Clinical evaluation of a polarization-based optical noninvasive glucose sensing system.

Diabetes affects millions in the US, causing elevated blood glucose levels that could lead to complications like kidney failure and heart disease. Recent development of continuous glucose monitors has enabled a minimally invasive option, but the discomfort and social factors highlight the need for noninvasive alternatives in diabetes management. We propose a portable noninvasive glucose sensing system based on the glucose's optical activity property which rotates linearly polarized light depending on its concentration level.

Host FSTL1 defines the impact of stem cell therapy on liver fibrosis by potentiating the early recruitment of inflammatory macrophages.

Adult stem cell therapy holds great promise for treating decompensated liver cirrhosis on the basis of animal studies, despite uncertainty about its clinical therapeutic efficacy and unclear underlying mechanisms. Here, we investigated the role of follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1), a profibrotic and proinflammatory matricellular protein, in inflammation-related heterogeneity in stem cell therapy. Our results showed that a high level of circulating FSTL1 is significantly correlated with therapeutic response in patients with cirrhosis.

Magnetic-assisted and aptamer-based SERS biosensor for high enrichment, ultrasensitive detection of multicomponent heart failure biomarkers.

The high-sensitivity detection of low-concentration multicomponent biomarkers in the blood of heart failure (HF) patients using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) remains a significant challenge. In this study, an ultrasensitive biosensor for the detection of multicomponent HF biomarkers was designed. This biosensor utilizes Au@Ag nanoparticles (Au@Ag NPs) functionalized with Raman reporter molecules (RaRs) as SERS probes, and Ag-coated FeO nanoparticles (FeO-Ag NPs) modified with internal standard (IS) molecules as the capture substrate, offering the dual advantages of magnetic enrichment and SERS enhancement.

A bladder-blood immune barrier constituted by suburothelial perivascular macrophages restrains uropathogen dissemination.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) predominantly occur in the bladder and can potentially progress into life-threatening sepsis if uropathogens spread unconstrainedly into the bloodstream. Here, we identified a subset of suburothelial perivascular macrophages (suPVMs) in the bladder that exerted a pivotal barrier function to prevent systemic bacterial dissemination during acute cystitis. During the initial phase of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) infection, suPVMs actively captured UPEC invading the laminal propria and maintained the integrity of inflamed vessels.

Getah Virus: A New Contaminant in Veterinary Vaccines.

Mycoplasma, reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV), avian leukosis virus (ALV), chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV), bovine polyomavirus (BPV), bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), and porcine circovirus (PCV) are considered common contaminants in live veterinary vaccines against Newcastle disease virus (NDV), fowlpox virus (FPV), infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), classical swine fever virus (CSFV), pseudorabies virus (PRV), and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). In the past five years, Getah virus (GETV), an arbovirus affecting many farming mammals, was reported as a new contaminant in live PRRSV vaccines in two previous studies, which arouses our considerable interest. Therefore, in this paper, we aim to analyze and discuss the source, biological hazard, and genomic characteristics of these contaminating GETV strains further.

Computational and Experimental Elucidation of the Charge-Dependent Acid-Etching Dynamics and Electrocatalytic Performance of Au(SR) (q = -1, 0, +1) Nanoclusters.

Using thiolate-protected Au(SR) nanocluster (NC) with different charge states as the test candidate, how the charge effect affects the etching dynamics of thiolate ligands in acid and the electrocatalytic performance is explored. The ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations revealed the charge-dependent reaction kinetics in acid, where the anionic and neutral Au(SCH) (q = -1, 0) favorably react with the acid and partially remove the thiolate ligands via two-step proton attack, while the cationic Au(SCH) NC is acid-resistant with no tendency for -SR removal. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further predict that the dethiolated Au sites exhibit enhanced catalytic activity for CO electroreduction to CO, with the anionic Au showing significantly superior activity.

Potato Consumption and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in a Harmonized Analysis of Seven Prospective Cohorts.

