Chitinase-3-like Protein 1 Reduces the Stability of Atherosclerotic Plaque via Impairing Macrophagic Efferocytosis.

CHI3L1 is strongly associated with atherosclerosis, but its role in macrophages remains unknown. In this study, we observed a significant up-regulation of CHI3L1 in both carotid plaques and serum of symptomatic patients, and demonstrated that CHI3L1 impairs the efferocytosis of macrophages by down-regulating crucial efferocytic mediator MFGE8 through inhibiting ATF2, which binds directly to the enhancer of MFGE8. In human plaques, we observed a negative correlation between CHI3L1 expression and both ATF2 and MFGE8 levels, further proved their involvement in plaque destabilization.

Patterns of Tau pathology in patients with anti-IgLON5 disease visualized by Florzolotau (18F) PET.

Background: Anti-IgLON5 disease is a rare autoimmune neurological disorder with prominent Tau protein deposits in the brainstem and hypothalamus. The aim of this study was to visualize the in vivo distribution patterns of Tau protein in patients with anti-IgLON5 disease using the second-generation Tau PET tracer, Florzolotau (18F) PET imaging.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with anti-IgLON5 disease were enrolled consecutively.

Deep learning of noncontrast CT for fast prediction of hemorrhagic transformation of acute ischemic stroke: a multicenter study.

Background: Hemorrhagic transformation (HT) is a complication of reperfusion therapy following acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We aimed to develop and validate a model for predicting HT and its subtypes with poor prognosis-parenchymal hemorrhage (PH), including PH-1 (hematoma within infarcted tissue, occupying < 30%) and PH-2 (hematoma occupying ≥ 30% of the infarcted tissue)-in AIS patients following intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) based on noncontrast computed tomography (NCCT) and clinical data.

Methods: In this six-center retrospective study, clinical and imaging data from 445 consecutive IVT-treated AIS patients were collected (01/2018-06/2023).

Inference of Onsager coefficient from microscopic simulations by machine learning.

Dynamic density functional theory (DDFT) is a fruitful approach for modeling polymer dynamics, benefiting from its multiscale and hybrid nature. However, the Onsager coefficient, the only free parameter in DDFT, is primarily derived empirically, limiting the accuracy and broad application of DDFT. Herein, we propose a machine learning-based, bottom-up workflow to directly extract the Onsager coefficient from molecular simulations, circumventing partly heuristic assumptions in traditional approaches.

Biphasic Coacervation Controlled by Kinetics as Studied by De Novo-Designed Peptides.

Coacervation is generally treated as a liquid-liquid phase separation process and is controlled mainly by thermodynamics. However, kinetics could make a dominant contribution, especially in systems containing multiple interactions. In this work, using peptides of (XXLY)SSSGSS to tune the charge density and the degree of hydrophobicity, as well as to introduce secondary structures, we evaluated the effect of kinetics on biphasic coacervates formed by peptides with single-stranded oligonucleotides and quaternized dextran at varying pH values.

Engineering Highly Aligned and Densely Populated Cardiac Muscle Bundles via Fibrin Remodeling in 3D-Printed Anisotropic Microfibrous Lattices.

Replicating the structural and functional features of native myocardium, particularly its high-density cellular alignment and efficient electrical connectivity, is essential for engineering functional cardiac tissues. Here, novel electrohydrodynamically printed InterPore microfibrous lattices with anisotropic architectures are introduced to promote high-density cellular alignment and enhanced tissue interconnectivity. The interconnected pores in the microfibrous lattice enable dynamic, cell-mediated remodeling of fibrous hydrogels, resulting in continuous, mechanically stable tissue bundles.

Site-Specific for CO Photoreduction with Single-Atom Ni on Strained TiO Derived from Bimetallic Metal-Organic Frameworks.

The photocatalytic reduction of CO in water to produce fuels and chemicals is promising while challenging. However, many photocatalysts for accomplishing such challenging task usually suffer from unspecific catalytic active sites and the inefficient charge carrier's separation. Here, a site-specific single-atom Ni/TiO catalyst is reported by in situ topological transformation of Ni-Ti-EG bimetallic metal-organic frameworks.

