A FAPα-activated MRI nanoprobe for precise grading diagnosis of clinical liver fibrosis.

Molecular imaging holds the potential for noninvasive and accurate grading of liver fibrosis. It is limited by the lack of biomarkers that strongly correlate with liver fibrosis grade. Here, we discover the grading potential of fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAPα) for liver fibrosis through transcriptional analysis and biological assays on clinical liver samples.

The Typical Nail Lichen Planus Severity Index: An Outcome Instrument for Typical Nail Lichen Planus.

Introduction: Despite numerous treatment options for nail lichen planus (NLP), a validated method for measuring the severity of NLP and therapeutic response in clinical trials is absent. The aim of the study was to develop and validate a measurement instrument, Typical Nail Lichen Planus Severity Index (tNLPSI), for typical NLP that could be used in clinical trials.

Methods: A total of 48 patients pathologically confirmed with typical NLP were enrolled in this study.

Dramatically Enhanced Mechanical Properties of Nano-TiN-Dispersed n-Type Bismuth Telluride by Multi-Effect Modulation.

Bismuth telluride (BiTe)-based alloys have been extensively employed in energy harvesting and refrigeration applications for decades. However, commercially produced BiTe-based alloys using the zone-melting (ZM) technique often encounter challenges such as insufficient mechanical properties and susceptibility to cracking, particularly in n-type BiTe-based alloys, which severely limit the application scenarios for bismuth telluride devices. In this work, we seek to enhance the mechanical properties of n-type BiTeSe alloys while preserving their thermoelectrical performance by a mixed mechanism of grain refinement and the TiN composite phase-introduced pinning effect.

Fusing Positive and Negative CT Contrast Nanoagent for the Sensitive Detection of Hepatoma.

Positive computed tomography (CT) contrast nanoagent has significant applications in diagnosing tumors. However, the sensitive differentiation between hepatoma and normal liver tissue remains challenging. This challenge arises primarily because both normal liver and hepatoma tissues capture the nanoagent, resulting in similar positive CT contrasts.

A novel CEST-contrast nanoagent for differentiating the malignant degree in breast cancer.

Different subtypes of breast cancer (BCC) have variable degrees of malignancy, which is closely related to their extracellular pH (pH). Therefore, it is increasingly significant to monitor the extracellular pH sensitively to further determine the malignancy of different subtypes of BCC. Here, a l-arginine and Eu assembled nanoparticle Eu@l-Arg was prepared to detect the pH of two breast cancer models (TUBO is non-invasive and 4T1 is malignant) using a clinical chemical exchange saturation shift imaging technique.

Reactive metal boride nanoparticles trap lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan for bacteria-infected wound healing.

Bacteria and excessive inflammation are two main factors causing non-healing wounds. However, current studies have mainly focused on the inhibition of bacteria survival for wound healing while ignoring the excessive inflammation induced by dead bacteria-released lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or peptidoglycan (PGN). Herein, a boron-trapping strategy has been proposed to prevent both infection and excessive inflammation by synthesizing a class of reactive metal boride nanoparticles (MB NPs).

An Ion-Enhanced Oncolytic Virus-Like Nanoparticle for Tumor Immunotherapy.

T lymphocytes (T cells) are essential for tumor immunotherapy. However, the insufficient number of activated T cells greatly limits the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy. Herein, we proposed an oncolytic virus-mimicking strategy to enhance T cell recruitment and activation for tumor treatment.

Green Triplet Self-Trapped Exciton Emission in Layered RbCdCl:Sb Perovskite: Comparison with RbCdCl:Sb.

Metal halide materials have recently sparked intense research because of their excellent photophysical properties and chemical stability. For example, RbCdCl:Sb exhibits broad emission at about 600 nm with a high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) over 91% and double emission bands with bright white color. Herein, we obtained a novel Rb and Cd layered perovskite RbCdCl doped with Sb, which gives luminescence at 525 nm with a large Stokes shift of 200 nm, originating from a self-trapped exciton (STE).

HO-NH-Induced Emission Modulation in Sb-Doped (NH)InCl·HO.

Lead-based metal halide perovskites have received widespread attention for their promising application prospects in the field of lighting and display due to their excellent optical properties. However, the toxicity of lead may hinder their further commercial application. Herein, a zero-dimensional (0D) metal halide (NH)InCl·HO with an orthorhombic structure and the space group was produced.

Superior Radiation Resistance of ZrO-Modified W Composites.

The microstructure and mechanical properties of pure W, sintered and swaged W-1.5ZrO2 composites after 1.5 × 1015 Au+/cm2 radiation at room temperature were characterized to investigate the impact of the ZrO2 phase on the irradiation resistance mechanism of tungsten materials.

