Single-cell transcriptomic analyses reveal heterogeneity and key subsets associated with survival and response to PD-1 blockade in cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Understanding the intricate tumor microenvironment (TME) is crucial for elucidating the mechanisms underlying the progression of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) and its response to anti-PD-1 therapy.

Methods: In this study, we characterized 50,649 cells obtained from the CSCC for single-cell RNA sequencing and integrated bulk sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and clinical samples to explore their cell composition, metabolic processes, signaling pathways, specific transcription factors, lineage tracking and response to immunotherapy. In vivo experiments were performed to validate the function of key cell subsets.

Associations between prenatal phthalate exposure and newborn telomere length: Effect modification by infant sex.

Background: Phthalates are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) ubiquitously present in the environment. There are limited studies on the impact of phthalate exposure during the gestational period on neonatal telomere length.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between maternal serum phthalate concentrations in early pregnancy and neonatal telomere length and whether this correlation exhibits sex-specificity.

Multi-metal mixture exposure and cognitive function in urban older adults: The mediation effects of thyroid hormones.

The existing studies on the association between multi-metal mixture exposure and cognitive function in the older adults are limited and controversial, with no studies considering the mediating effect of thyroid hormones on the connection between them. This study of 441 urban older adults assessed 21 urinary metal levels and cognitive function using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Urinary metal levels were measured via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and thyroid hormones levels were obtained from medical records.

Carbene-induced ring-opening reactions of five-/six-membered cyclic ethers: expanding the frontiers of functional group introduction and molecular architecture construction.

The multi-component ring-opening reactions of cyclic ethers offer an efficient strategy for the rapid introduction of multiple functional groups and the construction of complex molecular architectures. Despite the minimal ring strain in five- and six-membered rings presenting a significant challenge for ring-opening, advancements have been made. Traditional acid-catalyzed pathways have been complemented by a novel approach involving carbene-induced oxonium intermediate formation, which has emerged in recent years and expanded the selectivity of ring-opening reactions.

Cognitive improvements linked to lysophosphatidylethanolamine after olanzapine treatment in drug-naïve first-episode schizophrenia.

Background: Cognitive impairments are a hallmark symptom of schizophrenia (SCZ). Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is the second most abundant phospholipid in mammalian cells, yet its role in cognitive deficits remains unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between plasma LysoPE and cognitive improvements following olanzapine monotherapy in drug-naïve first-episode (DNFE) SCZ patients.

Selective N=S Coupling Reactions of -Methoxy Arylamides and Sulfoxides Catalyzed by Iron Salt.

An iron-catalyzed selective N=S coupling of -methoxy amides and sulfoxides has been developed and was found to be a highly efficient method for the synthesis of -acyl sulfoximines. Electron-donating as well as electron-withdrawing groups on the phenyl ring are tolerated, and even sensitive substituents are compatible. The current catalytic transformation was conducted under an air atmosphere and can be easily scaled up to a gram scale with a catalyst loading of only 1 mol %.

Barbed arrow-like structure membrane with ultra-high rectification coefficient enables ultra-fast, highly-sensitive lateral-flow assay of cTnI.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has become a public health disease threatening public life safety due to its high mortality. The lateral-flow assay (LFA) of a typical cardiac biomarker, troponin I (cTnI), is essential for the timely warnings of AMI. However, it is a challenge to achieve an ultra-fast and highly-sensitive assay for cTnI (hs-cTnI) using current LFA, due to the limited performance of chromatographic membranes.

Exploring transvaginal sonographic characteristics of the levator ani muscle in women with postpartum pelvic floor myofascial pain.

Background: Pelvic floor myofascial pain is one of the pelvic floor dysfunction diseases disturbing women after delivery. There is a lack of objective standardization for the diagnosis of pelvic floor myofascial pain due to the various symptoms and the dependence on the palpating evaluation. Ultrasound imaging has the advantages of safety, simplicity, economy and high resolution, which makes it an ideal tool for the assistant diagnosis of pelvic floor myofascial pain and evaluation after treatment.

