Investigating ocular biomarkers and differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and vascular cognitive impairment based on multimodal imaging.

Significance: The eye can be used as a potential monitoring window for screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of neurological diseases. Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) are common causes of cognitive impairment and may share many similarities in ocular signs. Multimodal ophthalmic imaging is a technology to quantify pupillary light reaction, retinal reflectance spectrum, and hemodynamics.

Comparison of Back Tuina and Oral Astragalus Methods to Enhance Immunosuppression in Rabbits and Prediction of Astragalus Targets for Immune Function Improvement.

Back tuina massage and oral administration of astragalus are two methods used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to improve immune function. The aim of this study is to analyze the effects of tuina and orally administered astragalus on immunosuppressed rabbits using proteomics technology. Additionally, we investigate the potential mechanism of action of astragalus components on immunosuppression using an integration of network pharmacology and molecular docking technology.

The mendelian randomized study revealed the association of prostatitis with prostate cancer risk.

In recent observational studies, a potential link between prostatitis and prostate cancer (PCa) has been hinted at, yet the causality remains ambiguous. In our endeavor to scrutinize the conceivable causal nexus between prostatitis and PCa, we embarked upon a Mendelian randomization (MR) study. MR circumvents arbitrary groupings by employing genetic variations that have a strong association with the exposure as instrumental variables to infer causal relationships between exposures and outcomes.

Resection of extensive segments of inferior vena cava without reconstruction in the treatment of renal carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus: A case report.

We present a 55-year-old male patient with right renal carcinoma with long inferior vena cava (IVC) tumor thrombus who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with extensive IVC resection and left renal vein ligation. The patient had a history of hematuria only prior to admission. Our case involved resection of the entire abdominal segment of the IVC and left renal vein without reconstruction.

Facile one-pot synthesis of Ir(III) Bodipy polymeric gemini nanoparticles for tumor selective NIR photoactivated anticancer therapy.

Over the last decades, a variety of metal complexes have been developed as chemotherapeutic agents. Despite the promising therapeutic prospects, the vast majority of these compounds suffer from low solubility, poor pharmacological properties, and most importantly poor tumor accumulation. To circumvent these limitations, herein, the incorporation of cytotoxic Ir(III) complexes and a variety of photosensitizers into polymeric gemini nanoparticles that selectively accumulate in the tumorous tissue and could be activated by near-infrared (NIR) light to exert an anticancer effect is reported.

α-Pyrone mediates quorum sensing through the conservon system in Nocardiopsis sp.

Actinobacteria produce a plethora of bioactive secondary metabolites that are often regulated by quorum-sensing signaling molecules via specific binding to their cognate TetR-type receptors. Here, we identified monocyclic α-pyrone as a new class of actinobacterial signaling molecules influencing quorum sensing process in Nocardiopsis sp. LDBS0036, primarily evidenced by a significant reduction in the production of phenazines in the pyrone-null mutant compared to the wild-type strain.

Optimization of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surface chemical modification and formulation for improved T cell activation and expansion.

Adoptive T cell therapy has undergone remarkable advancements in recent decades; nevertheless, the rapid and effective ex vivo expansion of tumor-reactive T cells remains a formidable challenge, limiting their clinical application. Artificial antigen-presenting substrates represent a promising avenue for enhancing the efficiency of adoptive immunotherapy and fostering T cell expansion. These substrates offer significant potential by providing flexibility and modularity in the design of tailored stimulatory environments.

The EV71 2A protease occupies the central cleft of SETD3 and disrupts SETD3-actin interaction.

SETD3 is an essential host factor for the replication of a variety of enteroviruses that specifically interacts with viral protease 2A. However, the interaction between SETD3 and the 2A protease has not been fully characterized. Here, we use X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy to determine the structures of SETD3 complexed with the 2A protease of EV71 to 3.

Endowing Pt(IV) with Perfluorocarbon Chains and Human Serum Albumin Encapsulation for Highly Effective Antitumor Chemoimmunotherapy.

Tumor metastases and reoccurrence are considered the leading causes of cancer-associated deaths. As an emerging therapeutic method, increasing research efforts have been devoted to immunogenic cell death (ICD)-inducing compounds to solve the challenge. The clinically approved chemotherapeutic Pt complexes are not or are only poorly able to trigger ICD.

Evaluating the efficacy of standardized pressure ulcer management protocols in the prevention of pressure injuries among patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures.