: While previous study results have suggested an elevated risk of type 2 diabetes with potato consumption, limited and inconsistent results are available on the association of potato consumption with the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and hypertension (HTN). We assessed the associations of (i) total potato consumption with the risk of CVD and HTN as the primary aim and (ii) fried potatoes and combined baked, boiled, and mashed potatoes with the risk of CVD and HTN as the secondary aim. : We conducted a meta-analysis using data from seven cohorts for CVD ( = 110,063) and five cohorts for HTN ( = 67,146).

Tailoring the Electronic and Hydrophilic Properties of Nickel Oxide Hydroxides by Bismuth Incorporation Toward Enhanced Alkaline Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation.

Identification of electrocatalysts with suitable electronic and hydrophilic properties is indispensable for boosting the alkaline oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The incorporation of bismuth (Bi) into Nickel oxide hydroxides is presented to simultaneously tune these properties of the catalyst toward enhanced OER. It is shown that the Bi doping endows more reversibility of Ni, enhances the lattice oxygen reactivity, and leads to a weakly binding surface for the resultant NiBi(OH) electrocatalyst.

Role of the FOXM1/CMA/ER stress axis in regulating the progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Background/aims: The molecular mechanisms driving nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) progression are poorly understood. This research examines the involvement of chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) in NASH progression.

Methods: Hepatic CMA activity was analysed in NASH mice and patients.

Multi-omics analyses identify gut microbiota-fecal metabolites-brain-cognition pathways in the Alzheimer's disease continuum.

Background: Gut microbiota dysbiosis is linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD), but our understanding of the molecular and neuropathological bases underlying such association remains fragmentary.

Methods: Using 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing, untargeted metabolomics, and multi-modal magnetic resonance imaging, we examined group differences in gut microbiome, fecal metabolome, neuroimaging measures, and cognitive variables across 30 patients with AD, 75 individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 61 healthy controls (HC). Furthermore, we assessed the associations between these multi-omics changes using correlation and mediation analyses.

Analysis of Non-Cardiogenic Young Minor Ischemic Stroke Patients' Risk Factors in Chinese Han Population.

BACKGROUND Young adults with minor ischemic stroke (MIS) often experience early onset and mild symptoms but face a high recurrence rate. Research into risk factors and etiology of young adult MIS in developing countries is limited. We investigated these aspects in young non-cardiogenic MIS patients from the Chinese Han population and identified risk factors for initial stroke and long-term poor prognosis.

Epidemiological and molecular characteristics of extraintestinal pathogenic escherichia coli isolated from diseased cattle and sheep in Xinjiang, China from 2015 to 2019.

Escherichia coli has become a common causative agent of infections in animals, inflicting serious economic losses on livestock production and posing a threat to public health. Escherichia coli infection is common and tends to be complex in Xinjiang, a major region of cattle and sheep breeding in China. This study aims to explore the current status and molecular characteristics of Escherichia coli infection in cattle and sheep in Xinjiang, as part of the disease prevention and control strategy.

Genetically predicted brain cortical structure mediates the causality between insulin resistance and cognitive impairment.

Background: Insulin resistance is tightly related to cognition; however, the causal association between them remains a matter of debate. Our investigation aims to establish the causal relationship and direction between insulin resistance and cognition, while also quantifying the mediating role of brain cortical structure in this association.

Methods: The publicly available data sources for insulin resistance (fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment beta-cell function and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance, proinsulin), brain cortical structure, and cognitive phenotypes (visual memory, reaction time) were obtained from the MAGIC, ENIGMA, and UK Biobank datasets, respectively.

1,3,4-Oxadiazole Sulfonamide Derivatives Containing Pyrazole Structures: Design, Synthesis, Biological Activity Studies, and Mechanism Study.

Sulfonamide derivatives have been widely used for pesticide research in recent years. Herein, 1,3,4-oxadiazole sulfonamide derivatives containing a pyrazole structure were synthesized, and their structure-activity relationship was studied. Bioactivity tests showed the remarkable efficacy of most synthesized compounds.

The efficacy of resveratrol supplementation on inflammation and oxidative stress in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients: randomized double-blind placebo meta-analysis.

Background: The effects of resveratrol supplementation on inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were controversial. A meta-analysis was performed to assess the changes in levels of inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with T2DM.

Methods: Relevant literatures before November 6, 2024 were screened through Web of Science,Embase,the Cochrane Library and other sources (ClinicalTrials, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses).