Knowledge of urinary incontinence among women 6 weeks to 1 year after delivery.

Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) is common among postpartum women, but many do not seek medical help due to limited knowledge. Understanding the level of knowledge about UI in this population is essential for improving care-seeking behaviors and implementing targeted interventions.

Objective: The objective was to examine knowledge regarding UI among postpartum women with UI within 6 weeks to 1 year after delivery.

Microstructure-Driven Self-Transport and Convection of Water on Membrane Surface for Ultra-Fast, Highly Sensitive, Low-Cost Lateral-Flow Assays.

Lateral-flow assay (LFA) is one of the most commonly used detection technologies, in which the chromatographic membranes are currently used as the lateral-flow membrane (e.g., nitrocellulose membrane, NC Mem).

Assessment of nonylphenol exposure based on global urinary concentration data and its risk analysis.

Nonylphenol (NP) has been recognized as a priority hazardous substance because of its estrogenic activity and ubiquity in the environment. Therefore, it is important to understand the daily intake of NP in humans and evaluate the potential health risks of NP. The median or average estimated daily intake (EDI) of NP was estimated based on urinary NP or alkyl-chain-oxidized NP metabolites concentration data from published epidemiological studies.

Pelvic organ prolapse after delivery: effects on sexual function, quality of life, and psychological health.

Background: Living with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) after delivery negatively impacted women's daily living and was detrimental to their psychological health.

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to explore the effects of POP after delivery on women's sexual function, quality of life (QoL), and psychological health within the first year following delivery.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 640 female participants at obstetric clinic in 2 hospitals in Shenzhen, China.

Relationship Between Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Postpartum Diastasis Recti Abdominis in Women in the First Year Postdelivery.

Objective: Postpartum diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) influences women's appearance and health. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can affect the structure of the rectus abdominis muscles. However, the relationship between GDM and postpartum DRA is unknown.

Rhodamine-Anchored Polyacrylamide Hydrogel for Fluorescent Naked-Eye Sensing of Fe.

A fluorescent and colorimetric poly (acrylamide)-based copolymer probe has been designed via free radical polymerization of a commercial acrylamide monomer with a rhodamine-functionalized monomer . Metal ion selectivity of was investigated by fluorescence and colorimetric spectrophotometry. Upon addition of Fe, a visual color change from colorless to red and a large fluorescence enhancement were observed for the ring-opening of the rhodamine spirolactam mechanism.

Development and validation of a Decision-Making Ability Scale for postpartum urinary incontinence women engaging in pelvic floor physical therapy.

Objective: This study aimed to develop and validate a Decision-Making Ability Scale (DMA-S) for postpartum urinary incontinence (PPUI) women engaging in pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT).

Methods: Items were created in line with a review of the literature and exploratory qualitative study with 22 women. The items were submitted for expert opinion and a pilot implementation was made with 58 women with PPUI.

A novel HBI-based ratiometric fluorescent probe for rapid detection of trifluoroborate.

A 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzimidazole (HBI)-based ratiometric fluorescent probe, known as BTEP, was synthesized using 5-bromosalicylaldehyde as the raw material Sonogashira coupling and condensation reaction. This probe was designed for rapid detection of boron trifluoride solutions and gases. The N and O coordination atoms in the probe undergo a boron difluoride addition with BF, which affects the process of excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) leading to a blue shift of fluorescence emission.

Impaired CD8 T cells in term pregnancy decidua with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Problem: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is more likely to develop a state of chronicity in early life, particularly mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HBV in the fetus during pregnancy. Till now, little is known about the impact of chronic HBV infection on the immune status of the maternal-fetus interface, and the immune profile of placental lymphocytes in MTCT of HBV is poorly understood.

Method Of Study: Thirteen term pregnant women with chronic HBV infection (HBV-PW) and thirteen normal pregnant women as healthy control (HC-PW) were enrolled.

Impaired interaural correlation processing in people with schizophrenia.

