Association of IL-1RAcP rs16865597 gene polymorphism with susceptibility to essential hypertension: a case-control study in the Chinese Han population.

Background: The IL-33/ST2 pathway plays a crucial role in the development of essential hypertension (EH). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between EH and genetic variations in this pathway in the Chinese Han population.

Methods: A total of 1,151 EH patients and 1,135 healthy controls were included in the study.

Iron-Cobalt Alloy@Graphene-Engineered Milk Extracellular Vesicles for Gastric Retentive Drug Delivery.

Oral drug delivery is widely used for treating gastric diseases as it allows drugs to act directly on gastric lesions, thereby improving therapeutic outcomes. However, its efficacy is hindered by the specific gastric environment, such as the gastric mucosal barrier, which limits drug penetration, and the short gastric emptying time, which results in transient residence time. Raw milk-derived extracellular vesicles (M-EVs) offer promise as a gastric drug delivery platform.

Enhancing HER performance nitrogen defects: a comparative DFT study of Fe and Ru single-atom catalysts on graphene.

Exploring high-performance catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is essential for the development of clean hydrogen energy. Single atom catalysts (SACs) have garnered significant attention due to their maximum atomic efficiency, high catalytic performance and excellent selectivity. In this work, we systematically investigated the HER activity of Ru and Fe SACs on nitrogen-doped graphene using density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide rejuvenates septic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Background: Sepsis is a severe illness characterized by systemic and multiorgan reactive responses and damage. However, the impact of sepsis on the bone marrow, particularly on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), is less reported. BMSCs are critical stromal cells in the bone marrow microenvironment that maintain bone stability and hematopoietic homeostasis; however, the impairment caused by sepsis remains unknown.

AKR1C3 protects cardiomyocytes against hypoxia-induced cell apoptosis through the Nrf-2/NF-κB pathway.

Hypoxia-induced apoptosis plays a critical role in the progression of various cardiac diseases, such as heart failure and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Aldosterone reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3), a member of the aldo-keto reductase superfamily, participates in the metabolism of steroid hormones and redox reactions . Imbalances in prostaglandin levels have been linked to coronary events.

Near-Infrared Phosphorescent Silver Nanoclusters/Polyethylenimine Nanocomposites for Photothermal Conversion.

Emerging as a promising functional material, metal nanoclusters that emit near-infrared (NIR) radiation have garnered significant attention due to their distinctive properties. Nonetheless, the rational design of NIR-emissive metal nanoclusters still faces substantial challenges. Herein, we demonstrate a self-assembly strategy for constructing NIR-emissive nanocomposites (abbreviated as ) using water-soluble Ag-NCs (Ag(mba), where Hmba = 2-mercaptobenzoic acid) and branched polyethylenimine (PEI) ( = 750,000).

Rescue Tracheal Reconstruction via Platysma Myocutaneous Flap Following Necrosis of Sternocleidomastoid Muscle Myoperiosteal Flap.

A case of a 60-year-old male patient with thyroid cancer invading the trachea was presented in the current study. After the initial surgery via a sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) clavicular periosteal flap for tracheal reconstruction, the patient experienced flap necrosis. Subsequent debridement and tracheocutaneostomy were performed, followed by a successful repair of the tracheal defect using a platysma myocutaneous flap.

Fault Diagnosis of Wind Turbine Gearbox Based on Improved Multivariate Variational Mode Decomposition and Ensemble Refined Composite Multivariate Multiscale Dispersion Entropy.

Wind turbine planetary gearboxes have complex structures and operating environments, which makes it difficult to extract fault features effectively. In addition, it is difficult to achieve efficient fault diagnosis. To improve the efficiency of feature extraction and fault diagnosis, a fault diagnosis method based on improved multivariate variational mode decomposition (IMVMD) and ensemble refined composite multivariate multiscale dispersion entropy (ERCmvMDE) with multi-channel vibration data is proposed.

Deciphering Perspectives: A European survey on clinical decision support tools for dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: Technological advancements like digital monitoring tools, disease modifying therapies and artificial intelligence have been shown to improve the clinical management of neurocognitive diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD). To enhance implementation in daily practice, users' input is essential in the technology development process. This study aimed to determine clinician's perspective of clinical decision support systems (CDSS) in the management of dementia and AD.

