Evolutionary study and structural basis of proton sensing by Mus GPR4 and Xenopus GPR4.

Animals have evolved pH-sensing membrane receptors, such as G-protein-coupled receptor 4 (GPR4), to monitor pH changes related to their physiology and generate adaptive reactions. However, the evolutionary trajectory and structural mechanism of proton sensing by GPR4 remain unresolved. Here, we observed a positive correlation between the optimal pH of GPR4 activity and the blood pH range across different species.

Expanded Negative Electrostatic Network-Assisted Seawater Oxidation and High-Salinity Seawater Reutilization.

Coastal/offshore renewable energy sources combined with seawater splitting offer an attractive means for large-scale H electrosynthesis in the future. However, designing anodes proves rather challenging, as surface chlorine chemistry must be blocked, particularly at high current densities (). Additionally, waste seawater with increased salinity produced after long-term electrolysis would impair the whole process sustainability.

Advances in nanozymes with peroxidase-like activity for biosensing and disease therapy applications.

Natural enzymes are crucial in biological systems and widely used in biomedicine, but their disadvantages, such as insufficient stability and high cost, have limited their widespread application. Since discovering the enzyme-like activity of FeO nanoparticles, extensive research progress in diverse nanozymes has been made with their in-depth investigation, resulting in rapid development of related nanotechnologies. Nanozymes can compensate for the defects of natural enzymes and show higher stability with lower costs.

Self-Reported Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea are Associated with Increased Risk of Kidney Stones: A Cross-Sectional Study from NHANES 2015-2020.

Objective: To investigate whether self-reported symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), including snoring, snorting/stopping breathing, and sleepiness, are associated with increased risk of kidney stones.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted based on the 2015-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Self-reported symptoms of OSA and history of kidney stones were diagnosed via questionnaires.

Development and validation of a multiplex chip-based droplet digital PCR method for detecting CNVs in 7q11.2 and 22q11.2 regions.

Copy number variations (CNVs) in the 7q11.2 and 22q11.2 chromosomal regions are major contributors to genetic disorders such as Williams-Beuren syndrome and 22q11.

Ultrastable Seawater Oxidation at Ampere-level Current Densities with Corrosion-resistant CoCO/CoFe Layered Double Hydroxide Electrocatalyst.

Hydrogen is an essential energy resource, playing a pivotal role in advancing a sustainable future. Electrolysis of seawater shows great potential for large-scale hydrogen production but encounters challenges such as electrode corrosion caused by chlorine evolution. Herein, a durable CoCO/CoFe layered double hydroxide (LDH) electrocatalyst is presented for alkaline seawater oxidation, showcasing resistance to corrosion and stable operation exceeding 1,000 h at a high current density of 1 A cm.

KLF5 Shapes Developing Respiratory Tubules by Inhibiting Actin Asymmetry in Epithelial Cells.

Tubulogenesis depends on precise cell shape changes driven by asymmetric tension from the actin cytoskeleton. How actin asymmetry is dynamically controlled to coordinate epithelial cell shape changes required for respiratory tubulogenesis remains unknown. Herein, we unveiled a critical role for the transcription factor KLF5, regulating actin asymmetry, inducing epithelial cell shape changes by balancing RHOA and CDC42 GTPase activity via RICH2.

Ni@TiO nanoribbon array electrode for high-efficiency non-enzymatic glucose biosensing.

The exploration of noble metal-free nanoarrays as high-activity catalytic electrodes for glucose biosensing holds great significance. Herein, we propose a Ni nanoparticle-decorated TiO nanoribbon array on a titanium plate (Ni@TiO/TP) as an effective non-enzymatic glucose biosensing electrode. The as-prepared Ni@TiO/TP electrode demonstrates rapid glucose response, a wide linear response range (1 μM to 1 mM), a low detection limit (0.

Safety and efficacy of a novel transbronchial radiofrequency ablation system for lung tumours: One year follow-up from the first multi-centre large-scale clinical trial (BRONC-RFII).

Background And Objective: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an emerging treatment of lung cancer, yet it is accompanied by certain safety concerns and operational limitations. This first multi-centre, large-scale clinical trial aimed to investigate the technical performance, efficacy and safety of an innovative transbronchial RFA system for lung tumours.

