The discovery of novel antimicrobial peptides against drug-resistant bacteria based on fragments fusion strategy.

Since the escalating prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections posing global health challenges, novel antimicrobial agents are urgently needed. This study designed a series of antimicrobial peptides by fusing two fragments of antimicrobial peptides sC18 (1-9) and MSI-78 (10-16). Among these peptides, 13DKDab exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy against six different MDR bacterial strains with relatively low MICs.

Wearable photobiomodulation halts thyroid cancer growth by leveraging thyroid photosensitivity.

With papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) rates rising significantly, concerns about conventional treatments like thyroidectomy and radiotherapy highlight the need for non-invasive options. Our study explores photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), which uses specific light wavelengths to evoke cellular responses in PTC treatment. Our research utilized a custom-designed optical system to investigate PBMT, finding that blue light at a wavelength of 465 nm can safely and effectively inhibit the proliferation of the TPC-1 PTC cell line by inducing cell cycle arrest.

Preoperative heart rate variability as a predictor of postoperative pneumonia and lung function recovery in surgical lung cancer patients: a prospective observed study.

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the significance of preoperative heart rate variability (HRV) as a surrogate marker for vagus nerve activity in predicting the incidence of postoperative pneumonia (POP) and lung function recovery in patients undergoing lung cancer surgery.

Method: A prospective observational study was conducted at a single center. Patients were categorized into two groups: the POP group, which included those who developed pneumonia post-surgery, and the non-POP group, comprising patients who did not experience POP.

[Study on the Influencing Factors of Donation Related Vasovagal Reaction Based on Association Rule Analysis].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical value of association rule analysis for influencing factors of donation related vasovagal reaction (DRVR), using Logistic regression analysis as the reference.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 10 000 unpaid blood donors from Zhangjiakou Central Blood Station from June 2019 to June 2021. Their baseline data was collected.

Development of novel broad-spectrum amphipathic antimicrobial peptides against multidrug-resistant bacteria through a rational combination strategy.

Introduction: In recent years, cationic amphipathic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have shown great promise in combating antibiotic resistance on account of their distinctive membrane-disruptive mechanism. However, the clinical application of AMPs is restricted by their unsatisfactory stability and safety. Although attempts have been made to improve the stability and safety of AMPs, many of them are accompanied by a decline in their antimicrobial activity and bacterial selectivity.

Neoadjuvant adebrelimab combined with chemotherapy (cisplatin/carboplatin and etoposide) for limited-stage small-cell lung cancer: a study protocol of phase 2 trial (NIUS).

Introduction: Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly malignant neuroendocrine tumour, and concurrent chemoradiotherapy is the current recommended treatment for limited-stage SCLC. However, the overall survival (OS) of patients with SCLC remains poor. Therefore, improving the survival of patients with SCLC and benefitting more patients are urgent clinical requirements.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with EP300 mutations displays distinct genetic characteristics relevant to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Background: EP300 mutation is common in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We aimed to analyze the influence of EP300 mutation on treatment effect and prognosis in ESCC patients underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Method: Thirty ESCC patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) were enrolled in this study.

Association of α-klotho concentrations with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in American adults with depression: a national prospective cohort study.

This study examines α-klotho levels in depressed American adults and their association with cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2016) and mortality details from the National Death Index up to December 31, 2019. Including 3329 participants with depression, findings revealed 485 all-cause and 113 cardiovascular deaths. To investigate the nonlinear association between α-klotho and mortality, the Cox proportional hazards regression model, restricted cubic splines, and two-piecewise Cox proportional hazards model were developed.

Gradient Luminescence Enhancement in Organic Metal Halide Perovskites via the Suppression of [SbCl] Unit Distortion.

Intrinsic stereochemical activity of the 5s electron configuration in Sb leads to structural distortion within [SbCl] units, which, while stabilizing the material, paradoxically diminishes luminescence intensity due to induced asymmetry. To address this issue, a strategy, which encompasses increasing the structural dimensions and introducing In doping, was developed to mitigate the geometrical distortion in the [SbCl] units within the metal-organic perovskite (DABCO)SbCl·HO and (DABCO)SbCdCl·2HO (DABCO = triethylenediamine). This dimensional augmentation confines lattice distortion effectively, and the In doping modifies the 5s electron configuration of Sb, thereby reducing the distortion at its origin.

BMSCs transplantation combined with LIPUS treatment improves erectile function through downregulation of IGFBP3 in rats with cavernosa injury.

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the most common type of sexual dysfunction, which seriously affects male reproductive health. Recently, stem cell therapy and low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) have been applied in the treatment of ED, but the specific mechanism is still unclear.

Objectives: The study aims to investigate the effect and underlying mechanism of further LIPUS treatment on the basis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transplantation in the treatment of ED rats.

Efficient Organic Light-Emitting Diodes Obtained by Introducing Gadolinium (Gd) Complexes Based on Pyrazolone Derivative Ligands as Hole Trappers.

