OsPAD1, encoding a non-specific lipid transfer protein, is required for rice pollen aperture formation.

Plant lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are distinguished by their capacity to facilitate lipid transport in vitro between membranes. This includes the transportation of lipid constituents from the tapetum to the microspore, thereby playing a pivotal role in the synthesis and construction of the pollen wall, encompassing the formation of the pollen aperture. However, our understanding of LTPs and their role in pollen aperture formation in rice remains limited.

Relationships between blood cadmium concentration and risk of nine cancers: evidence from the NHANES 1999-2018 and Mendelian randomization analyses.

Background: Previous observational studies examining the relationship between cadmium exposure and various cancers have yielded conflicting results. This study aims to comprehensively clarify the relationship between blood cadmium concentration (BCC) and nine specific cancers.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2018 identified 36,991 participants.

Promoting hand hygiene in a chemotherapy day center: the role of a robot.

Background: Hand hygiene is a critical component of infection prevention in healthcare settings. Innovative strategies are required to enhance hand hygiene practices among patients and healthcare workers (HCWs).

Methods: This study was conducted at the Chemotherapy Day Center of Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.

Novel multiple Z-score models for detection of coronary artery dilation: application in Kawasaki disease.

Background: This study aims to develop Z-Score models to normalize measurements of three coronary arteries and enhance the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease (KD) in children from newborns to 10 years old. Developing a reliable Z-Score model is challenging, as some existing models fail the normality test. Overcoming these challenges is crucial for improving KD diagnosis.

TGFβ signaling sensitizes MEKi-resistant human melanoma to targeted therapy-induced apoptosis.

The TGFβ signaling pathway is known for its pleiotropic functions in a plethora of biological processes. In melanoma, TGFβ signaling promotes invasiveness and metastasis formation. However, its involvement in the response to therapy is controversial.

Weight-adjusted-waist index: an innovative indicator of breast cancer hazard.

Background: Central obesity and breast cancer (BC) have been identified as relevant by empirical research. The weight-adjusted-waist index (WWI) is a novel methodology for quantifying central obesity. Inspection of the association between WWI and BC in American adult women was the primary goal of the current investigation.

Lenvatinib and immune-checkpoint inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma: mechanistic insights, clinical efficacy, and future perspectives.

Lenvatinib is a multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor widely used in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Its primary mechanism of action involves inhibiting signal pathways such as vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR) and fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR), thereby reducing tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis and affecting the tumor's immune microenvironment. In the treatment of liver cancer, although lenvatinib monotherapy has shown good clinical effect, the problem of drug resistance is becoming more and more serious.

Development of a territory-wide household-based composite index for measuring relative distribution of households by economic status in individual small areas throughout Hong Kong.

Background: Many countries have developed their country/nation-wide multidimensional area-based index on deprivation or socioeconomic status for resource allocation, service planning and research. However, whether each geographical unit proxied by a single index is sufficiently small to contain a relatively homogeneous population remains questionable. Globally, this is the first study that presents the distribution of domestic households by the territory-wide economic status index decile groups within each of the 2,252 small subunit groups (SSUGs) throughout Hong Kong, with a median study population of 1,300 and a median area of 42,400 m.

A correlation study between blood glucose fluctuation and chronic pain in the older people with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: To investigate the correlation between blood glucose fluctuation parameters and other clinical data with chronic pain in older patients ( ≧ 60 years) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), as well as evaluating the predictive value of risk of these parameters for chronic pain.

Methods: Clinical data were collected from 60 older patients with T2DM undergoing chronic pain who were hospitalized in the Department of Geriatric Endocrinology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. Pain scores using the numeric rating scale (NRS) were administered to all study participants by a dedicated person.

Inhibitory effect of low-dose esketamine on cough induced by sufentanil during the induction of anesthesia and postoperative impact on mental health status: a prospective, single-center, randomized controlled trial.

Background: Intravenous administration of sufentanil during anesthesia induction induces cough (SIC), sometimes triggers a severe reaction. We wanted to investigate the inhibitory effect of low-dose esketamine on cough induced by sufentanil during the induction of general anesthesia, as well as its postoperative impact on mental status (MMSE score, RSS, and VAS-A).

Methods: A total of 256 adult patients were randomly allocated to receive either esketamine (Group EK) or normal saline (Group C).

The transition of tetragonal to monoclinic phase in BiVO coupled with peroxymonosulfate for photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride.

At present, the mechanism difference between tetragonal BiVO (t-BiVO) and monoclinic BiVO (m-BiVO) coupled peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to realize photocatalysis is still unclear. In this study, m-BiVO and t-BiVO were obtained by adjusting the bismuth-vanadium ratio in the precursor solution (Bi:V=3:1; 1:1; 1:2 and 1:3). The results of photocatalytic experiments showed that both t-BiVO and m-BiVO had certain activation effects on PMS, and the prepared monoclinic B1V2 has the strongest photocatalytic performance.

Indicator-based tuberculosis infection control assessments with knowledge, attitudes, and practices evaluations among health facilities in China, 2017-2019.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) Building and Strengthening Infection Control Strategies (TB BASICS) aimed to achieve improvements in TB infection prevention and control (IPC) through structured training and mentorship.

Methods: TB BASICS was implemented in six Chinese provinces from 2017-2019. Standardized, facility-based risk assessments tailored to inpatient, laboratory, and outpatient departments were conducted quarterly for 18 months.

Navigating Management of Localized Prostate Cancer in the Geriatric Population.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is highly prevalent among aging men and a significant contributor to global mortality. Balancing early detection and treatment of "clinically significant" disease with avoiding over-detection and overtreatment of slow-growing tumors is challenging, especially for elderly patients with competing health risks and potentially aggressive disease phenotypes. This review emphasizes the importance of individualized approaches for diagnosing and treating PCa in geriatric patients.