Methods: The study enrolled patients with malignant lung tumours who underwent transbronchial RFA using an automatic saline microperfusion system between January 2021 and December 2021 across 16 medical centres.

The role of microRNAs in the gastric cancer tumor microenvironment.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the deadliest malignant tumors with unknown pathogenesis. Due to its treatment resistance, high recurrence rate, and lack of reliable early detection techniques, a majority of patients have a poor prognosis. Therefore, identifying new tumor biomarkers and therapeutic targets is essential.

Sex Hormones and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study and Mendelian Randomization Analysis.

Background: Sex steroid hormones, including testosterone and estradiol, play significant roles in various aspects of pulmonary health and diseases. However, although there were a few studies trying to link sex hormones with COPD, their effect remained limited due to small sample size and insufficient causal results. This study aims to investigate the association between sex hormones and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database and evaluate causality via a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR).

Aqueous alternating electrolysis prolongs electrode lifespans under harsh operation conditions.

It is vital to explore effective ways for prolonging electrode lifespans under harsh electrolysis conditions, such as high current densities, acid environment, and impure water source. Here we report alternating electrolysis approaches that realize promptly and regularly repair/maintenance and concurrent bubble evolution. Electrode lifespans are improved by co-action of Fe group elemental ions and alkali metal cations, especially a unique Co-Na combo.

Hydrogen therapy: recent advances and emerging materials.

Hydrogen therapy, leveraging its selective attenuation of hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) and ONOO, has emerged as a pivotal pathophysiological modulator with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic attributes. Hydrogen therapy has been extensively studied both preclinically and clinically, especially in diseases with an inflammatory nature. Despite the substantial progress, challenges persist in achieving high hydrogen concentrations in target lesions, especially in cancer treatment.

Association between systemic inflammatory markers and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A population-based study.

Objective: To investigate whether inflammatory indices, including the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), product of platelet and neutrophil count (PPN), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), correlate with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database 2007-2018. The SII, NLR, PLR, PPN and LMR were calculated based on blood cell counts and were log2-transformed.

Prone positioning does not improve outcomes of intubated patients with pneumocystis pneumonia and moderate-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome: a single-center, retrospective, observational, cohort study.

Background: Pneumocystis pneumonia is an uncommon precipitant of acute respiratory distress syndrome and is associated with high mortality. Prone positioning ventilation has been proven to reduce mortality in patients with moderate-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. We investigated the effect of prone positioning on oxygenation and mortality in intubated patients with pneumocystis pneumonia comorbid with moderate-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Bibliometric analysis of the pirfenidone and nintedanib in interstitial lung diseases.

Background: At the beginning of 21st century, reclassification of fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (ILD) scored academic concerning, and then propelled development. Decade before, pifenidone and nintedanib were approved for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, but no more drugs are yet available. To evaluate the development traits of pirfenidone and nintedanib in fibrosing ILD, including the influential country, institution, authors, keywords, and the major problems or the priorities of the field emerge and evolve, bibliometric analysis was used to summarize and draw scientific knowledge maps.

Activated non-neuronal cholinergic system correlates with non-type 2 inflammation and exacerbations in severe asthma.

Background: Non-neuronal cholinergic system (NNCS) contributes to various inflammatory airway diseases. However, the role of NNCS in severe asthma (SA) remains largely unexplored.

Objective: To explore airway NNCS in SA.

Predictive value of NT-proBNP and hs-TnT for outcomes after pediatric congenital cardiac surgery.

Background: The available evidence regarding the predictive value of troponins and natriuretic peptides for early postoperative outcomes in pediatrics is limited, controversial, and based on small sample sizes. The authors aimed to investigate the association of N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-TnT) with the in-hospital adverse outcomes after congenital cardiac surgeries.

Methods: A secondary analysis based on a prospective study of pediatric congenital heart disease (CHD) patients was conducted to investigate the association of NT-proBNP and hs-TnT tested within 6 h postoperatively with in-hospital adverse events.

Association between gene polymorphisms and initial warfarin therapy in patients after heart valve surgery.

Background: Warfarin is widely used for the prevention and treatment of thrombotic events. This study aimed to examine the influence of gene polymorphisms on the early stage of warfarin therapy in patients following heart valve surgery.

Methods: Nine single nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped using microarray chips, categorizing patients into three groups: normal responders (Group I), sensitive responders (Group II), and highly sensitive responders (Group III).