Detection of transient changes in interaural correlation is based on the temporal precision of the central representations of acoustic signals. Whether schizophrenia impairs the temporal precision in the interaural correlation process is not clear. In both participants with schizophrenia and matched healthy-control participants, this study examined the detection of a break in interaural correlation (BIC, a change in interaural correlation from 1 to 0 and back to 1), including the longest interaural delay at which a BIC was just audible, representing the temporal extent of the primitive auditory memory (PAM).

The relationship of severity in diastasis recti abdominis and pelvic floor dysfunction: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Diastasis of rectus abdominis (DRA) refers to a separation of the rectus abdominis from the linea alba. This study aimed to investigate the association with the severity of DRA for developing pelvic floor dysfunction among women during the first year postpartum.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study which collected data from 229 postpartum women.

Flow-injection chemiluminescence of the luminol-potassium periodate system enhanced by TGA-capped CdTe quantum dots for the determination of theophylline.

The chemiluminescence (CL) behaviour of the luminol-potassium periodate system enhanced by CdTe quantum dots capped with thioglycolic acid (TGA-CdTe QDs) was studied using kinetic experiments, CL spectra, UV-vis absorption spectra and fluorescence spectra. The production of oxygen-containing reactant intermediates (O and OH ) in the present CL system was verified by CL. The possible CL mechanism was discussed in detail.

Surface phosphation of 3D mesoporous NiCoO nanowire arrays as bifunctional anodes for lithium and sodium ion batteries.

A novel surface phosphate strategy was adopted to dramatically improve the charge transport, ion diffusion, electroactive sites, and cycle stability of mesoporous NiCoO nanowire arrays (NWAs), drastically boosting their electrochemical properties. Consequently, the as-prepared phosphated NiCoO NWA (P-NiCoO NWA) electrode achieved excellent energy storage performance as a bifunctional anode material for both lithium ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium ion batteries (SIBs). When evaluated as an anode for LIBs, this P-NiCoO NWA electrode showed a high reversible capacity up to 1156 mA h g for 1500 cycles at 200 mA g without appreciable capacity attenuation, while in SIBs, the electrode could also deliver an admirable initial capacity as high as 687 mA h g and maintained 83.

Cortical Gray Matter Loss, Augmented Vulnerability to Speech-on-Speech Masking, and Delusion in People With Schizophrenia.

People with schizophrenia exhibit impairments in target-speech recognition (TSR) against multiple-talker-induced informational speech masking. Up to date, the underlying neural mechanisms and its relationships with psychotic symptoms remain largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate whether the schizophrenia-associated TSR impairment contribute to certain psychotic symptoms by sharing underlying alternations in cortical gray-matter volume (GMV) with the psychotic symptoms.

Schizophrenia alters intra-network functional connectivity in the caudate for detecting speech under informational speech masking conditions.

Background: Speech recognition under noisy "cocktail-party" environments involves multiple perceptual/cognitive processes, including target detection, selective attention, irrelevant signal inhibition, sensory/working memory, and speech production. Compared to health listeners, people with schizophrenia are more vulnerable to masking stimuli and perform worse in speech recognition under speech-on-speech masking conditions. Although the schizophrenia-related speech-recognition impairment under "cocktail-party" conditions is associated with deficits of various perceptual/cognitive processes, it is crucial to know whether the brain substrates critically underlying speech detection against informational speech masking are impaired in people with schizophrenia.

Psychotic Symptoms and Attitudes toward Medication Mediate the Effect of Insight on Personal-Social Functions in Patients with Schizophrenia: One-Year Randomized Controlled Trial and Follow-Up.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the mediating pathway of 3 factors (psychotic symptoms, attitude toward medication, and cognitive processing speed) on the effect of insight on personal-social functioning in patients with schizophrenia.

Methods: Chinese inpatients with schizophrenia (n = 168; mean age 18 ± 50 years) diagnosed according to the DSM-IV were randomly assigned to treatment with antipsychotic medication alone or combined treatment. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI), Assessment of Insight (SAI), and Social-Personal Performance Scale (PSPS) scores were evaluated at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months.