Terahertz scanning near-field optical microscopy for biomedical detection: Recent advances, challenges, and future perspectives.

Terahertz (THz) radiation is widely recognized as a non-destructive, label-free, and highly- sensitive tool for biomedical detections. Nevertheless, its application in precision biomedical fields faces challenges due to poor spatial resolution caused by intrinsically long wavelength characteristics. THz scanning near-field optical microscopy (THz-SNOM), which surpasses the Rayleigh criterion, offers micrometer and nanometer-scale spatial resolution, making it possible to perform precise bioinspection with THz imaging.

Deep learning radiomics nomograms predict Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) genotypes in brain glioma: A multicenter study.

Purpose: To explore the feasibility of Deep learning radiomics nomograms (DLRN) in predicting IDH genotype.

Methods: A total of 402 glioma patients from two independent centers were retrospectively included, and the data from center I was randomly divided into a training cohort (n = 239) and an internal validation cohort (n = 103) on a 7:3 basis. Center II served as an independent external validation cohort (n = 60).

Co-integration of laccase and xylanase from Bacillus pumilus into mini-cellulosome facilitates softwood sulfite pulp biobleaching and reduces hydrogen peroxide consumption.

Biobleaching is an eco-friendly strategy that can reduce costs and pollution in the pulp and paper industry. Herein, an effective biobleaching approach was proposed using a novel multi-enzyme complex. The multi-enzyme complex was constructed based on mini-cellulosome scaffolding protein integrated with laccase (BpLac) and xylanase (BpXyn) from Bacillus pumilus.

Computational study of the impact of nasal vestibule anatomy on nasal drug administration with nasal spray.

The nasal airway comprises a complex network of passages and chambers and plays an important role in regulating the respiratory system's functions. The nasal vestibule is the first chamber of the nasal airway. While variations in nasal vestibule geometries are known to exist between humans, details of their implications on how they may affect the efficacy of nasal drug delivery devices are less clear.

Vanadium single-atoms coordinated artificial peroxidases as biocatalyst-linked immunosorbent assay for highly-sensitive carcinoembryonic antigen immunoassay.

In medical and biomedical fields, enzyme-mimetic nanomaterials have garnered significant interest as efficacious signal enhancers for biocatalyst-linked immunosorbent assays (BLISA). Despite the burgeoning enthusiasm, engineering artificial biocatalysts that exhibit both exceptional catalytic proficiency and pronounced colorimetric signal output remains a formidable challenge. Inspired by the heme structures and biocatalytic activities of horseradish peroxidase, we introduce the synthesis of vanadium single-atoms (SAV) coordinated artificial peroxidases as BLISA for highly sensitive and selective carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) immunoassay.

Mitochondria-targeting materials and therapies for regenerative engineering.

The hemostatic, inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling phases of healing require precise spatiotemporal coordination and orchestration of numerous biological processes. As the primary energy generators in the cell, mitochondria play multifunctional roles in regulating metabolism, stress reactions, immunity, and cell density during the process of tissue regeneration. Mitochondrial dynamics involves numerous crucial processes, fusion, fission, autophagy, and translocation, which are all necessary for preserving mitochondrial function, distributing energy throughout cells, and facilitating cellular signaling.

Interfacial engineering-based colonization of biofilms on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) surfaces: Implications for whole-cell biodegradation of microplastics.

Microplastic pollution has become a significant environmental issue. One of the most important sources and components of microplastics is polyester fabric - polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Because the catalytic depolymerization of PET typically requires specific conditions such as alkaline environments, specific solvents, or high temperatures, there is an urgent need for a simpler, eco-friendly solution with high degradation efficiency for managing the vast amounts of PET textile waste.

A cell-based exploration of environmental and health impacts of food waste digestate for its sustainable reutilization.

Anaerobic digestion of food waste is increasingly utilized for bioenergy generation, producing a byproduct known as food waste digestate (FWD), which has potential applications as a fertilizer within the circular economy. However, accumulating numerous pollutants in FWD poses significant challenges to environmental management and human health. The complex nature of these pollutants complicates both targeted and non-targeted chemical analyses, making safety evaluations difficult.

Urban ecosystem services, ecological security patterns and ecological resilience in coastal cities: The impact of land reclamation in Macao SAR.

Land reclamation from the sea is a common practice to create territorial space and accommodate urbanisation in coastal cities. However, previous studies did not adequately examine the changes in ecosystem service values, the spatial transformation of the ecological network and the ecological resilience at an urban scale in the context of land reclamation. This study uses Macao SAR, a fully urbanised city with two-thirds of its land reclaimed from the sea, as a case study.

tRNA-Ser-UGA efficiently promotes the rapid release of duck hepatitis A virus from infected enterocytes and its remote dissemination to hepatocytes.

Enterocytes are a necessary portal for fecal-oral transmission of viruses, including duck hepatitis A virus (DHAV), that act on the absorption of amino acids (AAs). We note that the rapid death of ducklings caused by DHAV is likely due to its rapid release from enterocytes. However, the underlying mechanism driving the release of DHAV remains poorly understood.

Improvement of stability and antioxidant capacity of peptide - iron complexes by sonication.

In the present study, peptide‑iron complexes derived from Dictyophora rubrovolvata volva (U-VP-Fe) were prepared using ultrasonication. Their structures, interactions, stability and antioxidant activity were systematically characterised. The production conditions optimized by orthogonal tests were as follows: ultrasonic power 90 W, peptide concentration 4 %, mass ratio of peptide/FeCl 1:1, and pH 4.