The utilization of lanthanide (Ln) complexes in the realm of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) has garnered extensive interest, particularly in their role as luminescent materials or electron trappers. A series of gadolinium (Gd) complexes with energy levels of high HOMO/LUMO and different triplet state energies were designed and synthesized by introducing substituents with different electronic effects onto the pyrazolone derivative ligands. Subsequently, these complexes were precisely purified by vacuum sublimation and codoped into the light-emitting layer (EML) of the OLEDs.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at low concentration improve coagulation efficiency but induce higher membrane fouling in drinking water treatment.

The presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface water has been widely reported in recent years. Many techniques, e.g.

Blue light-driven cell cycle arrest in thyroid cancer via Retinal-OPN3 complex.

Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid malignancy, with a rising incidence. Traditional treatments, such as thyroidectomy and radiotherapy, often lead to significant side effects, including impaired thyroid function. Therefore, there is an urgent need for non-invasive therapeutic approaches.

Generation of squeezed vacuum state in the millihertz frequency band.

The detection of gravitational waves has ushered in a new era of observing the universe. Quantum resource advantages offer significant enhancements to the sensitivity of gravitational wave observatories. While squeezed states for ground-based gravitational wave detection have received marked attention, the generation of squeezed states suitable for mid-to-low-frequency detection has remained unexplored.

Enhancement of NIR-II Emission of Er by Doping Fe in Double Perovskites: Multimode Luminescence for Versatile Optoelectronic Applications.

Erbium ions are commonly used to extend the photoelectric properties of metal halide perovskites from visible to near-infrared range. However, achieving high-efficiency multimode luminescence in a single system is difficult due to the weak absorption associated with forbidden 4f-4f transitions. In this study, a unique strategy is proposed to adjust multimode luminescence and enhance the second near-infrared region (NIR-II) emission in CsNaBiCl by incorporating Fe ions.

The Optimal Time of High-Intensity Pre-rehabilitation for Surgical Lung Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study with 4452 Patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the time of pre-rehabilitation (PR) combined with respiratory training and aerobic exercise on surgical patients with lung cancer.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective study from a 5-year database of a single center, including patients with lung cancer who underwent surgery between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2020, was conducted. The patients were divided into the PR group, in which they received the PR regimen, and the non-PR group, in which they received routine care.

Engineering of -CN for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production: A Review.

Graphitic carbon nitride (-CN)-based photocatalysts have garnered significant interest as a promising photocatalyst for hydrogen generation under visible light, to address energy and environmental challenges owing to their favorable electronic structure, affordability, and stability. In spite of that, issues such as high charge carrier recombination rates and low quantum efficiency impede its broader application. To overcome these limitations, structural and morphological modification of the -CN-based photocatalysts is a novel frontline to improve the photocatalytic performance.

Exosomes from Hypoxia Preconditioned Muscle-Derived Stem Cells Enhance Cell-Free Corpus Cavernosa Angiogenesis and Reproductive Function Recovery.

Tissue engineering for penile corpora cavernosa defects requires microvascular system reconstruction.GelMA hydrogels show promise for tissue regeneration. However, using stem cells faces challenges such as immune rejection, limited proliferation and differentiation, and biosafety concerns.

Digitoxin inhibits ICC cell properties via the NF‑κB/ST6GAL1 signaling pathway.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a type of liver cancer associated with poor prognosis and increased mortality; the limited treatment strategy highlights the urgent need for investigation. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), used alone or in combination with other treatments, can enhance therapeutic efficacy, improve life quality of patients and extend overall survival. In total, two rounds of screening of a TCM library of 2,538 active compounds were conducted using a Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay and ICC cell lines.

Surface Microstructure Drives Biofilm Formation and Biofouling of Graphene Oxide Membranes in Practical Water Treatment.

Significant progress has been made previously in the research and development of graphene oxide (GO) membranes for water purification, but their biofouling behavior remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the biofilm formation and biofouling of GO membranes with different surface microstructures in the context of filtering natural surface water and for an extended operation period (110 days). The results showed that the relatively hydrophilic and smooth Fe(OH)/GO membrane shaped a thin and spatially heterogeneous biofilm with high stable flux.

Expert Consensus on Prevention and Treatment of Aging-Related Gonadal Dysfunction.

Aging-related hypogonadism involves complex mechanisms in humans, predominantly relating to the decline of multiple hormones and senile gonads. Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) and erectile dysfunction (ED) are the main manifestations in men, while premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and menopause are the main forms in women. Anti-aging measures include lifestyle modification and resistance training, hormonal supplementation, stem cell therapy, metformin, and rapamycin.

Effect of topical steroid on soft tissue swelling following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.

Background: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is the most commonly used surgical approach for treating cervical spine conditions, but it can often lead to postoperative swallowing difficulties. To retrospectively assess the effects of topical triamcinolone acetonide in the anterior cervical surgery on swallowing function.

Methods: In this study, a retrospective design was used to select patients aged 18 years and older who were diagnosed with cervical spondylosis and required anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.