A Novel Nanoscale Phase-Change Contrast Agent Evaluates the Hepatic Fibrosis Through Targeting Hepatic Stellate Cell Platelet-Derived Factor Beta Receptor by Ultrasound in Vitro.

Objective: As a reversible condition at its early stages, liver fibrosis can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, underscoring the importance of early detection for preventing severe outcomes and improving prognosis. To address this issue, we developed a platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ)-targeted nanoscale phase-change contrast agent to target activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSC) and enable ultrasound imaging as a foundation for the early evaluation of liver fibrosis.

Methods: PDGFR-β antibody-modified phase-change contrast agents (PPCAs) were synthesized utilizing film hydration and ultrasonic emulsification with perfluoropentane (PFP) encapsulated.

Building Robust Manganese Hexacyanoferrate Cathode for Long-Cycle-Life Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Manganese Hexacyanoferrate (Mn─HCF) is a preferred cathode material for sodium-ion batteries used in large-scale energy storage. However, the inherent vacancies and the presence of HO within the imperfect crystal structure of Mn─HCF lead to material failure and interface failure when used as a cathode. Addressing the challenge of constructing a stable cathode is an urgent scientific problem that needs to be solved to enhance the performance and lifespan of these batteries.

Expression and Significance of the Circular RNA circ_0001438 in the Development of Gastric Cancer.

Gastric cancer has become a great challenge to human health in the world. We studied the expression and role of the circular RNA 0001438 (circ_0001438) with the aim of finding a biomarker to assess the prognosis of gastric cancer. Through a polymerase chain reaction, circ_0001438 expression in gastric cancer was detected.

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Conversion of Lignin to Nitrogenous Chemicals and Functional Materials.

Lignin has long been regarded as waste, readily separated and discarded from the pulp and paper industry. However, as the most abundant aromatic renewable biopolymer in nature, lignin can replace petroleum resources to prepare chemicals containing benzene rings. Therefore, the high-value transformation of lignin has attracted the interest of both academia and industry.

The effect of childhood trauma on moral cognition in patients with schizophrenia.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether a potential moral cognitive impairment (failure in understanding moral rules) exists in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) and to explore the effect of childhood trauma (CT) on moral cognition in a group of patients with SCZ.

Methods: A total of 99 patients with SCZ and 102 healthy controls (HCs) were included in this study. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ) was administered to assess childhood trauma experiences in both groups, while the Moral Identity Measure (MIM) and the Moral Foundations Questionnaire (MFQ) were applied for a comparative evaluation of moral cognition across the two groups.

Construction of a novel model based on PVT1-MYC duet-related genes for predicting survival and characterization of the tumor microenvironment in pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is an extremely malignant tumor. PVT1 and MYC signaling has been considered as a therapeutic target recently. Nonetheless, the prognostic values and critical regulatory networks of PVT1-MYC duet in pancreatic cancer remain unclear.

Comprehensive multi-omics profiling identifies novel molecular subtypes of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic cancer, a highly fatal malignancy, is predicted to rank as the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the next decade. This highlights the urgent need for new insights into personalized diagnosis and treatment. Although molecular subtypes of pancreatic cancer were well established in genomics and transcriptomics, few known molecular classifications are translated to guide clinical strategies and require a paradigm shift.

Iron-copper bimetallic photo-Fenton system promoted photothermal-hydrogen peroxide production for efficient low-temperature wastewater treatment.

Enhancing the velocity of the oxidation-reduction cycle is crucial for improving the catalytic efficiency of Fenton processes. Therefore, the development of an effective strategy for wastewater degradation at low temperatures is essential. In this context, we present the preparation of an NH-MIL-88B (Fe)/CuInS S-scheme heterojunction.

Comparisons of laparoscopic and robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy using barbed and conventional sutures for pancreaticojejunostomy: a propensity score matching study.

Background: There are limited data on the effect of different sutures and surgical approaches on the quality of pancreaticojejunostomy in minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (MIPD). This study compares the incidence of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) between the use of barbed sutures (BSs) and conventional sutures (CSs).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 253 consecutive patients who had undergone MIPD from July 2016 to April 2023.

Principles and Methods for Improving the Thermoelectric Performance of SiC: A Potential High-Temperature Thermoelectric Material.

Thermoelectric materials that can convert thermal energy to electrical energy are stable and long-lasting and do not emit greenhouse gases; these properties render them useful in novel power generation devices that can conserve and utilize lost heat. SiC exhibits good mechanical properties, excellent corrosion resistance, high-temperature stability, non-toxicity, and environmental friendliness. It can withstand elevated temperatures and thermal shock and is well suited for thermoelectric conversions in high-temperature and harsh environments, such as supersonic vehicles and rockets.

