A Physiologically Relevant In Vitro Model of Nonreplicating Persistent Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Caseum.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the leading infectious causes of death worldwide. Persistent bacterial populations in specific microenvironments within the host hamper efficient TB chemotherapy. Caseum in the necrotic core of closed granulomas and cavities of pulmonary TB patients can harbor high burdens of drug-tolerant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) bacilli, making them particularly difficult to sterilize.

Structure and pH Dependence of Membranolytic Mechanisms by Truncated Oxidized Phospholipids.

Membrane lipid oxidation is a universal process that occurs in situations of oxidative stress and is encountered in numerous physiological and pathological situations. Oxidized truncated phospholipids make up a large part of the oxidation products and alter the membrane properties in a way that can lead to cell death. However, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood nor is it clear whether environmental factors, such as pH, can modulate these effects.

ViLR: a novel virtual long read method for breakpoint identification and direct SNP haplotyping in de novo PGT-SR carriers without a proband.

Background: Despite the gradual application of third-generation long read sequencing (LRS) or reference embryo establishment to preimplantation genetic testing for structural rearrangement (PGT-SR) without familial involvement, there are still limitations to their extensive clinical application yet. This study developed a novel virtual NGS-based long read method (ViLR) and preliminarily evaluated its clinical feasibility of breakpoint characterization and direct SNP haplotyping for de novo chromosomal structural rearrangements (CSR).

Methods: A total of 10 families with de novo CSR risk were enrolled in this study for ViLR analysis.

Unified Low-Dimensional Subspace Analysis of Continuous and Binary Variables for Industrial Process Monitoring.

Industrial data often consist of continuous variables (CVs) and binary variables (BVs), both of which provide crucial information about process operating conditions. Due to the coupling between industrial systems or equipment, these hybrid variables are usually high-dimensional and highly correlated. However, existing methods generally model hybrid variables directly in the observation space and assume independence between the variables to overcome the curse of dimensionality.

BAFF and APRIL immunotherapy following Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination enhances protection against pulmonary tuberculosis in mice.

Introduction: Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), the only tuberculosis vaccine currently in clinical use, provides inadequate long-term protection. Administered at birth, BCG induces broad immune responses against a large number of antigens shared with (Mtb), but protection wanes over time. We have previously shown that unconventional B cell subsets play a role in tuberculosis control.

Heterogeneity and individualized therapy for eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), as a heterogeneous component of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis, may be induced by a series of environmental and genetic factors, involved with a variety of immune cells and immune components, and presented with various clinical manifestations, with multiple organs and systems (respiratory, skin, heart, kidney, nerve, etc.) involved. The choice of glucocorticoid (GC) dosage and immunosuppressant in traditional treatment strategies varies greatly from individual to individual and is not universally applicable in all the EGPA phenotype spectrum, especially in relapsing or refractory diseases.

Ultratough Thermoplastic Elastomers Based on Chemically Recyclable Cycloalkyl-Substituted Polyhydroxyalkanoates.

It remains a long-standing challenge for chemical recycling of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) to propiolactone-based monomers due to the high ring strain and many inevitable side reactions. In this contribution, a novel α-spiro-cyclohexyl-propiolactone (SHPL) has been designed with high reactivity toward ring-opening polymerization even at a catalyst loading of <1 ppm. The resulting poly(3-hydroxy-2-spiro-cyclohexylpropionate) (P3HSHP) exhibited high thermal stability with a of 364 °C and a high of 272 °C.

The effectiveness and safety of physical activity and exercise on women with endometriosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Endometriosis is a debilitating, chronic disease that affects approximately 10% of women of reproductive age worldwide. The most common symptom is chronic pelvic pain, which leads to a reduced quality of life and requires lifelong treatment. The current standard of care for endometriosis is pain management, which consists mainly of medical and surgical treatment.

Transdermal Delivery of Baicalin Based on Bio-Vesicles and Its Efficacy in Antiaging of the Skin.

Objective: To develop a stable and efficient delivery system for baicalin, a flavonoid with potential antioxidant and antiaging properties, to overcome its limitations in solubility, stability, and skin permeability.

Methods: Baicalin was encapsulated using ATP synthase molecular motor technology into bio-vesicles derived from yeast/bacillus cell membranes, forming "motor baicalin" (MB). The liposome baicalin (LB), baicalin raw material (BRM), and bio-vesicles were used for comparison.

Alterations in fecal bacteriome virome interplay and microbiota-derived dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia.

Rising studies have consistently reported gut bacteriome alterations in schizophrenia (SCZ). However, little is known about the role of the gut virome on shaping the gut bacteriome in SCZ. Here in, we sequenced the fecal virome, bacteriome, and host peripheral metabolome in 49 SCZ patients and 49 health controls (HCs).

Integrating circular economy policies in urban policy making: Strategies for green energy and environmental management to reinforce city image in China.

The implementation of circular economy (CE) policies in the management of urban policies have become essential for improving overall quality of life, development of green energy, and environmental management hence improving the image of cities. This research focuses on uncovering the core concepts of CE within urban environments, emphasizing actions that can improve green energy and environmental management. The CE aims to create a closed-loop system by prioritizing practices like remanufacturing, reusing, and recycling, which collectively help decrease resource usage and limit environmental damage.

A Regio- and Stereoselective Ring-Opening Polymerization Approach to Isotactic Alternating Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) with Stereocomplexation.