Sodium alginate alleviated isoniazid-induced liver injury by modulating fecal metabolites and gut microbiota.

Previous studies found that sodium alginate (SA) was protective against several liver diseases. However, the effect of SA on drug-induced liver injury is not clear. This study investigated the effect and mechanism of SA on isoniazid (INH)-induced liver injury in mice.

Knockout Induces Zebrafish Craniofacial Dysplasia via p53 Signaling Activation.

Hemifacial microsomia (HFM) is a rare congenital craniofacial deformity that significantly impacts the appearance and hearing. The genetic etiology of HFM remains largely unknown, although genetic factors are considered to be primary contributors. We previously identified as a potential causative gene in HFM cases.

Melatonin Ameliorates Age-Related Sarcopenia via the Gut-Muscle Axis Mediated by Serum Lipopolysaccharide and Metabolites.

Background: Sarcopenia affects the quality of life and increases adverse outcomes in the elderly. However, as a potential safe and effective remedy to many age-related disorders, little is known about the protective effect of melatonin against sarcopenia, especially the underlying mechanisms of pathophysiology related to the gut-muscle axis.

Methods: The young (4 months) and old-aged (24 months) wild-type C57BL/6J male mice were included in this study, of which the old-aged mice in the experimental group were treated with 10 mg/kg/day of melatonin for 16 weeks.

Estimating the association between cigarette and e-cigarette use patterns and SARS-CoV-2 negative conversion time: retrospective online survey in China.

Background: Cigarette smoking has been reported to be associated with SARS-CoV-2 negative conversion, while little is known about the effect of its dual use with e-cigarettes. This study aimed to investigate whether tobacco product use patterns including e-cigarette use were linked with delayed negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: An online national survey was conducted from January 28 through February 21, 2023, targeting a community-based population in mainland of China after peak waves of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Solvent-Free Artificial Light-Harvesting System in a Fluid Donor with Highly Efficient Förster Resonance Energy Transfer.

Multi-step Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) plays a vital role in photosynthesis. While the energy transfer efficiency (Φ) of a naturally occurring system can reach 95%, that of most artificial light-harvesting systems (ALHSs) is still limited. Herein, we propose a strategy to construct highly efficient ALHSs using a blue-emitting, supercooled ionic compound of naphthalimide (NPI) as the donor, a green-emitting BODIPY derivate as a relay acceptor, and a commercially available, red-emitting dye [rhodamine B (RhB)] as the final acceptor.

PerC B-Cells Activation via Thermogenetics-Based CXCL12 Generator for Intraperitoneal Immunity Against Metastatic Disseminated Tumor Cells.

During cancer peritoneal metastasis (PM), conventional antigen-presenting cells (dendritic cells, macrophages) promote tumorigenesis and immunosuppression in peritoneal cavity. While intraperitoneal immunotherapy (IPIT) has been used in clinical investigations to relieve PM, the limited knowledge of peritoneal immunocytes has hindered the development of therapeutic IPIT. Here, a dendritic cell-independent, next-generation IPIT is described that activates peritoneal cavity B (PerC B) cell subsets for intraperitoneal anti-tumor immunity via exogenous antigen presentation.

The association between cognitive impairment and oral health or oral hygiene behaviors among multiethnic older adults in Western China: a cross-sectional multicenter study.

Background: Older adults with cognitive impairment tend to experience deteriorating oral health and inadequate oral hygiene behaviors, but few studies have addressed interethnic variability. This study aimed to explore the associations between cognitive impairment and oral health or oral hygiene behaviors in multiethnic older adults in Western China.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional multicenter study from four provinces of Western China, recruiting multiethnic older adults aged 50 years and older between July and December 2018.

Zinc nanoparticles from oral supplements accumulate in renal tumours and stimulate antitumour immune responses.

