adhesive, hemostatic, and antibacterial hydrogel.

Photosensitizing deep-seated cancer cells with photoprotein-conjugated upconversion nanoparticles.

To resolve the problem of target specificity and light transmission to deep-seated tissues in photodynamic therapy (PDT), we report a cancer cell-targeted photosensitizer using photoprotein-conjugated upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) with high target specificity and efficient light transmission to deep tissues. Core-shell UCNPs with low internal energy back transfer were conjugated with recombinant proteins that consists of a photosensitizer (KillerRed; KR) and a cancer cell-targeted lead peptide (LP). Under near infrared (NIR)-irradiating condition, the UCNP-KR-LP generated superoxide anion radicals as reactive oxygen species via NIR-to-green light conversion and exhibited excellent specificity to target cancer cells through receptor-mediated cell adhesion.

Computational Prediction of Stacking Mode in Conductive Two-Dimensional Metal-Organic Frameworks: An Exploration of Chemical and Electrical Property Changes.

Conductive two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks (2D MOFs) have attracted interest as they induce strong charge delocalization and improve charge carrier mobility and concentration. However, characterizing their stacking mode depends on expensive and time-consuming experimental measurements. Here, we construct a potential energy surface (PES) map database for 36 2D MOFs using density functional theory (DFT) for the experimentally synthesized and non-synthesized 2D MOFs to predict their stacking mode.

A local water molecular-heating strategy for near-infrared long-lifetime imaging-guided photothermal therapy of glioblastoma.

Owing to the strong absorption of water in the near-infrared (NIR) region near 1.0 μm, this wavelength is considered unsuitable as an imaging and analytical signal in biological environments. However, 1.

On-Site Remote Monitoring System with NIR Signal-Based Detection of Infectious Disease Virus in Opaque Salivary Samples.

Infectious disease viruses, such as foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), are highly contagious viruses that cause significant socioeconomic damage upon spreading. Developing an on-site diagnostic tool for early clinical detection and real-time surveillance of FMDV outbreaks is essential to prevent the further spread of the disease. However, early diagnosis of FMDV is still challenging due to the limited sensitivity and time-consuming manual result entry of commercial on-site tests for salivary samples.

Temperature-Dependent n-to-p-Type Transition of 2D Mn Oxide Nanosheets toward NO for Flexible Gas Sensor Application.

Rapid and on-site detection of nitrogen dioxide (NO) is important for environmental monitoring as NO is a highly toxic chemical emitted from automobiles and power plants. In this study, we proposed atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) Mn oxide nanosheets (NSs) assembled on a flexible heating substrate for application in flexible and wearable NO sensors. A liquid-phase exfoliation technique was used to obtain individual Mn oxide layers that formed a homogeneous suspension.

On-site bioaerosol sampling and detection in microfluidic platforms.

As the recent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and several severe illnesses such as Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), Influenza A virus (IAV) flu, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) have been found to be airborne, the importance of monitoring bioaerosols for the control and prevention of airborne epidemic diseases outbreaks is increasing. However, current aerosol collection and detection technologies may be limited to on-field use for real-time monitoring because of the relatively low concentrations of targeted bioaerosols in air samples. Microfluidic devices have been used as lab-on-a-chip platforms and exhibit outstanding capabilities in airborne particulate collection, sample processing, and target molecule analysis, thereby highlighting their potential for on-site bioaerosol monitoring.