Self-Enhanced Acoustic Impedance Difference Strategy for Detecting the Acidic Tumor Microenvironment.

B-mode ultrasound imaging is a significant anatomic technique in clinic, which can display the anatomic variation in tissues. However, it is difficult to evaluate the functional state of organs and display the physiological information in organisms such as the tumor acidic microenvironment (TME). Herein, inspired by the phenomenon of sonographic acoustic shadow during detecting calculus in clinic, a strategy of self-enhanced acoustic impedance difference is proposed to monitor the acidic TME.

Harnessing X-Ray Energy-Dependent Attenuation of Bismuth-Based Nanoprobes for Accurate Diagnosis of Liver Fibrosis.

Timely detection of liver fibrosis by X-ray computed tomography (CT) can prevent its progression to fatal liver diseases. However, it remains quite challenging because conventional CT can only identify the difference in density instead of X-ray attenuation characteristics. Spectral CT can generate monochromatic imaging to specify X-ray attenuation characteristics of the scanned matter.

Functional CT Contrast Nanoagents for the Tumor Microenvironment.

Understanding the detailed tumor microenvironment (TME) is essential to achieve effective treatment of tumor, because TME has an extremely profound influence on the occurrence, development, invasion, and metastasis of tumor. It is of great significance to realize accurate diagnosis of the TME by using functional computed tomography (CT) contrast nanoagents (FCTNAs). Here, an overview of FCTNAs that respond to the overexpressed receptors, acidic microenvironment, overexpressed glutathione and enzymes, and hypoxia in tumor is provided, and also prospects the advance of novel spectral CT technique to detect the TME precisely.

Near-Infrared Light-Triggered Chlorine Radical ( Cl) Stress for Cancer Therapy.

Free radicals with reactive chemical properties can fight tumors without causing drug resistance. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been widely used for cancer treatment, but regrettably, the common O and H O deficiency in tumors sets a severe barrier for sufficient ROS production, leading to unsatisfactory anticancer outcomes. Here, we construct a chlorine radical ( Cl) nano-generator with SiO -coated upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) on the inside and Ag /AgCl hetero-dots on the outside.

Accurate and Real-Time Temperature Monitoring during MR Imaging Guided PTT.

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is an efficient approach for cancer treatment. However, accurately monitoring the spatial distribution of photothermal transducing agents (PTAs) and mapping the real-time temperature change in tumor and peritumoral normal tissue remain a huge challenge. Here, we propose an innovative strategy to integrate T-MRI for precisely tracking PTAs with magnetic resonance temperature imaging (MRTI) for real-time monitoring temperature change during PTT.

A systems biology approach for defining the potential molecular framework of idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome with cutaneous involvement.

Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a rare multisystem disease that predominantly includes skin with severe and persistent itching. A lack of understanding about the pathological condition and mechanism of dermatosis caused by HES hinders its treatment. In the present study, we applied a quantitative proteomics approach to characterize the cellular responses of skin tissue to idiopathic HES (IHES) at the proteome level.

Efficacy and Influence Factors of 308-nm Excimer Lamp with Minoxidil in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata.

Background And Objectives: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by T cell-mediated attack on the hair follicle. Although there are a wide range of therapies, the majority of them are not satisfactory due to side effects or limited efficacy. In this study, we sought to evaluate the efficacy, influence factors, and safety of 308-nm excimer lamp with minoxidil in the treatment of AA.

Magnetic resonance energy transfer for in vivo glutathione susceptibility weighted imaging.

Glutathione (GSH) plays a vital role in maintaining biological redox homeostasis. Accordingly, accurate imaging of glutathione in vivo is of great significance. Herein, we propose a magnetic resonance energy transfer (MRET) strategy based on a distance-dependent magnetic exchange coupling effect (MECE), which can realize GSH detection within tumors in vivo by susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI).

Negative CT Contrast Agents for the Diagnosis of Malignant Osteosarcoma.

The current positive computed tomography (CT) contrast agents (PCTCAs) including clinical iodides, present high CT density value (CT-DV). However, they are incapable for the accurate diagnosis of some diseases with high CT-DV, such as osteosarcoma. Because bones and PCTCAs around osteosarcoma generate similar X-ray attenuations.

A meta-analysis comparing confocal microscopy and dermoscopy in diagnostic accuracy of lentigo maligna.

Purpose: We aimed to summarize the sensitivity and specificity between RCM and dermoscopy in LM diagnosis.

Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted to the study. PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and Wiley Online Library database were searched for relevant studies.