Self-reported chronic rhinosinusitis diagnoses and symptoms in World Trade Center-exposed and non-World Trade Center-exposed United States firefighters.

Background: Greater World Trade Center (WTC) exposure levels have been associated with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) diagnoses and symptoms. We aimed to determine whether self-reported CRS is elevated in WTC-exposed Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) firefighters when compared with non-WTC-exposed/non-FDNY firefighters and with the general population.

Methods: The study included male WTC-exposed (N = 7840) and non-WTC-exposed (N = 2771) firefighters who were employed on 9/11/2001 and later completed a health survey.

Supramolecular Peptide Depots for Glucose-Responsive Glucagon Delivery.

Precise blood glucose control continues to be a critical challenge in the treatment and management of type 1 diabetes in order to mitigate both acute and chronic complications. This study investigates the development of a supramolecular peptide amphiphile (PA) material functionalized with phenylboronic acid (PBA) for glucose-responsive glucagon delivery. The PA-PBA system self-assembles into nanofibrillar hydrogels in the presence of physiological glucose levels, resulting in stable hydrogels capable of releasing glucagon under hypoglycemic conditions.

Evaluating carbon removal: Integrating technical potential with environmental, social, governance criteria, and sequestration permanence.

Climate modeling suggests that achieving international climate goals requires a reduction in current CO emissions by over 90%, with any remaining emissions to be addressed through carbon dioxide removal (CDR) solutions. Sixteen CDR strategies are evaluated by integrating technical potential, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, along with sequestration permanence. This evaluation, conducted by ENGIE's scientific council using an interdisciplinary Delphi panel methodology, proposes a "quality" measure for each technology.

Enhancing Gene Delivery to Breast Cancer with Highly Efficient siRNA Loading and pH-Responsive Small Extracellular Vesicles.

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are promising nanocarriers for drug delivery to treat a wide range of diseases due to their natural origin and innate homing properties. However, suboptimal therapeutic effects, attributed to ineffective targeting, limited lysosomal escape, and insufficient delivery, remain challenges in effectively delivering therapeutic cargo. Despite advances in sEV-based drug delivery systems, conventional approaches need improvement to address low drug-loading efficiency and to develop surface functionalization techniques for precise targeting of cells of interest, all while preserving the membrane integrity of sEVs.

A Supramolecular-Quantum Dot System for Broad-Spectrum Detection of Fentanyl Analogs.

Synthetic opioids, especially fentanyl and its analogs, have created an epidemic of abuse and significantly increased overdose deaths in the United States. Current detection methods have drawbacks in their sensitivity, scalability, and portability that limit field-based application to promote public health and safety. The need to detect trace amounts of fentanyl in complex mixtures with other drugs or interferents, and the continued emergence of new fentanyl analogs, further complicates detection.