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) has been widely employed for various biomedical applications owing to its biodegradability and biocompatibility. The discovery of the stereocomplex formation between enantiomeric alternating PLGA pairs underscored its potential as high-performance biodegradable materials with diverse material properties and biodegradability. Herein, we have established a regio- and stereoselective ring-opening polymerization approach for the synthesis of stereocomplexed isoenriched alternating PLGA from racemic methyl-glycolide (rac-MG).

Baseline characteristics of patients in the Chinese Bronchiectasis Registry (BE-China): a multicentre prospective cohort study.

Background: Bronchiectasis is a disease with a global impact, but most published data come from high-income countries. We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of patients with bronchiectasis in China.

Methods: The Chinese Bronchiectasis Registry (BE-China) is a prospective, observational cohort enrolling patients from 111 hospitals in China.

Spillover of active oxygen intermediates of binary RuO/NbO nanowires for highly active and robust acidic oxygen evolution.

Over-oxidation of surface ruthenium active sites of RuO-based electrocatalysts leads to the formation of soluble high-valent Ru species and subsequent structural collapse of electrocatalysts, which results in their low stability for the acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, a binary RuO/NbO electrocatalyst with abundant and intimate interfaces has been rationally designed and synthesized to enhance its OER activity in acidic electrolyte, delivering a low overpotential of 179 mV at 10 mA cm, a small Tafel slope of 73 mV dec, and a stabilized catalytic durability over a period of 750 h. Extensive experiments have demonstrated that the spillover of active oxygen intermediates from RuO to NbO and the subsequent participation of lattice oxygen of NbO instead of RuO for the acidic OER suppressed the over-oxidation of surface ruthenium species and thereby improved the catalytic stability of the binary electrocatalysts.

Peripheral blood immune cell dynamics associate with growth of incidental indeterminate pulmonary nodules.

Objectives: Previous studies suggest peripheral blood immune cells associate with the progression and prognosis of lung cancer. The main purpose of this study was to explore the association of peripheral immune cell and its dynamics with the growth of pulmonary nodules.

Materials And Method: Of 9280 subjects whom had blood cell counts and chest CT scan in health check-up, 1068 participants were enrolled with the incidental pulmonary nodules of above 5 mm in diameter and subsequently followed up for 2 years.

Effects of stress factors on biogenic isoprene emissions and their contribution to ozone and secondary organic aerosols in China.

Isoprene serves an important part in plant defense against biotic and abiotic stresses, while also exerting a crucial influence on atmospheric photochemical processes and global climate change. The regional climate-chemistry-ecosystem model (RegCM-Chem-YIBs) was employed in the following study to estimate the biogenic isoprene emissions (BISP) in China during 2018-2020. The model explored the relative contributions of various stress factors such as drought, carbon dioxide (CO), and surface ozone (O) to isoprene emissions.

[Mechanism of WAVE1 regulation of lipopolysaccharide-induced mitochondrial metabolic abnormalities and inflammatory responses in macrophages].

Objectives: To explore the mechanism by which Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein family verprolin-homologous protein 1 (WAVE1) regulates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mitochondrial metabolic abnormalities and inflammatory responses in macrophages.

Methods: Macrophage cell lines with overexpressed WAVE1 (mouse BMDM and human THP1 cells) were prepared. The macrophages were treated with LPS (500 ng/mL) to simulate sepsis-induced inflammatory responses.

Boron Clusters Escort Doxorubicin Squashing Into Exosomes and Overcome Drug Resistance.

Exosome-based drug delivery holds significant promise for cancer chemotherapy. However, current methods for loading drugs into exosomes are inefficient and cost-prohibitive for practical application. In this study, boron clusters are mixed with doxorubicin (DOX) and exosomes, enabling the efficient encapsulation of DOX into exosomes through a superchaotropic effect.

Access to Polyhydroxyalkanoates with Diverse Syndiotacticity via Polymerization by Spiro-Salen Complexes and Insights into the Stereocontrol Mechanism.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have attracted broad interest as promising sustainable materials to address plastic pollution and resource scarcity. However, the chemical synthesis of stereoregular PHAs via ring-opening polymerization (ROP) has long been an elusive endeavor. In this contribution, we exploited a robust spiro-salen yttrium complex (Y3) as the catalyst to successfully prepare syndiotactic PHAs with diverse pendent groups.

Data-driven discovery of cell-type-directed network-correcting combination therapy for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder characterized by heterogeneous molecular changes across diverse cell types, posing significant challenges for treatment development. To address this, we introduced a cell-type-specific, multi-target drug discovery strategy grounded in human data and real-world evidence. This approach integrates single-cell transcriptomics, drug perturbation databases, and clinical records.

Syndioselective Ring-Opening Polymerization of β-Lactones Enabled by Dimethylbiphenyl-Salen Yttrium Complexes.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have served as promising alternatives to traditional petroleum-based plastics. Chemical synthesis of stereoregular PHAs via stereocontrolled ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of racemic β-lactones was a desired strategy with a formidable challenge. Herein, we developed a class of DiMeBiPh-salen yttrium complexes that adopted a -α configuration for stereoselective ROP of -β-butyrolactones (-BBL) and -β-valerolactone (-BVL).

Relationship between older coronary heart disease patients' phase II cardiac rehabilitation intentions, illness perceptions, and family caregivers' illness perceptions.

Background: Intention is an important factor in encouraging patients to receive cardiac rehabilitation. Illness perceptions of patients and individuals around them, such as family caregivers, may influence intention. However, no study has explored how family caregivers' illness perceptions enhance older coronary heart disease (CHD) patients' phase II cardiac rehabilitation intentions.