Dynamic ultrasound-based modeling predictive of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with early breast cancer.

Early prediction of patient responses to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is essential for the precision treatment of early breast cancer (EBC). Therefore, this study aims to noninvasively and early predict pathological complete response (pCR). We used dynamic ultrasound (US) imaging changes acquired during NACT, along with clinicopathological features, to create a nomogram and construct a machine learning model.

Discovery of a peptide proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) drug of p300 for prostate cancer therapy.

Background: The E1A-associated protein p300 (p300) has emerged as a promising target for cancer therapy due to its crucial role in promoting oncogenic signaling pathways in various cancers, including prostate cancer. This need is particularly significant in prostate cancer. While androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has demonstrated promising efficacy in prostate cancer, its long-term use can eventually lead to the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC).

A Top-Down Design Approach for Generating a Peptide PROTAC Drug Targeting Androgen Receptor for Androgenetic Alopecia Therapy.

While large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) models for protein structure prediction and design are advancing rapidly, the translation of deep learning models for practical macromolecular drug development remains limited. This investigation aims to bridge this gap by combining cutting-edge methodologies to create a novel peptide-based PROTAC drug development paradigm. Using ProteinMPNN and RFdiffusion, we identified binding peptides for androgen receptor (AR) and Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL), followed by computational modeling with Alphafold2-multimer and ZDOCK to predict spatial interrelationships.

Novel nanomicelle butenafine formulation for ocular drug delivery against fungal keratitis: In Vitro and In Vivo study.

Fungal keratitis (FK) is a serious infectious corneal disease that leads to blindness. Butenafine (BTF) is an allylamine drug with high antifungal activity, but its poor water solubility and low bioavailability limit its clinical application in ophthalmology. To increase its aqueous solubility and corneal permeability, butenafine was encapsulated in d-ɑ-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) polymeric nanomicelles to improve the bioavailability of the drug for the treatment of FK.

A prognostic mathematical model based on tumor microenvironment-related genes expression for breast cancer patients.

Background: Tumor microenvironment (TME) status is closely related to breast cancer (BC) prognosis and systemic therapeutic effects. However, to date studies have not considered the interactions of immune and stromal cells at the gene expression level in BC as a whole. Herein, we constructed a predictive model, for adjuvant decision-making, by mining TME molecular expression information related to BC patient prognosis and drug treatment sensitivity.

The effect of charges on the corneal penetration of solid lipid nanoparticles loaded Econazole after topical administration in rabbits.

Fungal keratitis is an infectious disease caused by pathogenic fungi with a high blindness rate. Econazole (ECZ) is an imidazole antifungal drug with insoluble ability. Econazole-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (E-SLNs) were prepared by microemulsion method, then modified with positive and negative charge.

Divergent responses of plant functional traits and biomass allocation to slope aspects in four perennial herbs of the alpine meadow ecosystem.

Slope aspect can cause environmental heterogeneity over relatively short distances, which in turn affects plant distribution, community structure, and ecosystem function. However, the response and adaptation strategies of plants to slope aspects regulating their physiological and morphological properties still remain poorly understood, especially in alpine ecosystems. Here, we selected four common species, including , , , and , to test how biomass allocation and functional traits of height, individual leaf area, individual leaf mass, and specific leaf area (SLA) respond to variation in slope aspect in the Minshan Mountain, eastern Tibetan Plateau.

Toxic effects of bisphenol AF on the embryonic development of marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma).

Bisphenol AF (BPAF), an emerging environmental endocrine disruptor, has been detected in surface waters worldwide and has adverse effects on aquatic organisms. The accumulation of BPAF in oceans and its potential toxic effect on marine organisms are important concerns. In this study, the effects of BPAF (10, 100, 1, and 5 mg/L) on marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) were evaluated, including effects on the survival rate, heart rate, hatchability, morphology, and gene expression in embryos.

Ocular Pharmacokinetic Properties of Intravitreally Injected Aflibercept in Rabbits After Using Brinzolamide/Timolol Eye Drops.

To investigate the ocular pharmacokinetic properties of intravitreally injected aflibercept in rabbits after using brinzolamide 1%/timolol maleate 0.5% fixed-combination eye drops. The right eye of 5 rabbits was topically administered 30 μL of brinzolamide and timolol maleate eye drops twice a day (q12h).

Prediction of axillary lymph node pathological complete response to neoadjuvant therapy using nomogram and machine learning methods.

Purpose: To determine the feasibility of predicting the rate of an axillary lymph node pathological complete response (apCR) using nomogram and machine learning methods.

Methods: A total of 247 patients with early breast cancer (eBC), who underwent neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) were included retrospectively. We compared pre- and post-NAT ultrasound information and calculated the maximum diameter change of the primary lesion (MDCPL): [(pre-NAT maximum diameter of primary lesion - post-NAT maximum diameter of preoperative primary lesion)/pre-NAT maximum diameter of primary lesion] and described the lymph node score (LNS) (1): unclear border (2), irregular morphology (3), absence of hilum (4), visible vascularity (5), cortical thickness, and (6) aspect ratio <2.

Development of a Luliconazole Nanoemulsion as a Prospective Ophthalmic Delivery System for the Treatment of Fungal Keratitis: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation.

Luliconazole (LCZ), a novel imidazole drug, has broad-spectrum and potential antifungal effects, which makes it a possible cure for fungal keratitis; nevertheless, its medical use in ocular infections is hindered by its poor solubility. The purpose of this study was to design and optimize LCZ nanoemulsion (LCZ-NE) formulations using the central composite design-response surface methodology, and to investigate its potential in improving bioavailability following ocular topical administration. The LCZ-NE formulation was composed of Capryol 90, ethoxylated hydrogenated castor oil, Transcutol P and water.