The significant role of amino acid metabolic reprogramming in cancer.

Amino acid metabolism plays a pivotal role in tumor microenvironment, influencing various aspects of cancer progression. The metabolic reprogramming of amino acids in tumor cells is intricately linked to protein synthesis, nucleotide synthesis, modulation of signaling pathways, regulation of tumor cell metabolism, maintenance of oxidative stress homeostasis, and epigenetic modifications. Furthermore, the dysregulation of amino acid metabolism also impacts tumor microenvironment and tumor immunity.

Alpha Angle and Anterior Femoral Neck Offset Identify Different Cohorts of Cam Morphology: An Osteologic Study.

Purpose: To explore differences in cam morphology defined by alpha angle (AA) and anterior femoral neck offset (AFNO) in the context of other anthropometric parameters in an osteologic collection to further elucidate whether each measurement tool is identifying the same underlying pathology.

Methods: Anthropometric measurements of 992 cadaveric hips from the Hamann-Todd Osteological Collection were analyzed. Femurs with cam morphology were identified by AA >55° or AFNO <7 mm.

Advances in nano-preparations for improving tetrandrine solubility and bioavailability.

Tetrandrine (TET) is a natural bis-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Stephania species with a wide range of biological and pharmacologic activities; it mainly serves as an anti-inflammatory agent or antitumor adjuvant in clinical applications. However, limitations such as prominent hydrophobicity, severe off-target toxicity, and low absorption result in suboptimal therapeutic outcomes preventing its widespread adoption. Nanoparticles have proven to be efficient devices for targeted drug delivery since drug-carrying nanoparticles can be passively transported to the tumor site by the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effects, thus securing a niche in cancer therapies.

High Strength UV-Resistant Composite Film of Fe-Coordination Lignin/PVA.

The literature on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films is extensive, however, these methods often necessitate intricate synthesis processes or the addition of plasticizers to modify the strength and water solubility of the PVA material. A high-strength UV radiation-resistant composite film by chelating Fe with lignin and PVA, which exhibits excellent hydrolysis resistance is developed. This composite film is prepared simply by incorporating a small amount of dealkalized lignin (APPL) and ferric chloride (FeCl) into PVA through a straightforward composite process.

Counterfactual Causal-Effect Intervention for Interpretable Medical Visual Question Answering.

Medical Visual Question Answering (VQA-Med) is a challenging task that involves answering clinical questions related to medical images. However, most current VQA-Med methods ignore the causal correlation between specific lesion or abnormality features and answers, while also failing to provide accurate explanations for their decisions. To explore the interpretability of VQA-Med, this paper proposes a novel CCIS-MVQA model for VQA-Med based on a counterfactual causal-effect intervention strategy.

Current research progress, opportunities, and challenges of -based probiotic dietary strategies.

(), a type of spp., stands out as the most extensively researched probiotic. Its remarkable intestinal adhesion has led to widespread applications in both the food and medical sectors.

The Synergy Reinforcement Effect of SmZnMnO and ZrMgMoO on SmZnMnO-ZrMgMoO/Al-20Si Composites.

Negative thermal expansion (NTE) ceramics SmZnMnO (SZMO) and ZrMgMoO (ZMMO) were selected to prepare SmZnMnO-ZrMgMoO/Al-20Si (SZMO-ZMMO/Al-20Si) composites using ball milling and vacuum heating-press sintering processes in this study. The synergistic effect of the SZMO and ZMMO NTE ceramic reinforcements on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the composites was investigated. The results show that the processes of ball milling and sintering did not induce the decomposition of SZMO or ZMMO NTE ceramic reinforcements, nor did they promote a reaction between the Al-20Si matrix and SZMO or ZMMO NTE ceramic reinforcements.

A novel LD-targeting cysteine-activated fluorescent probe for diagnosis of APAP-induced liver injury and its application in food analysis.

Cysteine (Cys) not only plays an indispensable role in maintaining the redox balance in organisms, but is also an important nutrient in the food industry. Fluorescence-based detection systems have emerged as an effective method to track the locations and concentrations of different species. To achieve efficient monitoring of Cys in both food samples and biological systems, a novel lipid droplet (LD) targeted fluorescent probe (namely NIT-Cys) was constructed for the turn-on detection of Cys, characterized by a large Stokes shift (142 nm), a short response time (<8 min), and a low Cys detection limit (39 nM).