Pressure injuries are a significant concern for patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures due to prolonged immobility and the complexity of care. This study evaluates the efficacy of standardized pressure ulcer management protocols in preventing pressure injuries and enhancing patient care in a neurosurgical context. A comprehensive retrospective analysis was conducted at a single institution from December 2020 to December 2023, comparing 50 patients who received standardized pressure ulcer management (intervention group) with 50 patients who received conventional care (control group).

Spatiotemporal-Controlled NIR-II Immune Agonist Sensitizes Cancer Immunotherapy.

The integration of nanomedicine and immunotherapy has presented a promising opportunity for the treatment of cancer and diverse diseases. However, achieving spatiotemporal controllable immunotherapy with excellent efficacy and safety performances remains a significant challenge. This study develops a biodegradable near-infrared II (NIR-II) photothermal response polymer nanoparticle (PTEQ) system.

Hierarchical Sea Urchin-like Fe-doped Heazlewoodite for High-Efficient Oxygen Evolution.

Electrochemical water-splitting to produce hydrogen is potential to substitute the traditional industrial coal gasification, but the oxygen evolution kinetics at the anode remains sluggish. In this paper, sea urchin-like Fe doped NiS catalyst growing on nickel foam (NF) substrate is constructed via a simple two-step strategy, including surface iron activation and post sulfuration process. The NF-Fe-NiS obtains at temperature of 130 °C (NF-Fe-NiS-130) features nanoneedle-like arrays which are vertically grown on the particles to form sea urchin-like morphology, features high electrochemical surface area.

Non-volatile 2 × 2 optical switch using multimode interference in an SbSe-loaded waveguide.

We propose a non-volatile 2 × 2 photonic switch based on multimode interference in an SbSe-loaded waveguide. The different modal symmetries of the TE and TE modes supported in the multimode region change their propagation constants distinctly upon the SbSe phase transition. Through careful optical design and FDTD optimization of the multimode waveguide dimensions, efficient switching is achieved despite the modest index contrast of SbSe relative to GeSbTe.

Near-Infrared-II Nanoparticles for Vascular Normalization Combined with Immune Checkpoint Blockade via Photodynamic Immunotherapy Inhibit Uveal Melanoma Growth and Metastasis.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been widely employed in tumor treatment due to its effectiveness. However, the tumor hypoxic microenvironment which is caused by abnormal vasculature severely limits the efficacy of PDT. Furthermore, the abnormal vasculature has been implicated in the failure of immunotherapy.

[Relationship of the kallistatin gene expression with male spermatogenic dysfunction and its possible mechanism].

Objective: To explore the role of the kallistatin gene in male spermatogenesis and its possible mechanism, and provide some new ideas for the clinical treatment of spermatogenic dysfunction.

Methods: We collected semen samples from the patients with oligospermia (OS) or non-obstructive azoospermia (NOAS) as well as testis tissue from testicular puncture. We detected the differential expression of kallistatin in the seminal plasma and the mRNA and protein expression levels of kallistatin, KLK1, B2R, Bcl-2, casepase-3, Bax and other molecules in the testis tissue, assessed the testicular spermatogenic function using Johnsen's scores, examined the interstitial fibrosis in the testis by Masson and Sirius staining, and analyzed the correlation of the expression level of kallistatin with spermatogenesis, apoptosis and fibrosis.

Nucleic-acid-triggered NADase activation of a short prokaryotic Argonaute.

Argonaute (Ago) proteins mediate RNA- or DNA-guided inhibition of nucleic acids. Although the mechanisms used by eukaryotic Ago proteins and long prokaryotic Ago proteins (pAgos) are known, that used by short pAgos remains elusive. Here we determined the cryo-electron microscopy structures of a short pAgo and the associated TIR-APAZ proteins (SPARTA) from Crenotalea thermophila (Crt): a free-state Crt-SPARTA; a guide RNA-target DNA-loaded Crt-SPARTA; two Crt-SPARTA dimers with distinct TIR organization; and a Crt-SPARTA tetramer.

Hypertension and cystatin C account for sex differences in serum homocysteine levels in acute coronary syndrome subjects with normal serum creatinine.

Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia is one of cardiovascular disease risk factors and fasting homocysteine levels are significantly elevated in male compared to female acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with normal renal function. However, it is not known the sex related determinants of plasma homocysteine levels in ACS subjects without renal dysfunction.

Methods: A total of 165 ACS participants with normal plasma creatinine who underwent coronary angiography were included in the present study.