A Versatile Hemolin With Pattern Recognitional Contributions to the Humoral Immune Responses of the Chinese Oak Silkworm .

Hemolin is a distinctive immunoglobulin superfamily member involved in invertebrate immune events. Although it is believed that hemolin regulates hemocyte phagocytosis and microbial agglutination in insects, little is known about its contribution to the humoral immune system. In the present study, we focused on hemolin in (-hemolin) by studying its pattern recognition property and humoral immune functions.

A sensitive and rapid bioanalytical method for the quantitative determination of luliconazole in rabbit eye tissues using UPLC-MS/MS assay.

Luliconazole (LCZ) is a novel antifungal imidazole with broad-spectrum and high susceptibility of Aspergillus and Fusarium are the dominant species of fungal keratitis, may potentially be a new medical treatment option for ocular fungal infection. To evaluate LCZ distribution in ocular tissues after topical application for the development of ophthalmic delivery system, it is important to have a bioanalytical method for measuring the drug concentrations in different ocular tissues and aqueous humor (AH). A selective and sensitive ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed for the quantification of LCZ in rabbit ocular tissues, including conjunctiva, cornea, AH, iris, lens, vitreous humor (VH), retinal choroid and sclera, using lanoconazole as internal standard (IS).

Assessment to the Antifungal Effects in vitro and the Ocular Pharmacokinetics of Solid-Lipid Nanoparticle in Rabbits.

Introduction: Fungal keratitis (FK) remains a severe sight-threatening disease, and case management is difficult due to ocular intrinsic barriers and drug shortages. Econazole (ECZ), a broad-spectrum antifungal agent, is limited in ocular applications due to the poor water solubility and strong irritant property.

Methods: We successfully prepared solid-lipid nanoparticle-based ECZ eye drops (E-SLNs) by microemulsion method, and the physicochemical properties of E-SLNs were investigated.

Improving the solubility of vorinostat using cyclodextrin inclusion complexes: The physicochemical characteristics, corneal permeability and ocular pharmacokinetics of the drug after topical application.

Vorinostat (suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, SAHA), an FDA-approved drug for cutaneous T cell lymphoma, has antiangiogenic and anti-inflammatory activity and thus has therapeutic potential for inflammatory corneal neovascularization (CNV). However, its practical administration is limited due to its poor aqueous solubility and permeability. This study aimed to enhance the corneal permeability of SAHA by promoting its inclusion into a complex with hydroxypropyl-β-CD (HPβCD) for topical application.

Effects of application of rapeseed cake as organic fertilizer on rice quality at high yield level.

Background: Applying organic fertilizer coupled with chemical fertilizer has been widely adopted to improve crop productivity and quality and develop sustainable agriculture. However, little information is available about the effects of organic fertilizer on the grain quality of rice (Oryza sativa L.), especially nutritional quality and starch quality.

[Effects of growth stage and altitude on twig functional traits and biomass allocation of in the headwater region of Minjiang River, China].

This study aimed at understanding the differences in traits of functional twigs and leaves of a typical alpine shrub species, , at Kaka Mountain in the headwater region of Minjiang River. Leaf and twig traits were compared for shrubs at different growth stages (flower bud stage and flowering stage) and altitude (3600 m and 3800 m). The effects of spatial heterogeneity on their correlations and trade-offs were evaluated at leaf and twig levels, respectively.

Foundation species across a latitudinal gradient in China.

Foundation species structure forest communities and ecosystems but are difficult to identify without long-term observations or experiments. We used statistical criteria--outliers from size-frequency distributions and scale-dependent negative effects on alpha diversity and positive effects on beta diversity--to identify candidate foundation woody plant species in 12 large forest-dynamics plots spanning 26 degrees of latitude in China. We used these data (1) to identify candidate foundation species in Chinese forests, (2) to test the hypothesis--based on observations of a midlatitude peak in functional trait diversity and high local species richness but few numerically dominant species in tropical forests--that foundation woody plant species are more frequent in temperate than tropical or boreal forests, and (3) to compare these results with data from the Americas to suggest candidate foundation genera in northern hemisphere forests.

Effects of nitrogen fertilizer on structure and physicochemical properties of 'super' rice starch.

Nitrogen fertilizer is an essential nutrient for rice (Oryza sativa L.), especially, for newly bred 'super' rice cultivars with great yield potential. The effects of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 100, 200, 300, 400 kg N ha) on the physicochemical properties of two high yielding 'super' rice Yongyou 2640 and Lianjing 7 were investigated in this study.

A Comparative Ocular Pharmacokinetics Study of Preservative-Free Latanoprost Unit-Dose Eye Drops and a Benzalkonium Chloride-Preserved Branded Product Following Topical Application to Rabbits.

To evaluate the aqueous humor pharmacokinetics of a preservative-free 0.005% latanoprost unit-dose eye drop (test drug) compared with that of a benzalkonium chloride (BAK)-preserved 0.005% latanoprost branded product (control drug) following topical application to rabbits.

Deep Learning for Ultrasound Localization Microscopy.

By localizing microbubbles (MBs) in the vasculature, ultrasound localization microscopy (ULM) has recently been proposed, which greatly improves the spatial resolution of ultrasound (US) imaging and will be helpful for clinical diagnosis. Nevertheless, several challenges remain in fast ULM imaging. The main problems are that current localization methods used to implement fast ULM imaging, e.

Single-view cone-beam x-ray luminescence optical tomography based on Group_YALL1 method.

Single-view cone beam x-ray luminescence optical tomography (CB-XLOT) has the merit of short data acquisition time, which is important for resolving fast biological processes in vivo. However, challenges remain in the reconstruction of single-view CB-XLOT. In our previous work, by using the sparsity-based reconstruction method, we have demonstrated the feasibility of single-view CB-XLOT.