Target Discovery Driven by Chemical Biology and Computational Biology.

Target identification is crucial for drug screening and development because it can reveal the mechanism of drug action and ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results. Chemical biology, an interdisciplinary field combining chemistry and biology, can assist in this process by studying the interactions between active molecular compounds and proteins and their physiological effects. It can also help predict potential drug targets or candidates, develop new biomarker assays and diagnostic reagents, and evaluate the selectivity and range of active compounds to reduce the risk of off-target effects.

Effects of tillage methods on photosynthetic performance of different functional leaf groups of summer maize in coastal saline-alkali farmland.

This study aims to determine the changes in the photosynthetic performance of leaves at different leaf positions and their correlation and to screen out the basic tillage methods suitable for improving the yield. The decrease in soil salt content significantly improved the PSII performance index and quantum yield for electron transport of the bottom leaf group, synergistically enhanced the photosynthetic performance of summer maize leaves (especially the bottom leaf group), and enhanced the correlation between the bottom, middle (including the ear leaf), and upper leaf groups. Under subsoiling tillage conditions, the bottom leaves could produce more carbohydrates to meet the normal growth of the root system, promote the photosynthesis of the middle leaf group at the ear position, and increase the nutrient output of the upper leaf group to the female ear in the middle and later stages of maize aging.

Quantum and complex-valued hybrid networks for multi-principal element alloys phase prediction.

This study introduces a hybrid network model for phase classification, integrating quantum networks and complex-valued neural networks. This architecture uses elemental composition as its only input, eliminating complex feature engineering. Parameterized quantum networks handle sparse elemental data and convert data from real to complex domains, increasing information dimensionality.

Wallerian degeneration: From mechanism to disease to imaging.

Wallerian degeneration (WD) was first discovered by Augustus Waller in 1850 in a transection of the glossopharyngeal and hypoglossal nerves in frogs. Initial studies suggested that the formation mechanism of WD is related to the nutrition of neuronal cell bodies to axons. However, with the wide application of transgenic mice in experiments, the latest studies have found that the mechanism of WD is related to axonal degeneration, myelin clearance and extracellular matrix.

Biodegradable copper-doped calcium phosphate nanoplatform enables tumor microenvironment modulations for amplified ferroptosis in cervical carcinoma treatment.

As a recently discovered form of regulated cell death, ferroptosis has attracted much attention in the field cancer therapy. However, achieving considerably enhanced efficacy is often restricted by the overexpression of endogenous glutathione (GSH) in tumor microenvironment (TME). In this work, we report a ferroptosis-inducing strategy of GSH depletion and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation based on a biodegradable copper-doped calcium phosphate (CaP) with L-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) loading (denoted as BSO@CuCaP-LOD, BCCL).

Optimizing Surgery for Idiopathic Scoliosis: Does a Dual Approach Help Young Surgeons?

Introduction In idiopathic scoliosis surgery, studies have shown two attending surgeons have better curve correction, pain, and recovery time. There is conflicting evidence on operative time, blood loss, infection rate, and hospital length of stay. Limited literature examines the impact of surgeon experience on the dual approach.

Keratinocyte-derived extracellular vesicles in painful diabetic neuropathy.

Painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) is a challenging complication of diabetes with patients experiencing a painful and burning sensation in their extremities. Existing treatments provide limited relief without addressing the underlying mechanisms of the disease. PDN involves the gradual degeneration of nerve fibers in the skin.

Transarterial Chemoembolization Plus Radiofrequency Ablation and Iodine-125 Seed Implantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in High-Risk Locations: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

Background & Aims: The effect of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus radiofrequency ablation (RFA) (TACE-RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk locations is not satisfactory. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of TACE-RFA plus iodine-125 (I) seed implantation (TACE-RFA-I) therapy with those of TACE-RFA for unresectable HCC (≤5 cm) in high-risk locations.

Methods: From January 2010 to June 2023, the clinical data of 126 patients with unresectable HCC (≤5 cm) in high-risk locations who received TACE-RFA-I or TACE-RFA treatment were retrospectively analyzed.