A successful therapeutic outcome in the treatment of solid tumours requires efficient intratumoural drug accumulation and retention. Here we demonstrate that zinc gluconate in oral supplements assembles with plasma proteins to form ZnO nanoparticles that selectively accumulate into papillary Caki-2 renal tumours and promote the recruitment of dendritic cells and cytotoxic CD8 T cells to tumour tissues. Renal tumour targeting is mediated by the preferential binding of zinc ions to metallothionein-1X proteins, which are constitutively overexpressed in Caki-2 renal tumour cells.

Impact of surgery versus follow-up on psychological distress in patients with indeterminate pulmonary nodules: A prospective observational study.

Purpose: To investigate whether surgery is more effective than follow-up in reducing psychological distress for patients with observable indeterminate pulmonary nodules (IPNs) and to assess if psychological distress can serve as a potential surgical indication for IPNs.

Methods: This prospective observational study included 341 patients with abnormal psychometric results, as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Of these, 262 patients opted for follow-up and 79 chose surgery.

Co-assemblies of Silver Nanoclusters and Fullerenols With Enhanced Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Response.

Exploring potential third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) materials attracts ever-increasing attention. Given that the atomically precise and rich adjustable structural features of silver nanoclusters (Ag NCs), as well as the unique π-electron conjugated system of carbon-based nanomaterials, a supramolecular co-assembly amplification strategy to enhance the luminescent intensity and NLO performance of the hybrids of the two components, are constructed and the relationship between structures and optical properties are investigated. By combining water soluble Ag NCs [(NH)[Ag(mna)] (Hmna = 2-mercaptonicotinic acid, abbreviated to Ag─NCs hereafter) containing uncoordinated carboxyl groups with water-soluble fullerene derivatives modified with multiple hydroxyl groups (fullerenols, C─OH), the π-electron delocalization is expanded owing to non-covalent hydrogen bonding effect between Ag6─NCs and C─OH, which provides a feasible basis for realizing the NLO response.

Regulation of intestinal tissue‑resident memory T cells: a potential target for inflammatory bowel disease.

Tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells are populations which settle down in non-lymphoid tissues instead of returning to secondary lymph organs after the antigen presentation. These cells can provide rapid on-site immune protection as well as long-term tissue damage. It is reported that TRM cells from small intestine and colon exhibited distinctive patterns of cytokine and granzyme expression along with substantial transcriptional and functional heterogeneity.

Associations of sociodemographic and smoking characteristics with intention to quit among Chinese adults aged 20-69 years who smoke: Findings from nationwide China Health Literacy Survey during 2018-19.

Objective: To identify factors influencing the intention to quit (ItQ) among Chinese who smoke, focusing on 10th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) Nicotine dependence. Additionally, to estimate the number of individuals with ItQ, supporting optimal allocation of cessation resources.

Methods: This study used data from the 2018 China Health Literacy Survey, a nationally representative cross-sectional study with 20,288 participants who smoke currently aged 20-69 years.

Preparation and Evaluation of a Novel Branched Polymer as Thickener for Calcium Chloride-Based Drilling and Completion Fluids.

Calcium halide-based fluids are often used in drilling and completion operations due to their high density, clay inhibition and low solid content. However, there is a lack of thickeners to promote gel strength, which improves the fluid's capacity to carry and suspend cuttings. To solve this problem, the branched polymer (hereafter abbreviated as PAD-B) was prepared by the copolymerization of N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAM) and 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS), using polyethylenimine as a branching agent and cerium ammonium nitrate as the initiator.

Immunotherapy in operable non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of efficacy between neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy and perioperative immunotherapy.

Background: A series of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated the promising prospect of immunotherapy in operable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and further changed the clinical practice. However, current studies still yet to answer which immunotherapy mode is the optimal strategy, and there is currently a lack of direct comparison between neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy and perioperative immunotherapy ("sandwich mode", including neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy and adjuvant immunotherapy). Thus, we conducted a network meta-analysis (NMA) to evaluate the efficacy between neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy and perioperative immunotherapy.

Effects of vegetarian diets on blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

High blood lipids, blood glucose, or blood pressure ("3Bs") are established risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. However, the effects of vegetarian diets on these parameters were inconsistent in previous meta-analyses. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis with comprehensive subgroup analyses, quality assessment, and sensitivity analyses to confirm the effects of vegetarian diets on 3Bs.