Ligand-induced changes in the electrocatalytic activity of atomically precise Au nanoclusters.

Atomically precise gold nanoclusters have shown great promise as model electrocatalysts in pivotal electrocatalytic processes such as the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CORR). Although the influence of ligands on the electronic properties of these nanoclusters is well acknowledged, the ligand effects on their electrocatalytic performances have been rarely explored. Herein, using [Au(SR)] nanoclusters as a prototype model, we demonstrated the importance of ligand hydrophilicity hydrophobicity in modulating the interface dynamics and electrocatalytic performance.

Transcranial direct current stimulation for patients with walking difficulties caused by cerebral small vessel disease: a randomized controlled study.

Introduction: Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a chronic systemic degenerative disease affecting small blood vessels in the brain, leading to cognitive impairments. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that applies low electrical currents to the scalp, shows promise in treating cognitive and movement disorders. However, further clinical evaluation is required to assess the long-term effects of tDCS on neuroplasticity and gait in patients with CSVD.

Understanding the Ag-S interface stability and electrocatalytic activity of CO electroreduction in atomically precise Ag nanoclusters.

Elucidating the catalytic properties of metal nanoclusters (NCs) with essentially the same structure but different core metals is of fundamental interest. Our current studies have demonstrated that the thiolated Ag(SR) NC exhibits SR ligand leaching dynamics and electrocatalytic activity in CO reduction distinct from those of its Au(SR) NC structural analogue.

Oriented Molecular Dipole-Enabled Modulation of NiO/Perovskite Interface for Pb-Sn Mixed Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cells.

Nickel oxide (NiO) is considered as a potential hole transport material in the fabrication of lead-tin (Pb-Sn) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) for tandem applications. However, the energy level mismatch and unfavorable redox reactions between Ni species and Sn at the NiO/perovskite interface pose challenges. Herein, high-performance Pb-Sn-based inorganic PSCs are demonstrated by modulating the NiO/perovskite interface with a multifunctional 4-aminobenzenesulfonic acid (4-ABSA) interlayer.

Metal-Organic Framework with Polar Pore Surface Designed for Purification of Both Natural Gas and Ethylene.

The advancement of high-value CH purification technology within the natural gas industry is paramount for industrial processes. Herein, we constructed ZJNU-402, a new porous material characterized by permanent porosity, as an effective adsorbent for separating CH/CH and CH/CH mixtures. The findings reveal an outstanding CH adsorption capacity of 68 cm g and a moderate CH adsorption rate of 42 cm g, with a notably lower CH adsorption rate of 11 cm g.

Integrative metabolomics and transcriptomics profiling reveals differential expression of flavonoid synthesis in Ophiopogon japonicus (L. f.) Ker-Gawl. in adaptation to drought.

Drought is one of the consequences of climate change that severely affects plant growth and development. Ophiopogon japonicus (L. f.

Understanding the Role of Potential and Cation Effect on Electrocatalytic CO Reduction in All-Alkynyl-Protected Ag Nanoclusters.

Atomically precise metal nanoclusters (NCs) have emerged as an intriguing class of model catalysts for electrochemical CO reduction reactions (CORR). However, the interplay between the interface environment (e.g.

Deciphering odontogenic myxoma: the role of copy number variations as diagnostic signatures.

In light of the lack of reliable molecular markers for odontogenic myxoma (OM), the detection of copy number variation (CNV) may present a more objective method for assessing ambiguous cases. In this study, we employed multiregional microdissection sequencing to integrate morphological features with genomic profiling. This allowed us to reveal the CNV profiles of OM and compare them with dental papilla (DP), dental follicle (DF), and odontogenic fibroma (OF) tissues.

The genomic pattern of insertion/deletion variations during rice improvement.

Background: Rice, as one of the most important staple crops, its genetic improvement plays a crucial role in agricultural production and food security. Although extensive research has utilized single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) data to explore the genetic basis of important agronomic traits in rice improvement, reports on the role of other types of variations, such as insertions and deletions (INDELs), are still limited.

Results: In this study, we extracted INDELs from resequencing data of 148 rice improved varieties.