Recent Advances in Self-Powered Sensors Based on Ionic Hydrogels.

After years of research and development, flexible sensors are gradually evolving from the traditional "electronic" paradigm to the "ionic" dimension. Smart flexible sensors derived from the concept of ion transport are gradually emerging in the flexible electronics. In particular, ionic hydrogels have increasingly become the focus of research on flexible sensors as a result of their tunable conductivity, flexibility, biocompatibility, and self-healable capabilities.

Novel Insight into the Modulatory Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Targeting Gut Microbiota: A Review.

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) is clinically characterized by high rates of morbidity, disability, mortality, and recurrence as well as high economic burden. The clinical manifestations of CIRI are often accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms such as intestinal bacterial dysbiosis and gastrointestinal bleeding. Gut microbiota plays an important role in the pathogenesis of CIRI, and its potential biological effects have received extensive attention.

Chemistries on the inner leaflet of the cell membrane.

The cell membrane, characterized by its inherent asymmetry, functions as a dynamic barrier that regulates numerous cellular activities. This Highlight aims to provide the chemistry community with a comprehensive overview of the intriguing and underexplored inner leaflet, encompassing both fundamental biology and emerging synthetic modification strategies. We begin by describing the asymmetric nature of the plasma membrane, with a focus on the distinct roles of lipids, proteins, and glycan chains, highlighting the composition and biofunctions of the inner leaflet and the biological mechanisms that sustain membrane asymmetry.

Dual-Nano Composite Design with Grain Boundary Segregation for Enhanced Strength and Plasticity in CoCrNi-CuZr Thin Films.

Enhancing both strength and plasticity simultaneously in nanostructured materials remains a significant challenge. While grain refinement is effective in increasing strength, it typically leads to reduced plasticity due to localized strain. In this study, we propose a novel design strategy featuring a dual-nano composite structure with grain boundary segregation to enhance the deformation stability of nanostructured materials.

Stretchable wrinkle-structured liquid metal sandwich films enable strain-insensitive electromagnetic shielding and Joule heating.

Stretchable electromagnetic interference (EMI) shields with strain-insensitive EMI shielding and Joule heating performances are highly desirable to be integrated with wearable electronics. To explore the possibility of applying geometric design in elastomeric liquid metal (LM) composites and fully investigate the influence of LM geometry on stretchable EMI shielding and Joule heating, multifunctional wrinkle-structured LM/Ecoflex sandwich films with excellent stretchability are developed. The denser LM wrinkle enables not only better electrical conduction, higher shielding effectiveness (SE) and steady-state temperature, but also enhanced strain-stable far-field/near-field shielding performance and Joule-heating capability.

Potential Correlation Between Hematological Parameters and Palpitation in Outpatients With COVID-19: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Research on heart injury caused by COVID-19 is limited to large observational and retrospective cohort studies using imaging or pathological data. Reported changes in the levels of myocardial markers in severe diseases have been limited, with few studies on mild infections. The effects of COVID-19 on cardiac function and changes in myocardial marker levels have not yet been reported.

Single-cell multi-omics deciphers hepatocyte dedifferentiation and illuminates maintenance strategies.

Due to the similarity to human hepatocytes, porcine hepatocytes play an important role in hepatic research and drug evaluation. However, once hepatocytes were cultured in vitro, it was often prone to dedifferentiate, resulting in the loss of their characteristic features and normal functions, which impede their application in liver transplantation and hepatotoxic drugs evaluation. Up to now, this process has yet to be thoroughly investigated from the single-cell resolution and multi-omics perspective.

Hierarchical Biogenic-Based Thermal Insulation Foam.

Biogenic-based foam, renowned for its sustainable and eco-friendly properties, is emerging as a promising thermal insulating material with the potential to significantly enhance energy efficiency and sustainability in building applications. However, its relatively high thermal conductivity, large-pore configurations, and energy-intensive manufacturing processes hinder its widespread use. Here, we report on the scalable, one-pot synthesis of biogenic foams achieved by integrating recycled paper pulp and in situ nanoporous silica formation, resulting in a hierarchical structure comprising both micropores and nanopores.